Brandon Halverson

Brandon Halverson's path to professional hockey has been defined by a long stretch of obstacles, surgeries, and organizational changes — a journey the Traverse City, Michigan native addressed candidly on InGoal Radio ^[1].

Halverson was selected by the New York Rangers in the second round, 29th pick of the second round, of the 2014 NHL Draft. He is 6'5" and 235 pounds, catches left, and currently holds a contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning while playing for their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.

His professional career has included three knee surgeries. After his most recent knee injury — which occurred on what he described as a routine butterfly slide — Halverson relocated to Clearwater, Florida and began working with a trainer named Theo at a facility called Optimal Athlete Collective, focused on a training approach centered on knees-over-toes principles. He credits that period of rehabilitation and physical retraining with stabilizing his body going forward ^[1].

On the ice development side, Halverson has spoken in detail about the people who shaped his game. His first major influence was Jeremy Kalnicky, a goaltender who billeted with his family when Halverson was young. Halverson described Kalnicky as an older brother figure who allowed him to attend goalie camps at no cost given his family's financial situation, and who remains someone he calls to this day ^[1]. He later worked with John Elkin, whose training he described as heavily structured around shooter-pass reads, patience, and understanding puck travel — sessions in which he shared the ice with goaltenders including Matt Murray and Mackenzie Blackwood ^[1].

The most sustained influence in the current chapter of his career has been his goalie coach at Syracuse, whom he refers to as Max. Working with Max, Halverson described a multi-year focus on stopping on his toes rather than his heels, keeping his head snapping to plays before his body moves, and returning hard to his post after every save while remaining in proper position — hands forward, head forward, back foot set. He said the repetition volume in practice has grown substantially over those years, reaching fifteen to sixteen consecutive structured save-and-reset sequences ^[1].

Halverson also reflected on the early years of his pro career, which he described as lacking the support structure he has in Syracuse. He said that at the start of his professional career he did not have the coaching and mentorship resources that might have helped him navigate that transition, and contrasted that experience directly with the environment he now credits within the Tampa Bay organization ^[1].

His NHL career totals stand at 4 games played, 0 wins, 2 losses, a 4.71 goals-against average, and a .804 save percentage. In the current 2025-26 season with Tampa Bay, he has appeared in 2 games, posting a 4.22 goals-against average and an .810 save percentage.

InGoal Magazine has covered Brandon Halverson in one podcast appearance.