Ben Hanowski was born on October 18, 1990 to parents John and Julie Hanowski of Little Falls, Minnesota

Little Falls, Minnesota

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,719 people , 3,197 households, and 1,899 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,232.5 people per square mile . There were 3,358 housing units at an average density of 536.2 per square mile...

. Hanowski is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 ice hockey

Ice hockey

Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...

 forward

Forward (ice hockey)

In ice hockey, a forward is a player position on the ice whose primary responsibility is to score goals. Generally, the forwards try to stay in three different lanes, also known as thirds, of the ice going from goal to goal. It is not mandatory however, to stay in a lane. Staying in a lane aids in...

 currently playing for St. Cloud State University

St. Cloud State University

St. Cloud State University is a four-year public university founded in 1869 on the banks of the Mississippi River in St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States. The university is the largest member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system which is the largest single provider of higher...

 of the WCHA

WCHA

WCHA is an AM radio station broadcasting at 800kHz. Owned by Main Line Broadcasting, it is licensed to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, serving the Hagerstown-Chambersburg area. WCHA is an Oldies and Classic Hits formatted broadcast radio station. WCHA simulcasts on sister AM station WHAG and on...

. Hanowski, a native of Little Falls, is currently a Junior at St. Cloud State and will serve as a team captain in 2011-12. Hanowski was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...

 of the NHL 63rd overall in the 3rd Round of the 2009 NHL Draft.

High School

Hanowski is a graduate of Little Falls High School, where, in four years, Hanowski posted 196 goals and 209 assists in 117 games becoming the most prolific scorer in Minnesota High School hockey history with 405 points. Hanowski was selected as the Associated Press

Associated Press

The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...

 Hockey Player of the Year for 2009.

Freshman Year (2009-2010)

As a freshman at SCSU, Hanowski made a quick impact with nine goals and 10 assists. He played in all 43 games and scored four Power Play Goals. His first collegiate point was an assist vs. Union

Union College

Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...

 on Oct. 17. The first two goals of his college career came against Minnesota-Duluth

University of Minnesota Duluth

The University of Minnesota Duluth is a regional branch of the University of Minnesota system located in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. As Duluth's public research university, UMD offers 13 bachelor's degrees in 74 majors, graduate programs in 24 different fields, a two-year program at the School of...

 on Oct. 23. He posted three points (1 goal and 2 assists) against Brown

Brown University

Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...

 on Jan. 3. He had two assists in a victory at Quinnipiac

Quinnipiac University

Quinnipiac University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in Hamden, Connecticut, United States at the foot of Sleeping Giant State Park...

 on Jan. 16. Hanowski scored in a WCHA Tournament

2010 WCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament

The 2010 WCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament was played between March 12 and March 20, 2010 at five conference arenas and the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota...

 game against Minnesota State on Mar. 12.

Sophmore Year (2010-2011)

As a sophmore, he played in 37 games, scored a career high 13 goals and also contributed with seven assists. Hanowski scored the game winning goal in the season-opener versus RIT and recorded a hat-trick on Nov. 5 against Bemidji State

Bemidji State University

Bemidji State University is a public state university in Bemidji, Minnesota, USA, located on the shores of Lake Bemidji. It is a part of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities .-History:BSU was founded in 1919 as Bemidji State Normal School...

. He had a two-goal performance Feb. 11 at Minnesota-Duluth

University of Minnesota Duluth

The University of Minnesota Duluth is a regional branch of the University of Minnesota system located in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. As Duluth's public research university, UMD offers 13 bachelor's degrees in 74 majors, graduate programs in 24 different fields, a two-year program at the School of...

. Hanowski was named to the All-WCHA Academic team.