By Jim Bastian

sports@nujournal.com

BELOIT, Wis. — Ironwood (Michigan) Lumberjacks head hockey coach Doug Lein described his defenseman Josh Gulden as a dynamic playmaker for his team for the past two seasons for his Tier II Junior A hockey team.

Gulden, who played hockey for New Ulm High School from 2018-22, totaled 27 points last season on five goals and 22 assists, has committed to play for Beloit College next season.

Gulden also played half of the 2022-23 season with the New Ulm Steel.

Beloit College plays in the DIII Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

“You knew what you were going to get from him every single night,” Lein said about his defenseman. “We were in a spot where we needed stability and loyalty — we needed a guy who was going to come in and give you 100 percent every game. And Josh was that, he was Steady Eddie for us. He was engaged in the betterment of the team — he is going to be a huge asset for Beloit.”

And Gulden’s hockey journey started with New Ulm High School before playing with the New Ulm Steel.

“Then I went up to Manitoba to play AAA hockey,” Gulden said. “I went to a couple of other teams in Canada — then I went to Spooner (Wisconsin) and then I went to Ironwood.”

Gulden said the journey to Beloit has been busy, but he appreciates the people he met along the way.

“I have been in a lot of different places, but it has been a cool journey and I have met a lot of great people and great billets along the way,” said Gulden, who will major in business management at Beloit. “And you have to keep working hard. When no one is looking, that is when you have to put in the work.”

Lein said that Gulden, who was a captain for Lumberjacks of the Superior International Junior Hocey League this past season, brought a lot more to his team than the 27 points.

“He had the attitude and the commitment in the gym — he had a professional attitude — and that was big when he was being recruited for college hockey,” Lein said. “He has great grades and he takes care of the things that he needs to be successful.

“Josh is going to be a player who is going to step in for them — he is ready to explode — he is going to step in right away,” Lein said.

Gulden said that he learned that you need to keep working hard on and off of the ice.

“You need to put in the hard work and keep getting better,” Gulden said.”You need to take every opportunity that you can -work hard on and off of the ice – and just be a good person.”