By Dylan Pescatore
Nov 5, 2025
Texas Stars ahead Artem Shlaine has taken the highway much less traveled. He grew up in Moscow, Russia, along with his mother, Kathy, his Dad, Dimitri, and his brother, Daniel. Artem visited america for the primary time when he was six due to his dad’s job, however that they had no plans for a full-time life there.
In Russia, one can select to play hockey or pursue a high-level schooling, however not on the identical time. Artem’s dad found the concept of taking part in in america, the place his son acquired the prospect to do each.
Shlaine moved to America by himself when he was 14, spending two years in Florida taking part in for the South Florida Hockey Academy, which is led by Olli Jokinen, who spent 17 seasons within the NHL.
Shlaine then earned the prospect to attend Shattuck St. Mary’s in Minnesota, among the best hockey preparatory faculties within the nation. Shattuck has an unimaginable historical past of alumni, together with Sidney Crosby and Johnathan Toews. Faculty was the following step for him, and the College of Connecticut wished his companies.
“Faculty was sort of cool at the moment,” he mentioned. “It was simply beginning, and no Russians actually took that sort of path.”
Shlaine spent 5 years in school with three totally different stops alongside the best way. He began in Storrs, Connecticut for 2 years, transferred to Northern Michigan College forward of his junior season, earlier than exhausting a fifth yr of eligibility at Arizona State College in 2024-25.
Adversity hit Shlaine originally of his time in Tempe, Arizona. When he stepped on the ice for one among his first practices within the maroon and gold, he suffered a damaged foot. His physician informed him that it might take 8-10 weeks to heal and Artem’s eyes instantly went to the calendar.
ASU was scheduled to journey to Northern Michigan seven weeks into his restoration. Shlaine set a aim for an early return so he may play in that sequence, not simply to assist his crew, however due to how particular Marquette, Michigan was to him.
Via two seasons at NMU, Shlaine constructed a powerful bond with the devoted Wildcats fan base. Whether or not he was on the grocery retailer, on campus, or on the rink, the neighborhood knew who he was. Marquette was a spot Shlaine will always remember, which is what drove him to work exhausting in his restoration.
He was cleared to observe every week previous to the sequence, and suited up for the Solar Devils in each video games in opposition to NMU. Wildcat followers cheered him on and even made indicators thanking Shlaine for all he did for this system.
Shlaine took Arizona State to the Nationwide Collegiate Hockey Convention semifinals within the college’s inaugural season within the league.
When his season with the Solar Devils ended, he signed an beginner tryout with the Texas Stars, taking part in six video games for the AHL membership because it equipped for the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Coming into his rookie season this yr, he wasted no time scoring his first skilled aim. Shlaine discovered the again of the online Oct. 18 at Milwaukee and had his greatest supporters within the crowd.
“I suppose the historical past sort of repeats itself with me so much by way of my first aim,” he mentioned. “Identical to Northern [Michigan], similar to ASU, for my first aim, my dad and mom have been within the stands.”
Scoring his first professional aim was superb for Shlaine, however doing it in entrance of his dad and mom made the second much more particular. His mother and pa have had such a vital position in his life, and he’s very conscious of how a lot they’ve completed to assist him alongside his unconventional path.
“My dad’s all the time speaking hockey, hockey, hockey, the place my mother is extra like my psychological psychologist operating me by way of conditions, eventualities and stuff,” he mentioned. “Once they come to video games, it is one thing particular for me each time they do.”
Now that he has greater than ten skilled video games below his belt, Shlaine has seen a stark distinction between school hockey and the professionals.
“I consider guys make fewer errors right here. When somebody makes a mistake, normally the puck finally ends up behind your internet,” he mentioned. “Guys are so expert they usually make you pay to your errors.”
Shlaine capitalized on a mistake to attain his first aim in Milwaukee, however each step of his journey to get to professional hockey has been intentional and deserved, along with his household behind him the complete manner.
