Pat Borgestad

By Tara Sowle
UWRF Sports Information

When asked what Falcon forward Pat Borgestad wanted to do after college, he replied   "I'm sitting in it." He was sitting behind the desk of Assistant Coach Bob Ritzer.

Borgestad has come a long way to get to this point at UW-River Falls. He put on his first pair of skates shortly after he started walking and at the tender age of three Borgestad was skating and trying to keep up with his older brothers and his dad.  

"Hockey has always been a family sport," Borgestad said. He knew early on that he like playing forward because he likes the scoring and the puck handling. Borgestad kept active in the off-season through high school, playing football and baseball, but hockey was always his No. 1 sport.

Borgestad grew up quick around his two older brothers and eventually came to out grow them in size and determination. The 6-3, 205 pounder from St. Paul joined the Falcons after spending four years playing junior hockey at Des Moines in the USHL. He earned a spot on the 2002 USHL All-Star team.

Borgestad also competed with the North American Selects and with Team Minnesota in the Select 17 Tournament. The Select 17 team won the tournament championship. He lists his biggest junior hockey thrill as playing in the USHL playoffs. At Como Park High School, he was twice named to the all-conference team and earned honorable mention to the All-State team.

Borgestad joined the Falcon team mid way through his freshman year and played in three games. His talent was obvious to Coach Steve Freeman. "He has great hand skills and thinks the game ahead. He's a two-way player, he works had on both ends of the rink which makes him extremely valuable to our program."  

Borgestad wanted to play for the Falcons because of the good location and he knew he wanted to be a part of Freeman's team. "Freeman brings in top notch players and runs a first class program."

During his sophomore season he really picked up the pace earning honorable mention in both the All-NCHA and All-WIAC teams. He was the team's player of the week three times and finished third in scoring with 13 goals and 26 points. He had five power-play goals and seven multiple point games.  

He proved himself to be not only a strong player, but also a consistent one scoring at least one point in four straight games. Being on the road doesn't hurt his game either; he scored 14 points at home and 12 on the road.  

This year Borgestad isn't slowing down. He was named to the team's player of the week on Jan. 8 for helping the Falcons to a 4-4 overtime tie with Marian and a 7-4 win over Bethel. He scored a power-play goal and had an assist that tied the game at Marian. Against Bethel he scored the goal that tied the game. So far he's scored 11 goals and 12 assists, but he wants more. "My personal goal is to score 20 goals and as a team I'd like to see us get past the first round of playoffs."  

Throughout Borgestad's life he has never lost his passion for hockey and wants to always be apart of the sport. "Basically, one day I want to make money playing hockey," said Borgestad. Where isn't an issue, but minor league hockey is something he sees in his future. After that, he would like to take his degree in health & human performance and coach the sports he loves so much. What he likes about coaching is, "being on the other side of things and interacting with the players."

Hockey is a huge part of Borgestad's life, but he does find time for other things. When he's not on the ice, he's on the bank of the Kinni reeling in the catch of the day.  

"Josh Meyers and I have gone fishing every Sunday since he got here," said Borgestad. Fishing and hunting help keep him rounded, but also shows that he's not all business.

Freeman said it best when describing Borgestad as a, "very genuine man and a quality teammate."