“It’s been in my family.”

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Michigan State University graduate transfer and forward Charlie Combs was born into a hockey family.

“My uncle played and my dad played, then my dad got my brother into playing, so it’s just one of those things that come up in our family.”

Growing up in a city like St. Louis, an up-and-coming city for youth hockey development, may have helped as well. “St. Louis is becoming a “hockey hotbed”, I think around my age group it started to get more popular. We had a lot of NHLers come back like Al MacInnis, Keith Tkachuk, and Jeff Brown, who actually coached our local AAA teams, and I think that was what started it, and now you’ve seen guys like Andy McDonald coming back, and other NHLers come back and coaching, so it’s just awesome to see them giving back to the St. Louis community, growing the game there.”

Tied for the Spartans’ leading point-scorer with six in eight games, and leading the team with three goals, Combs grew up cheering for the St. Louis Blues, and his favorite player, Brett Hull. “To this day, his goal-scoring ability was through the roof and I loved that.”

Hockey was a priority for Combs growing up and took up most of his time, but he was still able to attend around one Blues game a month, mainly for a special occasion or a big night.

He grew up playing in the St. Louis AAA and Amateur Blues system and being coached by MacInnis.

“It was unbelievable. Just putting on the “Blue Note” back then, it just felt special. We would always take pride in that, we always felt like part of the organization, of the Blues, even though we weren’t up at the top, but it’s just cool, putting on your hometown team’s sweater, no matter if it’s going to a game or playing a game.”

Following his time with the Amateur Blues, Combs moved on to the North American Hockey League (NAHL) with the Amarillo Bulls. Following that stint, he moved on to the United States Hockey League (USHL) with both the Dubuque Fighting Saints and the Muskegon Lumberjacks, before finally settling on a junior league, the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) with the Wenatchee Wild.

“I have nothing but good things to say about every program that I played for. Amarillo treated me very well with (Head Coach) Jon Rogger and (Assistant Coach) Mike Watt. It was a tough decision to even leave that team at first. I didn’t know if I would stick in the USHL, and I didn’t know if I was ready for it, but I was fortunate enough to go there and make the team out of camp, making Dubuque. Right when I started settling into Dubuque, I got traded to Muskegon, and in Muskegon, I was never really comfortable, I just never really was producing, never really panned out for them. The Wenatchee coach Bliss Littler was actually coaching against me when I played in Amarillo because they (Amarillo) transferred that year to the BCHL, it was their first year in the BCHL, so he called me that summer and said that they would love for me to come to the BCHL and play with them, and I told them I was already affiliated (in the USHL), but if things don’t work out, I would definitely love to come to play with you in the BCHL.”

Turns out, the move to the BCHL’s Wenatchee Wild would be the best thing he’s ever decided to do.

“I think that was the best decision I’ve ever made, to go to Wenatchee. I was a perfect fit and can’t say anything but good things about Wenatchee and that program.”

During his time with the Wild, Combs committed to Bemidji State University to play hockey.

“I would say one of the biggest things was that my linemate, Brendan Harris, committed there before me, so, our connection, our friendship, really was a big impact, but honestly, I think I just was really happy with the situation. I didn’t really get to tour the school, I just knew that coming in, I would get an opportunity to really show my name, and it worked out and I was happy with the decision.”

He mentioned his experience playing in Hockey Day in Minnesota outside against Michigan Tech as his biggest team accomplishment during his time there while bringing up his hat trick against the University of Alabama-Huntsville as his biggest personal achievement.

Combs made the decision to graduate in three years and enter his name into the transfer portal as a graduate transfer.

“My motive (to graduate early) was for hockey. I want to have a long career in hockey, I’m not the kind of guy that just wants to settle and get a job after, I want to play the game because it’s what I love, it’s my passion. Pretty much (graduating early) was a decision my family made. If I jumped into the (transfer) portal I can up my game and develop even more, and try to become the best player I can be so I can make that step next year.”

Charlie Combs’ first as a Spartan! pic.twitter.com/n0vlQdUZJo

— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) November 29, 2020

When Charlie Combs entered the transfer portal, that’s when Michigan State entered the picture.

“I think Michigan State speaks for itself. It’s a great hockey program, a great school. I was actually working out with my brother on a track and I got an email from (Assistant) Coach (Joe) Exter. We were both so excited. I talked to Coach Exter for the first time, just his constant commitment to me, his constant talk, and communication, I instantly felt like part of the team. It was a very easy decision to come here.”

The transition for Combs was easy. The team welcomed him with open arms, and the coaching staff has been nothing but nice. “They’re upping my game, and they’ve been nothing but good to me, and I’ve been nothing but thankful and happy.”

Charlie Combs’ second of the weekend pulls the Spartans within one! pic.twitter.com/iDwiz3Qhir

— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) November 30, 2020

Charlie Combs has been an integral part of the Michigan State team to begin the season, and his linemates, sophomore and Calgary Flames prospect Joshua Nodler, and freshman A.J. Hodges have helped him and the team’s offense get going.

“It’s awesome, seeing A.J.  just step in and being the good hockey player he is, he is a tremendous player, and his skill is through the roof. He’s another Wenatchee Wild, so we had that connection right away. Nodler is a top-notch player. He’s probably one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen on and off the ice, so it’s been easy. It’s fun playing with the young guys now that I’m one of the older bucks on the team, so I’ve got to keep up with them.”

Charlie Combs’ third of the year & we’re tied after one pic.twitter.com/zlOA6KyBN6

— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) December 20, 2020

As a graduate transfer, Charlie Combs is on the same path as the seven members of the Michigan State senior class, including the team’s co-captains Tommy Apap and Tommy Miller, and one of two alternate captains in Mitchell Lewandowski. With that comes a leadership role that he is willing to take on.

“I’ve really just been trying to lead by example, just try to work hard at everything I do, on and off the ice, just do the right thing and hope that wears off on the younger guys, and see what it takes to play at this level.”

Charlie Combs’s older brother, Jack, has taken a long journey around the world since 2009, when he ended his Ontario Hockey League (OHL) career with the Saginaw Spirit, playing in nine different leagues, including a 22-game stint with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in the 2012-13 season. Due to their eight-year age gap, they were never able to play with each other in their youth, but that is a goal for the future.

“We’ve always been really close. We’re always talking, hyping each other up. I think our relationship has grown even more and more now that I’m taking the next step and starting to play college and starting to transition and try to make a pro career. Our goal has always been to play with each other at some point, so hopefully, you could see both of us on the ice, but it’s awesome. Each summer, we play roller hockey together, and it’s a blast, being able to put on the same jersey as him, be on the same surface as him, so I just hope that can happen in the next couple of years in professional (hockey).”

As Charlie Combs has progressed through his hockey journey, now to Michigan State, there is one piece of advice that he’s received that sticks out to him.

“Honestly, just work as hard as you can. It’s pretty generic, but competing and hard work is definitely my drive. I want to be the hardest working guy on the ice, I want to compete, I want to win and I want to do everything. I would say always be hard-working and have the “never take a shift off” mentality.”

He also had some advice for people who want to take the same path he has, trying to play professional hockey.

“It’s always to follow your goals. If you want to do it, definitely do it. The thing I was told for hockey was to do what makes you the best. If you are going to be a goal scorer, you should go out and you should be scoring goals or you should be making offensive plays or doing something that will help you and your team succeed. Everyone has their own identities when it comes to hockey, and I really think following your identity and making sure that everyone knows that you’ll get noticed and keep making your way up the ranks.”

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