Jentzen Kaebel spent the past two seasons with the Utah Outliers in the NCDC.
Kaebel looks to fill his older cousin’s skates on Flames’ DI defensive corps
9/4/2025 1:57:00 PM | Men's D1 Hockey
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Jentzen Kaebel, whose father and uncles run hockey camps in the Dallas, Tulsa (Okla.), and Minneapolis areas, hopes to carry on the legacy left by Laz Kaebel at his position.
Following in the skate tracks of his older cousin, Laz Kaebel, freshman Jentzen Kaebel, a 6-foot, 1-inch, 172-pound defenseman, is one of six new additions to Liberty University's ACHA Division I men's hockey team this fall — and one of at least three walk-ons to make the team after last month's tryouts.
"Jentzen is left-handed, and he is going to be a good puck-moving defenseman and a guy who is working hard for every opportunity he's getting," Head Coach Kirk Handy said as he and the Flames prepare to open their season with an exhibition game against the West Chester (Pa.) Wolves Friday at 7 p.m. in the LaHaye Ice Center.
Jentzen Kaebel
Kaebel, a Dallas-area native and a former neighbor of Laz and his family, played the last two seasons with the Utah Outliers — where former Liberty head captain Matt Bartel played before joining the Flames in 2019 — scoring 6 goals and distributing 21 assists in 107 games, including seven in the playoffs.
"I am super excited," said Kaebel, who is pursuing a B.S. in Exercise Science. "It's such a blessing, for sure. Obviously, Kirk (Handy) and (Assistant Coach) Ben (Hughes, who works with the defensemen) are both super great coaches. They called me a couple times and said they were short on defensemen."
He had visited Liberty on at least two previous occasions and followed his cousin through the livestreams of the Flames' games through ESPN+.
"I came here two years ago for (a Liberty Select) Camp, and I loved it here," Kaebel said. "It's such an awesome atmosphere here so far, and the group of guys are amazing. I like to compete with everyone. I didn't know any of them coming in, but hopefully I'm close to the whole team pretty soon here, and we can get things rolling."
He considers himself a smaller version of his older cousin, who opted out of his senior season with the Flames to sign with the Tulsa (Okla.) Oilers in the ECHL this summer.
"I'd say Laz is a bigger, more of a stay-at-home defenseman, in between (the blue lines)," Jentzen Kaebel said. "He is good offensively, and obviously he has a really nice shot, I'm just a little smaller, but still super strong on my skates and I try to move the puck well and then contribute offensively as well. I'd like to say I'm faster, but I don't really know."
While he was looking forward to challenging Laz to skating sprints in practice and potentially playing on the same defensive pairing, he is excited to compete alongside any of the seven other defensemen on this season's squad, surrounded by fellow believers who can sharpen one another on and off the ice.
"I come from a Christian household, and it's nice coming here and training with kids that are like-minded," Kaebel said. "I love it here. I mean, it's awesome that they preach the Word and are able to compete. The motto here is Training Champions for Christ, which is insane. I think it's awesome."
He is considering becoming a physical therapist, personal trainer, or chiropractor after graduating in 2029 or 2031, but would like to stay in the game, if not as a professional player, then as a coach.
"My family has just revolved around hockey," Kaebel said. "My dad's a coach, and my uncles are both coaches, so I could step into the coaching world. That sounds like a little backup plan. But for now, it's an honor to be on the DI team and hang with guys who just want to come every day and actually compete. They want to work hard and are just here to get better and go further, whether it's past college or professional."
Kaebel (77) will carry his number from the Outliers to the Flames this season.
He is excited for Friday's first test against the West Chester Wolves, which, like the Utah Outliers, compete in the NCDC.
"I don't know how good they are, but it should be fun," Kaebel said. "I'll be used to that level, at least. The ACHA is definitely a step up, though, compared to that, because the guys are older, and everyone's just a bit stronger."
He believes the Flames have all the tools needed to get back to the ACHA Division I National Championships next March in St. Louis and advance to their first final after reaching the Frozen Four three times in the past five seasons.
"I'm here to make sure we have the best chance at winning a national championship," Kaebel said. "I'm just really here to get the guys going every day, bringing positive energy and hard work to the table every day."
