Battlers Captain Cam Hofstetter Breaks Hand and then Scores Twice in Battlers Win

KALKASKA, MI– Kalkaska Battlers Captain and crowd favorite, #23 Cam Hofstetter, added another legendary chapter to his hockey career during Saturday night’s showdown against the Flint Lumberjacks. Hofstetter broke his hand during a second-period fight yet continued to play, finishing the game with two goals and completing a Gordie Howe hat trick—earning a goal, an assist, and a fight in the same game.  

The injury occurred midway through the second period when Hofstetter dropped the gloves with one of Flint’s players, standing up for the team after a heavily disputed call. Despite sustaining the hand injury during the bout, the captain returned to the ice and scored twice, electrifying the home crowd and leading the Battlers to a hard-fought victory.  

“Cam embodies everything we want this team to stand for—toughness, determination, and heart,” said Battlers Owner Andrew Dibble. “Seeing him push through that kind of adversity and still contribute at such a high level shows why he’s the Captain of this team. He’s a warrior, hes a Battler.”  

After the game, Hofstetter was evaluated by a local medical team and confirmed to have broken his hand. While his return timeline is still uncertain, he will temporarily shift roles, assisting Coach Parisio behind the bench while supporting the team during his recovery.  

Fans will undoubtedly miss seeing #23 on the ice but can look forward to his continued leadership in the weeks to come. The Battlers are gearing up for a pivotal stretch of games, and Hofstetter’s presence—even from the bench—will remain a key to their success.  

Stay tuned for updates on Hofstetter’s status and come out to the Kaliseum to cheer on the Battlers as they push toward the playoffs!  Their next home game is scheduled for Jan 4th agains the Toledo Mobsters with a game on Sunday Jan 5th as well agains the West Michigan Sentinels.