Brandon Hagel family

Brandon Hagel (born August 27, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the National Hockey League (NHL). A native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Hagel grew up in Morinville, Alberta, and began his hockey journey with the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers in the Alberta Midget Hockey League.

Despite being overlooked in the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft due to his slight stature, Hagel earned him a spot with the Red Deer Rebels, where he set the franchise record for most assists and was selected 159th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. After the Sabres relinquished his rights, he signed with the Chicago Blackhawks, making his NHL debut in March 2020. Hagel has since established himself as a key player in Tampa Bay and has represented Canada at the IIHF World Championships, winning gold in 2021.

Brandon Hagel parents

Brandon Hagel comes from a close-knit family in Morinville, Alberta. His parents are Dwayne and Nicole Hagel. Dwayne is a sales manager for a roofing company while Nicole works in the insurance industry as per The Athletics. Dwayne Hagel often took him to practices and games, while Nicole was the "steady hand" keeping things grounded during the highs and lows.

Brandon Hagel’s path to the NHL wasn’t always smooth, but his parents stood by him. One tough moment came in 2018 when Brandon’s hockey career seemed uncertain. After the Buffalo Sabres gave up his draft rights, Brandon was heading into his fourth year of junior hockey without a clear plan for the future. Feeling stuck, he started thinking about taking college classes as a backup plan as per the Chicago Sun-Times.

Dwayne Hagel remembers how hard that time was for Brandon.

“He was in a bad spot there, he thought, and I thought, too,” Dwayne told The Chicago Sun-Times.

Even though things looked difficult, Hagel’s parents encouraged him not to give up on his dream.

While Dwayne shared his experience and advice, Nichole Hagel always offered care and emotional support. With his parents’ encouragement, Brandon Hagel found the strength to keep going. Soon after, he got another chance in professional hockey, proving their belief in him was well worth it.

Brandon Hagel siblings

Brandon Hagel grew up in Morinville, Alberta, with two siblings, an older brother Tyler Hagel, and a sister Chelsea Hegel. Tyler, who still lives in their hometown, works as a power line technician, spending his days climbing poles and handling live wires, a job he describes as one that “keeps you on your toes” as per The Athletics.

Growing up, Tyler played a big role in shaping Brandon's competitive spirit. They had epic street hockey games and intense mini-stick battles in their basement, which sometimes got so heated that walls ended up with holes. Tyler is engaged to Brittany Marie Eljoke as per his Facebook profile.

Chelsea Hegel, meanwhile, works at Adventureland Daycarer & OSC as per her Facebook profile. She is engaged to Jaydan Hohlbein.