Artem Shlaine Bio
Artem Shlaine is a Russian professional ice hockey centre for the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League. Born on 7 March 2002 in Moscow, Russia, Shlaine developed as a face-off specialist and two-way centre through North American prep school and collegiate programs before beginning his professional career in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Artem Shlaine was born in Moscow to Dmitri Shlaine and Ekaterina Shlaine and grew up in a family that supported his early hockey development. He has a brother, Daniel, who is part of his family background as recorded in public profiles. Shlaine moved to North America to advance his hockey education, attending Shattuck-Saint Mary’s in Faribault, Minnesota, a well-known prep program that has produced multiple major junior and collegiate players.
At Shattuck-Saint Mary’s Shlaine refined his skating, defensive positioning and face-off technique against high-level junior competition, preparing him for entry to NCAA hockey. His early exposure to structured North American development models helped position him for selection in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and subsequent commitments to NCAA Division I programs.
Path to Hockey
Shlaine originally committed to Boston University before switching his collegiate commitment to the University of Connecticut, where he began his NCAA career in the 2020–21 season. His decision to pursue U.S. college hockey followed the traditional ladder for players seeking to blend on-ice development with academic and physical maturation. In college he quickly became known for his reliability in the face-off circle and his contributions at both ends of the ice.
Following two seasons at Connecticut, Shlaine transferred to Northern Michigan University for the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons, further increasing his offensive production and face-off volume. He completed his graduate season at Arizona State University in 2024–25, where he posted his most productive offensive totals and earned conference and national recognition before turning professional.
Artem Shlaine Career
Early Career (2020–2022)
Shlaine entered NCAA play with the University of Connecticut in the 2020–21 season, recording one goal and eight assists in 23 games while leading UConn and the Hockey East conference in face-off win percentage at 60.2 percent with 162 face-off wins. In the 2021–22 season he improved his scoring output to seven goals and ten assists across 36 games and again led his team in face-off win percentage at 57.6 percent, establishing himself as a dependable defensive forward and set-piece specialist on draws.
During this early collegiate span Shlaine combined defensive discipline with secondary playmaking, emerging as a player coaches relied on in critical defensive-zone and special-teams situations. His play attracted attention at the professional level after having been selected in the fifth round, 130th overall, by the New Jersey Devils in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
Northern Michigan Breakthrough (2022–2024)
Shlaine transferred to Northern Michigan University on 17 June 2022 and experienced a clear uptick in offensive production and on-ice responsibility. In the 2022–23 season he recorded 11 goals and 21 assists in 38 games, showcasing increased playmaking and two-way stamina. His junior season production reflected a forward growing more comfortable with a heavier load in transition and zone entries.
In the 2023–24 season Shlaine continued to play a pivotal role for the Northern Michigan Wildcats, posting ten goals and 13 assists in 27 games while leading the team with 315 face-off wins and leading the Central Collegiate Hockey Association with a 58.8 percent face-off win percentage. On 10 November 2023 he recorded his first collegiate hat-trick in a game against Lake Superior State, a signature single-game performance that underscored his scoring ability when given offensive opportunities.
Arizona State Era (2024–2025)
On 10 April 2024 Shlaine transferred to Arizona State University for his graduate season. He missed the first six games of the 2024–25 campaign due to injury but returned to post a career-high offensive season, recording 17 goals and 21 assists in 31 games. His production helped Arizona State compete at a higher level within its conference and highlighted his ability to translate face-off dominance into offensive starts.
Following the 2024–25 season Shlaine earned significant recognition: he was named to the All-NCHC First Team and to the American Hockey Coaches Association West Second Team All-American. He became only the second player in program history at Arizona State to earn All-American honors and was named a finalist for the NCHC Player of the Year and NCHC Forward of the Year, marking the strongest individual collegiate season of his career.
Texas Stars Era (2025–Present)
On 31 March 2025 Shlaine signed an amateur tryout contract with the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League, beginning his professional career in the Stars organization. The move to the AHL represents Shlaine’s first steps on the professional ladder and places him within a development system closely watched by NHL clubs. Transitioning from collegiate to professional competition in 2025, he joined teammates and coaching staff preparing him for the increased pace and physicality of pro hockey.
As a new professional, Shlaine brings a combination of face-off excellence, defensive responsibility and improved offensive output to the Texas Stars. The AHL environment will test his ability to sustain production against deeper defensive structures while adapting to pro systems and travel schedules.
Driving Style and Strengths
Shlaine is a left-shooting centre noted for elite face-off skill, consistently posting high face-off win percentages throughout his NCAA career and leading his teams in face-off wins. He combines that specialty with dependable defensive positioning, a willingness to engage in the defensive cycle, and playmaking instincts that generated rising assist totals as his collegiate career progressed. Coaches have used him in defensive-zone draws, penalty-kill situations and as a shutdown centre matched against opposing top lines.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Shlaine’s development include selection in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils, a first collegiate hat-trick on 10 November 2023, All-NCHC First Team honors, and recognition as an AHCA West Second Team All-American following the 2024–25 season. His March 2025 signing with the Texas Stars marked the official start of his professional career.
Artem Shlaine Career Wins
Across his collegiate career, Shlaine compiled increasing offensive totals and led multiple teams and conferences in face-off metrics; those accomplishments translated into postseason and individual honors that punctuated his development. His verified collegiate highlights include season-by-season scoring growth, a hat-trick performance, conference leadership in face-offs and All-American recognition.
College Highlights
At the University of Connecticut Shlaine led the Huskies and Hockey East in face-off win percentage during his freshman season and posted 1 goal and 8 assists in 23 games in 2020–21. At Northern Michigan he produced 11 goals and 21 assists in 2022–23 and added 10 goals and 13 assists in 27 games in 2023–24 while leading the Wildcats and the CCHA in face-off metrics. At Arizona State in 2024–25 he set new personal offensive marks with 17 goals and 21 assists in 31 games, earning conference and national honors.
Other Wins & Perfromances
Other notable performances include Shlaine’s first collegiate hat-trick and his status as a finalist for NCHC Player of the Year and NCHC Forward of the Year. These single-game and seasonal recognitions reflect both his situational scoring ability and his overall value to team structure through face-off control and two-way play.
Artem Shlaine Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Shlaine was born to Dmitri and Ekaterina Shlaine and has a brother, Daniel. Public records and profile entries list his parents by name and note the family move that enabled his development within North American prep and collegiate systems. There is no public record in the provided inputs of a multigenerational professional hockey lineage beyond his own progress through development programs.
Personal Life
Public information provided for Shlaine focuses on his hockey career, family names and development path. No verified public details about marriage, children or long-term residence were provided in the verified inputs, and personal relationships beyond immediate family are not recorded in the source material.
2025 Season Performance
Shlaine concluded the 2024–25 collegiate season with career-best offensive totals and national honors, then signed an amateur tryout with the Texas Stars on 31 March 2025 to begin his professional career. The 2025 season will be defined by his adaptation to the AHL schedule, the physical and tactical step up from college hockey, and opportunities to earn a regular professional role by leveraging his face-off strength and two-way consistency.
Outlook for 2025 centers on Shlaine establishing himself within the Stars organization, gaining pro minutes in a variety of situations and demonstrating that his collegiate production and defensive reliability carry over at the professional level. Continued development in puck possession, late-game decision-making and special-teams contributions will shape his early professional trajectory.