Brad Werenka was a prominent defenseman for Northern Michigan University from 1986 to 1991. In his final season, he was a key player in the Wildcats’ 1991 NCAA national championship victory. His standout performance that season earned him several awards, including WCHA First-Team All-American and the WCHA Student Athlete of the Year. Werenka’s impressive play was also recognized on the national level when he was a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award in 1991.

After his successful collegiate career, Werenka was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 1987 and went on to have a long professional career. He played in 320 NHL games over seven seasons with the Oilers, Quebec Nordiques, Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Calgary Flames. In addition to his NHL career, Werenka was a member of the Canadian national team that won a silver medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics. He retired from professional hockey in 2001 and was inducted into the Northern Michigan University Hall of Fame in 2002.