A brother's bond is unlike any other. Growing up in the same household and being raised the same way fosters the innate ability for siblings to relate in unimaginable ways.

That's no different for James and Michael Hagens.

The Long Island natives sent shockwaves through the college recruiting world last month after both pledged their commitments to play collegiate hockey next year for Boston College.

Michael, the eldest of the two brothers, is currently starring as a defenseman for the USHL's Chicago Steel, while younger brother James is currently being heralded as a potential top pick for the 2025 NHL Draft while playing with the U.S. National Team Development Program’s Under-18 Team.

James Hagens how ya FEELIN'?#U18MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/yRs3btToTF

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) April 23, 2023

Michael had originally committed to Harvard in September 2021, with James still years away to being able to make his official pledge. The factors behind the de-commitment for the older Hagens brother having the opportunity to play with his younger brother again. The two still wanted to make sure wherever they ended up, they were close enough to home, too.

“We decided in the end that was the most important thing wherever we went,” Michael Hagens told FloHockey. “Staying close to home was important to my parents and us, too. It’s always nice to stay close to home.

“That Boston area, too, we love that area. Boston College just seemed like a great fit for us. It’s right in the city and obviously a great school with great hockey.”

“We both felt like BC is the spot for us, and we made a decision as a family,” added James Hagens. “We wanted to be together, and we wanted to go in together. To be able to play at BC together, we both felt it was really special that not only means a lot to us but for our family as well.”

James, who as a late 2006 birthdate had to wait a bit longer than his peers to make his college commitment generated significant NCAA interest from top programs after an impressive 2022-23 season at the NTDP that saw him become widely viewed as the top uncommitted prospect in the country.

Primarily skating as a 15-year-old in 2022-23, Hagens split the year between the NTDP U-17 and U-18 squads. With the former, he accumulated 66 points (26 goals, 40 assists) in 43 games. Hagens was called up to the U-18 team in February, finishing with 19 points in 17 games.

James picked up international recognition at the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, setting a single-tournament record with 21 points in seven games and helping Team USA earn its sixth title at the event. He then helped the U.S. end a five-year golden drought at the 2023 IIHF World Men’s Under-18 Championship in April.

This summer, the Hagens boys weighed their litany of options as both were highly sought after by the biggest programs in college hockey.

With the brothers’ commitment to Boston College, however, the Eagles will once again have one of the top recruiting classes after boasting the No. 1 class for 2023-24 led by former NTDP standouts Will Smith (SJS), Ryan Leonard (WSH) and Gabe Perreault (NYR).

Going to BC will be the latest step in a journey that has been trekked largely together, beginning on a 42’ x 20’ homemade ice rink in the backyard.

Long Island’s climate wouldn’t always cooperate, but the boys would get a solid month of 1-on-1 play before the ice began to melt. However, over time, the Hagens boys found ways to extend their time on the ice, initially adding stand-up lights to play at night and, later, a generator to keep the ice rink in use a little longer.

Here, the brothers developed their bond and love for the game of hockey.

“Looking back at it and seeing all the videos of us learning how to skate, having a good time, and loving the game, I feel that’s where it all started,” said James. “It brought us closer as brothers, and we still go back and forth to this day who would win a 1-on-1. That’s something that will never stop, and I’m sure we’ll be battling about it for years to come.”

Despite the two-year age difference, the brothers broke into youth hockey with the Long Island Royals, often going up against each other in practices in what were extensions of the battles on their backyard pond hockey.

Jimmy Hagens ‘06 with the 2012s #royalfamily #royalty pic.twitter.com/g3qVVIvY5S

— LI Royals (@LIRoyalsAAA) October 7, 2023

The relationship continued at Mount St. Charles Academy, where Michael, who spent time playing as a forward and defenseman, permanently switched to the blueline in his 15U season.

Now, the 1-on-1 battles developed into much more than brotherly competition, with James focused on becoming a better forward and Michael determined to stop him.

“I’d never tell him to his face, but he’s one of those players that I could never seem to get around,” James said of his older brother. “We were skating together (last) summer, and the way he took a step in his game, it’s truly incredible, and it’s really cool to see.

“As a younger brother, I never love giving him credit, but I’ll go against him in battle drills, and he will be coming out with the puck most of the time, unfortunately. I truly think he’s one of the best USHL defensemen right now if not the best,” continued James.

Zig ➡️ Zag ⬅️ Goal 🚨

Michael Hagens' second goal of the year was a BEAUTY!#FeelSteel https://t.co/tAzgxc1yvY pic.twitter.com/Pex7t9nvWh

— Chicago Steel (@ChicagoSteel) October 6, 2023

For Michael, the switch to defense was a natural transition after defending his brother in the backyard.

“In those 1-on-1’s, I felt comfortable defensively even though I was a forward (at the time). Maybe it’s to his credit, locking him down and getting all those reps,” the elder Hagens brother laughed.

After going their separate ways in the USHL, the brothers have found individual success with their respective teams.

James is off to a fast start with the NTDP U-18 squad this year. Through the team’s first six games, the 16-year-old forward has 10 points (four goals, six assists), collecting three multi-point efforts already this year.

In his first year with the Steel, Michael Hagens finished with the third-most points (26) among defensemen on the team and earned USHL All-Rookie Second Team honors. Returning for his second season, he already has a goal through Chicago’s first four games and looks poised for a sizable increase in production.

While the elder Hagens brother’s offensive abilities are a big piece of his game, he will look to develop his defensive details with the hope of being drafted as a re-entry prospect in the 2024 NHL Draft.

The offseason training partners and longtime teammates will only have a few more meetings as combatants before joining forces again. 

James and Michael will go up against each other for the first time this season when the Steel visit USA Hockey Arena on Wednesday, Dec. 13.