Although people joke about twin telepathy, the Hogan twins’ performance on the ice makes a strong argument for the myth.

Arizona Wildcat hockey has two new additions to the team, John and Brian “Toppie” Hogan. Although they have been off the ice for over a year-and-a-half, the Tucson Convention Center Arena already knows the name of these two men, as they have made an immediate impact for Arizona.

Since the twins began to walk, they were simultaneously skating on the ice. For the past 11 years, John and Toppie Hogan have played on the same offensive line together.

“We’ve been doing it for so long, people actually think we have twin telepathy,” Toppie Hogan said. “We throw blind passes and just know the other will be there to get it.”

After ending their hockey careers on a high note by winning a national championship with the St. Louis Selects hockey team, the boys packed away their pads and hung up their sticks for good — or so they thought. In 2013, the two left the hockey world behind and ventured to Tucson to start their freshman years of college.

Once the Midwesterners adjusted to the Southwest desert and settled into college life, the twins realized just how much they missed hockey. John Hogan couldn’t stay away from the sport much longer, so he volunteered to assist the UA coaches in recording statistics and creating game-time strategies.

“We thought we could not miss hockey, but we did,” John Hogan said. “I just missed the hockey world and wanted to be part of it again. But after a while, I thought I would be a better asset on the ice than just sitting and watching it.”

Both John and Toppie Hogan have proven to be great assets on the Wildcat team early on in their collegiate careers. In just three weeks of games, Toppie Hogan has scored a total of 13 points, and John Hogan has accumulated 8 points.

“We didn’t know how the team would accept two new guys, but they have helped us, and we all have fun together on and off the ice,” Toppie Hogan said. “It also helps the transition onto the team, [because] our production has been there so far.”

This dynamic duo is unique because they don’t just score — they score together. Every single one of John’s three goals this season has been assisted from twin brother Brian Hogan.

“We don’t fight that much, because we realize we are much better together than we are apart,” John Hogan said. “If we played on separate lines, we wouldn’t be as productive as we are.”

Although identical, the twins have different styles of play. Brian Hogan tries to emulate New York Ranger Rick Nash.

“Nash is not a superstar, but he puts up goals,” Brian Hogan said. “He is an all-around solid player who works hard and uses his body if he needs to. And not to mention, everyone knows he’s just a great goal scorer.”

Just like Nash, Brian Hogan has no problem finding the back of the net in any game-time situation. In just seven games, he has scored six goals.

On the other hand, John Hogan tries to play like Jason Arnott of the St. Louis Blues. John Hogan has never been the fastest or the best skater on the ice. However, he compensates his weaknesses with his strong sense of hockey IQ and his ability to outsmart his opponents.

“Arnott can’t skate very well, and I can’t either,” John Hogan said jokingly. “He is a smart player with a good hockey IQ and can always get the job done.”

Whatever these two are doing, it is definitely working for them as they continue to bring success to Arizona hockey.

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