There are not many college hockey players who can say that they have played for their team for 4 1/2 years.

There are also not many college hockey players who can say that they own their own business in the summer between hockey seasons. The senior goaltender for the ISU hockey team, Paul Karus, can say both of those things.

Karus, from Brookfield, Wis., is majoring in horticulture and owns his own landscaping business. Karus admits that he has changed his major quite a few times and jokes that “all I know is that I’m getting a degree in something.”

PK Lawnscape Inc. was started by Karus and a friend as a summer job one year, and it grew into a small business that his mom runs when he is away at school.

“It grew to the point where my mom was thinking about retiring, and then she finally did retire to run the business whenever I’m away because it’s grown to that point where it’s a big baby right now,” Karus said. “It’s no longer a small baby.”

Karus’s said that his mom and dad each own 20 percent of PK Lawnscape Inc. His brother owns 21 percent with Karus owning the remaining 39 percent.

On the ice during the 2008-09 season after playing in six games with the Mass Maple Leafs in CHA Jr. B, he started his collegiate career at Iowa State in the second semester and played in one game for the Cyclones. He stopped all nine shots he faced in that game.

Karus is back with the Cyclones this season for his final year of eligibility, which ISU coach Al Murdoch said he was able to retain by not dressing at the ACHA national tournament his first semester with the team.

Karus looks back now and said he made the right choice that season.

“That was one of the better choices that I have made, because the simple fact is, yeah I came in halfway through the year and I would’ve liked to dress, I would’ve liked to have played as much as I can, but the fact is you can’t always get instant gratification,” Karus said. “You’ve got to plan for the long haul, and this was definitely the right plan.”

With Karus going into his senior year, Murdoch said he is happy with his progression and said he has a good chance of playing a little bit of professional hockey if he so chooses.

“He knows the system hockey-wise and academically,” Murdoch said. “So it’s just a matter of getting himself to a peak at a higher level than he’s ever been at before.”

Senior captain Brandon Clark is in his fourth year with the ISU hockey team, and all of them have been with Karus. Clark has watched Karus progress as a goaltender through the years.

“He’s got a lot more confidence, I feel like,” Clark said. “I know he’s one of the hardest working guys on our team. He’s the best preparing guy, I should say. He prepares for every game the same way.”

Clark said jokingly that off the ice, Karus is a “weirdo.”

“He is; all goalies are weirdos,” Clark said. “No, off the ice he takes care of himself and he prepares. He has the same routine every practice. I know after every practice he goes and he works out on his own and has his cool down and stuff.”

Clark said he believes Karus gives them a good chance to win and get back to the national championship game.

“It’s kind of refreshing,” Clark said. “It’s nice to know that he’s in his last year, and I know he wants to win just as bad as we all do, and it’s nice having a goalie like that.”

Going into his senior year with the ISU hockey team, Karus had good things to say about the experience he’s had as a Cyclone. 

“When I started out here, I came in half way through the year and I grew up with guys like [Brandon] Clark, [Justin] Wilkinson, [Derek] Kohles and [David] Kurbatsky, and really this year, I feel that I’m really humbled just to be a part of this group and just grow up with those guys — I mean just to be in the presence of them,” Karus said. “I love them like a brother.”