When talking about amateur hockey, many hockey pundits and fans alike will first talk about major junior hockey in Canada.
Considering that a large portion of players in the National Hockey League are from Canada, it is certainly understandable. With that said, however, a lot of credit should go to another kind of hockey level, this one on U.S. Soil: College Hockey.
College hockey is an absolute terrific level of hockey that has great players, coaches, rivalries, history and an extremely passionate fan base. College hockey has also helped breed an abundance of current NHLers who are playing hockey during one of the most exciting times of the regular season.
We are talking about players such as: Ryan Miller (Buffalo Sabres, Michigan State), Jonathan Toews (Chicago Blackhawks, North Dakota), Chris Kunitz (Pittsburgh Penguins, Ferris State), Ryan Kesler (Vancouver Canucks, Ohio State), Matt Carle (Philadelphia Flyers, Denver), Mike Cammalleri (Montreal Canadiens, Michigan), Ryan Suter (Nashville Predators, Wisconsin), Derek Stepan and Ryan McDonagh (New York Rangers, Wisconsin), Mike Knuble (Washington Capitals, Michigan), Tim Thomas (Boston Bruins, Vermont), and many, many more. These guys all played college hockey and are now excelling in the best hockey league in the world.
Not only does the college game offer terrific hockey, but it also offers an outstanding education so that players can be successful when their careers are over. Take a look at former New York Rangers goaltender Mike Richter for example. After finishing up his NHL career, he enrolled in Yale University and received his degree in Ethics, Politics, and Economics with a concentration in Environmental Policy. He now works for Environmental Capital Partners as a Partner.
If you are a college hockey fan, then you also know that this is the most exciting time of year as the NCAA Tournament is set to hit the ice. The nation’s top 16 schools will compete in front of large, passionate college hockey crowds with a chance to win a national title. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
While Major Junior hockey in Canada is outstanding, it is time to start paying attention to college hockey in America. Former NHLPA Director Paul Kelly and company are doing a terrific job with College Hockey Inc. and making sure that hockey players know that college hockey has a lot to offer in terms of hockey and education.
So what do you say folks? Time to give credit where credit is due and right now, some of this credit needs to go to college hockey in the United States.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Considering that a large portion of players in the National Hockey League are from Canada, it is certainly understandable. With that said, however, a lot of credit should go to another kind of hockey level, this one on U.S. Soil: College Hockey.
College hockey is an absolute terrific level of hockey that has great players, coaches, rivalries, history and an extremely passionate fan base. College hockey has also helped breed an abundance of current NHLers who are playing hockey during one of the most exciting times of the regular season.
We are talking about players such as: Ryan Miller (Buffalo Sabres, Michigan State), Jonathan Toews (Chicago Blackhawks, North Dakota), Chris Kunitz (Pittsburgh Penguins, Ferris State), Ryan Kesler (Vancouver Canucks, Ohio State), Matt Carle (Philadelphia Flyers, Denver), Mike Cammalleri (Montreal Canadiens, Michigan), Ryan Suter (Nashville Predators, Wisconsin), Derek Stepan and Ryan McDonagh (New York Rangers, Wisconsin), Mike Knuble (Washington Capitals, Michigan), Tim Thomas (Boston Bruins, Vermont), and many, many more. These guys all played college hockey and are now excelling in the best hockey league in the world.
Not only does the college game offer terrific hockey, but it also offers an outstanding education so that players can be successful when their careers are over. Take a look at former New York Rangers goaltender Mike Richter for example. After finishing up his NHL career, he enrolled in Yale University and received his degree in Ethics, Politics, and Economics with a concentration in Environmental Policy. He now works for Environmental Capital Partners as a Partner.
If you are a college hockey fan, then you also know that this is the most exciting time of year as the NCAA Tournament is set to hit the ice. The nation’s top 16 schools will compete in front of large, passionate college hockey crowds with a chance to win a national title. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
While Major Junior hockey in Canada is outstanding, it is time to start paying attention to college hockey in America. Former NHLPA Director Paul Kelly and company are doing a terrific job with College Hockey Inc. and making sure that hockey players know that college hockey has a lot to offer in terms of hockey and education.
So what do you say folks? Time to give credit where credit is due and right now, some of this credit needs to go to college hockey in the United States.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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1 comments:
Frozen 4:
North Dakota
B.C.
Miami
Minn-Duluth
North Dakota over Miami
you heard it here first folks
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