Unfortunately, it’s sad. The majority of them will quit and “just go to school.” It’s true. Now entering my 11th season of Junior A hockey, I’ve watched this trend continue and shake my head at the number of Minnesotans who give up the game they allegedly love and enroll in school for the fall.
There is a stigma here in the “State of Hockey” that if you don’t make the United States Hockey League (USHL) or North American Hockey League (NAHL), that you’re no good and even more absurd is that you’re above having to pay to play hockey and should just go to school.
I learned early that this was a huge obstacle to overcome while recruiting Minnesota players, but have managed to talk some sense into a few of them. They realize they love the game too much to quit. Most of those stories have a great ending that entails them playing NCAA Division lll hockey and living life without the regret of quitting.
My message and the point of this article is simple. If you love to play the game, keep playing. Our tuition here and most places is affordable if you get a job and put the work in. That in itself builds character and players appreciate the experience each season even more .
With a ton of hard work and a coach who believes in you, you can make it to the NCAA. You can earn a spot on a college roster. You can earn a spot on a college roster and compete with and against those same players that were picked over you in the USHL and NAHL.
Lastly, I’ll end on this and several players will agree with me. Junior hockey is one of the most memorable times in a player’s life. You get to travel the country, play in big games in front of big crowds and you’re treated pretty well. Way above all of that, you forge lifelong friendships, you face and figure out tough life lessons on your own and you learn how to compete.
You are older, wiser, more mature and better equipped for college in comparison to the average 18 year old freshman and that leads to a successful college career and that leads to making it in the real world.
Here is a list of 80 + Alumni "Pay to Play" players that moved on to college hockey.
Chris Walby Alumni & College Commitments
Elliot Van Orsdel - University of Southern Maine
Jack Seamans - SUNY Canton
Alex Bren - Concordia - Moorehead (Pending)
Jacob VonTersch - TBA
Finn Seamans - UW Eau Claire (ACHA)
Jackson Szmul - Northern Arizona Univeristy (ACHA)
Jack DiNardo - Colorado State University (ACHA)
Dylan Gunnare - Arizona State University (ACHA)
Trey Ponto - Grand Canyon University (ACHA)
Liam Pepper - Lawrence Tech University (ACHA)
David Kraaz Jr - Northern Illinois (ACHA)
Joey Pacana - Iowa State (ACHA)
Jack Deede - Waldorf University (ACHA)
Jack Fuss - Saint Scholastica
Ben Borreson - Marian University (ACHA)
Nick Solema - Finlandia University
Darren Shykes - Finlandia University
Ryan Wolf - University of Mary (ACHA)
Blake Gutterman - Finlandia University
Matt Bilsborough - Marian Univeristy (ACHA)
Aaron Moots - Bethel University (ACHA)
Jake Lindblom - Bethel Univeristy
Luke Wright - Waldorf University (ACHA)
Tyler Perkins - Finlandia University
Niko Sinatra - St. Norbert College (ACHA)
Morgan Sweeney - Waldorf University (ACHA)
Sebastian Frank - Gustavus Adolphus College
Cooper Hoheisel - Finlandia University
Jack Bostedt - Saint Scholastica
Joe Brophy - Nazareth College
Leo Iaboni - University of Michigan (ACHA)
Castor Mattos - Grand Canyon University (ACHA)
Hayden Ripley - Ohio University (ACHA)
Nate Holm - Northland College
Tyler Morrison - Northland College
Tommy Strelow - University of Colorado Boulder (ACHA)
Tyler Chalupsky - UW Concordia Milwaukee
Dalton L'Allier - Utah State University (ACHA)
Jon Hansen - Saint Scholastica
Jack Scott – University of Louisville (ACHA)
Garrett Medina – Calvin College (ACHA)
Sean Mallak – Chatham University
Michael Crowley - West Chester Univeristy - (ACHA)
*Logan Froberg - St. Norbert College
*Tristyn Sabina - St. John's University
Alex Mimmack - Concordia - Moorehead
Jake Ellingson - Concordia – Moorehead
Kyle Carignan – Marian University
Eric Madison – Neumann University
Anthony Pupplo – Neumann University
Daniel Sarnecki – Finlandia University
Jason Reynolds – Northland College
Will Fobair – Weber State (ACHA)
Noah Anderson – Elmira College
Matt O’dea – Concordia Moorehead
Devin Tappenden –St. Thomas University
Max Seiter – Finlandia University
Thomas Fazio – Marian University
*Evan Bennett – Salem State College
Evan Erickson – Gustavus Adolphus College
Seth Chumley – Saint Scholastica
Alex Rezansoff – Finlandia University
Eric Majerle – Hamline University
Alex Reichle – Concordia Moorehead
Austin Frank – Lawrence University
*T.J. Samec - RPI
Matt Audet – Western New England College
Trevor Hoth – Aurora University
Jonathon Losurdo – Saint Mary’s
Jay Routheau – Northland College
Joey Haydock – UW Stevens Point
Chase Hollander – UW Stout
Kyle Fink – Concordia Milwaukee
*Luke Karakas - St. Norbert College
*Nick Lesage - St. Norbert College
Nolan Holcombe – Gustavus Adolphus College
Myles Beason – China Dragon (Asian League)
*Drew Decker – Utah State University (ACHA)
*Player played one more year of juniors on another team after his year with Coach Walby
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