Thursday, December 10, 2009

Larraza and Pietila Make College Commitments

Press Release

Forwards Zac Larraza and Blake Pietila of the National Team Development Program (NTDP) have made their college commitments. Larraza will attend the University of Denver and Pietila will play his college hockey at Northern Michigan University.

Larraza, 16, has scored three goals in 13 USHL games for the Under-17 squad of Team USA. His first USHL goal came in just his second League game on October 3rd. The 6-3, 178-pound forward is a native of Scottsdale, Arizona.

Four other current USHL players are committed to the University of Denver; Nick Shore (Team USA), Jason Zucker (Team USA), David Makowski (Green Bay Gamblers), and Scott Mayfield (Youngstown Phantoms).

The Denver University Pioneers, members of the WCHA, have 10 former USHL players on their roster this season; Matt Donovan (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), John Lee (Waterloo Black Hawks), Paul Phillips (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), Chris Knowlton (Des Moines Buccaneers), Jesse Martin (Tri-City Storm), Anthony Maiani (Sioux City Musketeers), Brian Gifford (Indiana Ice), John Ryder (Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets), Patrick Wiercioch (Omaha Lancers), and Nate Dewhurst (Des Moines Buccaneers).

Pietila, 16, has recorded four points (3g, 1a) in 13 USHL games for the Team USA Under-17 squad. All four of his points have come in his last five USHL games. The native of Brighton, Michigan has registered an even-or-better plus/minus rating in four straight games. Pietila's brother, Chad, is a freshman forward at Northern Michigan University

Five other current USHL players have committed to play hockey for the Northern Michigan University Wildcats; Reed Seckel (Green Bay Gamblers), Jared Coreau (Lincoln Stars), Ryan Daugherty (Omaha Lancers), C.J. Ludwig (Omaha Lancers), and Stephan Vigier (Sioux City Musketeers).

The Northern Michigan University Wildcats are members of the CCHA and have 10 former USHL players on their roster this season; Jared Brown (Lincoln Stars), Alan Dorich (Des Moines Buccaneers), Reid Ellingson (Green Bay Gamblers), Kyle Follmer (Lincoln Stars), Phil Fox (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), Austin Handley (Des Moines Buccaneers), Kory Kaunisto (Lincoln Stars), Ray Kaunisto (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), Mark Olver (Omaha Lancers), and Bill Smith (Green Bay Gamblers).

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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