Thursday, October 28, 2010

Francis Commits to Western Michigan University

Press Release

The Green Bay Gamblers announced that forward Robert Francis has committed to play collegiate hockey at Western Michigan University following his USHL career.

Francis, 19, has recorded two points (1g, 1a) through seven games this season. It is the second USHL season for the San Diego, California native after scoring 37 points (18g, 19a) and posting a plus-11 rating in 58 games as a rookie in 2009-10. He also added 10 points (4g, 6a) in 11 playoff games to help the Gamblers capture the Clark Cup. Francis scored two goals in the decisive fifth game of the Clark Cup Finals.

The forward was also recently named as one of 22 USHL players for the U.S. Junior Select Team that will compete in the 2010 World Junior A Challenge in November.

Francis will be joined by Gamblers teammate William Kessel who is also committed to play college hockey at Western Michigan. Three other USHL players will attend the school following their USHL careers; Alex Carpenter (Chicago Steel), Austin Hervey (Lincoln Stars), and Joe Fiala (Team USA).

Western Michigan University is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan and is a member of the CCHA. 18 USHL alumni are part of the Broncos roster for the 2010-11 season; Chase Balisy (Team USA), Brett Beebe (Chicago Steel), Shane Berschbach (Indiana Ice), Dennis Brown (Omaha Lancers), J.J. Crew (Lincoln Stars), Dan DeKeyser (Sioux City Musketeers), Dave Donnellan (Youngstown Phantoms), Henry Ross (Lincoln Stars), Jerry Kuhn (Sioux City Musketeers), Ben Miller (Waterloo Black Hawks), Travis Paeth (Des Moines Buccaneers), Nick Pisellini (Chicago Steel) Derek Roehl (Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets), Ian Slater (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), Greg Squires (Indiana Ice), Matt Tennyson (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), Dane Walters (Sioux Falls Stampede), and Luke Witkowski (Fargo Force).

In addition, the Broncos are led by first-year head coach Jeff Blashill who spent the last two seasons in the USHL as the head coach of the Indiana Ice, guiding them to their first Clark Cup during the 2008-09 season.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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