Monday, January 24, 2011

Captain to Join Sioux Program

Press Release

Veteran defenseman Andrew Panzarella will attend the University of North Dakota and play hockey for the Sioux beginning in 2011-2012, the Waterloo Black Hawks announced Monday.

Playing his fourth season in the USHL, Panzarella is enjoying his best year offensively. The 6-2, 191-pound blue-liner has three goals and eleven assists in 32 games during 2010-2011. During his first three seasons with the Des Moines Buccaneers, Tri City Storm, and the Hawks, Panzarella appeared in a combined total of 163 regular season games with five goals and 17 assists. He has accumulated over 100 penalty minutes in each campaign. The Black Hawks voted the Columbia, Maryland native their captain in October.

“Andrew’s best hockey is still in front of him,” said Waterloo Black Hawks Head Coach P.K. O’Handley. “This is kind of a fairytale ending to his time in the league, and his story is a great example of what the USHL can do for a player who is willing to make the most of their opportunity.”

Panzarella is now one of a dozen Waterloo Black Hawks currently committed to an NCAA Division I university. Defenseman Zach Palmquist (Minnesota State) is the only other Hawk currently targeted for a Western Collegiate Hockey Association institution. Former Black Hawks defenseman Ryan Hill is currently a member of the Sioux.

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

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