Thursday, February 2, 2012

Brooks Behling Commits To Providence

Press Release

AMARILLO, TX – A ninth member of the Amarillo Bulls has secured his NCAA Commitment.

The Bulls, proud members of the North American Hockey League, announced today (Thursday) that forward Brooks Behling has committed to Providence (Division I, Hockey East) for the 2012 season. Providence is located in Providence, Rhode Island.

“It’s a dream come true and I have always wanted to play in the Northeast,” said Behling. “I was looking for a good Hockey to Academic ratio and I feel that Providence has that for me.”

Behling has been one of the key offensive weapons for the Amarillo Bulls this season. He is third in the North American Hockey League scoring race with 31 goals, 27 assists for 58 points in 42 games. Behling, a native of Pittsburgh, PA leads the NAHL in goals with 31, shots on goal with 217 and shorthanded goals with 5. He is second in plus-minus at plus 43.

Behling said he credits Head Coach Dennis Williams and Assistant Coach Rocky Russo with helping him get to where he is today.

“They are two of the major factors for me playing division one hockey,” Behling commented. “They have helped me develop in so many different areas such as becoming a better hockey player and a better person and I couldn’t have done it without them.”

Behling arrived in Amarillo just past the midway mark of the Inaugural Season from the Chicago Hitmen. In 54 combined games with two teams, Behling scored 14 goals and added 13 assists for 27 points.

Bulls Head Coach Dennis Williams said Behling will be an excellent NCAA Division I hockey player.

“I know it’s a decision that Brooks is very excited about,” Williams said. “He is definitely more than capable of being an impact player at the NCAA Division I level. I know going to Providence for him is a great choice for the hockey side with a whole new Coaching Staff (Head Coach Nate Leaman, Assistant Coaches Ben Barr and Jamie Russell) and in Academics.”

Williams said Behling is going to continue to be an offensive leader for the Bulls down the stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs.

“Brooks comes in and provides us lift on the offensive side of the puck. On the defensive side, he leads in shorthanded goals and is very opportunistic who shoots the puck a lot,” Williams explained. “From this point on he can concentrate now on just playing hockey, and his academics. We will depend on Brooks to continue to be a leader both on and off the ice.”

Brooks Behling is the ninth member of this year’s Amarillo Bulls to commit to play NCAA Hockey. He joins Matt Johnson (Lake Superior State University), Luke Jenkins (Army), John Gustafsson (Merrimack College), Joe Kozlak (Army), Greg Gibson (Robert Morris University), Karl Beckman (Holy Cross University), Michael Erickson (Williams College), and Ryan Taylor (Western New England University).

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

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