Thursday, November 29, 2012

Jacks Defenseman Commits to Penn State University

Press Release

The Muskegon Lumberjacks announced that defenseman Patrick Koudys has committed to play college hockey at Penn State University beginning next season.

Koudys is playing his first USHL season and has collected three assists, 34 penalty minutes, and a plus-five rating in 20 games for the Lumberjacks.  Prior to his time in Muskegon, the Smithville, Ontario native spent the last two seasons playing collegiately at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) where he totaled five points (2g, 3a) in 58 games at the school.  Following his freshman season, he was selected by the Washington Capitals in the fifth round (147th overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft.  The recently turned 20-year-old is one of 18 NHL Draft picks playing in the USHL this season.

“Penn State was the right choice for me because it was more than I expected when visiting the campus with the new state of the art facilities being built, and the coaching staff is dedicated to helping me develop my skills for the pro level,” said Koudys.  “Penn State has everything to offer both on and off the ice for me because it is close to home and the engineering program they offer is second to none.”

Six other current USHL players are committed to play hockey at Penn State following their USHL careers, including Koudy’s teammate Conor Garland on the Lumberjacks, Alec Marsh (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), Zach Saar (Des Moines Buccaneers), Eric Scheid (Lincoln Stars), David Goodwin (Sioux City Musketeers), and Eamon McAdam (Waterloo Black Hawks).

Penn State is playing their first season as an NCAA Division I program and will join the newly Big Ten Conference for hockey next season.  A total of nine USHL alumni are on the Nittany Lions roster this year; Connor Varley (Des Moines Buccaneers), Mark Yanis (Muskegon Lumberjacks), Bryce Johnson (Omaha Lancers), Kenny Brooks (Tri-City Storm), Tommy Olczyk (Sioux City Musketeers), Casey Bailey (Omaha Lancers), Joseph Lordo (Sioux Falls Stampede), Max Gardiner (Dubuque Fighting Saints), Matt Skoff (Sioux City Musketeers).


(Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)

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