Kings D-man Ripley commits to Fighting Irish

Press Release

The Powell River Kings are proud to announce Luke Ripley has committed to the University of Notre Dame and will play for the Fighting Irish.

A native of Kitimat, B.C., the 6-foot-4 blueliner has made great strides since joining the green and gold at the beginning of the season and thrived under pressure for Canada West at the World Junior ‘A’ Challenge in Yarmouth, N.S. earlier this month.

Kings head coach and general manager Kent Lewis is proud of Ripley.

"The staff at Notre Dame did a great job scouting Luke," he said. "They know they’re getting a strong defenseman who is going to continue to develop. We know Luke has made great strides since becoming a King and has proven that he is a big guy who can compete.

"His role with the team will continue to get heavier and heavier with each game as he continues to develop into a real leader. We’re  very proud of him.”

Ripley says he chose the Notre Dame Fighting Irish for a number of reasons.

“I know it’s a great school with a really strong hockey program," said the 18-year-old. "Since I’ve joined the Kings, I have improved a lot. I know I have a long ways to go, but I know that Notre Dame will be a great place to continue developing my skills.”

Luke hopes to pursue a degree in engineering while attending Notre Dame. 

Located in South Bend, Indiana, Notre Dame enjoys a stellar reputation for their athletic and academic programs. The hockey team currently sits in second place in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association but will be joining the Hockey East Conference for the 2013-14 season.

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