Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Patterson receives NCAA degree award

Former Wayne State University women's player Peyton Patterson has been selected to receive an NCAA Division I Degree Completion Award.

Applicants for this award must be student-athletes who have completed eligibility at an NCAA Division I member institution, are entering at least their sixth year of post-secondary education, are within 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of completion of their first undergraduate degree, and have received (and exhausted) athletics-related financial aid.

This NCAA program gives awards to between 40 and 45 percent of the applicants. Of the nearly 2,100 student-athletes who have received the award since its 1989 inception, 95 percent have obtained their undergraduate degree.

Student-athletes receiving this award are granted an amount equivalent to tuition and fees, and they also receive a book allowance based on the number of hours in which they are enrolled in order to help them achieve their ultimate goal of graduation.

Patterson, a kinesiology major, completed her four-year WSU hockey career in 2006 and was a three-time selection to the College Hockey America All-Academic Team. She also garnered All-CHA Second Team honors following her senior season.

Monday, July 09, 2007

Broncos get 2008-2009 commitment

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders forward Ian Slater has committed to Western Michigan University for the 2008-2009 season.

"Ian has worked hard and been an important part of our team since he got here," said Cedar Rapids coach-GM Mark Carlson.

Slater, 19, is approaching his third season in Cedar Rapids. Last year, the Florida native scored 15 goals and totaled 33 points in 59 games while posting a plus/minus rating of +15 - tied for second best on the team - and piling up 115 penalty minutes. No returning Rider scored more goals than Slater last season. In 2005-06, his first United States Hockey League season, Slater scored five goals and notched seven points in 40 games.

Slater was originally selected by the RoughRiders in the 17th round of the 2005 USHL Draft with the 145th overall choice.

Western Michigan (18-18-1 overall, 14-13-1 conference) finished sixth in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association last season.