DeGraves Added to Commitment List
October 21, 2022 – United States Hockey League (USHL) – Waterloo Black Hawks News Release
Waterloo, Iowa – Five current Waterloo Black Hawks players will eventually play for Big Ten college programs, including forward Nicholas DeGraves who announced his commitment to Penn State today.
DeGraves is spending his first season in the United States Hockey League. He has appeared in all six Waterloo games. In a September 25th matchup against the National Team Development Program Under-18s, DeGraves produced a pair of assists. He currently has a +1 plus/minus differential.
“Nic’s experience at the junior level make him a valuable addition to our team, and that experience allows him to fit comfortably with a lot of other forwards,” said Black Hawks Head Coach Matt Smaby. “Making a Division I commitment was one of the things that brought Nic to the USHL, so this is an exciting day for him and the organization.”
Last season in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, DeGraves had 14 goals and 33 assists over 53 appearances for the Brooks Bandits. He then delivered solid results in the AJHL postseason, tallying ten points (one goal, nine assists) in 13 games. The Bandits advanced to Canada’s Junior A National Tournament, winning the Centennial Cup, with two more goals and seven assists from DeGraves in six games.
The 19-year-old joins Garrett Schifsky (Michigan), Sam Rinzel (Minnesota), Patrick Geary (Michigan State), and Owen Baker (Michigan State) as one of the Hawks’ future Big Ten skaters.
The Nittany Lions current roster includes a pair of Black Hawks alumni. Senior Ben Copeland transferred to the program prior to the 2021/22 season. Junior Xander Lamppa was Waterloo’s leading scorer in 2019/20 at the time the season ended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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