Wilderness forward Koepke makes NCAA DI commitment

July 26, 2016

The Minnesota Wilderness, proud members of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), are pleased to announce that forward Cole Koepke has committed to play NCAA Division I hockey at the University of Minnesota-Duluth of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC).

 

The Hermantown, Minnesota native joined the Wilderness at the end of Hermantown’s impressive state tournament championship run.  Koepke, 18, had a very impressive senior season with the Hawks.  

 

Koepke (5’11/185) recorded 31 goals and added 22 assists for 53 points during the regular season with the Hawks.  It was during Hermantown’s playoff run where he really shined.  He scored 10 goals, six in the state tournament alone and added 5 assists in the six-game playoff run for the Hawks. 

 

Koepka joined the Wilderness in the NAHL following his high school season for the last couple of months of the Wilderness’s season.  He played in the final nine regular season games and played in eight playoff games.  

Koepke accumulated two goals and one assist during the 17 games that he played with the Wilderness.  His first career NAHL goal came on April 1st in a 3-2 win over Coulee Region.

 

“We are very happy for Cole,” stated Wilderness General Manager Dave Boitz.  “Cole joined our team late in the season and with his abilities he was able the transition from High School hockey to junior hockey seamlessly. Cole was a very good player down the stretch for us, and we look forward to watching Cole develop into hopefully a great player for the Bulldogs in years to come.”