Amarillo defenseman Nehls makes NCAA commitment

May 3, 2017

Whether it was on the ice making plays or in the community helping out with a variety of events, Matt Nehls leadership skills were certainly noteworthy this past season. Now, the Captain of the NAHL's Amarillo Bulls will take those new leadership skills to the next level this fall after announcing his NCAA College Commitment to Augsburg College (MIAC) Division III.

 

“The two full years in Amarillo was awesome and I was able to tune up my skills and the small parts to my game,” said Nehls, who is the 10th Amarillo Bulls player to announce his NCAA College Commitment.  “The Amarillo Bulls organization is one of the best that I’ve ever seen and just as a whole we get treated unbelievably here. The fans are great and they show up every night. Being a captain was difficult and challenging at times during the season, but being able to get the Bulls back to the winning ways was a good experience."

 

Nehls arrived to the Amarillo Bulls during the 2014-15 season when he was an affiliated player with the Omaha 18U team of the NAPHL and saw limited action in just 8 games. He then played two full seasons in a Bulls uniform where in 108 games he tallied two goals and 12 assists for 14 points. The Boulder, Colorado native was named Bulls team Captain at the beginning of the 2015-16 campaign.

 

Nehls was also a tireless leader in the community attending every Bulls community event past season and was chosen as South Division Community Service Award Winner. He put in over 70 hours with the Snack Pack 4 Kids program, alone.

 

Nehls is thrilled to be able to make his NCAA College plans and commit to a strong Minnesota school. “I just got done quite an extensive college tour the past month,” he said. “The fact that I came away with a greater vision of Augsburg College made it clear to me why I decided to go there. The city of Minneapolis sold me on it too, and Augsburg is a winning program which has captured MIAC two years in a row.”

 

For many players who have completed their junior hockey career, this is a time for reflection before they gear up for their first year at the school of their choice. The veteran defenseman is thankful for everyone who has helped him get to the next level.

 

“I want to thank my parents, who were there for me and also my coach David Wilkie in Omaha who was unbelievable for my development,” he said. “The last two years Coach Matt (Nicholson and Coach Tony (Attanucci) have certainly helped me gained skills that I didn’t have going in and get some confidence in my game.”

 

Matt Nehls joins George Mika (UMASS-Amherst), Jeff Solow (Merrimack College), Charlie Singerhouse (University of Wisconsin River Falls), Steven Ipri (Mercyhurst), Brandon Bussi (St. Lawrence) as members of the 2015-16 Amarillo Bulls to announce their NCAA College Commitments.