Corpus Christi forward DiMizio makes NCAA commitment
July 2, 2018
The Corpus Christi IceRays, proud members of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), are proud to announce the commitment of forward Jayson DiMizio to Trine University, a NCAA Division III program in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA), for the 2018-19 season.
“I am very excited to start college next year at Trine University,” said DiMizio. “I picked that school because I loved the campus, it was a subject that I want to major in, and I have an awesome teammate that is coming with me.”
DiMizio, 20, played 58 games with the IceRays during the 2017-18 season, posting 13 goals and 11 assists for 24 points with 137 penalty minutes and five power play goals. The 6-foot-3, 212-pound forward set career-highs in goals and points during his second NAHL season while finishing fifth in goals and sixth in scoring. In 103 games with the IceRays, DiMizio tallied 19 goals and 23 assists for 42 points with 178 penalty minutes.
The Goleta, California, product spent time on both coasts before landing in Texas and taking full advantage of the path of development over a two-year period. DiMizio slowly grew into an increased role starting with his skating speed followed by his ability to hunt pucks and use his physique to his advantage. By the end of the 2017-18 season, he had found his scoring touch with six goals over his final nine regular season games but never waivered from his commitment to the process of development.
DiMizio is also an alum of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL), having played for the California Titans 14U team during the 2011-12 season.
“We are extremely proud of Jayson,” said former head coach Brad Flynn. “Jayson had a very good season for us and has only scratched the surface of his playing potential. With 4 years at a good program, Jayson should have the opportunity to play professional hockey.”
DiMizio will join teammate Garrett Hallford at one of the newest NCAA Division III programs in the country next season. While the two coincidentally share the same birthday, they’ll also work together to help Trine University build on its first season as a collegiate program. The program offers DiMizio the education he’s looking for and the playing opportunity for future seasons. The chance is a direct result, in his eyes, of making the move to Corpus Christi.
“My time in Corpus Christi was without a doubt the best two years of my life. There are so many great memories, and it is so hard to just list a couple of them, but overall the best part was hanging out with the team on days off and skating with the awesome fans after games. Playing in Corpus Christi was the best decision of my life, and it has definitely gotten me ready for whatever is yet to come.”
DiMizio is the 12th player on the 2017-18 roster to commit to a NCAA program and 15th player with IceRays ties. He joins Matthew Acciaioli (Northern Michigan), Joey Kubachka (Cornell), Brendan Miller (Air Force), Aleksi Peltonen (Wisconsin), Chris Smith (Mercyhurst), Chad Veltri (Niagara), Coltan Wilkie (Colorado), Hallford (Trine), Larry Jungwirth (Aurora), Ryan Rosenberg (Fredonia), and Angus Scott (Tufts) as college commitments who played for the program this season.
