Odessa forward Conroy makes NCAA DI commitment

August 21, 2019

The Odessa Jackalopes of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) are pleased to announce that forward Jack Conroy has committed to play NCAA Division I hockey for the Air Force Academ of Atlantic Hockey.

 

Conroy, 19, just finished his first full season of playing junior hockey in the NAHL. The 6’1/180 lbs. native of Chicago, Illinois, tallied nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points last season. His combined 53 games came as a member of both the Jackalopes and the Kenai River Brown Bears. Conroy was acquired via a trade with Kenai River mid-season.

 

The commitment comes as Conroy is representing the Jackalopes and the North American Hockey League at the 2019 Sirius Junior Club World Cup in Russia.

 

“It is a dream come true for me. My dad went to an academy, so it is kind of my DNA. To get the opportunity to commit to Air Force and spend the next for years there is incredible to me,” said Conroy. “I have grown a lot since playing in the NAHL and I have developed considerably. I think not only has there been a strong emphasis on skill development, but I have become a much better defensive player.”

 

As a member of the Jackalopes Conroy garnered a vast majority of his points (16 in all) while anchoring Odessa’s top line in the latter half of the season. Conroy played wing with Vaclav Zidek, both of whom flanked stand-out rookie Joseph Winkelmann playing center.

 

Prior to playing in the NAHL, Conroy played for the Chicago Fury 18U team and also played in the 2018 NAHL 18U Top Prospects Tournament for one of two Tier 1 Elite League teams.