KEARNEY, Neb. – Tri-City Storm defenseman Jalen Schulz is playing his third season of hockey in Nebraska, having spent time both in Kearney and Omaha with the AAA program.
Now the Cambridge, Minn. native will call the state home for four more years after committing to play collegiately at the University of Nebraska-Omaha Thursday.
Schulz, who already has 75 USHL games under his belt, was relieved to have made a decision for his future.
“It’s amazing. It’s the world off my shoulders,” Schulz said. “It’s nice to know I’ll be someplace safe where I want to be for the next four years. I’m very happy.”
An assistant captain of this year’s team who is in his third season of junior hockey after playing 48 games for the Corpus Christi IceRays in the NAHL during 2012-13, Schulz will be happy to move on to the NCAA ranks next year.
“Over the summer they talked to me about coming down on a visit and said they watched a little bit last year,” Schulz said. “I actually went to visit the school on my way out to Kearney this season, and then kept in touch with assistant coach Alex Todd.
“Coach Todd told me that Coach [Dean] Blais was coming out to watch Tuesday night’s game against Lincoln so I met coach Blais after the game and then received a phone call with an offer the next day.”
Schulz also said that staying in Nebraska seemed to be the perfect fit for him.
“I love it here. I have extended family with my billet families, one in Omaha and now in Kearney and it means a lot for them to support me the way they have.”
The defenseman will become the 10th player in Storm history to move on to UNO, and the first to wear a Mavericks sweater since Kyle Ensign and Alex Hudson in 2012.
Now having earned a scholarship, Schulz said his approach won’t change, and he is looking forward to the rest of the season in Kearney.
“My number one priority is getting back on the ice and helping the team win.”
Including Schulz, Tri-City now has 18 players committed to play Division I college hockey.
The Storm will battle the Youngstown Phantoms in a two-game series this weekend. Friday’s game gets underway at 7:30 p.m., while Saturday’scontest starts at 3:05.
For more information and to purchase tickets, contact the Viaero Event Center Box Office at 308.338.8011 or visit www.stormhockey.com.