FAIRBANKS, AK - The University of Alaska Fairbanks hockey team signed its second member of the Knelsen (kuh-NELL-sun) family.
Dion Knelsen, younger brother and teammate of
Brandon Knelsen, who signed with the Nanooks early last week, has also signed a National Letter of Intent to attend UAF and play for the Nanooks.
Dion Knelsen of Three Hills, Alberta and the Drumheller Dragons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League will enter UAF with four years of eligibility.
"Dion represents everything you want in a student-athlete," said UAF head coach
Tavis MacMillan, "academically, athletically, and socially."
The 5'8", 169 pound center is playing his first year of Junior 'A' hockey with the Dragons along with his older brother Brandon. He is the second leading scorer for Drumheller with 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points in 28 games.
"When I first saw Dion play, his stick skills and hockey sense separated him from the 16-20 year olds he plays with in the junior league." added MacMillan.
"He has a presence on the ice that very few players at that level have."
During the 2003-04 season, Knelson played for the Red Deer Optimist Rebels in the Alberta Midget League. He had 17 goals and sevens assists for 24 points in 35 games played.
He was a recipient of the 2003-04 Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League's Most Sportsmanlike award, an honor that current Nanook and freshman forward
Kyle Jones received while playing for the Airdrie Extreme during the 2000-01 season.
"We feel
Dion Knelsen is the best 16 year old Junior 'A' player in Western Canada," said Assistant Coach
Wade Klippenstein. "Dion is a dynamic player that will have Nanook fans on the edge of their seats."
Knelsen joins his older brother Brandon also of Three Hills, Alberta,
Jeff Lee of Calgary, Alberta, and
Brandon Campos of Port Coquitlam, British Columbia as the fourth member of the Nanook Hockey recruiting class.
Coach MacMillan praises his staff for their success in recruiting thus far and the quality players they have added to the Nanook Hockey program.
"This group of individuals is as talented a recruiting class as we've ever had in our program's history. Not only that, but our University has acquired four outstanding students."
"This class is going to be a great reason for Nanook Hockey fans to look forward to the coming years."
-UAF HOCKEY-
