Ice Dogs defenseman Hinz makes NCAA DI commitment

July 8, 2014

The Fairbanks Ice Dogs, proud members of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), are pleased to announce that defenseman Nick Hinz has committed to play NCAA Division I hockey for the University of Alaska-Fairbanks (UAF).  UAF is a member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA).

 

Hinz, 21, is a four-year veteran of the Ice Dogs and the NAHL and a great success story. Originally from Oakdale, Minnesota, Hinz arrived in Fairbanks in 2010 and played for the Ice Dogs Robertson Cup Championship team in 2011. Hinz (5’11/190) played in 43 games in his rookie season and had three points.

 

As development goes, Hinz thrived in Fairbanks, with his point totals going up each season. In his second season in the league during the 2011-12 campaign, Hinz scored a career-high four goals and added 12 assists. Hinz best regular season came during the 2012-13 year, when the defenseman had 26 points in 56 games.

 

Making the decision to come back this year, the big difference for Hinz was not only another solid regular season, but a very good showing at the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament and in the NAHL Robertson Cup Playoffs. After recording 22 points during the regular season, which included a career-high +40 rating, Hinz best play of the season was saved for the end of the season during the Robertson Cup Playoffs, in which he was second on the team in scoring with 12 points in 14 playoff games, as the Ice Dogs went onto win the Robertson Cup.

 

Hinz also showed well at the 2014 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament in Troy, Michigan, as he scored a goal for Team Midwest.

 

“Nick epitomizes what the NAHL is all about,” said Fairbanks head coach Trevor Stewart. “He spent four seasons with the Ice Dogs and continued to develop every year. Nick has been a cornerstone of the Ice Dogs organization, and will be sorely missed.  He does everything well and will earn ice time at the college level immediately.”

 

Ice Dogs Notes: Former Ice Dogs Pavlo Padakin recently signed in the KHL with Donbass Donetsk and Patrick Newell is attending the Los Angeles Kings development camp. The Ice Dogs are having their main camp starting on Thursday at the Dakotah Sports Center in Prior Lake, MN for the 12th consecutive year.