Amarillo forward Harrison makes NCAA DI commitment
June 30, 2015
By Denis Puska, Amarillo Bulls
Will Harrison credits the NAHL's Amarillo Bulls with helping him achieve a childhood dream.
The Springfield, Virginia native announced his NCAA Division I College Commitment to St. Lawrence University (ECAC) for the 2016-17 season. The school is located in Canton, New York about 30 minutes from where he was born.
Harrison is the 57th Amarillo Bulls’ player to announce his NCAA plans, and the 7th from the 2014-15 team.
“Without Amarillo this would have certainly not happened,” said Harrison. “I got the playing time in Amarillo, the quality of coaching, the extra ice time, and the rigorous schedule in the South Division. I think that really pushed and developed me into to the person and player that I am becoming.”
Harrison fired 20 goals and added 23 assists for 43 points in 49 games with the Bulls. The 6-1, 195 pound forward also had eight power play goals and 140 shots. In February, Harrison was selected to and played in the 2015 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament for the South Division team.
He said that Head Coach Jon Rogger and Assistant Coach Mike Watt helped him work on the defensive side of the game. "At the beginning of the year it was hard for me, but I wanted to learn the 200 foot game,” Harrison commented. “Coach Rogger and Coach Watt really pushed me to get better every day. I really think that was the extra step I needed to play Division I.”
Harrison said St. Lawrence University is a perfect fit for him and his family. “It’s a smaller school about 2,700 and for me that is a place that I can thrive in,” he said. “The class sizes are much smaller and I will get a better quality education there. I think it’s also the best fit for me to walk in there and become an impact type of a player. That is what I have always wanted to be.”
Head Coach Jon Rogger is thrilled for Will Harrison’s announcement and to have another Bulls player move on to Division I hockey. “It’s a huge honor for him and for us as a team to have a kid like Will move on to a prestigious school like St. Lawrence,” he said. “We were fortunate to have him in Amarillo after it didn’t work out for him in the USHL.”
Will Harrison is the 7th member of the 2014-15 Amarillo Bulls to announce NCAA College commitments joining Cody Gylling (Arizona State University), Tristan Rostagno (Michigan Tech), Connor Wood (University Alabama-Huntsville), Ben Jentsch (St. Thomas University), Mitchell McPherson (Hamline Unviersity) and Riley Christensen (St. Norbert). Former Bulls players’ Ryan Stevens (Arizona State University), and Chad Catt (Michigan), have also made NCAA College plans.