Brookings defenseman Samec makes NCAA DI commitment

May 24, 2016

The Brookings Blizzard, proud members of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), are pleased to announce that TJ Samec, a 2015-16 Assistant Captain, has made an NCAA Division I commitment to play hockey at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), a member of ECAC Hockey. 

 

Samec, 21, a St. Paul, Minnesota native, led all Blizzard defenseman in scoring and finished 5th on the team with 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 60 games. Samec's 10 goals were just two goals shy of the league lead in goals scored among defenseman. 

 

Samec (6’3/195) was also selected to and played in the 2016 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament for the Central Division team, where he recorded an assist in two wins.

 

"We are very excited for TJ, he has been a big part of the Blizzard organization over the last two years. We want to wish him good luck and thank him for all his hard work,” said Blizzard Head Coach Dan Daikawa.

 

In two full seasons with the Blizzard, Samec played in 113 career regular season games and recorded 40 career points. He made his NAHL debut with Brookings on September 28, 2013.  Prior to that, Samec played high school hockey in Minnesota for St. Thomas Academy.

 

"I am very excited to have the opportunity to play at RPI under Coach Appert and his staff. I want to the thank the Brookings community, the Brookings Blizzard staff for two good years, all of my coaches, teammates, family, and friends who have helped me along the way. I'm looking forward to the next chapter of my life at RPI, getting a great education and also continuing my dream of playing college hockey,” stated Samec.