Wenatchee forward Shawn Pauly commits to UCONN

Wenatchee Wild all-time leading point-getter Shawn Pauly (Bellingham, Wash.) has committed to continue his hockey career and education at the University of Connecticut in the fall.  UCONN is an NCAA Division I program and a member of the Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA).
 
“They have a very good academic program,” Pauly said of UConn, “and I like what I’ve heard about their hockey program.”
 
Pauly is one of the most decorated players in Wild history. In addition to being the franchise’s all-time career leader in points, he is also one of just four members that comprise the franchise’s 100-point club. He is also the Wild’s all-time leader in career assists (73) and set a new single-season assist standard (36) in 2011-12.
 
Pauly competed in two NAHL Top Prospects Tournaments during his career, including the most recent one in Troy, Michigan in February, and was named to the NAHL’s All Rookie Team in 2010.
 
“Shawn has been really good and it’s nice to see him get rewarded,” said Wild head coach John Becanic. “I don’t know where our team would have been without him this year.”
 
Pauly is the second member from this year’s Wild team to commit to UConn. Defensman Kyle Huson (Parker, Colo.) committed to the Huskies in January.
 
The Huskies, who compete in the Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA), are under the direction of 24-year head coach Bruce Marshall. UConn went 16-19-4 in 2011-12 before being knocked out of the AHA quarterfinals by Air Force.
 
Pauly is the eighth player on the Wild’s active roster to commit to a Division I school this season. The others are: Huson (UConn), Ben Carey and Blake Saylor (Air Force), Matt Cope (Robert Morris University), Greg Lewis (Clarkson University), Blake Roubos (Niagara University) and Kyle Vogel (Army).