Ice Hockey: Ramsey’s Whelan Chooses Quinnipiac

Jan 28, 2014

Ramsey

Ramsey ice hockey’s Alex Whelan, a junior, will be going from one of the best programs in the state to one of the best programs in the country after verbally committing to Quinnipiac University on Monday.

The dynamic playmaking forward and reigning North Jersey Player of the Year chose the Bobcats, currently 18-4-5 and ranked No. 3 in the country by USA Today, over Colgate, UMass-Lowell and Princeton.

“I felt like it was the perfect fit for me,” said Whelan, who has 25 goals and 21 assists this year. “It’s a nice size school, it’s so nice up there and they have a great program with great coaches. And it’s close to home.

“Everyone wants to win, but overall, it came down to the school being so good academically and the hockey is obviously great.”

Whelan took his official visit to the Connecticut school last Tuesday and Quinnipiac made an offer he couldn’t refuse. The Bobcats are coming off a season in which they reached the National Championship game before falling to Yale, 4-0.

“He’ll fit in very well up there,” Rams coach Bob Toy said. “It couldn’t happen to a nicer kid either. He’s worked his tail off for this. Quinnipiac is very fortunate to be getting a player like Alex.

“It’s a fantastic school with fantastic facilities and obviously has become a national powerhouse recently. To be going to a program like that is tremendous for Alex and he’ll contribute a ton to that school.”

Once news hit the Twitterverse on Monday, Whelan received congratulatory tweets from a number of North Jersey players and coaches, including teammates Connor DiTomaso, Nick Botta, Tyler Harmon, Connor Edwards, Anthony Pedulla and Chris Kopack, Hackensack’s Tom Foschini, Wayne Hills’ Peter Beckwermert, Don Bosco’s Hunter Garlasco, Alexei Masanko, Michael Jordan and Chris Mazzella, Glen Rock’s Matt Roy and West Milford coach Dan Frey.

“I thought Quinnipiac was the perfect fit, so why wait when you have it right there for you,” Whelan said.

Whelan and the Rams will be back in action Friday night at the Ice Vault when they take on Ramapo in a Big North Green matchup.