It is not uncommon for college athletes to pursue a professional career in sports. Although it might be challenging to combine sports and college education, for some, it becomes a path to success.
The main problem for student-athletes is to balance out many responsibilities and be successful in both aspects. This requires strong discipline and time management. Yet, sometimes even this might not be enough. Luckily, there are ways to solve this issue. For many students, help from write my paper service can be a lifesaver. It is a great opportunity to keep up with studies, learn new skills, and have more time for other responsibilities.
Academic performance is evaluated highly in college, so it’s best to choose the top paper writing services that can do it well. So, if you needed a push to decide to play hockey in college, this is it. You can be good at academics as well as sports. Here are some inspirational stories of college athletes who are now playing for the NHL.
Cale Makar
Currently, Cale Makar is one of the most promising and exciting players in the NHL. Not only does he possess excellent technique, but he also shows well-rounded performance. He is known for his impressive speed and high level of skills.
His career began during his second year at the University of Massachusetts. There he played in the NCAA and had several excellent seasons. In 2019 Cale Makar received the Hobey Baker Award for powerful and steady performance. During his first NHL season, he scored 50 points in 57 games, which is another amazing result. Overall, his career is on the rise, and it is exciting to see where he is headed next.
Jonathan Toews
Jonathan Toews is a highly-praised athlete that has achieved great success. But not everyone knows that his path started in college as well. He played for the University of North Dakota for two years before getting into the NHL.
During that period, he played 76 games with outstanding results – 40 goals and 45 assists. So it was not surprising that Jonathan Toews became a professional athlete. After that, he got a gold medal in the Olympics and won the Stanley Cup in 2010 with his team.
Adam Fox
Before his splendid performance in the NHL, Adam Fox played for Harvard University for three years. This is where he mastered his technique to the current level and became a great athlete. He is most effective in the offensive and defensive zones. It is safe to say that there are a lot of victories for him to come. Just in his second NHL season, he played 55 games with 47 points on his side.
His last season for Harvard was extremely successful. During that period, Adam Fox scored 48 points in 33 games and won the Walter Brown Award. He also received the title of Hockey Player of the Year from ECAC.
Tim Thomas
Tim Thomas is an outstanding hockey player with a Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe victory in his track record. But before that, he was a student at the University of Vermont. There he played hockey for four years and participated in 140 games overall. 81 of them he and his team have won, which is an amazing result.
Tim Thomas is one of the best goaltenders in the NHL, which is a testimony to his dedication, skills, and experience.
Charlie McAvoy
Today Charlie McAvoy is among the top right-shot defensemen in the NHL. Like others on this list, he began his career in college. He played for Boston University for two seasons with impressive results.
During that period, he participated in 51 games where he showed his powerful defense strategy and ability to compete with any type of opponent. Charlie McAvoy is 23 years old, so his NHL career is only starting, and we can expect new achievements from him in the future.
Brian Gionta
Brian Gionta was an outstanding athlete in college, one of the best. For four years, he played for Boston College with steady results. Yet, a lot of people didn’t believe he was going to make it to the NHL.
But he persisted, worked on his skills, and finally made it. Brain Gionta has an impressive track record:
- A three-time finalist for Hobey Baker;
- NCAA champion;
- 16 successful NHL seasons;
- Stanley Cup of 2002-2003.
Brian Gionta is a great example of resilience and self-development. Also, he is the first-ever American to become the captain for the Montreal Canadiens.
Drew Stafford
The University of North Dakota is the alma mater of Drew Stafford. This is where it all started for him before becoming one of the top two-way players in the NHL. During his college time, he played three seasons for the University. His performance was great, to say the least – 115 points in 118 games.
In his prominent career, he played for Buffalo Sabers, Winnipeg Jets, Boston Bruins, and New Jersey Devils.
Matthew Carle
Prior to joining the NHL, Matthew Carle played for the University of Denver. There he already showed excellent skill and steady performance. He was named the defenseman of the year by the NCAA and received a Hobey Baker award.
In his senior year, he scored 53 points before being drafted by the San Jose Sharks. He won the World Junior Championship in 2004 and the World Championship in 2013.
In Summary
Of course, there are many more excellent NHL players that started their paths in college. The list could go on and on. Although it might be difficult sometimes to balance out a career in sports and education, with passion and dedication, it is possible.
