Alumni Skaters Carry UWSP Legacy
Joe Kalisz now plays for the Fayetteville Fireantz of the Southern Professional Hockey League. Photo by Jack McLaughlin.

Alumni Skaters Carry UWSP Legacy

Four players from the 2015-2016 University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Men’s Hockey Team have accepted training contracts with next level hockey teams.

Photo by Jack McLaughlin.

Photo by Jack McLaughlin.

Currently, Joe Kalisz, Evan Dixon, Sean Gammage and Logan Lemirande have spread across the country training for their new teams.

Joe Kalisz, a three-year skater for The Pointers, is now playing for the Fireantz in Lafayette, North Carolina.

Last season, Kalisz tore his ACL during the National Championship game. After being out of the rink for multiple months Kalisz said that he is, “looking forward to just playing.”

“Commitment, accountability and getting better every year is what I learned from playing at UWSP,”Kalisz said.

Another player making it to the next level is Evan Dixon.

Photo by Jack McLaughlin.

Photo by Jack McLaughlin.

Dixon is currently training with the Rapid City hockey team in South Dakota.

“I look forward to taking my game to the next level. I have trained nearly my whole life for this experience and I am excited to give it my all,” Dixon said.

This new season on a next level team can seem daunting, Dixon is ready for the challenge thanks to playing center for UWSP.

“Off the ice I learned a lot about leadership, accountability, time management, effective communication and attention to detail. These carry over onto the ice as well, but Coach Brooks has put my other teammates and myself in a position to be successful [when] moving forward,” Dixon said.

Chris Brooks has been head coach for the UWSP hockey team for six seasons. He has seen an impressive amount of his players move onward in their hockey career.

Sean Gammage now plays for the Pensacola Ice Flyers of the Southern Professional Hockey League. Photo courtesy of UWSP Athletics.

Sean Gammage now plays for the Pensacola Ice Flyers of the Southern Professional Hockey League. Photo courtesy of UWSP Athletics.

“Our expectation is to win every game, to focus on the process of winning and not the outcome,” Brooks said.

Although he is a hockey coach Brooks teaches more than hockey strategy. Not all of the players stepping onto the ice strive to reach the next level.

“Everyone is different, some come in with different expectations, I do everything to prepare them for success on the ice, academically and in the community,” Brooks said.

As these men leave the team and freshman join, there are talented skates to be filled. Coach Brooks was able to offer his advice to the men he watched grow into professional athletes.

“Go in and do those things I demanded of you. Be detailed, be a team player. Continue the success of UWSP,” Brooks said.

 

Sydney DenHartigh

Reporter

sdenh702@uwsp.edu

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    Joe Kalisz has signed with the SPHL’s Fayetteville FireAntz in Fayetteville, NC.

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