North Iowa forward Verstegen makes NCAA commitment
March 15, 2019
The North Iowa Bulls of the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) are proud to announce that Top Prospects forward Peter Verstegen has committed to continue his hockey career at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, an NCAA Division III university and a member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC).
Verstegen, 20, will join six players with North Iowa experience on the Blue Devil roster next season. Four of those players came to Menomonie directly from the Bulls, while two others played for other NA3HL teams before playing for Wisconsin-Stout.
The 5’10/165 lbs. native of Oshkosh, Wisconsin has been a fan favorite for his presence on and off the ice during his two years with the Bulls. Off the ice, Verstegen has cemented his place as a leader in the locker room, as one of North Iowa's three co-captains.
On the ice, he has let his play do all the talking, totaling 85 points in 92 regular-season games. His 30 goals this season was good for the team lead in 2018-19, and his 54 points tied for second. He is one of 10 players to notch a 30-goal season in a Bulls uniform.
He was also one of a contingent of five Bulls invited to take part in this season's 2019 NA3HL Top Prospects event in Attleboro, Massachusetts last month.
The Wisconsin-Stout Blue Devils closed this past season at 13-12-2, their first winning record in eight years. Former Bulls goaltender Tommi Ahlgren represented North Iowa on the WIAC all-conference list, earning honorable-mention recognition this season.
More than 100 players have gone on to college programs after suiting up for North Iowa, including more than 70 players who committed directly to college programs while with the Bulls. Verstegen is the third North Iowa player this season to announce his commitment to a college program.