OUTLIERS HAGSTROM COMMITS TO NCAA PROGRAM

Salt Lake City, UT – After two seasons of junior hockey, Jake Hagstrom is moving on to play NCAA hockey.

Hagstrom, who served as one of the Outliers team captains during the 2016-17 season, has committed to attend and play hockey for Saint Mary’s University, an NCAA Division III school located in Winona, MN. The Saint Mary’s Cardinals play in the very competitive Minnesota Intercollegiate Hockey Conference (MIAC). Hagstrom, a native of Longview, TX, is excited for the next chapter in both his hockey and academic careers.

Saint Mary’s coach Bill Moore came to watch Hagstrom play in Salt Lake City and liked what he saw in the speedy and tenacious forward. Hagstrom and Moore spent some time together after the game discussing the benefits of the Cardinals’ program and how it would be a great fit.

“Everything just felt right about Saint Mary’s,” said Hagstrom. “From talking to coach Moore about the school and discussing the program with Outliers assistant coach Austin Balko (a former graduate of Saint Mary’s) I am thrilled about the opportunity to play for this college team. I have worked extremely hard the past couple seasons to prepare myself for NCAA hockey and I can’t wait to begin.”

When asked about his experience playing for the Outliers, Hagstrom said,”Playing for the Outliers has helped me tremendously in developing as a hockey player and a person. The coaching staff, training facilities and practices are everything a player could want. Playing under the leadership of Coach Taylor, Balko and McCloskey has been the best thing for my career and I am so glad I made the decision to play in Utah and the WSHL.”

Hagstrom will now take the next step in his hockey career and plans to possibly double major in Business Administration and Business Finance.

“Jake is the poster-boy type of player for our program,” said Ouliers Head Coach Paul Taylor. “He is a fantastic young man who has persistently developed his game in so many areas. He came into our program as an ‘energy’ player and transformed himself into a versatile offensive threat and a top line player. He scored some huge goals for our team this past season. I am really happy to see Jake moving on to play at the NCAA level and achieve his goals of becoming a student-athlete. I am proud and grateful to have had the chance to coach him.”

The Outliers wish Jake all the best next season and will be watching his career closely as he proudly wears the red, blue and white.