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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 50 ALUMNI FROM CURRENT WCHA INSTITUTIONS PARTICIPATING IN NHL TRAINING CAMPS Players representing all 10 WCHA institutions attending 24 NHL camps

EDINA, Minn. – Sept. 26, 2016 – As teams have begun hitting the ice for preseason openers, a total of 50 alumni, representing all 10 men’s Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) programs – including 13 that skated in the league during the 2015-16 season – have been invited to participate in 2016 (NHL) Training Camps. The group spans 24 NHL clubs.

Among the alumni are 26 with previous NHL experience. That group includes reigning and three-time champion (Ferris State / ); veteran and Team USA member David Backes ( State / ); 2015-16 All-Rookie Team selection (Alaska / St. Louis Blues); 2015 WCHA Player of the Year Tanner Kero ( Tech / Blackhawks); forwards (Alaska Anchorage / Capitals), Matt Read (Bemidji State / ) and Mark Olver (Northern Michigan / ); defenseman Kevin Czuczman (Lake Superior State / ); and (Alabama Huntsville / ) and Andrew Hammond (Bowling Green / ).

The 13 players who were on WCHA rosters during the 2015-16 college hockey season is headlined by WCHA Defensive Player of the Year , who debuted with the last March just one week after playing in the Final Five championship game with Minnesota State. He is joined by last year’s Mavericks’ teammates Teddy Blueger (Pittsburgh), Bryce Gervais (St. Louis), Jon Jutzi ( Maple Leafs) and Dylan Margonari (Washington), along with fellow 2016 WCHA alumni (Alaska / ), John Parker (Bemidji State / Washington State), Brandon Anselmini (Ferris State / ), Sean O’Rourke (Ferris State / ), Kyle Schempp (Ferris State / ), Alex Globke (Lake Superior State / ), league Player of the Year Alex Petan (Michigan Tech / ) and Jamie Phillips (Michigan Tech / Winnipeg Jets).

The full list of WCHA-affiliated players at 2016 NHL Training Camps follows below.

WCHA-affiliated players at 2016 NHL Training Camps Player, Pos. NHL Training Camp School (Years) Cam Talbot, G^ Edmonton Oilers Alabama Huntsville (2008-10) Scott Allen, F Edmonton Oilers Alaska Anchorage (2012-15) Matt Bailey, F Flames Alaska Anchorage (2011-14) Jay Beagle, F^ Alaska Anchorage (2006-07)

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WCHA-affiliated players at 2016 NHL Training Camps (Cont.) Player, Pos. NHL Training Camp School (Years) Colton Beck, F Minnesota Wild Alaska (2001-14) Scott Greenham, G Ottawa Senators Alaska (2009-12) Chad Johnson, G^ Alaska (2006-09) Tyler Morley, F* Anaheim Ducks Alaska (2013-16) Colton Parayko, D^ St. Louis Blues Alaska (2013-15) , D^ St. Louis Blues Bemidji State (2009-12) John Parker, F* Washington Capitals Bemidji State (2014-16) Matt Read, F^ Philadelphia Flyers Bemidji State (2008-11) Kevin Bieksa, D^ Anaheim Ducks Bowling Green (2001-04) Ryan Carpenter, F^ Bowling Green (2012-14) Dan DeSalvo, F Washington Capitals Bowling Green (2012-15) Andrew Hammond, G^ Ottawa Senators Bowling Green (2010-13) Nolan Valleau, D Bowling Green (2015) Brandon Anselmini, D* Dallas Stars Ferris State (2013-16) Chad Billins, D^ Canucks Ferris State (2009-12) Chris Kunitz, F^ Pittsburgh Penguins Ferris State (2000-03) Sean O’Rourke, D* Tampa Bay Lightning Ferris State (2013-16) Zach Redmond, D^ Montréal Canadiens Ferris State (2008-11) Kyle Schempp, F* New York Islanders Ferris State (2014-16) Colin Campbell, F Detroit Red Wings Lake Superior State (2011-14) Kevin Czuczman, D^ Winnipeg Jets Lake Superior State (2012-14) Alex Globke, F* Detroit Red Wings Lake Superior State (2014-16) Domenic Monardo, F Washington Capitals Lake Superior State (2010-13) Steve Oleksy, D^ Pittsburgh Penguins Lake Superior State (2007-09) Buddy Robinson, F^ Ottawa Senators Lake Superior State (2012-13) Zach Trotman, D^ Lake Superior State (2010-12) , F^ Philadelphia Flyers Michigan Tech (2003-06) , G^ St. Louis Blues Michigan Tech (2013-14) Tanner Kero, F^ Chicago Blackhawks Michigan Tech (2012-15) Jujhar Khaira, F^ Edmonton Oilers Michigan Tech (2013) Alex Petan, F* Minnesota Wild Michigan Tech (2013-16) Jamie Phillips, G* Winnipeg Jets Michigan Tech (2013-16) , F^ Michigan Tech (2012-15) David Backes, F^ Boston Bruins Minnesota State (2004-06) Teddy Blueger, F* Pittsburgh Penguins Minnesota State (2013-16) Ryan Carter, F^ Minnesota Wild Minnesota State (2005-06) Bryce Gervais, F* St. Louis Blues Minnesota State (2013-16) Jon Jutzi, D* Minnesota State (2013-16) Dylan Margonari, F* Washington Capitals Minnesota State (2013-16) , F^ Dallas Stars Minnesota State (2004-07) Casey Nelson, D*^ Buffalo Sabres Minnesota State (2014-16) Zach Palmquist, D Minnesota Wild Minnesota State (2012-15) Stephon Williams, G New York Islanders Minnesota State (2013-15) Jake Baker, D Winnipeg Jets Northern Michigan (2012-15) Jared Coreau, G Detroit Red Wings Northern Michigan (2011-13) Mark Olver, F^ Arizona Coyotes Northern Michigan (2008-10)

* - denotes played in the WCHA in 2015-16; ^ - denotes previous NHL experience

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The 2016-17 NHL regular season gets underway with a four-game slate Wednesday, Oct. 12. The WCHA drops the puck on its campaign this weekend (Sept. 30-Oct. 2), as Ferris State hosts Alabama Huntsville in the league opener, Michigan Tech visits Minnesota Duluth in nonconference action and six teams host exhibition contests (Alaska Anchorage, Alaska, Bowling Green, Lake Superior State, Minnesota State and Northern Michigan).

About Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) The Western Collegiate Hockey Association, among the most historic, tradition-rich and successful conferences in all of collegiate athletics, will proudly mark its 65th season of men’s competition in 2016- 17. The 10-team Division 1 conference consists of the University of Alabama in Huntsville (Chargers), the University of Alaska Anchorage (Seawolves), the University of Alaska (Nanooks), Bemidji State University (Beavers), Bowling Green State University (Falcons), (Bulldogs), Lake Superior State University (Lakers), Michigan Technological University (Huskies), Minnesota State University (Mavericks) and Northern Michigan University (Wildcats). For more information, visit wcha.com.

MEDIA CONTACT MORE INFORMATION Matt Hodson Website: wcha.com Associate Commissioner for Public Relations Twitter: @wcha_mhockey E: [email protected] Instagram: @wcha_mhockey O: 952.818.8872 Facebook: facebook.com/wchahockey M: 612.801.2808 WCHA.tv: portal.stretchinternet.com/wcha

– WCHA –

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