Here is a really good article on incoming Sioux freshman Carter Rowney. I can't wait to see this Carter Rowney in a UND Fighting Sioux uniform this season. Rowney was not drafted during the 2009 entry draft.
If the Grande Prairie Storm repeat as AJHL champions this season, they’ll do so without the services of all-star forward Carter Rowney.
Rowney will forfeit his final year of junior eligibility to leave for the University of North Dakota, where he’ll play NCAA Division I hockey with the Fighting Sioux.
He’ll also continue his education, working towards a business degree.
The forward had the option of joining the Fighting Sioux either this season or in 2010, and while he’s been leaning towards making the jump for some time, everything has now been made official. He’ll be on his way in about two weeks.
“The plan is right now, I’m going down to North Dakota,” Rowney said.
“I’ve gone through it all now. I think I just finished doing all my paperwork finally.”
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Rowney was a scorer with the Storm, but his role with North Dakota has yet to be decided.
“It’ll all come down to the type of opportunity that they give him,” Vandekamp said.
“He’s a good enough player. It’s going to be a jump for him for sure, as it is for all players to go from junior A to Division I college.
“North Dakota has a very competitive program so he’ll be competing with some very good players to get ice time, but I think he’s ready.”
Rowney has his sights on getting consistent playing time.
With the calibre of hockey as high as it is in the NCAA, Rowney has been working hard to help make that goal a reality.
He spent two weeks in Vernon, B.C., to train earlier in the summer and then he spent another two going through orientation with his new team.
He said he hasn’t taken a night off from working out to help build up his strength – something he sees as an area of his game that needs improvement.
Rowney doesn’t know how North Dakota will play out, but he’s optimistic his first year of college will be a good one.
[Daily Herald - Tribune]
