Former Centerville Elks defenseman Nick Schemmel signed this week to play with the new ACHA Division I program at Cleary University in Howell, Michigan.

Nick's first brush with junior hockey was with the Dryden (ON) Ice Dogs of the SIJHL. He left the team to return to Dayton for school and played for the Dayton Falcons in the NA3HL until the team folded. He then received a call from the Breezy Point North Stars of the NA3HL and decided to move to Minnesota. The stay in Breezy Point was brief, and Nick played most of the season with the Wausau (WI) Riverwolves. 

Nick returned to Minnesota last season to play in the USPHL with the Kasson Vipers and then moved mid-season to the Bay City area of Michigan to play for the Tri-City Icehawks.

Nick played his high school hockey with the Centerville Elks and, prior to that, played with the Dayton Bombers and South Dayton Knights travel teams.

The Cougars will be playing and practicing off campus this year, but the university plans to expand the current athletic complex within the next three years to include a new ice facility. 

--- Mike Schemmel