Even though William Rapuzzi generated a strong debut season in the U.S. Hockey League, the center from Anchorage figured he would need a second season on the country's premier junior circuit before playing in college.

At least that's the vibe Rapuzzi got from several schools recruiting him this season, when he played for the Green Bay Gamblers.

But that timetable was fast-forwarded recently when Colorado College made Rapuzzi an offer he couldn't refuse: A scholarship beginning this fall.

Rapuzzi, 19, said he has given the Tigers of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association his oral commitment.

"This all came about in the last couple weeks,'' Rapuzzi said. "We were in the playoffs and they came to see me, and they ended up offering me a full scholarship.

"I was planning on going back (to Green Bay) for another year -- I was talking to some other schools, but that was for 2010. It's been exciting, it's been real fun. It caught me off-guard because I wasn't expecting it.''

Rapuzzi scored 20 goals and 31 assists for 51 points in 58 regular-season games for Green Bay, tying for 23rd in league scoring. His plus-minus rating of plus 25 tied him for 10th. He also earned 3-4--7 totals in seven playoff games.

"I did not expect the year to go as well as it did,'' Rapuzzi said. "I thought it would take a good season to get up to speed in junior.''

The 5-foot-11, 187-pounder, who shoots right-handed, played two seasons at Dimond High and two seasons in the Detroit-based Belle Tire program before heading to Green Bay. Getting to the WCHA has always been his goal, he said.

"Since I've been little, I've always wanted to play in the WCHA for a good team that's at a good school, with a full scholarship,'' Rapuzzi said.

In the last 10 seasons, Colorado College has won or tied for three regular-season WCHA titles and only once finished out of the top five in the 10-team league that also includes UAA. The Tigers have qualified for the NCAA tournament six times in that span.

At Colorado College, a private school in Colorado Springs highly regarded for its academics, Rapuzzi will become an instant rival with two of his best buddies. Goaltender Adam Murray and defenseman William Wrenn, both from Anchorage and both players in USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, will be freshmen this fall at Denver. The Pioneers and Tigers are Rocky Mountain rivals.