Wamsganz, 17, confirmed he has made an oral commitment to join the Tigers of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association either next fall or for the 2011-12 season.
"I thought Colorado Springs was a lot like home,'' Wamsganz said by cell phone Tuesday from Waterloo, Iowa, where he is a rookie in the U.S. Hockey League. "I've got some friends in Colorado, and some family. William Rapuzzi (of Anchorage) goes there. And they've done well by a lot of Alaskans.
"It's a great school and a great program. I thought it was a good situation, where I could go in and make an impact.''
Rapuzzi opened his college career with a goal and assist in the Tigers' win against Northeastern on Friday. Joey Crabb of Anchorage, who debuted in the NHL last season, played at Colorado College. And former NHLer Brian Swanson of Eagle River, who currently plays in Germany, was an All-American and Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalist for the Tigers.
Wamsganz last season was a first-team all-state pick as a junior at Dimond High. He also played competition hockey for the Southcentral Wolves. His high school coach, Dennis Sorenson, said the 6-foot-4, 200-pounder owns a quick release on his shot and is packed with potential.
"He's got good skating and great hands for a guy his size,'' Sorenson said. "He could be a big-time player if, in the USHL, he plays through guys instead of around guys.''
Wamsganz currently plays for the Waterloo Black Hawks. He has recorded one assist in three games. He will be eligible for the NHL draft next summer.
Making an early commitment to Colorado College gets an important decision out of the way for Wamsganz and allows him to concentrate on hockey and school -- he's a senior.
"It takes off a little pressure,'' Wamsganz said. "But you've still got to play to win, play hard and keep your spot in the lineup.''
There were no shortage of suitors for Wamsganz among college recruiters, and Sorenson said his former player's academic strength also made him a coveted recruit.
"He had a lot of offers,'' Sorenson said. "He pretty much could have gone anywhere he wanted with his skills and his grades.''
Turns out Wamsganz's pick was Colorado College, a highly-regarded private school that uses a block plan in which students take one class at a time. The Tigers have finished in the top half of the WCHA 15 times in the last 16 seasons, and qualified for the NCAA tournament 11 times in that span.
"I decided they were the best fit,'' Wamsganz said.
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