Upon review, it turns out this post-graduate year Nathan Sinz has spent at Shattuck-St. Mary's in Minnesota actually accelerated the Anchorage defenseman's entry into Division I college hockey.

Sinz, 19, has committed to begin playing next fall at Colgate University of the Eastern College Athletic Conference.

After helping Shattuck to a USA Hockey national championship as a senior in 2007, Sinz became the rare player to return for a post-graduate season at the school/hockey factory in Faribault, Minn.

"It was a unique situation,'' Sinz said by phone. "It was just the right situation because there was only one returning defenseman coming back and coach (Tom) Ward likes to have two returning defensemen.

"We talked about it, and I decided to come back. It was a lot of fun because coach Ward is the best coach I've ever had. I learned so much.''

And while most college programs recruiting Sinz -- primarily schools in the East, including several from the Ivy League -- wanted him to play a year of junior hockey and begin college in 2010, Colgate made him a late offer for 2009.

Sinz accepted, in part because he's ready to begin college and study medicine, but also because he felt his extra season at Shattuck prepared him for the rigors of college hockey. He began at Shattuck as an eighth-grader.

"It's been kind of an up and down journey,'' Sinz said. "I've been kind of an inconsistent player. I'd have weekends where scouts would say, 'Wow, look at this kid,' and then some weekends where they'd say, 'What are you talking about?'

"I battled inconsistency early in this season. After Christmas, things picked up, and by nationals (in April), that tournament was the best weekend of my hockey season.''

Sinz scored one goal and four assists in four games at the USA Hockey U-18 nationals in Pittsburgh. In 50 games overall this season, the 5-foot-11, 185-pounder earned 5-20--25 totals.

Sinz is one of several Alaska boys and girls that play hockey and attend school at Shattuck -- that group also includes his younger brother, Bryan, a sophomore defenseman. Shattuck has been home to such players as Detroit Red Wings goaltender Ty Conklin of Anchorage, New Jersey Devils winger Zach Parise and some Pittsburgh Penguins center named Sidney Crosby.

Sinz is one of several Anchorage players headed to Division I in the fall.

Also on the move soon are defenseman William Wrenn and goalie Adam Murray (University of Denver); center William Rapuzzi (Colorado College); former Shattuck forward Eli Zuck (Minnesota State-Mankato); and goalie Steve Thompson (UAF).

Anchorage girls headed to Division I include Shattuck forward Jessica Cohen (Providence) and defenseman Candace Molle (North Dakota). Also, twins Alev Kelter and Derya Kelter of Eagle River are headed to Wisconsin.

Find Doyle Woody's blog online at adn.com/hockeyblog or call him at 257-4335.

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