WHL/BCHL grad Huisman commits to Wolf Pack blueline for 2010/11 season

On the eve of the opening of their 2010 training camp, the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack have announced the signing of another top player.

Defenceman Darcy Huisman of Smithers, B.C. has decided to enroll in the Arts program at TRU and play for the WolfPack this season. The 21-year old Huisman played last season in the BCHL with the Powell River Kings.

The 5'10" rushing defenceman said he made the decision to play for TRU after speaking with WolfPack head coach Lorne Cumming.

"After speaking to him earlier this summer, I put some serious thought into it," he said. "I was very positive about his attidtude towards TRU hockey and his honest approach."

Huisman, who played for the WHL Kamloops Blazers in 2007-08 will be taking geograhy, history and psychology courses in his first term at Thompson Rivers.

"I am excited about returning to school and learning," he said in reacting to the WolfPack's rule of grades ahead of playing time. "The last few years, I just played junior hockey and focused on that and volunteer work. Now it is time for me to get on with preparing for the rest of my life. I think I'll be able to manage the load of both hockey and school. It'll be an adjustment for sure having to spend a lot of time reading and writing but I am ready to do it."

Huisman is a solid puck-moving defenceman who can play well in his own end.

"I can help create offense when needed," he adds.

He played in 59 games for the Kings in 2009-10 scoring six goals and adding 35 assists. He had 45 minutes in penalty time. The previous year, he appeared in only 15 games for Powell River scoring three goals and adding 14 assists while picking up six penalty minutes.

Huisman says TRU is a good choice for him.

"After talking with lots of people who go to Thompson Rivers -- teachers, students and coaches, I'm looking forward to putting on the orange, black and white and having a good season. I don't know many of the players but I hear they play before good crowds and it should be fun to play in front of them."

He says his goal is to win the BC Intercollegiate Hockey League title and have fun doing it.

Says head coach Cumming: "My interest in Darcy was that clearly he was a good player, but more importnatly the fact that everyone I spoke to that knew him spoke very highly of him as a young man."

The WolfPack open up their training camp Tuesday (Sept 7) at 6:15 pm at the Brock Arena.

ICE CHIPS: TRU will have three nights of practicing at the Brock Arena before their annual Orange and White Intrasquad game Friday September 10th at Memorial Arena. Admission is by donation. Puck drop is 6:30 pm.

The WolfPack's first exhibition game is Friday September 17 th against archrival SFU. That game is going at the Bill Copeland Arena in Burnaby. Their first home exhibition tilt is a night later (Sept 18) at Memorial Arena at 7 pm.