Jack Moore on his way to Arkansas

IMG_2660The Razorback Hockey team is pleased to announce that Jack Moore has formally committed to play at Arkansas.  A 1995 birth year, the 5’11″ 190 lb. right-handed forward from Coppell, Texas, recently completed his final junior season with the East Coast Wizards (EHL).

Moore’s junior career includes stops with the Bay State Breakers (USPHL-Elite) and, more recently, the East Coast Wizards (EHL). In 37 games with the Breakers during the 14-15 season, Moore compiled 30 points including 8 goals and 22 assists.  Used by Breakers’ Head Coach Kyle Robertson in a variety of situations, Moore in particular saw time during critical penalty situations.   Said Robertson, “I have been coaching juniors for 20 years and Jack is one of the best leaders I have been around.  He can play all three zones, is a very good face off man, and can shut down the other team’s skilled players.”

With the Wizards this past season, Moore appeared in 33 games and notched five goals to go with an assist.  Said Wizards’ Head Coach Freddy Meyer, “Jack is one of the hardest workers I have coached.  He shows up everyday with a purpose to improve his abilities and to make his teammates better on and off the ice.”

Prior to his junior career, Moore played in the NAPHL for the Texas Tornado where, as team captain during the 13-14 season, he scored 11 goals and added 17 assists in 33 games.  Among his other honors that season, Moore was selected as Offensive Peak Performer of the week, chosen to participate in the Romeoville NAPHL showcase, and selected by the league for the NAPHL Top Prospects All Star Showcase.

Said Moore, “I’m really excited with my decision to attend, and play hockey at the University of Arkansas.  The University has everything to offer, from a great location to a hockey program on the rise.”  He added, “A lot of factors played into my decision to play for the Razorbacks.  After playing in Boston, I realized that being close to home was something important to me along with being close to friends and family in Fayetteville.”

Moore becomes the twentieth player in a 16-17 recruiting class that has ten different states represented (Texas, Mississippi, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, Kansas, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Missouri, and California) and players with experience in nine different junior leagues (NA3HL, EHL, NAHL, MnJHL, SJHL, MJAHL, WSHL, GMHL, and USPHL).  He joins the following players:

F-Drew Hill (Dallas Jr. Stars, NA3HL)
F-Chris Stovall (Springfield Express, WSHL)
F-Garrett Jackson (McKinney Northstars)
F-Alex Kueser (Eureka High School)
F-Chris Weatherly (HC Dallas AAA, NAPHL)
F-Ben Koester (Rochester Ice Hawks, NA3HL)
F-Alec Morris (Marian University, NCAA)
F-Niko Ala-Kokko (Dallas Penguins, DJHA)
F-Wesley Moore (Rampart High School, COHS)
F-Christian MacMeeken (Dallas Jr. Stars, DSTHL)
F-Alexx Vil (Texas Jr. Brahmas, DSTHL)
D-Alex DeGuire (Skipjacks Hockey Club, USPHL)
D-Dominic De la Guardia (Portland Jr. Pirates, USPHL)
D-Jake Jones (Bobcaygeon Storm, GMHL)
D-Blake Sibley (HC Dallas AAA, NAPHL)
D-Brian Danahy (Abington Green Wave, MAHS)
D-Adam Cooke (Texas Jr. Brahmas, DSTHL)
G-Nick Bretzger (Springfield Express, WSHL)
G-Michael Moore (Chicago Cougars, USPHL)

The Arkansas hockey program recently finished its first season fielding two teams.  The Division I team finished #21–the highest finish in ACHA history for any team in its first DI season after moving from DIII.  The team’s #21 finish also gave Arkansas the best finish of any of the five teams that made the jump to Division I this season.  Meanwhile, Division III’s twenty-eight win season was good for third in the SECHC and tenth in the Pacific Region.

The 2016-17 Division I & III schedules were recently released.  You can view the Division I schedule here and the Division III schedule is available here.  All home games are played at The Jones Center for Families in Springdale.