The Razorback Hockey team is pleased to announce that Blake Sibley has formally committed to play at Arkansas. A 6’1″ 195 lb. defenseman from Fort Worth, Texas, Sibley recently finished his second season with the NAPHL AAA HC Dallas program and, prior to that, logged time with the WSHL Dallas Snipers.
Described by former coach Brian Wood as a “very disciplined and physical defenseman,” Coach Wood added that Sibley will “make a great player and teammate.” Sibley will be reunited with Chris Weatherly, his teammate on the 15-16 HC Dallas Tier I roster.
Said Sibley, “I chose the University of Arkansas because I was impressed by the accomplishments of the hockey program. I am excited for the chance to be a part of that continued success. Combined with the University’s commitment to educational excellence, I feel that it offers me the best opportunity to be successful in my studies while allowing me to continue playing hockey at a high level.” Sibley makes the third HC Dallas player to commit to Razorback Hockey, joining Chris Weatherly and current Razorback, Christophe Jobin.
Sibley becomes the eighth player in the 16-17 recruiting class, joining the following players:
F-Drew Hill (Dallas Jr. Stars, NA3HL)
F-Garrett Jackson (McKinney Northstars)
F-Alex Kueser (Eureka High School)
F-Chris Weatherly (HC Dallas AAA, NAPHL)
D-Alex DeGuire (Skipjacks Hockey Club, USPHL)
D-Dominic De la Guardia (Portland Jr. Pirates, USPHL)
D-Jake Jones (Bobcaygeon Storm, GMHL)
The Arkansas hockey program recently finished its first season fielding two teams. After a post-season reshuffling in the final 15-16 rankings, 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 will be released in early summer. All home games are played at The Jones Center for Families in Springdale.
