The Razorback Hockey team is pleased to announce D-Corey Rees as the next 2017-18 Arkansas commit.  At 6’1” 200 lbs., the right-shooting defenseman brings size and a deep junior background to the program.

Rees recently completed his junior league career playing for the Long Beach Sharks in the NA3HL where he served as the team’s Assistant Captain.  Playing for the Sharks, Rees dressed in 43 games, contributed 10 points, and accrued a +11 plus-minus rating.  During the Sharks’ 2017 Silver Cup playoff run, Rees dressed in all 8 games where he chipped in a goal, two assists, and finished +2.

Said Long Beach Head Coach, Mike Stanaway, “I am thrilled for Corey.  For two years he served as an example to other players on how to compete.  He constantly did things the right way both in practices and games.  I am looking forward to watching him become an impact player for Arkansas as well.”

Before his time with the Sharks, Rees spent the 2015-16 season with the New York Jr. Aviators in the NA3EHL.  For his 2014-15 campaign, Rees played with the Atlanta Jr. Knights in the USPHL Elite.  In total, Rees would play in 122 games across his junior career.

Rees grew up in a military family and was gradually introduced to hockey as they moved around the world.  Rees was born in Denver, Colorado, just as the Colorado Avalanche moved to town.  His family bought season tickets and witnessed the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 1996.  Rees was four when they moved to Okinawa, Japan, where Rees’s father began coaching a roller hockey team.  Rees joined his father’s team.  At age eight, Rees’s family moved to Arizona where he took up ice hockey.  Rees says he “fell in love with the game.”

About committing to Arkansas Rees commented, “When I heard the University of Arkansas was interested in me, I did some research on the history of the school and enjoyed learning about it.  From the coaching staff to the players, everyone who contacted me during the recruiting process showed high interest in getting me to the school so I knew right away it would be a good fit for me.”

Rees becomes the seventh in the 2017-18 recruiting class that features players from five different states.  Rees joins the following players:

F/D-Paiute Morrison (Southern Oregon Spartans, WSHL)
D-Kyle Dudley (Euless Jr. Stars, NA3HL)
D-Shaun Foster (SUNY-Canton, NCAA).
D-Kenatae Medure (Atlanta Capitals, NA3HL)
G-Max Barr (Long Beach Bombers, WSHL);
G-Rio Virgoe (Jersey Shore Wildcats, NA3HL)

The University of Arkansas is the only SEC school to field two hockey teams.  The Division I team has, since 2015, competed in the Western Collegiate Hockey Conference (learn more here).   The Division III team will in 2017-18 begin its eleventh season competing in the Southeastern Collegiate Hockey Conference (learn more here).  All home games are played at The Jones Center for Families in Springdale.