athletics.uwsp.edu

Why Choose UWSP?Brandon JaegerHometown: Champlin, Minn.2011-15All-WIAC 2012-14, UWSP’s all-time leader in wins and saves“My decision to attend UWSP as a hockey player was one I will never regret. Over the course of my 4 years, my teammates and the coaching staff were able to restore the winning culture of the hockey program and our recent success speaks for itself. UWSP is now one of the top DIII programs in the country because Coach Brooks continues to recruit talented players who are driven to win and succeed on and off the ice. In addition, the overall treatment of our players and the support we receive from the fans/community is second to none at the DIII level. I loved every minute of being a Pointer and I will always cherish being surrounded by a group of guys who have as much passion and love for the sport of hockey as I do.”

Jerry FreismuthHometown: Grosse Point, Mich.2011-13Team Captain 2012-13

“My time as a hockey player at UWSP is something I will always treasure. I improved as a hockey player and a student. I also became a better person because of the great people that surrounded me every day. UWSP has a lot of history and a great tradition. The culture of the hockey program is so strong and there is nothing better than going to battle with your brothers in front of a sold out crowd at Willett Arena. Coming to UWSP was one of the best decisions of my life and I’m proud that I was part of a culture that will only continue to grow with more championships. I had many opportunities coming out of school, some hockey and some business related. UWSP will set you up for success in whatever path you desire. This is a program where players will develop in all categories and gain the skills needed to compete at the next level. I take a lot of pride in being part of the UWSP Hockey Family and glad I got to compete, in my opinion, at the top DIII program in the country.”

Tom UptonHometown: Austin, Texas2006-10Team Captain 2009-10Assistant Coach 2010-13

“I feel very fortunate to have had the privilege of being a student athlete and a coach at UWSP. My time as a Pointer has had an enormous impact on my entire life. The culture that Coach Brooks has created, taught me invaluable lessons that continue to develop me today in both hockey and in life. K.B Willett Arena provides an atmosphere unlike any other in Division 3 hockey. The support that the University, the student body and the fans in the community of Stevens Point give to the Men’s Hockey program made my experience throughout college athletics, both as a player and as a coach, extremely memorable. I made many lifelong friends and still maintain great relationships today that were established at UW-Stevens Point.”

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Five NCAA Division III National Titles

1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 2016

Four NCAA Runner-Up Finishes

1992, 1998, 2014, 2015

12 NCAA Tournament Appearances

1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993,

1994, 1995, 1998 , 2014, 2015,2016

Ten WIAC Titles

1986, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2015

108 All-WIAC Honorees

Two WIAC Players of the Year

34 All-Americans

One NCAA Division III Player of the Year

One NCAA Division III Coach of the Year

20 sports, 500 Student-Athletes, 1 POINT

The Pointer WayThe UW-Stevens Point men’s hockey program works to strive day in and day out to live up to the phrase “The Pointer Way.” Placed proudly in our locker room, we recognize that our responsibility as a UW-Stevens Point hockey player has much more to do with just hockey. Our program identity states: “Here at Stevens Point, we choose to hold ourselves to a higher standard on the ice, in the classroom, and in the community. We do this not as individuals, but as an identity. Our choice not only defines our time here, but shapes who we will become the rest of our lives. Never to falter, never to stray, this is ‘The Pointer Way.’” It is important for the present and future success of our program that we recruit players who understand, accept, and live our programs’ identity.

Putting the Studentin Student-Athlete

UW-Stevens Point has consistently been ranked as one of the Top 10 Midwest Public Universities. With over 120 undergraduate program choices within 48 undergraduate majors and 78 minors, UWSP offers the highest percentage of undergraduate courses taught by regular faculty in the UW System. Our hockey players recognize the importance of academics and commit to our obligation to attend all classes with our mandatory attendance policy. In addition, we run study tables for incoming freshmen three hours a week and for any of the other players who require extra work. The coaching staff works closely with teachers, advisors, admissions, and faculty representatives to ensure we are providing our players with all the resources that they require to manage being a student-athlete. It is our goal, as a program, to graduate our players as quickly as possible. Examples of some majors the Pointers are pursuing include Pre-Chiropractic, Fire Science, Economics, Communications, Health Promotion and Wellness, Business, and Marketing.

K.B. Willett ArenaOpened in 1981, K.B. Willett Ice Arena is the home of the Pointers. With a capacity of 1,800 people, the tradition from numerous championship banners hanging in the rafters, the UWSP band, and always full student section create an environment and experience that is second to none in Division III hockey. The Pointers hockey team also utilizes the Health Enhancement Center on the UWSP campus. This facility includes 54,000 sq. ft. Multi-Activity Center (with climbing wall, track, and tennis courts), the Aquatic Center, two full-size gymnasiums (Quandt and Berg Gym), the Strength/Fitness Center, and a laundry facility that services all sports.

Our spacious private locker room inside K.B. Willett Arena is one of the top facilities in Division III hockey, thanks to the generosity of many alumni and men’s hockey supporters. The locker room has a logoed carpet, 30 stalls, four big screen televisions, a refrigerator, a stick rack area, a separate shower area, a training room, equipment room, and coach’s office. A short distance from the entrance to the ice surface, this area provides our players everything they need to prepare on a daily basis.

IT’s A Great day to Be a Pointer!

Pointers understand the importance of being an integral piece of the city of Stevens Point and the surrounding area as people and role models. Our team is involved in various activities throughout the year such as volunteering at local schools, Skate with the Pointers, volunteering with the Stevens Point Area Youth Hockey Association, Toy Drive to support Operation Bootstrap, Canned Food Drive to support an on campus food pantry called The Cupboard, volunteering at the Dozynki Harvestfest, bell ringing for the Salvation Army and the annual “Put a Check to Cancer” fundraiser in conjunction with Ministry Health Care.

Community Service

The Pointer Blueline Club is a multifaceted organization whose mission is to support and promote the UWSP men’s hockey program. The club does this in the form of financial assistance for facilities maintenance and improvement, equipment purchases, travel, advertising, and promotion. All promotion activities are organized to foster awareness and recognition among the general public, alumni and area youth. Activities include an annual golf outing, monthly meetings, parents weekend, annual awards banquet, 50/50 raffles, Skate with the Pointers, and other fundraising activities to aid the program. Membership is offered annually.

Blueline Club

Team TravelOur location is a great advantage for our program when it comes to team travel. Centrally located just three hours north of Chicago and three hours east of Minneapolis, our travel to games is convenient. The location of our school allows our players to miss minimal class time due to game participation. Furthermore, when our team travels, we utilize 55-passenger coach busses with internet access toprovide student-athletes with the resources theyneed away from campus. We stay in first class hotelsand more importantly stay two players per room.

We are very fortunate to have all of our games broadcast on the radio. Longtime UWSP men’s hockey radio broadcasters Tom Weaver and Shaun McMahon provide play-by-play of all the games home and away, with an online stream for families of our players to stay in touch with our team from any location.

HEAD COACHChris Brooks

In five seasons at UW-Stevens Point, Chris Brooks has led the Pointers to a 98-40-10 (.695) overall record, while playing in one of the most competitive conferences in the country. In 2016 Brooks led UWSP to its fifth National Championship in program history defeating St. Norbert 5-1 in Lake Placid, N.Y. Brooks has led the Pointers tothree consecutive Frozen Four appearances, afterfinishing as the national runner-up in 2014 and 2015. Inthe past three seasons, Brooks has guided UWSP to69-18-5 record, and the 24 wins in 2015-16 are the mostby a UWSP team since the 1992-93. Brooks was alsonamed a finalist for the Edward Jeremiah Award, given tothe Division III Coach of the Year in each of the last threeseasons. In 2016 Brooks was also named DIII Coach ofthe year by USCHO.com.

In his five years at UW-Stevens Point, Brooks has coached six All-Americans (Alex Brooks - 2016, Joe Kalisz - 2015,2016, Kevin Gibson - 2015, Garrett Ladd-2014,Kyle Brodie-2014 and Kyle Heck-2012). He has alsocoached 26 All-WIAC players, including the first two WIACPlayers of the Year (Gibson- 2015, Ladd-2014), and threeElite 90 Award winners Brandon Jaeger (2014-15), EvanDixon (2016)

Prior to UWSP, Brooks spent three seasons as a coach at the professional level, where he led the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees to an 87-86 overall record and playoff appearances in two of his three seasons. He led the team to a franchise-record 35 wins and its first-ever playoff series victory in 2009.

As a player, Brooks lettered four seasons as a player at WMU (1992-96) and finished as the eighth-leading scorer in school history, compiling 57 goals and 127 assists for 184 points. Brooks led WMU in assists four straight seasons and twice captured the team scoring title (1992-93, 1994-95). He was a member of two NCAA tournament teams (1993-94, 1995-96) and was the recipient of the CCHA’s Rookie of the Year award in 1993. He also received Honorable Mention CCHA All-Academic status. Brooks went on to play professionally for three seasons with stops in Amarillo (WPHL), Mobile (ECHL), Springfield (AHL), and Kalamazoo (UHL). He led the WPHL in scoring and assists during the 1996-97 season, posting 110 points (45-65-110) in 64 games, earning league Most Valuable Player status. After an 82-point campaign with Mobile, he returned to Amarillo and again led the team in scoring (48-57-105) and was the league leader in goals. He also started his coaching career that season, serving as a player/coach, while also being named team MVP and appearing in his second WPHL All-Star Game.pointerbluelineclub.com