Wild's Dowd decides on St. Cloud State

The Wenatchee Wild has announced that forward Nic Dowd has committed to St. Cloud State University (WCHA) for the 2010-11 season.

During the regular season, Dowd led the Wild in points per game with 49 (16 goals) in 43 contests. In the postseason, the 18-year-old has a league-leading six goals for 12 points after six games.

“St. Cloud State University is getting an exceptional hockey player and young man,” said Wild head coach Paul Baxter.  “It’s great to see all of Nic’s hard work pay off. We’re extremely happy for him.”

Dowd, one of the NAHL’s eight finalists for the Dave Tyler Junior Hockey Player of the Year Award, was also selected to represent the West Division at January’s NAHL Top Prospect Tournament but was unable to participate due to injury.

Prior to Wenatchee, Dowd, from Huntsville, Ala., was a student-athlete at Indiana’s Culver Military Academy.

Dowd becomes the sixth Wild player to commit to a Division I school, joining forwards Duncan McKellar (Bemidji State University) and Mitch Torrel (Air Force Academy); defenseman Adam McKenzie (Air Force); and goaltenders Mac Carruth (University of Minnesota Duluth) and Mathieu Dugas (Bemidji State).