Dalton Norris Commits to Bowling Green University
February 25, 2021 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release
Lincoln Stars defenseman Dalton Norris has announced his commitment to Bowling Green University, an NCAA Division I program in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA), beginning in the 2022-23 season.
Norris, 19, has scored one goal and tallied eight assists through 27 games this season. The Oxford, MI native currently leads the Stars in power-play assists (5), but also ranks first in assists and points among defenseman.
Bowling Green first joined the NCAA in 1969 following a brief stint as a club hockey team. The Falcons have secured one D-I national championship in their history, defeating Minnesota-Duluth in 1984. They ended a 29-year national tournament appearance drought with their latest bid in 2019 and have posted records above .500 in seven straight seasons.
So far in 2020-21, Bowling Green occupies second place in the WCHA with an overall record of 17-8-1.
"It's a whole bunch of things that led to me committing there," Norris said. "They have a really good staff in place. Coach [Ty] Eigner and Coach [Curtis] Carr have done a great job with the program; they have a winning history. It's close to home, it's two hours away, so it'll be nice to have my family be able to come out whether it's on Friday or Saturday. There were a lot of things, but it felt like home and that's the important thing."
Norris joins his father Dwayne (Michigan State: 1988-92) and brothers Josh (Michigan: 2017-19) and Coale (Ferris State: 2017-present) in committing to a NCAA Division I program. Dwayne played 20 games in the NHL with the Quebec Nordiques and the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in the early and mid-1990s. Josh is currently in the midst of his rookie campaign with the Ottawa Senators, putting up 12 points in 21 games.
"They've been huge for me," Norris noted. "Obviously, there's three sons in the family and all of us have taken our own paths. Four guys, including my dad, going to four different schools. They haven't pushed me at all to go a certain way, but they made it important that I feel at home wherever I go. I told them Bowling Green was the spot and they were super stoked for me. I can't thank them enough for everything they've done for me; they've been a great support system."
"It's a hockey family, but who they are as people, they're one of the best families I've ever met and talked to," Stars General Manager and Head Coach Chris Michael said. "Dalts has had some growing pains at times and they've supported him like all families should. They didn't harness his development, they've kept him working and competing. Not only are you learning how to handle adversity in life, but you learn you're going to get rewarded if you stick with it."
Norris made his USHL debut in the 2017-18 season with Team USA, but played the rest of his time with the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies 16U program. Since then, he's suited up for 74 games in Lincoln over the last two seasons, registering 18 points.
"Last year, Coach [Cody] Chupp and Coach Mikes took me under their wing and gave me an opportunity," Norris continued. "I can't thank them enough for trusting me as a 17-year-old kid coming out of AAA hockey. With Mikes bringing me back this year, he's helped me develop into the player I am. The city of Lincoln is blue-collar; it's my type of city. It's all I could really ask for and it's been an honor to play here."
"We're extremely proud of Dalton since the moment he's come here," Michael remarked. "He's been an unbelievable person as far as driving our culture; he's been unbelievable in our community. Everything we want in our players, everything we say defines a Lincoln Star, Dalton Norris personifies that on and off the ice every single day. We're very happy for him."
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