Recent Michigan State Commit Leading Gamblers
October 13, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Green Bay Gamblers News Release
Green Bay Gamblers forward Sam Saliba had a busy offseason preparing for his third USHL season. After being traded mid-season to Green Bay in 2014-15, Saliba spent the summer preparing for a big season with the Gamblers hoping to return the club back to its perennial playoff form. But first came an exciting announcement for the 20-year old forward: his commitment to Michigan State University.
"I was very excited to commit to Michigan State," Saliba said. "It has always been a dream of mine to play Big Ten hockey and Michigan State had everything I was looking for in a college."
Saliba's college hockey dreams are a culmination of hard work and determination, as the Lake Forest, IL native first came to the USHL when the Chicago Steel selected him 396th overall in the 27th round of the 2013 USHL Phase II Draft. Saliba spent his 2013-14 season developing further with the Chicago Mission (HPHL) and Sioux City Musketeers (USHL).
As a veteran of the league and a leader in the locker room, Saliba can help teammates get acclimated to the grind that is Tier 1 junior hockey. His experience has helped him outline goals for himself and his teammates.
"My individual goal this season it to grow my game and to show up every day as a leader for this team," Saliba said. "However, as a team the ultimate goal is to win a championship."
Saliba has six points (3g, 3a) in just four games with the Gamblers this season. The impressive point total ties him for seventh best in the USHL scoring race, and is just three points behind the league-leaders. Green Bay's next home game at the Resch Center is this Saturday, October 17th, 2015 at 7:05pm CT as Saliba and the Gamblers take on reigning Anderson Cup champions Youngstown Phantoms.
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the USHL celebrates its 14th season as the nation's only Tier I junior hockey league in 2015-16. A record 37 players were chosen in the 2015 NHL Draft and more than 375 players on team rosters last season committed to NCAA Division I schools, further establishing the USHL as the world's foremost producer of junior hockey talent.
United States Hockey League Stories from October 13, 2015
- Stampede Roll over Sioux City 7-3 for Second Win of Season - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Steel Acquire Three in Pair of Tuesday Trades - Chicago Steel
- Lancers Acquire Steel Defenseman Michael Joyaux - Omaha Lancers
- Gamblers Acquire Connor Murphy and Ryan Blankemeier - Green Bay Gamblers
- Frozen Night this Sunday - Sioux City Musketeers
- Waterloo Black Hawks Weekly Preview - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Recent Michigan State Commit Leading Gamblers - Green Bay Gamblers
- Fighting Saints to Host Country Night - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Watch Party Tonight - Sioux City Musketeers
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