Freshman Defenseman To Focus On Academics
While people waited around today for the news on the future of Wisconsin junior defenseman Justin Schultz, it was another Badger blue-liner that made headlines.
It was announced today that freshman Patrick Daly has officially left the hockey team.
The news was first reported on twitter by Andy Baggot of the Wisconsin State Journal Tuesday afternoon.
"I am ready to move onto the next stage in my life and I want to focus primarily on school and working towards my degree," Daly said in an interview with Bucky's 5th Quarter Tuesday night.
"I didn't see myself playing in the NHL so I wanted to spend my time focusing on improving my GPA rather then my hockey abilities"
Daly, who was a 2011 7th round NHL draft pick of the New Jersey Devils played in 11 games for the Badgers during his freshman campaign, and did not register any points.
The Benilde-St. Margaret's product was a healthy scratch for 26 of Wisconsin's 37 games this season, but Daly insisted that the decision to leave was all his.
"This decision was 100% mine. It had nothing to do with the coaching staff, team, or University. I have nothing but good things to say about all of them," Daly said. "It was just a personal decision."
Wisconsin offered Daly a scholarship mid-way through last season when it became apparent that Minnetonka defenseman Troy Hesketh was not going to be admitted to the University.
Daly said that the coaching staff was a bit caught off guard by the decision to leave after just one season.
"The coaching staffs reaction was that they were surprised and that it was unexpected," Daly noted.
"But they were understanding about it, and I appreciated how they handled the unexpected news. I wish them all the best."
Daly noted that he has no future plans to play competitive hockey at this time.
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