With teammates Derek Forbort and Joe Arbour on Duluth East's blueline, it might have been easy to overlook Alex McLean.
The Air Force Academy didn't make that mistake.
McLean, a 6-foot-3, 175-pound senior defenseman, made an oral commitment Monday to attend and play hockey at Air Force, a Division I college that won 28 games and reached the 2009 NCAA men's hockey quarterfinals this past season.
McLean made an official visit to the Colorado Springs, Colo., campus about two weeks ago and came away impressed with the university that's nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
"It's a big-time change from what we have here in Minnesota," McLean said Wednesday. "The campus is right at the edge of the mountains, and mountains are something we're not used to [in Duluth]."
ADVERTISEMENT
McLean, who scored three goals and had 16 assists in helping the Greyhounds to the Class AA state tournament, said he considered Division I Holy Cross and Providence, but favored the Falcons after watching them upset Michigan in the first round of the NCAA tournament and after he had successful postseason tournaments at the Great 8 and Chicago Showcase.
Air Force is coached by Coleraine native Frank Serratore and lists nine Minnesotans on its roster, including Duluth Marshall graduate Scott Kozlak. Kozlak joined McLean and his father, Dave, for dinner both nights in Colorado Springs and gave positive reviews of the college.
"I talked to him to get a feel for the college and the military lifestyle that they have," McLean said. "It's definitely different than other colleges, but it'll be a good learning experience for myself. That was another reason I decided it would be a good fit for me -- it's a test to determine how mature you are."
McLean plans on seeking a management degree when he arrives at Air Force. He hopes to play for a United States Hockey League team for a year or two, otherwise he'll play for the Wenatchee (Wash.) Wild of the North American Hockey League.
