Tyler Welsh knows the history of Yale University and how it’s produced the likes of five American presidents and likely a sixth should Hillary Clinton topple Donald Trump in next month’s election.
So it’s with great pride that he made his commitment to the prestigious Ivy League school where he’ll play Division I hockey next season for the Yale Bulldogs in the Eastern College Athletic Conference.
He’ll compete there against his current Victoria Grizzlies teammates, goalie Matthew Galajda, who is heading to Cornell University, and defenceman Jake Stevens, who will patrol the blue line at St. Lawrence University.
Welsh, 19, became the fourth Grizzlie to commit to a NCAA school this season as Cole Pickup is also off to the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Welsh wasn’t sharing his political views (presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush are other Yale alumni), but didn’t hold back about his feelings of heading to the third-oldest institution of higher learning in the good old U.S. of A.
“I’m really excited,” said Welsh. “I visited about a month ago, just before the [BCHL] Showcase. It was a really cool experience going down there. It’s a lot different than the West Coast with the old buildings and the history behind the school.
“They’ve got a great hockey program and it’s one of the top schools in the United States, if not the world, so it’s pretty hard not to be sold on that. I was in talks with other schools, but it was the school I wanted to go to anyway.”
Welsh — who will be looking to build upon his five goals and 11 assists in 14 games when the Grizzlies play host to the Langley Rivermen tonight and the Alberni Valley Bulldogs on Saturday at The Q Centre — met Yale assistant coach Ryan Donald this summer. It was at a hockey camp in Port Alberni.
Welsh, who is leaning toward an economics degree, has obviously been a top-notch student along the way.
“This is a big deal as Yale, being Ivy League, isn’t easy to get into,” said Grizzlies educational adviser Butch Boucher. “Why? Because you first have to have high marks in your Grade 9 to 12 high school transcripts and also high SAT scores. Tyler has both.
“Then, like all Ivy League schools, they do not offer hockey scholarships, only financial aid. This is based on your family’s income, savings, investments, and from that they offer you a financial-aid package,” added Boucher, who in his 10 years as adviser has never had a player go to Yale.
“I think it’s a bit easier if you play hockey than if you just want to apply to Yale, but I’m still pretty pumped to get in,” Welsh said with a chuckle.
The Grizzlies’ assistant captain is just as delighted about the team’s start.
“To have four guys with scholarships already, that’s a lot better than last year. I’m pretty sure most kids coming into the BCHL have that for a goal, to land a scholarship. Obviously, that comes with team success,” said Welsh. “We’ve had that and I’m sure it will draw even more [scholarships].”
The Grizzlies at 7-2-2-3 sit fourth overall in the league, but are embroiled in a battle within their own division, just two points up on fourth-place Nanaimo. Cowichan Valley is tied with Victoria at 19 points, but has played one more game and Powell River is a point back, having played two more.
Which makes this weekend’s homestand that much more important before closing out the month on a three-game road trip to Chilliwack, Salmon Arm and Trail the following weekend.
The Grizzlies have points in eight of their last nine games.
“We need those points every night in order to stay up in the standings. The Island Division is very good and we saw that last weekend with Nanaimo taking six points,” said Grizzlies general manager and head coach Craig Didmon.
“We have the opportunity to take two points from out of the division against Langley and we’re certainly not taking (4-9-1-0) Alberni Valley lightly at all.”
Langley (4-7-2-1) features Max Kaufman, who was second in points in the BCHL (nine goals and 12 assists) prior to play Thursday night.
IN THE DEN: Newly acquired goaltender Tony Rehm, who was picked up in a trade along with future considerations from the Brooks Bandits of the AJHL for goalie Mitchel Benson this week, will continue to adjust to the BCHL and his own defencemen. Wisconsin native Rehm — who had a 2.17 GAA and .902 save percentage in Brooks — will dress as backup to Galajda and likely makes his first start on the road next week.
