The Temple University Ice Hockey Club is proud to announce defenseman Andrew Williams as our third commitment of the 2020 offseason.
Williams, born Feb. 18, 1999, spent the last two seasons playing alongside fellow commit Jeffrey Gross at Skipjacks Hockey Club in the United States Premier Hockey League Premier. The USPHL Premier is a self-sanctioned junior hockey league that plays at a tier-three level. Williams scored 3 goals and 10 assists in 85 games as a stay-at-home defenseman.
Before joining Skipjacks, Williams played for Northern Cyclones in the USPHL Elite, the league just below the USPHL Premier, in 2017-18, recording 4 goals and 12 assists in 43 games. He played for St. Mary’s Ryken High School from 2014-17, scoring 3 goals and 11 assists in 37 games.
The 6-foot, 2-inch blueliner’s size is a big reason why head coach Pat Carroll was looking forward to signing him to the Owls.
“Andrew’s size and right-handed shot will be a big help on our blue line this season,” Carroll said. “I have seen him make some great decisions and plays during his USPHL Premier games which will help our transition game from our own end.”
Williams didn’t have too much of a problem landing on North Broad. Vice president Alex Barberini showed him around campus and helped sell the experience of being part of the Cherry and Ice, and it didn’t take too much more for Carroll to seal the deal.
“Temple is obviously a great academic school,” he said. “It’s got competitive hockey and a coach that really cares about the program.”
Williams said he believes that what he has been taught from his time with Skipjacks prepared him for collegiate hockey. From learning how to work for his teammates, to leading by example, he hopes to bring that set of intangibles to the ACHA.
“I’m not playing for myself,” he said, “I’m playing for the guys next to me.”
About the Temple University Ice Hockey Club
The Temple University Ice Hockey Club was founded in 1940 and has played in the top division of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), the top league for club hockey in the United States, since 2015. Temple plays in the Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association (ECHA) alongside geographical rivals in Villanova and Drexel. The Temple Owls play at The Igloo at Mt. Laurel at 3033 Fostertown Road, Mt. Laurel, NJ.
You can watch Owls games live on the TUICE Network at TempleIceHockey.com or the Temple University Ice Hockey Club YouTube Channel.