CollegeHockey247.com - Rumpel doesn't waste time, commits to Wisconsin

February 8, 2010

James Dunn
CollegeHockey247.com Senior Editor

Pencticton Vees (BCHL) goalie Joel Rumpel felt pretty strongly even before his weekend visit to Wisconsin he would pledge to the Badgers. But the weekend clinched it for the Class of 2012 prospect ?

"I'd have to say, just everything blew me away," Rumpel told CollegeHockey247.com this afternoon. "The whole environment, the town was into its hockey ... I definitely felt like hockey was huge in Madison and that I would be a part of something special.

"I saw their facilities too, and they were unbelievable. I've never seen anything like that."

Rumpel, 6-3, 175 pounds, sat among the 55,000 Badger fans that braved the elements to watch a UW 3-2 win over Michigan in an outdoor game played at the team's football stadium. He admitted sneaking into Heritage Hall to warm up a few times, but always returned to the stands.

"It was crazy," he said.

In 21 games this season, Rumpel is 16-3-0 with a 1.86 goals against average and a .924 save percentage. He will arrive in Madison the fall after current Badger starters Scott Gudmandson and Brett Bennett graduate.

For more on Rumpel, read this story from before his visit.

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