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Alum Guttman commits to University of Denver

By Brian McDonough, 11/14/17, 2:15PM PST

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Former Los Angeles Jr. King and Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick Cole Guttman has committed to attend and play his NCAA Division I hockey at the University of Denver following his junior career.

Former Los Angeles Jr. King and Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick Cole Guttman has committed to attend and play his NCAA Division I hockey at the University of Denver following his junior career.

Guttman, a forward, is in his second full season skating with the United States Hockey League’s (USHL) Dubuque Fighting Saints.

Guttman’s career with the Fighting Saints has been fruitful. Once a USHL All-Rookie First Team selection and sixth-round selection of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, he’s set the standard for consistency in a Saints uniform.

Through 65 games with the club, he’s racked up 63 points. Additionally, he posted at least a point in 38 of 53 games last season (71.6 percent).

“I’m really excited,” Guttman said about his commitment to Denver. “When the opportunity came around, I obviously had to jump on it. It’s close to home, it’s a great program and the coaching staff is awesome. I’m excited to get started.”

Originally a sixth-round selection in the 2015 edition of the USHL’s Phase I Draft, Guttman joined the Saints during the 2015-16 season for two games and was part of their Clark Cup Playoffs run that season. He returned in 2016-17 as an alternate captain before being named captain in June for the current season.

At Denver, Guttman will be reunited with former Fighting Saints head coach Jim Montgomery, who’s now the Pioneers’ head coach.

“I think I can offer a lot to the Pioneers, and (Montgomery) had faith in me as well,” said Guttman. “I was really fortunate for them to have faith in me, and, as I said before, I can’t wait to get out there.”