BROOKS, AB (July 9, 2019) ? Brooks Bandits forward and alternate captain Jake Theis (Chanhassen, MN) has committed to attend and play for the defending NCAA Division III national champion University of Wisconsin ? Stevens Point, beginning in the coming 2019-20 season, it was announced today.
Theis, 21, completed his three-year Bandit career this past season as a national champion, having dressed in 175 regular season games for the organization, the 9th-most in franchise history.
His 98 points scored rank 31st in team history, after he set a career high this past year with 40 points (14 goals, 26 assists) in 60 games. In his final two years of play with the team, Theis did not miss a single regular season game, and only missed five overall in his three years with the team.
?When we look at the culture and type of people you need to have to achieve team success, men like Jake Theis are crucial,? said Bandit head coach and general manager Ryan Papaioannou. ?In three seasons, he helped the organization to two National Championship final games, while being counted on for plenty of hard minutes killing penalties, blocking shots and bringing physicality to our lineup.
?Eventually, his game developed to the point where he was a key on our power play the season, and also had more defensive starts than anyone on our team — which says plenty about his reliability.
?He did all of this while being an unwavering leader with an infectious personality,? he concluded. ?We are excited to see Jake move on and continue his development at Stevens Point.”
Theis was an alternate captain in his final two years with the Bandits, and was named the recipient of the Nick Crosby Memorial Award in 2017-18. He was also named the team?s Top Defensive Forward in 2018-19.
Prior to his Bandit career, Theis scored 79 points in 100 games over a four-year career with Chanhassen High School in his hometown.