After a three-year junior hockey career, Colorado Rampage alum Carter Rapalje is off to play NCAA Division I hockey this fall at Stonehill College.

Stonehill will compete as an NCAA Division I independent program in 2022-23, their first at the Division I level.

“There are a lot of things about Stonehill that have me excited to attend,” said Rapalje, a native of Burlington, Vt. “I am looking forward to being part of the team’s transition to Division I. After speaking with the coaches, I like that they are giving me an opportunity to make a difference. The coaches are hoping that I’ll be able to have a successful season like I did with North Iowa – it was important to them that I continue my training and be ready to make an immediate impact as part of their transition to Division I.

“I really like the focus that Stonehill puts on its academics. They offer a lot of great courses with smaller class sizes.”

During the 2021-22 season with the NAHL’s North Iowa Bulls, Rapalje posted 28 goals and 42 points in 50 games. He skated for the Amarillo Bulls from 2019-21 after four seasons with the Rampage and is the first NAHL player to commit to Stonehill’s D-I program.

“We are excited and proud that Carter Rapalje has made his commitment to Stonehill College,” said North Iowa coach-GM Todd Sanden. “Carter is a great teammate and locker room guy. His commitment to our community in North Iowa was tremendous, as he volunteered for every NAHL and NA3HL team community event. Carter has dynamic speed that will translate to the Division I level, and his off-ice and on-ice work ethic and determination will serve him well at Stonehill and beyond.”

Rapalje joins a Skyhawks program led by head coach David Borges, who led the team to two Northeast-10 titles in nine seasons at the Division II level and will guide the program into its Division I era. Last year’s team won seven games after taking the 2020-21 season off in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the classroom, Rapalje is planning to pursue a degree in sports management.

Photo/NAHL

(July 15, 2022)