Wingels' decision to leave Miami wasn't easy

Associated Press Miami junior Tommy Wingels signed a two-year contract with the San Jose Sharks earlier this week.

By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer 10:43 AM Friday, June 4, 2010

OXFORD — Tommy Wingels said his decision to leave Miami University’s hockey team with a year of eligibility left was not taken lightly.

“It’s the toughest decision I’ve ever had to make,” said Wingels, who on Tuesday, June 1 signed a two-year contract with the NHL’s San Jose Sharks. “Coming back to Miami would have been a great opportunity. It was such an honor to be a part of the program.”

Wingels, a junior forward who served as the team captain last season and helped lead the RedHawks to back-to-back NCAA Frozen Four appearances, signed what he called “a pretty standard two-year entry-level deal” with the Sharks.

“It will be a big, new chapter in my life,” said Wingels, a 22-year-old native of Wilmette, Ill. “You hear stories about (playing professional hockey) and you can talk to people about it, but you’ll never know until you get there.

“I know there will be some ups and downs, some tough days,” he said, “but I have to follow my heart and dreams.”

Wingels said he will attend a Sharks rookie camp in early September.

“They’ll play a few practice games, and some (players) will stay with the big club and some will go to their Worcester, Mass. team in the (American Hockey League),” he said.

Wingels said he would love playing with Dan Boyle, the former Miami legend and one of the top defensemen in the NHL.

Boyle was San Jose’s second-leading scorer during this year’s playoffs, totaling two goals and 12 assists as the Sharks advanced to the Western Conference finals before being swept by the Chicago Blackhawks.

“Both of us having played for Miami, I’m sure Dan Boyle will help me out any way he can,” said Wingels, who said he met Boyle earlier this year when Boyle’s jersey number was retired at Miami’s Steve Cady Arena.

Wingels said he is impressed with the Sharks’ organization.

“From the scouts to the owner, they’ve been great, very professional,” he said. “They haven’t pressured me at all.”

Wingels said he will have to have the “best summer ever” in training if he hopes to make the Sharks roster.

But he isn’t concentrating solely on hockey. Not right now.

“I’m in Oxford taking two summer classes, getting as close to my degree as I can,” said Wingels, who majors in accounting. “I’m pretty close.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.

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