Sweatt says he's staying at CC

Bill Sweatt took some time to let the feelings of a disappointing finish to the 2008-09 season pass, and debated every angle of turning pro against returning for his senior season at Colorado College.

Almost two months after CC's season ended, Sweatt decided to get his degree and play out his college eligibility.

"I'm really excited to come back," Sweatt said.

Sweatt, a wing who was a second-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2007, will be CC's leading returning scorer. He was fourth on the team last season with 23 points on 12 goals and 11 assists. He was one of two non-seniors, along with Stephen Schultz, to have double-digit goals last season.

CC already had goaltender Richard Bachman and defenseman Brian Connelly leave school early for the pros this offseason.

"I think it helps tremendously because he's a guy that has played a lot of roles and a lot of minutes for us," CC coach Scott Owens said. "It gives us a veteran presence on an inexperienced team."

Sweatt, a two-time member of the all-Western Collegiate Hockey Association academic team, told Owens that a major reason he was returning was to finish his education.

"I think he understands the value of a degree in this day and age," Owens said.

The Tigers also got a pair of recruiting commitments for the freshman class of 2009-10, including another goaltender. Hudson Stremmel had a 3.19 goals-against average last season for the USHL's Chicago Steel. Stremmel was teammates with defenseman John Moore, a highly touted recruit who is also coming to CC in the fall. Stremmel will compete with Tyler O'Brien and fellow incoming freshman Joe Howe for the starting goaltender job, which was vacated when Bachman turned pro.

CC's other commitment, forward William Rapuzzi, could help on the offensive end. Rapuzzi had 21 goals and 30 assists with the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers.

Gannon awarded

Jake Gannon, a senior defenseman and captain for CC last season, was awarded the WCHA's annual $10,000 postgraduate scholarship. Gannon wants to get a master's degree in business. Gannon is an economics major with a 3.62 grade-point average and is scheduled to graduate from CC later this month.