Pointer hockey defenseman Jonathan Ralph became uneasy last summer with the thought that his hockey career was nearing its end.

Now, after receiving a summons from a team within the East Coast Hockey League, the UWSP senior has dropped everything in order to play AA hockey for the Wheeling Nailers in West Virginia. He will suit up for his first game Friday night.

This past January, instead of standing by and watching his hockey career end after his final season with the Pointers, Ralph went to coach Wil Nichol for help. Nichol contacted some connections in the hockey world, hoping to line up another opportunity for Ralph after his collegiate eligibility ended.

“I couldn't fall asleep because I kept thinking about next year; I wanted to play but I just didn't have anywhere to go after our season,” Ralph said.

“I love the game of hockey and you can ask any guy, it's so hard to step away from the game that you have dedicated your whole life to.”

After he awaited the call from the Wheeling Nailers, the AA affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins NHL team, Ralph got what he had been hoping for. He got a call after the Pointers' season ended on Sunday night and was forced to make a decision between staying to finish school or withdrawing from the university to play.

In the end, Ralph's passion for hockey won out. He decided quickly to withdraw from classes so he could travel across the country in pursuit of his dreams.

“I thought it was going to be for the following year, not right away, but it turns out they needed guys sooner than later,” Ralph said. “It was a real quick decision that I had to make.”

Ralph will travel back to UWSP this summer in order to finish the classes he needs for graduation.

As Nichol said, there is nothing sure or granted in the professional leagues, but he hope this opportunity will take Ralph far after all the hard work he has put in. According to the ECHL Web site, a total of 396 players have moved up to play the NHL. Ralph knows it is all up to his performance once he hits the ice in the tough league.

“I hope to play as long as I can and hopefully make it to a higher level, even if I have to travel to Europe,” he said. After hockey he hopes to start a business and maybe coach the game.

A transfer from Bowling Green, a Division I hockey program, two years ago, he was drawn to UWSP after taking a road trip to campus and some convincing from Nichol. Ralph said he knew back then that everywhere Nichol goes, he builds a strong program with a winning attitude.

“He convinced me that you can make it professionally from DIII,” Ralph said.

Ralph said he will miss the university, the community, the fans, coaches and his teammates who took him in and made the experience at UWSP great. He thanks them for taking him into their community so readily and thanks his family for their support throughout his hockey experience.

“What I'll take away from the team is that bond, we always say its like a band of brothers that you play with, like a family with a closeness and love we shared,” Ralph said.