New 'Jack Garland chooses Penn State

The Muskegon Lumberjacks have announced that incoming forward Conor Garland has committed to play for Penn State University in 2015-16.

Garland was drafted in May by the Lumberjacks in the third round of the United States Hockey League Futures Draft.

The Scituate, Mass., native spent the 2011-12 season with the Boston Jr. Bruins of the Tier III Empire Junior Hockey League. He scored 94 points, which included 42 goals to lead the Bruins. He also finished the season third in league scoring. Garland was playing against much older players last year, some as much as five years his senior.

Penn State begins play this fall as a Division I varsity program for the first time since 1946. They will join the Big Ten in 2013-14 when the conference adds the sport.