Kulfan: DeKeyser’s degree includes some inspirational stick taps

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan spoke with Red Wings defenseman Danny DeKeyser regarding the process involved in DeKeyser earning his general studies degree from Western Michigan via an extended study program. DeKeyser tells Kulfan that the past three years’ worth of work were inspired by his family, his wife, and a teammate and coach:

DeKeyser credits Wings teammate Justin Abdelkader, who went back to completed his degree from Michigan State about three years ago, with getting DeKeyser kick-started.

“I remember talking to him about it and not long after that, I kind of started taking my classes again,” DeKeyser said. “Seeing him do it definitely pushed me to get mine finished up. We had both played three years (in college) and had a year left. That gave me motivation.”

DeKeyser also credited former assistant coach Tony Granato, who earned his degree from Wisconsin before taking over as the Badgers’ head coach in 2016.

“That was pretty cool, and I thought about if I would want to coach college hockey one day, or something like that, I would need to complete the degree, and now I have it,” DeKeyser said.

Much of DeKeyser’s family, and many of his friends, were in attendance his graduation day. DeKeyser is a native on Macomb.

“A big group that day, it was fun,” DeKeyser said. “We went to lunch afterward and headed back to the East Side (Macomb County) and had a graduation party the next day. The whole shebang.”

Continued

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George Malik

My name is George Malik, and I'm the Malik Report's editor/blogger/poster. I have been blogging about the Red Wings since 2006, when MLive hired me to work their SlapShots blog, and I joined Kukla's Korner in 2011 as The Malik Report. I'm starting The Malik Report as a stand-alone site, hoping that having my readers fund the website is indeed the way to go to build a better community and create better content.

One thought on “Kulfan: DeKeyser’s degree includes some inspirational stick taps”

  1. Should be used as an incetive in some way. In Canada Junior players (WHL, OHL, QMJHL and probably some others like the BCJHL are given Credit for every year played for one year of Canadian University. (Play University Hockey to boot)

    Not sure how College hockey (Sports) works.

    For me I think it is better for College Hockey players to stay in College then leave early for Big $$$. Probably missing something about US College Hockey. Maybe something worked in by NHL, AHL, etc. Education can be more worthwhile than a few thousand $$ when they are paid Millions per year. But NHLPA and NHL just think $$$.

    Pet peave over.

    Good for DeK, Aby

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