Dennis Cholowski is becoming experienced in the art of surprise.
The former Chilliwack Chiefs defenceman has signed with the Detroit Red Wings after his freshman season at St. Cloud State University.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound blueliner was the highest-rising prospect in hockey around this time last year, moving up to No. 23 in the NHL Central Scouting rankings after a start to the season where he was lowest-rated BCHL player listed in the player ratings. When he went 20th overall to Detroit at last June’s draft, he became the third BCHLer taken in the first round along with Tyson Jost and Dante Fabbro.
Cholowski posted a goal and 11 helpers this season with St. Cloud State. He was originally slated to go to school starting in the fall of 2017 but, like his professional career now, everything was accelerated as he garnered more interest from pro scouts.
A native of Langley, B.C., Cholowski led Chiefs defencemen in scoring with 12-28-40 in 2015-16. Over two full seasons in Chilliwack, he registered 16-51-67 in 106 career games.
