Profile
#9 James Wetton
| Biographical Information | |
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| Height: 5' 10" Weight: 175 lbs. Position: Defenseman Shoots: Left | Hometown: Webster Groves, MO Age: 43 Year: Senior Major: Communications |
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#9 JAMES WETTON
UMSL Rivermen
James Wetton (Webster Groves, Mo.) is UMSL's all-time leading pointscorer and the GPCIHL's career assist leader.
In the brief history of the NCRHA, James has racked up more assists than any other DII player in the country. Last season, he led the nation in assists despite not starting his season until January. In 2005-06, James set an NCRHA/CRHL single-season record with 78 assists. In '04-05, James proved that he was more than just a playmaker, racking up the first thirty-goal season by an UMSL defenseman. Incredibly, Wetton put up points in 87 of his final 91 games at UMSL.
Wetton has played in four national championship tournaments, including the dramatic 2004 Division II National Championship victory in Anaheim, where he was named first team All-America and first team all-tournament. At the 2006 national championships, he led the entire field in assists and points, earning first-team honors for the second time. James received first-team All-America honors for the third time at the 2007 championships in St. Louis. James' all-around excellence translated to the pro level as well. During the inaugural season of the Professional Inline Hockey Association's Gateway Division, he was a top-four defenseman for the regular season champion Midwest Tornados. Wetton's offensive instincts and court vision are second to absolutely none. He is fundamentally sound, efficient, yet creative. He makes freelancing look like second nature. Defensively, Wetton carries a strong, coordinated stick. He has tremendous range and exceptional physical strength. He is a tireless skater with a quick burst and a deceptive stride.
James is, without question, one of the most accurate passers ever to play college roller hockey.
James is a rare talent with the will to carry a team on his shoulders. He is a crafty puck-carrier, an omniscient playmaker, a lethal goal-scorer, a lockdown defender, and a fiery competitor. Above all, he is the face of UMSL roller hockey. The leader of the most dominant team in league history, three time All-American, and national champion. His number nine jersey will be retired at the end of his career, making James the first UMSL player to receive such an honor. It is safe to say that there will never be another James Wetton.
2006-07
GPCIHL Regional Championship Tournament (March 4): Became a two-time league champion, leading the team with six assists and sharing the team lead with six points in the weekend's two games . . . Three assists in semifinal win vs. Wash U . . . Three assists in championship-clinching win vs. Truman State . . . Went down hard with a leg injury early in the second period vs. Truman State, but was able to drag himself off the floor just enough to avoid drawing a whistle as Adam Clarke took the puck the other way and scored . . . Returned a few minutes later, played through the pain, and would help lead the Rivermen to victory, adding another spectacular chapter to a phenomenal career.
Fifth GPCIHL Event Weekend (Feb. 10-11): Ten points in three games . . . Hat trick, five points vs. Kansas State . . . Two goals, four points vs. Western Kentucky.
Fourth GPCIHL Event Weekend (Feb. 3-4): Finished key weekend with seven assists, eight points . . . Assisted on three of UMSL's first four goals in 7-2 win over Wash U . . . Scored team's first goal, assisted on two others in 9-5 win over Missouri State . . . Two assists in 5-3 win over SLU . . . Was ejected early in second period of Truman State game due to officials' controversial interpretation of an altercation with Bulldog defenseman Truman Patterson . . . In Wetton's absence, UMSL went on to lose 4-3.
Third GPCIHL Event Weekend (Jan. 20-21): Wetton was outstanding, putting up a club record 19 points (9-10) in his first weekend back . . . Season point total already ranks third on the team . . . Career-high five goals in 12-4 win over SIUC . . . Eleven points (7-4) in Sunday's doubleheader vs. SIUC.
2005-06
JAMES WETTON IN THE NATIONAL TOP TEN
Led Division II Nationals field with 22 assists and 29 points . . . Scored goals in each of UMSL's first five games at Nationals . . . Multiple assists in six of seven games . . . Season high 3 goals, 4 assists in Nationals opener vs. Duquesne . . . Goal, two assists in round-robin win vs. Hofstra . . . Goal, three assists in round-robin win vs. Nevada . . . Goal, 5 assists in first-round win vs. Sam Houston State . . . Goal, 4 assists in quarterfinal win vs. Maine . . . Assisted on Jake Shepard's first-period goal in 2-1 OT semifinal win vs. Brockport . . . Two assists in 4-3 loss to Neumann in championship game.
Claimed his third consecutive GPCIHL assist title (44 assists). . . 54 points tied for second in the league . . . put up at least 12 points in each GPCIHL event weekend, including Regionals . . . 10 assists, 12 points in five games at GPCIHL Regional Championship tourney . . . Five points (1-4) in 10-0 win vs. K-State in Regionals pool play . . . Four assists in10-0 win vs. Missouri State in Regionals pool play . . . 12 assists, 14 points in final GPCIHL event weekend (2/11-12), his best of the season . . . Regular season-high six points (1-5) vs. Wash U (1/21) . . . matched 6-point total (2-4) vs. SIUC (2/5). . . Netted two of UMSL's first four goals in eventual blowout of 7th-ranked Truman St. (2/4) . . .Led team with nine points (4-5) at Winter Invitational (1/6-7) . . .piled up three or more assists 13 times . . . 20 multiple-assist games . . . 23 multiple-point games.
Video Highlights
James Wetton Highlight 1: Wetton goes coast-to-coast for a 2-on-3 shorthanded goal (2/4/06 vs. Truman State).
James Wetton Highlight 2: Wetton snaps a top-shelf wrister for a goal (with replay; 3/5/06 vs. Truman State, GPCIHL Div. II semifinal).
James Wetton Highlight 3: Wetton sets up Dory Williams for the dramatic game-winning goal with :02 remaining in the 2004 NCRHA DII quarterfinal vs. UT-Dallas. Video: Lifetime Media.
James Wetton Highlight 4: Wetton takes it all the way for a shorthanded breakaway goal against Duquesne at 2006 Nationals.
Video Extra
Rivermen Reels No. 7: Omniscient
June 14, 2006
Length: 9:23
Music: Sevendust, "Beautiful" and Chronic Future, "Shellshocked"
Hosted by Google
UM-St. Louis inline hockey defenseman James Wetton is featured in "Omniscient," an extended music highlight video featuring clips of UMSL roller hockey games during the 2005-06 regular season, the GPCIHL championships, and the 2004 and '06 College Roller Hockey National Championships.
UMSL defenseman James Wetton put up a tournament-high 29 points at the 2006 NCRHA College Roller Hockey National Championships. Each point is featured chronologically on this video.
UM - St. Louis defenseman James Wetton (9) starts the play with defense, takes the outlet pass from Adam Clarke (47), then sets up Wally Iverson (13) for a goal in UMSL's 10-0 win over Missouri State at the Great Plains championship tournament (March 5, 2006).
photo: Matt Johnson |
