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Wilson heads back to OHL, but Capitals impressed

By WTOP Staff

Ben Raby, wtop.com

ARLINGTON, Va. – Washington Capitals prospect Tom Wilson knew the odds were stacked against him. The likelihood of an 18-year-old making a Capitals roster that general manager George McPhee recently described as “ready to go” was slim at best.

Wilson even said as much on Tuesday when he predicted that “it could be any day that [head coach Adam] Oates calls me in” to deliver the news that he’d be returning to his junior team in the Ontario Hockey League.

Sure enough, that call came Wednesday afternoon when Wilson was re-assigned to the OHL’s Plymouth Whalers.

Still, over the course of three practices and one scrimmage, Wilson didn’t look out of place. And, if his goal was to impress Capitals’ management, then chalk it up as mission accomplished.

“He looked great out there,” Oates said after the Caps’ Tuesday scrimmage against the ECHL’s Reading Royals.

“He skated great, he looked like one of the guys and sometimes I didn’t realize it was him.”

“Our director of player development [Steve Richmond] insisted that he be here,” McPhee explained on day one of training camp.

“I hadn’t planned on bringing him, but I’m glad we did. Our director of player development is paid to go out and keep an eye on our kids and he said: ‘This kid deserves to be here.'”

The Capitals selected Wilson in the first round (16th overall) of last June’s NHL entry draft and see him as a physical player with the ability to score.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound forward has done both this season in the OHL where he has 13 goals, 36 points and 59 penalty minutes in 31 games with Plymouth.

“That’s a big thing in my game in junior,” said Wilson.

“I like to play physical. They’ve seen that. So when I come here I’m just trying to learn, pick little stuff up. Watching all the guys is a huge opportunity for me because they’re all top-notch, best in the world. Guys like Ovechkin- I can learn something new every day from them. It’s pretty cool being up here. I’m just trying to show other parts of my game.” The amount of contact was kept to a minimum during Tuesday’s scrimmage but that Wilson still impressed Caps’ management speaks to his all-around game.

“Part of his game is being physical and we asked the guys to tone that down and he looked very sharp out there,” Oates said. “I was very impressed- very different than [last summer’s] development camp.”

Wilson spent his time at camp skating primarily alongside Jason Chimera, Jay Beagle and Joel Ward on one of Washington’s checking lines.

At 18-years-old, Wilson isn’t eligible to play for the Caps’ top minor league affiliate in the American Hockey League yet – the AHL has an age minimum of 19- but he is eligible to see time in the NHL.

Under the new collective bargaining agreement, NHL teams can dress junior players for as many as six games before the first year of their entry level contract would kick in.

Barring multiple injuries later this season though, it seems unlikely that the opportunity will arise for Wilson who is now expected to spend the rest of the year in junior.

Still, for four days in January, Wilson got his first taste at an NHL training camp. He now returns to his junior team more confident about his game and his ability to play with some of the best.

“These guys are all professionals and they pick things up really quickly,” he said.

“I have an advantage that everyone’s learning the new system, so I’m just trying to show that I can learn that and implement that into my game and play smart hockey.”

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(Copyright 2013 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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