What exactly are the academic standards for college hockey
players/student athletes?  Keep in mind there are standards at the high
school level as well and if you don't meet those standards you also are
not eligible to play.  Not to mention there are standards for the the
tens (?) or hundreds (?) of thousands of other scolarship
recipients...not just student athletes.  Welch was given an opportunity.
Unfortunately, he was unable to capitalize on it.  I'm sure there are
many others who would have loved to have the chance that he had.  And
this is not to say Welch won't be successful in college or in hocky in
the future.