JWU (Providence) men's ice hockey student-athlete Davis Bone has been named to the NCAA Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Bone will begin service on the national committee on January 18, 2026 and continue through January 16, 2027.

As a member of the committee, Bone will be expected to perform a myriad of tasks, including sustaining and advancing the association's mission, traditions, values and reputation; regularly participate in committee meetings and conference calls; and serve as an advocate for the Association.

"Serving on this committee allows me to amplify the voices of student-athletes in my conference and represent their perspectives in shaping the policies that guide our division," said Bone. "At the NCAA Convention last January, I felt an immediate sense of connection with student-athletes from across the country and was struck by the depth of care, collaboration, and thoughtful debate that goes into sustaining and advancing Division III – whether through roundtable discussions in the Issues Forum or the deliberate voting process of the Business Session. That experience is what prompted me to apply, showcasing how meaningful it is when student-athletes are truly involved in conversations that guide our futures, and it made me want to contribute to that work."

Bone – who is serving as President of the SAAC at JWU as a senior this year – is a native of San Diego, California who finished his high school hockey career in New Hampshire before playing junior hockey in the New England-era. During this time, Bone began to acclimate himself with the changing climates and seasons of the east coast, and ultimately he chose to continue both his playing career and education 3,000 miles away from home.

"The college game is more intense and structured than junior hockey, and I felt that adjustment as a freshman," said Bone. "Over time, my teammates and the broader JWU community developed into my second family. I have spent Thanksgiving with teammates and with my girlfriend in western Massachusetts. Having close bonds with my teammates, as well as other students and student-athletes, has prevented me from being homesick and allowed me to confidently explore and enjoy all that Rhode Island has to offer."

Now captain of the Wildcats, Bone has appeared in 67 games since arriving in Providence in the fall of 2022, registering 30 points on 14 goals and 16 assists. Last season, Bone suffered a season-ending injury eight games into the season at a time when he felt he was just finding his scoring touch.

"The injury was certainly upsetting and disappointing at the time. I had surgery pretty quickly right before the holidays, and being away from home and my family during that time was alarming, daunting, and challenging," said Bone. "At times, it wasn't clear if I was going to recover enough to compete at the same level, but I soon began to accept what had transpired. I began shifting my focus to both the things I needed to do to come back stronger and healthier, as well as identifying any potential positives that may come out of this situation."   

Through nine games thus far in 2025-26, Bone has collected five points (1-4-5) and is amongst the team's plus/minus leaders. Additionally, Davis is winning close to 60 percent of faceoffs, which ranks amongst the national leaders.

"I felt good throughout summer training and my leg felt stable, but game exposure is always a little bit different, so I was definitely weary heading into the season," said Bone. "After a few team practices and the first few games of the season, I began to feel more confident with the stability and strength of my knee.  The injury made me more grateful for the times when I am healthy to be able to fully experience and participate in my sport. You hope to avoid injury, but the physical nature of hockey is a necessary and foundational aspect of our sport."

Bone is slated to graduate in May with a degree in General Biology & Biomedical Engineering and claims that the injury took his interest in making a career in medicine to another level. For now, he hopes to pay forward the knowledge and experience he gains from serving on this committee to current and future JWU student-athletes.  

"I am excited about the opportunity to engage more deeply with the broader Division III community and to learn from people across all sports and campuses," said Bone. "Being a student-athlete has pushed me academically, kept me motivated, and given me a community I deeply value. I see this appointment as a way to give back to that community. I am passionate about the balance Division III athletics provides – supporting both academic and athletic growth – and I want to help ensure that balance continues to strengthen. Going forward, I believe this role will help me grow as a leader by connecting real student-athlete experiences with the policies and decisions that shape our collegiate environment. This appointment feels like the next step in using my voice to support others, and I am genuinely excited for the chance to be part of it."

As Bone enters his final semester at JWU, Bone reflects back fondly on his time as a Wildcat. He spent much of his early days as a college student playing video games with teammates, going out to eat, and playing other sports outside of hockey season. More recently, Bone has found himself enjoying the local food and coffee scene, citing Al Forno, Oberlin, and Chomp as his favorite dining spots and Nitro Bar, Coffee Exchange, and Dave's Coffee as hot spots for a pick-me-up.

"I've really enjoyed many different aspects of campus life and feel very grateful for the teams I have been part of, classes I've had, and all the wonderful people I've met along the way," detailed Bone. "For me, it's more about the smaller things that I'll cherish – being in class with great professors and other great students or watching athletic events together. I've always had great times at Homecoming. I had a Save the Bay trip this past semester as part of a Coastal Ecology course that was memorable. Time spent with Matthew, our Team IMPACT athlete. Playing video games with my best friend and teammate, Sam Band. Our annual soccer matches against the JWU women's soccer team. Chats with (Athletic Trainers) Alan (Segee) and Jillian (Withington). And on the ice, our last-minute 4-3 win over New England College my freshman year was a great game and is particularly memorable."