SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Wednesday, May 17, 2017
SIJHL collegiate commitment list grows
THUNDER BAY, Ont. – The list of Superior International Junior Hockey League players who have committed to collegiate and university programs in both the U.S. and Canada has grown over the past few weeks.
No less than six players, who competed in the SIJHL this season, have secured opportunities to attend school in the fall as well as compete at the collegiate and university ranks.
Here’s a look at the latest group of SIJHL college commits:
KADEN HINTZ, (F) ENGLISH RIVER MINERS – WALDORF (ACHA-NAIA)
The 21-year-old forward saw action in 32 regular season contests for English River in 2016-17 scoring eight times and adding 11 assists for 19 points overall.
Hailing from Regina, Sask., Hintz spent the first 22 contests of the season with the French River Rapids of the NOJHL where he collected 16 points, including four helpers.
Based in Forest City, Iowa, the Waldorf Warriors are set to become a charter member in the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Division in 2017-18.
MAVERICK LYNES, (D) FORT FRANCES LAKERS – SOUTHERN MAINE (NEHC)
Fort Frances defenceman Maverick Lynes has committed to attend the University of Southern Maine and play for the Huskies in the New England Hockey Conference, a NCAA Division III program.
The 20-year-old blueliner from Sherwood Park, Alta., led the Lakers in scoring among defencemen in 2016-17 with 34 points in 56 outings by scoring six times and helping set-up 28 others.
He also had a goal and four assists in eight playoff games.
“We are very happy for Maverick,” said Fort Frances head coach and general manager Wayne Strachan.
“He worked hard to improve his game throughout the course of the season and earn this opportunity to reach his goal of becoming a student/athlete,” added Strachan.
“He brings a solid offense game from the back end and with further development should have a strong college career.”
JARED VIRTANEN, (F) FORT FRANCES LAKERS – CALVIN COLLEGE (ACHA)
A CCM SIJHL first team all-star, Virtanen finished second in league point-per-game average at 1.68 while also leading all SIJHL skaters in assists with 52.
Virtanen’s 74 points in just 44 games allowed him to secure fourth in league scoring as the 20-year-old from Abbotsford, B.C., produced 22 multi-points contests in 2016-17. He was also a finalist for SIJHL MVP.
“Jared had a strong year for us this past season,” stated Strachan.
“He defined himself as one of the top players in the SIJHL and that has helped him reach this point of committing to continue his school and hockey career. Jared is a good student and we as a Laker family know his ability on the ice. Calvin is getting a solid hockey player.”
Calvin College is in Grand Rapids, Mich., where a strong Knights’ program play at the ACHA D-I level.
DYLAN KOONER, (F) FORT FRANCES LAKERS – ST. OLAF (NCHA)
Kooner capped off a stellar three-year run in the SIJHL by earning his NCAA commitment to St. Olaf in Northfield, Minn., where the Oles are members of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
The Lakers captain had another solid season where he went on be named a second team CCM all-star as well as be selected the SIJHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player.
Hailing from Abbotsford, B.C., the swift-skating 20-year-old forward finished second on the squad and sixth overall in SIJHL scoring while setting personal single-season highs in goals and points with 37 and 68 respectively.
“Dylan is the true meaning of Lakers hockey,” quoted Strachan.
“He has strong character, a good work ethic and was a good leader for us. He is a player that overcame a lot of adversity through injuries and continued to work hard to reach his goal of moving to a higher level of hockey and finishing his education. We wish Dylan the best of luck in his school career and thank him for three great years in our program,” summarized the Fort Frances coach and GM.
LOGAN FROBERG, (F) MINNESOTA IRON RANGERS – ST. NORBERT’S (NCHA)
“Logan was one of three Iron Rangers to return for the 2016-17 season and he did not disappoint,” provided Minnesota head coach and GM Todd Kreibich.
Despite only seeing action in 34 games he averaged over a point-per-game with 38 on a team-high 19 goals along with as many assists. Eight of his markers came on the power play, which led Minnesota.
His 1.12 point-per-game average paced the club.
“He was a great leader for our first year players and did a great job in his role as team captain. Logan is a hard working offensive minded forward who is always a threat to score,” added Kreibich.
“Logan always works hard on and off the ice and will bring a great attitude to the Green Knights. The Iron Rangers wish Logan the best of luck in his future endeavors with St Norbert’s both on the ice and in the classroom.”
St. Norbert compete out of the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association.
JONATHON MASTERS, (D) THUNDER BAY NORTH STARS – LAKEHEAD (OUA)
After a couple year stint in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the veteran defenceman returned home to Thunder Bay to complete his Jr. career with the North Stars.
Suiting up in 38 games, Masters chipped in on both ends of the ice for Thunder Bay, notching eight markers and dishing out 18 helpers for 26 points.
Masters also scored twice and set-up two more in five playoff contests with the North Stars.
You can also add in SIJHL alumnus Daniel Del Paggio who earlier committed to attend Lakehead and play in the OUA with the Thunderwolves.
While with Thunder Bay, Del Paggio was the league’s Most Valuable Player during the 2013-14 campaign when, as the second youngest player in the league, notched 36 goals and added a SIJHL-high 69 assists to finish second overall in points with 105.
He then went on to play three seasons in the QMJHL with both the Saint John SeaDogs and Gatineau Olympiques where he saw action in 193 contests and compiled 128 points, including 45 goals.
The following is the SIJHL’s college and university commitment list following the 2016-17 season as of May 17.