MacNeil adds depth to hockey team
Alex Marti/Flickr CC
August 17, 2010 10:39 PM ADT
The UNB Varsity Reds announced early this week the commitment of forward Nick MacNeil to their roster for the upcoming 2010-11 season. MacNeil is the former team captain of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
MacNeil spent the past four years in Cape Breton and is a two-time 30 goal scorer including a career best 32 goals and 68 points last season. Overall he had 99 goals and 82 assists for 181 points in 254 QMJHL regular season games. The native of Creignish, Nova Scotia developed into one of the top power forwards in the league and was highly effective on the power play. He was also recently named as the winner of the prestigious QMJHL Humanitarian of the Year for his strong community efforts and was a national finalist for the CHL major award.
He attended the St Louis Blues prospect camp in July of 2009 and was a member of the Blues rookie squad at the annual Traverse City Prospect tournament. He has been invited back and will attend the upcoming 2010 St Louis training camp as well. MacNeil will study Business while attending UNB.
“I’ve had several meetings with Gardiner and decided that UNB is the place I want to be. Hosting the nationals and the opportunity to win a championship is huge; as well I really like how Gardiner develops his players… like Rob Hennigar,” commented MacNeil.
CIS coach of the year Gardiner MacDougall is very excited about the addition of MacNeil to the UNB lineup.
“Nick will be a big addition to our program, both in terms of size and his strong two-way game. He steadily improved his game in the QMJHL, and had his best year as an over-age and we feel he still has a huge development upside to his game. He’s a proven goal scorer, especially on the power play and really developed his penalty killing abilities this past year. He’s one of those special players who will be able to make a key impact on the success of our club as a first year player.”
MacNeil becomes the thirteenth player from Atlantic Canada on the Varsity Reds roster, including Matt Fillier, Chris Culligan, and CIS All-Star Luke Gallant all from Nova Scotia. UNB begins their 2010 training camp on September 7, 2010 and will begin their 2010 season with their first non-conference game slated for Sept. 15 when they visit the University of Calgary.
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