The Spruce Grove Saints are proud to announce 2nd year defenseman Breck McKinley has committed to Bowling Green State University for the 2023-2024 season. The Falcons, located in Bowling Green, Ohio, compete in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) and have 10 NCAA Tournament appearances resulting in two Frozen Fours and one NCAA Championship in the programs history.
McKinley has consistently improved his game throughout his career with Spruce Grove. The 18 year old from St. Albert, Alberta has now appeared in 40 career Junior A games, compiling four goals and 27 assists for 31 total points, including 12 penalty minutes. McKinley was recruited out of the St. Albert Raiders Major Midget program prior to becoming a Saint.
Head Coach Bram Stephen praised McKinley and was thrilled to see him reach his goals saying,
“Breck is a consummate team first player who has poise, intelligence and lots of skill. He’s incredibly committed to his development both as a person and as a player. We are incredibly pleased Breck has been able to secure a good quality scholarship at Bowling Green State University.”
McKinley gets set to join current teammate Brett Pfoh at Bowling Green State, who is committed for the upcoming 2022-2023 season. Breck will also be joining former Saints’ defenseman and captain T.J. Lloyd, who is currently in his junior year, as well as former forward Seth Fyten, who is entering his sophomore season with BGSU.
The Falcons have not lost in regulation this season, currently sitting at a 2-0-2 record, with wins coming over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and Miami University.
When asked about Bowling Green State University, McKinley’s excitement was apparent saying,
“When I flew down Bowling Green felt like it was the right fit for my family and I. I really liked the campus and the atmosphere around the school. What really meant a lot to me, was seeing other guys having lots of success there that had a similar process to me.”
With the excitement of his commitment, McKinley reflected on his time as a Saint so far and says,
“It’s definitely a bittersweet day for me and my family. Coming here as an affiliate player in late 2019, it has been an honour to develop my game as a member of the Saints. Leaving after next season will be tough. the fans and the city mean so much to me. I cannot thank everyone in the Saints organization enough for believing in me and helping me get to this point. I especially want to thank my family and friends, I am excited to take help this team strive for their sixth league championship.”
McKinley’s commitment grows the list of current Saints with an NCAA Division I Scholarships to three. Joining current teammates Liam Watkins who is set to attend the University of Nebraska-Omaha and fellow Saint Brett Pfoh, who is also going to Bowling Green State University.
The entire Saints organization would like to congratulate Breck and his family on his achievement.
The Spruce Grove Saints are back on home ice this Saturday night when they host the Drayton Valley Thunder in the first feature game of the season. It’s Halloween night at the Grant Fuhr Arena, with kids under 17 dressed up getting in for free with a parent, trick or treating going on throughout the barn, a costume contest, and live music from Stony Plain’s own Steve Newsome! It is going to be a great night of hockey! Secure your tickets now, by heading to tickets.sprucegrovesaints.ca.
