The Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) are happy to announce that 1997-born second year defenceman Charlie Marchand (Calgary, AB) has committed to attend and play for Bentley University.
Located in Waltham, Massachusetts, the Falcons play in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)’s Division I Atlantic Hockey conference, under 14th-year head coach Ryan Soderquist.
“Charlie has worked tirelessly at his game over the last year and a half,” said Bandits head coach and general manager Ryan Papaioannou. “We are very proud of his development and his accomplishments this season.
“He has become an integral part of our team and we are looking forward to his continued leadership,” he added.
Marchand, 18, is currently the seventh-highest scoring defenceman in the AJHL, having recorded 25 points (4 goals, 21 assists) in 32 games, with 42 penalty minutes. Last season, in his debut campaign in the AJHL as a 17-year old, he scored 14 assists in 53 games, while dressing in all 20 Bandit playoff games.
The 5’11”, 185lb defenceman joined the Bandits after playing two years of midget hockey with the Edge School Mountaineers in Calgary, where he recorded 25 points (8 goals, 17 assists) in 39 games in the 2013-14 campaign.
“I would like to thank the Brooks Bandits,” said Marchand, “and all those who have supported me: my billet family, my own family, and past and present coaches, in achieving my dream of playing NCAA hockey, at Bentley University.”
The Bandits would like to congratulate Charlie on securing a spectacular spot to begin his postsecondary career, and look forward to his continuing contributions to the team as he continues to prepare for upcoming advancement to the next level of hockey.
Marchand is the twelfth player on the current Bandits roster committed to an NCAA Division I institution, joining:
• Shane Bear (University of Massachusetts)
• Kyler Nachtigall (University of Massachusetts)
• Parker Foo (Union College)
• Derek Lodermeier (Army)
• Tristan Thompson (University of Alaska-Fairbanks)
• Austin Wright (Rochester Institute of Technology)
• Cale Makar (University of Massachusetts)
• Jeff Malott (Cornell University)
• Joe O’Connor (Quinnipiac University)
• Jared Cockrell (Colgate University)
• Jarrod Gourley (Arizona State University)
The Bandits return home January 1 for a New Year’s Day matchup at the Centennial Regional Arena against the Olds Grizzlys. Puck drop is at 7 PM, with tickets available online at tickets.brooksbandits.ca.