BROOKS, AB – The Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) are ecstatic to announce that 1995-born forward Dylan McCrory (Kirkland, PQ) has committed to attend and play for Bemidji State University, beginning in the 2016-17 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I hockey season.
Located in Bemidji, Minnesota, on the shore of Lake Bemidji, the Beavers play in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) under 16th-year head coach Mike Serratore. McCrory is the first Bandit to commit to Bemidji State in franchise history, and the first AJHL player to commit to the program since 2012.
“Dylan has been one of our most consistent offensive players all season and he is very deserving of the opportunity to play for Bemidji,” said Bandits head coach and general manager Ryan Papaioannou. “His game has evolved over the season and he’s become an integral part of our top line.”
McCrory, 20, finished this season as the 6th-highest scoring player in the AJHL, with 70 points, and was the Bandits’ top scorer for the season. His 46 assists ranked him 8th in the province, while his 24 goals were 21st in the AJHL. Nearly three-quarters of McCrory’s points scored this season were scored at even strength, and he was named the first AJHL Player of the Week of the 2015-16 season, after scoring 6 points (2 goals, 4 assists) in his first 2 regular season AJHL games against the Canmore Eagles.
“I am extremely excited and honoured to be given the opportunity to play for Bemidji State,” said McCrory. “I would like to thank the Brooks Bandits for everything they have done for me this year and I’m extremely grateful. I would also like to thank my family and teammates for their support and encouragement.”
Prior to his journey to Alberta, the 5’9”, 165lb forward suited up for the Brockville Braves of the Central Canada Hockey League, scoring 38 points (21 goals, 17 assists) in 45 games in an injury-shortened rookie Junior A campaign last season, ranking him second on that team in goals and fifth in points. He was acquired by the Bandits in a trade in the 2015 off-season.
He spent the two previous years playing for Kent School in the Founders League, part of the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC). McCrory scored 45 points (20 goals, 25 assists) in 42 games over two seasons, which included a Founders League championship in 2014.
McCrory is a graduate of the Lac St-Louis Tigres minor hockey program, where he scored 31 points (14 goals, 17 assists) in 23 games in the 2010-11 season.
“We are really happy for Dylan as this process can be stressful for a player of his age, but he pushed forward and put together good performances night after night,” Papaioannou added. “We are looking forward to the playoff run with Dylan before he heads to Bemidji next season.”
McCrory’s commitment brings the number of current Bandit players committed to an NCAA Division I institution to 16, the most of any team in the AJHL, joining:
• Shane Bear (University of Massachusetts)
• Kyler Nachtigall (University of Massachusetts)
• Parker Foo (Union College)
• 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)
• Charlie Marchand (Bentley University)
• Josh McKechney (Colgate University)
• Logan Mick (Quinnipiac University)
• Derek Lodermeier (University of Vermont)
• Jesse Pereira (Canisius College)
The Bandits open the 2016 playoffs tomorrow night, hosting the Canmore Eagles in Game 1 of their AJHL South Division Semi-Final at 7:00 PM at the Centennial Regional Arena. Tickets are available online at tickets.brooksbandits.ca, or at the door. A free tailgate party hosted by Montana’s, Q105.7, and The ONE at 101.1 FM, will be held in the CRA parking lot from 5:00 PM until 6:30 PM.