BROOKS, AB ? The Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) are pleased to announce that 1999-born forward and captain Jake Lee (Owen Sound, ON) has committed to Merrimack College, beginning in the 2020-21 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) hockey season.
The Bandit captain has been one of the most productive players in the AJHL this season. He?s tallied 41 points (21 goals, 20 assists) in 25 games. He?s currently 4th in points, 2nd in goals, and 10th in assists across the league. He was named AJHL Player of the Week (Nov 4-10) and has recorded three hat-tricks so far. His seven-point performance on Nov 6 is a team record for a single game, and 5th most in AJHL history.
?We?re all excited for Jake,? said Bandits head coach and general manager Ryan Papaioannou.
?The past few weeks have been stressful for him working through his college hockey options. In the end, Jake and his family came to a decision that Merrimack College was the best fit, all round.?
Located in North Andover, Massachusetts, the Merrimack Warriors play in the NCAA?s Division I Hockey East conference under 2nd year head coach Scott Borek.
The 6?0?, 181lb forward is in his second year with the Bandits. He registered 46 points (15 goals, 31 assists) in 51 games during the 2018-19 season. He shone in the AJHL playoffs, adding 4 goals and 6 assists in 15 games, and was a key piece of the Bandits 5th AJHL Championship. He added 4 goals and 1 assist in 5 Doyle Cup games.
Through 6 games at the 2019 National Junior A Championship, Lee had 1 goal and 4 assists as the Bandits went undefeated at the tournament and won their second National title.
He joined Brooks after three seasons with the Listowel Cyclones of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL). In his final season with the Cyclones, he put up 64 points in 46 games and guided his team to a league championship.
?Our group relies on Jake every night to be our vocal and energy leader,? added Papaioannou.
?He?s been nothing but a true team player since arriving last season and has accepted many roles throughout the past season and a half.?
Lee is the 11th player on the current Bandits roster committed to an NCAA Division I institution, joining:
- Tyler Bates (Colorado College)?
- Corson Ceulemans (University of Wisconsin)
- Tim Rego (College of the Holy Cross)
- Phip Waugh (University of Vermont)
- Randy Hernández (Robert Morris University)
- David Paluch (University of Vermont)
- James McIsaac (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)
- Taylor Makar (University of Massachusetts)
- Greg Japchen (University of Nebraska-Omaha)
- Pierce Charleson (Michigan State University)
The Bandits are home for two games this weekend. They host the Okotoks Oilers on Friday (Nov 22) and Calgary Canucks on Saturday (Nov 23), both at 7:00 PM. Tickets are available online at tickets.brooksbandits.ca.