The Whitecourt Wolverines are proud to announce 19-year-old forward John Mullally has committed to play for the University of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks (NCAA, Div. I).
Mullally currently leads the team in all major stat categories with 21 goals, 28 assists and 49 points. He is also the only player on the roster to have played in all 59 games this year for the Wolverines.
The Timberlea, Nova Scotia product, Mullally, was acquired by the Wolverines on June 18th from the Summerside Capitals of the Maritime Hockey League.
“Acquiring John in the off-season was a great transaction for our hockey club. He has been a very important leader through this rebuild, he has a high level of compete and is just a special player that gets all the little things done on and off the ice; he represents very well the identity of our program, said Wolverines Head Coach Joey Bouchard. “He had to come in and adjust his game in the first half of the season coming from a different league and that has made him a better and more complete player.”
Mullally will return to the Wolverines next year for his 20 year-old season.
“We have a lot of great returning players next year and we’re very fortunate to have John come back for one more year; we feel another year with John will prepare him even better for the NCAA and he will continue to develop his game and should be a dominating player in this league next season,” continued Bouchard. We’re very happy for his commitment to Alaska Fairbanks and have no doubt that he will succeed at the NCAA level,” stated Coach Bouchard.
“I really want to thank my parents, teammates and the coaching staff for all their support and helping me achieve this goal,” said John Mullally on his commitment. “It’s been an on-going process, I was first approached by them in September, they liked the way I played and ever since then it’s been back and forth and just the other night I got an offer, and was thrilled to accept it. I’m very privileged and honored to be joining an excellent program.”
“It was important for me to be able to return to Whitecourt next year; I really feel a big 20 year-old year could really help me heading into my career at Alaska-Fairbanks,” continues Mullally discussing his decision to return for another season with the Wolverines. “Things have been so great here in Whitecourt and I am really looking forward to spending another season with the Wolverines before starting my collegiate career.”
Mullally will be joining a Nanook team that is guided by Head Coach Dallas Ferguson, a native of Wainwright, Alberta. Ferguson has been the Head Coach of the Alaska-Fairbanks program since the 2008/2009 season and has been on the coaching staff since 2004.. The Nanooks are currently in their second year in the WCHA (Western Collegiate Hockey Association) conference, last year they finished in third place with a record of 18-15-4. The 2014/2015 Nanooks roster features 5 players who are AJHL alumnus, currently they are 15-13-2 on the season.
The entire Wolverines organization would like to congratulate John and his family on his selection of Alaska-Fairbanks for his college experience and wish him all the best in his academics and athletics.
Last year the Wolverines sent 8 players onto collegiate careers at the CIS, ACAC and NCAA level.
John is the 4th Wolverine to commit to the NCAA this season:
- James Vermeulen – Northern Michigan University
- Taden Rattie – Western Michigan University
- Gordie Ballhorn – Rochester Institute of Technology
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John Mullally – University of Alaska-Fairbanks