The Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) are proud to announce that 1999-born forward Mack Hancock (Kingston, ON) has committed to attend and play for the University of Alaska-Anchorage.
Located in the largest city of the USA's most northerly state, the UAA Seawolves play in the NCAA Division I Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) under first-year head coach Matt Curley.
Hancock, 19, joined the Bandits via trade in January, dressing in 16 regular season games and recording 10 points (1 goal, 9 assists). He then became the team’s fifth-highest playoff scorer, recording 11 points (5 goals, 6 assists) in 15 games as the team reached the AJHL South Final.
“Mack gave us an instant improvement in the face-off circle last year,” said Bandits head coach and general manager Ryan Papaioannou. “He is a strong centre that is extremely smart, which made his defensive game a real asset.
“This season we are excited for Mack to have a more prominent role offensively. while continuing his strong play without the puck.”
He was the 11th-highest goal scoring player in the AJHL in the 2018 playoffs, and 15th-highest scorer overall.
“After his visit to Anchorage, getting to know the new coaching staff, it became clear quite quickly that this was an opportunity he wouldn't pass up,” Papaioannou added. “We are excited for Mack and look forward to his arrival back in Brooks in a few short weeks.”
He had previously played with the Syracuse Stars of the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC), where he was the team’s fifth-highest scorer with 17 points (3 goals, 14 assists) in 31 games.
He scored 16 points (3 goals, 13 assists) in 57 games with the Brockville Braves of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) in 2016-17, adding 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist) in 5 playoff games.
Prior to that, the 6’2”, 188lb centre served as captain for the Greater Kingston Jr. Frontenacs of the Eastern Triple A Minor Midget Hockey League (ETAMMHL) where he scored 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in 34 games in the 2014-15 season.
Hancock is the thirteenth player on the 2017-18 Bandits roster committed to an NCAA Division I school, joining:
• Luke Bast (University of North Dakota)
• Mitchel Benson (Colgate University)
• Nic Hamre (University of Vermont)
• Brandon Scanlin (Colgate University)
• Cale List (University of Massachusetts – Lowell)
• Matt Cassidy (Quinnipiac University)
• Simon Boyko (University of Vermont)
• Dennis Cesana (Michigan State University)
• Conner Jean (College of the Holy Cross)
• Arnaud Vachon (Colgate University)
• Will Garin (Bentley University)
• Shane Bear (R.P.I.)
Season tickets for the Bandits’ 2018-19 campaign are now on sale, as the team prepares to host the 2019 National Junior A Championshp. Season tickets can be purchased online at tickets.brooksbandits.ca, by phone at (403) 501-0122, or in person at the Centennial Regional Arena.