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BROOKS, AB – The Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) are proud to announce that 1999-born forward Ocean Wiesblatt (Calgary, AB) has committed to attend and play for the University of Vermont.
Located in Burlington, Vermont, the Catamounts play in the NCAA’s Division I Hockey East conference, under 14th-year head coach Kevin Sneddon, under whom the team has appeared in three NCAA tournaments in the last eight seasons, reaching the Frozen Four in 2009.
“Ocean has made a big impact on our offence and team speed,” said Bandits head coach and general manager Ryan Papaioannou. “Even though he was sidelined with an early injury his stick skills are top end and with his speed he’s a tough player to defend. He plays the game hard both ways and we are looking forward to the coming years with him in our lineup.”
Wiesblatt, 17, has so far recorded 4 points (2 goals, 1 assist) in 3 regular season games with the Bandits. Prior to his Junior A career, the 5’9”, 170lb forward suited up for the SISEC Prep Selects of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL), where he recorded 19 points (8 goals, 11 assists) in 31 games. In 2014-15, Wiesblatt scored 8 points (1 goal, 7 assists) in 15 games for the CNHA Blazers of the Alberta Minor Midget Hockey League (AMMHL).
He joins current Vermont alternate captains Chris Muscoby (Airdrie, AB) and Anthony Petruzzelli (Federal Way, WA), as well as former Bandit captain Derek Lodermeier (Brooklyn Center, MN), as Bandit players to have committed to the Catamounts.
He is the 7th player on the current Bandits roster committed to an NCAA Division I institution, joining:
• Cale Makar (University of Massachusetts)
• Josh McKechney (Colgate University)
• Parker Foo (Union College)
• Charlie Marchand (Bentley University)
• Dennis Cesana (Army)
• Devon Daniels (Mercyhurst University)