OKOTOKS, AB — The Okotoks Oilers of the Alberta Junior Hockey League are thrilled to announce that 2005-born defenceman Rylan Brown (Sherwood Park, AB) has committed to attend and play for Michigan Tech University.
Located in Houghton, Michigan, the MTU Huskies play in the NCAA’s Division I Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) under sixth-year head coach Joe Shawhan.
Acquired by the Oilers in a late October trade with the Drayton Valley Thunder, Brown has recorded 7 points (1 goal, 6 assists) in 10 games with his new team, leading to his being named AJHL Defensive Player of the Week after his first week with his new team.
“In just a short time with our team, Rylan has had a significant impact,” said Oilers head coach and general manager Tyler Deis. “He has become a major part of our defensive corps and has shown why he’s an NCAA calibre prospect. Our staff is extremely excited for him and his family on the opportunity to go to and play for a great school like Michigan Tech.”
Overall this season, his 14 points in 22 games rank him as the 17th-highest scoring defenceman in the league, with his 12 assists ranking 12th.
In his rookie campaign in 2021-22, he scored 35 points (12 goals, 23 assists) in 58 games, also ranking him 17th in the league in scoring by a defenceman and 12th in goals, leading to his nomination to the AJHL All-Rookie Team for the North division.
A graduate of OHA Edmonton in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL), Brown was its U15 team’s third-highest scoring player in his final full year of minor hockey in 2019-20, scoring 24 points in 27 games.
He is the fifth player on this season’s Oilers roster committed to an NCAA Division I school, and the second to commit this season, joining:
- Connor Gourley (Arizona State)*
- Conyr Hellyer (Arizona State)
- Sam Huck (Western Michigan)
- Jagger Tapper (RPI)
*committed prior to joining Okotoks