20-YEAR OLD FORWARD BECOMES SIXTH MEMBER OF 2017/18 BULLDOGS TO EARN NCAA SCHOLARSHIP
Port Alberni, BC – The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are thrilled to announce that 20-year old forward Christian Simeone has committed to attend Merrimack College and suit up for the NCAA Division I Warriors for the 2018/19 season.
Simeone joined the Bulldogs prior to the start of the 2017/18 campaign from the North American Hockey League’s Springfield Junior Blues and enjoyed a successful season as a key player and leader on and off the ice. He scored 12 goals and added 11 assists in playing all 58 regular season games and tallied three points in the Bulldogs’ seven-game first round playoff series against the Victoria Grizzlies.
“On behalf of the entire Bulldogs organization, I’d like to congratulate Christian on earning a scholarship to play NCAA hockey,” says head coach Matt Hughes. “Christian is a tremendous young man who brought a positive attitude and great work ethic every time he entered the building. He was a versatile forward who contributed in all situations, including the power play and penalty kill, and scored some big goals for us in important situations. We’re very excited that he will have the opportunity to play Division I hockey for a great program like Merrimack.”
Before coming to the Alberni Valley, Simeone played three years of prep hockey at Thayer Academy and Boston College High before breaking in to junior hockey with the USPHL’s South Shore Kings. A 31-point season vaulted him to the NAHL, where he netted 14 points in 35 games in Springfield.
“I can’t wait to further my education and fulfill my dream of playing college hockey at Merrimack College,” says Simeone. “I’m excited to get things started under a new head coach and an experienced coaching staff. I fell in love with the campus, facilities and the chance to play close to home.”
“My experience in Alberni Valley was unbelievable. It was life changing to move so far away and live in such a beautiful place for a full season. I can’t thank my coaches and teammates enough for all of their help in making me a better hockey player. Coach Hughes and Coach Dubois helped me in all aspects of my game and under them, the future is bright in Alberni Valley. Lastly, I cannot thank my billet parents, Chris and Kristen, enough for all they did for me throughout the year!”
Simeone is the sixth player to commit to play NCAA hockey while a member of the Bulldogs this past season. He joins forwards Keaton Mastrodonato (Canisius College – 2019/20), Ryan Steele (Sacred Heart University – 2018/19) and Cole Poliziani (Trinity College – 2018/19) as well as defencemen Mitch Oliver (Lake Superior State University – 2018/19) and Sami Pharaon (Princeton University – 2018/19).
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For more information, please contact:
Matt Hughes
Head Coach/GM
(250) 723-4412
matt@albernivalleybulldogs.ca
