Cole Poliziani earns NCAA commitment from Trinity College for 2018/19 season

ALBERNI VALLEY BULLDOGS’ ASSISTANT CAPTAIN HEADING TO CONNECTICUT TO SUIT UP FOR D3 BANTAMS

Port Alberni, BC – The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are thrilled to announce that 20-year old forward Cole Poliziani has committed to attend Trinity College and suit up for the NCAA Division III Bantams for the 2018/19 season.

Poliziani joined the Bulldogs in a July 2017 trade with the Chilliwack Chiefs and proved to be a valuable addition on the ice and as a part of the team’s leadership group. He was named an assistant captain prior to puck drop in September and went on to score 12 goals along with a team-leading 28 assists in 57 regular season games. He also played a key role in the Bulldogs’ seven-game first round playoff series against the Victoria Grizzlies, scoring to end Game 1 in overtime and later assisting on the OT winner in Game 3. He finished the series with three goals and six points.

“On behalf of the entire Bulldogs organization, I’d like to congratulate Cole on earning a scholarship to play NCAA hockey at a tremendous institution,” says head coach Matt Hughes. “Cole was a huge part of our team and just kept getting better and better as the season went along and the games got more important. His work ethic and passion for the game are infectious around the rink and he’s going to be an excellent player at the Division III level. We wish him all the best in his education and hockey career moving forward.”

Before coming to the Alberni Valley, Poliziani spent the previous season with the Chiefs and helped Chilliwack advance to Game 7 of the Fred Page Cup Finals before bowing out to the Penticton Vees. The Burlington, ON product scored 14 times and totaled 27 points during his rookie BCHL season before adding five points in 23 postseason games.

“It’s an honour having the opportunity to commit to such a prestigious school and receive an excellent education while playing for a great hockey program,” says Poliziani. “I would like to thank my family and friends for supporting me over the years and always having my back. I’d also would like to thank all my coaches and teammates who believed in me along the way. Playing with the Bulldogs this past season really helped me achieve this goal. Being leaned on me to be an important guy day in and day out while playing in front of such incredible fans made me better every day.”

Poliziani is the fifth player to commit to play NCAA hockey while a member of the Bulldogs this season. He joins forwards Keaton Mastrodonato (Canisius College – 2019/20) and Ryan Steele (Sacred Heart University – 2018/19), as well as defencemen Mitch Oliver (Lake Superior State University – 2018/19) and Sami Pharaon (Princeton University – 2018/19).

***

For more information, please contact:

Matt Hughes
Head Coach/GM
(250) 723-4412
matt@albernivalleybulldogs.ca