Every year, the BCHL strives to outmatch its record for the number of players it sends to college hockey programs.
In 2019-20 there were 182 players sent to college hockey, 167 of which committed to an NCAA Division I program. Fast-forward to this year where the scouting stipulations were taken to a never-before-seen level of difficulty, the BCHL still has 97 commitments to college hockey as of this writing, 92 of which are highly regarded Division I programs.
One of these said programs is the Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York, where the BCHL currently has a lengthy list of representation in the hockey program, as well as alumni and future commits.
When committing to a school like Clarkson for athletics, it is important to know just how well this school provides a healthy balance between the sport you love and the high-level education one pursues. Clarkson is a private, technological institute that is regarded with the likes of various Ivy League schools in the United States when it comes to quality of education.
I am proud and excited to announce my commitment to play division 1 hockey at Clarkson University. I’d like to thank all my Family, Friends, Coaches and, teammates for everything they’ve done to help me to get to this point ! #Goldenknights pic.twitter.com/nNHbkybOe3
— Trey Taylor (@TreyTaylor2319) January 18, 2020
Along with the integral academic side of being a student at Clarkson, a lot can also be said about the school’s outstanding hockey program, which has seen prestigious players and several current pro mainstays pass through over the years.
Dave Taylor, Todd Marchant, and Craig Conroy all played over 1,000 games in the National Hockey League after attending Clarkson, and current Minnesota Wild forward Nico Sturm is rounding out his very first complete NHL season after playing for the school in 2017-18.
Golden Knights NCAA hockey
As a small, private school known for its business and engineering programs, one very bright spot for the athletics association at Clarkson is its storied men’s hockey program.
Coming up on 100 years of hockey at Clarkson, the Golden Knights have several milestones under their belt. They’re the fastest Division I college hockey team to compile 1,000 victories. Many programs have yet to even reach that mark.
It has a record of 1,485-881-165 all-time, equalling a winning percentage of .619. It’s an astonishing feat as there only a handful of programs around the NCAA that have better statistics than that either.
As of today, the program is currently ranked 20th in Division I college hockey rankings on the NCAA’s website. The Clarkson Golden Knights set the bar for being an all-around student-athlete, and have made winning a priority along the way. With 22 NCAA tournament appearances and three championship games throughout its history, Clarkson will continue to look at the BCHL as an outlet for high-level recruits.
Current and committed BCHL alum at Clarkson
As of the 2020-21 NCAA college hockey season, the BCHL has nine alumni playing hockey at Clarkson University. After yet another winning season for the Golden Knights’ program, former BCHL players have their fingerprints all over the success.
Forward Mathieu Gosselin, a sophomore from the Merritt Centennials, racked up six goals and six assists in 2020-21. Defenseman Connor McCarthy, a senior who played in Chilliwack, was a beast on the blue line all season for Clarkson, and most notably brothers Alex and Charlie Campbell arrived on the scene in their first seasons and made their presence felt. Both are former members of the Victoria Grizzlies.
NATURAL. HAT-TRICK. 🎩🎩🎩
Clarkson-committed Alex Campbell scores the first three goals of his BCHL career for the @BCHLGrizzlies against Alberni pic.twitter.com/CozBYYVAho
— BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague) September 15, 2018
Alex, a third-round selection of the Nashville Predators, put up 17 points in 22 games in his freshman season and is expected to make a major leap in the coming years as he prepares for an NHL career.
As for the future commitments to Clarkson by way of the BCHL, Brandon Buhr of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs is set to make his way into the Golden Knights program in 2022-23. Buhr currently sits sixth in BCHL scoring 20 points in 12 games as of this writing.
Set to make his way to Clarkson next season is Vernon’s Trey Taylor, a bruising 6’2″ defenseman with a steady defensive game and some offensive upside.
BCHL and Clarkson alumnus
Looking at the prestigious list of great Clarkson Golden Knights alum, you obviously can’t ignore the names I listed earlier. Dave Taylor, Craig Conroy, and Todd Marchant all went on to have storied, long careers in the NHL by way of Clarkson.
As for BCHL representation, look no further than Port McNeill’s Willie Mitchell, once a blueliner for the hometown Vancouver Canucks, Mitchell worked his way through the ranks after playing for the BCHL’s Kelowna Spartans in 1994-95.
Attending Clarkson from 1997-99, Mitchell played 68 games over two seasons, tallying 19 goals and 36 assists as a massive part of the program’s success during that time. He is even considered one of the greatest Clarkson Golden Knights ever.
To add on, the BCHL and Clarkson also currently have five active players in the pro-hockey system, from the American Hockey League to the ECHL and overseas. Nanaimo’s Devin Brosseau, who’s in the AHL with Bakersfield, was named the ECAC student-athlete of the year for 2018-19. Goaltender and Cowichan Valley alum Francis Marotte spent time this season with the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers, and Chicago Wolves forward Sheldon Rempal, a former Nanaimo Clippers sniper, are both fine examples of the success of this route to the pro ranks.
Hope for continued success
Clearly, there is a true connection between the players of the BCHL and the Division I hockey program at Clarkson. With a proven track record for progress and development, there is continued hope for what the BCHL can keep providing college hockey.
Congratulations Brandon Buhr! @ClarksonMHockey got another great prospect here ! #TrustTheProcess pic.twitter.com/z2uJapNGdF
— Process Hockey (@process_hockey) November 10, 2020
As the biggest college hockey recruitment league in Canada, the BCHL is still on the rise when it comes to the talent it provides for all levels of college hockey. With the likes of Trey Taylor and Brandon Buhr, the future of Clarkson hockey is already in great hands.
When it comes to current representation and history, the BCHL and Clarkson are a match made in heaven for hockey players and hockey families striving to put true meaning behind the term student-athlete.