NOJHL Commitment Tracker: Matyasik, Hatanaka added

SUDBURY, Ont. – Two more Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League players have been announced as commitments to further their respective educations while continuing to play the game.

Forward Zachary Matyasik of the Espanola Express will be heading to Northland College in Ashland, Wis., to attend school there and skate for the Lumberjacks, who are members of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Hailing from Cicero, N.Y., the 20-year-old Matyasik had personal single-season highs in goals, assists and points with the Express in 2019-20, notching 18 markers, setting up 16 more, and totalling 34 points.

A two-year veteran of the NOJHL, he appeared in 110 match-ups in Espanola and had 58 points, including 28 tallies.

Meanwhile, fellow forward Benjamin Hatanaka of the Rayside-Balfour Canadians will stay close by in Sudbury where he will suit up for the Laurentian Voyageurs program and play OUA/U SPORTS hockey.

The 21-year-old Burlington, Ont., product spent two seasons in the NOJHL with Rayside-Balfour, dressing in 105 games for the Canadians, where he collected 19 goals and dished out 74 assists for 93 points.

His helper total paced RBC this season, helping them earn the league’s West Division title.

With files from David Harrison, NOJHL Historian

NOJHL commitment tracker (As of May 12/20)

BLIND RIVER BEAVERS
Jackson Hjelle, (G) Gustavus Adolphus (MIAC)
Kyle Quinn, (F) UNLV (ACHA)
Dominic Boily, (G) Maryville (ACHA)
David Campbell, (F) North Bay (OHL)
Lucas Adams, (F) Maryville (ACHA)
Caleb Serre, (F) Laurentian (OUA)

COCHRANE CRUNCH
T.B.A.

ELLIOT LAKE WILDCATS
Connor Taylor, (F) Northland College (WIAC)

ESPANOLA EXPRESS
Mattais Salem, (D) Laurentian (OUA)
Zachary Matyasik, (F) Northland College (WIAC)

FRENCH RIVER RAPIDS
T.B.A.

HEARST LUMBERJACKS
Spencer Silver, (F) Plattsburgh (SUNYAC)
Max Griffioen, (F) Nipissing (OUA)

KIRKLAND LAKE GOLD MINERS
T.B.A.

POWASSAN VOODOOS
Parker Bowman, (F) Nipissing (OUA)
Riley Pitt, (D) Oshawa (OHL)
Jack Craycroft, (D) Iowa State (ACHA)

RAYSIDE-BALFOUR CANADIANS
Zacharie Giroux, (F) Flint (OHL)
Brett Jacklin, (F) Laurentian (OUA)
Mitchell Martin, (F) Kitchener (OHL)
Cameron Lamour, (G) North Bay (OHL)
Giordano Biondi, (F) Sudbury (OHL)
David Bowen, (G) Drummondville (QMJHL)
Cameron Lamour, (G) North Bay (OHL)
Benjamin Hatanaka, (F) Laurentian (OUA)

SOO EAGLES
Jake Lamberty, (F) Northland College (WIAC)
Shane Brancato, (G) Trine (NCHA)
Joel Brandinger, (F) Tufts (NESCAC)

SOO THUNDERBIRDS
T.B.A.

TIMMINS ROCK
Josh Anderson, (D) Nipissing (OUA)