Pair of Crunch forwards secure NCAA commitments

COCHRANE CRUNCH JR. A HOCKEY CLUB

Media Update

Release date: Friday, Feb. 3, 2017

Pair of Crunch forwards secure NCAA commitments

COCHRANE, Ont. – The Cochrane Crunch of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced Friday that forwards Konnar Dechaine and Brandon McReynolds have both secured NCAA commitments for next season with a pair of Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schools.

Dechaine will be off to Menomonie, Wis., to attend school at the University of Wisconsin-Stout and play for the Blue Devils while McReynolds is heading to UW-Stevens Points to study and skate for the defending NCAA D-III-champion Pointers.

The 20-year-old Dechaine hails from Lac la Biche, Alta., and is in his first season with the Crunch.

He is currently tied for 10th overall in NOJHL offensive production with 53 points in just in 46 games on 31 goals and 22 assists.

His tally total ties him with teammate Braeden Cross for the second-most in the league and is also knotted for second in power play markers with 11. Dechaine shares third spot in game-winning goals with six.

“The Crunch want to congratulate Konnar on all his hard work thus far this season, which helped him land a spot at Wisconsin-Stout,” stated Cochrane head coach, general manager and President Ryan Leonard.

“Konnar came here in the summer on a trade and we promised him we would do all that we could do to make his dream come true to play college hockey. We couldn’t be happier that he has been given this opportunity,” added Leonard.

“He is a leader on and off the ice, is very coachable and also pays attention to the 200-foot game.”

As for McReynolds, the 20-year-old North Vancouver, B.C., product is also in his initial campaign with the Crunch.

The UW-Stevens Point commit has had a strong season in the NOJHL to date sitting tied for sixth in league scoring with 56 points, including 20 tallies.

“We want to congratulate Brandon on earning an opportunity to play for one of the most prestigious college hockey programs in the NCAA,” stated Leonard.

“He leads by example on and off the ice and is very coach-able and listens to detail and follows it which makes his game that much better.”

“This is big news for Brandon and our program. Area scout for UW-SP Tom Sinclair, out of Kirkland Lake, had been in contact with us over the last little bit and now it’s all come to fruition and we couldn’t be happier to place Brandon in such a great program with long history,” summarized the Cochrane GM and bench boss.

“We told Brandon when we recruited him last year in B.C., where he was playing Junior B, that we would do all we can to help get him to the next level. He has answered the call in every way for our program.”

With their first two NCAA commitments secured, the Crunch hope to have another three or four more to announce before the season ends.

Cochrane returns to the ice Friday evening as they look to extend their season-high winning streak to nine when they host the Iroquois Falls Eskis in a 7:30 p.m. start at the Tim Horton Event Centre.

For more information on the Cochrane Crunch, visit the team website at cochranecrunch.com or on social media at twitter.com/CochraneCrunch or facebook.com/CochraneCrunch.