Photo: voodooshockey.com
POWASSAN, Ont. — The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Powassan Voodoos has announced that forward Tucker Shields has committed to the Liberty University Flames ACHA Division 1 Hockey program located in Lynchburg, Virginia, the club announced on Monday.
The talented two-way forward from Ottawa is in his second season with the Voodoos. The 2003 birth year forward has scored 8 goals and distributed 10 assists in 22 games so far this season after netting 26 goals and 29 assists for the Voodoos in 2022-23.
Shields credits Voodoos Head Coach Peter Goulet for renewing his love for hockey and inspiring him to continue to pursue his hockey dream when he arrived in Powassan in the fall of 2022 after a trade with the Rockland Nationals of the CCHL.
“Two years ago, I wanted to quit hockey because I wasn’t having fun,” Shields admitted.
“Requesting a trade to come to Powassan to play for coach Peter and Hardiman and been one of the best decisions of my life. It’s a great organization that has the ability to develop players and move them onto the collegiate level.
“For me personally, what Powassan did was give me an opportunity to fall back in love with the game of hockey and reconnect with the sport. A large part of that is due to Peter and Josh who I can’t thank them enough.
“I am extremely humbled to play for a great organization with great coaches, billets, staff and teammates,” added Shields.
Goulet says Shields had a number of other schools were interested in him and Liberty was his number one choice.
“It is an unbelievable opportunity for him,” stated Goulet.
“He is a first class young man from a first class family as well. He is a super person, he is super in our dressing room and I could not ask more from a young man. I am so happy this worked out for him. It is great for him, great for our team and great for our league.”
Shields plans to pursue a B.S. in Business Administration & Data Analysis: Economics through Liberty’s School of Business before going to law school.
“From there, I want to go into a career in entrepreneurship and it is important to gather the tools necessary to be self-sufficient and independent,” he said.