PHOTO courtesy Bob Lefebvre icelevel.com
By Sean Marcellus
The Central Canada Hockey League and Kemptville 73’s are pleased to announce that ’96 born Center Jake Gaudet has committed to NCAA Division I UMass Amherst (University of Massachusetts) for 2017-18.
“I am ecstatic, it’s something that every junior hockey player dreams of and I am blessed to have the opportunity,” Gaudet said. “I really believe that Coach Carvel and his coaching staff are building a great program and I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of it moving forward.”
The 6-1, 205 lb power forward is in his third season of CCHL action (all with the 73’s). Although currently out with an injury, the Ottawa, ON native is working hard to get back to full strength to join his club for the playoff push and postseason. For those who know Gaudet, they know he is a workhorse and will do everything in his power to come back even stronger then before.
In 130 career games, Gaudet has totaled 37 goals and 86 points, 27 goals and 57 of those points coming in his last 70 games played.
Not only does Gaudet have a tool-set that includes a great shot, good puck protection, a strong skating stride, vision, and a high hockey IQ, he also plays a hard-nosed game. Opponents are always aware when #18 is on the ice, as they know he is threat to produce offense as well as lay a thunderous body check at any given time.
Before his time in the CCHL he spent the 2013-14 season between the Ottawa West Golden Knights and Arnprior Packers of the CCHL2. He is a product of the Eastern Ontario Wild AAA and Ottawa Sting AA programs.
The UMass Hockey program (known as the Minutemen) is coached by Greg Carvel who is in his first season at the helm after heading NCAA St. Lawrence for the past 4 seasons and working for Anaheim and Ottawa in the NHL. The Minutemen play in the NCAA Hockey East Conference and hold an overall record of 4-9-2 in the early stages of the 2016-17 season. The hockey program has been up and running since 1908.
