Alumni Spotlight: NCAA Western Collegiate Hockey Association

A CCHL Original Article | Alumni Spotlight

 

During the 2018-19 season, a total of 14 alumni from the Central Canada Hockey League were part of NCAA Western Collegiate Hockey Association programs. 

Anthony Nellis, Stephen Baylis, Craig Pefley, and Zac Tierney all completed their Senior seasons, Jason Tackett finished his Junior year, while a handful of youngsters in Tim Theocharidis, Will Cullen, and Pierre-Luc Veillette had strong Freshman seasons.

Looking ahead to this coming season, incoming Freshmen from the CCHL include Peyton Francis (Carleton Place) who heads to Alabama Huntsville and Brett Thorne (Carleton Place) who will join the University of Alaska.

 

Top Performers

PHOTO courtesy Mark Vasey, Lake Superior State University Athletics

F – Anthony Nellis (SR) – Lake Superior State University

The Breakeyville, QC native and former star with the Pembroke Lumber Kings, Nellis finished off a memorable collegiate career by posting career bests in Goals (15), Assists (18), and Points (33), helping the Lakers to their best season since joining the WCHA in 2013-14. For his efforts, he was named to the WCHA Third All-Star Team. At seasons end, he signed with the ECHL’s Fort Wayne Komets where he ended up totaling 8 points (5G, 3A) in 10 games of action. 

 

PHOTO courtesy BGSU Marketing and Communications

F – Stephen Baylis (SR) – Bowling Green University

A consistent player if there ever was one, the Ottawa, ON native and Carleton Place Canadians alumni topped off a very successful collegiate career with Bowling Green University in 2018-19. Although missing some time with an injury, Baylis still managed to finish with 22 points (8G, 14A) in 35 games of action while leading the Falcons with 5 Game-Winning Goals. Bowling Green rewarded him with the Dr. Ron Zweirlein Leadership Award at the season ending banquet. It is expected that Baylis will continue his playing career at the professional level in 2019-20.

 

PHOTO courtesy Ferris State Athletics

F – Jason Tackett (JR) – Ferris State University

The former Pembroke Lumber Kings and Kemptville 73’s standout had his best season of college hockey yet in 2018-19. In 28 games of action, the West Chester, OH native finished with 14 points (6G, 8A), finishing 6th overall on the Bulldogs in scoring. Going into his Senior season, the expectations will increase as he will surely be given a bigger role.

 

Freshman Focus

PHOTO courtesy BGSU Marketing & Communications

D – Tim Theocharidis (FR) – Bowling Green University

The Carleton Place Canadians alumni and CCHL Defenseman of the Year in 2017-18, Theocharidis exceeded expectations in his first season of collegiate hockey. The Pickering, ON native finished third in scoring among Falcons blue-liners with 11 points (4G, 7A) in 34 games of action. As he heads into his second season, it is expected that the two-way defenseman will be put into tougher game situations and log more minutes. He was recently invited to the Vegas Golden Knights Development Camp. 

 

 

PHOTO courtesy BGSU Marketing and Communications

D – Will Cullen (FR) – Bowling Green University

After taking 2017-18 off, the former Carleton Place Canadians and Nepean Raiders blue-liner put together an exceptional Freshman season with the Falcons. The Pelham Manor, NY native finished 2nd in scoring among team defensemen with 14 points (4G, 10A). He and fellow CCHL alumnus Tim Theocharidis helped bring offense and a strong transition game to the Falcons defense, something that had been lacking in years past. Going into his Sophomore season, Cullen is expected to continue improving his all-round game which will be extremely beneficial to the Falcons program. 

Senior Appreciation

PHOTO courtesy Ferris State Athletics

F – Craig Pefley (SR) – Ferris State University

Yet another Carleton Place Canadians alumni, Pefley scored a career best 5 goals in 2018-19 while totaling 15 points in 29 games of action. He finished his collegiate career with 41 points (13G, 28A) in 78 games. At seasons end he signed an amateur tryout with the ECHL’s Tulsa Oilers, he played 2 games before being released. He is expected to continue his hockey career at the professional level in 2019-20.

 

D – Zac Tierney (SR) – Ferris State University

The Ottawa Jr Senators and Cornwall Colts alumni put up a career best 6 points (2G, 4A) from the blue line in 34 games of action with the Bulldogs. The London, ON native was honoured by the WCHA Conference at seasons end with a Scholar Athlete Award for his strong academic work. On May 3rd, it was announced that Tierney had signed a contract in the France2 league with Neuilly-sur-Marne for 2019-20.

 

 

SKATERS
YEAR NAME SCHOOL POS GP G A P CCHL TEAM(S)
SR ANTHONY NELLIS LAKE SUPERIOR STATE F 38 15 18 33 PEMBROKE
SR STEPHEN BAYLIS BOWLING GREEN F 37 8 14 22 CARLETON PLACE
SR CRAIG PEFLEY FERRIS STATE F 29 5 10 15 CARLETON PLACE
FR WILL CULLEN BOWLING GREEN D 31 4 10 14 CARLETON PLACE/NEPEAN
JR JASON TACKETT FERRIS STATE F 28 6 8 14 PEMBROKE/KEMPTVILLE
FR TIM THEOCHARIDIS BOWLING GREEN D 34 4 7 11 CARLETON PLACE
SO CONNOR MERKLEY ALABAMA-HUNTSVILLE F 37 3 4 7 CARLETON PLACE
SR ZAC TIERNEY FERRIS STATE D 34 2 4 6 CORNWALL
FR PIERRE-LUC VEILLETTE LAKE SUPERIOR STATE F 32 2 4 6 OTTAWA
SO ANDREW DODSON ALABAMA-HUNTSVILLE F 27 1 3 4 CARLETON PLACE
JR SEAN RAPPLEYEA ALABAMA-HUNTSVILLE D 13 0 0 0 OTTAWA
FR OWEN GUY LAKE SUPERIOR STATE F 12 0 0 0 KEMPTVILLE/OTTAWA
JR IAN JOHNSTON LAKE SUPERIOR STATE F 1 0 0 0 BROCKVILLE/KANATA

 

GOALIES
YEAR NAME SCHOOL POS W GAA SV% SO CCHL TEAM(S)
SO HENRY JOHNSON BEMIDGI STATE G 5 1.96 .916 2 BROCKVILLE