PHOTO courtesy icelevel.com
The Central Canada Hockey League and Carleton Place Canadians are pleased to announce that ’96 born F Connor Merkley will join NCAA Alabama-Huntsville for the 2017-18 season.
The ’96 born Portland, ON native is currently in his third and final season with the Canadians where he put up career bests with 29 goals and 66 points in 61 regular season games. He went on to add another 5 goals and 13 points in 16 playoff games as he helped Carleton Place capture their 4th straight CCHL Bogart Cup Championship.
He will now look to help extend the Canadians season even further as they look to capture their 4th straight Fred Page Cup which is being held in Terrebonne, QC beginning Wednesday.
In 250 combined regular season and playoff games between Carleton Place and the Smiths Falls Bears who drafted him 5th overall in the 2011 CCHL Bantam Draft, Merkley has 77 goals and 170 points to his credit.
Before his time at the CCHL level, the 6-1, 195 lb two-way forward played two seasons for the Tier 2 level Westport Rideaus. In 88 career games, he scored 58 goals and totaled 125 points.
“My time in the CCHL has been great for me,” Merkley stated. “It has helped me grow as both a hockey player and person while I have been able to develop friendships that will last a lifetime. I owe a lot to Jason Clarke and the Canadians organization for all they have done for me. I am very excited for the opportunity to continue to play hockey at the NCAA Division 1 level."
For more information:
Sean Marcellus
Operations Manager
Central Canada Hockey League
snmarcellus@gmail.com
