PHOTO: Braiden Doucette will play hockey for the Calgary Dinos next season. (photo courtesy of Pam Doyle)
The Canmore Eagles are pleased to announce that defenceman Braiden Doucette will be attending the University of Calgary and playing hockey for the Calgary Dinos of the CIS for the 2016-17 season.
Doucette, who came to Canmore in an early season trade from the Bonnyville Pontiacs during the 2015-16 Alberta Junior Hockey season, put up some impressive offensive numbers for the Eagles scoring 13 goals and adding 40 assists in 54 regular season games. He also contributed five points in eight playoff games to wrap up his junior career.
In his three seasons in the AJHL, Doucette registered 105 points in 184 games. Prior to joining Bonnyville in 2013-14, Doucette played two seasons for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League from 2011-2013.
“From the minute Braiden walked into our dressing room, we were instantly a much better hockey team,” said Canmore Eagle Head Coach and General Manager Andrew Milne. “Braiden is very mature and just leads by example. He is calm on the ice, performs well under pressure and has all the tools necessary for a very successful hockey career in the CIS. I couldn’t be happier for Braiden that he will be able to continue to play hockey at a very high level and also obtain a great education at the same time. He is very deserving of this opportunity and the entire Canmore Eagles organization wish him nothing but the best going forward.”
For the 21-year-old native of Leduc, attending the University of Calgary represents a perfect opportunity to continue his hockey career, gain an education and stay in his home province of Alberta.
“The U of C has a tremendous hockey program and I am absolutely thrilled to be going there,” said Doucette, who plans to enroll in Business studies. “I went to the school a couple of weeks ago to meet the coach (Mark Howell) and a few players and was extremely impressed with everything I saw. The CIS is an excellent hockey league and I can’t wait to get started.”
With five years of Junior hockey now in the history books, Doucette has many people to thank for his hockey success.
“I’ve played for three Junior hockey teams in two different leagues, so I obviously have a long list of people to thank for everything that they have provided to me along the way,” said Doucette. “I owe an awful lot to all my coaches, my billet families and to the various communities that have supported their hockey clubs. I would also like to give special thanks to both my parents and my grand parents for their never-ending support. It didn’t matter where I played, they were always there for me, supporting me and my teammates.”