Penticton Vees forwards Demico Hannoun and Luke Voltin are going to college, together.
The Vees announced the 20-year-olds have committed to Northern Michigan University Wildcats (NMU) for the 2016-17 season. They are the 13th and 14th players on the roster committed to National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 programs.
Hannoun, who’s in his fifth season in the BCHL, has 11 goals and 22 points in 29 games this season; he missed 13 games due to injury. Since returning to the line-up, Hannoun has four assists in the last three games. The North Delta product has won two BCHL Fred Page Cup championships, two Western Canada Cup championships and has played in three RBC Cup national championships. The veteran forward has amassed 75 goals and 166 points in 219 career games with the Vees, Surrey Eagles and Vernon Vipers. He’s also played in 66 Fred Page Cup playoff games, racking up another 17 goals and 49 points.
Hannoun, who originally had a scholarship with Michigan Tech, said it has been a long process, but a rewarding one.
“First, I want to thank our coaches for the guidance and help I got during this process; it meant a lot," he said in a team statement. "When I was talking to coach Kyle at North Michigan, I realized it was the right fit for me; I liked everything the school has to offer. I’m excited to get down there next year.”
Voltin came to the Vees via an early season trade with Langley and has five goals and 21 points in 43 games; 19 points in 36 games with the Vees. The Blaine, Minn., native is in his second season in the BCHL and in 87 career games has accumulated 15 goals and 47 points; in nine career playoff games he had seven points. Voltin was a graduate of the US National Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich., and spent parts of three seasons in the USHL before landing in the BCHL.
Voltin says continuing his hockey career after this season is all he could ask for.
“It’s a huge honour to be able to play at the college level, and I’m thrilled to be able to achieve my goal I set out for myself at the beginning of the year," he said.
NMU is located in Marquette, Mich., and the men’s hockey program plays in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). The Wildcats have made eight trips to the NCAA Tournament, playing in three Frozen Fours and were national champions in 1991. There are seven BCHL alumni on the Wildcat’s roster, including former Vees Zach Urban and John Siemer.