D3 commit for Soo d-man
Dependable Soo Eagles defenseman Mikey Butcher has a commitment to play at the Division 3, National Collegiate Athletic Association level for the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Panthers effective the 2019-2020 season.
Eagles general manager Bruno Bragagnolo confirmed the commitment of Butcher, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound skater who is in his second NOJHL season with the Michigan Soo squad and is one of its captains.
Bragagnolo told Hockey News North that Butcher’s “consistency and dependability are a major asset to for our team.
“In that regard and as an all-around defenseman, Mikey has been very good for us game-in and game-out over these last two seasons,” Bragagnolo said of Butcher.
Bragagnolo also lauded Butcher’s leadership skills and noted that University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point “is a good fit” for the 1998 birth-year defender.
“He has shown great leadership on our team this year and the Soo Eagles as an organization are very happy and proud for Mikey as he prepares to embark on his NCAA career next season,” added Bragagnolo. “We obviously wish him much success and are sure he will do well at a great academic school with a great hockey program and history.”
From his end, Butcher gave credit to the Eagles as an organization and the NOJHL as a league for gaining the opportunity to play at the NCAA level.
“Playing for the Soo Eagles, the coaches and the great competition playing in the NOJHL has helped secure this commitment,” relayed Butcher.
“While I’m looking forward to attending and playing for Stevens Point next season, I really want to focus and try to help our team here with the Eagles finish the season strong and play well into the playoffs,” Butcher relayed.
The Eagles are above the .500 level and a solid fourth in the West Division of the NOJHL.
PHOTO: Soo Eagles defenseman Mikey Butcher (no. 4) in NOJHL action. (Photo by Denis Larose/DAL Photography.)
It is Pointers not Panthers. Panthers are Point’s High School teams.