Troy Stecher walked into Ralph Engelstad Arena Monday for the final time as a member of the University of North Dakota Flying Hawks.
The Richmond native attended the team’s NCAA national championship celebration in front of 6,000 fans then ended plenty of speculation two days later by announcing he was forgoing his final year of eligibility to sign with the Vancouver Canucks.
“Its tough to leave this place,” said the Richmond Minor Hockey alumni. “At the end of the day hockey is a business now and I’m at the age where something you have been dreaming about since you were 3 or 4 years old, you actually have the opportunity to accomplish. There is no better way to be leaving than as a champion. I am very thankful for everything (North Dakota) has done for me.”
Stetcher had established himself as one of the most sought-after college hockey free agents.
The standout two-way defenseman, listed at 5-foot-11 and 190-pounds, helped North Dakota cap a memorable campaign with a 5-1 win over Quinnipiac last Saturday in Tampa. It was the Fighting Hawks third straight trip to the Frozen Four and the program’s first national title in 16 years.
“I was fortunate to win a national championship in junior ‘A’. Not to take thing away from that but it doesn’t even compare to this,” added Stetcher, who turned 22 last week. “The night of the final was the greatest night of my life. It was a lot of fun heading out to celebrate with my brothers (teammates).”
Stecher was also named a Second Team West All-American. He was North Dakota’s top scoring defenseman with eight goals and 21 assists in 42 games, to go along with a plus-23 rating. His 29 points was a career high and tied him for sixth place in the nation among blueliners. He became the first North Dakota blueliner to earn All-American honours in five years.
He has done nothing but taste success his entire hockey career, dating back to helping the Richmond Bantam AAA Blues reach the provincial championship game in his last appearance for his hometown association.
He was voted Team MVP in his one season at Major Midget with the Greater Vancouver Canadians, then made the jump as a 16-year-old to the B.C. Junior Hockey League where he enjoyed three outstanding seasons with the Penticton Vees, highlighted by a national junior A championship in 2012. He was named the Top Defenseman in the country during the Vees playoff run. He finished his BCHL career with 109 points in 159 games.
The Canucks were long-rumoured to be the leading candidate to sign Stetcher. He actually attended the team’s Summer Development Camp back in 2014 as an unsigned free agent.
He is expected to finish his school year at North Dakota where he is major ing in communications, then return home to begin the journey towards playing for the team he grew up rooting for.
He hopes to one day be playing alongside North Dakota teammate Brock Boesner again. The Canucks top prospect has already declared he will be returning to school for his sophomore season.
