Trail Smoke Eater captain Evan MacEachern has committed to Canada Inter-university Sports’ (CIS) University of Toronto VarsityBlues for the 2016-17 season.
“I’m extremely proud to be joining the University of Toronto Varsity Blues this upcoming season,” said MacEachern. “I believe itwill be a great experience for both my hockey career and my studies.”
The 21-year-old Bedford, N.S. native joined the Smokies from the Chilliwack Chiefs at the Jan. 10 deadline in 2015 as part of atrade that saw then Smoke Eater captain and Trail native Scott Davidson go to the Chiefs.
In 45 games this past season MacEachern had nine goals and 16 assists for 25 points. The smooth skating defenceman providedmobility and quickness with good puck handling skills on the back end but was hampered by a wrist injury early in the season.MacEachern returned to the lineup to help the Smokies come within a game of a playoff spot, but, more important, hisleadership abilities on and off the ice proved to be a great asset to the team.
“Moving on from junior hockey will be a new challenge but one that is very exciting,” added MacEachern. “I’m proud to say I wasa part of the Trail Smoke Eaters organization who prepared me for the next level with their number of resources and theopportunity I was given. I want to thank the volunteers, coaching staff, as well as my billet families the Martins and Flicks.”
The Toronto Varsity Blues play in the Ontario University Athletics West Division of the CIS.