THUNDER BAY, Ont. – Three members of the Superior International Junior Hockey League’s Wisconsin Lumberjacks have earned themselves the opportunity to attend college and play NCAA Division III hockey next season.
Goaltender Matt Fitzgerald will be heading to Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., to join the Cobbers program, who compete out of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Meanwhile, defenceman Cam Birkeland and forward Parker Brakebill are both heading to Fredonia State to compete in the State University of New York Athletic Conference, which the Blue Devils are members of.
Fitzgerald, a 20-year-old native of Bemidji, Minn., saw limited action as part of the three-goaltender tandem the first-year Lumberjacks employed in their initial campaign in the SIJHL.
As for Birkeland, he was a solid defender for Wisconsin and served as team captain.
He also contributed offensively, leading his club in scoring from the back-end with 27 points on eight goals and 19 assists. His numbers placed him ninth among all league blueliners.
Three of his tallies were game-winners, which tied him for the SIJHL lead among rearguards.
The 20-year-old from Alexandria, Minn., played 87 career games in the league after spending last season with the Minnesota Iron Rangers.
Brakebill, is from Yorba Linda, Calif., and is another 20-year-old.
He was a 25-point performer for the Lumberjacks, including notching 11 markers in 43 outings while having seven multi-point performances on the year.
Photo credit: Karina Schafer
SIJHL Commitment Tracker (As of April 16)
Dryden GM Ice Dogs
Jacob Anthony, (G) Selkirk College (BCIHL)
Fort Frances Lakers
T.B.A.
Red Lake Miners
Zach Willms, (G) Fredonia State (SUNYAC)
Thief River Falls Norskies
T.B.A.
Thunder Bay North Stars
T.B.A.
Wisconsin Lumberjacks
Matt Fitzgerald, (G) Concordia (MIAC)
Cam Birkeland, (D) Fredonia State (SUNYAC)
Parker Brakebill, (F) Fredonia State (SUNYAC)