Elliot Lake duo of Hepler & MacLean heading to NCAA

ELLIOT LAKE WILDCATS JR. A HOCKEY CLUB

Media Update

Release date: Monday, May 9, 2016

Elliot Lake duo of Hepler & MacLean heading to NCAA

ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. – The Elliot Lake Wildcats of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League have announced that forwards Cole Hepler and Spencer MacLean are both headed to attend school and play in the NCAA D-III ranks in 2016-17.

The Wildcats top two point producers in 2015-16 sees MacLean committing to Elmira College while Hepler will be attending Lebanon Valley College.

Situated in Elmira, N.Y., the Soaring Eagles are members of the ECAC West conference while Lebanon Valley, which is based in Annville, Penn., sees the Dutchmen compete in the Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League of the ACHA.

The 20-year-old Hepler led Elliot Lake in offensive production in both the regular season and the playoffs registering 79 points in 46 games during the campaign then added a team-best 13 more in the postseason.

Hepler’s numbers saw him finish seventh in NOJHL scoring during the season and end up tied for fifth in goals with 38 and knotted for 11th in assists with 41. Five of his tallies were game-winners.

His 13 playoff points saw him share sixth overall among league skaters as he scored seven times and dished out six helpers.

As for MacLean, the 20-year-old Kleinburg, Ont., product was second in points on the Wildcats as he tallied 30 times and doled out 44 assists.

His 74 points was the 10th highest total in the NOJHL this season and he also contributed four game-winning markers.

MacLean tacked on another 10 points in the playoffs for Elliot Lake, including three goals.

The Elliot Lake duo joins defenceman Josef Kittelberger (Stevenson University) as players from the organization who have committed to play NCAA hockey next season.

For more information on the Elliot Lake Wildcats, visit the club’s website at www.elliotlakewildcats.ca or via Twitter @elwildcats.