Sault College hockey teams set to move up

The 2018-19 hockey season continues to wrap up at many levels with teams locally done for the season and beginning plans for next winter.

The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Soo Thunderbirds are set to host a spring camp next weekend.

Many of the local AAA teams have had tryouts and begun to assemble their rosters for next winter.

At the collegiate level, Sault College is no different.

After a winter playing in the American Collegiate Hockey Association at the DIII level, the school has begun preparing to move up to DII next season and it will be tough to improve on the season that was.

A national championship victory in convincing fashion means an encore will be tough.

It was a banner year for the Cougars and the players.

Sault College forward Ryan Vendramin was named the DIII player of the year after leading the nation in scoring with 96 points and finishing second in goals with 55 in just 24 regular season games.

The Sault product added 13 goals and 20 points in the national championship tournament, which included a four goal, four assist performance in the tournament final, a 12-3 win over Grand Valley State.

Vendramin was also named a first team All-American.

Andrew Barbeau, a defenceman with Sault College was also recognized as a second team All-American.

As the men’s team moves to DII next season, the plan is also to have Sault College’s women’s hockey team play at the level as well.

The women’s team is set to play in the Central Collegiate Women’s Hockey Association, which is part of the ACHA.

It’s one of a handful of changes athletically at the school.

Among the other changes is the shift from indoor soccer at the school.

The school will begin playing in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association outdoor league next season.