Whitecourt, AB – The Whitecourt Wolverines are proud to announce that 19-year-old forward Frederic Letourneau has committed to Bowling Green University (NCAA Div. I) beginning in the 2016/2017 season.
The Boucherville, Quebec native Letourneau joined the Whitecourt Wolverines during the 2015 offseason after spending three seasons playing in the USHS in Connecticut at the Hotchkiss School. In 76 career games at Hotchkiss he compiled seven goals and 28 assists.
“After graduating from Hotchikiss I went to a showcase in Boston and the Wolverines coaching staff were there and they really sold me on the program in Whitecourt,” says Letourneau on his decision to move west. “I knew it would be a good opportunity for me not only to develop as a hockey player but also as a person.”
After not registering a point in his first seven games in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, Letourneau finished the season recording 39 points over the next 49 regular season games, including 16 goals in the final 30 games. In addition to his offensive prowess, Letourneau, who has played both centre and wing, is considered a 200-foot player as he is equally effective in all three zones.
“My goal was always to become a better hockey player and get a commitment to the NCAA, and for really the first three months I struggled,” noted Letourneau on adapting to the AJHL. “I just kept fighting through it and gave myself the goal of being in the lineup every night and giving everything I had, and my linemates, Kevin Domingue and Hubert Delisle, really helped me gain back my confidence.”
“He has improved dramatically since the start of the year,” says Wolverines head coach Joey Bouchard. “Freddie is a two-way player and everything he does is to the best of his abilities. He has a great work ethic, attitude and plays in all key situations for our hockey club demonstrating leadership through his play on the ice. He is a very intelligent young man that will do well both in academics and athletics.”
“It means a lot to me and my family,” Letourneau says on securing his post-secondary education with an athletic scholarship. “My family has sacrificed so much for me and getting this is such a bonus and a real honor to join a program like Bowling Green University.”
Letourneau will join the Bowling Green Falcons roster next season making him the first Wolverine alumni to attend the school. The Falcons, who play in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, are coached by Chris Bergeron, who is in his sixth season at the helm of the team after previously serving as an assistant coach with the University of Miami (Ohio) RedHawks where he also played his collegiate hockey. The team has one NCAA national title to its credit coming back in the 1984 and have notable alumni that include Rob Blake and current Ottawa Senators goalie Andrew Hammond. The Falcons are coming off their fourth consecutive winning season after going 20-12-6 (16-7-5 within their conference) and begin the WCHA playoffs this weekend.
“It was a really quick process for me starting about three weeks ago,” added Letourneau on accepting Bowling Green’s offer. “Over the last weekend I was able to go down and spend time with guys on the team as well as their coaches and see the campus, which was beautiful and all the facilities.”
“Their coaching staff has done such a great job in rebuilding the program over the last six years and I’m really excited to get to be a part of it.”
The entire Whitecourt Wolverine organization would like to congratulate Frederic and his family on his selection of Bowling Green University for is college experience and wish him all the best in his academics and athletics.
In the last two years the Wolverines have sent 12 players onto collegiate careers at the CIS, ACAC and NCAA level.
Frederic is the 5th Wolverine on or previously on this year’s roster to commit to the NCAA:
Taden Rattie – Western Michigan University
Joseph Nardi – Northern Michigan University
Justin Young – University of Alaska-Fairbanks
Brody Valette – Rochester Institute of Technology
Frederic Letourneau – Bowling Green University