Brody Claeys was among the busiest netminders in the BCHL last season with 2,507 minutes played and league-high 1,407 shots faced and handling that workload will serve him well next season in his commitment to the NCAA Div. I University of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves program.
Claeys joined the Bulldogs midway through the 2015-16 season in a trade from the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s OCN Blizzard. He went on to play 76 regular season games in an Alberni Valley uniform, compiling an overall record of 24 wins, 40 losses and five ties along with a 3.13 goals-against average and a .904 save-percentage.
Following the 2016-17 season, Claeys was named the Bulldogs’ Most Valuable Player at the team’s year-end awards banquet.
“I’m really excited to have the opportunity to play Division I hockey and continue my education at UAA,” says Claeys. “This has been my goal and something I have been working towards for quite some time. I would like to thank my family, coaches, teammates and billet families for helping me achieve my goals. I’d also like to thanks the Port Alberni community and fans who helped make my experience there so enjoyable. I want to extend a special thank you to Alex (Evin) for helping me develop as a goalie and giving me the opportunity to play in Port Alberni. Also, to Tom McEvay for all his educational expertise, support and guidance.”
In Anchorage, Claeys will join a Seawolves team that competes in the NCAA’s Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) along with Bowling Green, Michigan Tech, Lake Superior State, Ferris State, Alaska, Alabama-Huntsville, Bemidji State and Minnesota State.
“On behalf of the entire Bulldogs organization, I’d like to congratulate Brody on this great accomplishment and wish him all the best in his college hockey career,” says head coach Matt Hughes. “We take great pride in helping young men take the next step in their academic and athletic pursuits, and Brady is another example of a player who will represent the Alberni Valley well at the collegiate level.”
The Seawolves program has recruited heavily from the BCHL in recent seasons and in 2016-17, there were 13 league alums on the roster in Chase Van Allen, Olivier Mantha, Eric Roberts, Cam Amantea, Tanner Johnson, Jeremiah Luedtke, Jarrett Brown, Corey Renwick, Mason Mitchell, Jonah Renouf, Nathan Renouf and Matt Anholt.
