Chilliwack Chiefs defenceman Mitch Andres will be heading to one of the most successful programs in NCAA history as he has announced his commitment to play for the Boston College Eagles next season.
Andres spent the majority of his two BCHL seasons playing for the Vernon Vipers, but was acquired by the Chiefs late in the 2018-19 season. In total, the 20-year-old played in 106 regular-season games, chipping in with seven goals and 25 assists for 32 points. He also had seven points in 21 career playoff games.
Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, Mass. and is an NCAA Division I program playing out of the Hockey East conference, competing against Boston University, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, UMass-Lowell, Merrimack, New Hampshire, Northeastern, Providence and Vermont. The Eagles have been a historically successful team, having won five national championships – tied for fifth-most in the NCAA.
Last year’s team finished seventh in the conference, but went on a run to the Hockey East championship game where they lost 3-2 to Northeastern.
The Eagles have had plenty of notable alums go on to succeed in the NHL, including current players like Johnny Gaudreau of the Calgary Flames, Cam Atkinson of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Corey Schneider of the New Jersey Devils, as well as former players like Joe Mullen, Brian Leetch and Bill Guerin.
The 2018-19 Boston College roster didn’t feature any BCHL grads, but next year, along with Andres, they will be adding Victoria Grizzlies forward and CJHL MVP Alex Newhook, Andres’ teammate in Chilliwack Jacques Bouquot and West Kelowna Warriors forward Mike Hardman.
