Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Langley Rivermen forward Daneel Lategan made his way to Canada and ended up playing minor hockey in Alberta near his hometown of Westlock. In 2016, he made the jump to B.C. to play Junior B hockey in the Kootenay Interior Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) and a year later he was in the BCHL playing for the Rivermen. After two seasons in the league, Lategan’s unusual path to success has paid off as he has announced his commitment to play for the University of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers next season.
After his rookie year where he put up eight points in 44 games, the 21-year-old took off offensively this year for the Rivermen, finishing second on the team in goals with 20 and third in points with 36. He also had four points in five playoff games. Over his two-year career, Lategan played in 100 regular-season games and totaled 44 points (24 goals, 20 assists).
Alabama-Huntsville is a Division I NCAA program playing in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA), competing against Alaska-Anchorage, Alaska-Fairbanks, Bemidji State, Bowling Green, Ferris State, Lake Superior State, Michigan Tech, Minnesota State and Northern Michigan.
The 2018-19 Chargers squad featured a handful of former BCHL players, including Cowichan Valley Capitals alum Simon Chen, Penticton Vees grad Ben Allen, former Victoria Grizzlies defenceman Dayne Finnson, Chilliwack Chiefs alum Mark Sinclair and Alberni Valley Bulldogs grad and Chargers’ captain Kurt Gosselin.
Joining Lategan next year at Alabama-Huntsville are Prince George Spruce Kings defenceman Max Coyle and Vernon Vipers forward Josh Latta.
