Nanaimo Clippers forward MacKenzie Merriman will stay in orange and black colours when he graduates from the BCHL as he has committed to the Princeton University Tigers for the 2020-21 season.
Merriman is in his second full BCHL season and joined the Clippers in the offseason after playing last year with the Surrey Eagles where he amassed 12 points in 46 games. The White Rock, B.C. native has almost surpassed that total already this year as he has 10 points in 16 games, including eight goals which puts him in the top-20 of the BCHL.
Merriman will have some familiar faces in the dressing room as the Tigers roster currently features seven BCHL alums, including three freshmen that he faced in the league last year in former Vernon Vipers defenceman Michael Ufberg, former Alberni Valley Bulldogs defenceman Sami Pharaon and former Chilliwack Chiefs forward Corey Andonovski. The other alums on the Princeton roster are former Merritt Centennials defenceman Josh Teves, former Coquitlam Express forward Jackson Cressey, former Langley Rivermen defenceman Reid Yochim and former Chilliwack Chiefs forward Jeremy Germain.
The Tigers play in the ECAC conference. After finishing in seventh in the conference last year, they went on to win the ECAC championship, defeating Clarkson 2-1 in overtime in the championship game.
Princeton kicks off their 2018-19 campaign Friday on the road against Penn State.
