After one season in the BCHL, Langley Rivermen forward Chase Pletzke will be playing his hockey much closer to home next year as the Michigan native has committed to play in the neighbouring state of Ohio for the University of Miami RedHawks in 2019-20.
Pletzke, who is from the town of Bay City, had 13 goals and nine assists for 22 points in 43 regular-season games for the Rivermen last season. He also added another goal and an assist in seven playoff games.
Before coming to Langley last offseason, the 19-year-old played one year in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) for the Lone Star Brahmas.
Miami University is located in Oxford, Ohio and the team plays in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC), along with Colorado College, Denver, Minnesota-Duluth, Omaha-Nebraska, North Dakota, St. Cloud State and Western Michigan.
The most notable RedHawks alum to play in the NHL is former defenceman Dan Boyle who played over 1,000 games over an 18-year career with the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, San Jose Sharks and New York Rangers. He won a Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay in 2004 and won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2010 Olympics. Boyle also leads all Miami alums with 605 points in the NHL.
Pletzke will have at least one familiar face in the dressing room next season as last year’s Rivermen captain Alec Capstick is also committed to the RedHawks for 2019-20.
