The move to Wenatchee has proven fruitful in more than one way for Wild forward Murphy Stratton.
After joining the team in late September of this past season, Stratton went on to provide point-per-game scoring while helping the Wild to the Fred Page Cup BCHL title. Now, he has an NCAA commitment to show for his efforts.
The native of Los Angeles racked up 16-37-53 while playing 54 games last season and has secured a future at the University of North Dakota starting with the 2019-20 campaign. The school’s reputation, having developed NHL stars such as Jonathan Toews, T.J. Oshie, Ed Belfour and Brock Boeser, was a big selling point.
“So many things brought me to choosing North Dakota,” said the 19-year-old. “They are an NCAA power house every year, and they have the best facilities in college hockey to help young players like myself really grow and develop their game so you can get better each and every day. But the main thing that led me to North Dakota was the professionalism and principles that are North Dakota hockey. You are there every day to grow both as a hockey player and as a student. Every day is focused on making you a better all-around person and that to me meant a lot.”
Stratton will get to join his Wild teammate Jasper Weatherby when he gets to North Dakota. The BCHL leading scorer and MVP from this past season is headed to college for the coming season and will be a sophomore by the time Stratton joins him.
At North Dakota, Stratton will join a Fighting Hawks team that competes in the NCAA’s National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) along with Colorado College, Denver, Western Michigan, Miami-Ohio, Nebraska-Omaha, St. Cloud State and Minnesota-Duluth.
This past season, the Fighting Hawks had five BCHL alums on their roster in Gabe Bast, Dixon Bowen, Nick Jones, Jordan Kawaguchi and Colton Poolman. Other current BCHL players committed to North Dakota for future seasons are Harrison Blaisdell and Ethan Bowen of Chilliwack as well as Massimo Rizzo of Penticton
