Next season, will be playing hockey a lot closer to home.
The West Kelowna °Â²¹°ù°ù¾±´Ç°ù²õ91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ forward has committed to the University of Massachusetts-Lowell River Hawks for the 2017-18 NCAA campaign.
The River Hawks play out of the Hockey East conference and are off to a strong start in their season, posting an 8-4-2 record thus far in 14 games.
With the campus just minutes away from his hometown of Tewksbury, Mass., it will be much like a homecoming for the 20-year-old Sodergren.
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵÀá91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™m excited for the opportunity to play at a school so close to ³ó´Ç³¾±ð,91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ said Sodergren. 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵÀá91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™m thankful for everyone who has helped me get ³Ù³ó±ð°ù±ð.91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ
Sodergren, who is in his second season with West Kelowna, serves as one of the BCHL ³¦±ô³Ü²ú91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s assistant captains.
The 6-foot, 190-pound forward was a key part of the °Â²¹°ù°ù¾±´Ç°ù²õ91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ run to the RBC Cup national championship in 2015-16.
After registering 30 points in 58 games during the regular season, Sodergren added another seven goals and 10 assists in 35 post-season games, during the BCHL playoffs, Western Canada Cup in Estevan, SK and the Royal Bank Cup in Lloydminster, AB.
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœC´Ç²Ô²Ô´Ç°ù is a complete 200-foot player that is hard to play against every ²Ô¾±²µ³ó³Ù,91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ said °Â²¹°ù°ù¾±´Ç°ù²õ91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ general manager and head coach Rylan Ferster, 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœH¾±²õ work ethic is second to ²Ô´Ç²Ô±ð.91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ
With the commitment, Sodergren joins fellow °Â²¹°ù°ù¾±´Ç°ù²õ91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ forwards Quin Foreman (Dartmouth) and Jon Russell, (Harvard) and defenseman Nicholas Rutigliano (Bentley) who have all been recruited to play Div. 1 college hockey.
Warriors @ ³Õ±ð°ù²Ô´Ç²Ô91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¦
The Warriors (12-14-1-0) will visit the Vernon Vipers Friday night in BCHL action. Face off at Kal Tire Place is 7 p.m.
West Kelowna will be home Saturday night to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. Puck drop at Royal LePage Place is 7 p.m.