By Alexis Demopoulos
For Thunder Hockey Club forward Jory Veenstra, playing in the NCDC ultimately paved the way for him to earn an NCAA Division II commitment to Southern New Hampshire University for the 2025-26 season.
“Playing in the NCDC and having coaches who are well connected here in the East helped me in meeting with, and talking to, coaches and also having coaches reach out to me,” said Veenstra. “Ultimately, SNHU reached out to me and started a relationship that grew and got me committed.”
Veenstra played in the NA3HL last season for the New Hampshire Jr. Mountain Kings, eclipsing 50 points. He decided to take it up a notch for the 2024-25 season and signed with Thunder Hockey Club where he has five points in 18 games played so far this season. Veenstra was thankful for signing with THC and credits the organization and coach Dan Hodge for helping him see his potential.
“I love the Thunder Hockey Club,” said Veenstra. “They gave me a chance to show them what kind of player I am. Coach Hodge runs the team very well. He emphasizes discipline. He holds us accountable and pushes us every day. He is very keen on getting his age-out players placed at schools they want to attend. I love my teammates and the other players that are a part of the program.”
Southern New Hampshire was always somewhere Veenstra had his eye on and when assistant coach Matt Osgood approached him at the end of September, he was impressed by how committed they were to sign him from the start.
“Coach Osgood took me on a tour of the SNHU campus and rink, where I met head coach Sean Walsh,” said Veenstra. “Both Coach Osgood and Coach Walsh liked my tenacity, work ethic, and hunger for the puck.”
Veenstra felt welcomed the minute he stepped on the campus and that was a huge turning point to ultimately committing. Academically, he likes the small classroom sizes and knows that will help him in the long run. Veenstra plans on majoring in business at SNHU with a minor in finance.
“On the academic side, they have very nice buildings and training facilities,” said Veenstra. “They are also an amazing help system for your academics. Hockey-wise the culture was very strong and welcoming, and the coaches were very keen on having me in their program. They really want me to play for them. The campus was very new, modern, and well organized. The school and programs offer a lot of academic help and support and small classroom environments.”
With his commitment already secured, Veenstra is focused on helping his team win a Dineen Cup and continuing to work on all facets of his game in order to be the best player to his ability next season at SNHU.
“I am working on being very solid defensively, continuing to work hard in both zones, contributing on the score sheet and working on being more physical,” said Veenstra. “I think the best part of my game would be work ethic, playmaking ability, and speed. For the remainder of this season, my team, coaches, and I look to be contenders for and to win the Dineen Cup.”
The NCDC congratulates Jory Veenstra, his family, the Thunder Hockey Club and Southern New Hampshire University for his commitment.
