By Joshua Boyd / USPHLPremier.com
Coming out of Maine’s North Yarmouth Academy in 2022, Jack Tuite put his trust in the Springfield Pics to push his game to a new level and also to push him on to an NCAA hockey career. Everything came together over these past two seasons to make good on that trust, and he’s now about to become a member of the Saint Michael’s College Purple Knights college hockey team.
“I chose Saint Michael’s because they play a very competitive schedule every year,” said Tuite, a 2003-born forward from Shrub Oak, N.Y. “Coach [Damian] DiGiulian stresses the Team and that was something that is something that’s very important to me. And I know that I will be pushed there every day to improve my overall game and my ability to be a good teammate by the other guys on the team. Also, Saint Michael’s offered both of the areas I wanted to study academically – Accounting and Finance. They have great networking in many cities to help me with finding internships and other job opportunities for when my college career is over.”
The Pics not only offered a very structured, disciplined junior hockey program, but also one that was within the area that Tuite wanted to remain when he started college hockey.
“For me, when I was looking at schools, all the schools I wanted to go to were in the Northeast. Luckily, playing for the Pics in the New England Division gave me the opportunity to play in front of those coaches and schools as much as possible, since all of our games were located near the schools that interested me,” said Tuite. “Our games were always extremely competitive with both our division opponents and our non-division opponents as well. No games were a guaranteed win. Every game was a battle.”
Tuite put together a terrific first season in 2022-23 with 36 points in 42 games, and then followed that up with a 46-point season in 42 games with the Pics in 2023-24. He also put up two points in a combined five playoff games with Springfield.
“I had a great time playing with the Pics these last two years. Coach Rob Bonneau and the late Coach Brian Collins pushed me every day on the ice to get better,” said Tuite. “I think their trust gave me confidence to play my game which overall allowed me to have success. But they also added pieces to my game to make it more complete.”
He will take all of this up to Colchester, Vt., where he hopes to be a key contributor right off the bat for the Purple Knights, who compete in the nation’s only NCAA Division II conference, the Northeast-10.
“This off-season, I have been looking to improve my overall strength and getting just a little bit faster out on the ice,” said Tuite. “On ice, I have been working on my shooting and my edge work.”
The USPHL congratulates Jack Tuite, his family, the Springfield Pics and Saint Michael’s College for his commitment.
