By Joshua Boyd / NCDCHockey.com
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights’ organization is certainly committed to giving every player their best opportunity to prove themselves as college hockey prospects, including providing the multi-tiered organization in which to grow.
One of the most recent players to take advantage of the Knights’ in-house development and promotion system is Zackary Chouinard, the top scorer from last year’s Premier Knights squad with 27 goals and 57 points in 42 games. He would add eight more points in seven playoff games as the Knights pushed their way into the National Championships. Now, he’ll get a chance to rack up the offense in the NCDC. He signed with the Knights’ top team and is eager to utilize his skill set to the betterment of that team.
“To end my junior career, I am very happy to have a contract in this league, and to be back with the WBS Knights, it’s just amazing,” said the 2004-born native of Trois-Rivieres, Que. “I can’t wait to start the season.”
During the 2023-24 season, Chouinard felt that the Premier Knights certainly helped him take a big leap forward in his game.
“My season last year went pretty good. I am very happy about what we’ve accomplished as a team and that made me the player that I am today,” said Chouinard. “My Coach Éric Brule helped me a lot to work on little details that would help me step up my game and bring it to the next level.”
He knew that the NCDC level would be demanding and that he would have to put his nose to the grindstone over the course of the spring and summer if he’s going to have success there.
“To become an NCAA player, I think I need to work on my consistency of play. If I can fix this part of the game this upcoming season, I would be very proud,” he said. “The thing that I like the most in this program is that we have the chance to practice twice a day, so have more time to work on things that I need to improve on.
“In this program, the coaches make sure that every day we are committed and that we work hard. With this approach, I’m pretty sure my development will be successful for me this year.”
Chouinard is very happy to have chosen the USPHL and the NCDC for his Pathway to College Hockey, as he got an introduction to the higher level last year and can now show what he can bring to the collegiate level of hockey every game.
“I think the advancement opportunities are great, I played four NCDC games last season and it helped me to see other things that I need to improve on to play NCDC,” Chouinard said. “I think overall the Premier league is good for development and helps players get their game to the next level.”
The USPHL congratulates Zackary Chouinard on his advancement to the NCDC and wishes Chouinard and the WBS Knights the very best of luck in the upcoming season.
