Lucas Buzziol of the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Milton Menace (photo credit – Tim Bates| OJHL Images) has confirmed his commitment to join the NCAA Division 1 Union College Dutchmen in Schenectady, New York. The year of his commitment has not been determined.
Buzziol, who was being courted by six DI schools, picked Union after a school visit with his family last week.
“After seeing the campus and then on the drive home talking with my parents, I just had a great feeling that this was the school where I could see myself developing and playing my next level of hockey,” said the Mississauga resident, who also visited Niagara. “
He is one of three Ontario Junior Hockey League players on NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings for the 2022 NHL Draft in July. The centre from Mississauga fit right in on the high-flying Menace roster this season, his first in junior hockey. Buzziol, who turned 18 on May 4, scored 20 goals and had 29 assists in 51 OJHL games. He had five game-winning goals.
Buzziol was voted to the OJHL’s All-Prospect 1st Team this spring.
“An amazing individual both on the ice and off the ice,” said Milton GM/Head coach. Dan Del Monte. “He lives and breathes hockey. Lucas has had an exceptional year for us, developing to become an elite player. He battled so hard the last couple of years to get to where he is today. This is a well-earned and deserved opportunity.”
Buzziol was an AP with Milton from the Vaughan Kings U16 team in 2019-20, picking up an assist in his only game. He was picked in the sixth round of the 2020 OHL U16 draft by Mississauga.
“It took me a little bit to get established in the league,” Buzziol told The OJHL of last season in Milton. “My game changed and developed a lot through the year. but a lot of the credit for that must go to Dan Del Monte. He gave me a lot of opportunities in big situations to showcase myself. He’s a big part of the reason I have this scholarship right now.”
Congratulations to Lucas and best of luck in the NCAA!
The OJHL, the largest Jr. A hockey league in Canada, has had more than 120 NCAA, U SPORTS, CHL and professional commitments in 2019-20 – including more than 45 NCAA Division I scholarships.
Check out all our 2021-22 commitments by clicking HERE
