TRU signs blueliner Conor McCoach on transfer from NCAA D3 Concordia

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Thompson Rivers University have secured more help for their blue line as they prepare for the 2014/15 B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League season.

The ‘Pack and head coach Don Schulz have announced that 6-foot-1 defenceman Conor McCoach of Pitt Meadows, B.C. has agreed to join the program and study in the Faculty of Business beginning in September. McCoach plans to major in Accounting.

He played last season with the Concordia University (Wisconsin) Falcons in NCAA Division III.

"I'm very pleased in attaining Conor's services," says Schulz. "He is a 'steady eddy' stay at home defenseman who will add some physicality and depth to our D corps."

"TRU was the only school that I was interested in coming to," said McCoach, who finished his Junior A career in 2012-13 Metro Shipbuilders (Nova Scotia) of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League.

He played minor hockey with current WolfPack forward Alex Smith and went to school with ex-TRU player Jake Howardson.

"They told me some great stuff about the school and the hockey program," McCoach said. "My strengths as a hockey player are using my size and my body position. I'm a good penalty killer and have a good work ethic."

"Conor is a player with Junior A experience and has some familiarity with collegiate hockey," Schulz adds. "He is a great fit for our organization."

Playing university hockey last season has given him a head start on balancing school and hockey.

"Juggling both wasn’t hard for me as my schedule (academic) was made around practice times. The teachers knew when the hockey team would be out of town and we could make up our work and have extra days to complete our assignments. Also, I think my time management skills really improved last year."

McCoach becomes the sixth recruit to join the TRU program for the upcoming season joining: Ryan Hanes (Prince George Cougars, WHL), Spencer Schoech (Kamloops Storm, KIJHL), Andrew Stack (Princeton Posse, KIJHL), Tylor Branzsen (Peninsula Panthers, VIJHL), and Sam Nigg (Summerland Sting, KIJHL).

ICE CHIPS: McCoach on finishing his junior hockey career on the East Coast: "I went to Summerside Capitals (PEI) for an opportunity to play in the RBC Cup in 2011-12."