WolfPack receive commitment from Merritt Centennials forward Lucas Daoust

The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack have signed their second recruit for the 2010-11 men’s hockey season. And again, he is a player who has ties to both Kamloops and Junior “A” Hockey.

Forward Lucas Daoust has committed to the WolfPack program for the upcoming BC Intercollegiate Hockey League season. Daoust, who played his minor hockey in Vernon, B.C. moved to the city after he graduated high school. The 21-year old played for both the Nipawin Hawks (SJHL) and the Merritt Centennials (BCHL) last season.

“I’m really excited,” says Daoust. “The opportunity to go to school and play hockey at home for the first time in four years is very exciting.”

Daoust (pronounced dough) knows quite a few of the players who suited up for TRU last season. “I've played against many of them in minor or junior hockey. It’s going to be great to be teammates.” Daoust describes himself as a power forward who enjoys going to the ‘dirty areas’. “ I love to score goals,” he adds.

With Merritt, he played only 16 BCHL games after being acquired from Nipawin. He had three goals and four assists playing as a ‘shutdown forward’. “Whatever Lorne (Cumming) or Chris (Hans) wants me to do, I’ll do it, he says.”

Daoust will take some business diploma courses with an eye to laddering into the Business Administration Degree program at TRU.

“I have seen university sports on TV,” said Daoust. “I hope we can get something similar going at TRU. I’ve heard about having over a thousand fans at the games on Saturdays. I have heard nothing but good things about program, the school and the team.”

Daoust believes with the mix of returning vets and newcomers, the WolfPack can capture the BCIHL Championship, something they just fell short of in their inaugural season.

“I expect it is going to be a highly competitive training camp,” he adds. “I would expect nothing less.”

Aside from school and playing with the WolfPack, Daoust is looking forward to being at home more to help his nine year old brother, Jarret develop his hockey skills.

Says head coach Lorne Cumming about the acquisition of Daoust: “I watched Lucas Daoust develop into a solid Jr A hockey player last year and speaking to Luke Pierce in Merritt (head coach/general manager) just confirmed my feelings that Luc will bring a strong, day-in-day-out work ethic to our program. Our WolfPack culture will be to push each other from within and Lucas Daoust will bring that to our group. Lucas can fill any role he is asked to fill and we look forward to having that added to our forward group."

Daoust joins Zac Rasmussen (Kamloops, BC Salmon Arm/Prince George BCHL) as new additions to the WolfPack Hockey Program for 2010-11.