(Photo courtesy: Marla Possberg)
While the SJHL season is on pause, Humboldt’s Doug Scott is still taking care of business, announcing an NCAA Division I Directwest commitment to Rochester Insititute of Technology (RIT) for next season!
Scott had 10-goals and 30-points in just 26 games last season in Humboldt, and the defenseman was off to a roaring start in 2020-21, already with 10 points (4g-6a) through six games prior to signing the dotted line with RIT.
“From my understanding RIT had been scouting me since last season and watching my games but I hadn’t been contacted by them until this year just before our season got postponed. I ended up having a few phone calls with Coach Hills and we began the process there. I did a virtual tour of their campus there to get a feel for it because we aren’t able to do any official visit or anything of that sorts. The process was very smooth and the coaches were very easy on me by not pushing me into anything I didn’t wanna commit to or push the process which was very helpful. I couldn’t be more excited to join such a great program at RIT and receive a great education at the same time.”
The North Vancouver product says he’s back at home now, riding the bike, lifting weights, while squeezing in some video games sessions in hopes that he’ll be back in Saskatchewan shortly after Christmas, something that’s of course, still up in the air.
After seeing some spot duty in the BCHL the past few seasons, Scott said coming to Humboldt a year ago changed everything for him.
“The SJHL and the Broncos basically gave me another opportunity at achieving what I’ve worked so hard towards the last four seasons. I was getting lost in the rotation on the teams I played for in BC, I was never really given an opportunity to play meaningful minutes of hockey I knew I was capable of until the Broncos picked me up. Coach Barney thankfully has believed in me since day one. Probably the best thing about our coaches is that they know mistakes are going to happen and when they do, they give you another chance and you keep playing. Although some think I play a high risk game I understand my limits and try to not exceed them but sometimes I’ll mess up and instead of having your confidence torn apart, they lift you up let you know what you could’ve done better and you correct that the next time you’re out on the ice. I’m really grateful that “Barns” took a shot on me because I don’t know where I would be right now in my hockey career without all his help.”
Barney also, couldn’t be more proud to see another player set to move on to the next level.
“We’re very excited for Doug as he’s worked tremendously hard on and off the ice for this. He’s been a dominating force for the Broncos since he put the jersey on for the first time and he’s very coachable!”
That’s Humboldt’s second NCAA Division I Directwest commitment in a few short months, with Karter McNarland, a 16 year old rookie on last year’s club, inking with the University of Vermont starting in 2022-2023.
