SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – The Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League have announced that defenceman Mikey Butcher has committed to attend school at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and play NCAA Division III hockey for the highly successful Pointers men’s program starting in the fall.
The 20-year-old Butcher is in his second year with the Eagles where he has already established personal single-season marks in both goals and points with six and 24 respectively while helping bolster the back-end for the Michigan Soo.
Hailing from Sun Prairie, Wis., Butcher is just six games shy of 100 in his NOJHL career where he has produced eight tallies and helped set-up 37 others for 45 points.
He also serves as one of the club’s captains.
“Mike has been very good for us game-in and game-out for the last two seasons,” stated Eagles general manager Bruno Bragagnolo.
“He has shown great leadership to our team this year and the Soo Eagles organization are very happy and proud for Mike as he prepares to embark on his NCAA D-III college career,” added the Soo GM.
“We wish him much success and are sure he will do well at a great academic school with a great hockey program and history.”
For his part, the Eagles blueliner credits his coaches, teammates and opposing players for earning his NCAA opportunity.
“Playing for the Soo Eagles, the coaches and the great competition playing in the NOJHL has helped secure this commitment,” offered Butcher.
“While I’m looking forward to attending and playing for Stevens Point next season, I really want to focus and try and help our team here with the Eagles finish the season strong and play well into the playoffs.”
The UWSP Pointers are members of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference where they currently sit in top spot in their league, having yet to lose in regulation so far in in 2018-19, with an impressive 21-0-2 overall record.
They are also the No. 1 ranked NCAA D-III school in the latest USCHO.com weekly listings.
As for the Eagles are back on the ice this weekend with a home-and-home set against the cross-border rival Soo Thunderbirds in a pair of 7 p.m. starts, including Saturday night affair at Pullar Stadium.
