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Cents forward Brett Jewell commits to Yale University

The Merritt Centennials announced today the commitment of forward Brett Jewell to the Yale University Bulldogs for the 2017-18 season.

“We’re extremely proud of Brett and this accomplishment. It makes us think back to training camp in 2015 when he made our team as a 19-year-old,” said Cents GM and Head Coach Joe Martin. “Consider the path Brett’s taken – it’s late August just a year and a half ago and he’s stressing out, giving his all in every aspect of the game and practice, just to be a depth right winger. Two weeks later, I couldn’t coach without him and now he’s our captain.”

The 20-year-old is fourth on the Centennials in scoring this season with 33 points (13 goals, 20 assists) in 56 games. He is tied for fourth on the team in power play goals with five and has nine multi-point games this season.

“Before heading to Yale in September, we expect a ‘jewel’ of a playoff performance from Brett,” joked Martin. “All kidding aside, we wish players coming into our program and league were mentally building like Brett. He didn’t need a commitment to play junior A hockey, he got a try-out. Thanks to Brett’s dedication and contributions, the Centennials number 17 jersey will be tough to live up to in the future.”

The Vernon native is an alumni of the junior B Osoyoos Coyotes, where Jewell played one season in 2014-15. He had 30 points (18 goals, 12 assists) in 48 KIJHL games that season, but ramped things up in the playoffs with 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in 16 games.

Jewell is the seventh player on this season’s Centennials roster to secure an NCAA scholarship, joining Zach Risteau (St. Lawrence University), Tyler Ward (University of Denver), Zach Court (University of Nebraska-Omaha), Cade Gleekel (St. Lawrence University), Zach Metsa (Quinnipiac University), and Michael Regush (Cornell University).

Yale University is located in New Haven, Connecticut, and was founded in 1701. The Bulldogs Men’s Hockey Team is the oldest collegiate hockey team in the United States. Yale has made eight NCAA tournament appearances since 1952, winning the championship in 2013. The Bulldogs have also claimed 13 Ivy League regular season championships and two ECAC Tournament championships. Notable alumni includes Chris Higgins, Bob Kudelski, Randy Wood, and Bob Brooke.