Merritt, BC – May 31, 2011
The Merritt Centennials are pleased to announce the commitment of 21 year old defenceman Jon-Paul Witkop to Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York for September 2011.
“After acquiring Jon-Paul at the trade deadline, he came in and provided maturity to a young club on a defensive pairing with our captain Steve Tresierra.” said Cents head coach and general manager Luke Pierce. “I think he has the ability to have a great amount of success at the NCAA Div. III level and we wish him all the best in his hockey and schooling future.”
Witkop played 16 games for the Cents and posted a goal and three assists in that span to go along with 22 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder is headed back home for school as he hails from Fairport, New York.
The Merritt Centennials, proudly celebrating 39 years as the BCHL's longest continuously run franchise, are a non-profit, community owned Junior 'A' Hockey Club run by a dedicated team of investors, directors, and volunteers.
