ANTIGONISH, NS – StFX X-Men hockey goaltender Chase Marchand has been invited to attend the Chicago Blackhawks development camp July 16th to 20th at MB Ice Arena in Chicago.
"We are extremely pleased for Chase and this outstanding opportunity," comments X-Men head coach Brad Peddle. "He has developed into an elite U SPORTS goaltender where his work ethic and commitment drive him to be better every day."
"Chase has full intentions to play pro hockey upon graduation and this will give him a great chance to showcase his abilities and talent among Chicago's top prospects. He is coming off an award winning season and has had two tremendous years at StFX; this is a very well deserved opportunity."
The 2017-18 U SPORTS goaltender of the year, Marchand was also a U SPORTS first team All-Canadian and the AUS conference most valuable player, leading the X-Men to a berth in the national final where they claimed the silver medal.
A second-year Arts student from Halifax, N.S., Marchand played in 22 games for StFX last season posting a 16-5-0 record, while leading the AUS with a save percentage of .924 and a win percentage of .762. His 2.38 goals-against-average was the second best in the conference, while his 16 wins topped the AUS and tied for second overall in U SPORTS. Marchand backstopped the X-Men to a second-place finish in the AUS standings, to go along with a U SPORTS top five ranking all season long.
There are 41 total players invited to the Blackhawks development camp including five other goaltenders. Marchand is the lone U SPORTS athlete to be extended an invitation.
X-Men head coach Brad Peddle will also be attending the Blackhawks development camp as a guest coach for the week. The reigning AUS coach of the year and 2016 U SPORTS coach of the year has been at the helm of the X-Men for the past 13 seasons, leading them to a pair of conference titles and two U SPORTS silver medals in the past three years. He is very grateful for the opportunity provided by the Blackhawks noting, "It is a tremendous development opportunity to be around management, coaches, staff and players of one the top organizations in the National Hockey League. I am very much looking forward to the experience and learning as much as I can from some of the best in the business."
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Chicago Blackhawks release: https://www.nhl.com/blackhawks/news/blog-blackhawks-release-development-camp-roster/c-299438532?tid=298248792