By Elizabeth Thomas, News Correspondent
A busy off-season for the men’s hockey team was capped this morning when highly touted recruit and forward Kevin Roy announced that he and his older brother, Derick, will play for Northeastern beginning this fall.
“Proud to become a Northeastern Husky,” Roy (pronounced “waugh”) tweeted early Monday morning.
The Lac Beauport, Quebec natives de-committed from Brown University two weeks ago. Reports cited that their relationship with former Brown assistant coach and current Northeastern assistant coach Jerry Keefe played a role in their decision to become Huskies. Keefe originally recruited the Roy brothers for Brown.
Kevin had a record-breaking season with the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League (USHL) in 2011-12 as he led the USHL in scoring with 54 goals and 104 points in 60 regular season games. His 104 points were the most ever in the USHL Tier 1 era and earned him the title of 2011-12 USHL Player of the Year.
Kevin, who is listed at 5 feet, 10 inches and 170 pounds, was drafted in the fourth round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Anaheim Ducks in June.
Derick played goalie for the South Shore Kings of the Eastern Junior Hockey League last season and posted <a 2.78 goals against average in 26 games.
Kevin will recognize many familiar faces when he arrives on campus, joining former Lincoln defensemen Dax Lauwers and Colton Saucerman as part of the fall freshman recruiting class. Two former Stars are currently on the Northeastern roster – sophomore defenseman Ben Oskroba and senior forward Garrett Vermeersch.
Kevin will join a Northeastern offensive corps that struggled to produce goals in 2011-12 and ranked seventh in Hockey East in scoring offense with 2.85 goals per game. The Huskies lost three of their top eight scorers – seniors Steve Quailer and Mike McLaughlin and junior Justin Daniels – in the off-season.
Derick will be the fourth goalie on the Northeastern roster, joining senior incumbent Chris Rawlings, junior Clay Witt and senior Bryan Mountain.
Husky fans will get their first glimpse of the team in a scrimmage against St. Francis Xavier Oct. 7 at Matthews Arena. Northeastern’s season will officially start at home against Hockey East rivals Merrimack College Oct. 10.
