Some players wait a year or two to get the best possible offer, others are forced to wait in desperation until their 20-year-old season before they latch onto an NCAA Division 1 hockey scholarship.
Sixteen-year-old Dylan Chanter of Armstrong knew what he wanted and wasted no time in signing this week with the New Hampshire Wildcats.
Chanter, a blueliner with the B.C. Hockey League’s Merritt Centennials, is expected to join the Wildcats in Durham for the 2014-15 season.
“The year has kind of been a whirlwind with crazy stuff going on,” said Chanter, who played last season with the Pursuit of Excellence Academy in Kelowna.
“I started off not knowing what to expect and then all of a sudden I started getting attention (from scouts), and for me and my family, this was the right opportunity. We weren’t going to pass it up. I had other offers on the table, but this one stood out for me.”
The Wildcats are seventh in the 10-team Hockey East loop at 10-12-2. Chanter will follow former BCHLers Damon Kipp (Salmon Arm SilverBacks) and Grayson Downing (Westside Warriors) in the program.
“It’s Hockey East, so it’s a really talented league,” said Chanter. “You’re playing teams like Boston University (Terriers) and Boston College (Eagles) and they’re really strong.”
At 6-foot-3 and 195-pounds, it’s easy to forget Chanter is just 16. He has two goals and 12 points and 45 penalty minutes in 50 games with Merritt, who surprised a lot of pundits with their 29-17-2-5 record, good enough for second place in the Interior Conference.
“Everyone was expecting us to not be a very strong team, but we’ve got a lot of veteran strength and proved everyone wrong,” said the well-spoken rookie. “We had a bit of a slow start to the season and then things started rolling after that.”
Merritt head coach Luke Pierce has been impressed with Chanter’s poise for such a young player.
“Dylan has stepped in and been an impact player for us here, which speaks to his maturity and talents,” said Pierce, on the team website. “UNH is getting an elite young prospect with tremendous upside.
“Dylan’s physical strength and game awareness is incredible for a player of his age, and we believe he’s only getting better. He’s been a model citizen here in Merritt and has committed himself to working extremely hard both on and off the ice.”
Chanter thanked his family and friends for their support throughout his hockey development.
“I wouldn’t be here without them,” he said.
Meanwhile, with seven regular-season games remaining, the Vernon Vipers are three points back of the Chilliwack Chiefs for the fourth and final Interior Conference playoff spot.
After giving up the opening goal, Chilliwack scored twice in each the second and third periods to upend the host Salmon Arm SilverBacks 4-1 Wednesday night at the Shaw Centre.
Josh Hansen led the Chiefs (28-21-1-3) with a pair of goals, singles coming from David Bondra and Derek Huisman. Garrett Hendrickson connected for the 16-31-0-7 SilverBacks.
The 27-23-1-2 Vipers are in Duncan tonight to face the 31-16-1-6 Cowichan Valley Capitals. Saturday night, they head to the Sunshine Coast to battle the 34-15-2-2 Powell River Kings.
