The Surrey Eagles’ longest-tenured player – and current leading goal-scorer – will have a new hockey home next season, after inking an NCAA scholarship deal last week.
Darius Davidson – a Semiahmoo Minor Hockey Association alum – agreed last week to a scholarship with the American International College Yellow Jackets, an NCAA Div. 1 team based out of Springfield, Mass.
The 20-year-old forward has 24 goals and 22 assists in 43 games this season, his fourth in the BC Hockey League. He’s also one of only a few players in Eagles history to have reached the 200-game milestone with the BCHL club – joining former captains Tyler Morley and Tyson Angus. Davidson hit the 200-game mark in mid-December, and barring injury, will surpass both former players in career games played by season’s end.
All but 21 of his 208 career games have been played in Eagles’ colours; he spent the end of last season with the Penticton Vees before returning to the Eagles this past summer.
He also holds the BCHL ironman record for consecutive games played according to the team, having suited up for 165 straight Eagles games from 2013-2016.
“He’s a real important player for us, and he’s had a great season,” Eagles’ coach Blaine Neufeld told Peace Arch News last month, after his veteran forward’s 200th game.
Davidson, who turns 21 next week, will join the Yellow Jackets for the 2017/18 season. AIC plays out of the Atlantic Hockey conference alongside the US Air Force Academy, US Military Academy, Bentley University, Canisius College, Holy Cross, Mercyhurst, Niagara, Robert Morris, RIT and Sacred Heart.
Davidson is the sixth current Eagle to secure a college scholarship, joining NCAA-bound teammates Jeff Stewart (Colgate), Paul McAvoy (Colgate), Ashton Calder (Lake Superior State), Jordan Robert (Clarkson) and Cory Babichuk (RPI).
