Miramichi Timberwolves NewsHome
Miramichi Leader
Byline: Lucas McInnis
His years with the Miramichi Timberwolves behind him, Nick Croft is moving forward with his education and hockey career.
The T-Wolves' former assistant captain has chosen Dalhousie University in Halifax, where he'll be studying arts with the potential to continue into education following those four years.
"It's a good school. I hadn't really been talking to anyone so I sent the coach an email and luckily enough he had a spot left," Croft, 20, said Saturday.
Dalhousie University, since its founding in 1818, has long been placed among the best schools in the world.
On the athletics side, the Dalhousie Tigers have since 1990 won 127 Atlantic University Sport championships, five Canadian Inter-University Sport team championships and many individual national medals.
"The coach was real good. He said they got a real good squad, they've got a real good group of guys," Croft said. "It's a great school."
Other enticing factors, he said, were that he has friends at the school.
Croft, a native of Fermeuse, N.L., had considered other schools, but said he knew he wanted to continue playing hockey and lacing up with the Tigers was a great opportunity.
In four years with the Timberwolves he scored 22 goals, 59 assists in 214 games.
"I was always going to try to play hockey anyway. But I was going to play senior probably, somewhere. I wanted to play AUS but I didn't really get the opportunity until this came up," he said. "I just sort of jumped at it when it came my way."
With the team, Croft will have the opportunity to play all over Atlantic Canada.
While he may not be focusing on playing hockey forever, he's going to take advantage of the chance to play now.
He had also spoken to a school in Massachusetts, but Dalhousie allowed him to stay close to home and also not have to pay the way to the U.S.
Croft seemed to have come to terms with the possibility hockey may be a thing of the past for him, but that's no longer a factor in his young career and he could potentially play for another four years.
As for going pro, he said for now the intention is to focus on education.
"It's a real good opportunity for me to do something that I love and get my education while doing it," he said. "It's a real good chance to have some fun and get an education."
Croft closed off the interview by thanking Miramichi and its people for their support during his junior hockey career.
"They've been great support and an awesome town. They made me become a better player and a better person."