Michael Dill, of Windsor, made it official on Sept. 18 when he announced his decision.
Dill is currently wrapping up his final year with the Pictou County Crushers, with the Maritime Junior Hockey League, and was recently named Nova Scotia Tennis Coach of the Year after coaching all summer at the Gordon Hughes Tennis Club in Windsor.
The rumours of Dill’s pending move to the United States has been circulating for some time, and he remained coy on the subject until he made the announcement, saying things like, “they have asked me to go golfing with them next week.”
Dill, who is the grandson of Howard Dill, has proven himself to be a talented hockey player, being named Rookie of the Year in the MJHL in his first year and then winning the league’s scoring championship last winter.
When asked why he wasn't interested in pursuing a career within the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Dill said, “one has to understand that one game in any of the Canadian major junior leagues eliminates you from being eligible for university hockey in the U.S.”
The young hockey star will soon be playing in front of massive crowds.The University of Massachusetts in Lowell attracted 99,762 attendees in just 18 home games last winter, ranking ninth in league attendance.
Th team made it to the U.S. final four in 2013 and despite winning the Big East in 2014 and 2017, were nosed out in the playoffs leading to the final four.
They were one game away last season when Notre Dame sidelined them 3-2.
Dill will have his first shot at the final four in Buffalo, New York when he begins play in 2018-19.
