ESTEVAN - The Estevan Bruins of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) have announced that 2003-born forward Caelan Fitzpatrick of Moose Jaw has committed to attend and play for the Niagara University Purple Eagles.
Located in Lewiston, N.Y., the Purple Eagles are members of the Atlantic Hockey Conference. The Division 1 program is led by head coach Jason Lammers and assistant coaches Mark Phalon and John Lidgett.
“This is a huge and deserved opportunity for Caelan to be part of a program that’s on the rise, under a great coaching staff,” said Bruins head coach and general manager Jason Tatarnic. “It’s also a reflection of Calean’s commitment and resilience over the last year and a half, and a testament to his character to stay focused on achieving his goal of playing in the NCAA.”
He will join the Purple Eagles for the 2023-24 season.
Fitzpatrick is currently the Bruins’ fourth-highest scoring player and sits 11th in league scoring, recording 28 points (16 goals, 12 assists) in 27 games in his first full season of Junior A competition. The five-foot-11, 185-pound forward only played in two games last season due to COVID-19 cutting the season short.
Prior to joining Estevan, Fitzpatrick played for the Moose Jaw Warriors U18 AAA program.
Fitzpatrick is the Bruins’ first school commitment of the 2021-22 season. He and the Bruin swill hit the ice Saturday night against the Yorkton Terriers with a 7:30 p.m. start time at Affinity Place.
