Wilderness forward Exell makes NCAA Division I commitment

June 24, 2015

The Minnesota Wilderness of the NAHL are pleased to announce that forward Billy Exell has committed to play NCAA Division I hockey at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Minnesota-Duluth are members of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC).

 

Exell, 19, just completed his second season playing in the NAHL for the Robertson Cup Champion Wilderness. In 55 regular season games this past season, Exell (5’10/175) recorded a career-high 14 goals and 34 points. He also played very well in the cup run for the Wilderness, scoring eight points in 12 playoff games.

 

In February, the native of Thunder Bay, Ontario, was selected to a competed in the 2015 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament for the Midwest Division team, where he recorded two goals in two games.

 

“It has always been a dream and a goal of mine to play for the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, so getting this opportunity is a great honor for me,” said Exell. “During my time with the Wilderness and in the NAHL, I feel I have grown a lot as a player and I want to thank coach Millen, my billet family and all my teammates for helping to make my junior career a great experience. Winning the Robertson Cup will be a memory I will cherish forever.”

 

In two seasons with the Wilderness in the NAHL, Exell played in 111 career regular season games and recorded 63 career points.

 

“We are excited for Billy to get the opportunity to play for a great program like the University of Minnesota-Duluth,” said Wilderness head coach Corey Millen. “Billy has been a huge part of the Wilderness family from the beginning through our championship run. He is very deserving and we are happy we will get to continue to watch him over the next four years right down the road.”

 

Exell is the 13th player from this year’s Wilderness team to make an NCAA commitment.