Amarillo forward Puikkonen makes NCAA D1 commitment

April 28, 2020

The Amarillo Bulls of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) are excited to announce that Top Prospects forward Niclas Puikkonen has committed to play NCAA Division 1 hockey for Canisius College in Atlantic Hockey.

 

Puikkonen, 21, spent the 2019-20 season with the Bulls after playing his previous junior hockey in Sweden and Finland.

 

Puikkonen (6’1/198) finished 3rd in team scoring this season with 44 points (12 goals, 32 assists) in 54 games played. His 32 assists tied for the team lead and his +24 rating was 2nd.

 

“I am very excited for this opportunity to further my education and playing career at Canisius College. I believe that it’s the perfect fit for me to develop as a hockey player and a student.  I am truly thankful for all the help and support from my family and friends, my past coaches and teammates, as well as coach Russo, coach Lewis and all of my Bulls teammates,” said Puikkonen.

 

Puikkonen was selected to and played in the 2020 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament for the South Division team, where he had one point in two games.

 

Puikkonen was also featured in the NAHL’s 50 in 50 series back on March 24th.

 

“We are truly excited for Niclas. He is such a great player and an even better person. Niclas made the commitment to join us this season as an import player in search of an opportunity to be a Student-Athlete at the NCAA Division 1 level,” said Bulls Head Coach Rocky Russo. “We never Had a doubt that he was capable of being an impactful player In the NCAA, and we are excited that Canisius was the program to make that goal come to fruition. We are certain that Coach Large and his staff will be extremely happy with the way Nic is able to make an impact both on the ice and in the classroom.”