Beaver Valley Nitehawks goalie Connor Stojan will play for the Vancouver Island University Mariners in the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League this fall.
Stojan, 20, posted a record of 17-9-3 in 29 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League games with a 2.64 goals against average (ninth best) and a .921 save percentage (also ninth best).
Stojan joins a Mariners program that lost its title defence to the UVic Vikes this season after winning their first championship in league history in 2023-24. The Grande Prairie, Alta., native chose the Mariners because he wanted to experience living on Vancouver Island, study in their Power Engineering program and the fact “they are one of the top teams in that league.”
“I wasn’t able to get a championship in the KIJHL, but hopefully I will be able to land one in the BCIHL,” he said.
During the season the 6-1, 180-pound goalie worked on his skating to be faster, which he believes will be important moving to the BCIHL. He feels that will lead to success for him.
Stojan said his three seasons in the KIJHL helped him a lot, especially because of what he learned and the situations he was put in. The three-time winner of the Neil Murdoch Division Top Goalie award benefited from the Nitehawks’ coaching and feels he’s well prepared for college hockey.
“I’m appreciative of getting the opportunity to play in the league,” said Stojan, who finished with 54 career regular season wins in 86 games played. “The exposure it has given me helped me get to this level.”
“Connor Stojan was a pillar of strength for our club these last three years,” said Nitehawks head coach-general manager Terry Jones. “He brought leadership, calmness and incredible talent throughout his time with our team. We wish him well as he moves on to VIU to pursue his education and hockey.”
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