The Danbury Jr Hat Tricks are proud to announce that 2000 defenseman Ryan Wojciechowski has committed to continue his academic and hockey careers at Keene State College in the fall of 2021. The Woodstock, CT native helped anchor the defensive corps for the Danbury NA3HL squad for the past two seasons. He will join the Owls‘ American Collegiate Hockey Association Division II program that is a perennial contender in the Northeast Collegiate Hockey Association.
Wojciechowski was a key defender who contributed significantly to the team’s successes since his arrival in Danbury during the fall of 2019. He was a reliable, hard-nosed defenseman who made contributions at even strength and on both specialty teams during his time in Orange and Black. Over the course of two NA3HL seasons in Danbury Wojciechowski appeared in 63 games and tallied six goals while dishing out eight helpers to record fourteen points. His first goal in a Danbury uniform was a game-winner in a 6-0 win over the Maine Wild on October 20, 2019. He also scored a huge goal on January 31, 2020 when he tallied Danbury’s first goal in a 3-2 win over the Elmira Jr Soaring Eagles. The shorthanded marker helped jumpstart his team to the win that day which marked the beginning of a 12-1 run to close the 2019-20 season.
During the 2020-21 season Wojciechowski served as an alternate captain for the Jr Hat Tricks and continued his strong two-way play. He was honored by the NA3HL as the Bauer East Division’s Second Star on October 27 after netting a power plat goal to open the scoring before assisting on a shorthanded goal by teammate Kolby Donovan that proved to be the game-winner. Wojciechowski also represented Danbury at the NA3HL East Division Top Prospects Showcase in March.
Wojciechowski was a member of the 2017 Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Division III State Championship team at Woodstock Academy before embarking on his junior hockey career. He is the second Connecticut native to play for Danbury’s NA3HL team to make a college commitment.
Wojciechowski said, “My time in Danbury was great. I got tons of opportunities to grow my game both on and off the ice. Danbury was the perfect place for me to prepare to not only go to college, but have the skills to succeed when I arrive at Keene State, I chose Keene State because it felt like the perfect fit after I visited campus and I will hopefully be able to contribute to the hockey program right away.”
“I am extremely excited about Ryan committing to Keene State and the Owls’ hockey program! Ryan was a foundational piece during his time in Danbury. His skills as a defender, knack for strong specialty teams play, unwavering commitment to his teammates and a desire to compete that few could match were huge additions to our lineup. Personally, I am extremely proud of Ryan. I have known him and his family for a long time; they are fantastic people and I am beyond thrilled for them that Ryan has this opportunity to continue his academic and athletic careers at a school that fits him so well,” offered former head coach Kevin Cunningham.
Wojciechowski is the seventh member of the 2020-21 Jr Hat Tricks to make a college commitment. He is the fifth two-year NA3HL player to make a college commitment, joining teammates Brandon Cope (Nichols College), Connor Lefkof, Cole Madzey and Dylan Webber (all to New England College). Overall, Danbury’s NA3HL team has seen nine college commitments in the team’s first two seasons of play.
