Close X
Monday, September 30, 2024
ADVT 
Sports

Free-Agent NCAA Defenceman Troy Stecher 'Dreamed About Playing For Canuc' As A Kid

The Canadian Press, 05 Apr, 2016 10:58 AM
    VANCOUVER — Troy Stecher wouldn't mind coming home.
     
    The defenceman for the University of North Dakota is getting ready for the NCAA Frozen Four tournament this week in Tampa, Fla., but win or lose will soon have to make a big decision.
     
    A junior with the Fighting Hawks, Stecher is on of U.S. college hockey's most sought-after undrafted free agents and could sign with an NHL team once North Dakota's season ends.
     
    He also has the option to return to school for his senior year, but if Stecher decides to ink a professional contract, the native of nearby Richmond, B.C., says the Vancouver Canucks are on his list of potential suitors.
     
    "My dad used to have season tickets to the Canucks with his old company," Stecher said in a phone interview Monday. "When I was a little kid I dreamed about playing for the Canucks."
     
    Stecher, who will turn 22 on Thursday when North Dakota meets the University of Denver Pioneers in one of two national semifinals, has eight goals and 20 assists in 41 games this season.
     
    At five foot 11 and 191 pounds, he was passed over in three straight NHL drafts from 2012 to 2014, but started to turn heads as a sophomore while helping North Dakota to a second straight Frozen Four appearance.
     
    A smooth-skating defender who can jump into the rush, Stecher is finally getting noticed after being overlooked numerous times in his career.
     
    "You're not drafted (to the NHL) so you're pretty disappointed," he said. "Now you're finally starting to get a lot of interest from different teams, so you feel excited.
     
    "It can be distracting, but at the same time I'm trying to live in the moment. We're in a great place right now."
     
    Stecher was a late-round pick of the WHL's Portland Winterhawks in 2009, but chose instead to play three seasons with the Penticton Vees of the second-tier BCHL to get stronger and hone his game before eventually committing to North Dakota.
     
    In his three years with the Fighting Hawks, Stecher has 13 goals and 39 assists in 117 games and was named an assistant captain for the 2015-16 campaign.
     
    The Canucks — who selected Brock Boeser, a winger with North Dakota, 23rd overall at last June's draft — are a club in rebuild mode that is thin on defence prospects.
     
    But Stecher said that, while tempting, the chance to play in front of family and friends in Vancouver won't impact his decision.
     
    "At the end of the day it's a business and you kind of have to look past that factor of it being your hometown," he said. "It's a place I'm interested in and at the end of the season I'm going to have a tough decision whether I want to sign with one of the teams or if I want to come back (to North Dakota)."

    MORE Sports ARTICLES

    WHL Roundup: Levi Cable scores four goals to lead Ice in rout over Hitmen

    WHL Roundup: Levi Cable scores four goals to lead Ice in rout over Hitmen
    CRANBROOK, B.C. — From the opening faceoff, it was all Levi Cable.

    WHL Roundup: Levi Cable scores four goals to lead Ice in rout over Hitmen

    Vancouver Whitecaps FC acquire Uruguayan striker Octavio Rivero

    Vancouver Whitecaps FC acquire Uruguayan striker Octavio Rivero
    VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced Thursday that the club has acquired Uruguayan striker Octavio Rivero from Chile's Primera Division side O'Higgins FC.

    Vancouver Whitecaps FC acquire Uruguayan striker Octavio Rivero

    Vancouver Wins Back-To-Back Games As Alex Burrows Leads Canucks To 7-1 Rout Of Coyotes

    Vancouver Wins Back-To-Back Games As Alex Burrows Leads Canucks To 7-1 Rout Of Coyotes
    VANCOUVER — Alex Burrows's two goals Monday night won't be making any highlight reels, but they did help send the Canucks into the holiday break on a high note.

    Vancouver Wins Back-To-Back Games As Alex Burrows Leads Canucks To 7-1 Rout Of Coyotes

    Source: B.C. Lions Come To Terms With Jeff Tedford To Take Over As Club's Coach

    Source: B.C. Lions Come To Terms With Jeff Tedford To Take Over As Club's Coach
    A league source says Tedford has agreed to terms to become the new head coach of the B.C. Lions and will be introduced today at a news conference in Vancouver.

    Source: B.C. Lions Come To Terms With Jeff Tedford To Take Over As Club's Coach

    Weak Second Period Swings Momentum As Canucks Extend Losing Streak To Five

    Weak Second Period Swings Momentum As Canucks Extend Losing Streak To Five
    VANCOUVER — A weak second period, marred by a soft goal on Eddie Lack, was all the Vancouver Canucks needed to extend their losing streak to five games.

    Weak Second Period Swings Momentum As Canucks Extend Losing Streak To Five

    Difference Maker: Kari Lehtonen Stellar Early As Stars Down Canucks

    Difference Maker: Kari Lehtonen Stellar Early As Stars Down Canucks
    The Dallas goalie stoned Radim Vrbata just over 30 seconds into the first period, and stared down a number of other great chances in the opening 20 minutes in the Stars' 2-0 victory.

    Difference Maker: Kari Lehtonen Stellar Early As Stars Down Canucks