After a productive season that saw him become one of the more popular players on the Cowichan Valley Capitals last season, Mason Malkowich has secured a spot with the Brock University Badgers in Canadian Interuniversity Sport, beginning this fall.
"I'm excited for the opportunity to go to a school like Brock University and I'm excited to go down there and pursue my education and play hockey at a high level," Malkowich said. "It was my goal from day one in junior hockey to obtain something like this that included me playing hockey and I'm glad it's at a school like Brock University."
Malkowich battled injuries last season, but was effective in the 40 games he did play, scoring 14 goals and assisting on 19 more for 33 points. He split the first three years of his junior career with the New England Jr. Huskies of the Eastern Junior Hockey League and the Drayton Valley Thunder of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
Caps head coach Bob Beatty praised Malkowich.
"Brock University is getting a fierce competitor in Mason," the coach said. "Mason can put pucks in the net and will win battles in tough areas. His character and compete level are a plus for any dressing room regardless of his role."
A native of New Westminster, Malkowich plans to study business administration at Brock.
He is the fifth player from last season's team to commit to play post-secondary hockey this fall, joining Myles Powell (Rochester Institute of Technology), Jarrett Brown (Alaska Anchorage), Matthew Berry-Lamontagna (Simon Fraser), and Adam Moody (Utica College).