Michael Palandra of the Brantford 99ers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (photo credit – Tim Bates/OJHL Images) has confirmed his commitment to join the NCAA Division I RIT Tigers in Rochester, NY beginning with the 2020-21 season.

The 18-year-old – born on New Year’s Day 2001 – defenceman from Markham was traded to Brantford from the Aurora Tigers during the offseason.

In his rookie season in the OJHL last year, he scored four goals and added 21 points in 47 games with Aurora.

Palandra played his bantam, minor midget and midget seasons with the AAA Toronto Nationals of the GTHL. He was a seventh-round selection of the Flint Firebirds in the 2017 Ontario Hockey League draft.

RIT has a solid history of recruiting OJHL players. Five OJHL grads were listed on the Tigers’ 2018-19 roster.

Chris Tanev, the veteran defencemen with the Vancouver Canucks, played at RIT following three seasons in the OJHL at Durham (now Whitby), Stouffville and Markham.

Congratulations to Michael and best of luck in the OJHL and NCAA!

The OJHL, the largest Jr. A hockey league in Canada, has had more than 125 NCAA, U Sports, OHL and professional commitments in 2018-19 – including 65 NCAA Division I scholarships.