New RPI commit Payton Robinson of the Burlington Cougars battles for the puck with Jack Ricketts of the Oakville Blades this season. (Spencer Smye / OJHL Images)

Payton Robinson of the Burlington Cougars has committed to play for the NCAA Division 1 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Engineers in Troy, NY beginning with the 2022-23 season.

The 16-year-old from Burlington joined the Cougars this season from the Don Mills Flyers minor midgets of the GTHL. The 6-foot-3 defenceman was a fifth-round pick of the Sudbury Wolves in this year’s Ontario Hockey League draft.

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

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