Captain David Paluch of the Ontario Hockey League’s Burlington Cougars (photo credits – Christian Bender & Ray MacAloney / OJHL Images) has confirmed his commitment to join the NCAA DIII Trinity College Bantams in Hartford, CT beginning with the 2022-23 season.

Paluch has 19 points in 38 games, which is tied for 11th best amongst defencemen in the 21-team OJHL this season.

Burlington is ranked 15th in this week’s Canadian Junior Hockey League Top 20 – tops in the OJHL. The 31-9-2-1 Cougars have the best winning percentage (.756) in the Ontario league.

Paluch played prep school hockey for Loomis Chaffee and Canterbury, both in Connecticut, and then spent the 2019-20 season with the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. 

Last season, he played with the Johnstown Tomahawks of the North American Hockey League. 

David was drafted from his hometown Toronto Marlboros U16 team by the Saginaw Spirit in the 12th round of the Ontario Hockey League’s 2017 Priority Selection by the Saginaw Spirit. Jack Hughes, now a member of the New Jersey Devils, was a teammate on that Marlies squad.

"In my only year as captain in junior hockey, I want to put myself forward as a positive leader and I will get everyone involved so they become part of the Cougars' 'family' on and off the ice,” Paluch told the OJHL’s Ron Valentine in October. “I always try to have a smile on my face and let my actions do a lot of the talking.”

“As a defenceman, I like to jump up into the attack. I've got that offensive flair. I feel I have good puck-moving skills and want to continue to be an effective two-way player. One of my strong points is my skating ability.

“David is a very mature young man,” said Burlington Head Coach/GM Mark Jooris. “He’s very well-spoken and a great leader. David brings a lot of passion when he hits the ice.” 

Former OJHLer Cole Poliziani is on Trinity’s roster this season.

Congratulations to David and best of luck in the NCAA!

About the OJHL –  “League of Choice”

The Ontario Junior Hockey League is the largest Junior ‘A’ league operating under the auspices of the Canadian Junior Hockey League with 22 member clubs. A proud member of the CJHL and Ontario Hockey Association, the OJHL was originally named the Ontario Provincial Junior ‘A’ Hockey League and it was formed out of the Central Junior ‘B’ Hockey League in 1993-94. With a long and storied history of developing players for the next level, including U SPORTS, the NCAA, CHL, minor pro ranks and the NHL, the OJHL had more than 125 commitments in 2019-20– including more than 45 NCAA Division I scholarships.