Oshawa, Ont. – The Ontario Tech Ridgebacks men's hockey program announced the recruitment of IBAM-MJHL Scholarship recipient, Tyson McConnell (Pilot Mound, Man.).

"Tyson is a young man with great character and a player who will do whatever the team needs on a nightly basis," said Ridgebacks head coach Curtis Hodgins. "He is an accomplished penalty killer and shot blocker, and really came into his own this past season on the offensive side of the puck. He was fortunate to play in a very good junior hockey program in Steinbach and rounded nicely into a complete player in his four years there."

McConnell has spent his four seasons in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League playing for the Steinbach Pistons, accumulating 129 points (58 G, 71 A) over 228 games played. Additionally, the Pistons appeared in the playoffs all four years which McConnell was with the team, where he amassed 15 points (7 G, 8 A) through 48 postseason games. McConnell displayed his strong development this past season, where he reached a single season career-high 20 goals and was the Pistons second leading scorer with 47 points over 60 games.

With his team first mentality McConnell was given the captaincy of the Pistons for the 2018-19 campaign. Through strong two-way play and great leadership abilities both on and off the ice, McConnell was awarded the Insurance Brokers Association of Manitoba (IBAM-MJHL) Scholarship.

"Tyson has been a huge part of our program and driving our culture," said Steinbach Pistons head coach and general manager Paul Dyck. "He has been totally invested in developing his game since we selected him in the 2013 MJHL Draft, and has exhibited a team-first, whatever it takes attitude since he arrived in our lineup four years ago. He is without question the most fearless shot blocker we have seen here, and his work ethic set a great example for the younger players in our organization. Most players don't play all 60 games in an MJHL season, so it speaks to his toughness as he does not play a soft game. I am confident he will make an impact both on and off the ice as he makes the transition to university hockey."

McConnell joins Sean Ross as the second member of the 2019-20 recruitment class for the Ridgebacks men's hockey program.  

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