Panthers add former St. Thomas winger J.C. Campagna

From the Guardian's Jason Malloy

The UPEI Panthers have landed a recruit with two years of experience scoring goals in the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) men's hockey conference.

J.C. Campagna will join the Panthers in September after St. Thomas University (STU) folded its men's hockey program in April.

"We feel we're getting an established player that can make an immediate impact," UPEI head coach Forbes MacPherson said.

Campagna said UPEI was his first choice following STU's decision to discontinue the Tommies hockey team. The winger said his decision was a "no-brainer" after talking with MacPherson, despite other university teams interested in his services.

"There was an opportunity for me to come in there and help them win," he said. "I think they have tremendous upside."

He called the Panthers a well-coached team with a really good foundation.

"Every time we played against them they were difficult to play against, very structured."

The Panthers were interested in Campagna two years ago before he committed to St. Thomas.

"He showed, and he proved to me, that he has significant offensive abilities in this league and he brings a lot to the table," MacPherson said. "There were many nights when we were playing St. Thomas that he had us basically on the edge of our seats and we knew we were leaving games lucky to get wins."

Campagna was second in points with the Tommies last season with 13 and tied for the lead with seven goals. He scored 14 times in his rookie season.

"I'm offensive minded. I love to shoot the puck. Scoring is my favourite part of the game," he said. "I hope that I'm the kind of player that people are excited to watch, but also a player my coach can count on, up by a goal with a minute left, to go out and be on a defensive faceoff."

The Tommies won four regular season games during the past two seasons, and Campagna is looking forward to joining the established UPEI squad.

The Panthers went 11-14-3 last season and finished sixth in the eight-team conference. They knocked off heavily favoured Acadia in the first round before losing to the eventual national champion UNB Varsity Reds in Round 2.

UPEI was sixth in conference scoring with 78 goals in 28 regular season games.

"We've struggled to score goals consistently the last couple of years," MacPherson said. "This guy has proven he can score against the big teams in this league."

Forward Cole MacMillan, defenceman Spencer Metcalf and goalie Mavric Parks have graduated from the Panthers. MacPherson said a couple more players might not return.

Campagna is the first recruit the team has announced, but the team is close to a few more.

Campagna, a Dublin, Ohio, native, has played with and against goalie Matt Mahalak growing up and knows some of the other guys. Some of the Panthers have reached out to him since he committed to UPEI.

The psychology major is working with the university staff to line up his courses for the fall. He is thankful for all their assistance as he goes through the transfer process for the first time.

"It has been so smooth," he said. "They've been willing to do anything they can in their power to help this transition."

Getting to know J.C. Campagna

Who – A university hockey player transferring from St. Thomas to UPEI for the 2016-17 season.

Hometown – Dublin, Ohio.

Size, position – Six-foot-four, 210-pound winger.

AUS statistics:

                      GP       G        A        Pts.

2014-15         28       14       10       24

2015-16         26       7          6        13

Did you know? Campagna led the conference in shots with 125 last season and was second to Panther Chris Desousa in 2014-15 with 128.