Danbury goalie Fernandes makes NCAA commitment | North American Tier III Hockey League | NA3HL
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Danbury goalie Fernandes makes NCAA commitment

July 6, 2021

The Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks of the NA3HL are extremely proud to announce that goaltender Alex Fernandes has committed to play NCAA Division II hockey for Post University in the fall of 2021.

Fernandes, 20, was an important part of Danbury’s NA3HL goaltending corps the past two seasons. A Bethel, CT native, Fernandes will not have travel far to Post’s Waterbury campus. He will join an Eagles hockey program that competes in the Northeast-10 Conference under the guidance of veteran bench boss, Peter Whitney.

Fernandes was a central figure in many of his team’s successes since his arrival in Danbury in the fall of 2019. During his two seasons with the team he appeared in 19 contests recording a 8-10 record with a 4.18 goals against average and .873 save percentage. Fernandes won his junior hockey debut during the 2019-20 season when he made 45 saves, including a penalty shot stop, in a 5-2 victory against the Elmira Jr Soaring Eagles on September 21. A few weeks later, on October 23, he earned an Honorable Mention nod from the NA3HL in its Bauer Stars of the Week program after making 16 saves to seal the first shutout in Danbury’s NA3HL history as the Colonials topped the Main Wild 6-0 on October 20. Fernandes closed the 2019-20 season with four straight victories in net for Danbury, recording a 1.72 goals against average and a .939 save percentage during those games.

During the 2020-21 season Fernandes earned two key victories during the Jr Hat Tricks stretch run that enabled the team to clinch a second consecutive second place finish in their division. He made 19 saves on February 26 as Danbury topped the Long Beach Sharks 5-2 and then earned a key victory by stopping 29 Bay State Bobcat shots in a 3-1 win on March 5. 

“My time in Danbury was unforgettable. Having the opportunity to work with amazing coaches like Coach Cunningham and Coach Allen is something that I will cherish for the rest of my life. The lessons and skills they taught me span much farther than just on the ice and they have prepared me to be the best that I can be at Post and beyond. The friendships and memories that I have made theses last two years are truly unforgettable. I am extremely thankful and proud to have been a part of two great teams and to have been able to play with so many awesome teammates and friends. I am also proud to have been able to play so close to my hometown and represent the greater Danbury community the past two years. My decision to go to Post was an easy one. Coach Whitney has given me a fantastic opportunity and I truly believe that the school and community will allow me to strive for, and ultimately surpass, my goals,” said Fernandes.

Former head coach Kevin Cunningham offered, “I am so excited for Alex that he has earned this opportunity to continue his academic and athletic careers at Post University. He has grown a great deal during the time that I have had the pleasure of coaching him. In addition to being a talented goaltender, Alex is an exceptionally committed and loyal teammate who will be a tremendous addition to the Post hockey program. I am certain that his coaches and teammates will love Alex that same way that all of us here in Danbury do. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks and congratulations to Alex and his family and I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for him.”

Fernandes is the first Danbury player to commit to Post as well as the eighth from the 2020-21 NA3HL squad to make a college commitment, including five who have committed to NCAA Division II/III programs. He joins Brandon Cope who will attend Nichols College and Connor Lefkof, Cole Madzey and Dylan Webber, who will all enroll at New England College as teammates who will begin their college hockey careers this fall.

Click here for an NA3HL college commitment list

 
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