The number of collegiate commits for the Mustangs this season continues to grow rapidly and now totals five players for Coach Laime.
Second-year forward Aidan McAleer has officially committed to Worcester State University in Massachusets. The Lancers compete in the MASCAC (Massachusets State Collegiate Athletic Conference) in NCAA Division III.
McAleer is a 5'11" and 180lbs forward from Lansing, MI. He is a hardworking and aggressive forward that battles in the dirty areas and can show off the mitts with an excellent finish to his shot.
"Worcester State reached out to me during the Las Vegas Showcase. They said they liked my gritty, hard-nosed style of play and thought the development and fit was right for me within their program."
For McAleer, his work ethic derives from the structure of hockey he has been most accustomed to beginning with Catholic school and forthwith the Mustangs: disciplined. He will forgo another year of junior hockey eligibility in favor of collegiate hockey; however, it was not always the plan.
"I had no plans to commit early being a 2000 birth year and having another season of eligibility left. My family and I made the decision together to begin my collegiate career early and attend a university like Worcester seemed right for me. There are times things are bigger than hockey and with the opportunity given, I had to take it."
After appearing in 49 regular-season games and scoring 13 goals and nine assists last season, McAleer has put together another excellent season for himself with the Mustangs. In 44 games this season, he now has 11 goals and 13 assists. Perhaps not the type of stats that jump off the page, but if anyone tuned in for a game, they would see exactly why his play helps make the engine go in Ogden. Heralded by his teammates, McAleer's style opens up the game for others and continuously wears down opponents.
"Ogden is a special place. You learn how to fight through adversity and get what you want. I have never had immediate gratification here and had to take it every day like a tryout. Take everything seriously from my playing time, development in practice, to making an impact on the team—the hardworking and gritty effort to get what you want out of playing in this program. I fully embraced everything and it is instilled in me to operate this way. Coach Laime played a massive part in bringing the best out of me. His constant pushing me to be a better hockey player as well as keeping the team competitive. Every practice was a tryout with nothing ever guaranteed."
Whether it was Coach Laime, Ron Gay, or previous coaches in earlier years, the impressions and impact will last forever for McAleer. Hard work pays off and McAleer is a testament to that.
"I would love to go out with a ring and a Thorne cup with the boys that we have in the room. It would be an incredibly special and significant memory and one that would outweigh all of the other many special moments that this year has already brought."
Watch McAleer and the rest of the Mustangs close out the regular season this weekend in Ogden as they prepare to host rivals the Utah Outliers on Friday and Saturday.
Next Series
Mar. 6th-7th | Vs. Utah Outliers
The Ice Sheet | Ogden, UT
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