Marleau began the 2020/2021 season playing for the Saskatoon Quakers in the PJHL. (Submitted/Luc Marleau)

By Mat Barrett

Marleau Commits

‘Never thought it would happen’: Marleau commits to Adrian College

Apr 29, 2021 | 3:00 PM

Tisdale’s Luc Marleau is heading south of the border to play college hockey.

The 19-year-old has committed to Adrian College in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) where he will play for the Division I team in Adrian, Michigan.

Marleau said to commit to Adrian, he sent out somewhat of a resume to the school and got a call from the coach shortly thereafter, and one thing led to another, and Marleau is now a college hockey player. A forward turned defenceman, he said it’s a dream come true.

“Honestly I can’t explain it,” Marleau told northeastNOW. “Because I never thought it would happen, especially as a defencman too. So, it’s pretty amazing to have that happen.”

Nasty weather continues

Snowfall to continue through Tuesday across northeast Sask.

25m ago

RPCN Artist

'Felt like a movie': Chris Chipak making waves in the art world

18h ago

Award Winner

Hawks netminder among SJHL weekly award winners

19h ago

It’s been a bit of a roller coaster career for Marleau. He was orginally drafted into the Western Hockey League (WHL) by the Prince Albert Raiders, and the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) by the La Ronge Ice Wolves in 2016. Marleau said he realized that the WHL path wasn’t going to work, and his focus turned to playing junior, and then possibly college hockey. That opportunity came in the 2019/2020 season when he suited up for the Melfort Mustangs. He was traded to Melfort the season prior.

(Facebook/Broad Leaf Media)

Marleau would play 16 games for the Mustangs to begin the year, scoring two goals and adding three assists for five points. Marleau then decided that he wanted to switch to defence, a position he had played in his years of minor hockey. He ended up doing so for the Carrot River Outback Thunder in the Prairie Junior Hockey League (PJHL), Saskatchewan’s Junior B ranks. He ended up playing a game for the Mustangs as a call-up later in the season.

“Ever since I did that, I found a new love for the game,” he said. “I kind of found my passion that I had years ago for the game. Ever since that, I’ve been so much happier playing the game, I’ve been so much happier as a person.”

It was an extremely succesful switch statistically for Marleau who scored 12 goals and had 11 assists for 23 points in just 22 games that year for Carrot River. He was also named as a PJHL All-Star. Marleau also had six points in seven playoff games as the Thunder made the north semi-final.

Marleau (Right) recorded 23 points in 22 regular season games for the Thunder in 2019/2020. (Submitted/Luc Marleau)

While the ACHA isn’t the NCAA, Marleau said it’s still a great spot to play college hockey. He added he’s always wanted to play at a high level, and after an unexpected path it feels great to finally know he’s playing at the next level.

“It’s definitely not the most common way to do it,” Marleau said. “But, if that’s where you want to go, sometimes that’s just how you have to do it.”

Marleau began the 2020/2021 season with the PJHL’s Saskatoon Quakers where he had three goals and an assist for four points in eight games before the COVID-19 pause.

Prior to his junior career, Marleau spent his final U18 season playing for the Regina Pat Canadians AAA club where he had 27 points in 42 games. The season before, Marleau played part with the Tisdale Trojans, and the North East U18 AA team where he was a large part in their provincial title, but spent most of the season playing U18 A in Tisdale. However, Marleau did spend a full season with his hometown Trojans where he played in 33 games and had 19 points in 2016/2017. He spent his U15 AA seasons with the North East Wolfpack where he 78 points in 55 games over two seasons. He also added 25 points in 13 playoff games for the Wolfpack.

Marleau said he is planning on taking pre-law at Adrian College, followed by heading to law school.

Off the ice, Marleau is a very vocal advocate for mental health and has his own clothing line called “Keep On Fighting” Clothing Company.

–

mat.barrett@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @matbarrett6