Tristan De Jong commits to the University of Guelph

Twenty-year-old Wildcats defenseman, Tristan De Jong announced today he has committed to the University of Guelph, following his final year in the QMJHL.

During his time here in Moncton he has been taking university courses online to put towards an Engineering Degree.

“I have completed a variety of courses in engineering, mathematics, science and business,” said De Jong. “With that being said, I still have to declare my program of study for the University of Guelph. I do have an interest in a couple of their programs, so that is something I will have to think about. I know I will have great support in my academic journey, and they gave me a clear understanding of my options in each program and how I can apply it to a future career, while continuing to pursue hockey.”

Born in Ontario, Tristan calls Breslau home, a small town just outside of Kitchener. He was familiar with the East Coast before joining the Wildcats as his mother is from Newfoundland. However, he had not been to New Brunswick until the summer of 2018 when he was invited to training camp as a free agent.

To date Tristan has played in 136 regular season games, amassing 42 points for the Cats. He has been a leader on and off the ice and is a reliable two-way defenseman. This season he wears the “A” and has taken even more of a leadership role helping to guide and develop our younger team.

When asked what attracted him to Guelph, Tristan had this to say: “From the early stages of the recruitment process, the first thing I noticed was the culture surrounding the university as a whole. I had a chance to reconnect with some old friends who attend Guelph, and they spoke highly of the nurturing environment.  Both the staff and players made my recruitment experience comfortable and gave me confidence to choose Guelph!”

“The school seems to rally around their sports teams, creating a very exciting atmosphere to play in,” said De Jong. “I will be close to home, as well as all my family. The hockey team is built on character, they are players who have had a similar junior experience as myself, and share the same goal toward professional development both on and off the ice.”

As Tristan looks towards the final half of his time in junior, we are most certainly glad that he made Moncton his second home over the past two seasons and wish him all the best next year in Guelph!