Our Alumni | Derek Gentile keeps making strides at the University level
Over the span of five seasons in the QMJHL, from 2015-2020, Derek Gentile played in over 300 games of major junior hockey with the Quebec Remparts, Charlottetown Islanders and Cape Breton Eagles.
Today, he’s using that experience to forge a new hockey path with Dalhousie University, in his home province of Nova Scotia.
After being forced to wait a year to make his debut with the Tigers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 22-year-old has hit the ground running with his new team and has certainly delivered on the offensive front.
Through 18 games this season, he leads the Atlantic University Sport Conference and sits second overall in U Sports scoring with 27 points. Gentile’s best offensive output in the QMJHL came in 2017-18, when he put up 61 points in 67 games with the Remparts and Islanders.
“He has a tremendous passion for excelling and having team success,” said Dalhousie Head Coach Chris Donnelly. “There’s been a lot of skilled players over the years who may not have that same drive that Derek does to get better everyday and each time he’s on the ice. He’s doing just that.”
A nominee for the QMJHL Scholastic Player of the Year award in 2020, Gentile has always been focused on going to school after completing his junior career. That’s why he made an early decision in January of last year to commit to Dalhousie and the university’s commerce program, which made the transition that much easier.
Not only is Gentile actively involved with the team on the ice, but off of it as well.
“He’s a very talented hockey player with lots of intangible leadership qualities so he was a welcome addition to the team,” mentioned Donnelly. “He’s not shy about sharing ideas and he always has great takes on what we can do to improve our program.”
So, not only does Gentile strive to self-improve, but he’s also community oriented and wants to help make everyone around him better too. That is an enviable quality which will serve him well going forward when he pursues future opportunities, both in hockey and in life.
Photo : Trevor MacMillan/Dalhousie Tigers
