Thunder Bay North Stars defenceman Matt Valley has committed to attend school at Northland College in Ashland, Wis., where he’ll also compete for the Lumberjacks hockey program.
Valley, a 21-year-old native of Thunder Bay, led all North Stars’ blueliners in scoring this past season with 31 points in 48 games. That was good enough to place him finish seventh overall in league offensive production among D-men.
Three of his nine goals were game-winners, which topped all defencemen.
The 2010-11 campaign saw no less than seven SIJHL alumni skating for the Lumberjacks who play out of the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association. Among them was former Stars' rearguard Randall Hanlan who was in his freshman year.