Maple Leafs prospect commits to play in NCAA

"Winger Sam McCue is currently playing for the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs and is in his final year of junior eligibility. Instead of turning pro and trying his luck at making the Toronto Marlies roster, or being down in the ECHL and riding even more buses, the 20-year-old has decided to go the college route. Announced by the player himself, he has committed to Bowling Green University and will start there next season."

"McCue was drafted by the Maple Leafs in the seventh round of the 2024 NHL Draft at 216th overall. Now with his fourth OHL team, he has become somewhat of a journeyman around the junior league, scoring roughly a point per game through the last couple of seasons with the Owen Sound Attack and Flint Firebirds. He joined the Bulldogs as an overager and clearly has eyes set on graduating junior hockey with some silverware."

"Bowling Green is not the most prestigious program in the college hockey landscape -- on this year's roster there is just one NHL prospect and it's a 21-year-old seventh-round pick of the Winnipeg Jets -- so McCue could potentially really be given a big role on a mediocre team and face some of the best young players in the country."

Sam McCue is a 20-year-old winger for the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs in his final year of junior eligibility and has committed to Bowling Green University next season. He was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the seventh round (216th overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft and has played for four OHL teams, posting roughly a point per game over recent seasons. McCue joined Brantford as an overager and aims to finish junior hockey with silverware while Brantford pursues the Memorial Cup. The CHL-NCAA pathway allows him to delay turning professional and continue development in NCAA play, where Bowling Green could offer a prominent role against strong young competition.

Read at Editor In Leaf