Stefan Matteau opts for QMJHL instead of UND

Thursday, 01.12.2012 / 11:52 AM

By Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer / Road to 2012 NHL Draft

E-mail

Stefan Matteau, who currently leads the Under-18 National Team Development Program in scoring, has decided to play for the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League next season instead of suiting up for the University of North Dakota.

Matteau's father, a 13-year NHL veteran, was hired as an assistant coach for Blainville-Boisbriand prior to the start of the 2011-12 campaign.

The Quebec team acquired Stefan's rights on Jan. 7 via a trade. While he signed his letter of intent to play for the University of North Dakota in November, it didn't keep him from exploring other options. Particularly when it came to having an opportunity to play for his father.

Matteau, who models his game after Eric and Jordan Staal, used his Twitter account on Tuesday morning to announce his decision.

"My decision is final," he wrote.

Matteau, who turns 18 on Feb. 23, was one of four players from the United States Hockey League's U.S. U18 Team to be ranked by NHL Central Scouting among the top 30 skaters eligible for the 2012 Draft in Pittsburgh in June.

"He's dynamite," NHL Central Scouting's Jack Barzee told NHL.com. "The times I saw him, he was just pulling away from people, bulling his way down the ice and going to the net and scoring some nice goals. He can make good plays out of the corners and play physical. He's shown improvement over last year."

Matteau has 10 goals, including four power-play goals, a team-leading 23 points and 110 penalty minutes for the NTDP this season. In 47 games with the U17 Team last season, he had 7 goals, 18 points and 67 penalty minutes.

Follow Mike Morreale on Twitter at: @mike_morreale

2012 NHL Draft

Stefan Matteau opts for QMJHL instead of UND

By Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer / Road to 2012 NHL Draft

AFFILIATE SITES

PLAYER SITES

RETIRED PLAYERS

COMMUNITY

TERMS

FUN STUFF

ABOUT