Craig commits to Robert Morris
Patience and perseverance have paid off for Michael Craig.
The 19-year-old St. Catharines native committed to Robert Morris University for the 2023/24 season after receiving a scholarship to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 school to play hockey.
“It’s obviously something I’ve been dreaming about for a long time and working towards, so it’s a really good feeling to accomplish that goal,” Craig said from British Columbia where he is in his second season with the Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL. “Over the last couple of years, this has been the goal.”
Craig said the school reached out to him and the deal came together quickly.
“It’s been a long process but with this school particularly it was quick,” he said. “We had a couple of conversations with the coaching staff and getting familiar with the program and it was rather quick but it checked a lot of boxes and I’m extremely thrilled with it.”
Craig didn’t have an opportunity to visit the school, but was comfortable making the commitment nonetheless.
“I’ve been to Pittsburgh a bunch of times growing up being a Penguins fan so I’m familiar with the city,” Craig said. “I’ve had the opportunity to speak to former players and a lot of contacts and everything has been top notch. The recommendations have been through the roof.”
Craig began his junior career with the Thorold Blackhawks as a 16-year-old rookie before moving on to the Buffalo Junior Sabres of the Ontario Junior Hovkey League. He headed west to the British Columbia Hockey League last year where he was able to play in 35 games while the OJHL was shut down due to the COVID pandemic.
“Definitely there were some time tough times,” he said. “It’s been a long couple of years but I never lost faith in myself. I knew what I was capable of and the level my play was at and I knew I was more than capable of earning this.
“I’m really proud and excited.”
Craig admits it took a leap of faith to give the BCHL a shot.
“That was one of the best choices of my career,” he said. “I love it out here. It’s phenomenal. The hockey is top-notch and I wouldn’t be in this position if I didn’t come to play for Nanaimo. The coaches have given me every opportunity to be successful and the BCHL is a premier league and the opportunity is one of a kind.”
He also appreciated the opportunity Thorold head coach Scott Barnes gave him as an untested rookie.
“That was great. I talked a lot with Scott through this process and he’s been a big part of this helping me out and giving me some advice,” Craig said. “I thanked him the other day for believing in me as a 16-year-old and giving me the opportunity to play.
“I’m really thankful for all he did for me.”
Craig’s journey to the NCAA almost took a detour in 2018 when he was selected by the Niagara IceDogs in the ninth round (172nd overall) of the Ontario Hockey League draft.
“I’ve always been a school guy, always wanted to play college hockey,” Craig said. “When the IceDogs came calling that was super enticing and really exciting. Who wouldn’t want to play in their hometown? It was a awesome opportunity but at the end of the day school was a priority for me and getting an education paid for through hockey was important to me. The experience of playing another four years of high-level hockey is really something I’m looking forward to. At the same time, being an IceDog would have been awesome. It was hard to go wrong with those two opportunities.”
Craig, who has 27 points in 39 games this season while quarterbacking the first power-play unit and being an anchor on the top defence pairing, has been on the shelf with a fractured wrist for about a month. He hopes to be ready for the playoffs, which are coming up soon.
Craig plans to return home once the BCHL season is over and then head back in the fall for his final season of junior, with the knowledge his future is secure.
“That’s something that’s been on my mind. You never know who’s watching and you want to be ready to go every night. Now, I can settle down. I know where I’m going to be playing. I can have fun but still hold myself accountable and work hard at the same time.”
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