HOOKSETT, NH -- Matt Quercia, a forward for the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs, has committed to Boston University for the Fall of 2018. The 6'2" native of Massachusetts is a true product of the Monarchs' organization.

"I’m thrilled for Matt and his family, Boston University has been this kid's dream school since he was young," said Monarchs head coach and general manager Ryan Frew. "Anytime you can help a kid realize his dreams, it means a great deal to you as a coach. Q is a long time product of our system, so this placement is particularly special because so many people have been involved in his development here. He played youth, midgets and most recently for our Premier team in the EHL. Matt has been loyal to our program and has thrived in this environment. He has grown up here, and been polished right here, as a Monarch."

After winning it all with his 16U EJEPL team, the 16-year-old forward received the call up to the Premier squad. Upon arrival, Quercia jumped right into the mix tallying five points in six regular season games, and then seven points during the Premier playoff run to the title. Frew knows that it took a whole team effort, but Quercia was a huge factor.

"Quercia is a dynamic player, who plays a heavy game and can really shoot it. The kid is clutch and scored some big goals. He's fun to watch, and he never gets intimidated. He never missed a step when he got called up to the big team. We allowed to him to fill some of the holes in his game in our midget developmental system and when we felt he was ready, he got his shot and performed great on the biggest stage he had played on. He played a lot of hockey for our Premier team down the stretch and was a big part of our success, helping his teammates win the Championship. This is a hard working kid who just wants to get better every day. BU is getting a great person, hockey aside. We are very proud of Q's latest accomplishment and look forward to watching him continue to develop. It’s a great story."

Quercia will now take the next two seasons to continue to develop, before heading to Agganis Arena, home of the Terriers. Freddy Meyer is the head coach for the East Coast Wizards as well as a BU alum, and he spoke on what the experience was like for him.

"It’s an unbelievable experience being a student-athlete at Boston University.  The history, culture, traditions and alumni help make the journey unforgettable.  You get the opportunity to receive an exceptional education and arguably play in the most competitive college hockey conference, the Hockey East."

Quercia is part of an impressive list of players who made their commitments to Hockey East schools while playing in the EHL.

• Corson Green - University of New Hampshire
• Dave Melaragni - Northeastern University
• Cayden Primeau - Northeastern University
• Christian Thomas - Vermont University
• Eduards Tralmaks - University of Maine

As the league continues to grow, so will the number of EHL alums playing in one of the best conferences in college hockey.

"I have enjoyed watching these young kids come up through the program and when they are ready get their USHL opportunities, and of course, their college commitments," added Frew. "I mean ultimately, this is why you coach at this level. It’s the most rewarding part of the job."

Read more New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs news on the team's official website, and check out the full list of the college commitments so far this season.