BEDFORD, MA -- Kevin Stoya, a defenseman for the East Coast Wizards, has committed to Salem State for the Fall of 2018. The '97 defenseman joined the Wizards in early December, and notched eight assists in 28 total games.

"Kevin is a physical force out on the ice," said Wizards head coach and general manager Freddy Meyer. "Of course being 6'4, he's hard to miss when he's out there, and his impact can be felt on each and every one of his shifts. Kory and I were very happy with the way Kevin bought in to our system on the very first day he arrived. His overall shooting and passing abilities improved tremendously during his time with us, and we only wish we had been able to bring him in earlier in the year."

As Meyer mentioned, Stoya is a big-body out on the blue line, at 6'4 and 220 pounds. The native of Lake George, NY truly uses his size to advantage, but also knows there's still more that he can develop and improve. All in all, Stoya is very happy that he chose to come to the Wizards in the middle of his final season of junior hockey. He took some time to reflect and give his thanks.

"I'd like to thank the Wizards for giving me a great environment to continue developing on and off the ice," said Stoya. "Being surrounded by Freddy, Kory, and a great group of guys, made it an awesome place to work hard everyday and work toward the goal of college hockey. I'd like to thank my family most importantly for their support over the three years of junior hockey, and all the programs and coaches that helped me develop. I'm looking forward to joining a strong team at Salem State this Fall."

Learn more about the East Coast Wizards on the team's official website, and check out the full list of 2018 NCAA Commitments.