Maine defenseman Ouellette makes NCAA commitment

The Maine Nordiques of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) are pleased to announce that defenseman Cole Ouellette has committed to play NCAA Division III hockey for Fitchburg State University.

Ouellette, 21, earned his way up to the NAHL this past season through the Ladder of Development in the NA3HL. The 5’11/170 lbs. native of Lewiston, Maine, shined for the NAHL’s Nordiques in 2019-20, as he led all defensemen in scoring this past season with 30 points (5 goals, 25 assists) in 48 games played.

Ouellette had played the previous two seasons for the L/A Nordiques in the NA3HL, where he was a standout defenseman. During the 2018-19 season, he was named to the All-NA3HL 1st Team and was named the Coastal Division MVP and Defenseman of the Year.

Ouellette also played in the 2019 NA3HL Top Prospects Tournament. During his two seasons in the NA3HL with the L/A Nordiques, Ouellette appeared in 89 career games and had an astounding 146 points. That included being named NA3HL Rookie of the Year during the 2017-18 season where he was also named to the All-NA3HL 1st Team.

“Cole is a highly skilled, intelligent and savvy defensemen who took a lot of pride in wearing the Maine Nordique sweater and playing in the North American Hockey League. As a young man who grew up in the community and played at the Colisée throughout his childhood, won a state championship in the building at the high school level, played two outstanding years for the L/A Nordiques of the NA3HL, and then finished his last season of eligibility in the NAHL, I know advancing and excelling to this level in his home town was something he took a lot of pride in,” said Maine head coach Nolan Howe.

“I think it was tremendous for Cole, the community and our team to have someone with his background representing us day in and day out, and he certainly laid a great path of advancement for future generations to follow in his footsteps. While he was a force on the power play and put up great offensive numbers, it was his development defensively and his growth as a person I am most proud of him for,” concluded Howe.

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