Brodie McDougall Commits to Bowling Green

Brodie McDougall, a 6’4″ winger out of Newmarket, Ontario playing in the OJHL as a 17 year old, has committed to Bowling Green State University. Our scouts have described Brodie as a power forward with a big frame that allows him to be physical in the corners and protect the puck. 

NCAA hockey was not Brodie’s original path, he was drafted to the Sudbury Wolves in the OHL in the 11th round in 2017. “The draft was kinda disappointing for me, I was hoping to go a little higher. I was told I was gonna go higher.” This was not the first time hockey had disappointed Brodie, “My route to where I am now hasn’t been easy, I played AA for 5 years before I even played AAA. I went and played AAA for 1 year and then I got cut. I was the last cut 3 years in a row.”

Having faced adversity before, he quickly switched gears, “A soon as the draft was over I changed my [path] from OHL to NCAA. And ever since then I’ve been focusing on trying do whatever I can to get a scholarship. I just thought NCAA was a better route for me, education is important, when hockey ends you have to have a back up plan. Also, I’m a bigger body, so a couple more years of development would help me in the long run. I think when you go to the OHL your career ends when you’re like 20, and when you go NCAA you’re starting when you’re 20; you’re in your prime. I think it’s easier to go from NCAA to pro.”

Brodie’s NCAA recruiting process started at the OJHL Showcase, “I had a good showcase. I think I had 5 points in 2 games and then after the games there would be a whole bunch of schools [wanting to] talk to me and Bowling Green was one that were interested. . .  I talked to about 10 school [at the showcase]. [I] had a couple official visits before but Bowling Green was my last visit. I pretty much took a full week off of school and hockey and was going to the different campuses and meeting with coaches. I weighed all the options with my family made a decision.”

Brodie talks about why he knew Bowling Green was the place for him, “As soon as I saw the school, it just felt right. I’m from a small town, I think it has a small town feel and the campus wasn’t too big or too small. And then the hockey; the program they have there. . . makes players into pros. The team has been pretty good for the last couple years and the facilities at the rink were really nice.”

The Ontario native, talks about his future move to the States, “I think it will be pretty interesting to how different it is in America. I think that is another reason why I picked Bowling Green, it has a bit of a Canadian feel. The majority of the coaches are Canadian. They seemed like really great people and try to get the best out of their players.”

Brodie still has a full season before he heads to Bowling Green, he talks about his options, “I’d love to play in Cobourg. I love Cobourg they have been great for me and my development and have great coaching. . . especially coach Dupont. He definitely made me the player I am today. . . I think if I were to come back I would be one of the go to guys, be one of the leaders on the team being my third year in the league. I was also drafted to the USHL, Fargo Force, so that could be an option as well. It’s going to come down to what’s best for me and where I am going to be happiest.”   

Brodie has 17 points in 23 games this season with the Cobourg Cougars and his team ranks first in the East Divsion. He will suit up this upcoming weekend at the Eastern Canada Cup for Team OJHL Coffey in Trenton, ON.

 

Photo credit: Hickling Images