Concordia Stingers head coach Marc-André Elément’s priority when recruiting for the upcoming season was to look for hockey players that add grit and leadership to the lineup, and newcomer Chase Harwell fits the bill perfectly.
The Southbury, Conn. native, who played five seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Sherbrooke Phoenix and the Victoriaville Tigers, has committed to the Stingers and will join the team at training camp in August.
“The main thing about Chase is his character,” said Elément. “He’s a good person and a good leader. On the ice he does it all. He’s very good offensively and defensively, and he’s tough.”
The five-foot-10, 195-pound centre played 283 QMJHL games picking up 49 goals and 59 assists for 108 points. He also had 348 minutes in penalties. He was an assistant captain in four of his five seasons in the junior ranks.
“He’s a leader,” said Concordia defenceman Carl Neill, who played with Harwell in Sherbrooke. “He’s a passionate guy. He’s going to bring a lot of energy to our team. He’s a physical player with a scoring touch. You want Chase on your team and you really don’t want to play against him.”
Harwell is also a good student who was named a QMJHL Scholastic Player of the Month on three occasions. He already has a few university courses to his credit from Bishop’s and Athabasca universities. One of the reasons he chose to continue his hockey at Concordia was its academics.
“I chose Concordia because of its good business program,” Harwell said. “When I visited and talked with Marc-André (Elément), I felt comfortable. I liked the homey feeling. Also, I know Carl Neil who is a good friend. I really excited to get there.”
Photo credit: Denis Morin
