Gracel Commits to UMass

Press Release

The Fort McMurray Oil Barons are extremely pleased to announce that 19 year old Branden Gracel (Calgary, AB), has accepted a scholarship to join the University of Massachusetts Minutemen (Hockey East) for the upcoming 2010-2011 NCAA hockey season.

Branden just completed a remarkable season finishing 4th in league scoring accumulating 94 points on 38 goals and 56 assists in 58 games. He was a unanimous selection to the 2009-2010 North Division All-Star Team for this year’s All-Star Game and was a finalist for the Alberta Old Time Hockey Players Trophy which symbolizes the League MVP. Also, Branden was selected as a member of the 2009-2010 North Division All-League Team.

To complete the year, Branden was a key component to Fort McMurray’s long playoff run where he was awarded the Source for Sports Playoff MVP after collecting 27 points.

The Fort McMurray Oil Barons’ organization would like to congratulate Branden and his family and wish him all the best in his future athletic and academic endeavors.


(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)