Dalhousie Tigers men’s hockey head coach Chris Donnelly is pleased to announce the commitment of Derek Gentile for the 2020-21 season.

A native of Sydney, N.S., Gentile is the current captain of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s (QMJHL) Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. He scored 25 goals and recorded 32 assists in 60 games this past season and was nominated for the QMJHL’s Marcel Robert Trophy as the student of the year. A 5’9 forward, Gentile split the 2018-19 season between the Screaming Eagles and the Charlottetown Islanders, accruing 55 points with 15 goals and 40 assists in 63 games. Before the Islanders, he suited up with the Quebec Remparts for two and a half seasons.

“Taking care of my education is something that has always been very important to me and I feel that the Tigers community allows me to have not only success on the ice but in the classroom as well,” says Gentile. “It’s an extremely exciting time for the men’s hockey team at Dalhousie. This program has taken big strides in becoming a title contender and I am looking forward to contributing to that.”

While attending Dalhousie University, Gentile will be studying commerce.

“Our program is adding a very talented player and an extremely active community-minded individual,” says Donnelly. “Derek is coming off a season where he was captain of the Cape Breton Eagles and completed a five-year career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He brings speed and an offensive punch to our team having been a point per game player for the past three years. His broad experience will be a welcome edition to our program.”

The Tigers finished the 2019-20 season with an 8-22 record, just short of a playoff spot.