Marcus Vela: UNH Career Highlights

Marcus Vela
UNH Senior Captain

This article is the first in a series featuring the seniors on the 2018-19 UNH men's hockey team. Marcus Vela, Captain of the Wildcats' squad, verbally committed to the University of New Hampshire in November, 2013 at Age 16 years, 6 months. He was in his rookie season with the Langley Rivermen in the British Columbia Hockey League.

In an interview included in "Meet Marcus Vela: UNH's Newest Recruit", he explained his reasons for choosing to play hockey and pursue his education at UNH:

"Some of the main reasons I decided on UNH were, that they play in the best division which is Hockey East, they have a very good hockey program that I felt would suit me best, and they are also a good school academically which is also important to me. I was also very comfortable and confident in deciding to commit to UNH. It felt right!"

The 16-year-old Vela provided this description of his hockey strengths and areas he was working to improve:

"Some of my strengths as a player are that I am a big body and can take pucks to the net and work pucks out from the dirty areas. I also feel that I am a good skater who can move well and I am a hard worker. Some of the areas I am working on to improve are consistency and baring down on all of my chances. This season I have been working hard to play every game to my fullest and not take one shift off because you never know when it could be your last. "

Over his two seasons with the Langley Rivermen, Vela played in 119 games and scored 32 goals and 42 assists.

A self-described power forward, Marcus played right wing and center during his freshman and sophomore seasons at UNH. In his final two seasons, he was one of Hockey East's toughest, two-way centermen. As the video highlights from his UNH career clearly show, Marcus's strengths as a 16-year-old - big body, good skater, works in dirty areas, takes pucks to net, and works hard - translated very well at the NCAA level. As a draftee of the San Jose Sharks, it will be fun to watch Vela's professional career when the UNH season is over.

Marcus Vela UNH Jersey #17 Forward, 6'2", 201 lbs. Shoots Right Hometown: Burnaby, British Columbia DOB: 3-3-1997 Just turned 22 2015 NHL Draft: 7th Round, 190th Overall by San Jose Sharks

UNH Career Statistics

Player	Season	Games	Goals	Assists	Points	GWGoals	PIM
Marcus Vela  (F)	2015-16	34	5	9	14	0	24
	Hockey East Playoffs	3	2	0	2	1	0
	2016-17	26	2	5	7	1	14
	Hockey East Playoffs	3	2	0	2	0	2
	2017-18	31	7	6	13	0	36
	Hockey East Playoffs	2	0	2	2	0	2
	2018-19	34	6	11	17	0	34
	Hockey East Playoffs	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Totals	133	24	33	57	3	112

HIGHLIGHTS

First NCAA Goal, 11-28-2015, Freshman Year



Game-Winning Goal, 2016 Hockey East Playoffs, 3-3-16



Game-Winning Goal, Sophomore Season, 1-12-2017



2 Goals, 2017 Hockey East Playoffs, March, 2017



Senior Year Highlights, 2018-19