Battlefords Sharks 16-year-old forward, Danika Dureau has committed to Merrimack College (NCAA Divison I) for the 2026 season. (Battlefords AAA Sharks/ Facebook)

By Austin Mattes

Battlefords AAA Sharks

Dureau commits to Merrimack College in NCAA DI

Nov 6, 2024 | 5:20 PM

The Battlefords AAA Sharks announced this week that forward Danika Dureau has committed to Merrimack College in NCAA Division I for the 2026 season.

“I’m so excited, I’m so grateful and honored that they reached out to me. When I talked to the coaches, they were everything that I was looking for in a coach especially because I want to play for a really good coach and they see me being a top player. After visiting campus, me and the girls and just hanging out with the team, I felt so connected and comfortable with all the girls. This process is very exciting for me, and once I visited, I knew that was my right decision. It was just great,” said Dureau about the commitment.

This season with the Sharks, the 16-year-old currently leads her team and the league in points with 12 (3G-9A) in just eight games. She said that it’s always been her dream to play at the division one level and that coming into this season, she had high expectations.

“Growing up, ever since I can remember, my goal has been to go D1. I wasn’t thinking that I was going to get reached out to but the goal for my rookie year was to play the best I can. Then after my rookie year I had such high expectations for myself that once the process for recruitment started going on and I started getting reached out to by schools I was just so excited and grateful and I was proud of myself.”

The Sharks are currently the #2 ranked team in the country and are at the top of their league with a league record of 6-0-2-0 (W-L-OTL-SOL) and a 10-0-2-1 record overall.

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Dureau credits the Sharks success to the drive and chemistry of the all the girls on the team.

“I think this group of girls this year, we’re so connected and ever since we first got on the ice together and hung out together, it was like a family and I think that’s what makes us feel better because we’re pushing each other in a healthy way to make our team better and individually better. And I think we’ve just been so good because so many girls have that drive and compete” Dureau said.

The biggest completion coming up for the Sharks is the Mandy Schwartz Memorial Tournament, being held December 12th to 15th in Wilcox and Maidstone. This is one of the biggest tournaments in Western Canada and brings in 16 of the best teams from across the country to compete.

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Austin.mattes@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @AustinMattes