UPEI Panthers land former York Lion defender David D’Agostino for 2023–24 season
The UPEI Men’s Hockey Panthers have secured a commitment from veteran defender David D’Agostino for the 2023–24 season.
D’Agostino spent the past four years with the York Lions and gives the Panthers another experienced option on the back end. The 25-year-old from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, recorded six goals and 16 assists in 66 games with the club.
Standing at five-foot-ten, D’Agostino isn’t the biggest defender in the league, but he makes up for it with his skating ability and offensive upside.
“Being a smaller D-man for most of my career, it was almost mandatory that I could skate well,” he said. “I play an offensive-minded game and hope to help my teammates’ game by providing an extra layer of offence.”
D’Agostino said he’s looking forward to this new chapter in his life where he’ll play a leadership role.
“I want to try and keep things competitive but also use my experience to support the incoming players through the transition from junior to university, specifically off the ice and in the classroom,” said D’Agostino, who is pursuing a Master of Business Administration in Global Leadership degree.
Head coach Forbes MacPherson said he’s excited to add another skater who’s familiar with U SPORTS hockey and the challenges of being a student-athlete.
“David is a smart kid and will bring a ton of experience and maturity to our roster and dressing room,” MacPherson said. “David was looking to transfer to UPEI for the Global Leadership program, and the situation worked out for both parties, so we’re pleased to welcome David.”
D’Agostino expects the UPEI Men’s Hockey Panthers team to be competitive when the first puck drops, and he hopes to be a big part of their fortunes.
“It looks like we’ve got a lot of talent coming in with our freshman class, and I’m excited to watch them turn heads,” he said. “When I get there, I plan to take everything day by day and will do my best to make sure things gel as fast as possible. Everyone in this league wants to win, and I would love to see us at the top come March.”
