For twin brothers Brady and Chase Norrish, playing on the same team has been something they could count on for their entire hockey careers. From minor hockey to the Junior ranks with the Yorkton Terriers, the Norrish twins have been dazzling those around the Saskatchewan hockey scene for years now with their amazing combination of speed and offensive skill and defensive instincts from the blueline as undersized defenseman. In their last Junior year, they have already decided that they will be keeping the family tradition going in the NCAA ranks, signing with the Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers on Monday after an impressive showing at the SJHL Showcase in Warman in late September put the pair on the radar of a team that made the Frozen Four in 2010.
In a Monday press release the Yorkton Terriers were very pleased to announce that twenty year-old defensemen Brady and Chase Norrish have committed to play Division I NCAA college hockey for the Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers beginning in the fall of 2014.
Located in Rochester, New York, RIT has an enrollment of over 18,000 students. The Tigers men's hockey program plays in the Atlantic Hockey Conference at the NCAA Division I level. A relatively new program at the Division 1 level, RIT men's hockey made the jump to from Division III to Division I in 2005. By 2010, the Tigers program grabbed national attention when they advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four tournament in Detroit, Michigan. Next season, the Tigers will be moving into a new 4,200 seat arena located on campus.
The exposure that the Norrish twins received at the recently completed SJHL Showcase in Warman certainly helped both young men to solidify their educational and hockey futures. Brady and Chase, who are on separate lines when playing for the Terriers, jumped on a line together during the SJHL Showcase. On the same line the two felt right at home and feel that the chance to show themelves as a package deal was key to such an early commitment.
"We know what we are doing on the ice together and we both felt that we had a really good Showcase that helped put us on the radar, but we were both surprised that a D-I school would be offering us scholarships so early so to us it is a huge honour to be going to a program that appears to be high on us."
The Norrish's also hinted at the potential of playing on the same defensive pairing if it ever arises. "We like to play together, but we are also used to being on different pairings and in different situations so we will play wherever we are put, but going to the same school you have to daydream about it a little," mentions the pair who initially thought they would be parting ways before RIT emerged with two offers.
Prior to joining the Yorkton Terriers program, the Norrish brothers played one season with the Beardys Blackhawks of the Saskatchewan AAA Midget League. Both players were called up as Affiliate Players with the Terriers before making the move to Yorkton full time in the fall of 2011. Since then the Norrish's, along with captain Devon McMullen have given the Terriers one of the most electric bluelines in all of Canadian Junior hockey.
The Norrish brothers first season with the Terriers in 2011-12 saw both players post identical stats, playing in 56 games, scoring 6-goals and adding 11-assists. They also very fittingly shared the Terriers Rookie of the Year award.
After logging key minutes and playing in all situations as rookies the Norrish's really saw their game take off to a whole new level in the 2012-13 season, their development turning the Terriers into the best team in the SJHL, winning the Canalta Cup. Before their second season with the Terriers, both players were named as Assistant Captains. In 54-regular season games Chase put up 7 goals to go along with 15 assists. He would also add 7 more assists in 17 playoff games. Chase was also recognized as the SJHL Defenseman of the Week on three different occasions while also being named the Terriers Unsung Hero for the season.
Brady's second season with the Terriers was an exceptional one. He finished the regular season with 32 points in 52 games played. In 17-playoff games he added 11 points while sharing the SJHL playoff MVP. At the Western Canada Cup in Nanaimo, BC Brady was named as the tournament's Top Defenseman. He was also named the SJHL Defenseman of the Week four separate times, the leagues Defenseman of the Month once and capped off a memorable 2012-13 season by being named the Yorkton Terriers MVP.
The Norrish brothers credit their NCAA attention to playing with a great organization in the Terriers and made it clear that their work is not done yet.
"We can rest easy knowing that our hockey careers aren't over yet, but we both know that we have a lot of work to do if we want to keep playing hockey for as long as possible and that starts with being focused on bringing another championship to Yorkton so we are taking things game by game just like before we committed to the Tigers."
Brady and Chase say they want to play hockey as long as possible, but that goal number one is continuing what has been a great Junior career as a duo with back to back titles.
"We have a great group of guys in the room and we all play for each other, so these next months are going to be special and we hope that it ends the same way as last year."
If one things is for certain for next season, the RIT Tigers will have a potential freshmen defensive pairing with a ton of offense.
