NCDC Commitment Profiles: Jr. Rangers’ Fournier Advancing To SUNY-Fredonia
By Alexis Demopoulos
After a year of hard work split between time with the Boston Jr. Rangers and the Islanders Hockey Club, forward Mathieu Fournier is thrilled about his future at NCAA Division III SUNY-Fredonia for the 2025-26 season.
Fournier, a Montreal, Que., native, played 14 games with the Boston Jr. Rangers in their former league last season and signed with them to start this year. He played 41 games for the Rangers NCDC team and put up 38 points (18 goals, 20 assists). In February, he went over to the Islanders and played six regular season games and three playoff games in his time there.
Fournier was also named to the New England All-Star team where he contributed two assists back in January as a member of the Jr. Rangers. Fournier had great experiences with both organizations and expressed his gratitude towards them.
“The Boston Jr. Rangers are a first-class organization, and I’ve had nothing but great experiences with them,” said Fournier. “When I made the switch to BJR last season, I knew I was joining a winning culture, and we proved that by making it all the way to the final. I was really happy when I found out BJR would be joining the NCDC for the 24-25 season. It’s a strong league with excellent exposure to a lot of great programs, and I knew right away that it would be the best spot for me to continue growing as a player.
“Coach Rich DeCaprio has believed in me from the beginning. He gave me all the tools and support I needed to become a key player with the team. That trust and development really pushed me to want to come back this year and keep building on that foundation.
“As for my time with the Islanders Hockey Club, I’m really thankful for that experience as well,” said Fournier. “Playing my final month of juniors with them gave me the chance to be part of the post-season, which was huge. The coaches and my teammates welcomed me like I had been with them the entire year. It meant a lot to feel that support right away, and it made the transition super smooth. It was a great way to close out my junior career.”
Fournier first started communicating with the SUNY-Fredonia coaching staff after talking with a friend of his who is currently playing for the team.
“The coaches said they really liked my speed, skill level, and playmaking ability,” said Fournier. “They mentioned that I have a good feel for the game and know how to create opportunities for both myself and my teammates. Being able to impact the game in different ways – whether it’s through quick transitions, smart passes, or finishing plays – is something they appreciated about my style.”
Fournier was drawn to SUNY-Fredonia for its competitive hockey program playing out of the SUNYAC conference and a school with strong academics.
“I really liked the idea of being part of a group that’s developing together and pushing to reach their goals,” said Fournier. “Plus, playing in the SUNYAC is huge. It’s one of the strongest conferences in NCAA Division III hockey, so every game is intense and a great challenge. On the academic side, I was drawn to their finance program. Since that’s the field I want to go into, it was important for me to find a school that offers strong academics in that area. I also liked that they have a solid internship program that helps students connect with real companies and get hands-on experience before graduating. That kind of opportunity is super valuable and gives me confidence that I’ll be prepared for a career after college.”
Fournier got good vibes when he visited the SUNY-Fredonia campus and he really enjoyed how coach Jeff Meredith from Fredonia welcomed him when he did the tour visit, and let him know how much he wanted him to be part of the program. Fournier is excited to play at the college level and will be hard at work preparing during the off-season.
“Heading into next season at SUNY-Fredonia, I’m really focused on continuing to use my speed and vision to create opportunities offensively,” said Fournier. “Those are two of my biggest strengths, and I want to keep sharpening them so I can be a consistent playmaker and help generate chances every time I’m on the ice. At the same time, I know how important it is to be a reliable two-way player, especially at the college level.
“I’ve been putting a lot of work into my defensive game, making sure I’m strong in my own zone, winning battles along the boards, and being responsible without the puck. I want to be the kind of player the coaches can trust in all situations,” Fournier added.
The NCDC congratulates Mathieu Fournier, his family, the Boston Jr. Rangers and SUNY-Fredonia for his commitment.