NCDC Commitment Profiles: Thunder’s Brady Committed To Johnson And Wales
By Alexis Demopoulos
Thunder Hockey Club defenseman Zach Brady spent two years in the NCDC working hard and is excited about his NCAA Division III commitment to Johnson and Wales University for the 2025-26 season.
Brady, a Middletown, N.J., native, started his NCDC career with the Mercer Chiefs and put up 17 points in 43 games. He started the 2024-25 campaign with the Chiefs and played in 28 games before getting traded to the Thunder Hockey Club. Brady finished out the season with the Thunder, tallying four points in 13 games played.
“I was traded to THC in February from the Mercer Chiefs, but I loved the short time I was at the Thunder Hockey Club,” said Brady. “I have nothing but great things to say about the coaching staff and the organization. They welcomed me with open arms and allowed me to succeed day in and day out.”
Brady connected with the Johnson and Wales coaching staff in the middle of March and the conversations moved quickly.
“The coaches were very impressed with my hockey IQ and my feel for the game, which they think will bring a lot of versatility and value at the college level,” said Brady.
Johnson and Wales offered Brady the best of both worlds. It is a school that plays in a competitive hockey conference and offers academically what he is interested in. He has also connected really well with Head Coach Eric Graham.
“What interested me on the hockey side was playing in the CNE, which is a great conference where, night in and night out you are playing high-level teams,” said Brady. “To continue on the hockey side, I loved coach Graham. He has been so awesome with the recruitment process and helping me with anything I need or any questions I have. On the academic side, Johnson and Wales has a great MBA program, which is what I am looking to study in college. On top of that, they have a world-renowned cooking school, which is great because I love to cook as a hobby.”
Being from New Jersey, living in the New England area was also a huge selling point for Brady as he has always wanted to live there, so Johnson and Wales was the perfect fit.
“The location of the campus is awesome,” said Brady. “Being right in downtown Providence is a huge draw for me. Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to live in the New England area, so Johnson and Wales is right up my alley. I loved the fact that you can escape the city feel by heading down to the harbor-side campus, which is more of a relaxed and slow campus versus the fast-paced feel of the downtown campus. The versatility and what they offer on the academic side gave me such a good feeling while visiting.”
Now that his juniors career is over, he is gearing up for next season at Johnson and Wales by working hard this off-season.
“I am going to focus on honing my skills, getting stronger, and being a shutdown defenseman, which I am hoping will make me an impact player right away as a freshman,” said Brady.
The NCDC congratulates Zach Brady, his family, the Thunder Hockey Club and Johnson and Wales University for his commitment.