USPHL Commitment Profiles: Squatch Sniper Bonifay Advancing To Westfield State
By Joshua Boyd / USPHL.com
Cannon seems so fitting a name for the top goal-scorer in the USPHL Premier over the past two seasons, as Cannon Bonifay has sent 91 pucks to the back of the net since making his Premier debut in 2023-24 for the Minnesota Squatch. No other player has scored 90 or more goals in that time.
Bonifay is bringing all of his offensive weaponry to Westfield State University in Massachusetts this fall. He will play NCAA hockey in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Hockey Conference, or MASCAC, which was a big draw for him.
“Hockey-wise, I like that the MASCAC is a very competitive division, and Westfield has a strong history and experience behind their program. The coaching staff seems really invested in their players and focused on development, which is important to me,” said Bonifay, a 2004-born native of Fort Worth, Texas. “Academically, their business and finance program stood out, and the affordability was another big factor. Overall, Westfield feels like a great fit for both school and hockey, and I’m excited to get started.”
Westfield State tracked Bonifay throughout this past season, as he scored 44 goals this year to follow on the 47 he scored last year. He also has scored 13 goals in 17 playoff games as the Squatch reached the USPHL Nationals twice in a row with Bonifay on board.
“I started talking to Westfield early in the 2024-25 season, around November or December. They showed a lot of interest throughout the year, which definitely helped with making my decision. What they liked most about my game was my scoring ability and the way I see the ice offensively,” said Bonifay.
Bonifay was an All-Division Selection both of the past two seasons, and he was also selected to play in the first Premier All-Star event in four years in Foxborough, Mass.
“It was a great honor to be part of the All-Star event last January. I had already been talking with Westfield before the event, but I did get additional interest from other schools during and after it, which I also took into consideration,” said Bonifay.
Over his two seasons, he felt he grew as a player and person a lot, thanks to the Squatch and their Owner, GM and Head Coach Chic Pojar.
“What I liked most about playing for the Squatch over the past two years were the friendships and memories I made along the way. From teammates and coaches to billets, my two seasons in Minnesota flew by because we were always having fun,” said Bonifay. “We also had a lot of success on the ice — we won our division and made it to Nationals both years I was there.
“I think there’s a lot of opportunity for both development and exposure in the USPHL,” he added. “Between the showcases, the All-Star event, and the National tournament, I was fortunate to experience all of them over my two seasons. That’s definitely where a lot of my college interest came from.”
He’s preparing for the next chapter in his hockey life, becoming a college student-athlete for the Owls in central Massachusetts, just as much hockey country as he experienced in Minnesota.
“This off-season, I’m focused on preparing for the jump to college hockey. I’m staying consistent both on the ice and in the gym so I can be ready to make an impact from day one at Westfield,” he added.
The USPHL congratulates Cannon Bonifay, his family, the Minnesota Squatch and Westfield State University for his commitment.