Zach Sill of Stewiacke, Nova Scotia, who was Team Atlantic’s leading scorer in the Telus Cup Canadian Midget Hockey Championships, has verbally committed to attend the University of Maine beginning in the fall of 2006.

The center-left wing had three goals and four assists in five Telus Cup games at Gastineau, Quebec.

Prior to the Telus Cup, he had 13 & 20 in 35 Nova Scotia Major Midgets Hockey League games for McCain’s and he then notched 5 & 14 in 14 playoff games.

The 6-foot, 180-pound McCain was chosen to the league all-star team and captained the team to regular-season and tournament championships.

“I’ve been in this for 28 years and he’s the best captain I’ve ever had. He puts the team first,” said McCain’s coach Steve Crowell. “At this age, kids can be more interested in stats and who’s in the stands, but Zach never worried about those things. He challenged his teammates to focus on the proper things.”

On the ice, Crowell likened Sill to “Mark Messier without the top-end speed. He’ll get his share of points and be a great two-way player. He can also shut down the prolific scorer on the other team. He’s a punishing hitter and has a great stick. He’s also strong on his skates.”

Sill said, “Looking at the big picture, this is a better life decision for me than going to the Q [Quebec Major Junior Hockey League]. And when I went for an unofficial visit to Maine, I thought it was a nice place down there. It reminded me of home. And it’s closer to home than I would have been in the Q.”

Sill said he was also impressed with the coaches and the program’s winning tradition.

The 17-year-old will play for the Truro (Nova Scotia) Bearcats in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League next season.