Centennial Cup MVP Vigfusson earns NCAA scholarship

Niverville Nighthawks captain Adam Vigfusson showed what an outstanding showing at the Centennial Cup is worth.

The 2005-born forward from Gimli turned a most valuable player award into a NCAA division 1 commitment, signing up to go to St Cloud State.

Vigfusson had committed to York University to play USports, but after a 12 point performance at the national junior A championships, including a hat trick, American universities were sure to come calling.

“That was the dream result. The pressure didn’t faze us at all. We just went about our business and got the job done,” Vigfusson told the Winnipeg Free Press.

“This was my first national event ever, so going there I had absolutely no expectations. Just go there, have fun, try your best and see what happens. Obviously, it was pretty amazing.”

He’s planning on studying biomedical science at St Cloud.

“Every kid’s dream is to play in the NHL, right? For me, it’s number one: education, get the degree and then after school see what happens. Playing pro would be pretty awesome,” Vigfusson said.

St Cloud has also had plenty of players move onto the big-leagues, including 11 current NHL-ers. Winnipeg-born Adam Ingram, who played with Selkirk during the pandemic abbreviated 2020/2021 season, finished his hockey career at St Cloud this season and signed a pro deal with Idaho in the ECHL.

Vigfusson has been a consistent regular season scoring threat, nabbing 62 and 61 points in the last two seasons, even though he’s missed at least a dozen games due to injury in both seasons.

“It’s been tougher and tougher with the changing landscape of the NCAA and allowing Division 1 players to come out of the Western Hockey League and the Canadian Hockey League for junior-age players to earn those scholarships,” Niverville general manager Mike McAulay said.

“So for him, it’s a testament to the player that he is, the person that he is and also the student that he is.”

The St Cloud State Huskies play in the National Collegiate Athletic Association and have won the NCAA’s top hockey tournament in 2013 and 2021. The team added a new head coach this off-season, tapping Nick Oliver to lead the program.

“I can’t really take a couple weeks off. I have to go into St. Cloud in even better shape. No days off, eat right and maintain a good healthy body, work on strength and, obviously, skills as well,” Vigfusson said.

“I’ve got something to prove. My mindset is to try my absolute best, work my absolute hardest over the summer and then see what happens when I get to St. Cloud.”

Former Steinbach Pistons forward Jack Rogers will be entering his senior season with the Huskies this year. In the 2021/2022 season the New York-born player scored 67 points in 54 games for Steinbach, chipping in with 13 points in the playoffs as the Pistons fell in the league finals to Dauphin.