Regan Kimens has committed to Merrimack for the 2019-2020 season. Regan is currently playing the BCHL for the Coquitlam Express. He has been noted for his soft hands and physical play. Neutral Zone scouts have repeatedly called him a power forward with an unmatched work ethic. The Ontario native credits his father for getting him into the sport,
“I started playing hockey when I was 6 years old. My dad was a big hockey guy so he introduced it to me and from that day forward I have always loved it. [My] earliest memory in hockey was probably when I was 7 years old, and I played for the Duffield Devils and we won the entire league.”
Regan had been drafted in the 4th round by the Owen Sound Attack of the OHL. He talks about his decision to go the NCAA route:
“I always knew I wanted to play Division 1 hockey, so in grade 10 I was drafted. . . and I turned it down to further my chances of [playing] Division 1. In grades 11 and 12 I decided to stay at my school, St. Andrew’s College, in Aurora, Ontario. [This] was one of the best decisions I ever made. . . we won our league back-to-back years, it was the best school in Canada.”
Taking us through his NCAA recruiting process:
“After the showcase tournament I was talking to a couple schools.” These schools included, Ferris, RIT, Alaska, and Merrimack. He continues, “Coach Borek and I had a great connection, [he] liked my work ethic and how I can put up points. We kept in touch and eventually he offered me [a spot on the roster].”
When asked who help him make his decision he states:
“I talked with my family about it and we wanted to see the school first before making any big time decisions. On October 28th, I caught a flight to Boston to see the school with my dad and I loved every bit of it. [We] left campus to drive back to the hotel and I called my mom and told her I want to play [for Merrimack]. Right after I called Coach Borek and committed.”
Playing NCAA hockey gives Regan the opportunity to get an education while continuing his hockey career. He talks about how that factored into his decision:
“Merrimack’s business program is very strong and they give you the ability to [get] your Masters at the end of your 4th year. I love the class sizes. . . they are small, so you can have a relationship with the professor and not get lost.”
Regan intends to combine his love for hockey and his business education for his life after hockey:
“I would like to go pro playing hockey, whether that is the NHL or [in] Europe, and hopefully after that taking my business degree and putting it towards sports.”
He speaks on the opportunities he sees to make an impact on the ice:
“It’s a developing team and I believe when I come in I can make a difference and be giving a chance. From what I hear Coach Borek is an amazing coach, [he] wants to play heavy with speed, and also has had a great career in the Division 1 level as a coach. I also see this program in the next 5 years turning a lot of heads and making a run in Hockey East as a top contender.”
We asked Regan about any adversity he has had to overcome, he talks about his first year in the BCHL:
“I Started off in Langley and was traded very early in the season to Chilliwack. . . and was never really given a chance to succeed [or] play.” His biggest challenge, “still finding a way to love the game and trust the process.”
After that season, he was traded to Coquitlam where he felt the coach gave him a chance to succeed and believed in him. The best advice Regan can give now is:
“Never get too high and never get too low, keep your emotions intact.”
Regan has had an impressive season with Coquitlam, having scored 18 goals and 28 assists for a total of 46 points in 50 games played.
Photo credit: Hickling Images