On Thursday, October 7th, Sault Ste Marie native Ari Merlino life changed after accepting a four year scholarship to Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York for the Syracuse Orange women’s hockey program for the 2022 – 2023 season.
The 5’8″ and 135 lbs netminder from Sault Ste Marie plays for the PWHL Mississauga Hurricanes for coach Darcy Breaky. Merlino heads into her second straight season with the Hurricanes in southern Ontario after losing the 2020 – 2021 season to the pandemic.
Ari told Saultsports that “I am extremely excited to attend Syracuse and play for their women’s hockey program. I took a long time to make this decision. Syracuse provides an amazing environment for both learning and sport. They have a long history with student athletes and after seeing the campus I knew I belonged there.”
“This has been a dream of mine since I started playing rep hockey. Being recruited to play division 1 hockey is what I’ve always wanted so this is a dream come true. I can’t wait to take this step,” added Merlino.
The 17 year old goaltender will play for Orange women’s coach Paul Flanagan who has been there since Syracuse University first season in 2008. The women Orange play in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and College Hockey America (CHA).
