The New Jersey 87’s are proud to announce that Kyle Folkerson has committed to play Division III hockey for SUNY Brockport for the 2023-2024 season.
Folkerson, a 21-year-old forward from Montreal, Quebec, spent two seasons with the 87’s EHL team. In the 2021-22 campaign, he was acquired by the team mid-season and made an immediate impact by recording 11 points (5g, 6a) in 16 regular-season games. He then put up nine points (5g, 4a) in nine postseason games during the EHL team’s championship run.
This past season, Folkerson played in 44 regular-season games and finished second on the team with 36 points (12, 24a). He also represented the EHL in its college showcase series in the South Division’s game against Lebanon Valley College.
Head coach Adam Houli spoke about Folkerson’s commitment and what he meant to the club over the last two seasons.
“Kyle has been an important piece of our offense for the last two years, and to see him rewarded with a college commitment is everything,” Houli said. “He is an EHL champion with us, which means he will always be remembered as a prominent player for our club. I can’t wait to see what he will do at the college level. He is very dynamic and he will be a very strong asset to SUNY Brockport.”
SUNY Brockport is a Division III program located in Brockport, New York. Competing in the State University of New York Athletic Conference, the Golden Eagles are led by head coach Brian Dickinson.
Folkerson discussed his commitment and what it means to join the Golden Eagles. “Since I was a kid, I always dreamed of playing NCAA hockey and now I’m finally going to live that dream. The academics and hockey program at Brockport were exactly what I was looking for in a school,” Folkerson said. “The coaching staff also made a fantastic impression on me and my family during our visit and throughout the entire season. Another bonus is that I’ll be able to play with Matt and Tobin, two of my close friends from our 2022 EHL championship winning team. Really, I could not see a better fit for myself than SUNY Brockport.”
During his tenure with the 87’s, Folkerson’s most memorable moment came in the 2022 wild card game against the Connecticut Chiefs. Down 2-1 with the season on the line, the 87’s made a ferocious push throughout the third period for the tying goal. With just over two minutes left in regulation, Folkerson buried a rebound to even the score at two. Then in overtime, he scored a power-play goal to send the 87’s to the Frozen Finals, earning the ‘Folk Hero’ moniker.
This season, Folkerson continued to grow as a player and meshed well with Charles Lavoie and Aleks Gamzatov, playing together for most of the season as the team’s top line and power-play unit. Folkerson finished this year tied for fifth in the EHL with 12 power-play assists.
Folkerson reflected on his two years with the 87’s and his growth as a hockey player in New Jersey.
“I cannot thank Coach Houli, Matt Kiernan and the entire organization enough. When I first talked to Coach Houli a year and a half ago, I had been bounced around three other junior teams, and I was coming off shoulder surgery. He decided to give me a chance and put me in a position to succeed as soon as I got to New Jersey. With the confidence the coaching staff gave me, I was able to elevate my game to the next level to where it is today. I will always cherish my time as an 87 and will always be a 2022 EHL Champion,” he said.
The 87’s organization would like to congratulate Kyle and his family as he gets ready to advance his hockey career to the Division III collegiate level.
