YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — Austintown Fitch’s senior Cadence Pounds will continue his ice hockey career next year at Hilbert College, an NCAA Division III program in New York City.

Watch the video above to hear Pounds.

Pounds will be part of the inaugural women’s ice hockey program at Hilbert.

“I am very happy to be part of the inaugural program and hope that we can develop it even further,” said Pounds. “We have a full team this year. It started with 17. He could maybe get five more, so we would have a full bench of 22.

Pounds played last season with the Kent Cyclones High School co-ed team. The forward had three goals and seven assists and helped lead the Cyclones to a division championship and the state tournament.

“I have a lot of speed,” added Pounds. “I’ve been told I’m pretty fast and have a really high hockey IQ, so that helps. I actually also coach the little kids here in Youngstown, and it helps a lot that I can see the ice really well and can predict what’s going to happen pretty much all the time, even when other people aren’t not recognize that I do. So I’m usually where I need to be and always in the right position as well.

Pounds is one of the few ice hockey players in the valley to go on and play at the NCAA level. She hopes to see more players follow in her footsteps.

“I’m a big advocate for youth hockey, I spread the word,” she said. “That’s why I teach the Learn to Play program. I try to keep the kids engaged and to have as many people in the program as possible. Especially with the girls, I want to be a really big inspiration to young girls around Youngstown or really anywhere to show that they can play hockey. They have the ability to do that. So that’s a big deal and I really hope to continue coaching too.