By Alexis Demopoulos
For Daniel Moor, playing in the NCDC was a no-brainer. With the help of his Jersey Hitmen teammates, along with his coaches Toby Harris and Jim Hunt, he has earned himself an NCAA Division I commitment to Princeton University.
“Choosing to play for the Jersey Hitmen for the 2023-24 season was one of the best decisions I ever made,” said Moor, a 2006-born native of Omaha, Neb. “Coach Harris and Coach Hunt are some of the most fair people I’ve met. They offer everything a player needs to get to the next level whether it be access to great off ice training, lots of ice time, and a culture that fosters winning.”
Moor will suit up for the Waterloo Blackhawks of the USHL this season before joining the Princeton program for the 2025-26 campaign.
A big reason why Moor finds himself in the position he is in is because of the coaching staff he worked with while playing for the Hitmen. They pushed him and challenged him to be the best he could be and as a goaltender. That was all he could ask for.
“The league helped put me in a position to be recruited because of my coaches,” said Moor. “Coach Hunt and Coach Harris were actively engaged in the communication process with college coaches and were willing to help me advance in my career.”
Moor knew he wanted to one day play NCAA Division I hockey and he knew signing with the Hitmen was going to be a great stepping stone to achieve that dream.
“I ultimately made the decision to sign with the Hitmen because of their impressive record of moving players on to Tier 1 Junior hockey and NCAA Division 1 college hockey,” said Moor. “I think the NCDC is a very strong, high skill level league for junior players looking to play college hockey. The league offers great competition with long seasons and plenty of games.”
In his only campaign with the Hitmen, Moor appeared in 34 games between the pipes, going 15-10-2-2 overall. He allowed just 86 goals on 1,138 shots and finished the season with one shutout and a 2.68 GAA.
Moor was also named to the NCDC Young Guns game for league standouts and prospects born between 2006 and 2008. He got the start for his team and stopped nine of 10 shots in his period of action at the Jan. 15, 2024, event held at Boston University.
A great 2023-24 season with the Jersey Hitmen put Moor on Princeton’s radar and after the season ended, the recruiting process took off from there.
“I started communicating with the Princeton coaching staff in the summer after my season with the Jersey Hitmen,” said Moor. “The communication increased after a good performance at the Waterloo Blackhawks main camp. Princeton’s coaches liked my work ethic and consistency in each area of my game.”
Princeton was always a school that Moor envisioned himself playing for. Not only is it a Division I hockey school, but also has the education factor he was looking for. Moor has not decided on what he wants to major in just yet, but he is interested in the Economics, Political Science and Neuroscience programs that Princeton offers.
“For a number of reasons, Princeton has always been a school of interest for me,” said Moor. “What interested me the most about the school is that Princeton offers an exceptional education, while also offering an opportunity to play at the Division 1 level. Additionally, the university is located in my home state of New Jersey.
“During my visit, I felt that Princeton would be a good fit and the coaches were the reason for this,” said Moor. “Coach Ben Syer, Coach Shane Talarico and Coach Tommy Davis made me feel welcomed. Princeton has a rich hockey history and the opportunity to be part of it is truly a privilege.”
Being a goaltender, Moor has a high compete level and he is aiming to get better each and every time he steps out on the ice. He learned a lot during his time with the Hitmen and is hoping to bring that into this upcoming season with Waterloo. He explains that mental toughness plays a big role.
“I feel the best parts of my game are my competitiveness, work ethic and my mental toughness,” said Moor. “I strive to bring the same effort to the rink each and every day, whether it be a workout, practice, or a game and to battle out every puck. I also feel that mental toughness is a really important part of my game. Over the years I have gotten better at staying focused for the full length of a game, and to not allow myself to get rattled or discouraged after letting in a goal.”
With a D1 commitment already secured, Moor has been working hard and is committed to helping Waterloo win a championship this upcoming season. He has been working on his technical skills and building up his ability to play consistently at a high level.
Moor thrives on consistency being a goaltender and at Waterloo, he wants to continue to grow as a person and teammate.
“I am beyond excited and grateful for the opportunity to play for Waterloo this season,” said Moor. “I’m going to do my best to get a little bit better each day so that I can be an impact player for the Blackhawks and help my team win a Clark Cup. Being committed only gives me more motivation to prepare myself for Division 1 college hockey.”
The NCDC congratulates Daniel Moor, his family, the Jersey Hitmen and Princeton University for his commitment.
