Although Michael Clarke spent only one year donning the green and gold, the impact he had on and off the ice was the definition of a Bronco.

The next road of Clarke's hockey journey will lead him to the University of Lethbridge, as he has committed to becoming a Pronghorn for the 2019/20 season.

"I'm thrilled to get the chance to further my career. Any time you get your education paid for, while still playing the game you love, and take that next step towards pro hockey, it's exciting and I'm looking forward to it," said Clarke.

Clarke came to Humboldt as a part of the new team that was built following the Humboldt Broncos bus accident. He was asked to be a leader and named one of three assistant captains on the team. This was a role in which he excelled not only on the scoreboard, leading his team with 71 points through 57 games, but also off the ice. This was Clarke's 5th year of junior hockey, and first in Humboldt, so the role of leadership extended into the dressing room mentoring the younger players and into the community with the city of Humboldt. 

"It's almost hard to put into words. It's an unforgettable feeling. This was by far the best year of hockey I've had. To be able to play for something so special every day, and every time you wake up, it was huge to drive me personally, and as well as the rest of the guys. There were great people in Humboldt, the fans, my billet family, I loved the coaching staff. It was everything that went together to make this year happen, to be able to honour those guys from last year, I cant say enough about how much fun I had. I'm just thankful for the experience."

Clarke's journey from a Bronco to a Pronghorn won't be without familiarity, chemistry, and friendship. Two of his Humboldt teammates, Josh Patrician and Owen Guenter have also committed to the U of L, all of whom are Alberta natives.

"Every day you're going to school, we're going to be living together, and we're going to be in the same classes. At the rink when we're getting pushed by the coach as the new guys on the team, it will be nice having someone that you've gone through that battle with before, and just kind of help you along."

A player as talented as Clarke surely had other offers on the table with schools that wanted to utilize his capabilities on the ice. However, with the amount of junior hockey he's played away from home, staying close to his native Medicine Hat was something he couldn't pass up. 

"I had a few offers out east to play in Ontario, but for me, it was being close to home. I've never really played close to home other than for one season, so it's nice to be able to have family come out to the games every weekend."

Of course, half of life will now revolve around the classroom for Clarke, who is enrolled in the Business Management program with a major in finance.

It's a Bronco set to become Pronghorn, as the hockey journey continues for Michael Clarke.