Coyotes prospect Artem Duda to play rest of season at Toronto Metropolitan University
Arizona Coyotes defense prospect Artem Duda has committed to play U SPORTS hockey at Toronto Metropolitan University for the rest of the 2023–24 season.
Duda has yet to play a game this year amidst a dispute with the NCAA over his amateur status. The 19-year-old left-handed defender had been set to play at the University of Maine before being deemed ineligible on the basis of his previous KHL experience.
The NCAA upheld its decision despite multiple appeals by Duda, who was not on a full professional contract when he suited up for 14 KHL games with CSKA Moscow in 2022–23. And with the Canadian Hockey League not currently allowing imports from Russia or Belarus, Duda’s options were limited.
The CBC’s Ben Steiner was the first to report the news of Duda committing to TMU on Tuesday morning.
We have signed 2022 Arizona Coyotes 2nd Round Draft Pick, Artem Duda! ✍️
Duda last played with CSKA Moscow of the KHL where he played 14 games and registered three points. The left-shot defenceman will be eligible to suit up for us in the winter semester! 🏒#tmubold | #Yotes pic.twitter.com/KodH9oUyQu
The Coyotes originally selected Duda in the second round (No. 36 overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft. The 6’1″ defender split his draft-plus-one season between the KHL, VHL, and MHL; in his 14 games with CSKA Moscow, he collected three assists.
Duda is joining a TMU Bold team that is set to host the 2024 University Cup — Canada’s national collegiate men’s ice hockey championship — at the Mattamy Athletic Centre, located at the site of the old Maple Leaf Gardens. TMU is guaranteed a berth in the tournament as the host team.
The Coyotes used five out of their 10 selections at the 2022 NHL Draft on defensemen: Maveric Lamoureux, Duda, Jeremy Langlois, Matthew Morden, and Maksymillian Szuber. Lamoureux and Szuber have already been signed to NHL contracts, with Duda likely to follow upon the conclusion of his tenure at TMU.
The TMU Bold currently rank third overall in the OUA (Ontario University Athletics) West Division with an 11–5 record through 16 games this season.