Da Costa Makes Seamless Adjustment to College Off and On the Ice

It’s only been four months, but freshman Stephane Da Costa felt comfortable at Merrimack College almost immediately.

After all, the Paris, France native leads the country with 1.35 per game and is first among all Hockey East rookies with 23 points. He exploded onto the scene scoring five goals in his second collegiate game, including a natural hat trick and three power play goals in a 6-3 victory over Army.

After a performance like that, how could Da Costa not feel a part, and an important part, of the Merrimack family?

“It’s great,” said Da Costa about Merrimack College. “I like the small school feel and everyone has been great and made me feel like a part of the team and the community. It’s been tough to adjust to going to class and practice every day, but I’m figuring it out.”

Of course, it wasn’t a sure thing that Da Costa would even see the ice this season.

The Long Road to Eligibility

Da Costa doesn't fit the mold of a traditional college athlete. Between high school classes in France, Texas and Sioux City, figuring out his transcript and eligibility qualifications under the NCAA was not an easy task.

"When we recruited him, we didn't know if he was going to be eligible; he didn't know," said head coach Mark Dennehy.

In France, good grades aren't enough to earn a high school diploma and attend a university. In order to pursue university studies, students must pass a test known as le bac, a standardized test developed by Napoleon in 1808. Da Costa, who was taking classes online his final two years while in the United States, wasn't able to pass the exam. So Da Costa, who was being recruited by Division 1 colleges, had no way to gain his NCAA eligibility, but the NCAA finally came up with a compromise; they told him to get his GED and score a certain level on the ACTs.

But he had to do both in English.

"It was hard," Da Costa said of the testing. "It was a lot of pressure, having to take them in English. It was hard, but, obviously, I passed."

After he missed the first two games of the regular season at North Dakota, the NCAA finally ruled that Da Costa had passed all the necessary requirements to be eligible.

"It was a relief for us, but we were more happy for him," said Dennehy. "If he wasn't ruled eligible, then we would have gone on as a team. But what is he doing to do? He'd be a kid with a dream of going to college, getting an education and playing hockey and he wouldn't be allowed to do it."

Before Merrimack

Da Costa left France at the age of 16 to play hockey in the United States without knowing a word of English. Over the next three seasons, he played for Texas in the NAHL and Sioux City of the USHL, where he finished fourth in scoring and led the French National Team at the World Junior Championships.

He lived with a French-speaking family who helped him feel comfortable in America and learn the English language.

Da Costa heard from Merrimack before any other school. Actually, Dennehy and his staff were scouting a teammate of his at Sioux City when they discovered Da Costa.

"I looked at them and said, 'I don't know what number our recruit is wearing, but I hope he's No. 24,'" said Dennehy. "No. 24 was Stephane. We still recruited the other player, he ended up going to elsewhere, but we kept talking to Stephane. He was doing incredible things with the puck."

Da Costa always considered Merrimack his best option to play college hockey, even when other teams began to pursue him.

“They were the first team that talked to me,” he said. “This was like two years ago. All of a sudden, a lot of teams were talking, too many to count. But I liked the small community at Merrimack and the French-speaking players and coaches.”

Looking Ahead

With the Warriors set to host Providence on Saturday, Da Costa and his team will be looking to continue the home-ice success that saw them win seven of eight games at Lawler Arena in the first half of the season.

“It’s been okay,” said Da Costa of his freshman season. “We had a good start but haven’t gotten the wins we need lately. I think we’ll rebound and get to the playoffs. The fans have been great.”

With plenty of NHL scouts watching him on a nightly basis, certainly the temptation is there to look to the professional ranks, like former Merrimack players Matt Jones and Joe Loprieno did the last two years.

“Hockey was a big reason for coming to college, but my parents want me to go to school and graduate. I’m trying to do the best in school I can.”


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After all, the Paris, France native leads the country with 1.35 per game and is first among all Hockey East rookies with 23 points. He exploded onto the scene scoring five goals in his second collegiate game, including a natural hat trick and three power play goals in a 6-3 victory over Army. After a performance like that, how could Da Costa not feel a part, and an important part, of the Merrimack family? “It’s great,” said Da Costa about Merrimack College. “I like the small school feel and everyone has been great and made me feel like a part of the team and the community. It’s been tough to adjust to going to class and practice every day, but I’m figuring it out.” Of course, it wasn’t a sure thing that Da Costa would even see the ice this season. The Long Road to Eligibility Da Costa doesn't fit the mold of a traditional college athlete. Between high school classes in France, Texas and Sioux City, figuring out his transcript and eligibility qualifications under the NCAA was not an easy task. "When we recruited him, we didn't know if he was going to be eligible; he didn't know," said head coach Mark Dennehy. In France, good grades aren't enough to earn a high school diploma and attend a university. In order to pursue university studies, students must pass a test known as le bac, a standardized test developed by Napoleon in 1808. Da Costa, who was taking classes online his final two years while in the United States, wasn't able to pass the exam. So Da Costa, who was being recruited by Division 1 colleges, had no way to gain his NCAA eligibility, but the NCAA finally came up with a compromise; they told him to get his GED and score a certain level on the ACTs. But he had to do both in English. "It was hard," Da Costa said of the testing. "It was a lot of pressure, having to take them in English. It was hard, but, obviously, I passed." After he missed the first two games of the regular season at North Dakota, the NCAA finally ruled that Da Costa had passed all the necessary requirements to be eligible. "It was a relief for us, but we were more happy for him," said Dennehy. "If he wasn't ruled eligible, then we would have gone on as a team. But what is he doing to do? He'd be a kid with a dream of going to college, getting an education and playing hockey and he wouldn't be allowed to do it." Before Merrimack Da Costa left France at the age of 16 to play hockey in the United States without knowing a word of English. Over the next three seasons, he played for Texas in the NAHL and Sioux City of the USHL, where he finished fourth in scoring and led the French National Team at the World Junior Championships. He lived with a French-speaking family who helped him feel comfortable in America and learn the English language. Da Costa heard from Merrimack before any other school. Actually, Dennehy and his staff were scouting a teammate of his at Sioux City when they discovered Da Costa. "I looked at them and said, 'I don't know what number our recruit is wearing, but I hope he's No. 24,'" said Dennehy. "No. 24 was Stephane. We still recruited the other player, he ended up going to elsewhere, but we kept talking to Stephane. He was doing incredible things with the puck." Da Costa always considered Merrimack his best option to play college hockey, even when other teams began to pursue him. “They were the first team that talked to me,” he said. “This was like two years ago. All of a sudden, a lot of teams were talking, too many to count. But I liked the small community at Merrimack and the French-speaking players and coaches.” Looking Ahead With the Warriors set to host Providence on Saturday, Da Costa and his team will be looking to continue the home-ice success that saw them win seven of eight games at Lawler Arena in the first half of the season. “It’s been okay,” said Da Costa of his freshman season. “We had a good start but haven’t gotten the wins we need lately. I think we’ll rebound and get to the playoffs. The fans have been great.” With plenty of NHL scouts watching him on a nightly basis, certainly the temptation is there to look to the professional ranks, like former Merrimack players Matt Jones and Joe Loprieno did the last two years. “Hockey was a big reason for coming to college, but my parents want me to go to school and graduate. I’m trying to do the best in school I can.”