Following his first season at the helm of the Lethbridge Pronghorn men’s hockey
team, head coach Spiros Anastas is excited to announce the commitment of 12 new
recruits for the 2015-16 season.
Within the group of 12, the
program will add nine forwards and three defencemen, seven of which have Western
Hockey League experience and will take advantage of the WHL Scholarship program,
while two spent time in the NCAA and the other three join the program after
playing exclusively in the AJHL.
“We are extremely happy with our
recruiting class thus far for 2015-16 and we’re not done yet, expecting to
announce 2-3 more players in the coming month,” said head coach Spiros Anastas.
“We will be a very young team but one that has significantly increased in skill
and experience.”
“Our WHL games played have nearly tripled from
last year's roster and a number of these recruits have been captains of their
Junior teams,” continued Anastas. “It’s never easy to let go of as many players
as we did at the end of last season, but the turnover was necessary to send this
program in a new direction.”
Three of the incoming freshmen also
have direct ties to Pronghorn alumni, headlined by forward Sam McKechnie. Sam is
the son of Dana McKechnie, who was a member of the Pronghorn lone University Cup
Championship team, while Blake Orban is also a second generation Pronghorn,
after his father Scott played for the Pronghorns during their inaugural Canada
West season in 1984-85. The third member of the group is former Olds Grizzly,
Kyle Moore, who follows in his brother Dustin’s footsteps. Dustin is a former
Pronghorn captain and Canada West first team all-star.
Forwards
Jay Merkley, Dalton Sward, Colton Sheen, Robert Lindores, Brett Roulston, and
Bryson Gore and defenceman Tyler Hansen, Dustin Fostvelt and Austin Kernahan
round out the group announced by Coach Anastas.
“I strongly
believe that we are bringing in great people who want to be Pronghorns and great
members of our campus community,” said Anastas about the group the program added
today. “We are excited for our returning players, our incoming recruits, and
this hockey program. We have worked hard at this and plan to take some big leaps
from the improved strides we made last season.”
Sam McKechnie *
5’10” 180 lbs* Right Wing *Airdrie, AB * Saskatoon Blades
(WHL)
Over a four-year Western Hockey League career with stops
with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Seattle Thunderbirds and Saskatoon Blades,
McKechnie played 279 games, scoring 68 goals and adding 66
assists.
He set a career high in goals with 26 and 43 points with
the Hurricanes in 2012-13 and this past season with the Blades he scored 22
goals and accumulated 42 points in 67 games.
Coach Anastas: “Sam
will be a great addition for us down the middle. He is a very skilled player who
also brings some grit to his game. He is a natural leader and someone that we
will lean heavily on from the start. It's always exciting to add someone with
alumni bloodlines, and we are confident that Sam will experience similar success
to his father, Dana, during his time with our program.”
Blake
Orban * 6’1” 199 lbs* Defence *Calgary, AB * Edmonton Oil Kings
(WHL)
A member of the 2014 Edmonton Oil Kings Memorial Cup
Championship team, Orban suited up for 254 career WHL games with the Vancouver
Giants and Oil Kings, accumulating 57 career points and set career highs this
past season in goals, assists and points with six goals and 19 assists for 25
points.
Coach Anastas: “Blake is another exciting addition for us
as he is the son of one of the original Pronghorns, Scott Orban. Blake has a lot
of tools that make him a solid defenseman. He has a great stick and a presence
that makes him very hard to play against. Blake has played for some great
coaches and has experienced one of the greatest junior accomplishments of
winning the Memorial Cup.”
Jay Merkley * 5’11” 195 lbs * Centre *
Calgary, AB * Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
Another former
Lethbridge Hurricane, Jay Merkley joins the ‘Horns after four seasons in the WHL
where he accumulated 79 goals and 159 points in 266 games. With the Broncos the
last two seasons, Merkley scored 34 and 17 goals respectively and set a career
high with 66 points two seasons ago.
Coach Anastas: “Jay was a
big surprise for us early in the recruiting process. He is a talented player who
had a great WHL career. He has opted to forego his 20-year old season in order
to begin school and we are very pleased to have him.”
Dalton
Sward * 6’1” 185 lbs * Centre* Abbotsford, BC * Vancouver Giants
(WHL)
A five-year WHLer, Dalton Sward suited up for 294 games in
the WHL, all with the Vancouver Giants. During his time with the Giants, Sward
recorded 59 goals and 57 assists but is known for a solid two-way
game.
Coach Anastas: “Dalton is an incredible pickup for our
program as he brings a lot to the table. Not many players play 5 full seasons in
the WHL, let alone for the same organization. Dalton is a true competitor that
does whatever it takes to win. He adds great depth down the middle for us, and
is a very reliable defensive forward with some great offensive ability.”
Tyler Hansen * 6’3” 202 lbs * Defense * Magrath, AB * Kamloops
Blazers (WHL)
Southern Alberta product Tyler Hansen returns home
after serving a two-year mission for the Church of Latter Day Saints and is
expected to make a seamless transition to university hockey. Over a four-year
WHL career that ended with the 2012-13 season, Hansen patrolled the Kamloops
Blazers blue line for 254 games and was an impressive plus 38 during the 2011-12
season. Over his career he accounted for 7 goals, 57 assists and 257 penalty
minutes.
Coach Anastas: “Tyler is one of those defensemen that
other players hate to play against. He is big, tough, and solid defensively, but
can also move the puck incredibly well to add to offensive production. Although
he has taken two years off to go on his mission, we are confident that he will
step in right away and make an impact. His leadership ability and older age will
be great for our young locker room next season.”
Kyle Moore *
6’4” 205 lbs * Forward * Red Deer, AB * Olds Grizzlys (AJHL)
In
two seasons with the Grizzlys, Moore registered 20 goals and 23 assists in 96
games and was an assistant captain with the Grizzlys this past
season.
Colton Sheen * 5’9” 184 lbs *Forward * Calgary, AB * Olds
Grizzlys (AJHL)
Calgary native, Colton Sheen spent three full
seasons in the AJHL with the Okotoks Oilers, Calgary Canucks and Olds Grizzlys
and set a career highs this season with 24 goals and 52 points, splitting time
between the Canucks and Grizzlys.
Austin Kernahan * 6’4” 225 lbs
* Forward * Calgary, AB * Olds Grizzlys
In four seasons with the
Olds Grizzlys, Kernahan suited up in 200 games recording 37 goals and 45 assist,
while amassing 423 penalty minutes.
Coach Anastas on the three
Olds Grizzlys: “We are adding some tremendous size and much needed depth with
the addition of Austin and Kyle. Along with Colton, they were one of the hottest
lines in the AJHL in the second half of the 2014-15 season. These three bring an
exciting, in-your-face game to the table and will log some valuable minutes.
Both Austin and Kyle have a knack in front of the net and Colton can really
shoot the puck. They will be an exciting trio to watch.”
Dustin
Fostvelt * 6’0” 185 lbs * Defense * Edmonton, AB * R.I.T (NCAA)
A
former Spruce Grove Saint, Austin Kernahan will take advantage of the CIS
eligibility repatriation rule, where Canadian student-athletes competing at an
NCAA institution who wish to come back to Canada to play at a CIS member
university will be able to do so and start competing right away, instead of
having to wait for one year as was the case under the previous
rule.
In 22 games with Rochester Institute of Technology (R.I.T)
Fostvelt recorded four assists. During his final season with the Saints he
recorded 37 points in 60 games.
Coach Anastas: “Dustin comes in
with two years of NCAA experience and we expect a very smooth transition for
him. He is a skilled defenseman who skates and handles the puck very well. He is
versatile and can move anywhere within the three pairs. We are happy he is
coming home to Alberta and chose our program to continue his hockey
career.”
Robert Lindores * 6’1” 216 lbs * Right Wing * Port
Alberni, BC * Northern Michagan (NCAA)/ UBC (CIS)
Lindores comes
to the Pronghorn program after spending time with Northern Michigan and UBC.
Over two seasons with Northern Michigan he played in 16 games, recording one
assist. Last season, Lindores started the season with UBC, playing in four
games, scoring once.
In his final junior season, Lindores scored
26 goals and added 35 assists for the Surrey Eagles in the
BCHL.
Coach Anastas: “Robert brings some veteran leadership and
experience to our lineup. He is a first-class individual that constantly puts
the necessary work in to get better. Having played in the NCAA for two seasons,
Robert knows what it takes to be great at a role and contribute to the success
of the team. “
Bryson Gore * 5’11” 183lbs * Centre * Milo, AB *
Calgary Canucks (AJHL)
Former Moose Jaw Warrior, Bryson Gore
played with the Calgary Canucks of the AJHL last season and put up 30 points in
55 games. As a Warrior, Gore scored 20 goals and added 14 assists in 137
games.
Brett Roulston * 6’0” 197 lbs * Right Wing * Whitehorse,
YT * Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL)
After playing two seasons with the
Prince George Cougars, Roulston finished his junior career with the Nanaimo
Clippers in the BCHL. Last season with the Clippers, Roulston recorded 37 points
in 58 games. In 105 games with the Cougars, he scored nine goals and added 10
assists.
Coach Anastas on Gore and Roulston: “Bryson and Brett
are two forwards that will do a lot for our lineup. They are very versatile
players who can play a number of roles. They both have sufficient WHL experience
and have been leaders on the Tier II Jr. A teams that they are coming in from.
Both of these players come highly recommended by their coaches. Bryson is a very
smart player that reads the game well, and Brett will go through anyone to win
races to the puck. Both of them will be very valuable to our program.”
(From U of L Pronghorns)
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