Hurricanes High on Merkley

EDMONTON - Lethbridge Hurricanes Assistant General Manager Brad Robson was very proud to announce this morning that the Lethbridge Hurricanes have selected Jay (Johnathon) Merkley from the Calgary Bisons of the AMBHL with their first selection, 3^rd overall in the first round of the 2010 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft.

Merkley is a 5'10, 160 pound center who tallied 30 goals and 41 assists for 71 points and 32 PIMs in 33 games for the Bisons, good enough for fifth in scoring Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League in 09-10. Merkley was integral in the Bisons capturing of the 2010 Provincial and League Championships, while collecting individual accolades as the winner of the AMBHL South Division Scoring title, South Division Forward Award and the South Division Most Valuable Player Award. He then followed that up with an impressive weekend, at the Alberta Cup in leading all forwards in scoring.

"Jay is a tremendous skater with good speed and acceleration combined with very good goal scoring ability, great hands and stick skills", said Robson adding "He has the potential to be a franchise player for us in the future and while his accolades speak for themselves, we also know him as a leader and character individual who was an important part of a winning program in Calgary."

(From Ryan Ohashi)

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