The Campbell River Storm have added a couple of familiar names to the roster – defenseman Andy Stevens and forward Tyler Welsh – for the upcoming 2014-15 season.
Both players are coming to the Storm from the prestigious College School Sport Hockey League, playing for the Okanagan Hockey Academy and Burnaby Winter Club Academy.
Stevens, from Campbell River, has played the last two seasons with the Okanagan Hockey Academy, winning the Prep Championship this season with the U18 AAAA Prep team.
The 6’2” foot, 185 pound player recorded 27 points in 45 regular season games, and also added five assists in three wins during the College School Sport Hockey League Playoffs.
Stevens’ stellar two year run with the academy was highlighted last season by a draft selection to the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League.
Stevens is most excited about, “the opportunity to come back home and play at the Brindy in front of the large home town crowds. I expect to provide a strong defensive game as well as contributing offensively as much as I can to the team and improve enough to play in the BCHL or WHL in the future.”
Welsh, from Whistler, recently served as the captain for the Burnaby Winter Club U18 AAAA Prep team where the 5’8” foot, 160 pound player led the team in scoring with 12 goals, 16 assists and 28 points in 22 games played, as well as adding two goals and two assists in three playoff games.
Storm fans will recognize Welsh’s name as he donned the Storm sweater as an affiliate player, playing seven games scoring two goals and adding one assist including second star honours in a road game against the Oceanside Generals to close out last season.
“I am excited to come to a first class organization and play in front of the best fans in Jr.B! I will provide my best effort night in and night out, contributing offensively with the goal of winning a Championship next season and moving onto the Jr A and Collegiate level in the future,” Welsh said.
General Manager and Head Coach Lee Stone was quite pleased with the recent commitments of Stevens and Welsh saying that, “Many junior teams across BC recruited both Andy and Tyler and we are very excited that they both choose the Storm program to develop not only on the ice as hockey players but off it as young men.”