The Grande Prairie Storm are very pleased to announce that the team has made commitments to two players from the Grande Peace Ernie’s Sports Storm U18 AAA team of the Alberta Elite Hockey League.
Wesley Golden and Evyn Hansen will be at the team camp later this year.
“We are very excited to add two great young men to our team.,” said Storm Head Coach/General Manager Mike Vandekamp. “Wesley is a big, right shot defenceman, who can skate and has skill along with great instincts for the game.
“Evyn is a good-sized forward who has good skill and plays with plenty of grit and tenacity. Both players will be a big part of the future of the Storm.
Golden, six-foot-four and 200 pounds, joins the Junior A Storm after playing the abbreviated 2020-2021 season for the Storm U18 AAA and the 2019-2020 season for the Storm U15 AAA team. The 15-year-old Grande Prairie native tallied four goals and 10 assists for 14 points along with 52 PIMS in 29 games played for the Storm U15 AAA team during the 2019-2020 season.
Hansen is six feet tall and 165 pounds and joins the Storm after playing the abbreviated 2020-2021 season for the Storm U18 AAA and the 2019-2020 season for the Northern Alberta Extreme U15 Prep of the CSSHL. The 15-year-old Grande Prairie native tallied six goals and three assists for nine points along with 18 PIMS in 28 games played for NAX U15 Prep during the 2019-2020 season.
“It has been a difficult challenge to get to know the young local area players since taking over as GM/Head Coach of the Storm last off season,” said Vandekamp. “With all of the COVID restrictions in place there were very few games played last season and of course little to no personal interaction with any players outside of our own team. That said, we know we have two great additions to our team in Wesley and Evyn.”
Vandekamp is used to having Peace Country players in the lineup.
“The fact that these two players have grown up and played the majority of their hockey in Grande Prairie is such a bonus to our team. I was blessed to be part of the 2009 Storm AJHL Championship Team and one of the things that makes me most proud of that team was that we had nine players and an entire coaching staff from Grande Prairie and the Peace Region. We look forward to continuing to build a strong relationship with young aspiring players from Grande Prairie and the Peace Region moving forward.”
The Alberta Junior Hockey League announced earlier this week it will play a full 60-game schedule in 2021-22 and training camps can open on August 20.