Selkirk College Saints Add More Fuel to High Octane Offense
By Bob Hall
The Selkirk College Saints already potent offense has been bolstered with commitments from a pair of players with proven point-producing talents.
Forward Wade Johnson and defenceman Seth Schmidt will be joining the four-time defending British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) champion Saints for the upcoming 2016-2017 season. Both players come equipped with a strong two-way game, but over their junior hockey careers were key contributors in the offensive zone.
“Wade brings with him the experience of three junior hockey championship seasons with the Victoria Cougars and one full season of ACAC [Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference] hockey where he finished fourth on his team in scoring last season,” says Saints head coach Brent Heaven.
“Wade plays a strong 200-foot game and has exceptional vision in the offensive zone, which is apparent in his 200-plus points during his junior hockey career. Wade will undoubtedly help to solidify our forward group for the upcoming season and beyond.”
Johnson hails from Sydney and grew up playing hockey in the Victoria area. He was a key member of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League’s (VIJHL) Victoria Cougars when the team dominated opponents.
Johnson was part of the Cougars team that played in the 2014 Cyclone Taylor Cup that was hosted by the Nelson Leafs and determined the Junior B provincial champion. In that tournament, Johnson played against three current Saints — Ryan Edwards, Dallas Calvin and Jamie Vlanich — who led the Saints in scoring last season and will now join him as a teammate for the upcoming season.
“After hearing about Selkirk College’s great trades’ programs, this seemed like the right fit for me,” says Johnson, who is transferring from Fort McMurray’s Keyano College and is enrolled in the Carpentry Program.
“It’s great to be joining a team with a winning tradition. I will contribute by bringing a strong two-way game, as well as an offensive upside.”
Schmidt grew up in Creston and played in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) with the Nelson Leafs, Castlegar Rebels and Creston Valley Thunder. He played briefly with the Trail Smoke Eaters and then made a move across the country to play Junior A in the Maritime Hockey League.
“Seth is a big, versatile d-man that skates well,” says Heaven.
“He has great vision and an offensive upside to go along with his strong defensive play. With more than 225 games of junior Hockey experience where he contributed more than 125 points over his career, we expect Seth’s background to relay into a productive two-way game.
Schmidt graduated from junior hockey last season and will also be spending his classroom hours in the Carpentry Program on Nelson’s Silver King Campus.
“I chose Selkirk because of its reputation in having a very good hockey club and I’ve always liked the West Kootenay area,” says Schmidt.
“I will bring everything I can onto the ice and do whatever the team needs in order to achieve our ultimate goal.”
Johnson and Schmidt join a recruiting class that includes Jordan Rauser (defence), Russell Sanderson (goal) and Jackson Bruce-Fuoco (defence).
The Saints open the season in September when they will begin a quest for five straight BCIHL championships.
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