Jamestown (UJ,CSi) University of Jamestown head hockey coach Dean Stork announces the signing of three players for the 2016-17 season. All three players come from the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL), based in British Columbia, Canada.
Graeme Close of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, played with the Grand Forks Border Bruins in 2015-16. The 6’0″, 195 pound defenseman appeared in 44 games with three goals, five assists, and 112 penalty minutes.
“One word comes to mind right away with this hockey player—‘tough’,” said Stork. “Graeme is an outstanding penalty killer and has a defense first mentality. He takes pride in his defensive game and shutting down the opponent’s top lines.”
Maverick Lynes is a 5’11”, 160 pound defenseman from Christina Lake, British Columbia. He played the 2015-16 season with the Creston Valley Thunder Cats, scoring four goals with 11 assists and 54 penalty minutes in 31 games. In three seasons with the Thunder Cats, Lynes totaled 15 goals and 39 assists in 132 games.
“Maverick is a smooth-skating defenseman who can really push the pace with his fast transitioning game,” said Stork. ”For a defenseman he will generate a lot of odd man rushes by jumping into the offensive plays. He will be a great addition in the classroom as well.”
Bryson Yee of Calgary, Alberta, also played with the Grand Forks Border Bruins this past season. Yee, a 5’11”, 170 pound forward, registered 14 goals and 11 assists with 57 penalty minutes in 51 games. In two years with Grand Forks, Yee scored 19 goals and had 22 assists in 101 games.
“Bryson has one of the brightest minds in hockey that I have ever seen,” said Stork. ”He’s so responsible all over the ice, and a fantastic penalty killer as well as shot blocker. He will be a big piece to our success this coming year!”
University of Jamestown was established in 1883 and is ranked as a top regional school in both US News and World Report and The Princeton Review. The school features development of the whole person through its distinctive Journey to Success experience.
