Joel Kot joins Cougars

The Regina Cougars announced today that ex-Bruins defenceman Joel Kot will suit up with their program next year alongside former captain Troy Hunter.

The release from reginacougars.com:

University of Regina men's hockey head coach Blaine Sautner announced Tuesday that former WHLers Lucas Gore, Joel Kot, and Blaine Tendler have all committed to the Cougars for the 2011-12 season.

Gore, a goaltender from Kamloops, B.C., was a workhorse for the Chilliwack Bruins last season. He played in 64 of the team's 72 regular season games and compiled a 31-23-7 record to go along with an impressive .911 save percentage. In three full seasons with the Bruins, Gore had a 3.31 career goals-against average and a .905 save percentage. He also played in 11 career playoff games with Chilliwack.

"Lucas brings a ton of experience to our squad and will be able to contribute to our team immediately," Sautner said. "Lucas and A.J. (Whiffen) will be a very solid tandem for us in the seasons to come."

Tendler, a 6'1" blueliner from Viceroy, was named the 2011 SJHL Defenceman of the Year after a spectacular 20-year-old season with the Yorkton Terriers. He had 11 goals and 27 points for Yorkton in 47 regular season games and added four assists in 11 playoff contests last year. Tendler played for the Prince Albert Raiders for three full seasons before finishing off his junior career with two seasons in Yorkton.

"Blaine is a big, mobile defenceman that has a good first pass and is very steady," Sautner said. "His offensive capabilities will be a definite asset to our team as he has proven to be a valuable guy on the power play in the past."

Kot, a defenceman, played in 85 regular season games for the Red Deer Rebels over parts of three seasons. He won an MJHL championship and the Anavet Cup with the Dauphin Kings as a 19-year-old and finished off his junior career with Estevan (SJHL) last season, registering 24 points in 36 regular season games and scoring five points in nine postseason contests.

"Joel is a mobile defenceman who will be a great addition to our team," Sautner said. "He's a slick passer, has a good shot, and was a huge part of the Dauphin team that played in the Royal Bank Cup back in 2010."

The three recruits bring Sautner's recruiting class up to nine players. Seven players committed back in early June, but goaltender Andrew Hayes has opted to pursue a spot in the professional ranks.

The Cougars begin their 2011-12 schedule with a non-conference game at Saskatchewan on Sept. 9. The team's Canada West slate begins on Oct. 7 and 8 with a pair of games against the University of Alberta in Edmonton.

2011-12 University of Regina Men's Hockey Recruiting Class
F Liam Brennan – 6-2, 190 lbs. – Lumsden, Sask. – Augustana Vikings (ACAC)
D Dayton Fossum – 6-0, 190 lbs. – Frontier, Sask. – La Ronge Ice Wolves (MJHL)
G Lucas Gore – 6-0, 170 lbs. – Kamloops, B.C. – Chilliwack Bruins (WHL)
F Tyler Henry – 6-1, 175 lbs. – Balgonie, Sask. – Bonnyville Pontiacs (AJHL)
F Troy Hunter – 6-1, 207 lbs. – Virden, Man. – Estevan Bruins (SJHL)
D Joel Kot – 5-11, 193 lbs. – Moose Jaw, Sask. – Estevan Bruins (SJHL)
D Mark Schneider – 6-1, 190 lbs. – Brandon, Man. – Regina Pats (WHL)
D John Sonntag – 6-3, 215 lbs. – Goodsoil, Sask. – Kindersley Klippers (SJHL)
D Derek Tendler – 6-1, 200 lbs. – Viceroy, Sask. – Yorkton Terriers (SJHL)

Ceci to continue career close to home

From today's Mercury:

Faced with the decision of playing Division 3 hockey in the United States or at a Canadian college near his hometown, Jonathan Ceci took the no-brainer.

The former Estevan Bruin has earned a scholarship from Simon Fraser University, located in Burnaby, B.C.

The 21-year-old North Vancouver native will study business at SFU and said the school’s academic reputation factored into his choice.

“It took a while there to figure out what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go. I had a couple of options and this was the best fit for me,” said Ceci.

The Clan is coming off a British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League championship and looking south.

“They’re trying to get their hockey program up and going into the NCAA and it’s close to home for me, so it’s exciting,” Ceci said.


Read the rest of the story here

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Also, here's the release from the SJHL on Joel Danyluk earning the Roger Neilson/Hockey Ministries International award earlier this week. Congrats to Joel. I've never met him, but have heard great things about him as a person.

ROGER NEILSON AWARD (FAIR PLAY AND DEDICATION TO THE GAME)

                Joel Danyluk of the Estevan Bruins is the winner of the Roger Neilson award.  This 20 year old goalie from Yorkton  has a full understanding of what a community means to a hockey club. He works very hard to ensure that children who attended  Bruin games received autograph's, souvenirs and the attention that they need to keep them coming back to the games. Joel was constantly involved in the community through school visits, helping out with minor hockey, volunteering at community events and making sure that this community knows that the Estevan Bruins Hockey Club as a whole depends on the community for support.

This award is voted on by the twelve coaches and team chaplains of SJHL teams, and it goes to the player who best displays fair play and dedication to the game of hockey.  These attributes are both on and off the ice.  The winner also has to show a commitment to the team chaplain program.  This award is also known as the Hockey Ministries International Award

Ceci commits to Simon Fraser

Jonathan Ceci is the latest Bruin to commit to a university or college for the next phase of his career.

The high-flying centre, acquired from Nipawin at last year's trade deadline, will play for Simon Fraser University next season.

From SJHL.ca:

The Simon Fraser University Men’s Ice Hockey program is pleased to announce a commitment from forward Jonathan Ceci (North Vancouver, B.C.) to attend SFU and join the team as its looks for a championship three-peat in the 2011/12 British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League season.

Ceci recently completed his junior hockey career with the Estevan Bruins of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, where he was a prolific scorer over two seasons split between Estevan and the Nipawin Hawks. He finished the 2010/11 season ranked 11th in league scoring with 26 goals and 69 points in 54 games played and was named the SJHL’s Player of the Month in December after picking up 22 points in nine games. His SJHL totals include 47 goals, 119 points and 87 penalty minutes accumulated over 111 career games.

“Jonathan was identified as one of our top offensive targets during the recruiting process and we’re thrilled that he’s chosen to commit to SFU,” says general manager Jeff Dubois. “Jono really broke out offensively over the second half of last season and put up 50 points in his last 30 games. We expect that his creativity and playmaking ability should allow him step in and make an immediate impact in the BCIHL.”

“I chose Simon Fraser University because it has a great hockey program and very high-end academic options, plus it gave me the chance to stay close to home,” says Ceci. “I’m excited to show that I can excel and be successful at the university level. I don’t expect it to be handed to me, but I am looking forward to proving myself and helping to bring more championships to SFU.”

The addition of Ceci brings SFU’s commitment total from the SJHL to five. He joins Tyler Mah (Flin Flon), Tony Oak (Battlefords), Taylor Piller (La Ronge) and Trevor Milner (Notre Dame)