Saints land key goaltending prospect with Cyclone Taylor Cup experience
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Selkirk Saints solidified its net for the upcoming B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League season by inking two-time Cyclone Taylor netminder Aaron Oakley to a playing commitment.
Oakley joins Selkirk following an outstanding three-year career in the Pacific Junior Hockey League with the Richmond Sockeyes and Abbotsford Pilots.
The of Richmond product appeared at back-to-back Cyclone Taylor Cups in 2011 and 2012 with the Sockeyes and Pilots respectively, and went on to win the Keystone Cup with Abbotsford to conclude his 19-year old season.
“Aaron’s performance and accomplishments over the past three seasons match-up favourably against any Junior B goaltender in the province,” said Saints head coach Jeff Dubois, fresh off leading the Saints to the 2013 BCIHL title.
“He comes from a winning program in Abbotsford that demands excellence from its players, so we expect him to be well-prepared to make an impact at the college level.”
Oakley led the PCHL in a number of statistical categories during the 2012/13 season as a member of the Pilots, including games played (33), minutes played (1941) and wins (23).
The 20-year old also finished second amongst PJHL netminders with a 2.01 goals-against average and fourth with a .918 save percentage. His overall totals spanning three seasons in the PJHL include 58 wins and 21 losses with a 2.27 GAA and a .914 SV%.
He has also earned a number of individual accolades, including the PJHL’s Most Valuable Player award for the 2012/13 season. He was an all-star in all three years played in the league and was the recipient of the Top Goaltender award as a rookie with the Sockeyes in 2010/11.
The addition of Oakley brings Selkirk back to three goaltenders on the roster for the 2013/14 season after former Nelson Leafs Marcus Beesley and the team agreed to defer his commitment by one year.
Oakley is the ninth player to commit to the Saints for the 2013/14 season. He joins forwards Darnell Dyck (Langley, BCHL), Markus McCrea (Youngstown, USHL) and Garrett Kucher (Osoyoos, KIJHL), blueliners Stefan Gonzales (Aldergrove, PJHL), Arie Postmus (Beaver Valley, KIJHL), Ryan Procyshyn (Delta, PJHL) and Tanner Lenting (North Delta, PJHL) and goaltender Myles Hovdebo (LaRonge, SJHL).
