Saints add muscle to blueline for second half of BCIHL season
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Selkirk College Men’s Hockey team is beefing up the blueline for the second half of the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League season by adding defenceman Stefan Virtanen to the roster.
Virtanen is a 6’2″, 200-pound blueliner who joins Selkirk following four seasons of Junior A hockey, most recently with the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Calgary Mustangs where he scored six goals and totaled 19 points and 74 minutes in penalties in 41 games last season, split between the Mustangs and the Drumheller Dragons.
“I’m thrilled to add a player of Stefan’s character and experience level to our roster for the second half of this season and beyond,” says Saints head coach Jeff Dubois.
“He’s a versatile defenceman who can fit in and thrive in all situations. He brings a tough, competitive attitude and he’s a heavy hitter, but he showed in the AJHL last season that he’s really developed the offensive side of this game as well.”
The 21-year old spent the two previous seasons with the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Flin Flon Bombers, where he suited up in 66 games before missing much of his 19-year old year due to injury.
His junior career started in the BCHL, where he picked up two assists and 45 penalty minutes in 29 games with the Williams Lake Timberwolves. Overall, Virtanen brings 136 games of Junior A experience to the Selkirk defence corps. His statistical totals include 11 goals, 21 assists and 207 penalty minutes.
The Abbotsford product began the current season on a try-out with the Southern Professional Hockey League’s Mississippi Surge and got his first taste of pro hockey when he suited up in a number of preseason games. He plans to study Business Administration at Selkirk College.
“I can’t wait to get to Selkirk and begin my college hockey career,” says Virtanen, who describes himself as a quick, offensive, puck moving defenceman that plays with a physical edge,” Virtanen said.
“I’ve heard nothing but good things about the college and team, and I’m looking forward to being part of a winning organization along with helping out in the community.”
Virtanen joins the Saints for the winter semester at Selkirk, enrolling in Business Administration.
The Saints are next in action on Saturday (November 16) when they host Simon Fraser University at the Castlegar Recreation Complex in a rematch of last season’s final teams.
Faceoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
