Smoke Eaters Land Commitment From University of North Dakota Committed Forward
By Trevor Miller
The Trail Smoke Eaters Junior ‘A’ Hockey Club is pleased to announce forward Braden Costello (’00) has committed to the team for the 2019/20 season.
Costello, 19, joins the Smoke Eaters after spending parts of the last three seasons in the United States Hockey League (USHL) playing with the Des Moines Buccaneers and Green Bay Gamblers. The 6’2”, 201-pound forward suited up for 72 games with the Buccaneers after being the team’s 2nd overall pick in the 2016 USHL Futures Draft, scoring 11 goals and 7 assists for 18 points to go along with 32 penalty minutes. Wrapping up the 2018/19 campaign in Green Bay, Costello tallied 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points in 43 games with the Gamblers to go along with 31 penalty minutes.
The Grand Forks, North Dakota played his high school hockey with Grand Forks Red River where he amassed 53 goals and 51 assists for 104 points in just 54 games played. His play landed him a commitment to his hometown school as Costello is slated to join the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks after his junior hockey career has concluded. Costello also took part in the highly-regarded CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game in Buffalo, New York, playing alongside current National Hockey Leaguer’s in Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes and Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk.
“We’re very excited to have the opportunity to bring a player like Braden into our lineup for this season,” commented Smoke Eaters General Manager and Head Coach Jeff Tambellini, “Braden brings everything we are looking to add for the identity of our team this season, he’s a big power forward that adds plenty of size and skill to our team and is going to a great school in the University of North Dakota.”
The Smoke Eaters would like to welcome Braden and his family to the organization as well as the City of Trail.
Season tickets are now on sale for the 2019/20 Smoke Eaters season and can be purchased at the Smoke Eaters Main Office, located in the Trail Memorial Centre. Early bird pricing is available until May 31st with season ticket packages offered at $229 for Adults and $119 for Students. Office hours are set for 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM and open Monday through Friday.
