Photo Courtesy: Melissa Baker Photography
Whitecourt, AB – The Whitecourt Wolverines are pleased to announce that 1997-born forward Estian Coetzee has committed to the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Trojans (ACAC).
The Fort McMurray, Alberta product just completed his second and final season with the Wolverines after being acquired last year from the Camrose Kodiaks. In his time with the Wolverines, Coetzee has played in 65 games scoring 12 goals and 26 assists while playing an additional 24 games in the post-season where he collected 5 goals and 6 assists. During his three years in the AJHL, he suited up for the Wolverines, Camrose Kodiaks and Olds Grizzlys playing in a total of 144 games where he registered 37 goals and 51 assists.
“When I look back on my time in Whitecourt I’m going to remember a lot of great things, “ said Coetzee. “I made a lot of lifelong friends with the guys on the team and in the community, and feel like we really accomplished a lot as a hockey team in my two years there.”
Coetzee had his final season cut short during the second round of the playoffs after he sustained a severe injury to his leg that required multiple emergency procedures but says that he well on his way to recovery.
“The recovery process has been really good and moving along quickly, I will be back skating very soon and ready for hockey in the fall.”
Prior to playing junior hockey, Coetzee played in both the Fort McMurray and Fort Saskatchewan Minor Hockey programs. In his final season in Fort McMurray, while playing for the Bantam AA Barons, he scored 11 goals and 9 assists in 32 games. In his lone season of Midget AAA hockey, he picked up 8 goals and 11 assists in 32 games with the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers.
The Trojans are now lead behind the bench by new head coach Brent Devost. Devost has an extensive hockey resume as he has coached at several levels while also being the one who founded the Edge Hockey School located just west of Calgary. The Trojans are a perennial powerhouse in the ACAC having won the championship 12 times.
“SAIT just had so many great things to offer in terms of educational opportunities and not to mention a very successful on-ice program with the Trojans,” Coetzee added on his decision to choose SAIT.
Coetzee will join fellow Wolverine alumni Eric Krienke and Connor McCallum in the Trojans lineup next season.
The entire Whitecourt Wolverines organization would like to congratulate Estian and his family on his selection of the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology for his college experience and wish him all the best in his academics and athletics.
Estian is the fourth player on this year’s roster to earn a college commitment:
Liam Motley – Cornell University
Tyr Thompson – University of Alabama-Huntsville
Jaedon Leslie – Ohio State University
Estian Coetzee – Southern Alberta Institute of Technology