Whitecourt, AB – The Whitecourt Wolverines are pleased to announce that defenceman Ryan Grant has been named the eighth captain in team history.
Grant is entering his third season with the Wolverines following a minor hockey career in his hometown of Medicine Hat, Alberta. He leads all current Wolverine players in games played as a member of the team with 108.
Last season, Grant was one of only two players to appear in all 60 regular season games and all 20 post-season contests displaying his tremendous consistency and reliability. During the 2016/2017 season he would set career highs in assists (18) and points (21).
Grant takes over the captain duties from Joseph Nardi who has moved on to play NCAA hockey with the University of Northern Michigan Wildcats.
Joining the team’s leadership core, alongside Grant, are alternate captains Jaedon Leslie, Stevie Bryant and Liam Motley.
Leslie is entering his third season as a member of the Wolverines and is coming off a season in which he set career highs in all major statistical categories; goals (15), assists (15) and points (30).
Stevie Bryant will be playing his second season in Whitecourt after coming north from his hometown of Edmonds, Washington and is known as a reliable two-way centerman.
Liam Motley will be playing his final year of junior hockey before he heads off to the NCAA ranks next year as he already has a commitment in his back pocket to Cornell University thanks in large part to his excellent scholastic achievements and a 30-goal season during the 2016/2017 campaign.
Earlier this week the team finalized their opening night roster, which will consist of players from two countries (Canada and USA), five provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec) and two states (Washington and Wisconsin).
For the first time since the 2014/2015 season, the Wolverines will enter the regular season with a local product on their roster as 2000-born defenceman Spencer Augot has earned a spot on the club coming out of training camp.
For the team’s full roster, click here.
The Whitecourt Wolverines open the regular season on Friday, September 15th at the Scott Safety Centre hosting the Spruce Grove Saints. There will be plenty of pregame festivities including a tail-gate party from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the arena parking lot, following that the team will raise their North Division Championship banner prior to puck drop.