Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Chargers swoop in on Eagles blueline corps and grab Koshey

Press Release

Defenceman Steve Koshey is flying the Eagles' nest for the University of Alabama-Huntsville.

The Trail native has one year of age eligibility left but will suit up alongside six other BCHL products next season with the Chargers.

Koshey, who is 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, will join Keenan Desmet, Justin Cseter, Mac Roy and Alex Allan, who are all currently enrolled at UAH. Recent BCHL grads Graeme Strukoff and Jeff Vanderlugt - another recruit from Surrey - will be there too.

Eagles coach Matt Erhart said Koshey found his role quickly after joining the team at the end of October.

"In that stretch of the season, we acquired him and another d-man (Beau Orser) and it kind of turned our season around and Steve was one of the big parts of that," said Erhart. "He's good at both ends of the rink and as the season went on he got better in all three zones."

Smaller in stature, Koshey's stocky build and foot speed allowed him to play key minutes on the Eagles' blueline.

"He's got extremely quick feet and he protects the puck well," said Erhart. "He keeps himself in good shape, he battles and sees the ice well."

Koshey played his first two BCHL seasons with his hometown Smoke Eaters and began the past season there before joining Surrey. In 35 games with the Eagles, he scored three goals and 22 assists and went on to add two goals and nine assists in 16 playoff games.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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