SPITS SIGN FIVE PLAYERS, ASSIGN THREE

Press Release

General Manager Warren Rychel has signed forwards Ty Bilcke, Stephen Alonge, Brennan Feasey, defencemen John Bowen and goaltender Dalen Kuchmey to OHL hockey and scholarship packages.

Rychel took Feasey (5’11”, 185) in the 6th round of the 2010 OHL Priority Selection before choosing Bowen (6’3”, 220) in the 7th round and Bilcke (6’2.5”, 217) in the 8th.

Feasey spent last season with the Chatham Maroons (GOJHL), Bowen was with the Comcast Major Midgets (U.S.) while Bilcke played for the Listowel Cyclones (GOJHL).

Alonge, who played for the New York Bobcats of the AJHL in 2010-11 and Kuchmey, who played last season with the Windsor Jr. Spitfires (Major Midgets), were both invited to the Spitfires training camp on tryout agreements.



GM'S COMMENTS

BILCKE: “Ty brings a solid physical presence along with energy to our forward core. He’s a team player and can contribute well on the forecheck.”

FEASEY: “Brennan brings a good skill package to the table. With added strength and experience he can be a very productive player in this league.”

BOWEN: “John has exceeded all expectations. He makes a great first pass and keeps the game simple while providing grit in the back."

ALONGE: “Alonge was the biggest surprise at camp this year. We simply couldn’t cut him. He’s very serviceable in all three zones and is tough.”

KUCHMEY: “He’s a local kid who’s in great shape and beat others out of a job. He made some great saves against Plymouth on Monday, especially during the 5-on-3’s and power plays we were facing. He gives us needed depth at the goaltending position.”

Additionally, Jordan DeKort has been assigned to the LaSalle Vipers, Sam Studnicka to the Chatham Maroons Jr. B and Dalen Kuchmey to the Strathroy Rockets Jr. B.

DEKORT: “DeKort is our goalie of the future, but he needs to play minutes. LaSalle is the perfect place for that. We’ll still be using DeKort and Kuchmey during preseason in the absence of Jack Campbell while he’s at the Dallas Stars camp."

STUDNICKA: “Sam had a great camp and he outplayed guys who were drafted ahead of him. Moving forward, Sam will be a part of our team and he will see games with the Spitfires this season.”

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