Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Attack name Zach Nastasiuk Captain, along with Chris Bigras and Kurtis Gabriel as Assistants.

Press Release

The Owen Sound Attack is pleased to announce that forward Zach Nastasiuk has been named Captain of the Hockey Club. The veteran forward is in his 3rd Ontario Hockey League season and will take over the vacant Captaincy that was left by graduate Keevin Cutting. Nastasiuk is the 20th Captain in Franchise history and the first 18 year old Captain since Bobby Ryan wore the “C” from 2005-2007.

The Barrie native was a 2nd Round Pick of the Detroit Red Wings in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft and is coming off his first 20 goal campaign. The 6’1 power forward was also a member of the Gold Medal winning team at the 2013 World Under 18 Hockey Championships. Nastasiuk, the Attack’s 1st Round Pick in 2011 was also the teams 2013 Playoff MVP after posting 11 points in 12 games.

“Zach leads by example with his incredible work ethic.”, said Head Coach Greg Ireland. “He does things right at both ends of the rink and is a great ambassador for our hockey club both on and off the ice.”

The club also named its Assistant Captains yesterday. Veteran forward Kurtis Gabriel and defenseman Chris Bigras.

Gabriel, a Minnesota Wild draft pick is in his 4th season with the Attack and is a veteran of almost 180 Ontario Hockey League games. The hard hitting winger was undrafted into the Ontario Hockey League and signed with the Attack as a free agent walk on in the fall of 2010. Kurtis “The Sledgehammer” Gabriel has a +13 rating, 194 PIM and 54 career points. Gabriel was the teams 2012/2013 Pat McReavy Award winner as the team’s Unsung Hero and also won the Dave McComb Award winner for Leadership and Perseverance.  Kurtis also took home the teams Scholastic Award in 2010/2011.

Bigras, a Colorado Avalanche 2nd Round pick is in his 3rd season with the Attack and was also a member of Canada’s Gold Medal Winning Team at the 2013 World Under 18 Hockey Championships. The Elmvale native has a +40 rating, 62 points and 73 penalty minutes in 125 career games. In his three seasons in Owen Sound, Bigras has taken home the Scholastic Award the past two seasons, Playoff MVP in 2012, Top Draft Prospect in 2013 and was the clubs Rookie of the Year in 2011/2012.

Nastasiuk, Gabriel, Bigras and their teammates will be back in action at home this Saturday when they host the Kingston Frontenacs.


 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)

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