ROYALS INK FOUR 1996-BORN PLAYERS

Press Release

Victoria, BC – The Victoria Royals today announced that the club has signed forwards Brandon Fushimi and Michael Bell, defenceman Ryan Gagnon and goaltender Michael Herringer to Western Hockey League Standard Players’ Agreements.

Michael Bell

Bell, a native of Kitimat, BC, was drafted by Victoria with its third round, 55th overall, in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft. Last season, Bell suited up for the Cariboo Cougars of the BC Major Midget League, compiling 12 points (5G-7A) through 34 games played.

Bell was named to Team BC for the 2011 Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup. The 16-year-old also competed in the 2011 U16 BC Cup, recording eight points (3G-5A) in five games. The 5-11, 200 lb forward was also named the “Diamond in the Rough” award winner at the 2011 BC Provincial Championships as a member of the Kitimat Bantam Tier 2 team.

Ryan Gagnon

Gagnon was selected by Victoria immediately following Bell in the third round, 56th overall, in last year’s WHL Bantam Draft. The 16-year-old defenceman is coming off a 2011-12 season in which he recorded 24 points (4G-20A) in 38 games to go along with 50 minutes in penalties for the Cariboo Cougars of the BC Major Midget League. Gagnon went on to record three goals in four games of playoff action last season with the Cougars.

The Quesnel, BC native was named to Team BC’s 2011 Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup roster and participated in the 2011 U16 BC Cup alongside Bell, his teammate. The 6-1, 190 lb Gagnon played for his hometown Quesnel Bantam Tier 3 Thunder in the 2010-11 season. Leading the club as team captain, Gagnon and the Thunder took home the silver medal at the Provincial Championships.

Michael Herringer

Victoria selected its lone goaltender in the 2011 WHL Bantam draft in Comox, BC native Michael Herringer with their ninth round, 188th overall choice. The 6-0, 163 lb netminder started in goal for the North Island Silvertips of the BC Major Midget League last season, recording a goals against average of 3.63 through 22 games played. The 16-year-old goaltender also led the Silvertips to a silver medal at the 2012 Richmond International Midget Tournament with a tournament-best 1.33 goals against average in three starts.

Herringer starred for the hometown Comox Valley Lube-X Bantam Chiefs in the 2010-11 season, earning an invite to prospects camp for the Cowichan Valley Capitals of the BC Hockey League.

Brandon Fushimi

Placed on the Royals’ 50-man Player Protected List in 2011, the Thornton, CO native signs with Victoria following a 2011-12 season that saw the forward register 23 points (10G-13A) for the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders Tier 1 Midget minor team.

The 6-1, 165 lb forward competed for the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders in the North American Prospects Hockey League (PHL) 14U division during the 2010-11 season. Fushimi tallied 17 points (9G-8A) in 10 games of regular season play before adding 10 points (4G-6A) in playoff action to earn 14U All-PHL First Team honours.

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