Spartans add up front, on defence with signings of Buys and Hergott

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Trinity Western University has added a pair of players to its 2014 recruiting class, officially announcing the signings of forward PJ Buys (Newmarket, ON) and defenceman Cole Hergott (Bruno, SK) for the 2014/15 B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League season.

Buys is a 6-foot-3 forward who graduated from Huron Heights Secondary School in 2010 and played his junior hockey with the Newmarket Hurricanes of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.

From 2007 to 2010, Buys tallied 14 goals and 20 assists along with 38 penalty minutes in 81 games with the Hurricanes.

"We're excited to be adding a player with PJ's pedigree," said Spartans coach Barret Kropf. "He will be a big, strong body for our line-up and give us experienced depth. His leadership on and off the ice will help us continue to build the culture we have established with Spartans hockey moving forward."

"I'm attending TWU because it seems like a great place to flourish under God's calling," said Buys, who will work towards his Master’s in Philosophy at TWU. "Everything about TWU seems to feel right, including the spiritual, athletic and academic atmosphere."

Meanwhile, Hergott is a 6-foot-2, 180-pound defenceman who comes to the Spartans after spending his last year at the St. Therese Institute of Faith and Mission.

Prior to that, Hergott, who graduated from Bruno Central School in 2012, played with the Tri Town Thunder of the Junior B Prairie Junior Hockey League. In his lone season with the Thunder, he collected three goals, 10 assists and 50 penalty minutes in 40 games. That year, he was also named his team’s most improved player.

Before joining the Thunder, Hergott played his midget hockey with the Watson Rockets.

"We're excited to add another big body to our defensive core," Kropf said. "Cole brings some solid years of experience to our lineup and will be a culture carrier for us as he looks to strive towards excellence in the classroom and the arena each and every day."

Hergott, who plans to study human kinetics, said: "I want to both further my education while growing in my faith with Jesus Christ and getting the chance to continue to play hockey at a high level. It’s all about giving glory to God in everything I do and doing His will for me."

The Spartans now have four players committed for the 2014/15 season, as Buys and Hergott join blueliners Ryan Bakken (Lindenwood University, ACHA) and Karsten Seidel (North Delta Devils, PJHL).