Simon Fraser University is pleased to announce its sixth student athlete commitment for the 2014-15 season. Joining SFU is defenseman Robby Jang of Port Moody.
The 20-year-old split the 2013-14 season with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League's Winkler Flyers and the Aldergrove Kodiaks of the Pacific Junior Hockey League.
"Robby is a great addition to a defensive core that will feature three or four freshmen," said SFU Head Coach Mark Coletta. "Robby and those other first year blueliners are basically the future of our program moving forward."
Jang, who is listed at 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds, had two goals and eight assists in 29 games with Winkler, and nine assists in 19 games with Aldergrove. He added the same number of points in 19 playoff games with the Kodiaks, who won the PJHL championship and advanced to the BC Provincial Junior B Championship tournament.
He was also listed as an affiliate player with the BC Hockey League's Prince George Spruce Kings.
"I'm excited to be attending SFU because of its long tradition of athletic and academic success," explained Jang.
The Port Moody Minor Hockey product played one full season of Junior A hockey in 2012-13, starting the season with the Alberta Junior Hockey League's Whitecourt Wolverines before being traded to Winkler. He finished with 20 points on three goals and 17 assists and added one assist in six playoff games.
In 2011-12, Jang played with Aldergrove and chipped in with nine goals and 18 assists in 41 games. He also skated in six games with the BCHL's Chilliwack Chiefs as an affiliate player.
"Robby can skate very well and has great vision," added Coletta. "Those two things will serve him well as he makes the transition to the BCIHL, simply because he isn't your stereotypical big-body bang and crash defenseman."
With reigning BCIHL Top Defenseman and last season’s highest scoring blueliner Jared Eng and Jang both on the SFU roster this upcoming season, the Clan can expect to see a lot of offense from the blueline.
"I would definitely consider myself an offensive defenseman who likes to join the rush and is most effective on the power play," said Jang. "I'm excited to get my post secondary education started and help SFU win a BCIHL championship."
"Robby has played at the Junior A level and won a championship at the Junior B level so we know we are getting a great player and student. We are very happy to have him on board," concluded Coletta.
Jang joins goaltenders Jordan Liem and Dominic Stadnyk, defenseman Mathew Berry-Lamontagna and forwards Tyler Basham and Matthew Luongo as six recruits thus far in what is expected to be a very strong recruiting class for the 2014-15 season for SFU.
SFU Men's Hockey was re-established in 2004 and competes in the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL). The program focuses on competition, academics, and community service as its core values.
Last year, SFU placed second in BCIHL standings while also earning strong results in exhibition games against NCAA Division 1, CIS, and ACAC opponents. For more information about the SFU Hockey program please visit www.sfuhockey.com