Eagles ink first two commitments for 2015/16 in Kyle Ruchas & Aaron Dunlap

Eastern Washington University is pleased to announce a pair of player commitments for the 2015/16 B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League season, as Kyle Ruchas (Castle Rock, CO) and Aaron Dunlap (Anchorage, AK) have both signed Letters of Intent to suit up for the Eagles next season.

Ruchas will join EWU from the Eugene Generals of the Northern Pacific Hockey League (NORPAC) where the 6-foot-2, 200-pound defenseman serves as team captain.

Ruchas is in his third season with Eugene, where he has appeared in 105 games, tallied 46 points (22 goals and 24 assists) and 295 PIMs. The big defenseman will be counted on to provide some additional push back on the blue line.

“We were impressed with what we saw from Kyle in the late fall and early winter," says Eagles GM Bill Shaw. His size will be a plus, and so will be his ability to be calm with the puck. The BCIHL will be a step up for him from the NORPAC but given the skills and game awareness he shows we feel he should translate quite well."

Generals coach Justin Kern only had positive things to say about his captain and made the process of getting the commitment done very easy according to Eagles Associate Coach Pat Hanlon.

Meanwhile, Dunlap will join the Eagles from the Nelson Leafs of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) where he is also team captain. The 6-foot, 180 pound forward is expected to be a key component to next year's team given the ability he has shown in his final season with the Leafs.

In 141 games he has tallied 100 points (46 goals and 54 assists) and 235 PIMs.

“We were in a position with Aaron where we got to see a lot of him given how many times the Leafs play in Spokane each season. His effort and determination always showed when we watched him,” says Shaw.

The Leafs staff also gave great references on Aaron as a person and a player. According to Shaw Leafs coach and GM Dave McLellan, Dunlap can grow as a player which is important at the college level when you have some players winding down careers.

“The goal is always to have players improve each year that they are with the team and once they're done with the academic process they have options on and off the ice,” added Shaw.

Dunlap becomes the second player from the Leafs to commit to a BCIHL school after defenseman Robson Cramer committed to SFU earlier this year.

The Eagles expect to have another commitment announced next week after they return from the road trip to Vancouver this weekend.

The Eagles will face Trinity Western and Simon Fraser on Friday and Saturday with both games at 7:00 PM and available on Fast Hockey.