Univ. of Victoria adds up front, in goal with commitments from KIJHL trio

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The University of Victoria Men's Hockey program is pleased to announce three playing commitments for the 2011/12 British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League season. Forwards Jason Alessio (Smithers, B.C.) and Rylee Orr (Maple Creek, SK) and goaltender Taylor Pears (Victoria, B.C.) are all confirmed to join the Vikes this fall.

Jason Alessio is a skilled forward who excelled over two seasons with the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League's Kamloops Storm. The 21-year old set career highs in goals and points during the 2009/10 season, scoring 27 times while adding 20 assists and helping the Storm to a bronze medal at the Western Canadian Junior B Championships. He totalled 46 goals and 82 points over 97 career games in Kamloops, and also suited up in four contests for the British Columbia Hockey League's Merritt Centennials during the 2008/09 campaign.

Rylee Orr, another KIJHLand Kamloops Storm grad, joins the Vikes from Utah State University of the American College Hockey Association. Orr split his junior career between the Storm and the Golden Rockets, scoring 17 times and posting 41 points and 66 penalty minutes over two seasons. He then joined the USU Aggies for the 2010/11 season and put up 15 points and 36 PIM in 16 games as a freshman.

Taylor Pears joins the University of Victoria following three seasons of junior hockey, most recently with the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League's Fernie Ghostriders. The 19-year old goaltender compiled a 4-2 record in seven games with Fernie last season while recording a 2.97 goals-against average. He previously spent parts of two seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League, splitting 17 games between the Powell River Kings, Cowichan Valley Capitals and Quesnel Millionaires. In between Junior A stops, Pears was a standout performer for the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League's Kerry Park Islanders.

"We're very pleased to bring in two important pieces up front in Jason and Riley and to add a solid goaltender like Taylor," says Vikes head coach and general manager Harry Schamhart. "All three players bring a unique and valuable skill set, and I expect each of them to compete for an important role on our club as first year players in the BCIHL."

Alessio, Orr and Pears join former AJHL forward Cam McWilliam amongst the Vikes' recruiting group for the 2011/12 season.