Top KIJHL Defenceman & BCHL veteran Crawford commits to Selkirk College

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The Selkirk College Saints Men’s Hockey program is pleased to announce a commitment from defenceman Kameran Crawford (Penticton, B.C.) to attend Selkirk College and compete for the Saints beginning in the 2012/13 B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League season.

Crawford spent the 2011/12 season with the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League’s Osoyoos Coyotes, where he led the team in scoring and was honoured by the league as it’s Top Defenceman. The 20-year old was an offensive force for the Coyotes with 18 goals and 74 points in 46 regular season games, leading all KIJHL blueliners by a 26-point margin. He also added 11 points in six playoff contests.

The Penticton native spent the previous two seasons playing with the British Columbia Hockey League’s Merritt Centennials, where he picked up 20 points and 97 penalty minutes over 90 games. He suited up for the Penticton Vees in four games during their 2011/12 campaign and joined the club in Humboldt, SK for the 2012 RBC Cup, which the Vees captured with a finals win over the Woodstock Slammers.

"We’re thrilled that Kam decided to begin his college hockey career at Selkirk, particularly given the number of programs in Canada and the United States that were after him," says Saints head coach Jeff Dubois. "Kam adds size, mobility and skill to an already talented group of defencemen, and he should be an impact player in the BCIHL from day one."

Crawford is the Saints’ fifth committed defenceman for the fall, joining Brett Kipling (Melville, SJHL), Dylan Smith (Richmond, PIJHL), Lucas Hildebrand (Revelstoke, KIJHL) and Mark Strachan (Kimberley, KIJHL). Returning blueliners Justin Sotkowy and Sandro Moser finished 3rd and 4th in BCIHL scoring by defencemen last season.

"I’m excited to come to Selkirk College and I’m looking forward to being a part of an up-and-coming hockey program and living in a great town," says Crawford, who lists his puck-handling, hard shot and offensive instincts amongst his strengths. "My goals are to be successful in my studies, meet a bunch of new people and make a run at a championship."

Osoyoos head coach Ken Law predicts a bright future for the Saints’ newest recruit after making a big impact for the Coyotes.

"Kameran was to our club what I would have imagined Paul Coffee was to the Edmonton Oilers during their dominating years," he says. "He was an individual you could count on to produce at both ends of the rink. Along with his offensive talent he was solid defensively. What made Kam so valuable was how he would control the tempo of a game and raise his teammates’ play up to his level."

"Kam was a work horse for us all season long and logged 40 minutes per game. He could always be counted on to score the big goals or be part of a big scoring play. He could also be counted on to shut down other team’s top lines."

Also committed to Selkirk for the fall are forwards Logan Proulx (Cowichan Valley, BCHL), Thomas Hardy (Aldergrove, PIJHL), Jackson Garrett (Comox Valley, VIJHL), Stephen Saretsky (Wellington, OJHL), Scott Swiston (Creston, KIJHL), Connor McLaughlin (Fernie, KIJHL), Cole Thomson (Kerry Park, VIJHL), Matthew Luongo (Aldergrove, PIJHL), Cody Fidgett (Delta, PIJHL), John Proctor (Delta, PIJHL), Mason Spear (Beaver Valley, KIJHL), Connor Stephens (Victoria, VIJHL), Brodie Gibbon (Oceanside, VIJHL) and Jared Seutter (Chase, KIJHL) and goaltenders Alex Sirard (Pilot Butte, PJHL) and Stephen Wolff (Oceanside, VIJHL).