Former WHL/BCHL forward Matt Ius set to join Trinity Western in January

---

Trinity Western University has added a major piece to its offensive puzzle with the signing of former Langley Chiefs forward Matt Ius on Thursday.

The former Chiefs right winger, who, along with his BCHL experiences also played 129 games in the Western Hockey League over five seasons, joins the Spartans after spending the 2012 fall semester playing CIS hockey with Mount Royal University. Due to injury, Ius played in just four games with the Cougars, registering three assists.

"Matt definitely has a nose for the net, but he’s also an all-around player," said Spartans coach Dwayne Lowdermilk. "To have a player like Matt coming to our team is a great boon for us for this season and the future."

Prior to his one semester stint with Mount Royal, the physical forward took a several-stop journey through the junior ranks from 2005-2011, playing out his career with seven different franchises, including the WHL’s Everett Silvertips, Swift Current Broncos, Chilliwack Bruins and Portland Winterhawks, and the BCHL’s Burnaby Express, Nanaimo Clippers and Langley Chiefs.

In his final year of junior hockey, in 2010-11, Ius racked up 28 goals and 39 assists in 46 regular games with the Chiefs. He followed that up with six goals and 14 assists in 10 playoff games. After Langley was eliminated from the BCHL playoffs, Ius was picked up by Portland and saw action in three regular season contests and 14 playoff games in the Winterhawks run to the WHL final.

In his 129 regular season WHL appearances, Ius had eight goals, 14 assists and 49 penalty minutes. He added one goal and nine penalty minutes in 19 playoff games.

In 84 games at the BCHL level, Ius combined for 40 goals, 56 assists and 89 penalty minutes. His 20-point effort in the 2011 playoffs was his lone post-season appearance in the BCHL.

"The people who I talked to about Trinity Western had nothing but good things to say," Ius said. "I’ve spent enough time away from my family so it was time to make a decision to come home. I saw an opportunity here to build a winner. I’m ready to be here for the next four years, get a degree and win a couple of championships."

Ius is a player who will inject both energy and an offensive punch into a Spartans line-up that has scored a BCIHL league-low 29 goals in 11 games this year.

"I’ll bring hard work and physical play, and hopefully, with that work, goals will come," Ius said.

With the Spartans, Ius will once again call the Langley Events Centre home, having played the 2010-11 season there with the Langley Chiefs. Ius will join former Chiefs teammate Tyler Miller, who is in his first year with the Spartans.

Ius plans to study business at TWU.