EWU adds size, toughness on blueline with commitments from Blondin, Totten

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Eastern Washington University is pleased to announce the team's first two commitments for the 2013/14 B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League season.

Defenceman Kyle Blondin (Renton, WA) will join the Eagles from the Seattle Totems of the Western States Hockey League. Blondin stands six feet, 175 pounds and has amassed 24 goals, 55 assists and 499 penalty minutes over 140 games played in parts of 5 seasons. Blondin also had stints in the North American Hockey League with St. Louis and Alexandria.

"Kyle is the type of player and person we are trying to bring into this program with a history of high academic marks and the ability to play hockey at a high level," says Eagles head coach Bill Shaw. 

EWU brought Blondin in on a visit in January to tour the school, see some games and meet the current year's players.

"All the guys said they thought he was a great guy who would fit in well with our program," says Shaw.

Blondin will be reunited with former Totems teammate Kjell Sherman at EWU.

Shaw sees that as a positive for a few reasons: "It helps us get a footprint with our area's junior programs where we can establish EWU as a pipeline for their players. It makes it a more comfortable fit when the players know others already playing at EWU."

Fellow defenceman Connell Totten is a defenseman that stands six-foot-six and 225 pounds. Totten spent the 2012/13 season with the Dells Ducks of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League.


"Connell is a big body who should help us control the play along the wall and also be a physical presence for the players on the other team to cope with," Shawn says.

Shaw also feels that a player of Connell’s size should have no problems with the speed in the BCIHL.

"I talked with Bill Zaniboni (Totten’s Coach in Minnesota) and he said that Connell has had no issues with the speed in that league, which is known to play a run and gun style. Aside from what Bill told me I was also able to watch four of his games and so I can confirm with my own eyes what I was told. Connell also brings a heavy shot from the blue line which we will look to put to use."

Shaw indicated that they will have more commitments to announce soon and again are pleased to see the Washington-born and developed players choosing to remain in the state because it shows how far the program at EWU has come.