Eastern Washington University is pleased to announce that forward Riley Ollero (Kennewick, WA) has committed to join the Eagles for the 2013/14 B.C. Intercollegiatre Hockey League season.
Ollero comes to EWU after spending last season with the expansion Tri-City Outlaws of the Northern Pacific Junior Hockey League (NORPAC). Ollero posted 37 points in 40 games for his hometown club as an 18-year old after spending the previous couple of years playing in Spokane for the U-16 and U-18 teams.
Ollero’s year in Tri-City saw him play for a well-known hockey man in the area in Greg Sponholtz. Sponholtz has coached many of the players to come to EWU from the Tri-City area over the years and had former Eagles defenseman Justin Crosby on his staff last season.
According to Eagles head coach Bill Shaw, Crosby was the driving force in getting Ollero to EWU.
"Justin obviously saw him play a lot last season and after our year ended and theirs he got in contact with us about Riley and how he was going to attend university in the fall instead of going back to junior," he says. "Riley had already been looking at EWU for the academics, so talking to him about hockey was actually the last piece of his process, which is different from most players."
Ollero will recognize a familiar face when he gets to EWU in Eagles assistant coach JC Thomas, who coached Ollero when he was with the Spokane U-16 team.
"JC’s familiarity with the players coming into their college years right now is huge because every player is looking for a situation where they can feel comfortable," says Shaw.
Ollero is the Eagle’s 8th commitment of a busy offseason and a few more are still expected.
VICTORIA
SIMON FRASER
OKANAGAN
LOGAN LAKE
VANCOUVER ISLAN.
