Trinity Western adds Clark, Gaudet and Mills to 2014/15 recruiting class

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Trinity Western University has added a little bit of everything to its roster as coach Barret Kropf officially announced the signings of goaltender Nicholas Clark (White Rock, B.C.), forward Joel Gaudet (White Rock) and defenceman Jacob Mills (Burnaby, B.C.) on Wednesday.

Clark is a 6-foot-2, 210-pound netminder who joins the Spartans after spending last season in Leksand, Sweden playing with Division 2 club Häradsbygdens SS. While with Häradsbygdens, the 19-year-old  played in five games with the senior team and two contests with the club's junior side.

"We're excited to have Nic come in and become a part of hockey here at TWU," Kropf said. "He's a great leader who is willing to jump on board and do whatever it takes to be a better goalie. He's going to fit in well with our culture and be a guy who will be a big part of our future."

In the two years prior to going to Sweden, the Semiahmoo Secondary graduate of 2012 played junior hockey with the SJHL's Weyburn Red Wings as well as the PJHL's Ridge Meadows Flames and North Delta Devils and the VIJHL's Campbell River Storm.

"I see TWU as the perfect school to pursue both my academic and athletic goals," said Clark, who played his minor hockey with Semiahmoo. "The hockey program here is one of the best and the education is outstanding. I look forward to being part of the TWU family."

Gaudet comes to TWU after a junior career that saw him play a total of 135 games, including playoffs, and collect 16 goals and 35 assists with three different teams.

The 5-foot-8, 175-pound forward played 86 games at the Junior A level, scoring five goals and adding 16 assists, with the BCHL's Surrey Eagles and Victoria Grizzlies.

While with the Eagles, Gaudet was part of the 2012/13 team that won the Western Canada Cup and qualified for the RBC Cup. Gaudet also spent time in the Junior B circuit with the Grandview Steelers, playing 49 games over the course of three seasons and picking up 11 goals and 19 assists.

"Joel brings so much offensive potential to our lineup," Kropf said. "He gives us instant depth and is going to be phenomenal for us. On the ice, we're really looking forward to his speed and his finish around the net. Off the ice, he's another quality addition who will be a great leader. He’s a young man who wants to do right in life and he has his faith as a priority. He just wants to use his abilities to glorify God."

This past season, the 20-year-old Gaudet, who graduated from Earl Marriott Secondary in 2012 and played his minor hockey with Semiahmoo, played 12 games with Surrey, 17 with Victoria and 11 with Grandview.

"I'm ready to move onto the next part in my life, which is going to school full-time," said Gaudet, who plans to study pre-dentistry. "I want to play for TWU as well as increase my faith. Trinity Western is the perfect place for me to do this. I am very excited that God as led me down this path and has opened doors for me in both hockey and school."

Meanwhile, Mills joins the Spartans after a successful year with the PJHL's Grandview Steelers in which he tallied four goals and seven assists in 39 games, while also collecting 123 penalty minutes.

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound blueliner, who will graduate from St. Thomas More Collegiate this year and played his minor hockey with Burnaby, participated in the 2014 PJHL Top Prospects Game and comes to TWU with sought-after potential.

"Jacob is a big-body defenceman who is very mobile," Kropf said. "He likes to play a gritty style and he really completes our top six in terms of having some great size and a great first pass. He's a guy who will improve our culture and he’s got his priorities straight. We’re excited to have him on board."

Mills, who plans to study sciences with an eye towards pre-med school said: "I look forward to attending TWU because of its excellent academic reputation. I also appreciate the opportunity to challenge myself with the high level of competition that varsity hockey will bring. I'm excited about the camaraderie and friendships that come with being part of the team and I look forward to joining such a good program."

With Clark, Gaudet and Mills, the Spartans have now inked seven players for the 2014-15 season, including forward PJ Buys (Newmarket, Ont.) and defencemen Cole Hergott (Bruno, Sask.), Karsten Seidel (Delta, B.C.) and Ryan Bakken (Langley).