PHOTO: Elena Rardon (BC Local News)/Lorne White (KelownaNow Sports)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 9th, 2018
WEST KELOWNA, B.C. – The West Kelowna Warriors announced Tuesday evening that club has acquired forward Ryan Steele (’97) from the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in exchange for defenseman Spencer Hora (’99) and future considerations.
Steele, 20, has spent the last season and a half with the Bulldogs, collecting 17 goals and 56 points to go along with 109 penalty minutes in 96 career BCHL games. This season, the 6’0”, 180-pound forward has registered 7 goals and 28 points in 38 games to go along with 60 penalty minutes while serving as the Bulldogs captain and earned a scholarship to Sacred Heart University for next season.
Prior to his time in the BCHL, the Stratford, Prince Edward Island native played 78 games with the Holderness School in the United States High School Hockey League (USHS) with 37 goals and 77 points before spending 18 games with the New Hampshire Avalanche U-18 Midget team where he scored a goal and 2 points.
“Ryan is a big forward who can contribute offensively and help our club down the stretch,” commented Warriors assistant coach and assistant general manager Shae Naka, “We are excited to have him join our program.”
Hora, 18, got into 14 games with the Warriors after starting the season with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks and playing 21 games with the ‘Backs. The Kelowna, BC native scored a goal and 4 points and has a goal and 14 points in 35 games played between the Warriors and Silverbacks this season.
“We want to thank Spencer for his contribution to the West Kelowna Warriors organization and wish him the best of luck in Alberni” Naka continued.
The Warriors would like to thank Spencer for his time and effort with the Warriors and City of West Kelowna and wish him the best in Port Alberni. The Warriors would also like to welcome Ryan and his family to the Warriors organization and the City of West Kelowna.
The Warriors have the week off before another road trip takes place on Friday night when West Kelowna travels down south to Washington to face-off against the Wenatchee Wild at the Town Toyota Center for a pair of games in the United States. Puck drop is slated for 7:05 PM with the pre-game getting underway at 6:45 PM on the Warriors Internet Network and HockeyTV.com with the voice of the Warriors, Trevor Miller.
West Kelowna returns home on Tuesday, January 16th to face-off against the Vernon Vipers in the 5th meeting of their 6-game season series and will be broadcasted live on Shaw TV Okanagan. Tickets are available online at wkw.goticketpro.com, at the Warriors office, by calling (250) 769-7051 or at the box office one hour ahead of the opening puck drop.
