PHOTOS: Prince George Citizen/Lorne White (KelownaNow)/Brett Holmes Photography
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 1st, 2018
WEST KELOWNA, B.C. – The West Kelowna Warriors Junior ‘A’ Hockey Club is pleased to announce the commitments of forwards Mason Richey (’00) and Cole Wyatt (’00) along with defenseman James Philpott (’00) for the 2018/19 season.
Richey, 18, brings layers of offense, grittiness and leadership to the Warriors for the 18/19 season as the 5’10”, 180-pound forward spent three seasons playing for the Cariboo Cougars of the BC Major Midget League (BCMML). Richey played in each and every game of the regular season through all three years with the Cougars, compiling a total of 120 regular season games played and, in his final season, led the Cougars in scoring with 26 goals, 38 assists and 64 points in 40 games while also accumulating 38 penalty minutes.
The Terrace, BC native captained the Cougars squad that made it to the BCMML Championship for the second straight season. Richey is also no stranger to the BC Hockey League, playing in 3 games with the Warriors as an affiliate player throughout the 2017/18 season and picked up his first BCHL point on an assist in a victory in Wenatchee against the Wild on January 12th.
“Adding Mason to our program gives us a player who exudes the qualities of what it means to be a Warrior,” commented Warriors head coach and general manager Rylan Ferster, “Having had him spend some time with our team last season, we know he will be able to come in and feel comfortable right away.”
Wyatt, 18, impressed the West Kelowna coaching staff with his strong play at the Warriors Spring Camp in late April. The Sherwood Park, Alberta native played the last two seasons with the Northern Alberta Xtreme Midget Prep team in the Canadian Sports School Hockey League (CSSHL), amassing 14 goals along with 24 assists for 38 points in 34 games during the 2017/18 season including 24 penalty minutes.
The 5’11”, 175-pound forward helped his team with a goal and 7 assists for 8 points in the Xtreme’s 5 playoff games en route to the Midget Prep Championship. Wyatt also has some Junior ‘A’ experience having played a game with the Spruce Grove Saints in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) as an AP.
“Cole came into our Spring Camp and played some very good hockey over the course of the weekend,” stated Ferster, “He’s a skilled forward who is not afraid to go to the dirty areas of the ice and win battles for loose pucks.”
Philpott, 18, played alongside Warriors commit Sam Anderson with the Calgary Buffaloes Midget AAA squad of the Alberta Midget Hockey League (AMHL). The 6’1”, 170-pound rearguard adds a bit of size to the Warriors backend and played in 34 games last season with the Buffaloes, scoring 3 goals and adding 10 assists for 13 points as well as 24 penalty minutes.
The Calgary, Alberta native is another player having spent some time in the AJHL last season with 5 games played in the regular season with the Canmore Eagles and Philpott also saw some playoff action getting into Game #2 of the Eagles best of seven opening round series in the AJHL playoffs against the Brooks Bandits.
“James is a smooth skater who defends very well in his own end of the ice,” said Ferster, “He’s strong on playing below the goal line and taking players off the puck but can chip in offensively as well.”
The Warriors would like to welcome Mason, Cole and James and their families to the City of West Kelowna and the Warriors organization.
More announcements are expected to come throughout the summer so Warriors fans can stay tuned to the website and all social media outlets for more information.
