FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 4th, 2018
WEST KELOWNA, B.C. – The West Kelowna Warriors Junior ‘A’ Hockey Club announced on Saturday that the team has acquired goaltender Hayden Missler (’99) as well as defenseman Tyler Pang (’99) from the Spruce Grove Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) in exchange for defenseman Cory Babichuk (’98) and future considerations.
PHOTO: Dave Watling Photography
Missler, 19, finished up his first season of Junior ‘A’ hockey playing with the Saints for the later part of the 2018/19 season. The 5’11”, 165-pound netminder started the season with the Wainwright Bisons of the North Eastern Alberta Junior ‘B’ Hockey League (NEAJBHL), compiling a 5-1 record along with a 2.82 GAA and a .914 SV% in 6 games with the Bisons before being picked up by the Saints in November.
The Wainwright, Alberta native played in 21 games with the Saints, working towards a 14-3-1 record accompanied by a 2.45 GAA and a .902 SV% along with two shutouts. Missler was a part of the Saints run to the AJHL Championship in 2018 including the five-game setback to the BCHL Champion Wenatchee Wild in the Doyle Cup.
PHOTO: Twitter
Pang, 19, is no stranger to British Columbia as the Victoria, BC native spent time with the South Island Royals of the BC Major Midget League as well as playing with the Peninsula Panthers and the Victoria Cougars in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) before making his way to Alberta to play Junior ‘A’ hockey.
The 6’0”, 160-pound defender split last season with the Sherwood Park Crusaders and the Olds Grizzlys in the AJHL, beginning the season with the Crusaders, tallying 8 goals and 16 assists for 24 points in 26 games. After a trade to Olds, Pang registered 8 assists in 16 games along with 16 penalty minutes.
Babichuk, 19, was acquired by the Warriors from the Surrey Eagles on July 12th in exchange for forward Chase Stevenson (’99). The Edmonton, BC native split last season between the Eagles and the Central Illinois Flying Aces of the United States Hockey League (USHL). Beginning the season south of the border, Babichuk had two assists in eight games played before making his way back to Surrey, where he spent the 2016/17 season. The 5’10”, 175-pound defender had a goal and eight assists for nine points in 18 games with the Eagles while earning an assist in two playoff games.
The 2018/19 regular season schedule has been released with West Kelowna opening their season with a home-and-home against the Trail Smoke Eaters on Friday, September 7th. The home opener for the Warriors comes on Saturday, September 8th when they host the Smoke Eaters.
