Courtesy of www.kelownacapnews.com
New Westside Warriors head coach Darren Yopyk has been looking for a top offensive player since taking over the team in early July.
Last week he found that player, albeit in an unexpected place.
The Warriors learned last week that Cam Reid, drafted in the NHL Entry Draft this summer, will return to the Warriors this year after having his NCAA Div. 1 scholarship deferred for a year.
?I?m really excited to be coming back this year,? said Reid, who was expected to begin an NCAA career with New Hampshire but instead will have one more year of seasoning at the junior A level.
?I want to come back and help Westside in whatever way I can. I think we have a really deep team this year and hopefully we can go far.?
Reid was acquired by the Warriors days before last season?s B.C. Hockey League trade deadline for Brett Howe and Craig Eisenhut.
The 17-year-old was a point-a-game player in 17 regular season and eight playoff games. It was expected that would be the last Warriors fans would see of Reid because the Delta native was committed to New Hampshire when he arrived in West Kelowna.
But Reid will return and looks to make an even bigger impact this year having been drafted by Nashville in the seventh round of the NHL Entry Draft and attending the Predators NHL prospects? camp.
?It was an unbelievable summer,? he said. ?My experience in Nashville was eye opening. I definitely learned a lot about what it takes to get to the next level. It made me work a lot harder.?
Reid will come into the season at 198 pounds on a 6-foot-3 frame, compared to last season when he ended the year at 175 pounds.
For coach Yopyk, the return of Reid was a nice surprise.
?I think we?ve been looking since I got here for a number one centre and he?s certainly a guy that can fill that role,? said Yopyk. ?He?s a well-established player and a high end kid.?
Team president Gary Gelinas says it?s good for the entire league.
?We?re excited to have Cam coming back,? said Gelinas, the Warriors general manager and president. ?We?re going to be counting on Cam to be a leader, not only on our team but in the league. Any time you have an NHL draft pick on your team that?s exciting for the fans.?
Reid gives the Warriors 13 players returning as they get set to kick off main training camp this Thursday.
The Warriors camp will run through Sunday and end with an intra squad game Aug. 30, 6 p.m., at Royal LePage Place.
The entire camp schedule is posted under Headlines on this site.
