Three more AJHL alum added

Three players from one of Canada’s most successful Junior A programs last season are set join the Cougars men’s hockey team in the fall, as forwards Tyler Jewitt (Calgary, AB) and Brooks Myers (Calgary, AB) as well as goaltender Dalyn Flette (Calgary, AB) are set to don the blue and white in September.

The trio of teammates come to Mount Royal from the Camrose Kodiaks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL).

The Kodiaks finished second in the AJHL and advanced to the RBC Cup, Canada’s National Junior A Championship, narrowly losing 4-2 in the semi-final to the eventual champion, the Pembroke Lumber Kings.

Tyler Jewitt came to the Kodiaks in December via trade from the Calgary Canucks and finished the season with 21 goals and 38 assists in 61 games, good for top spot on the team. Jewitt also led the team and league in post-season scoring tallying 18 points (11 goals – 7 assists) in 23 games.

Head Coach Jean Laforest says he has “great vision” and “a knack for scoring goals at critical times.”

“Tyler was instrumental in helping us win the AJHL South Division,” notes Kodiaks G.M./Coach Boris Rybalka. “He scored some very big goals for us, and added great scoring punch.”

Joining Jewitt up front is teammate Brooks Myers. Myers, who spent his entire Junior A career with the Kodiaks, registered six goals and 11 assists in 47 games and was a +14 during the regular season.

Unfortunately for Myers and the Cougs’ a shoulder injury will keep him sidelined for all of next season as he rehabs from surgery.

Playing or not, coach Laforest says it will be an important year to help integrate him into the team culture before they make the jump to Canada West in 2012-13.

“He’s a key guy to get committed,” said Laforest. “He’s a real blue-collar type of player, a real leader and true competitor on the ice. He’s the type of player every team needs.”

Meanwhile, Kodiaks coach Boris Rybalka wasn’t shy in his praise of Myers.|

“No one worked harder and gave more effort night in and night out than Brooks,” said Rybalka.

“Many nights he was our most consistent forward. He is very much a student of the game and his leadership will be missed on the bench and in the dressing room.”

Lastly, on the back-end the Cougars will get one of the top Junior A goaltenders in the country in local product Dalyn Flette.

Flette helped backstop the Kodiaks to the AJHL championship series and a spot in the RBC Cup, posting an impressive 2.23 goals against average (GAA) and an even more impressive .932 save percentage with one shutout.

Dalyn was also named the Most Valuable Goalie for the 2011 RBC Cup as well as being named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Coach Laforest loves what he sees from Flette and is excited to have a potent 1-2 combination in net.

“I think he helps complement Cote really well, “said Laforest referring to last season’s number one goaltender Justin Cote.

“We’ve always had strength in goal and it’s something we feel strongly about. You can tell he is a big game performer and is one of the reasons the Kodiaks were able to go deep into the playoffs – he’s just a guy who can help keep you in games.”

“Quite frankly, Dalyn took our team on his shoulders during the playoffs, and carried us to the League final,” said former coach Rybalka. “We will not be surprised to see him making a push to be the number one guy in Calgary this fall.”

After capturing last season’s ACAC title, the Cougars continue to improve at every position on the ice as they’ll get one more kick at the ACAC championship can before moving onto Canada West in 2012-13.
 

- With files from the Camrose Kodiaks