Bulldogs announce another recruit

Welcome to the team and the community Graham! As a former goalie, I'm a fan of 6'2 defenders!

Hammer

SIX-FOOT-TWO DEFENDER EXPECTED TO BRINGS SIZE, POISE AND SKILL TO  
BULLDOGS' BLUELINE

Port Alberni, BC – The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are pleased to announce  
that Phillips Exeter Academy Prep defenceman Graham Rutledge has  
committed to join the team for the 2017/18 BCHL season.

Rutledge recently completed a successful three-year career at the New  
Hampshire-based prep school, totaling six goals and 25 points in 30  
games in his senior season while helping his team to a 23-7-1 record.  
Overall, the six-foot-two blueliner dressed in 91 games at Phillips  
Exeter, scoring 11 goals and adding 32 assists. He was named a team  
captain prior to the 2016/17 campaign.

"Graham is the rare breed of defenceman who combines great size with a  
high hockey IQ and a tremendous ability to move the puck," says  
Bulldogs head coach Matt Hughes. "We believe he can step right into  
our line-up and make an immediate impact in the BCHL, and we're  
excited that he has chosen the Alberni Valley as his destination to  
pursue an NCAA scholarship."

Rutledge is a former teammate of 2016/17 Bulldogs' scoring leader  
Trevor Cosgrove, as the two spent a pair of seasons together  
patrolling the Phillips Exeter blueline.

"I'm very excited to have the opportunity to play for the Alberni  
Valley Bulldogs," says Rutledge, who describes himself as a  
defensive-minded, physical player who continues to improve the  
offensive side of his game. "With the organization's emphasis on  
community service and education, along with the opportunity to grow  
and develop in a high caliber league like the BCHL, it seemed like a  
great fit for me. I'm also looking forward to playing in a town that's  
so invested in its team. My main goal for this upcoming season is to  
contribute to the team's success and hopefully go on a strong playoff  
run, and individually it has been my dream to obtain an NCAA Division  
1 scholarship."

Rutledge will take the ice with his new teammates when the Bulldogs  
begin their main training camp on Monday, August 21st at Weyerhaeuser  
Arena.

***