Bulldogs swing deal for Defender

Hello, Happy Friday and thanks as always for checking the blog. The Bulldogs announced details late today on their website of a trade with the SJHL's Melville Millionaires that saw them acquire Tyson Slater, in exchange for Jake Wilhelm and off-season acquisition Ethan Kopyczyn.

Welcome to the team and community Tyson, and best of luck to Jake!

Read below for all the details.

Hammer

20-YEAR OLD BLUELINER ADDED FROM MELVILLE IN TRADE FOR KOPYCZYN & WILHELM

Port Alberni, BC – The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are pleased to announce the acquisition of 1997-born defenceman Tyson Slater from the Melville Millionaires of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League in return for 1998-born forward Ethan Kopyczyn and 1999-born defenceman Jake Wilhelm.

Slater is a Courtenay, BC product who spent the 2016/17 season with the Trail Smoke Eaters. As a BCHL rookie, he scored five goals and added five assists and 24 penalty minutes in 39 regular season games. He was dealt to the SJHL’s Millionaires earlier in the offseason.

“Tyson is a smooth-skating defenceman with good size and excellent offensive instincts,” says Bulldogs head coach Matt Hughes. “He made some really good strides in Trail last season and proved that he belongs in our league. We’re excited to see him step up and play a key role on our blueline as a 20-year old this season.”

Slater spent the 2015/16 season with the VIJHL’s Comox Valley Glacier Kings while making his BCHL debut as an affiliate player with the Powell River Kings.

“Growing up in Courtenay it was always a dream of mine to play for the Bulldogs,” says Slater, who describes himself as a physical, offensive blueliner who isn’t afraid to rush the puck. “I love the community and the support the Bulldogs receive and I’m very excited to be a part of it.”

“I’m going into the season hoping to secure an NCAA commitment, but most importantly I’m going to do whatever I need to on and off the ice to help the team succeed. This town deserves to have a winning team again and I want to help make that happen.”

Wilhelm completed his rookie season with the Bulldogs in February, while Kopyczyn was earlier acquired as future considerations in a trade with the AJHL’s Calgary Mustangs.

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

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