Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Vernon’s Sparrow Lands In Huntsville:

This was posted on the Morning Star website:

Vernon’s Sparrow lands in Huntsville

Former Viper forward to play pro in Southern League 

Kevin Mitchell

Oct. 12, 2018 

Local Sports

One day in Wichita, the next in Huntsville.

So goes Year 1 of minor pro hockey for Vernon’s Colton Sparrow.

The Vernon Viper grad signed with the ECHL Wichita Thunder in Kansas last July, but became expendable when the Edmonton Oilers released a few players, causing a ripple effect with the American League Bakersfield Condors and Thunder.

He joined the Huntsville Havoc of the Southern Professional Hockey League today and will wear jersey No. 41 tonight when the Havoc host the Knoxville Ice Bears. Vernon’s Michael Hails is a goalie with the Havoc.

Sparrow, 25, named the Top Forward when the Vipers hosted the 2014 Royal Bank Cup, split time between two different teams in college. He played 57 games for the University of Alaska Nanooks in Fairbanks, recording 19 points on six goals and nine assists.

Transferring after his sophomore season, Sparrow played two more years with University of Regina Cougars in Saskatchewan. He rang up eight goals and 22 points.

A tireless skater and tenacious penalty killer with soft hands, Sparrow amassed 32 goals and 87 points in four seasons with Vernon of the BCHL.

The 5-foot-10, 198-pound Rob Darrar comes to Huntsville after camping in the ECHL with the Kalamazoo Wings. Sparrow and Darrar join returning Havoc forwards Sy Nutkevitch, Tyler Piacentini, Christian Powers, Stephen Hrehoriak, and Kyle Sharkey in training camp, trying to join the team as Huntsville begins its quest to defend the President’s Cup championship.

There are 10 franchises in the Southern League, including the Macon Mayhem, Pensacola Ice Flyers and Birmingham Bulls.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Thanks for providing updates on former Vipers players . Like " Mick " Jagger Williamson , Colton is a " lifetime Viper " , whose jersey ( like Jagger's ) , should adorn the rafters at Kal Tire Place ! In an era fraught with " Referendi " , should there not be some sort of process to remember the great Vipes of the past/present ?