Former Viper Switzer Commits to Yale University:

This is on the Spruce Grove Saints web site:

Switzer Commits to Yale University

The Spruce Grove Saints are pleased to announce that Brett Switzer has committed to attend Yale University, beginning in the 2010-2011 season.

Switzer, a native of Calgary, has had a very impressive rookie campaign with the Saints, compiling 31 goals and 30 assists for 61 points in 57 regular season games. The 18-year old, centre had spent the past two seasons with the Calgary Buffaloes Midget AAA program, garnering recognition as the 2008 AMHL Playoff MVP. The Buffaloes represented Alberta at the 2008 Telus Cup. This season, Brett was a unanimous selection to the 2008-2009 North Division All-Rookie team.

Four games into the season he was dealt from the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers to the Saints. In retrospect, it’s the best thing that could have happened says the soft-spoken Switzer.“I was scouted at the Mac’s tournament and they (Vernon) recruited me pretty hard, flew me out there and I committed,” says Switzer who played for the Midget AAA Buffaloes in the Cowtown.Switzer actually laced up the skates with Olds Grizzlys as an affiliate three times last season, so he really did the Alberta-B.C. return shuffle.

“I didn’t have a really strong camp, and (I) was seeing limited ice time, so it was kind of disappointing and then I got called in and told I was traded,” says Switzer who admits he was shocked to be so highly recruited only to be dealt so early on.

But things began to look up very quickly. “I spoke with Steve (Saints coach/GM Hamilton) and he was really excited and genuinely happy that I was coming to be part of the Spruce Grove club and that was big for me.”Switzer then made the most of the opportunity given to him by Hamilton and his teammates in The Grove. “He’s just such a hard worker who eats up quality minutes… plays in every situation for us… and just a real quality kid as well and that’s very important for us and our team success,” says Hamilton.The 5′9″, 170 pound centre says once Hamilton started giving him extra responsibility on the penalty kill and power play, his prime directive was not to give it back. Instead, he says, he has learned there is no substitute for hard work.

“I just was thankful for the opportunity and knew that I was going to have to give peak effort every time out there and it’s worked out pretty well,” says Switzer , who, as a rookie, put up 61 points in 57 games.“To get that kind of production out of a first year player… that was just huge for us,” says Hamilton, who was named coach of the year in the AJHL this season.

And in all of that ice time, Switzer picked up a grand total of 16 PIM, which speaks to discipline and the fact when Hamilton needed guys to excel on the PK, Switzer was pretty much available all the time.This commitment to hard work and discipline isn’t surprising when you learn his father Scott was a very good hockey player who used his skill and determination to play hockey at the University of Regina. Then, Brett’s older brother Mike, who played AJHL hockey in Olds, also earned a hockey scholarship to Bentley College, just outside of Boston, Mass., where he is excelling both on and off the ice.

The Spruce Grove Saints would like to congratulate Brett and his family on this tremendous opportunity. The Saints look forward to Brett’s continued contributions through the 2009-2010 season.