Vipers ink Prairie duo
By Graeme Corbett - Vernon Morning Star
Published: May 13, 2012
Head coach Jason Williamson announced Thursday the commitments of two Saskatchewan Midget AAA League talents – defenceman Michael Statchuk of the Prince Albert Mintos, and centre Landon Robin of Beardy’s Blackhawks.
Statchuk, who was named Top Defenceman at the Macs Midget AAA Tournament in Calgary, is the younger brother of former Salmon Arm SilverBack forward Travis Statchuk, now with the NCAA Division 1 Ohio State Buckeyes.
“Heavily recruited kid who’s just a good all-around defenceman,” said Williamson. “Captain of his team with good leadership qualities. He’s a kid who should be able to step right in and log minutes on the back end and be an impact player.”
A fifth-round draft pick of the WHL Saskatoon Blades, Statchuk was the Mintos’ top scoring d-man, posting 13-26-29 in 44 games. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Wadena, Sask. product is equally sound academically, graduating high school half a year ahead of schedule.
Having followed his big brother’s progress with the SilverBacks and onto college, Statchuk says it was an easy decision to play in B.C.
“Just the family knowing it’s a very good league with a lot of scholarships...that’s definitely something I’m aiming towards,” he said. “It’s probably one of the best in Canada for Junior A, if not the best.”
After a mediocre start to the Midget season, the Mintos finished on a roll, eventually bowing to the Saskatoon Contacts in the championship final.
“Our second half as a team was incredible,” said Statchuk. “We only lost the one game in regulation after Christmas. We ended up being tied for first place.”
Robin is regarded as one of the best two-way forwards in the Saskatchewan league last season, and like Statchuk, was team captain.
The 6-foot, 185-pounder recorded 27 goals and 23 assists in 33 games for the Hawks, who are based out of the Beardy’s and Okemasis First Nation in Duck Lake.
“We expect him to come in and be an impact player as well,” said Williamson, of the 18-year-old Saskatoon product. “Give him time to get his feet wet but we expect him to put up some numbers.”
Robin got a taste of what the BCHL is all about when he took in the game between the host Humboldt Broncos and B.C. champion Penticton Vees at the RBC Cup last Sunday. Even though Penticton lost 3-2 in overtime, he said: “They have so many good players...so fast.
“They (Humboldt) played Penticton right though. They’re not as skilled but they went out and wore them down, and their goalie played pretty good too.”
However, it was the Vipers’ three consecutive trips to the RBC final that got his attention initially.
“Watching them on TV the last couple years in the RBC Cup final, it was something I just wanted to be a part of,” said Robin, who visited Vernon in February.
– In other recruiting news, Williamson has begun the process of finding a replacement for assistant coach Chris Shaw, who parted ways with the organization last week.
Williamson, who enters his second season as head coach this fall, has already whittled down the field of candidates and expects to have a decision within the next few weeks.
“I just decided we should go separate ways as we had a difference of opinion,” said Williamson. “We worked out fine and the season went OK, but the organization needs to go in a different direction.”
Williamson, who enters his second season as head coach this fall, has already whittled down the field of candidates and expects to have a decision within the next few weeks.
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