Cranbrook native Ben Betker will start his professional hockey career in Norfolk, Va., after being assigned to the Norfolk Admirals of the ECHL on Monday.
Betker, 21, was a sixth-round pick (158th overall) of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers in 2013.
The 6-foot-6, 220-pound defenceman attended training camp with the Oilers this fall before being assigned to camp with the club’s American Hockey League affiliate — the Bakersfield Condors — on Sept. 20.
Betker is set to make his professional debut this season following a three-year career with the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League.
In 201 career WHL games, Betker tallied 58 points and 265 penalty minutes with the Silvertips.
Betker and the Admirals are in action Saturday, Oct. 10, facing the Reading Royals to close out pre-season play.
The Admirals open the 2015-16 ECHL campaign with back-to-back home games against the Wheeling Nailers on Oct. 16 and 17.
