A former Vernon Vipers forward is now a member of the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
Salmon Arm GM Troy Mick announced that his B.C. Hockey League club has acquired Matty Saharchuk in a trade with the Battlefords North Stars of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
The 6-foot-2 Saharchuk spent the 2013-14 season with the Vipers – including their appearance as host team for the 2014 RBC Cup tournament – and played the year before in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League with Armstrong’s North Okanagan Knights, where he was an affiliate player with the gorillas.
“Matt is a big, left-shot centreman that can also play the wing,” said Mick. “He is a very versatile forward who will help bolster our offence this year.”
Saharchuk, 20, of Fort St. James, was the leading scorer for the North Stars with 16 goals 20 assists for a total of 36 points in only 44 games played.
“We know what we are getting with him as a player and a person,” said Mick. “Matty has RBC Cup experience and will add skill and grit to our lineup.”
Saharchuk had 3-7-10 in 56 regular season games with the Vipers in ‘13-’14, and added one assist in 14 playoff appearances.
The Silverbacks sent 20-year-old forward Dustin Gorgi and future considerations to the North Stars. Gorgi split last season in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with the Olds Grizzlys and Grande Prairie Storm.
