Castlegar Rebel alternate captain Anthony Delong has signed with the Thompson Rivers University (TRU) Wolfpack for the 2012-13 season. Delong played three seasons with the Rebels and helped the team reach the KIJHL finals in 2010-11 and then reach game seven against Beaver Valley in the division final this year.
“I chose TRU because they offered a great Human Resource Management program and I could play hockey with a good team,” said Delong, who is 6’1” and170 pounds. He scored 39 goals and added 43 assists with 132 penalty minutes in 48 games. He added five goals and six assists with 36 penalty minutes in the 2011-12 KIJHL playoffs.
“Anthony is a good skating, speedy and smooth playmaker who has prowess around the net. I’ll be looking for him to provide a lot of offence and he should see some power play time. He was a consistent scorer in junior and should be able to do the same for us,” said WolfPack head coach Don Schulz.
Rebel head coach Steve Junker coached Delong for two years and is happy to see him move on to a good program, “He was a big power forward that skates extremely well. He was one of the veterans who carried our younger players through the early part of this season and was named our MVP at our awards banquet.
“ He has been determined to continue his hockey career since I first came here and have no doubt that he will do whatever it takes to get him ready for the BCIHL. He has accomplished so much at this level that he is ready for a new challenge. I am very happy he decided on a place to play. He is an awesome kid and a great hockey player. I don’t have anything but good things to say about him.”
WolfPack general manager Chris Hans said that Delong should fit right in with TRU, who finished third in the B.C. Collegiate Hockey League this past year.
“With seven players graduating this year, adding a player of Anthony’s calibre is an important development for the WolfPack hockey program, he said. “He brings a nice combination of skill, grit and determination to our program. I am pleased that Anthony will obtain his post secondary education at TRU and play for the WolfPack.”
Delong does know one of the current members of the WolfPack. Cody Rose was a teammate of his in Castlegar in 2008-09. Delong had 85 goals and 164 points in 144 KIJHL career games over three seasons.
