Jakob Reichert has earned an invitation to the San Jose Sharks prospects next month.
The six-foot-five, 220-pound forward was a member of the Langley Rivermen junior A hockey club the past two seasons. He joins Bowling Green State University on scholarship in the fall.
The Langley Minor Hockey Association product scored 20 goals and 24 assists in 57 games for his hometown hockey club in 2013/14.
He really blossomed in the second of the season, scoring 10 goals and 25 points in his final 25 games and then five goals and 14 points in a dozen playoff games.
“I’m really excited and looking forward to heading to the Sharks camp,” Reichert said.
“(And) I can’t thank the coaching staff here enough.
“Bobby (Henderson) really helped me the last two years I was here and especially my teammates, playing with some good guys this year like (Matt) Ustaski and (Mitch) McLain really helped.”
Henderson, who is Langley’s coach and general manager, acquired Reichert from Merritt prior to the 2012/13 season.
And Henderson has previously stated that Reichert has the tools— namely size, speed and skill — and to play the pro game.
“He has that, plus toughness, so the sky is the limit for Jake,” Henderson told The Times back in January.
Reichert is one of two members of the Rivermen from last season that earned invites to an NHL prospects camp, as Matt Ustaski will attend the Washington Capitals camp.
Ustaski is off to the University of Wisconsin in the fall.
Ustaski is a six-foot-six, 225-pound forward.
Henderson said the coaching staff was “extremely excited” both players earned camp invites.
“Both made lofty goals at the end of the 2012/13 year and trained religiously through the off-season, taking major strides this past year,” he said.
“Both Jake and Matt became go-to-guys for us and contributed in big ways to our success.”
Ustaski led the team in goals with 29 in 54 games and was second in points with 49.
Reichert, who turns 21 in September, was done his junior eligibility, while Ustaski, 20, could have returned for one more season.
Gary Ahuja/Langley Times
Langley Rivermen forward Matt Ustaski has been invited to the Washington Capitals prospects camp in July.
