(File Photo/northeastNOW Staff)

By Mat Barrett

Trojans Signings

Trojans announce five signings for 2021/2022 roster

Apr 14, 2021 | 12:00 PM

The Tisdale Trojans have kicked off their offseason by announcing a few signings for the 2021/2022 season.

The U18 AAA club announced five players who will join the team for next season including four forwards and one defenceman from across Saskatchewan. The forwards are Kale Margolis, Jack Bechard, Ashtyn Shields, and Pavel McKenzie. Luc Bourdon is the lone defenceman in this recruiting group.

Trojans head coach Dennis Kubat said with this group, he wanted to go a bit younger after having an older roster in 2020/2021.

“I like their upside, and I’m excited for the chance to develop them,” he said. “If they only play one year because they move on, awesome, but I think a couple of these guys we might have for a couple of years and we can develop them and they can really showcase their skills.”

Kubat added this group has great character, and all come from great families. He said they should all be effective on the ice as Trojans as well.

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“They’ve scored in the past, they’ve put up numbers, they can skate well,” Kubat said. “And the way we want to play, kind of an offensive style, puck possession kind of game. I think those guys kind of fit that mold of what we’re looking for in Trojans.”

With the Western Hockey League (WHL) Bantam Draft being pushed back into the coming season, it has had an affect on recruiting according to Kubat, but said he trusts his scouts with the players on their radar.

Jack Bechard – 2005

Out of Regina, Jack Bechard joins the Trojans after playing the last season in the U18 AA ranks with the Regina Rangers. He played three games and had two goals and three assists for five points before the COVID-19 pause. In 2019/2020, Bechard played for the Regina Aces in U15 AA where he led the team in scoring, tallying 52 points (23 goals). That led him to being drafted in the sixth round, 61st overall in the 2020 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Bantam Draft by the Flin Flon Bombers.

(Twitter/@TisdaleTrojans)

Kale Margolis – 2006

Kale Margolis won’t have to go very far to play his U18 AAA hockey. The Kinistino product spent the last two seasons with the North East Wolfpack U15 AA team. Prior to the pause this season, Margolis had a goal and an assist in the only game he played for the Wolfpack as they lost 3-2 to Saskatoon back in November. In his first year of U15 AA in 2019/2020, Margolis had 12 goals and 12 assists for the Wolfpack. He’s eligible for the 2021 SJHL and WHL drafts.

(Twitter/@TisdaleTrojans)

Pavel McKenzie – 2005

From Cumberland House to Tisdale, that’s the path for Pavel McKenzie who joins the Trojans after playing his first season of U18 hockey with North East, which is based out of Tisdale. This season, in four games, McKenzie had three goals and two assists for five points before the pause. Like Margolis, McKenzie was also a member of the 2019/2020 North East Wolfpack U15 AA squad. He had 34 points in 31 games that season.

(Twitter/@TisdaleTrojans)

Both Margolis and McKenzie were coached by Gavin Brandl while playing with the Wolfpack. Brandl has since been named an assistant coach with the Trojans.

Ashtyn Shields – 2005

Ashtyn Shields will be heading north of the Yellowhead Highway for his U18 AAA hockey. The Esterhazy product spent the shortened 2020/2021 season at Prairie Hockey Academy near Moose Jaw with their U16 Prep squad where he had a goal and five assists in 10 games across all competitions. Prior to that, Shields was in Melville playing his U15 AA hockey with the Millionaires where he had 51 points in 31 games in his final season there in 2019/2020. He tallied eight points in 31 games the season before that, his first in U15. Shields is also a fourth round pick, 43rd overall by the Battlefords North Stars in the 2020 SJHL draft.

(Twitter/@TisdaleTrojans)

Luc Bourdon – 2006

The second of two first year U18 players of this group, Bourdon joins the Trojans from Prince Albert. In the one game he played prior to the pause, Bourdon had an assist for the Prince Albert Pirates U15 AA squad in a 4-3 overtime win over the Saskatoon Generals. In the 2019/2020 season, the defenceman had five points in 31 games for the Pirates. Bourdon is eligible for the 2021 SJHL and WHL Bantam drafts.

(Twitter/@TisdaleTrojans)

Moving forward, Kubat said to expect a few more signings from the Trojans in the coming weeks. The Trojans graduated seven players from the 2020/2021 roster, and are expected to lose a couple more through players moving to the next level. With a number of spots still open, Kubat said it would be smart to leave a couple of spots open for camp battles, especially with the limited number of games played in 2020/2021.

“Some guys that just flew under the radar this year, just because no one’s ever seen them,” Kubat said. “And you have five or six months to grow and develop and put in the time in the offseason. It can make a big difference come September.”

The Trojans were 2-1-0-0 before the SMAAAHL season was paused, and subsequently cancelled in 2020/2021.

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mat.barrett@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @matbarrett6