Vees acquire Crozier, Silye from Clippers
Regardless of whether they are able to sign defenceman Max Crozier, the Penticton Vees are pleased with the other player they got in a deal with the Nanaimo Clippers on the weekend.
The Vees landed 1999-born centre David Silye and the 2000-born Crozier in exchange for 1998-born forward Marcus Mitchell.
Silye, a native of Arnprior, Ont. who is committed to Clarkson University in 2019-20, had 10 goals and 41 points in 54 games in his second season with Nanaimo in 2017-18.
“We feel like he’s going to give us a great one-two punch up the middle with (captain Massimo) Rizzo,” said Vees president, GM and head coach Fred Harbinson, of the 5’ 9”, 170-pounder. “He finished really strong last season, he can kill penalties and he plays a fast game which fits in with our style perfectly.”
Silye had 36 points in his last 34 games last season. He had eight goals and 18 points in 52 games as a rookie in 2016-17.
Crozier, who makes his home in North Vancouver, had six goals and 29 points in 49 games as a rookie last season and is committed to Providence for the 2019-20 season.
The 6’ 2”, 190-pounder committed to play
WORLD CUP
in the United States Hockey League this season, but the Vees are hoping to convince him to stay in the BCHL.
“We understand he wants to remain in B.C. but he didn’t, for whatever reason, want to play in Nanaimo,” said Harbinson. “Now that the variables are changed, we’re going to meet with him and see if we can work something out.”
Harbinson said Crozier is an elite, two-way defenceman who had a strong rookie season.
He said playing in Penticton would allow Crozier a chance to play for Team Canada at the World Junior ‘A’ Challenge and follow in the footsteps of some of the outstanding defenceman the Vees have developed in the past such as Jonny Tychonick, Gabe Bast, Dante Fabbro Troy Stecher, Joey Laleggia and Mike Reilly.
Mitchell, from Kelowna, was acquired at the trade deadline last season from the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. In 24 regular season games he scored four goals with 10 points and added six goals and 11 points in 11 playoff games.
Harbinson said Mitchell is an outstanding young man who will add leadership and toughness to Nanaimo.
“He’s a great kid but we needed a centre and you have to give up a good player to make a deal like this,” said Harbinson. “Marcus is the guy Nanaimo wanted.”