BROOKS, AB (May 27, 2015) — 1997-born defenceman Trevor Bottomley (Kelowna, B.C.) has signed as the newest member of the Brooks Bandits, the team announced today.
Bottomley, 18, comes to Brooks after making key contributions as a rookie in a championship season for the Campbell River Storm of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL). The 5’11”, 175lb defenceman was the Storm’s highest-scoring rearguard with 28 points (6 goals, 22 assists) in 48 regular season games, adding 5 assists in 13 playoff games, and was named the team’s Defenceman of the Year in its end-of-season awards.
“Trevor had a great season with Campbell River and had plenty of championship success,” said Bandits head coach and general manager Ryan Papaioannou. “He plays a solid defensive game with an ability to make great first passes.”
“Trevor should excel in the AJHL as he has a physical element to his game along with being tough to play against,” the coach added.
At the Cyclone Taylor Cup provincial championship, Bottomley scored the game-winning goal in the Storm’s 6-5 tournament final win over the Kimberley Dynamiters, adding 4 assists for a 5-point tournament in 4 games played, ranking him as the third-highest scoring player at the event.
Bottomley also added a goal and 3 assists at the Keystone Cup, the western Canadian Junior B championship; once again his goal came in the tournament final, a 6-3 win for Campbell River over the North Edmonton Red Wings.
Prior to his junior career, Bottomley suited up for the Okanagan Hockey Academy (OHA) AAA prep team, registering 30 points (2 goals, 28 assists) in 71 total games as an alternate team captain in his final season of minor hockey, and capturing a Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) championship.
“I'm very excited to join the Brooks Bandits for the 2015-16 season,” said Bottomley. “I feel this is a great place to further my junior hockey career and look forward to playing for the team.”
“The decision to play for the Bandits organization was easy as the high level of coaching and the loyal fans impressed me,” he added.
Bottomley is the ninth newly-committed player for the 2015-16 season that the Bandits have announced, joining 1996-born defenceman Ben Foley (Edina, MN), 1996-born forward Austin Wright (Niagara Falls, ON), 1996-born defenceman James Gobetz (St. James, NY), 1997-born forward Josh McKechney (Calgary, AB), 1998-born defenceman Cale Makar (Calgary, AB), 1998-born forward Matteo Aiello (Calgary, AB), 1996-born forward Michael Falanga (East Haven, CT), and 1995-born forward Ryan Harper (New Canaan, CT).