BROOKS, AB (May 24, 2015) — The Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) have signed 1995-born forward Ryan Harper (New Canaan, CT), the team announced today.
Harper, 20, joins Brooks after a high-scoring season in the U.S. Premier Hockey League (USPHL) last year, scoring 42 points (15 goals, 27 assists) in 48 games split between the Connecticut Jr. Rangers and South Shore Kings, with 50 penalty minutes.
Prior to his junior career, the 5’11”, 176lb forward played four seasons for the Millbrook School Mustangs in Millbrook, New York, the same program from which Bandits goalie Josh Davies graduated.
“Ryan has a tremendous work ethic and a high battle level,” said Bandits head coach and general manager Ryan Papaioannou. “He produced good numbers at Milbrook Prep School along with a great season last year in the USPHL. Ryan is pursuing a Division 1 commitment and we want to give him every opportunity to achieve that goal while in Brooks.”
In his final year at Millbrook in 2013-14, Harper scored 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) in 32 games.
“I am very excited and pleased to join the Brooks Bandits organization for the 2015-2016 season,” said Harper. “I look forward to taking advantage of this opportunity and developing as much as possible during my time with the Bandits.”
Harper is the eighth 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), and 1996-born forward Michael Falanga (East Haven, CT).