(Submitted by Alex Hoegler, BCHL communications)
One of the West Kelowna Warriors’ top players will be moving north in the fall.
Captain Kyle Marino has committed to joining the Western Collegiate Hockey Association’s (WCHA) Alaska Nanooks for 2016-17. This comes after a strong 2015-16 season with the Warriors where the Niagara Falls native posted 14 goals and 33 points in 57 games.
He has a goal and an assist through the Warriors first four playoff games. Marino also played for West Kelowna during the 2014-15 season, where he had three goals and 18 points in 54 games.
Marino will be joined in Alaska by teammate Kylar Hope and is one of six Warriors committed to NCAA for 2016-17.
Ross Heidt of the Salmon Arm Silverbacks will also join the Nanooks in the fall.
The Nanooks feature seven BCHL alums, including former West Kelowna forward Marcus Basara. The other former BCHLers are Tyler Morley, Brandon Morley, Chad Staley, Jordan Burns, Jesse Jenks and Colton Sparrow.
Alaska plays in the WCHA along with the Alaska-Anchorage, Michigan Tech, Bowling Green, Lake Superior State, Ferris State, Alabama-Huntsville, Bemidji State and Northern Michigan.