(By Alex Hoegler, BCHL communications)
After completing a successful NCAA career with Cornell University, former Merritt Centennials defenceman Reece Willcox will now try the pros.
The blueliner signed a contract Monday with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers after four seasons at Cornell. It is expected he will report to the Flyers American Hockey League affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
As a collegiate player, the native of Surrey, B.C. scored 12 goals and 32 points in 120 games. His best season offensively was this year, as he had two goals and 11 assists in 33 games.
Willcox was selected by the Flyers in the fifth round, 141st overall, in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
In the BCHL, he played with the Centennials in 2010-11 and 2011-12. The 6-foot-4, 208-pound blueliner scored 10 goals and 20 points in 105 BCHL games. Willcox was part of the gold-medal-winning Team Canada West squad at the 2011 World Junior A Challenge in Langley.
Rhett Willcox, Reece’s younger brother, finished this past BCHL season with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and has played 148 BCHL games over three seasons.
Other BCHL alums signing pro contracts and/or tryouts this season have been:
Luke Juha, (Penn State, former Vernon Vipers defenceman), AHL Bridgeport Sound Tigers (New York Islanders affiliate)
Jim Kruger (Dartmouth, former Langley Rivermen goalie), ECHL South Carolina Stingrays (Washington Capitals affiliate)
Tyler Morley (Alaska, former Surrey Eagles forward), AHL San Diego Gulls (Anaheim Ducks affiliate)
Alex Petan (Michigan Tech, former Coquitlam Express forward), AHL Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild Affiliate)
Chase Golightly (Robert Morris, former Prince George Spruce Kings defenceman), ECHL Florida Everblades (Carolina Hurricanes affiliate)
Graeme McCormack (Bemidji State, former Nanaimo Clippers defenceman), AHL Bridgeport Sound Tigers (New York Islanders affiliate)
Darren Nowick (Northern Michigan, former Vernon Vipers forward), ECHL Missouri Mavericks (New York Islanders affiliate)
Craig Wyszomirski (Merrimack, former Surrey Eagles defenceman), ECHL Manchester Monarchs (Los Angeles Kings affiliate)
Carter Shinkaruk (Elmira College, former Merritt Centennials/Powell River Kings forward) ECHL Idaho Steelheads (Dallas Stars affiliate)
