As the Selkirk College Saints get ready to tangle with the Trail Smoke Eaters tonight at 7 p.m. at the Cominco Arena, a familiar face will be wearing the ‘C’ for the Saints.
Trail native and Selkirk second-year forward Logan Proulx has been named team captain for the 2013-14 B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League season.
The former Trail Smoke Eater captain is coming off a stellar rookie season for Selkirk that saw him tie for second in team and league scoring behind former teammate Jordan Wood. He was also named a BCIHL First-Team All-Star and helped lead the Saints to their first-ever league championship.
“Logan is a natural leader who sets the tone every day with his high compete level and his enthusiasm for being at the rink,” says Saints head coach Jeff Dubois. “He’s a high character guy who played a key role within our leadership group on and off the ice last season and really distinguished himself as someone who had the respect and trust of his teammates. Logan was the ideal choice to take over the captaincy and lead our team this year.”
Proulx’s junior playing career included stops in the Western Hockey League with the Edmonton Oil Kings and the British Columbia Hockey League with the Trail Smoke Eaters and Cowichan Valley Capitals.
“It means a tremendous amount to me to be chosen as captain this year,” says Proulx. “To be part of any leadership group is an honour and a privilege. I take a lot of pride in being a leader and it’s something that has always come naturally to me. Last year we set a high standard as a team with our work ethic and I think that was the start of something we now expect of ourselves and each other as Selkirk Saints.”
Proulx played in 110 BCHL games, scoring 21 goals and adding 18 assists, and was named captain of the Smokies to start the 2011 season before being traded to Cowichan in early November. With the Saints last season Proulx counted 14 goals and 24 assists in 21 matches for the Saints.
“I’m really excited to have all the boys back in town and to get back on the ice with the team. I’m looking forward to welcoming the new guys to Castlegar and getting back into the swing of things. We had a very successful season last year and I know the guys want to compete for and win another BCIHL championship this year.”
Selkirk’s leadership group will also include a pair of players — Scott Swiston and Dylan Smith — who are returning as assistant captains for a second season. The third ‘A’ will be worn by second-year forward Connor McLaughlin, who finished third on the team in points last season with 27.
“Connor was one of our hardest workers and best conditioned players last season,” says Dubois. “He plays a gritty, responsible game and he’s going to be a great fit wearing an ‘A’ along with Scott and Dylan.”