The Trail Smoke Eaters have bolstered their blue line with the signing of defenceman Bryan Gerstenfeld of Farifield, CT. last week.
The 18-year-old Gerstenfeld played in the New England Prep School Interscholastic Hockey Association for Berkshire and was scouted by Smokie coach Nick Deschenes last month on a recruiting trip out east.
Gerstenfeld led all Berkshire defencemen in scoring last season with three goals and 16 assists in 29 games, and brings skill, a hard shot, as well as his six-foot-one 190-pound frame to the Smokies.
Gerstenfeld has also committed to play for Army in the NCAA Div. 1 Atlantic Hockey division next season.
The Smoke Eaters have all but one of their players eligible to return for next season, but the coaching staff is continuously looking for ways to improve, says Deschenes.