(Spruce Grove, AB) – Spruce Grove Saints General Manager Rob Sklaruk announced today the club has acquired forward Ethan Leyer from the Alberni Valley Bulldogs of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) in exchange for a player development fee.
Leyer, a veteran forward, joins the Saints after spending the previous season with the Alberni Valley in the BCHL, where he played 60 games, compiling nine goals, 15 assists for 24 points and 41 penalty minutes.
Prior to his time with Alberni Valley, the St. Albert, AB native played one season for the Bonnyville Pontiacs and two seasons with the Whitecourt Wolverines in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). Overall, Leyer has played 124 games in the AJHL and has tallied 31 goals, 48 assists for 79 points.
The 20-year-old right-handed shot forward is listed at 5’9, 160lbs and will join the Saints prior to the start of the 2022-2023 training camp, which begins Saturday, August 27th at the Grant Fuhr Arena in Spruce Grove.
General Manager Rob Sklaruk spoke about the key addition upfront, “ Leyer is a power forward that plays with a lot of pace and is extremely skilled. Myself and the club are expecting big things from Ethan in his final season of junior hockey.”
The Leyer’s are no strangers to the Spruce Grove Saints program. Ethan’s older brother Nick played four seasons with the Saints. Nick competed in 164 games for Spruce Grove, compiling 53 goals, 55 assists for 108 points. Nick was a major part of the Saints taking home the AJHL championship in 2017-2018. Nick is now entering his second season with the Nait Ooks in the Alberta College Athletic Conference (ACAC).
Head Coach Bram Stephen weighed in on another Leyer suiting up for the Saints, proudly saying, “Ethan is going to provide lots of experience and offensive ability to our group. The Leyer family is special to our organization, and we are extremely happy to finally call Ethan a Saint.”
An enthusiastic Ethan spoke about joining the Saints for the upcoming campaign, saying, “I am super excited to be a part of the Saints organization and getting to wear the same jersey my brother dawned for four seasons. After seeing the amazing background and history that Spruce Grove has created, I could not be happier to be a Saint for my final year of junior hockey.”
The Saints would like to welcome Ethan and the Leyer family back to the organization.
Spruce Grove will open the 2022-2023 season with a home and home against the Sherwood Park Crusaders. Starting the season on September 16th in Sherwood Park and returning to the Grant Fuhr Arena for the home opener on September 17th.
Secure your tickets online at tickets.sprucegrovesaints.ca.