Lloydminster Bobcats Head Coach and General Manager Travis Clayton has announced the signings of Chase Stephenson (Lloydminster, AB), Ian Dubourdieu (Calgary, AB), and Brad Adams (Mayerthorpe, AB) for the 2017-18 season.
Stephenson (’99) played minor hockey in his hometown of Lloydminster up until the 2015-16 season, when he attended the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton, BC. Graduating this spring after two years in the Okanagan valley, Stephenson will be returning to his hometown to step into the AJHL ranks in the fall.
Dubourdieu will be a familiar sight for Bobcats fans after appearing in eight games with the team as an affiliate player last season, finding the back of the net once. The 1999-born defenceman completed his minor hockey career as a member of the Calgary Midget AAA Flames last season with six goals and 13 assists for 19 points in 30 games. Dubourdieu, paired with current Bobcats forward Brady Barclay, also picked up a Mac’s Tournament title in the 2015-16 season with the Flames over the Lloydminster Midget AAA Bobcats.
Adams will be amongst the youngest players in the AJHL this season, stepping into the lineup as a 16 year-old in September. After putting up 41 points in 29 games with the Whitecourt Bantam AA Wolverines in 2015-16, the forward joined the Parkland Athletic Club Minor Midget AAA Saints in Spruce Grove last year where he produced 13 goals and 13 assists for 26 points in 35 games.
More player news and the release of the 2017-18 AJHL schedule will be available on www.lloydminsterbobcats.ca in the coming weeks. Season ticket packages are also on sale now at tickets.lloydminsterbobcats.ca!
QUOTES
Chase Stephenson: “Being a Lloydminster kid, I’m very excited about the opportunity to play for the Bobcats. I had the privilege of playing for Travis in Bantam and have a great deal of respect for him as a coach and leader. Knowing him, some of the guys on the team from last year, and some of the guys coming in, this organization has a bright future ahead and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”
Travis Clayton: “It’s always great to bring in a local player, but more importantly, Chase can play. He’s got a strong two-way game, is very responsible in his own end, and he brings a ton of leadership. He will bring in the type of character that we need.”
Ian Dubourdieu: “I am very happy to sign with the Lloydminster Bobcats for the 2017-18 season. After playing games last season as an affiliate, I was very comfortable with committing to the Bobcats due to my respect for the players, coaches and the great fan base in Lloydminster. With the young skilled core of the Bobcats returning this was an opportunity that was simply too good to pass up and I wanted to be a part of it for the coming season. I had great communication with the coaching staff during my time with the team last season and elt Lloydminster would be a great fit to start my AJHL career and propel me to be a better player.”
TC: “Ian is a very skilled, puck moving defenceman with a lot of offensive upside. In eight games played with us last year, he showed without a doubt that he’s ready to jump in and take on a bigger role with our team.”
Brad Adams: “I am very grateful for the opportunity to play for the Lloydminster Bobcats next season. Lloydminster has a great reputation as a solid hockey program and being one of the youngest guys on the team, I am very excited to learn and grow as a hockey player within this organization. After attending spring camp and seeing firsthand the coaching and player expertise, the decision to sign was quite easy. I look forward to the upcoming season, and can’t wait to play for the Bobcats.”
TC: “Brad Adams is a young guy, but he already has really good size and we feel he’ll be ready to step into the lineup immediately. We’re looking forward to working with Brad and developing him in the years to come.”