ANTIGONISH, NS – StFX X-Men hockey head coach Brad Peddle has announced his 2009 recruiting class. “We are extremely pleased with the recruiting class for the upcoming season,” comments Coach Peddle.

“They are high character individuals that will each bring something different to our program and help our team immediately. We look forward to adding them to our returning group of athletes and welcoming them into the X-Men hockey program.”
 
Included in the X-Men recruiting class to date are goaltenders Joey Perricone and Bryan Gillis, defensemen Nick Pageau, Spencer McAvoy, Josh Day and Stephen Simms and forwards Ryan Sparling, Brennen Wray and Murdoch MacLellan.

Goaltender Joey Perricone played five years with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League where he was named the WHL Eastern Conference Playoff Most Valuable Player in 2007. He has attended two NHL camps, the Dallas Stars in 2008 and the Anaheim Ducks in 2006.

“Joey joined us last January after a brief pro stop in the ECHL and five years in Moose Jaw,” says Coach Peddle. “We recruited him for this upcoming season and are very happy to be adding him to our program. He is a big, agile goaltender that competes hard and has significant experience at NHL camps and some very good years in Moose Jaw. Joey is a former WHL playoff MVP that will be counted on to make an impact and solidify our goaltending for the upcoming years”

Goaltender Bryan Gillis is a former Antigonish Bulldog and Maritime Junior A Hockey League Rookie of the Year. He spent the last two years playing with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks of the British Columbia Hockey League. Bryan was a team Canada East goaltender in the CJAHL Prospects game in 2006 and at the 2007 World Jr. A Challenge was a goaltender for Team Canada East.

“We are very happy to be bringing Bryan back to Antigonish,” comments Peddle. “He was a very popular player with the Jr. A Bulldogs and went on to have great success in the very strong BCHL with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. Bryan has a strong work ethic, competes hard and is a very athletic goaltender that will give us a very solid goaltending tandem for the upcoming years.”

Defenseman Nick Pageau was an assistant captain with the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League. He was a Memorial Cup participant in 2008 and also attended the New York Rangers camp in 2008.

“Nick was a highly sought after defenseman that brings a very complete game to our program,” comments Peddle. “He is a very experienced player, attending the Rangers camp and coming from an outstanding Belleville Bulls program that has produced some very good, successful teams. Nick is a high character individual with strong leadership skills and plays a very solid game in both ends of the ice. He will be counted upon to make an impact to our hockey club, and we are extremely happy to be adding him to the X-Men program”

Spencer McAvoy is a defenseman from the Swift Current Broncos from the Western Hockey League. He attended the Columbus Blue Jackets Prospects camp in 2009. 

“Spencer is a big 6’3” mobile defenseman that moves the puck very well, and will be counted on to add some size, skill and offense to our blue line,” says the StFX bench boss. “He just recently attended the Columbus Blue Jackets Prospects camp where he played very well and will be attending their rookie camp in September. He will be attending this camp in search of a pro contract, but should a contract not present itself he has made his full intention to join our X-Men hockey program”

Defenseman Josh Day completed a five year Ontario Hockey League career this past season with the 2009 OHL Eastern Conference champion Brampton Battalion.  He was an attendee at the Toronto Maple Leafs camp in 2008.

“Josh Day is an impact defenseman that will be a great addition to our blue line. He is coming off a great year in Brampton and is a very good puck mover who is also very responsible in his own end.  He has good mobility and reads the play well, which will make a smooth transition to the speed of the AUS. He also will be attending an NHL rookie camp with Carolina Hurricanes in September, but has made it known that unless he obtains an NHL contract, he will be attending StFX and suiting up for the X-Men this fall.”

Rounding out the defense recruits is Stephen Simms who most recently finished the season with the OCN Blizzard of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. After two strong years with the Weyburn Red Wings of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, he was awarded an NCAA Division 1 scholarship to Lake Superior State in 2008. He was a participant in the Team Canada West CJAHL Top Prospects game in both 2006 and 2007.

“Stephen is a very good skating defenseman with a heavy shot,” says Peddle. “He was offered an NCAA Division 1 Scholarship in 2008, but has since decided to stay a little closer home to pursue his education and further his hockey career. He is a skilled offensive defenseman that sees the ice well and will give us more speed on the back end and help our transition game.”

Forward Ryan Sparling was an assistant captain with the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and is the all time leader in games played and scoring for the Sea Dogs.

X-Men head coach Brad Peddle comments, “We are very pleased to be adding Ryan to the X-Men hockey program. He is a dynamic player that competes very hard and will bring an element of speed, skill and grit to our lineup. He has put up very good numbers in Junior and has the potential and ability to be an impact forward at this level. He will be a great addition to a very solid group of returning forwards and we are looking forward to seeing him in an X jersey.”

Forward Brennen Wray was an assistant captain with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League. He also played with the 2006 WHL Eastern Conference champion Moose Jaw Warriors and was the WHL Scholastic Player of the Year for 2005-06.
 
“Brennen is a five year WHL forward that has the versatility to play defense as well,” says Peddle. He will add some size and speed to our lineup and brings a good physical two-way game to our team. He is a high character individual, with good leadership qualities and a strong work ethic both on the ice and in the classroom and will be a great addition to our group.”

Forward Murdoch MacLellan started this past season playing for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL) and ended the season with the Dieppe Commandos (MJAHL) where he was named team captain. He has three years of major junior experience under his playing belt.

“Murdoch is a solid character, gritty forward who will do what it takes to win. He has good hockey sense, a very good work ethic, and is a strong penalty killer. He is former junior captain with good leadership qualities that will fit in very nicely with the returning group of players we have in our locker room.”

The StFX X-Men will begin exhibition play September 14th with a game against the Florida Panthers rookies in Port Hawkesbury, NS. They will also play pre-season exhibition games against Atlantic University Sport opponents Acadia and Saint Mary’s, will travel to the Don Wells Invitational tournament at Acadia and to the United States for games against Boston College and Boston University. Regular season play in the AUS conference opens on the weekend of Oct. 16-17. The complete 2009-10 X-Men hockey schedule can be found here.