The West Kelowna Junior ‘A’ Hockey Club is pleased to announce the commitment of defenseman Nick Ardanaz(‘02) for the 2019-2020 season.
Ardanaz, 16, spent the past four seasons with the Delta Wild Academy of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League. This past season Ardanaz was able to register almost a point per game, making him one of the most sought after defensemen coming into the BCHL. “We are very excited to announce Nick’s commitment to our program”, said Warriors Head Coach and General Manager Brandon West. “Nick is a dynamic playmaking defenseman that plays strong defence as well. He’s been a key factor in the power play at Delta Academy for a few seasons and I look forward to seeing him develop here as a Warrior.”
The 5’8 150 pound defender was sought after by a handful or Junior A clubs but ultimately chose the Warriors. “Seeing myself in a Warriors jerseys felt right for my family and I”, stated Ardanaz. “With the coaching, great facilities, location and team history, I felt like it was the most comfortable fit for me to develop as a player and person.”
The Langley native recently committed to the University of New Hampshire for 2021-2022. Ardanaz is also thrilled to be playing next to his close friend and former Delta teammate John Evans who is also a recent commit of the Warriors for 2019-2020. “John and I have played with each other for as long as I remember”, stated Ardanaz. “It will be great to play out our first years of junior together on the same team. John’s a great player and a better teammate.”
Ardanaz likes to consider himself a two way defender with an offensive touch, “I try to model my game after Torey Krug. You can expect an offensive minded puck moving defender who can play a two way game. I’m not afraid to jump in and create opportunities.”