VANCOUVER – Three more players have committed to playing for the UBC Thunderbirds men's hockey program, completing the recruiting class for first-year head coach
Tyler Kuntz.
Forwards
Justin Georgeson,
David Robinson and
Adam Rossignol will bring a wide range of experience to the Thunderbirds lineup as the team gets ready for the 2014-15 Canada West season.
JUSTIN GEORGESON (5'9 centre/right winger | Maple Ridge, BC)
Georgeson, a native of Maple Ridge, is a 5-foot-9 forward who played three years with the Coquitlam Express and one with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, both BC Hockey League teams.
"I am extremely excited to be a part of such a prestigious institution," said Georgeson. "I feel very fortunate to be granted the opportunity to play so close to my hometown and to be part of a great team with high-level players.
"It's always been my goal to receive a first-class education while prolonging my hockey career, and I can't think of a more suitable environment for that. I have to thank my family for affording me every opportunity to reach my ultimate goal of playing university hockey."
Georgeson improved his offensive numbers in each BCHL season, culminating in a 53-point (19 goals and 34 assists) campaign in his only year with Alberni Valley in 2013-14. In 164 regular season games with Coquitlam, he scored 37 goals and 50 assists for 87 points. He added two goals and four assists in 17 postseason career appearances in the BCHL.
"We are extremely thrilled to add another local player from the BCHL to our program," said Kuntz. "Justin is a player that I am very familiar with from his days in the BCHL with the Coquitlam Express and Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
"He is a determined, intelligent, and skilled centreman that can play up down your line-up and in all situations. He will compete hard and develop into a very good CIS hockey player. Justin will add value to our program both on and off the ice."
DAVID ROBINSON (5'10 left winger/centre | Vernon, BC)
Robinson will return to ice after spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach with his hometown Vernon Vipers of the BCHL.
"I am very excited to be joining such a great program at UBC," said Robinson. "I have known Tyler for a few years now and I believe the program will continue to grow under him. Although it could take some time for me to get back to the speed of things on the ice, I am ready to contribute in any way possible for this team to have success."
Before becoming a coach, Robinson played for the Vipers as well as the Calgary Dinos (CIS) and the Western Hockey League's Chilliwack Bruins.
Between 2007 and 2010, Robinson recorded 43 points, 23 goals and 20 assists, for Chilliwack in 169 games at the major junior level. He went scoreless in four postseason outings.
He played four games with Vernon during the 2006-07 season and then returned to the Vipers during the latter half of the 2009-10 campaign, helping to team to a Royal Bank Cup national championship victory. Robinson captained Vernon back to a second-place finish at the Royal Bank Cup the next year.
He tallied 47 goals and 28 assists for 75 points in 80 regular season appearances for Vernon. He added another 21 points (eight goals and 13 assists) in 35 Vipers playoff games.
After junior hockey, Robinson suited up for the Calgary Dinos, recording six assists in 28 league games. He also played in six playoff games.
Robinson now returns to the Canada West.
"When I learned of David's decision to play hockey again, I didn't think twice about pursuing him," said Kuntz. "I think very highly of David as a person and a player and feel once he makes the transition to the level and speed of play, he will be a solid contributor on the ice.
"David has won a national championship and that experience will be a great addition to the group. He is a very hard-working and versatile player that can play up and down our line-up. We are happy to add him to the Thunderbirds family."
ADAM ROSSIGNOL (6'0 centre/left winger | Surrey, BC)
Rossignol will bring the experience of five WHL campaigns and two long playoff runs to the UBC program. The 6-0 forward was part of Kootenay's championship victory in 2011 and helped Portland to the 2014 final series this past spring.
"I am very excited, blessed, and humbled to have an opportunity to play at the University of British Columbia," said Rossignol. "It has always been a dream of mine to attend a school with such a high regard for academics as well as athletics.
"Playing the last four seasons in the Western Hockey League has been a great experience and prepared me well for my future going forward as a person and a player. To be able to continue to play hockey at an elite level, and attend a world-class school is a dream scenario and I can't wait to get started."
In between the WHL titles, Rossignol, a Surrey native, also played for Regina and Swift Current as well as Coquitlam of the BCHL.Â
In 223 WHL games, he scored 24 goals and recorded 33 assists for 57 points. In 29 postseason games, he had a goal and an assist. In a short stint with Coquitlam, Rossignol tallied four goals and 18 assists for 22 points in 17 games.
"Adam comes to our program with championship pedigree," said Kuntz. "He is a WHL champion and has been a part of some great programs with a tradition of winning. Adam has a reputation of being a strong worker and a very good teammate. I have been very impressed thus far in my dealings with Adam and feel he will be a very proud and passionate Thunderbird."
The UBC hockey season gets underway on Tuesday, Sept. 9 with a non-conference game against the Simon Fraser club team at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre at 7:15 p.m. After a tournament Sept. 12-14 in Regina, the Thunderbirds will open Canada West regular season play with a home series Sept. 26-27 against the Alberta Golden Bears at Father David Bauer Arena.
