UAF hockey signs standout forwards

Submitted by Scott Wilson
Phone: (907) 474-6807
04/19/04

With the loss of scorers like Cam Keith and Aaron Voros, University of Alaska Fairbanks Hockey Coach Guy Gadowsky took a step toward filling some holes when he announced the signing of two standout forwards from British Columbia.

Paul Crowder, a 6-3, 190-pound center from Victoria, BC, and Troy Newton, a 6-0, 175-pound left wing from Kimberley, BC have signed to play their collegiate hockey with the Nanooks.

"Paul is a very skilled player who, once he grows into his 6-4 frame, will have unlimited potential. Paul has great vision to go along with excellent hands. It will be exciting for Fairbanks fans to watch his development and see how good this player can be," said Gadowsky. "Troy will remind Fairbanks fans of Bobby Andrews for more than a couple of reasons. He is a skilled player who plays gritty, and has a lean sturdy frame. Troy will add grit, but also speed and skill. He should adapt quite quickly to the CCHA game because of his ability to play in traffic and his competitive nature."

Crowder played the last two seasons for the Powell River Kings of the British Columbia Hockey League. Last year, he scored 19 goals and 39 assists for 58 points with 57 penalty minutes in 58 regular season games. Crowder, who was named his team’s Most Improved Player, had one goal and three assists in seven playoff games. Before Powell River, Crowder played for the Saanich Braves of the Victoria Island Junior Hockey League and in 2000-01 for the Victoria Racquet Club Bantam AAA team.

Newton joins the Nanooks from one of the premiere clubs in the BCHL - the Trail Smoke Eaters. In 2003-04, Newton scored 27 goals and 48 assists for 75 points with 183 penalty minutes in 58 games. He also had three goals and seven assists in 10 playoff games. Newton was selected to the Interior Conference team for the 2004 BCHL All-Star Showcase and also earned Trail’s regular season MVP and Most Popular awards.

He split the 2002-03 season between Langley and Trail finishing with 28 goals and 31 assists for 59 points with 60 penalty minutes in 59 games. In the 2001-02 season, he led Langley with 34 goals and added 26 assists for 60 points with 65 penalty minutes in 59 games. Newton also played two seasons with the Kimberley Dynamiters in the America West Hockey League. Newton was a 10th round pick of the Tri-City Americans in the 1998 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft.

Crowder and Newton are the second and third announced UAF hockey signees of the spring period. They join fellow spring signee Adam Powell, a 6-1, 225-pound forward from Fairbanks, AK; and six recruits who signed with the Nanooks during the early signing period. They include: Darcy Campbell, a 5’11", 175-pound defenseman from Airdrie, AB; Kyle Greentree, a 6’3", 200-pound left wing from Victoria, BC; Aaron Lee, a 6’0", 180-pound forward from Calgary, AB; Ryan McLeod, a 5’10", 175-pound right-handed shooting center from Fernie, BC; Ryan Muspratt, a 6’0", 190-pound right-handed center from Calgary, AB; and Wylie Rogers, a 5’10", 160-pound goaltender from Fairbanks.

The Nanooks finished the 2003-04 season with a 16-19-1 overall record and a 14-13-1 slate in the prestigious Central Collegiate Hockey Association. UAF finished sixth in the regular season standings and hosted the first round of the CCHA playoffs.