Gadowsky signs three more

Submitted by scott
Phone: (907) 474-6807
05/03/04

University of Alaska Fairbanks Hockey Coach Guy Gadowsky announced today that three more recruits; Tyler Eckford, Brandon Gawryletz and Adam Naglich have signed to play their collegiate hockey with the Nanooks.

"Tyler Eckford, Brandon Gawryletz and Adam Naglich will be three fine additions to our program," said Gadowsky, set to begin his sixth year at UAF. "Tyler is a very strong defender with good speed and great hands. Brandon is a great leader and has an all-around solid game. He should contribute immediately on defense with his competitiveness and ability to move the puck. For a guy who has played only four years of organized ice hockey after a career in roller hockey, Adam’s potential is unlimited and it will be exciting to see how he develops in our program."

Eckford, a 6’1", 200-pound defenseman from Langley, BC has played the last two seasons with the South Surrey Eagles of the British Columbia Hockey League. During the 2003-04 season, he finished with seven goals and 30 assists for 37 points. He had 101 penalty minutes in 58 regular season games and added two goals and eight assists in 13 playoff games. Eckford earned the Eagles’ Rookie of the Year and Most Improved Player Awards this past season. He saw only limited action in 2002-03 as an injury replacement and spent most of that year with the North Delta Flyers of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League.

"Tyler is a smooth skating defender who sees the ice well," said UAF assistant coach Jason Lammers. "He’s very physical and strong on his skates. I think Tyler will bring a little bit of an attitude to our defense and should be a factor in our power play."

Gawryletz is a 6’0", 185-pound defenseman from Trail, BC. He played his fifth season in the British Columbia Hockey League last year as team captain for the Trail Smoke Eaters. In 2003-04, he scored six goals and 27 assists for 33 points. Gawryletz was whistled for 122 penalty minutes in 58 regular season games and added one goal and three assists in 10 playoff games. He was named Trail’s Top Defenseman and was also Player of the Month for December 2003. Gawryletz played two seasons with the Langley Hornets where he totaled eight goals and 20 assists. He had seven goals and 14 assists in 58 games during the 2001-02 season. He also played for Team Labatts Blue in the 2003 BCHL Prospects Game.

The big defenseman spent his first two seasons in the BCHL with the Trail Smoke Eaters. In the 2000-01 season, he had five goals and 22 assists with 35 penalty minutes in 59 games. Gawryletz scored three goals and seven assists in 52 games in 1999-2000, being whistled for only 33 penalty minutes. He played for Team Pacific and won a bronze medal at the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge. He also played the 1998-99 season for the Beaver Valley Nitehawks of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, totaling six goals and 14 assists with 104 penalty minutes in 63 games. Gawryletz was a 2nd round draft pick of the Calgary Hitmen in the 1998 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft.

Naglich, a 6’1", 182-pound center from Las Vegas, NV, has played the last two seasons for the Victoria Salsa of the British Columbia Hockey League. In the 2003-04 season, he was the team’s third leading scorer with 28 goals and 33 assists for 61 points. He was called for 78 penalty minutes in 59 games and received the Friendship Award. Naglich also had two goals and two assists in four playoff games. In 2002-03, he had 14 goals and 24 assists for 38 points in 59 games and earned the Governor’s Award.

A prolific scorer, Naglich played two years with the Las Vegas Mustangs AA Midgets totaling 48 goals and 62 assists. He was +70 with five hat tricks and eight winning goals in 74 games in 2001-02. He had 12 goals and six assists in 13 games against Tier I Midget teams, won the all-around skills competition at the U.S. Nationals and was named the Mustangs’ Most Improved Player. The 2000-01 season was his first in competitive ice hockey and he scored 15 goals and 25 assists. Prior to beginning his ice hockey career, Naglich was a roller hockey star in Las Vegas. He was named Las Vegas Roller Player of the Year in 2002 and Skater of the Year in 2003.

Eckford, Gawryletz and Naglich join a long list of UAF hockey recruits which have signed this year with UAF. Other spring signees include Kyle Jones, a 5-10, 177-pound center from Airdrie, AB; T.J. Campbell, a 6-0, 185-pound defenseman from Fort McMurray, AB; Paul Crowder, a 6-3, 190-pound right shot center from Victory, BC; Troy Newton, a 6-0, 172-pound forward from Kimberly, BC; and Adam Powell, a 6-1, 225-pound forward from Fairbanks, AK. A total of six recruits 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 CCHA playoffs.