Seattle Thunderbirds have signed defenseman Kevin Korchinski to a Western Hockey League standard player agreement with the team.<\/p>\n
Korchinski, from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, was selected in the first round, 10th overall, in the 2019 Bantam Draft on May 2 in Red Deer, Alberta. The T-Birds acquired the 10th overall selection from the Kelowna Rockets in a trade prior to the pick.<\/p>\n
“We feel Kevin has the potential to be a top pairing defenseman,” general manager Bil La Forge said Friday. “We love the way he skates and handles the puck.”<\/p>\n
“Kevin has the potential to support the excellent forwards we have in our system. He is another building block in place for the future of the T-Birds.”<\/p>\n
Korchinski had 10 goals and 37 assists in 31 games for the Saskatoon Generals last season.<\/p>\n
“I’m very thankful and happy to be part of the organization,” Korchinski said. “This is just the start as I have to keep training and putting in the work to be ready to play at the WHL level.<\/p>\n
“My parents and I ran through all the options for my hockey development, and we felt that the T-Birds were my best option,” Korchinski said. “I have heard nothing but great things about the organization, fans, coaches and city of Kent.”<\/p>\n
Korchinski and center Jordan Gustafson were selected in the first round of the daft. Gustafson, from Ardrossan, Alberta, signed with the T-Birds on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Gustafson played for the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers Bantam AAA team in the AMBHL last season, scoring 31 goals and distributing 39 assists in 33 games.<\/p>\n
By signing WHL standard player agreements, Korchinski and Gustafson are guaranteed WHL scholarships for every year they play in the league. A player is able to attend any career-enhancing institution of his choice, including universities, colleges, technical institutes, trade schools, or any other institution that will help the player achieve his academic and career goals.<\/p>\n
For each season played in the WHL, a player receives a one-year post-secondary scholarship, which includes tuition, compulsory fees and required textbooks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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