The Nanaimo Clippers are just a month away from training camp and now they’ve got a good idea of what the camp roster will look like.
The B.C. Hockey League club announced the signing of five forwards this week: Marc Olivier Guertin, Yannick LaFlamme, Dustin Beairsto, Brandon Rommens and Brett Hartskamp.
Guertin, 19, is a 6-foot-1, 195-pound winger acquired from the Quebec junior A league's Jolliette Traffic. Clippers general manager Bill Bestwick said in a press release that Guertin is strong on the forecheck and creates a net presence, attributes the team needs to replace with the graduation of leaders Carson Schell and Joe Perry.
"Guertin will definitely add a measure of physical play necessary with the loss of Schell and Perry," Bestwick said.
LaFlamme, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound centre, was a point-a-game player with the Notre Dame Hounds, who won the Telus Cup midget championship this past spring.
"Yannick is a terrific player and has an excellent understanding of the game, both offensively and defensively…" Bestwick said. "And of course his championship attitude will be an asset on and off the ice."
Beairsto and Rommens come to Nanaimo from Alberta's midget circuit; the former played for St. ALbert and the latter, for the UFA Bisons.
Beairsto, who is 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, is a good skater and forechecker and plays with intensity; Rommerns is described as a 6-foot-1, 195-pound power forward who is a fierce competitor.
Clippers fans will recall Hartskamp as an affiliate player with the team last spring. The 6-foot, 185 pounder got into two regular-season games and five playoff games with the Shipmen. He is thought to be a conscientious player and good passer.