Nanaimo News Bulletin Editor Greg Sakaki named North Island local Tanner Roberts as a prospect for the Nanaimo Buccaneers Junior B team this season.
Sakaki noted specifically that “Rookies Joshua Zary and Riley Gannon are expected to have an immediate impact, with Tanner Roberts and another newcomer, Tyler Nypower also showing promise.”
Buccaneers coach Curtis Toneff added that “Some of these kids have potential to step into this league and do some damage right away. We’re not going to limit their creativity, but we’re going to teach them to play hard hockey with good habits and important concepts for them to move up in the game.”
Toneff said it’s a fast skating group this year that will be able to play the sort of “run and gun” hockey he’s encouraging.
Roberts played six years of minor hockey for the North Island Eagles association, and in his last season as a midget playing Tier 2 he scored 40 goals in 40 games.
- with files from Greg Sakaki