Press Release
Espanola, On.
The Espanola Express have signed big 6’4″ 215lbs left shot defenceman Jace Pitawanakwat for the upcoming 2017-2018 season.
The Toronto resident spent last season with the North York Rangers AAA program in the GTHL.
The big defender will add his size and speed to the Express blue line. Pitawanakwat has played a stay at home, steady, physical style game in the past, but this year he plans to utilize his speed, hard shot and vision to contribute more offensively this season.
“I’ve been labelled a stay at home defenceman, but I want to change that. Now I am always looking for opportunities moving up the ice,” added the new defenceman.
When asked about what he will bring to the Express team this year, he had this to say.
“My strengths are my physicality and using my size to shut down the offence of the opposing team,” claimed Pitawanakwat.
“Jace dominated at our spring camp and I had the opportunity to watch him in game situations this summer and he continued to impress each time I watched him play,” boasted Express GM Chad Clarke.
“We have high hopes for Jace to have a break out year and become a dominant defenceman in our league,” added Clarke
Jace has had a busy off season preparing for the jump to Junior “A” hockey, but the highlight of his summer was spending the last few weeks in Winnepeg filming the popular hockey TV show “Hit The Ice”. Training and honing his skills at the 3 week camp with 40 other Junior aged players. With high end instructors and NHL player appearances, Jace has taken advantage of this opportunity making it through all the cuts and then moving on to making the final team, where they played team Manitoba to finish out season 6 of “Hit The Ice”. Stay tuned on APTN this fall to see Jace’s experience when season 6 debuts.