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North Stars’ Gorgi commits to Red Deer College

Apr 20, 2016 | 11:57 AM

Battlefords North Stars forward Dustin Gorgi’s efforts this past season have earned him a scholarship to play at home for the Red Deer College Kings.

“It’s extremely ideal. They’re a great program, they’ve really built themselves up and become more of a powerhouse team and I’ve got a few close friends there so it will be a lot of fun.”

Gorgi was traded to the Salmon Arm Silverbacks this past summer, before being acquired by the North Stars two months later. Gorgi said he wasn’t expecting the move.

“After going to the Silverbacks spring camp, about a month later I got a phone call and was told I was getting traded to North Battleford…I was pretty excited about it,” Gorgi recalled.

While he was more of a secondary scorer through his first two years of junior hockey, Gorgi exploded for 59 points in 58 games with the North Stars. He said North Stars head coach Kevin Hasselberg told him he would be given more opportunities to score when he was acquired in the trade.

Gorgi also had a personal connection to the SJHL, as his dad Mark played three seasons with the Melfort Mustangs in the early 1990s.

“He said it would be a physical game, it’s more physical than the Alberta or BC league. He felt with my style of play I would fit in well here,” Gorgi said.

Gorgi’s dad had quite a different style of play, racking up 1,106 penalty minutes over his three-year career with the Mustangs from 1989-92, culminating with an SJHL championship in 1992.

The Kings play in the Alberta College Athletics Conference, a nine-team league with teams in Edmonton, Camrose, Caronport, Wood Buffalo, Fort McMurray, Lac La Biche and Calgary.

Gorgi will join two former North Stars, defenceman Michael Statchuk and forward Nick Fountain, with the Kings for the 2016-17 year.

 

Email: cjnbsports@jpbg.ca           

Twitter: @craig_beauch