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Battleford native Bryce Gervais signs two year AHL contract

May 12, 2016 | 5:00 PM

The American Hockey League’s Chicago Wolves must have liked what Bryce Gervais showed during his 10-game tryout at the end of the 2015-16 season, as it was announced May 9 he had signed a two-year contract with the club.

After completing his four-year NCAA career at the Minnesota State University of Mankato, Gervais signed an amateur tryout with the Wolves at the suggestion of his family advisor who played in Chicago. It didn’t take long for Gervais to make an impact as he scored in just his second game, finishing the year with four goals and two assists in 10 games with Chicago.

“It was a pretty quick process,” Gervais said of contract negotiations. “I talked to the coaches after my last game there and they told me we’d figure something out. I really wanted to be there. It’s a good fit for me, so I’m very pleased with it.”

The 24-year-old Battleford native admitted there were a few other AHL teams that were interested in giving him a contract, but his familiarity with the team and coaching staff in Chicago made it an easy decision for him.

He adds he knows how much work he’s going to have to put in throughout the summer to prepare himself for the 76-game grind of the American Hockey League season.

“I want to be able to earn my ice time and prove that I can play at that level,” Gervais said. “Nowadays you’ve got kids training all-year round so you definitely have to put your work in over the summer. I need to be ready for training camp and pick up where I left off.”

Gervais added being able to focus on hockey and not worry about school work is one of the best parts about signing his contract.

“This (contract) is something I can put in my back pocket and know that I have it. It’s always been a dream of mine to play at the pro level and try and play hockey for a living so it feels like a pretty big accomplishment for me,” he said.

Gervais said his goal is obvious; to use these next two seasons to try and garner some NHL interest.

A professional contract is just another tick on a long list of accomplishments for Gervais. He was the British Columbia Hockey League’s rookie of the year in 2011 with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. He won a BCHL championship and RBC Cup with the Penticton Vees the following season and was a two-time Western Collegiate Hockey Association champion with the Minnesota State Mavericks.

Gervais joins Colby Cave of the Providence Bruins as the only other Battlefords native playing in the AHL.

 

Email: cjnbsports@jpbg.ca

 

Twitter: @craig_beauch