The Merritt Centennials are proud to announce the signings of Tyson Galloway (03) and Jerzy Orchard (01) as they have been released from their respective WHL teams.
Both players were the victims of the numbers game on their respective teams. Galloway is a prospect with the Calgary Hitmen and the young 16 year old was looking primed to make the roster if not for the presence of a strong D-core with 6 returning players. Orchard, who’s WHL rights are with the Kamloops Blazers, was squeezed out due to a wealth of younger talent with the team electing to keep 3 16 year olds to start the season.
Galloway, a Kamloops native, standing at 6’2″ and weighing 201 lbs will be getting his first true taste of Junior hockey action with the Merritt Centennials. Last year he put up 18 assists in 37 games with the BC Major Midget League’s Thompson Blazers. He also got into 3 WHL games with the Hitmen where he didn’t register a point. Prior to serving on the Blazers, he spent a year at Yale Academy in 2017-18 where he had 3 goals and 11 assists in 29 games.
Head Coach and General Manager Barry Wolff says that Galloway is someone the team is familiar with.
“He was at our camp, so we kind of new we had a chance to get him if things didn’t work out with the Hitmen. There would have been limited ice time for him there, so we’re lucky enough to get him here.”
Orchard, a left-handed shot from Delisle, Saskatchewan, spent the full year with the Kamloops Blazers last season getting into 41 games registering a goal and two assists in a limited role.
Coach Wolff says that Orchard is a player that comes in motivated to prove he’s more than a grinder.
“Good feet, good first step. Got some offensive ability. Obviously his numbers weren’t there last year due to the situation, hopefully he can get some numbers here. His goal is to get back to that league, so hopefully we can help him do that.”
With the additions there may be some need for subtractions says Coach Wolff.
“We’ll see how it goes, day by day we figure things out. We just want to get better and if these guys make us better then obviously someone’s got to go. Which is the unfortunate part of the business, but that is the business.”
The signings could see action as early as this weekend against the West Kelowna Warriors and Wenatchee Wild, or the coaching staff may wait until next week.
The Cents would like to welcome Galloway and Orchard to the Nicola Valley, and hope you’ll be there to welcome them on Friday night at the NVMA versus the West Kelowna Warriors.
