The Merritt Centennials have made their first off-season transaction, acquiring 18-year-old defenceman Marshall Skapski from the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
Picking up Skapski from the ’Dogs completes the trade on December 1 of last year that saw the Cents send 1998-born forward Ryan Finnegan to Alberni Valley for future considerations.
The Abbotsford-born Skapski spent all of his first season in the BCHL with the Bulldogs, playing a total of 52 regular-season and playoff games. The five-foot 10-inch, 170-pound blueliner tallied one goal and added six assists for seven points, to go along with 42 penalty minutes.
“We’re happy to add Marshall into our veteran defensive group,” Centennials head coach and GM Joe Martin said. “He’s a great player. We were very happy with what we saw playing against him last season.”
Before joining Alberni Valley, Skapski played one season of major midget hockey with the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds, and also played eight games with the Ridge Meadow Flames of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League.
