{"slides_column":"2","slides_scroll":"1","dots":"false","arrows":"true","autoplay":"true","autoplay_interval":"5000","loop":"true","rtl":"false","speed":"2000","center_mode":"false"}

Westgate Excited For New Opportunity With Wolverines

The Waywayseecappo Wolverines acquired ’00-born Forward, Noah Westgate from the Alberta Junior Hockey Leagues’ Olds Grizzlys on Monday night in a deal that will bring some familiarity to the Wolverines lineup.

Westgate will join three former teammates in Conrad Phillips, Gerrick Ripley and Dylan Soosay who all played together during the 2017-18 season for the Midget AAA Leduc Oil Kings in Alberta.

“Whenever you get traded out of province it’s a bit of a shock but after talking to the coach (Taylor Harnett) I feel very optimistic about it and very welcomed,” Westgate said of the trade. “I’ve talked to a couple of players on the team already so I’m looking forward to it. It definitely makes the transition easier when you know a few guys in the locker room.”

Head Coach and General Manager, Taylor Harnett is looking forward to having Westgate in the lineup and says he expects the Hinton, Alberta native to be a great addition in the locker room.

“This is a great deal for the Wolverines and we’re excited to have him,” Harnett said. “He has a familiarity with a few of the players and that should make his transition much easier. Hearing what other players had to say about him is a big reason why we went after him. He’s a great team guy and we expect his veteran presence to really pay off in the locker room.”

“Noah brings a lot of offensive upside and speed to the lineup. We had an opportunity to talk about the direction that the Wolverines are going in and he’s excited to be part of the organization. He’s a veteran player at the Junior A level and he’s looking for an opportunity to be put into a position to succeed and help us win hockey games,” Harnett concluded.

In 52 games last season between Bonnyville and Olds, Westgate scored four goals and six assists. The 19-year-old shared what he can bring to the lineup and what his ultimate goal is entering his second full year of Junior A.

“I’m a good offensive player, my game is built around speed and I think I’ll bring that to the lineup. Jumping in and out of holes, getting pucks to the net and driving the net. Creating offensive is really what I bring.”

“My goal is an NCAA Division I scholarship, that’s what I’ve been chasing. With two years left that’s when things tend to happen so I’m looking forward to these next two seasons,” Westgate concluded.