Triton
07-31-2007, 10:40 PM
Brandon, Manitoba -- Former Brandon Wheat King captain Mark Derlago is set to embark on a professional hockey career, signing Tuesday with the Bakersfield Condors of the ECHL.
A four year Western Hockey League veteran, the 21-year old Brandon product is coming off an outstanding 2006-07 campaign that saw the former AAA Midget League scoring champion lead the league with 46 goals in 72 games. As well, he added a career high 35 assists to finish his final year of major junior hockey with 81 points.
Brandon's Most Valuable Player for the past two seasons, Derlago finished his Western League career with 82 goals and 80 assists for 162 points in 209 regular season games.
“The Wheat Kings are pleased for Mark that he will have an opportunity to pursue a professional career,“ says Wheat Kings' coach and general manager Kelly McCrimmon. “Over the past two months there was a lot of interest in Mark, and I know he is excited to have his plans in place for the coming season.“
“The Wheat Kings thank him for his contributions to our organization, and wish him well in his professional career,“ McCrimmon went on to say.
The 49th player in franchise history to wear the “C“ in Brandon, Derlago joins a club that featured two former Wheat Kings in 2006-07 - goalkeeper Jamie Hodson and defenceman Reagan Leslie.
The Condors finished in second place in the ECHL's Pacific Division this past season, compiling an impressive 41-19-3-9 record, good for 94 points.
An excellent baseball player, Mark is the nephew of former Wheat King and National Hockey League scoring star Bill Derlago.
A four year Western Hockey League veteran, the 21-year old Brandon product is coming off an outstanding 2006-07 campaign that saw the former AAA Midget League scoring champion lead the league with 46 goals in 72 games. As well, he added a career high 35 assists to finish his final year of major junior hockey with 81 points.
Brandon's Most Valuable Player for the past two seasons, Derlago finished his Western League career with 82 goals and 80 assists for 162 points in 209 regular season games.
“The Wheat Kings are pleased for Mark that he will have an opportunity to pursue a professional career,“ says Wheat Kings' coach and general manager Kelly McCrimmon. “Over the past two months there was a lot of interest in Mark, and I know he is excited to have his plans in place for the coming season.“
“The Wheat Kings thank him for his contributions to our organization, and wish him well in his professional career,“ McCrimmon went on to say.
The 49th player in franchise history to wear the “C“ in Brandon, Derlago joins a club that featured two former Wheat Kings in 2006-07 - goalkeeper Jamie Hodson and defenceman Reagan Leslie.
The Condors finished in second place in the ECHL's Pacific Division this past season, compiling an impressive 41-19-3-9 record, good for 94 points.
An excellent baseball player, Mark is the nephew of former Wheat King and National Hockey League scoring star Bill Derlago.