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Kassian
01-27-2005, 07:14 PM
Thursday, January 27, 2005

KAMLOOPS -- The Vancouver Giants have landed another B.C. Hockey League star.

General manager Scott Bonner confirmed Wednesday that the Giants had inked Surrey Eagles speedy winger David Rutherford as an affiliate player for the remainder of this year, and then as a full-time player for next season.

Rutherford, 17, could play five games with the team this year prior to the Eagles' season ending.

"It's more of a signing for next year," said Bonner, pointing to the loss of gifted centre Adam Courchaine to graduation at the end of this year.

"We think he can pick up some of that slack. And he's very good on the power play, and with the way the game is going, special teams are becoming a bigger part of things."

The 5-foot-7, 170-pound Rutherford is lightning quick, and shows creativity on offence. In 33 games with the Eagles this year, he has 18 goals and 41 points.

He is currently serving a suspension in the BCHL and that's why he hasn't been called up yet.

Rutherford, a Delta native, has been on the Giants' protected list all year and Vancouver has been intently pursuing him.

He had turned them down, since he was getting scholarship interest from several NCAA schools.

"It's been a real work in progress," admitted Bonner.

Rutherford couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday, but Surrey coach Ryan Thorpe taking an assistant's job with the Kamloops Blazers at Christmas time may have something to do with it. Rutherford said earlier this year that Thorpe was a main reason that he went to Surrey.

The Giants had nabbed a couple of wingers from the BCHL earlier in the year, getting Garet Hunt from the Chilliwack Chiefs and the Matt Robinson from the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.

They had made a push for Surrey defenceman Tyler Eckford, but he didn't want to forgo his scholarship to Alaska-Fairbanks.

© The Vancouver Province 2005