The Oakville Blades are pleased to announce that forwards Ross Sloan and Kamil Tkaczuk have committed to NCAA Division III schools for the 2015-2016 season.
Sloan, an alternate captain with the Blades, will join the SUNY Plattsburgh Cardinals beginning with the 2015-16 SUNYAC season. Sloan got his start in junior hockey while a member of the Oakville Rangers Midget AAA team, seeing action with the Brampton Capitals back in 2011-2012. Sloan made the full-time jump to the Ontario Junior Hockey League for the 2012-2013 season, becoming a Mississauga Charger for the 2012-2013 OJHL season. During his rookie campaign, Sloan recorded 21 points in 48 games, a good start for the speedy, playmaking winger.
Sloan, 20, found himself back home with the Blades for the 2013-2014 season, making a huge impact with the club right away. Placed in a big top six role, Sloan finished with 50 points in 54 games to lead the team in scoring. His play and leadership in the change room earned Sloan the alternate captaincy for the 2014-2015 season. Despite missing time with an injury early on, Sloan has continued his impressive offensive output with 33 points in 31 regular season contests.
Tkaczuk, 19, is set to join the Middlebury College Panthers beginning with the 2015-16 NESCAC season. A sophomore with the Blades, Tkaczuk also spent time with the Oakville Rangers organization before making the switch to Junior A action. In 69 games with the Rangers’ AAA club in 2012-2013, Kamil recorded 33 goals and 65 points, good enough to finish fourth on the team in scoring.
Tkaczuk had a promising rookie year with the Blades last season, scoring nine goals and adding 19 assists in his first season as an OJHLer. Off the ice, Tkaczuk, an honour roll student, finished as runner-up for the OJHL Scholastic Player-of-the-Year Award. Currently, Tkaczuk sits third in the team in scoring, posting 15 goals and 34 points in 45 games as Sloan’s line mate.
The Blades, who clinched a playoff spot this week with seven games still remaining on the schedule, will face the Toronto Patriots on Saturday night at Westwood Arena at 7:45pm. Oakville’s next home game is set for February 6th, when the Stouffville Spirit travel to Sixteen Mile Sports Complex.