Red Lake, Ontario – The Red Lake Miners are pleased to announce the return of defenseman Austin Derzaph for the upcoming season. The 2004 born player hailing from Medicine Hat, AB, played 36 games last season with the Miners, contributing 1 goal and 7 assists, totalling 8 points.
Austin’s enthusiasm for rejoining the Red Lake community is evident in his statement, “I’m very excited to see the boys on the team and can’t wait to be back in the community of Red Lake again.”
As a returning defenseman, Austin has set ambitious goals for himself and the team. He expressed his desire to “see the team to win the Bill Salonen Cup and take on a more prominent role on the ice.” Furthermore, Austin’s long-term aspirations include “playing university hockey while pursuing my education, with the ultimate dream of playing professional hockey.”
Head coach Lee Stone is thrilled to have Austin back in the program and recognizes the significant value he brings to the team. Coach Stone stated, “Austin is a big addition to our backend. Any day you can add a player with Junior A experience is a good day. He also fits extremely well into our dressing room as a well liked returning player.” He praised Austin for his exceptional skating ability and strong defensive skills while expressing the belief that Austin is ready to make a bigger impact offensively as a second year player.
The Red Lake Miners organization echoes the excitement surrounding Austin’s return. With his talent and commitment to success, Austin Derzaph is set to make a significant contribution to the team’s pursuit of the Bill Salonen Cup