Dec. 12, 2008
FAIRBANKS, AK - Alaska Nanooks head coach Dallas Ferguson announced the signing of 5-foot-11, 180-pound center Cody Kunyk (COO-nick) of Sherwood Park, Alberta and the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
"Cody's an all-around player," said Crusaders' head coach Ross Kenny. "He has a big league shot, is strong in his skates and takes the body very well."
The 18-year-old forward is in his second season with Sherwood Park, who is second in the AJHL's North Division. They trail the Spruce Grove Saints in the North Division standings, but are ranked No.7 in this week's Canadian Junior Hockey League Top 15 Rankings.
Through 38 games this year, Kunyk has 15 goals and 19 assists good for 34 points: the fifth highest point total for the Crusaders, 16th highest in the North Division, and 24th best in the AJHL. As a rookie during the 2007-08 season, he notched 13 goals, 11 assists and 24 points in 51 outings.
"From a player standpoint, he's exactly what we're looking for in that position," said Ferguson. "He's a power-forward who has great knack around the net. He is a good skater, who plays on both sides of the puck, has a presence in front of the net and is strong on the stick."
Kunyk has gotten off to a solid start for the Crusaders in just his second season amongst the junior ranks. In the month of October, he tallied 15 points in just 12 games, including a five-game scoring streak and five multi-point games. His junior career highlight was a hat trick on Oct. 11 at Oktoks Oilers.
"The first thing you notice about him is how he shoots the puck: he has a quick release," Ferguson said. "It's a goal-scorer's release and that's one of the things we've been looking for in our recruiting."
Besides ice hockey, Kunyk has played roller hockey for eight years. He led his team ("A Team") to the North American Roller Hockey Championship in 2007-08 with a 6-0 record. He was also named Sniper in the NARCh Midget Gold Division skills competition.
Prior to joining Sherwood Park, Kunyk played in the Midgett AA league where he was the leading scorer.
He will be joining his teammate from Sherwood Park Nik Yaremchuk, who committed to Alaska over the summer. Kunyk plans to study business at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, as he aspires to go into business with his brother someday.
Kunyk and Yaremchuk are the two newest players who will come to the Nanooks from the Junior A team in Sheerwood Park. Brothers Aaron (2004-08) and Jeff Lee (2006-08) and Doug Auchenberg (2002-03) all played some or their entire junior career with the Crusaders.
"We have a very good relationship going," said Kenny. "It helps both organizations and we hope that the relationship continues."
Kunyk is the only recruit to sing in the early signing period but joins previously signed recruits who have deferred their enrollment including defensemen Justin Daigle (Calgary, AB/Okotoks Oilers-AJHL), and Kaare Odegard (Red Deer, AB/Canmore Eagles-AJHL), and forwards Nik Yaremchuk (St. Albert, AB/Sherwood Park Crusaders-AJHL), Jarret Granberg (Foremost, AB/Brooks Bandits-AJHL), and Erik Slemp (Red Deer, AB/Penticton Vees-BCHL).
