NORTH BAY, Ont. — Left winger Carter Kostuch has signed a standard player’s agreement, including an education package, with the North Bay Battalion, the Ontario Hockey League club announced Friday.
Kostuch, who measures five-foot-11 and 150 pounds, was North Bay’s first-round pick, 21st overall, in the OHL Priority Selection last month.
He scored 29 goals and earned 30 assists in 59 games with the Vaughan Kings U16s of the Greater Toronto Hockey League last season, including six goals and five assists for 11 points in seven games in the OHL Cup tournament.
A Richmond Hill, Ont., resident who turned 16 on April 21, the day he was selected, Kostuch visited North Bay the next day.
“We’re pleased to announce that Carter has committed to our program,” said Battalion general manager Adam Dennis. “Carter is an exciting player who plays with a lot of speed, skill and tenacity. He’ll fit right in with our group.
“We look forward to working with Carter to help him achieve his goals on and off the ice, starting this weekend at our conditioning camp.”
Kostuch is among more than 30 expected to attend the camp, which starts Friday evening and ends at noon Sunday. Players are to be introduced before the fifth game of the Eastern Conference Championship Series against the Peterborough Petes.
The Battalion has signed seven skaters and one goaltender chosen in 2022, with first-round pick Ethan Procyszyn, a centre and right winger, leading the way among three who played the season with the club, the others being winger Jacob Therrien and defenceman Brayden Turley.
Others signed are defenceman Tyson Rismond, goaltender Mike McIvor, centre Dylan Richter and right winger Lirim Amidovski, all of whom saw limited OHL action, as well as centre Nolan Laird.
The conditioning camp features fitness testing, skills and practice sessions, a seminar on academics, health and nutrition and, at 9 a.m. Sunday, a Green-White scrimmage open to the public at no charge.
