BROOKS, AB – Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) leading scorer Ty Mappin (Big Valley, AB) of the Brooks Bandits has committed to attend and play for Red Deer College beginning in the 2017-18 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) season, the team announced today.
The Kings are in their fourth year of their current ACAC iteration under head coach Trevor Keeper.
Mappin, who turns 21 today, is a veteran of 265 junior hockey games. Last night he registered a new career high for points in a season with 68 (20 goals, 48 assists) in 43 games, leading all players in the AJHL and ranking fifth among all players in the 132-team Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), while serving as an alternate captain for the Bandits.
“Ty has been a huge part of our success over the past two seasons,” said Bandits head coach and general manager Ryan Papaioannou. “His ability with the puck is second to none, and that reflects on the scoresheet.”
“Junior hockey has been a long journey for Ty and we are pleased to have been a part of his development,” he added. “His leadership will help to carry us into the playoffs this season, hoping to cap his junior career off the right way.”
“He will do great things at Red Deer College while staying close to home to pursue academics.”
The 5’11”, 175lb forward was acquired by the Bandits in a trade with the Drumheller Dragons last season, in which he recorded a total of 67 points (17 goals, 50 assists) in 59 games, ranking 2nd in the AJHL in assists.
He added 6 points (2 goals, 4 assists) in 6 games at the 2016 Western Canada Cup, where he won the tournament’s top scorer award, as well as 5 points (1 goal, 4 assists) in 5 games at the 2016 RBC Cup national championship.
Prior to that year, Mappin spent two AJHL seasons with the Olds Grizzlys, where he recorded 53 points (18 goals, 35 assists) in 46 games in 2014-15, and 25 points (8 goals, 17 assists) in 46 games in 2013-14.
Mappin also scored 19 points (7 goals, 12 assists) in 71 games in the Western Hockey League with the Everett Silvertips, Saskatoon Blades, and Prince Albert Raiders.
“Red Deer College Kings Hockey is very pleased to commit to Tyrell Mappin and we look forward to the skill set he will bring to our team,” said Red Deer College head coach Trevor Keeper. “Ty is a Central Alberta guy and a talent that doesn’t come along very often.”
“He’s been part of a winning program in Brooks and has developed the competitive attributes it takes to be successful,” Keeper added. “RDC Kings Hockey would like to thank the Brooks Bandits and their coaching staff for his continued development, giving him the skills he will need to succeed at the next level.”
Mappin will return to the same city in which he played his minor hockey, where in 2011-12 he was the scoring leader for the Red Deer Midget AAA Rebels, who won an AMHL championship as well as a Telus Cup national championship.