COVENTRY Blaze have added Canadian defenceman Trey Lewis to their 2018/19 Elite League roster.
The 25-year-old joins the club for his first professional season following an extremely successful junior and university career.
As co-captain of Halifax Mooseheads, the left-shooter led a team boasting the talents of NHL stars Nathan McKinnon (Colorado Avalanche) and Jonathan Drouin (Montreal Canadiens) to their first ever Memorial Cup victory, also lifting the QMJHL Championship in the same season.
After icing more than 200 games for the Mooseheads in 2013/14, the New Brunswick native played 31 times for the Miramichi Timberwolves, being named Best Defenceman and a MJAHL First All-Star.
Deciding to take the uSports university route for 2014/15, Lewis spent two years with St. Francis Xavier University, helping them to their first AUS Conference title in 12 seasons and a National Championship final before choosing to transfer closer to home to the University of New Brunswick.
Due to uSports rules, Lewis was ineligible to play for the UNB Varsity Reds over 2016/17, instead icing for local senior A side Elsipogtog Hawks, whilst continuing to practice with New Brunswick as they won the National Championship for a second consecutive season.
This past campaign, with Lewis combining his natural defensive duties with some time as a hard-hitting forward due to injuries, UNB finished with a AUS Conference title and bronze medal in the post-season University Cup.
Blaze head coach Danny Stewart said: “We are very happy to get Trey signed up next season.
“He is a guy which will bring some added grit to our team and a boat-load of character.
“He’s a winner. I’ve heard nothing but good things about his commitment to whatever club he’s been part of.
“He has played on top teams and Championship teams at both the junior and university level.
“ST.FX and UNB are two of the best university programmes in Canada and he will have been well coached and drilled the right way.
“I think our fans in Coventry are going to love this guy as his compete levels will be second to none.”
