A couple more Brandon Wheat Kings alumni will be putting their WHL scholarships to good use this upcoming season. Former Wheat King forwards Paul Ciarelli and Aaron Lewadniuk have committed to the University of Manitoba Bison’s for the upcoming 2012-13 season.
Bison’s Head Coach Mike Sirant announced the signings of Ciarelli, Lewadniuk, Brandonite Brock Sutherland and Winniper Dylan Kelly earlier this morning. “I am very excited about the commitment of Paul, Brock, Aaron and Dylan to the University of Manitoba. All of these players have exceptional character and each brings a slightly different skill set,” commented Sirant. “These commitments represent the start of another outstanding recruiting class for the Manitoba Bisons.”
Ciarelli (21), played the last four seasons with the Wheat Kings. The 6’1”, 203 lbs. forward notched his WHL career best 30 points (15 goals, 15 assists) with 69 penalty minutes in 67 regular season games and added two goals, two assists in nine playoffs games in the 2011-12 season. The Winnipeg native notched the overtime series game-winner in the first round of the 2012 playoffs against the Calgary Hitmen. In his four year WHL career, he recorded 65 points (30g, 35a) with 207 penalty minutes in 239 regular season games and played in 30 playoffs games with nine points (5g, 4a). During Ciarelli’s WHL career with Brandon he was a driving force for the CIBC Read to Succeed program, visiting over 100 classrooms over his four years in Brandon. For his efforts he was awarded the McDonalds Frank King Most Community Minded Trophy the last two seasons in Brandon.
Lewadniuk (22), played with two different teams in the East Coast Hockey League in the 2011-12 season prior to playing two seasons with the Wheat Kings. The 5’11”, 175 lbs. forward split the 2011-12 season with Idaho scoring 13 points (7g, 6a) with 28 PIMs in 31 regular season games and adding eight points (1g, 7a) in 17 games for Bakersfield Condors. The Carman, MB native played with ECHL’s Ontario Reign in 2010-11 and notched 31 points (17g, 14a) in 69 regular season games. He played two seasons (2008-10) with Brandon and had 133 points (52g, 81a) with +51 and 107 PIMs in 128 regular season games plus 27 WHL playoff games with 22 points (10g, 12a). Lewadniuk played one season with MJHL’s Winkler Flyers in 2006-07 and had 87 points (43g, 44a) in 61 regular season games.
Last season alone the Wheat Kings provided 15 former players with scholarship funding towards their University Educations.
The Bison's had 7 former Wheat Kings on their roster last season: Joe Caligiuri, Chad Erb, Matt Lowry, Brandon Lockerby, Del Cowan, Darren Bestland and Tyler Dittmer.
