For the second time in three years the Vancouver Giants have inked a 16-year-old standout with the Richmond Sockeyes.
The Western Hockey League club announced Friday it had signed John Wesley to a Standard Player Agreement. The 6-foot 183-pound forward currently leads all rookie scorers in the Pacific Junior Hockey League with with 50 points in 41 games, including 23 goals, which ranks him eighth overall.
It was during the 2011-12 season the Giants signed Carter Popoff when he was also enjoying a productive rookie campaign for his hometown Sockeyes. He is now in his second full season with Vancouver and leads the club in scoring with 57 points Wesley played his minor hockey with Semiahmoo before joining the South Delta Hockey Academy for his Grade 10 year. He enjoyed an impressive season on the U15 South Delta Wild, helping the team reach the championship game of the Richmond Midget International Tournament with 16 points in 10 games. He attended the Giants training camp last summer before earning a roster spot with the Sockeyes.
He was named his team's MVP at the recent PJHL Prospect's Game in Ladner.
Wesley was also considering playing for the Langley Rivermen of the B.C. Hockey League before signing with the Giants.
"We are excited that Johnny has decided to join our program," said Giants' Executive Vice President and General Manager Scott Bonner. "He is having a great season in Junior B with a strong program in Richmond, and we have had lots of luck with graduates from Junior B such as Milan Lucic, Cody Franson, Mitch Bartley, and Carter."
Wesley is part of an outstanding rookie class that has the Sockeyes in first place in the Tom Shaw Conference and battling the Aldergrove Kodiaks for the best record in the league at 31-5-3-2. The group of freshmen also includes 17-year-old Ayden MacDonald and 18-year-old Ontario native Mac Colasimone who are 13th and 15th in league scoring respectively.
Wesley earned first star honours Saturday night as the Sockeyes produced a 5-3 road win over the North Vancouver Wolf Pack. His goal with 7:37 remaining tied the game at 3-3. He also assisted on Cole Plotnikoff 's empty netter.
MacDonald also played a big part in the outcome, with his second goal of the night proving to be the game winner. Kootney Alder turned aside 18 shots for the win.
Two nights earlier, the Sockeyes outlasted the visiting Mission City Outlaws 6-5. Liam Lawson and Wesley led the way with a goal and two assists each. Dominic Centis, Nicholas Patey, Carson Rose and Plotnikoff also scored. Alder picked up the win and now has a league best 25 on the season.
Icing... The Sockeyes visited the Delta Ice hawks last night and will host the Grandview Steelers in a quarter-final playoff preview Thursday at 7 p.m. The defending champions close out their regular season schedule on Saturday at North Delta.
The playoffs start next Thursday.
