Mellor to Trail

Smokies Coach and General Manager Jim Ingram announced the addition of 1992 born forward Sam Mellor to next season's roster. Here's Ingram discussing Mellor on Mountain FM's Overtime:

Jim Ingram on Mellor

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Mellor is a nice catch for the Smokies as his play last season and at a U17 impressed Alaska-Anchorage enough that they committed to him for the 2011-2012 season. He scored 40 points in 51 games as a 16 year old rookie in the KIJHL. Howver, as Ingram said he put up a lot of those points later in the year. Mellor scored 19 points in his final 20 regular season games and had 8 points in 10 playoff games. Ingram was especially impressed with the way the young player handled himself when the games got tougher come playoff time.

Mellor didn't just put up points on a bunch of assists. 19 of his 40 points were goals. He also put up points as a member of the Major Midget Kootenay Ice in his 15 year old season. Mellor was the team's second leading scorer with 28 points in 38 games on a team that struggled badly. He has a nose for the net and Ingram says he's also a determined two-way player who loves to battle for pucks.

Mellor joins fellow Kimberley Dynamiter Matt Wilkins in making the jump to the Smokies. Trail also added Kimberley native Scott Jacklin at last season's trade deadline. It seems like the Smokies are trying the make an obvious connected to talented East Kootenay players. Why not build a base there as Trail is easily the closest BCHL franchise to that region. Mellor went to some other spring camps but told me the additions of Wilkins and Jacklin made him more comfortable in chosing Trail because he knows those guys and knows they're talented players.

Mellor will join me tonight for his first interview as a Smoke Eater on Mountain FM's Overtime. Tune in between 6pm and 10pm at 104.1 FM in Trail.