NEW WESTMINSTER, BC - The Canada West Universities Athletic Association announced University of Alberta Golden Bears and former Tri-City Americans centre Kruise Reddick as the February 2015 Canada West WHL Graduate of the Month.
Originally from Manor, Saskatchewan, Kruise was named captain of Team Canada for the 2015 Winter Universiade in Granada, Spain. The fourth-year Physical Education and Recreation major led the team to a bronze medal, Canada's 14th medal in 15 Universiade games, and co-led Canada in points with eight, including five goals, in six games.
Since returning to Canada West play, where he captains the Golden Bears, Kruise has scored three points in two playoff games to lead Alberta to 2-0 playoff sweep of UBC Thunderbirds. He scored the game-winning goal, with 33 seconds left, in game two of the series, completing Alberta's 4-3 comeback win.
He is Alberta's leading playoff point producer through two games.
The other nominee for the month was Manitoba Bisons and ex-Kootenay Ice defenceman Luke Paulsen.
The Canada West men's hockey best-of-three finals begin on Thursday, March 5 at 7:00 pm MST with Reddick and the Golden Bears hosting the Calgary Dinos. All games will be webcasted live on CanadaWest.TV.
Canada West Universities Athletic Association and the Western Hockey League have partnered for 25 years to recognize outstanding athletic achievement and assist in educational development of men's hockey players who represent the full student-athlete experience within Canada West.
The WHL Graduate of the Month award is voted on by all Canada West men's hockey coaches. Each monthly winner receives a $500 cheque towards the cost of education and a letter from WHL Commissioner Ron Robison.
Image Credit: Alberta Golden Bears