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Burnaby, BC - The Simon Fraser University Men’s Hockey team is pleased to announce its ninth student athlete commitment for the 2014-15 season. Joining SFU is forward Saylor Preston of Winnipeg. The 22-year-old is coming off two seasons of NCAA Div. III hockey with the State University of New York at Canton.

“We felt we needed to add some size up front for the upcoming season, and Saylor definitely gives us that,” said SFU Head Coach Mark Coletta. “He’s a very hard working, hard nosed player and that is an element we feel our roster has been missing over the last couple of seasons.”

Preston, who is listed at 6’2” and 202-pounds, had three goals and two assists in 21 games with SUNY-Canton in 2013-14 and was named to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association All-Academic Team. Preston earned the All-Academic honors by being an upperclassman who earned a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher over the course of his academic career and he achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.85. He was also named one of the “Roos of the Week” by the SUNY-Canton Athletics Department in February 2014 after a two goal performance against Assumption College.

“I am excited to join a program with a good history of success on and off the ice. I'm also looking forward to the opportunity to play in front of friends and family, something I believe every player enjoys,” said Preston.

Preston, who does have relatives in the Lower Mainland, started his junior hockey career in 2010-11 with the Southern Oregon Spartans of the Tier III Northern Pacific Hockey League, contributing 17 goals and 29 assists along with 192 penalty minutes. He added two assists in seven playoff games with the Spartans. Preston joined the Iron Range Ironheads of the junior A Superior International Hockey League for 2011-12 and chipped in 15 goals and 18 assists in 42 games, along with 100 penalty minutes. He had a goal and an assist in two playoff games with the Ironheads. In September 2011, he committed to attend SUNY-Canton and played five games as a freshman in 2012-13.

“Saylor and (fellow recruit) Vance Bridgman were teammates at SUNY-Canton, so having them come on board together should make for an easy transition for them both to not only our league, but to SFU as well,” added Coletta.

Preston is the sixth player with Canadian Junior Hockey League experience and second with NCAA experience to commit to SFU for the upcoming season.

“I see myself as an honest, hardworking and in your face player. I like to be first on the forecheck and take pride in doing the little things that help a team win. In my first year at SFU I hope to contribute any way I can to win a BCIHL championship. I want to give my best effort on the ice and in the classroom every day.”

Preston joins goaltenders Jordan Liem and Dominic Stadnyk, defensemen Mathew Berry-Lamontagna and Robby Jang, and forwards Vance Bridgman, Adam Callegari, Tyler Basham and Matthew Luongo as nine recruits thus far in what is expected to be a very strong recruiting class for the 2014-15 season for SFU.

SFU Men's Hockey was re-established in 2004 and competes in the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL). The program focuses on competition, academics, and community service as its core values. Last year, SFU placed second in BCIHL standings while also earning strong results in exhibition games against NCAA Division 1, CIS, and ACAC opponents. For more information about the SFU Hockey program please visit www.sfuhockey.com