Surrey, B.C. – The Surrey Eagles have started building their roster for the 2021-22 BCHL season, and have committed 3 players for next season. The team is happy to announce the commitments from Ben Fontaine, Luke Roberts, and Ante Zlomislic, who all play for the BC U18 North East Chiefs. All 3 players are 17 years old at the time of this writing.
Ben Fontaine is a native of Maple Ridge, BC and has the most points out of the 3 players joining for next season. The right shot forward scored 16 goals and had 40 points in 36 games during his age 16 season with the NE Chiefs in 2019-20, while also dressing for 2 games as an ‘AP’ with the Coquitlam Express. In 6 games with the Chiefs in the Cohort Cup this autumn, Ben registered 2 goals and 4 assists. Ben stands 5’11, and weighs around 170 pounds.
When first asked about what he’ll bring to this Eagles team, Ben emphasized his hard nose style. “I’m going to bring fast paced, gritty play. I’ll go to the tough areas, be hard working, and block shots. I’m going to be a grinder for this team.”
Ben chose Surrey for a bunch of factors. “I heard nothing but good things about Surrey, the organization and the coaching staff. As soon as I met [the coaching staff] in person and talked to them in person, I just knew it was where I wanted to play.”
Finally, it’s exciting for all 3 of these players to play with each other next season. When asked about having a couple of teammates joining him, Ben admitted “It means a lot. I’ve been good friends with these guys for a while now, to be able to see them succeed is a great feeling.”
Ante Zlomislic is a native of Coquitlam, BC and comes to the team with great skating and a flair for the highlight reel. Ante is a left shot forward, and had 10 goals and 21 points in 40 games last season with the NE Chiefs. Zlomislic also joined Fontaine in the Cohort Cup, putting up a whopping 6 goals and 3 assists in 6 games, including a hat-trick game. He looks to have a high skill ceiling as he develops. Zlomislic is 5’11, and weighs around 160 pounds.
When asked about his play style, Ante highlighted his speed. “I’m going to bring a quick pace, strong play in the corners and a strong shot.”
For Ante, staying close to home played a part in joining Surrey. “I think Surrey is a great organization. It’s not far from where I live and I believe I’m going to do great things here.”
Finally, it’s exciting for Ante to be able to build chemistry with his teammates. “It’s obviously great to have a couple friends to play with and to have chemistry with. I think we’ll all have a great time next year and look forward to doing big things.”
Luke Roberts is the only defenseman joining the team from the NE Chiefs. The young Vancouver, BC native had a great offensive year last season. Luke scored 6 goals and had 28 points in 40 games with the NE Chiefs. He also joined Fontaine and Zlomislic with the Chiefs in the Cohort Cup this fall, where he put up 3 goals and 2 assists in 6 games. Luke stands 6’0, weighs around 190 pounds and is a right shot defenseman.
Luke’s scouting report on himself highlights his offensive game. “I’m a smart defenseman, and I move the puck well. I can create opportunities offensively and defensively. I have a good shot and I can play a physical game.”
When asked why he chose Surrey, Luke responded. “I heard nothing but great things about Cam [Keith] and the organization. I thought it’d be a great place to continue my career and I’m super excited about next year.”
Finally, like his 2 teammates featured above, it’s a great feeling for Luke to continue his career with 2 NE Chiefs. “I’m super proud of those guys. They deserve everything they’ve got and their super hard workers. It’s going to be a lot of fun next year with those guys around.”
Coaches Comments
Finally, it’s intriguing seeing a trio from the same team committed for next season. However, when asked about the trio, Eagles head coach Cam Keith made sure to emphasize all 3 players earned their commitments through their play.
On Ben Fontaine: “Heart and soul, blue collared kid who has a knack for scoring below the dots. He plays physical every shift, and you always know what you’re going to get but he also has an acute sense of where everybody is on the ice. He’ll distribute when he needs to, and he’s a guy you want in your dressing room.”
On Luke Roberts: “Luke’s a late bloomer type who found his offensive game in his midget career. He’s trending upwards quickly, and when you watch him play he’s really exciting. Every play has deception, he has a great shot, he’s not afraid to join the rush, and also he can defend. He puts his body on the line in the defensive zone, and takes pride in his play on both ends of the ice.”
On Ante Zlomislic: “He’s going to bring an element of excitement. For me, he’s a new version of Pavel Bure. When he gets the puck he generates speed in the neutral zone and you can feel this wave of energy. He has an ability to make plays at an extremely high speed and has the hockey sense to execute. He’s going to explode at the junior level and we feel he’s definitely a [NCAA] division 1 candidate.”
When asked about the trio as a whole: “All 3 can play. It was just a lucky coincidence they were all with the NE Chiefs under a great coach in Jamie Jackson. You can see the chemistry between those 3, they’ve been together for 3 years. It’s almost the same model as the USNDT program where you have guys play together for more than a couple of years. You can see the chemistry and how they’ve built off each other and it’s a huge plus to add these guys who have played together for as long as they have.”
Welcome to the team Ben, Ante and Luke!
