Despite having one year of junior-hockey eligibility left, Surrey Eagles defenceman Steve Koshey won’t be back in the nest this fall, after agreeing to a scholarship at the University of Alabama-Huntsville.
The five-foot-nine Trail, B.C. native spent his first two B.C. Hockey League seasons with his hometown Smoke Eaters before being dealt to the Eagles early in the 2010/11 season.
With Surrey, he scored three goals and added 22 assists in 35 games. He added two goals and nine helpers in 16 playoff contests for the Birds during their post-season run.
Eagles coach Matt Erhart said acquiring Koshey last October was one of the season’s turning points.
“In that stretch of the season, we acquired him and another d-man (Beau Orser) and it kind of turned our season around, and Steve was one of the big parts of that,” Erhart said.
“He’s good at both ends of the rink and as the season went on he got better in all three zones.”
Koshey is the second Eagles grad to sign with Alabama-Huntsville this season, joining 20-year-old forward Jeff Vanderlugt on the UAH Chargers’ roster.