Head Scout Josh Bergman has been highly impressed with two players, Gus El-Tahhan and Sam Boisvert, for over a year. Associate Coach Bob Beatty and Head Coach Colin Birkas saw the two play live at the Robertson Cup in Shawnigan Lake and felt they would be valuable additions to the Nanaimo Clippers.
Colin met with Cody Anthony, Program Director and Head Coach of Mount Academy in PEI, and was impressed by their shared values and standards for culture. Cody echoed Colin’s sentiments stating “coming from a community-based team, it’s great knowing our guys are going to be taken care of.”
Gus is a talented and highly competitive player who excels in all situations and has a strong offensive capability, as evidenced by his impressive stats. Sam, who stands at 6’4 and has the potential to play at over 200 lbs, possesses excellent hands, vision, and footwork. His exceptional speed and agility, for his size, set him apart and Bergmann believes he has the potential to play at the professional level.
Sam and Gus have been playing together for the past two seasons and wanted to make their decision together. Crediting Mount Academy, Gus adds, “they do a great job of living the college life which has prepared us as players and people for the next level.” When asked about joining the Nanaimo Clippers, Gus said, “I’m looking forward to moving across the country, getting started, and improving my game as I work towards a college commitment.” Sam shared his excitement by stating, “I can’t wait for the rink, the fans, and to wear orange for Nanaimo.”
Sam and Gus are slated to join the team in September for the 2023-24 season. Gus sits at 34 goals, 31 assists, and 65 points through 34 games. Sam holds 24 goals, and 44 assists, totalling 68 points in the same amount of games.
