The Portland Winterhawks have announced the signings of goaltender Michael Bullion, defenseman Carter Czaikowski and forward Skyler McKenzie. Bullion is 16 and eligible to play in the WHL this season, while Czaikowski and McKenzie are 15 and a year away from being eligible to play for the Hawks.

PHOTO CREDIT - Winterhawks.com

Portland - August 30, 2013 - The Portland Winterhawks have announced the signings of goaltender Michael Bullion, defenseman Carter Czaikowski and forward Skyler McKenzie.

Bullion is 16 and eligible to play in the WHL this season, while Czaikowski and McKenzie are 15 and a year away from being eligible to play for the Hawks.

Bullion was selected by the Hawks in the ninth round, 196th overall, of the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft. Bullion, from Anchorage, Alaska, played last season with the Vaughan Kings of the Greater Toronto Hockey League Minor Midget AAA, where he posted a goals against average of 1.27 and 93.0% save percentage.

Czaikowski was drafted in the sixth round, 121st overall, of the 2013 Bantam Draft. He played last season for the Calgary Flames Bantam AAA team, where he led his team’s defensemen with 11 goals and 28 assists for 39 points in 32 games.

McKenzie was an eighth round pick, 176th overall of the 2013 Bantam Draft. Last season he totaled 18 goals and 22 assists for 40 points in 19 games for the Sherwood Park Flyers of the AMBHL AAA Bantam League.

“Michael Bullion had an outstanding training camp and I look forward to seeing him play exhibition games, while Carter Czaikowski is a very skilled puck-moving defenseman who fits in perfectly with our style,” said Portland Winterhawks General Manager & Head Coach Mike Johnston. “

In addition, Skyler McKenzie caught the attention of our scouts with his energy and compete in training camp. We believe Skyler will be able to step in at center for Nic Petan and Chase De Leo when they graduate.”

Both Czaikowski and McKenzie have made the short list for Hockey Alberta’s U16 Male Team Provincial Camp for evaluation in preparation for the 2013 Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup being held in Calgary, Alberta, October 31st to November 3rd.