Alec Dillon is set to join the 2014 Memorial Cup-champion Edmonton Oil Kings after stepping away from his U.S. college committment to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
The 19-year-old former Victoria Grizzlies goaltender and Los Angeles Kings draft pick was set to join the Engineers in the ECAC of the NCAA.
Word broke late Friday that Dillon was visited by Oil Kings general manager Randy Hansch, a former Victoria Cougar, and talked into taking the Western Hockey League route.
Dillon left the Grizzlies following the 2013-14 B.C. Hockey League season to join the Tri-City Storm of the USHL, where he posted a solid 23-11-4 campaign with a 2.27 goals-against average and .914 save percentage last season.
The six-foot-five, 170-pounder was encouraged to join the Storm by the Kings rather than return to the Grizzlies.
By joining the Oil Kings, Dillon — selected in Round 5 of the 2014 National Hockey League draft and 150th overall — can take in all of the Los Angeles’ 2015-16 training camp if he is asked to stay on following rookie camp.
In Edmonton, Dillon will join his good friend Dysin Mayo, also of Victoria, who turns 19 in August. Mayo was selected in the fifth round, 133rd overall by the Phoenix Coyotes in 2014.
A news conference is expected to be called Sunday in Edmonton where they will introduce Dillon to media.
