Cranbrook native Ben Betker, made his professional hockey regular-season debut this past weekend as the ECHL's Norfolk Admirals split a pair of games with the Wheelings Nailers.
Betker, a sixth-round pick (158th overall) of the Edmonton Oilers at the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, debuted with the Admirals Oct. 16 in a 3-0 loss to the Nailers. Betker and the Admirals went on to defeat Wheeling 4-2 Oct. 17.
The 21-year-old defenceman previously spent three seasons with the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League (2012-13 through 2014-15), tallying 14 goals and 58 points in 201 career games.
Standing 6-foot-5 and 2015 pounds, Betker is in his first season of pro hockey within the Oilers system.
Norfolk, Va., a city of approximately 246,000 people, is located on the Atlantic Coast of the United States, approximately 315 kilometres south of Washignton, D.C.
Betker and the Admirals are back in action Wednesday night when they visit the Florida Everblades.