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Ex-Bomber Kocur signs first pro contract, joins ECHL club

Four years ago, Joel Kocur helped push the Bombers within two wins of an SJHL title. Now, after a successful college career, Kocur is going to the pros. Kocur signed a deal with the ECHL's Worcester Railers August 20, his first professional contract.
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Joel Kocur during his time with the Flin Flon Bombers. Kocur played parts of two seasons with the Bombers before heading to American International College. - FILE PHOTO

Four years ago, Joel Kocur helped push the Bombers within two wins of an SJHL title. Now, after a successful college career, Kocur is going to the pros.

Kocur signed a deal with the ECHL's Worcester Railers August 20, his first professional contract. The Railers are affiliated with both the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers and the NHL's New York Islanders.

Until earlier this year, Kocur was a member of the American International College (AIC) Yellow Jackets program, playing with the school for four seasons and serving as a team captain this past year. In 140 career college games over four seasons, Kocur finished with 27 goals and 59 points. Kocur and the Yellow Jackets made their way into the NCAA national tournament for the first time in 2019, upsetting the number one ranked team St. Cloud State. Kocur scored in that game, pushing AIC to the national quarterfinals.

Kocur played two seasons in maroon and white, racking up 100 regular season points in 94 games. In his 20-year-old season, Kocur was a first-line player, finishing the year with 71 points in 57 games and helping push the Bombers into the SJHL finals. During the infamous "Don't Mess with the Moose Leg" playoff run, Kocur put up 18 points in 16 games, finishing only behind linemates Alex Smith and Brandon Switzer. The Bombers came up just short of their first league title since 1993, losing to Melfort in six games.

The Edson, Alta. native is the son of former junior star and minor league player Kory Kocur and a cousin of NHLers Wendel Clark, Joey Kocur and Barry Melrose.

"Joel comes from a strong hockey family and has a lot of knowledge of the game,” said Railers head coach David Cunniff. 

“He improved each year at AIC and will be a strong asset for our team because he’s a versatile player that checks off a lot of boxes for us.”  

 

 

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