He had to wait a while but head coach Greg Gatto will be quick to tell you it was worth the effort as he announced the addition of four new recruits for the Pronghorns men's hockey program.

Highlighted by local product Taylor Gal, Gatto introduced four new members of the Horns for the 2010-2011 Canada West season. Ryan Letts, Tyler Melancon and Mason Conway round out the quartet, while Nick Hotson, who red-shirted last season is now eligible after transferring from the University of Manitoba, was also introduced.
Gal chose to forgo his 20-year-old Western Hockey League season with the Medicine Hat Tigers and join his hometown Horns. Last season, his second full season with the Tigers, the 5'11 winger registered career highs with 57 points (19 goals, 38 assists). In addition to two seasons with the Tigers, Gal also played two seasons with the Brooks Bandits in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
"It's really important for us to have local kids return home and Taylor is a complete package," says Gatto. "He is such a good skater, we expect him to step in and play in all situations for us."
Western Hockey League graduate Letts joins the Horns after five WHL seasons, split between the Calgary Hitmen and the Spokane Chiefs, highlighted by a Memorial Cup Championship with the Chiefs in 2009. Another WHL grad, Hotson, officially joins the Pronghorn program after red-shirting last season due to CIS eligibility regulations. Hotson played with the Manitoba Bisons two seasons ago after completing a four-year WHL career with the Portland Winter Hawks and Lethbridge Hurricanes.
Dipping back into the Ontario market that has produced the likes of current Horns Andrew Courtney, Andrew Marshall and Ryan Pottruff, Gatto secured the commitment of former Ontario Hockey League forward Tyler Melancon. Melancon played three seasons with the Guelph Storm.
Southern Alberta native Mason Conway is the lone defenceman of the group and he joins the Horns after three seasons in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL).
The Horns men's hockey team will kick off the Canada West season by hosting the Calgary Dinos, Friday, Oct. 15 at Nicholas Sheran Arena.

For more on the new recruiting class, follow this link.