BCHL Bulletin

BCHL Today: Silverbacks defenseman Lemay selected in NHL Draft, former Express forward Roberts signs in England, and more

Brian Wiebe

Lemay selected by Washington in the NHL Draft

Salmon Arm Silverbacks defenseman Joaquin Lemay was the lone BCHL player to be selected in the NHL Draft when he went to the Washington Capitals in the fourth round, 119th overall, on Saturday.

Once the 2020-21 pod season started in April, Lemay, a 2002-born blueliner from St-Pierre-les-Becquets, QC, put up 10 assists in 15 games.

The defender is the 10th Silverbacks player taken in the NHL draft and just the fifth ever chosen by the Capitals. Lemay was originally committed to the University of Nebraska-Omaha for this September, but in a news release, the BCHL confirmed that he will return to Salmon Arm as a sophomore in 2021-22.

Roberts signs on with Basingstoke

Forward Alex Roberts (one assist in 10 games with Coquitlam in 2011-12) has signed with the Basingstoke Bison of the National Ice Hockey League in the United Kingdom for the 2021-22 season.

Roberts, a 27-year-old from Burnaby, BC, didn’t play anywhere of note in 2020-21 due to the pandemic but spent the 2019-20 season with Mont-Blanc of the French Ice Hockey Federation Division 1. In 22 games with Mont-Blanc, he put up 19 points.

Vees recruit Motzko dies after a car crash

Penticton Vees president, general manager, and head coach Fred Harbinson tweeted out news of the passing of forward Mack Motzko. According to Harbinson, the 20-year-old was due to join the Vees for the 2021-22 BC Hockey League season.

The Associated Press reports that Motzko died of injuries suffered in a crash in Orono, MN, near Lake Minnetonka, on Saturday. Orono Police say speed and alcohol appear to be “contributing factors.”

Motzko, whose dad Bob is the head coach of the University of Minnesota men’s hockey team, split the 2020-21 season between Sioux Falls of the US Hockey League and New Mexico of the North American Hockey League.

Brian Wiebe

Brian's been involved in the BCHL in a variety of capacities for 17 years. From 2002 to 2012, he served in several roles around the Merritt Centennials organization, including as team president, board member, beat writer, colour commentator, webmaster, media and communications coordinator and marketing assistant. He's been writing about the BCHL since 2008 and served as colour commentator on the TSN 1040 broadcasts in 2012-13. BCHLNetwork is one of Brian's many passion projects that he balances around his full-time job as an instructor in the Radio Arts and Entertainment Program at BCIT in Burnaby.