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BCHL Today: Caps pick Anstey from Fort Mac, Smokies, Express, and Bulldogs add to staff, and more!

Written by Brian Wiebe on

 

Capitals acquire Anstey from Fort Mac

The Cowichan Valley Capitals announced on Wednesday the acquisition of 2002-born forward Ethan Anstey from the Fort McMurray Oil Barons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League in exchange for future considerations.

The product of Yellowknife, NWT had a goal and a pair of assists in nine games with the Oil Barons during the truncated 2020-21 AJHL season. He played one game as an affiliate of the Nanaimo Clippers in 2019-20 while rostered with Shawnigan Lake School U18 Prep of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League.

Gurski confirmed to join the Giants

Cowichan Valley Capitals 2002-born goaltender Will Gurski has joined the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League. Gurski, who’s from Duncan, BC, was traded in the WHL on Monday from the Winnipeg ICE to Vancouver in exchange for a ninth-round pick in this year’s Prospects Draft.

The Caps acquired Gurski’s junior A rights from the Winnipeg Freeze of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League in June. He had an 0-3-0 record with a 4.16 goals-against-average and a .903 save percentage in four games with the Freeze this past season.

Wild add Boser to 2021-22 roster

2004-born defenseman Brasen Boser is the newest member of the Wenatchee Wild after the BCHL club announced his signing on Tuesday.

The native of Minot, ND spent most of the 2020-21 season with the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes 16U AAA in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League and posted a pair of goals and five assists in 17 games.

He also played one game as an affiliate with his hometown Minot Minotauros of the North American Hockey League but didn’t register any points.

Smokies bring in De Marco for 2021-22 season

The Trail Smoke Eaters announced the hiring of Joseph De Marco as the team’s new athletic trainer. De Marco comes from Bolton, ON where he’s worked in a number of leagues over the last 10 years, including one season with the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League.

Gregory returns to the booth with the Express

The Coquitlam Express confirmed on Tuesday that Eddie Gregory is back as the team’s play-by-play announcer on its HockeyTV broadcasts.

Gregory, 39, has called Express games for 17 seasons, starting back in 2004-05. During that time, he was named BCHL broadcaster of the year in 2011 and has been behind the mic for more than 500 Express games.

Olund joins the Bulldogs in a social media role

The Alberni Valley Bulldogs have brought Josh Olund on board as part of their social media team. Olund, who’s from Maple Ridge, BC, is a 2021 graduate of the BCIT Radio Arts and Entertainment Program.

In addition to working with the Bulldogs, Olund will also contribute to the social media and online presence of the Port Alberni Bombers of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.

Bozak re-ups with the Blues

Forward Tyler Bozak (91 goals, 137 assists in 170 games with Victoria from 2004-07) has signed a one-year contract worth $750,000 with the St. Louis Blues for the 2021-22 NHL season.

The 35-year-old from Regina, SK was an unrestricted free agent after spending the last three seasons with the Blues. During that time, he posted 31 goals and 84 points in 170 games in St. Louis.

Overall, Bozak has had a 12-year NHL career with Toronto and St. Louis, tallying 449 points in 764 games. He also won a Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019.

Crossley takes his game to The Beehive State

Fort St. John product Austin Crossley (one goal, one assist in 29 games with Prince George and Nanaimo from 2015-17) has signed with the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies for 2021-22.

The 22-year-old defenseman signed with Olofströms IK of Sweden’s Division 2 league in 2020-21, but on played in two games, registering eight penalty minutes.

Coghlan inks a two-year pact with the Vegas Golden Knights

Defenseman Dylan Coghlan (no points in two games with Nanaimo in 2013-14) signed a two-year contract extension with the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old from Duncan, BC had three goals and six points in 29 games with Vegas during the 2020-21 season, shuffling between the Golden Knights’ regular roster and their taxi squad.

Zhang signs a contract with HCIK

Richmond, BC product Julius Zhang (no points in one game with Nanaimo in 2016-17) has signed a contract for 2021-22 with HCIK of Suomi-sarja, which is the third tier of professional hockey in Finland.

The 21-year-old defenseman didn’t play anywhere of record in 2020-21 but spent the 2019-20 season with Tsen Tou Jilin of Russia’s Supreme Hockey League, one step below the KHL.