Horcoff promoted to Red Wings assistant general manager
43-year-old Shawn Horcoff (49 goals, 96 assists with Chilliwack in 1995-96) has been promoted to assistant general manager of the National Hockey League’s Detroit Red Wings. As part of the promotion, Horcoff will now also serve as the general manager for Detroit’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins.
The product of Trail, BC has been with the Red Wings since retiring from his 16-season playing career in 2015-16. In six years with Detroit, he previously served as director of both player development and player personnel.
In addition to his playing career with the Chiefs, Horcoff also notched 74 goals and 80 assists through 96 contests with the Trail Smoke Eaters in the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League from 1993-1995.
Eddy, Rickwood, Wood named three stars of the month
The BC Hockey League announced its three stars of the month for January last week, and the Victoria Grizzlies top line of Connor Eddy, Ellis Rickwood, and Matthew Wood took home the honours.
Eddy, a 19-year-old from Victoria, BC, put up 11 goals and 11 assists in eight games last month. He led the BCHL in goals and his 22 points were tied for the league lead in January.
Rickwood, from Brantford, ON, racked up four goals and 18 assists in eight contests last month. The 19-year-old Clarkson University commit had at least a point in every game in January, led the league in assists, and finished tied with Eddy for the lead in points.
Wood, 16, finished with eight goals and nine assists, also in eight games played. The native of Nanaimo, BC, finished third overall in both goals and points last month.
Salmon Arm adds Smith to its current roster
The Salmon Arm Silverbacks have signed 2001-born forward Zack Smith for the remainder of the current campaign. The product of Saskatoon, SK is a veteran of 85 Western Hockey League games with the Regina Pats, in which he collected 21 goals and 23 assists.
Smith has also played 77 games with the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Melfort Mustangs, where he contributed 15 goals and 21 assists. The Silverbacks acquired Smith’s rights in a Jan. 8 trade with Melfort.
Dafoe commits to Providence College
2002-born West Kelowna Warriors forward Chase Dafoe has committed to play NCAA Division I hockey at Providence College. The Beverly, MA native is an alternate captain with the Warriors this season and has 12 goals and eight assists in 29 games.
Dafoe is in the fourth season of his BCHL career, in which he has amassed 28 goals and 20 assists in 111 career contests with West Kelowna and Trail.
Cranbrook recruits two players for 2022-23
The Cranbrook Bucks have recruited a pair of players for the 2022-23 season, starting with 2005-born goaltender Carter Capton. The 16-year-old from Lethbridge, AB, has spent the past three seasons at Yale Hockey Academy, playing at various levels in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League.
Capton currently owns a 7-4-0 record on the season, with a 2.62 goals-against average, a .908 save percentage, and three shutouts in 13 games with Yale’s U18 Prep team.
The Bucks have also committed 2003-born forward Cooper Boulanger to their roster for next season.
Boulanger, an import from Barre, VT, is in his fourth season with Holderness School of the United States High School Prep league.
Oberle announces commitment to Air Force Academy
20-year-old Wenatchee Wild defenseman Brett Oberle has a commitment to play NCAA Div. I hockey at Air Force Academy. Oberle is in his first season with the Wild, picking up three goals and 12 assists through 28 games on the campaign.
Prior to joining Wenatchee, the Woodbury, MN product spent two seasons with the Minnesota Magicians of the North American Hockey League, collecting six goals and 24 assists in 85 contests. Oberle had previously committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth, but de-committed and chose Air Force instead.
Vipers forward Pakulak suspended two games
The BC Hockey League department of player safety suspended Vernon Vipers forward Luke Pakulak for two games after receiving a major penalty and game misconduct for checking from behind.
The infraction happened at 3:48 of the first period during the Vipers Feb. 2 game in Trail. After sitting out Vernon’s two games in Cranbrook this past weekend, Pakulak is eligible to return to the lineup on Wednesday when the Vipers play in Penticton.
