Draper suspended one game by BCHL Department of Player Safety
Chilliwack Chiefs forward Kienan Draper was suspended for one game by the BC Hockey League Department of Player Safety after he chalked up his second fighting major and game misconduct of the season.
The scrap came against Merritt’s Will Bowman with 3:15 remaining in Friday’s 6-0 win for the Chiefs over the Centennials. Draper, a 2002-born University of Michigan commit, sat out Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Coquitlam.
He is eligible to return for game one of Chilliwack’s first round series against the Express.
Vees recruit Boston College commit Norcross for 2022-23
The Penticton Vees announced the commitment of 2003-born forward Billy Norcross for the 2022-23 BCHL season.
The native of Lynn, MA is committed to Boston College for September 2023. He put up 11 goals and 31 points in 26 high school games as the captain at Cushing Academy this season.
Cents forward Thurston to sit out a pair of games
Merritt Centennials forward Mark Thurston saw his 2021-22 season come to an end after being suspended two games by the BCHL Department of Player Safety for receiving a blow to the head major penalty and game misconduct.
The infraction occurred at the 12:01 mark of the third period in Friday’s 6-0 loss to Chilliwack. The 2003-born product of Delta, BC missed Saturday’s 7-2 defeat in West Kelowna and will sit out Sunday’s season finale in Penticton.
Thurston’s Centennials are the lone club in the BCHL’s Interior Conference to miss the playoffs.
Vipers commit Brandes will head to Sacred Heart University
2004-born forward David Brandes has committed to play NCAA Division I hockey at Sacred Heart University.
The forward from Toronto, ON has signed with the Vernon Vipers for the 2022-23 BCHL season. He has eight goals and 24 points in 25 games at Holderness School this season.
Brandes also played 10 games with the New England Fall Prep League Central 19U team, registering one assist.
Welsh signs with Newfoundland of the ECHL
Forward Tyler Welsh (31 goals, 62 assists in 108 games with Victoria and West Kelowna from 2015-17) has signed a contract for the remainder of the season with the Newfoundland Growlers of the ECHL.
Welsh, a 25-year-old from Whistler, BC, had seven goals and 25 points in 27 games as an alternate captain at Long Island University this season, his first with the Sharks and fifth in the NCAA.
Roden transfers from the University of Omaha-Nebraska to Providence
23-year-old goaltender Austin Roden (48-32-2, 2.84 goals-against average, .915 save percentage, six shutouts in 98 games with Nanaimo and Merritt from 2016-19) has transferred from the University of Nebraska-Omaha to Providence College.
The Victoria, BC product played 26 NCAA games at UNO over the last three seasons, compiling an 11-9-1 record along with a 2.73 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.
Ward released by the Maine Mariners
Kamloops, BC nativeĀ Tyler WardĀ (31 goals, 26 assists in 86 games with Merritt from 2015-17) was released by the Maine Mariners of the ECHL on Saturday. He signed with Maine on Mar. 16 and played three games with the Mariners without registering any points.
The 22-year-old spent the last four seasons in the NCAA with the University of New Hampshire and the University of Denver, compiling 29 goals and 68 points in 129 games.
Sillinger makes his way to Cleveland of the AHL
Regina, SK product Owen Sillinger (66 goals, 87 assists in 171 games with Penticton from 2015-18) signed his first pro contract on Friday with the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League.
The 24-year-old wrapped up four years at Bemidji State University this season, finishing with 51 goals and 115 points in 134 NCAA games.
Raabe joins the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies
Forward Dakota Raabe (43 goals, 55 assists in 115 games with Wenatchee from 2015-17) inked a contract with the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies for the 2021-22 season.
The Capistrano Beach, CA product posted two goals and eight points in 34 games at Sacred Heart University this season. The 24-year-old played at the University of Michigan from 2017-21 and notched 33 points in 115 games.
