BCHL

BCHL Today: Smokies star Johnson hits century mark, Express goalie Stevenson plays final BCHL game, Alberni and Wenatchee players hit with suspensions, and more

Written by Brian Wiebe on

Trail star Johnson cracks century mark

Trail forward Kent Johnson notched two second period assists during Sunday’s game against West Kelowna and as such, cracked the 100 point plateau. Johnson, 17, achieved the milestone in his 52nd game of the season and is 34 points clear of second leading scorer Christophe Tellier of the Surrey Eagles.

Johnson, who is eligible for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, is just the ninth player in the last eleven BCHL seasons to hit the 100 point milestone and only the second since 2015-16. He is also the first Smoke Eaters player to have 100 or more points in a season since Massimo Provenzano chalked up 113 in 1997-98.

Express goaltender Stevenson plays final junior game

The Coquitlam Express have shut down Clay Stevenson for the season with three games remaining on the schedule. Stevenson, who due to an Ivy League rule is ineligible to play after his 21st birthday on Mar. 3, played in Friday’s win over Penticton to clinch the BCHL regular season title.

Stevenson leads the BCHL in several goaltending categories this season, including wins (30), fewest losses (2), goals against average (1.77) and save percentage (.936), and is a strong candidate for the Vern Dye Memorial Trophy as Most Valuable Player.

He is committed to Dartmouth College for this September. Stevenson will stay on with the Express during the playoffs as what the team calls a volunteer mentor.

Wenatchee forward Scott to sit for two games

Wenatchee Wild forward Harrison Scott is out for two games after he was suspended for a charging major and game misconduct during Sunday’s game in Salmon Arm. Scott will miss the Wild’s last two games of the regular season, this Friday and Saturday at Penticton.

He is eligible to return for the first game of Wenatchee’s first round playoff series against Vernon, Salmon Arm or Victoria.

Bulldogs defenceman Dal Monte suspended for two games

After receiving a major penalty and game misconduct for a blow to the head during Sunday’s game in Merritt, defenceman Mattias Dal Monte of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs is suspended for two games.

Dal Monte, who was acquired by the Bulldogs at the Jan. 10 trade deadline, will miss Wednesday’s game at home vs. Nanaimo and Saturday’s road game against Cowichan Valley. He is eligible to return for Alberni Valley’s regular season finale on Sunday at home as the Bulldogs face Nanaimo.

Express and Vees lone BCHL teams in CJHL Top 20

The Coquitlam Express and Penticton Vees continue to be the lone BCHL teams featured on the CJHL’s Top 20 weekly rankings. The Express are up one spot to third in the rankings while the Vees drop two spots from 14 to 16.

Former Rivermen captain McLain sent to ECHL

Forward Mitch McLain (38 goals, 54 assists in 111 games with Langley from 2012-14) has been assigned to the ECHL’s Allen Americans from the AHL’s Iowa Wild. In 28 games with the Wild this season, his second in the American League, McLain has two goals and two assists.

Three Stars of the Night

First Star: Vernon forward Ryan Shostak scored two goals and added an assist.

Second Star: Trail forward Kent Johnson had three assists.

Third Star: Surrey goaltender Reece Klassen made 31 saves.

Honourable Mentions: Smoke Eaters forward Owen Ozar tallied a pair of goals. West Kelowna forwards John Evans and Tyler Cristall along with Vipers forwards Matt Kowalski and Connor Marritt each had two assists. Merritt goaltender Tanner Marshall stopped 40 shots.

If the playoffs started today…

Mainland Division

(1) Coquitlam vs. (4) Langley
(2) Chilliwack vs. (3) Surrey

Island Division

(1) Cowichan Valley vs. (4) Alberni Valley
(2) Nanaimo vs. (3) Powell River

Interior Division

(1) Penticton vs. (6) West Kelowna
(2) Trail vs. (WC2) Prince George
(3) Wenatchee vs. (WC1) Victoria
(4) Vernon vs. (5) Salmon Arm