BCHL Bulletin: Multiple trades reshape roster landscape, Coaching updates, and more
Roster Moves
The Langley Rivermen acquired 2006-born defender Landon Cowper from the Brooks Bandits. The move completes a previous deal where Brooks landed Cowper from the Victoria Grizzlies. The Whitehorse, Yukon native registered a pair of goals and eight assists for 10 points in 38 games with Victoria during 2025-26. He is a veteran of 68 career Western Hockey League games.
The Cranbrook Bucks added 2007-born forwards Hudson Landmark and Owen DeWitt from the Blackfalds Bulldogs. The two forwards going to Cranbrook finalize a trade deadline deal. Landmark is a Sherwood Park, Alberta product who spent 2025-26 with the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Canmore Eagles, tallying 11 goals and 28 assists for 39 points in 39 games. DeWitt, a Sicamous, BC native, split 2025-26 between the AJHL’s Camrose Kodiaks (seven points in 11 games) and the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels (nine points in 46 games).
The Chilliwack Chiefs acquired 2007-born defender Stevie Grumley and 2007-born forward Joseph Argentina from the Sherwood Park Crusaders to complete a February 10 trade. Grumley, a Manhattan Beach, California product, patrolled the Crusaders’ blue line in 2025-26, producing 17 goals and 24 assists for 41 points in 41 games. He has signed with the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks for 2026-27. Argentina is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native who spent his 2025-26 campaign with the United States Hockey League’s Des Moines Buccaneers, recording 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points in 56 games.
The Surrey Eagles acquired 2006-born forward Miles Burgin from the Sherwood Park Crusaders. The Surrey, BC native split 2025-26 between the USHL’s Chicago Steel (eight points in 33 games) and Sherwood Park (five points in 10 games). The deal completes one from this past February’s trade deadline, which saw Burgin go to the Crusaders for 2008-born forward Gleb Semenko.
The Okotoks Oilers added 2006-born defender Jack Birch from the Langley Rivermen. The Edmonton, Alberta product recorded one goal and two assists for three points across 25 games with Langley in 2025-26. Birch ends up being the future considerations from a February 10 trade that saw 2005-born goalie Eric Young join the Rivermen.
The Surrey Eagles have finalized the future considerations portion of their February 6 trade with the Spruce Grove Saints by acquiring 2006-born forward Grayson Niehaus and 2007-born defender Matthew Lesyk. A native of St. Albert, Alberta, Niehaus split the 2025-26 season with the AJHL’s Bonnyville Pontiacs and Devon Xtreme. He was a productive offensive contributor, tallying 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points in 42 games. Hailing from Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Lesyk patrolled the blue line for the AJHL’s Grande Prairie Storm throughout the 2025-26 season. He recorded three goals and 13 assists for 16 points across 51 games.
The Langley Rivermen acquired 2007-born forward Nicolas Addy from the Brooks Bandits to put the wraps on the future considerations from a February 5 trade. The Casselman, Ontario product recorded six goals and eight assists for 14 points in 39 games with Brooks during the 2025-26 season. He is a veteran of 103 Ontario Hockey League games with the Peterborough Petes.
The Surrey Eagles added 2006-born forwards Spencer Masters and Mathis Laplante from the Prince George Spruce Kings. Masters, an Edmonton, Alberta native, recorded nine goals and eight assists for 17 points in 44 games with Prince George during 2025-26. Laplane hails from Ste-Catherine, Quebec, and he tallied seven goals and nine assists for 16 points in 50 games for the Spruce Kings this past season. Masters and Laplante are the future considerations from PG to the Eagles to complete a January 29 trade.
The Surrey Eagles acquired 2008-born forward Danick St. Pierre from the Sherwood Park Crusaders. The Voorhees, New Jersey native tallied 15 points in 36 games for Sherwood Park and skated in 12 USHL games with Des Moines in 2025-26. St. Pierre’s BCHL playing rights complete the January 21 deal that saw 2007-born defender Ryan White join the Crusaders.
The Cranbrook Bucks secured 2007-born defender Ethan Makokis from the Langley Rivermen. The St. Paul, Alberta product split 2025-26, recording two assists in 12 games for Langley and 15 points in 31 games for the AJHL’s Fort McMurray Oil Barons. The move completes the trade on October 2, 2025, in which 2007-born forward Sam Allaby joined the Rivermen.
The Alberni Valley Bulldogs acquired 2006-born forward Ryan Staples from the Surrey Eagles. The Calgary, Alberta product posted three goals and nine assists for 12 points across 19 games for Surrey during 2025-26 before joining the Charlottetown Islanders of the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League. The Yale University commit finished the season with two goals and three assists in 24 games with the Isles. Staples’ BCHL playing rights conclude a trade between the Bulldogs and the Eagles from September 1, 2025.
The Coquitlam Express officially traded 2006-born forward Nolan DuPont to the Okotoks Oilers. The Calgary, Alberta product departs Coquitlam to finalize a February transaction for 2005-born forward Brady Engelkes. DuPont recorded 12 goals and 24 assists for 36 points in 53 games with the Express in 2025-26.
Forward Adam Csabi has committed to play NCAA Division I hockey at Northern Michigan University. The 21-year-old Karvina, Czechia native played 53 games for the Cranbrook Bucks in 2025-26, tallying 22 goals and 27 assists for 49 points. His BCHL career totals include 42 goals and 47 assists for 89 points across 110 games with Cranbrook and Vernon.
The Ontario Hockey League’s Brantford Bulldogs acquired 2006-born Brooks Bandits‘ forward Jack Good from the Erie Otters in a trade on Tuesday. The Ajax, Ontario native helped secure a championship for Brooks during his rookie BCHL season in 2024-25. Good dominated the 2025-26 campaign, posting 22 goals and 48 assists for 70 points across 54 games. Good is committed to playing university hockey at Merrimack College.
The Trail Smoke Eaters signed 2007-born forward Roberts Janis Polis for the upcoming season. According to a Smokies’ release announcing his signing, the Riga, Latvia product brings a valuable international pedigree to his rookie BCHL campaign. He recorded 25 points in 35 games playing for HS Riga in Latvia’s Optibet Hockey League in 2025-26.
The Langley Rivermen added 2006-born goaltender Karsen Chartier for next season. The Sudbury, Ontario native spent the 2025-26 campaign tending twine for the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves. Chartier posted a 3.66 goals-against average and an .890 save percentage across 13 games.
Goaltender David Skacel transferred from the Powell River Kings to SK Horácká Slavia Třebíč. The 2007-born Kromeriz, Czechia native leaves Canadian junior hockey to return to Europe. Skacel played 19 games for Powell River in 2025-26, posting a 5.13 goals-against average and an .868 save percentage.
Coaching news
The Coquitlam Express will introduce its next head coach during a press conference this Thursday, June 4. The organization dismissed Jeff Wagner in April after a four-year tenure. The announcement will stream live across all official Express social media platforms.
The Surrey Eagles hired 46-year-old Jim Vandermeer as their new skills development coach. The Caroline, Alberta native brings over 400 games of NHL experience to the Eagles. He spent 2025-26 as an associate coach for the White Rock Whalers of the Pacific Junior Hockey League.
The Cowichan Valley Capitals named Dave Hall as their Director of Business and Operations. In a news release announcing his hiring, the Capitals noted that the resident of Cowichan brings valuable arena operations and marketing experience to the front office.
Alumni news
Forward Reagan Milburn transferred from Lake Superior State University of the NCAA to Oklahoma State University, which plays in the ACHA Division II. The 23-year-old Kamloops, BC native posted four points in 22 games at LSSU during 2025-26. During his BCHL career, he recorded 42 goals and 50 assists for 92 points in 122 games for the Vernon Vipers from 2019 to 2023.
Defender Matt Cairns was released by HC Bolzano on Tuesday. The 28-year-old Mississauga, Ontario native posted one point in 27 games for IF Björklöven in Sweden’s HockeyAllsvenskan in 2025-26. He also had five assists in 15 ICEHL games with Bolzano. Cairns BCHL experience came back in 2016-17 when he played 18 games for Powell River, posting two goals and 14 assists for 16 points.
Taylor Harnett joined the La Ronge Ice Wolves of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League as head coach and assistant general manager. The 51-year-old Edmonton, Alberta product brings a decade of coaching experience from across multiple junior leagues, including as an associate coach for the Prince George Spruce Kings during the 2024-25 season.
