BCHL Bulletin: Blackfalds signs Laugalis, Gault heads to USHL, and more
Roster moves
Bolstering their back end, the Blackfalds Bulldogs signed 2008-born defender Herberts Laugalis for the 2026-27 campaign. The Liepaja, Latvia native split last season between HS Riga 17 in the U18 Mestis league and HS Riga in the Optibet Hockey League, which is the top tier of hockey in Latvia. Laugalis recorded three goals and 10 assists in 13 games at the U18 level and two assists in 25 games at the top level. He also represented Latvia at last month’s U18 World Championships.
The Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League secured 2007-born defender Reece Gault from the Victoria Grizzlies. The Oakbank, Manitoba product was an offensive catalyst on the blue line for the Grizzlies last season, racking up eight goals and 36 assists in 54 games. His 44 points were tied for third among all BCHL defenders in 2025-26. Gault was selected by the Gamblers in the first round, 12th overall, in this year’s USHL Entry Draft.
Coaching news
The Brooks Bandits locked down Head of Player Development and Assistant Coach Cole McCaig with a two-year contract extension. The 33-year-old Brandon, Manitoba native wrapped up his first season in Brooks in 2025-26, helping the Bandits win a second straight BCHL championship. He was an assistant coach for Flin Flon in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League from 2018 to 2024.
Alumni updates
The Western Hockey League’s Penticton Vees signed 2006-born defender Ronan Buckberger, though an injury sidelines him until early 2027. The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native spent 2025-26 with the USHL’s Madison Capitols, posting seven goals and 18 assists in 44 games. His BCHL experience saw him with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs during the 2023-24 season, where he put up a goal and three assists in 17 games.
Sweden-bound forward Harrison Blaisdell transferred from the ECHL’s Allen Americans to BIK Karlskoga. The 25-year-old Sheffield, Great Britain product tallied 32 goals and 58 points in 72 games with the Americans last season. During his BCHL tenure with the Chilliwack Chiefs from 2017 to 2019, Blaisdell amassed 42 goals and 79 points in 100 regular-season games.
On the move again, 30-year-old forward Blake Christensen was traded in the ECHL from the Rapid City Rush to the Fort Wayne Komets. The Coral Springs, Florida native logged six ECHL games with the Kalamazoo Wings in 2025-26, registering one goal. Christensen starred for the Wenatchee Wild in 2015-16, recording 16 goals and 36 points in 52 BCHL appearances.
France’s top division comes calling for 29-year-old defender Jarod Hilderman, who joins Bordeaux after leaving the Elite Ice Hockey League’s Nottingham Panthers. Hilderman, from Calgary, Alberta, notched 11 points in 41 games with the Panthers last year. A former member of the Penticton Vees from 2013 to 2015, he posted one goal and 14 points over 94 career BCHL matches.
Transitioning to the European professional ranks, 25-year-old forward Joshua Van Unen moves from Lakehead University to Mont-Blanc. The Kamloopsian collected seven goals and 19 points in 27 USports games last season. During his three-year BCHL career split between the Merritt Centennials and Alberni Valley Bulldogs, he compiled 24 goals and 83 points across 112 matches from 2019 to 2022.
