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BCHL Today: BCHL and WHL make strange bedfellows, Kings, Bucks, and Bulldogs lose players to the NAHL, and more

Written by Brian Wiebe on

 

BCHL and WHL join forces to appeal for government funding

The BC Hockey League and the Western Hockey League put their differences aside to reach out to the BC provincial government for funding to help franchises struggling financially due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Postmedia sports reporter Steve Ewen spoke with Vancouver Giants owner Ron Toigo who says the BCHL and WHL could collectively lose more than $20 million this season.

The news comes on the heels of an announcement on Friday that the government of Saskatchewan is set to hand out $600,000 to each of the five WHL teams in the province and $1 million to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League to distribute to its dozen teams.

Grizzlies forward Amousse commits to AIC

Victoria Grizzlies forward Andrew Amousse has committed to American International College for September 2022.

The 2001-born centre from Laval, Quebec had seven goals and six assists in 14 games with the Grizzlies in the BCHL training season.

Warriors bring in Brooks for 2021-22

The Fraser Valley Thunderbirds U18 AAA announced on Friday that 2003-born defenseman Dylan Brooks has committed to the West Kelowna Warriors for the 2020-21 season.

The native of Chilliwack had a goal and six assists in seven exhibition games with the Thunderbirds last fall.

Express add Fechko for next season

The Coquitlam Express announced on Friday the addition of 2003-born right winger Trey Fechko for the 2021-22 BCHL season.

Fechko plays for Team SIT Financial Services in the US Midwest High School Elite Hockey League. In 18 games this season, he has 25 points.

The product of Eden Prairie, Minnesota is committed to attend Arizona State University in the fall of 2022.

Bucks lose first-ever goaltender Zacharewicz to Minnesota

Cranbrook Bucks goaltender Jacob Zacharewicz has left the team to join the Minnesota Wilderness of the North American Hockey League.

The 2001-born netminder from Riverhead, New York was 3-1 with a 2.36 goals-against-average, a .908 save percentage, and one shutout in five games during the BCHL’s training season.

His three wins and 2.36 GAA ranked eighth among all goalies in exhibition play.

Zacharewicz, who signed with the Bucks in March, is committed to Brown University for this September.

Chiefs get a commitment from Sorace for 2021-22

The Chilliwack Chiefs have recruited 2004-born defenseman Lucas Sorace for the 2021-22 season. His commitment to the Chiefs was posted on a new section of the BCHL website called “New Recruits“.

Sorace, who hails from Port Moody, BC, is with the Vancouver NE Chiefs U18 AAA of the BC U18 AAA League this season. In five exhibition games with the NE Chiefs this past fall he had two assists.

He played one game as an affiliate player with Chilliwack in 2019-20, a 7-0 win over Langley on Feb. 23 of last year.

Rayhill leaves Alberni Valley to join Odessa of the NAHL

The BCHL’s leading scorer among all defensemen during the training season has gone to the NAHL.

Alberni Valley Bulldogs blueliner Jimmy Rayhill of New Hartford, New York, signed with the Odessa Jackalopes. He had 11 points in 15 BCHL exhibition games from September to November.

Rayhill, who’s committed to Cornell University for this fall, had 15 points in 58 games as a rookie with the Bulldogs in 2019-20.

Cents recruit defenseman Davidson for next season

2004-born defenseman Liam Davidson is listed on the BCHL website as committed to the Merritt Centennials for the 2021-22 season.

The dual Canadian-Norweigan citizen from Penticton is with the Okanagan Rockets U18 AAA this season. He had one assist in two exhibition games before things were put on pause in November.

Kings lose another as Muzyka goes to New Mexico

The Powell River Kings lost their fourth player in two days to the NAHL with the addition of 2000-born defenseman Peter Muzyka by the New Mexico Ice Wolves.

The Kings were unable to play any games during the BCHL training season due to various COVID-19 related delays. Powell River acquired his junior A rights from Penticton back in September.

Muzyka was a freshman at Cornell University in 2019-20 but didn’t play any games for the Big Red. He made his NAHL debut with the Ice Wolves on Friday night.

It was the Toronto native’s first meaningful game of record in 676 days. The last game he played was the Vees game six loss to Cowichan Valley in the first round of the playoffs on Mar. 11, 2019.

Vipers bring in Tanaka-Campbell for 2021-22

According to the BCHL website, the Vernon Vipers have recruited 2003-born forward Seiya Tanaka-Campbell for the 2021-22 season.

The younger brother of Vipers veteran Jojo Tanaka-Campbell, Seiya had 26 goals and 33 assists in 35 games with Shawnigan Lake School U18 Prep of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League in 2019-20.

He also played four games with Vernon as an affiliate player last season and potted a goal and an assist. The Mill Bay, BC product is committed to attend Yale University in 2022-23.