BCHL Today: League alumni up for NCAA goaltending award, Spruce Kings extend coaching staff, and more

 

Six BCHL alumni up for top college goaltender award

The list of nominees is out for the 2021 Mike Richter Award as the top goaltender in NCAA Division I hockey and six former BCHL players are among those included.

There are 35 netminders nominated. A committee of voters will pare the list down to around 15 names in the next couple of weeks.

The winner will be announced during the NCAA Frozen Four in April.

Spruce Kings lock up hockey operations staff

The Prince George Spruce Kings announced on Wednesday that they have signed head coach Alex Evin to a two-year contract extension through the 2022-23 season.

The 33-year-old from Castlegar, BC is into his second season as the bench boss in PG after being promoted from associate coach following the 2018-19 season. He coached the Spruce Kings to an 18-32-8 record in 2019-20.

Evin is also a former BCHL player, spending parts of five seasons with Powell River, Williams Lake, and Penticton from 2003-08.

Associate coach Lukas Lomicky, assistant coach Jason Garneau, and trainer Joel Walkey also each signed a contract extension through the 2021-22 BCHL season.

Hunt makes season debut for Arizona

Forward Dryden Hunt (no points in four games with the Trail Smoke Eaters in 2010-11) made his season debut with the National Hockey League’s Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old from Cranbrook signed a one-year deal with the Yotes last October. He had four assists in 21 games with the Florida Panthers in 2019-20.

Hunt also added 29 points in 35 American Hockey League games in Springfield.

Red Wings assign Cholowski to Grand Rapids

Defenseman Dennis Cholowski (16 goals, 51 assists in 106 games with Chilliwack from 2014-16) has been sent down to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL from the Detroit Red Wings taxi squad.

Cholowski, who was chosen 20th overall by Detroit in the 2016 NHL Draft, had 13 points in 30 games with the Griffins last season. He added eight points in 38 games with the Red Wings.

Goaltender Bonar released by Kansas City

Goaltender Sean Bonar (38-15-0, 2.60 GAA, .908 SV%, 6 SO in 59 games with Penticton from 2008-10) has been released by the Kansas City Mavericks of the ECHL.

In five games with the Mavs this season, the 29-year-old from Delta, BC is 0-4-1 with a 4.14 GAA and a .866 save percentage.

Scarfo returned to Wheeling by Tucson

Forward Ryan Scarfo (17 goals, 31 assists in 50 games with Powell River in 2013-14) has been sent back to the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers by the Tucson Roadrunners of the AHL.

The 26-year-old from North Chelmsford, Massachusetts, has one goal in three games with the Nailers so far this season. He didn’t get into any games with Tucson while called up to the Roadrunners.

Herbst traded in the US Hockey League

Goaltender Reilly Herbst (20-10-3, 2.91 GAA, .901 SV%, 1 SO in 34 games with Vernon in 2019-20) has been traded in the US Hockey League from Dubuque to Omaha in exchange for a 2021 USHL Phase II draft pick.

The Niwot, Colorado native was 3-0 with a 3.33 goals-against-average and a .873 save percentage with the Fighting Saints this season.