Several months ago, the National Collegiate Development Conference welcomed a new franchise as the Rock Springs Grizzlies will join the league’s West Division for the 2023-24 season. The team has several B.C. Hockey League connections. Rock Springs’ recently-signed 2004-born goaltender Merik Erickson played a handful of games for the Merritt […]
Author: Clifford Hofferd
New den members: Looking at more Victoria Grizzlies recruits
After my previous article examing new Grizzlies players, the list was updated, and the B.C. Hockey League website now shows three more players set to join the Grizzlies roster. Heading the Grizzlies this season are Spencer Caines, Luke Chappelle, and Chase Pirtle. They are part of the 10 players listed […]
New Bulldogs: Looking at Lenny Greenberg, Wyatt Blace, and James Lyver
After their Fred Page Cup Final appearance, the Alberni Valley Bulldogs are preparing for next season. The new recruits listed on the BCHL website include defender Lenny Greenberg and forwards James Lyver and Wyatt Blace. Greenberg and Lyver are 2005-born skaters from American hockey schools while Blace comes from a […]
New Kings: Looking at Carter Lundie, Jace Harder, Benjamin Ramsey, and Owen Crudale
After their first-round exit against the Surrey Eagles, the Powell River Kings have started preparing for the 2023-24 season. Forwards Carter Lundie, Jace Harder, defender Benjamin Ramsey, and goaltender Owen Crudale are among the new players who will become Kings next season. Lundie is a 2006-born player from North Vancouver, B.C. and Ramsey is a […]
Examining the Grizzlies 2022-23 season
This past season, the Victoria Grizzlies finished sixth in the Coastal Conference with a final record was 26-20-5-3. The season saw several changes for the organization. The Grizzlies hired Rylan Ferster as their new head coach and general manager and later added Geoff Grimwood to the coaching staff as an […]
Examining new Capitals for 2023-24
The Cowichan Valley Capitals 2022-23 regular season was a step back as they finished ninth in the B.C. Hockey League’s Coastal Conference. Their overall record was 10-38-0-6. During the season, the Capitals replaced head coach and general manager Brian Passmore with veteran bench boss and GM Mike Vandekamp. Since taking […]
Examining the relocation of the New Westminster Royals to Surrey
Before relocating to Surrey, the Eagles played as the New Westminster Royals from 1988-91. Before 1988, there were two previous versions of the Royals and each one was successful. During the 1989-90 season, the Royals won the Abbott Cup as Western Canada junior A champion as well as the RBC […]
One year later: Comparing the 2021-22 Kings to the 2022-23 Kings
Before the 2022 Fred Page Cup playoffs, the Powell River Kings failed to make it to the dance. It was the first time they didn’t make the playoffs in over 20 years. The 2021-22 season was a rebuilding year for the Kings. Head coach Brock Sawyer and Chad Van Diemen […]
From the Bulldogs to the Falcons: Alberni Valley and Bentley University
After the 2021-22 season, three members of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs left for the same NCAA school. Forwards Stephen Castagna, Arlo Merritt, and defender Ryan Nause all currently play for the Bentley University Falcons. It’s not all that uncommon for players to play together at the same school. Karter McNarland […]
Examining the blockbuster Capitals and Bandits trade deadline deal
At the 2023 BCHL trade deadline on Jan. 10, the Cowichan Valley Capitals made two transactions. The first was sending 2002-born forward Luke Strickland to the Wellington Dukes of the Ontario Junior Hockey League for future considerations. The second deal involved the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Brooks Bandits. In exchange […]