Quessandier makes a comeback in 2022-23
After a four-year hiatus, defender Benoit Quessandier (two goals, three assists in 18 games with Williams Lake and Merritt in 2005-06) has come out of retirement and signed with Amnéville of FFHG, Division 2 as a player-assistant coach for 2022-23.
Prior to retiring after the 2017-18 season, the 36-year-old from Mont-Saint-Aignan, FRA played a dozen seasons with four different teams in Ligue Magnus, which is the top division of hockey in France. In 310 career Ligue Magnus games, Quessandier had 12 goals and 68 points.
Coughlin, Newton, and Jandric sign tryouts with AHL Providence
Forwards Liam Coughlin (38 goals, 67 assists in 107 games with Vernon from 2013-15), Max Newton (47 goals, 76 assists in 153 games with Trail and Cowichan Valley from 2014-17), and Steven Jandric (35 goals, 39 assists in 121 games with Salmon Arm and Vernon from 2015-17) have signed professional tryout contracts with the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League.
Coughlin, 27, had nine goals and 33 points in 45 games for the Worcester Railers of the ECHL this past season. The South Boston, MA product added an assist in four AHL games split between Bridgeport and Springfield.
Newton, who hails from Vancouver, BC, potted three goals and eight points in 13 games with the Railers in 2021-22. The 24-year-old turned pro with Worcester after his NCAA season at Merrimack College ended last month.
Jandric, a 24-year-old from Prince George, BC, notched four goals and eight points in 15 games for Worcester this season. Like Newton, he signed with the Railers in March after spending 2021-22 with Merrimack College.
St. Denis inks an extension with Straubing
Forward Travis St. Denis (99 goals, 126 assists in 203 games with Trail and Penticton from 2008-12) has signed an extension with the Straubing Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga for the 2021-22 season.
The 29-year-old from Trail, BC spent the 2021-22 season with Straubing, posting 22 goals and 37 points in 51 games. It was his first year in Europe after playing the previous five in the AHL.
Robertson cut loose by HC Pardubice
Defender Dennis Robertson (10 goals, 36 assists in 108 games with Langley from 2008-10) won’t return to HC Dynamo Pardubice of Tipsport Extraliga next season.
The 30-year-old Fort St. John, BC native had four goals and 13 points in 44 games with Pardubice this past season, his first in Czechia after spending the previous two with Italian club HC Bolzano.
McClure won’t return to Augsburger next season
Forward Brad McClure (69 goals, 57 assists in 111 games with Penticton from 2012-14) was released by Augsburger Panther of the DEL on Friday.
McClure, a 27-year-old from Stratford, ON had 10 goals and 27 points in 49 games with the Panther this season. He originally signed with Augsburger midway through 2020-21 and finished with 18 points in 17 games.
Sombrowski commits to Wentworth Institute of Technology
2001-born forward Nik Sombrowski (six goals, four assists in 25 games with Salmon Arm and Cranbrook between 2019-21) has committed to playing NCAA Division III hockey at the Wentworth Institute of Technology this September.
In 2021-22, the Fernie, BC native put up 16 goals and 38 points in 55 games split between Weyburn and Notre Dame of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
