BCHL unveils Canucks Alumni Scholarship Program winners
The B.C. Hockey League and the Vancouver Canucks Alumni announced six new scholarship recipients for the 2023-24 season. Each former BCHL player receives a $2,500 scholarship to a post-secondary school.
The recipients for this season are:
- Kolton Cousins (33 goals, 28 assists in 189 games with Cowichan Valley and Prince George from 2017-22) – (Queen’s University)
- Buddy Johnson (20 goals, 27 assists in 121 games with Surrey from 2019-22) – (Simon Fraser University)
- Brady Lynn (47 goals, 46 assists in 178 games with Coquitlam, Nanaimo, and Cowichan Valley from 2016-20) – (Nipissing University)
- Spencer McLean (33 goals, 43 assists in 214 games with Trail from 2014-19) – (Grant MacEwan University)
- Kieran Ruscheisnki (two goals, 10 assists in 80 games with Salmon Arm from 2019-22) – (Lindenwood University)
- Ben Ward (32 goals, 22 assists in 139 games with Merritt from 2018-22) – (Simon Fraser University)
According to the league, the scholarship recipients were determined by a BCHL selection committee and based on each player’s academics, hockey, and community service.
Juck jumps from Trail to Lloydminster
2005-born defender Brody Juck has left the Trail Smoke Eaters to sign with the Lloydminster Bobcats of the Alberta Junior Hockey League for the 2023-24 season.
Juck, who calls Coquitlam, B.C. home, posted four goals and eight points in 43 games with the Smoke Eaters during the 2022-23 season. He also played 14 games with the Coquitlam Express in 2021-22 and finished with one assist.
Yoon turns pro with the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL
After five seasons of NCAA hockey at Colorado College, 25-year-old defender Bryan Yoon (four goals, 27 assists in 55 games with Wenatchee in 2015-16) has signed his first professional contract, with the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL for 2023-24.
Yoon, who was captain of the Tigers this past season, finished his college career with seven goals and 72 points in 167 games. The Parker, Colorado product was named to the NCAA (NCHC) All-Tournament Team this past season.
Kalezic inks a pro tryout with ECHL Cincinnati
24-year-old forward Colton Kalezic (13 goals, 23 assists in 56 games with Penticton in 2019-20) has signed a pro tryout with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL ahead of the 2023-24 season.
The product of Toronto played 35 games for HC Dalen of HockeyEttan this past season. He finished with eight goals and 21 points for Dalen. HockeyEttan is the third level of professional hockey in Sweden.
Olischefski signs in Europe for the first time in his career
Forward Kohen Olischefski (38 goals, 87 assists in 124 games with Chilliwack from 2014-17) has signed with Düsseldorfer EG of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga for the 2023-24 season. It’s the Abbotsford, B.C. product’s first time playing overseas.
The 25-year-old had nine goals and 26 points in 43 games with Cincinnati of the ECHL this past season. He also appeared in 16 games with the American Hockey League’s Rochester Americans, scoring a pair of goals. Olischefski also tallied twice in a dozen AHL playoff games.
Brooks jumps from the United Kingdom to France
Forward Zachary Brooks (15 goals, 22 assists in 77 games with Cowichan Valley and West Kelowna from 2019-21) has signed a deal for the 2023-24 season with Courchevel-Méribel-Pralognan of the French Ice Hockey Federation Division 2. It’s the third level of pro hockey in France.
Brooks, a 21-year-old from Bromont, Que., played 51 games with the Leeds Knights of the U.K.’s National Ice Hockey League in 2022-23, finishing with 28 goals and 89 points. He notched a goal and five points in four NIHL playoff games. The NIHL is the second tier of pro hockey in the United Kingdom.