Cents pick up Stenberg from Chilliwack
The Merritt Centennials have acquired 2004-born forward Michael Stenberg from the Chilliwack Chiefs for future considerations. Stenberg is committed to Providence College to start playing NCAA Division I hockey in September 2024.
The native of Needham, Massachusetts had four goals and 13 points in 27 games with the Chiefs in 2022-23 after signing with them in the second week of November. He didn’t play after Feb. 18 or during the playoffs due to an injury.
Stenberg started the season with Des Moines of the United States Hockey League, scoring one goal in a dozen games. As a rookie with the Buccaneers in 2021-22, he had a goal and 11 assists in 51 games.
Cranbrook claims Swedish forward Cederqvist
The Cranbrook Bucks continue to build their roster for 2023-24 with the addition of 2003-born forward Oskar Cederqvist.
The Swedish centre spent most of last season with Växjö Lakers HC J20 in J20 Nationell, which is the top junior league in Sweden. He recorded 17 goals and 36 points in 46 games for the Lakers.
Cederqvist also had an assist in two games on loan to Mariestad BoIS of HockeyEttan, the third level of pro hockey in Sweden. Additionally, he played six pro games with Växjö Lakers HC of the top-tier Swedish Hockey League.
Eagles bring in Oickle from Trenton
The Surrey Eagles have added 2003-born Nathan Oickle for the 2023-24 B.C. Hockey League season. Oickle, from Peterborough, Ont., put up seven goals and 41 points in 47 games with the Trenton Golden Hawks of the Ontario Junior Hockey League in 2022-23.
He added three goals and 22 points in 22 playoff games as the Golden Hawks advanced to the OJHL final series. As a junior A rookie in 2021-22, Oickle, a 10th-round pick of the Kingston Frontenacs in the 2019 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection, posted 10 goals and 38 points with Trenton.
Caps acquire MacGillivray from Chilliwack
The Cowichan Valley Capitals have acquired 2004-born forward Dalton MacGillivray from the Chilliwack Chiefs. Future considerations head to the Chiefs in the transaction.
MacGillivray, a product of Surrey, B.C., has played 50 career games in Chilliwack over the last two seasons, compiling 10 goals and 17 points. He had four goals and five points in 14 playoff games this past season.
During his 16-year-old season of 2021-22, he finished fifth in Pacific Junior Hockey League scoring with the junior B Delta Ice Hawks, totaling 30 goals and 70 points in 36 games.
Warriors bring in Applebee and Deschênes
The West Kelowna Warriors made a move with their goaltenders and defense corps on Monday, bringing in 2003-born goaltender Rorke Applebee and 2005-born blueliner Frédéric Deschênes for the 2023-24 season.
Applebee, who hails from Châteauguay, Que., posted a sparkling 24-2-3 record, a 2.07 goals-against average, a .934 save percentage, and three shutouts in 31 games with the Ottawa Jr. Senators of the Central Canada Hockey League last season.
His goals-against average and save percentage were tops in the CCHL in 2022-23 and the Jr. Senators won the league championship while Applebee was named most valuable player of the playoffs. He was also named to the CCHL second all-star team.
Deschênes, a product of Sorel-Tracy, Que., had six assists in 41 games as a rookie with the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers last season. He is committed to Michigan State University to kick off his NCAA Division I career in September 2024.
Centennials net Ballantyne from Pickering
The Merritt Centennials have added veteran goaltender Andrew Ballantyne from the OJHL’s Pickering Panthers for the upcoming season. The 2003-born native of Whitby, Ont. got into 29 games for the Panthers in 2022-23, posting an 18-7-1 record along with a 2.92 goals-against average, a .911 save percentage, and one shutout.
He won an OJHL championship in 2021-22 after going 10-2-0 with a 2.19 goals-against average, and a .926 save percentage during the regular season. Ballantyne was 2-0 in the 2022 OJHL playoffs with a stellar 0.81 goals-against average and a .970 save percentage.
Bucks add 2006-born forward Ferner
2006-born forward Kaslo Ferner is on board to join the Cranbrook Bucks for this BCHL season. The Kelowna, B.C. native was an affiliate player for the Bucks in 2022-23, scoring two goals and one assist in four games.
As an alternate captain for the Okanagan Rockets U18 AAA squad, Ferner finished the season with 12 goals and 32 points in 30 games. He chipped in with a goal and four assists in six games with the Rockets in the B.C. Elite Hockey League playoffs.
Berard signs an extension with Texas
24-year-old forward Ben Berard (53 goals, 62 assists in 135 games with Cowichan Valley and Powell River from 2015-19) has signed a contract extension with the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League for the 2023-24 season.
Berard, from Duncan, B.C., had an assist in two games for the Stars in 2022-23 after signing an amateur tryout with them on Mar. 30. He played his final NCAA season at Cornell University this past year, wrapping up with 11 goals and 28 points in 34 games.
LaLeggia inks a deal in Switzerland
Defender Joey LaLeggia (33 goals, 114 assists in 114 games with Penticton from 2009-11) has signed a contract for the 2023-24 season with HC Lugano of Switzerland’s National League. The NL is the top tier of the Swiss hockey system.
The 30-year-old Burnaby, B.C. product spent the last three seasons split between Rögle BK, Timrå IK, and HV71 of the Swedish Hockey League, compiling 29 goals and 81 points in 113 games.
Barrow moves from Manchester to Cardiff
Forward Ryan Barrow (34 goals, 54 assists in 102 games with Langley from 2015-17) has signed with the Cardiff Devils of the U.K.’s Elite Ice Hockey League for the 2023-24 season. The Devils play in Cardiff, which is the capital of Wales.
Barrow, a 26-year-old from Banff, Alta., sniped 12 goals and tallied 32 points in 30 games with the EIHL’s Manchester Storm in 2022-23, his first season of pro hockey after five years at the University of Denver.
Pears signs with Strasbourg
Defender Drayson Pears (eight goals, 42 assists in 138 games with Victoria from 2015-18) has signed with Strasbourg of French Ice Hockey Federation Division 1, which is the second tier of pro hockey in France.
Pears, a 25-year-old from Victoria, only played six games in 2022-23, split between Fayetteville and Knoxville of the Southern Professional Hockey League. He finished with one assist.
Riddell named general manager at VIU
38-year-old Andrew Riddell (14 goals, 45 assists in 171 games with Cowichan Valley, Merritt, Alberni Valley, and Powell River from 2001-06) is the new general manager for the Vancouver Island University Mariners in the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League. Riddell is from Nanaimo, B.C., and last worked in hockey during the 2020-21 season, when he was general manager of the Oceanside Generals of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.
Bowman commits to Adrian College
2002-born defender Will Bowman (six assists in 51 games with Merritt in 2021-22) has committed to Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan, to play NCAA Division III hockey this September. The city is about 90 minutes southwest of Detroit, Michigan.
The Chicago, Illinois native was with the Johnstown Tomahawks of the North American Hockey League this past season and ended up with a goal and 12 points in 44 games. He is the grandson of 13-time Stanley Cup champion Scotty Bowman and the son of former Chicago Blackhawks president of hockey operations and general manager Stan Bowman.
