BCHL Bulletin: Crusaders hire Scott Wray, Eagles land Devig, and more
Roster moves
The Surrey Eagles have secured 2007-born right-shot defender Zak Devig for the upcoming season. Hailing from Moorhead, Minnesota, the physical blueliner joins the team after back-to-back high school state championships with the Moorhead Spuds. Devig finished this past season with three goals and a dozen assists for 15 points in 31 games for Moorhead. He added five assists in 13 games for Team Spade in the Upper Midwest High School Elite Hockey League.
Adding offensive firepower, the Langley Rivermen signed 2007-born forward Trace Anderson. The Victoria, BC native arrives following a highly productive 2025-26 campaign with the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League’s Westshore Wolves, where he tallied 18 goals and 19 assists in 34 games. He started the year with a goal in one appearance for Drumheller in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
Returning to the BCHL, 2006-born forward Shane Purves has signed with the Coquitlam Express. The North Vancouver, BC product split the 2025-26 season between the Rivermen, scoring four points in eight games, and the AJHL’s Camrose Kodiaks, registering 33 points in 37 outings. He split the 2024-25 season between Langley and the Blackfalds Bulldogs.
Committing to the crease, the Prince George Spruce Kings welcomed 2009-born goaltender Asher Netherton. The Kelowna, BC native dominated with the RINK Hockey Academy U18 Prep team in 2025-26. He posted a stellar 13-1 record alongside a 1.86 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage, to go along with two shutouts. His goals-against average and save percentage were both tops in the Canadian Sports School Hockey League U18 division.
Continuing his career in Germany, 2006-born defender Matthias Pape has signed with the DEL2’s Bietigheim Steelers. The Krefeld, Germany native spent the 2025-26 season patrolling the blueline for the Trail Smoke Eaters. He compiled two goals and 13 assists for 15 points in 49 regular-season games. He also played four games for Germany at the 2026 World Junior Hockey Championship.
In Western Hockey League trade action, the Kelowna Rockets acquired the rights to 2007-born defender Dane Sorensen from the Victoria Royals. The Los Angeles, California native split his 2025-26 season between the United States Hockey League and the Brooks Bandits. He recorded nine points in 12 games with Brooks en route to a BCHL championship. Sorensen is committed to the University of Massachusetts.
Hockey operations
Behind the bench, the Sherwood Park Crusaders hired 46-year-old veteran coach Scott Wray as their new head coach. The Ottawa, Ontario native spent the last two seasons as bench boss for the Owen Sound Attack in the Ontario Hockey League. He was an assistant with the OHL’s North Bay Battalion from 2017 to 2024. Concurrently, Adam Girard has been officially promoted to general manager for the Crusaders organization.
Bolstering their support staff, the Express announced the hiring of Athletic Therapist and Equipment Manager Andrew Liao. He joins Coquitlam after spending the 2025-26 season with the Surrey Eagles. Liao brings experience from previous roles with the CFL’s BC Lions, SFU’s Redleafs, and BC Hockey to his new position.
Community awards
The BCHL has officially recognized the outstanding off-ice contributions of its players by announcing the full 2025-26 list of winners for the Kyle Turris Community Award. Each organization selected a standout representative who demonstrated exceptional dedication through mentorship, school outreach, and local charitable initiatives throughout the season.
Coastal Conference
Alberni Valley Bulldogs: Teague McAllister
Chilliwack Chiefs: Nico Grabas
Coquitlam Express: Shaenen Long
Cowichan Valley Capitals: Slade Firkus
Langley Rivermen: Cale Colwell
Nanaimo Clippers: Jack Rimmer
Powell River Kings: Jake Westhaver
Prince George Spruce Kings: Carter Hesselgrave
Surrey Eagles: Owen Fitzgerald
Victoria Grizzlies: Vidar Blixt
Interior Conference
Blackfalds Bulldogs: Matthew Croxall
Brooks Bandits: Dante Siciliano
Cranbrook Bucks: Nathan Simm
Okotoks Oilers: Grady Gustafson
Salmon Arm Silverbacks: Tanner Walos
Sherwood Park Crusaders: Brec Christenson
Spruce Grove Saints: Spencer Rheaume
Trail Smoke Eaters: Chayse Johnson
Vernon Vipers: Deagan McMillan
West Kelowna Warriors: Caden Kemkaran-Humble
Alumni updates
Moving up to the university ranks, 2006-born forward Liam Payne has committed to McGill University to play USports hockey. Payne skated with the Langley Rivermen during the second half of 2024-25, putting up two goals and an assist in 25 games. He was 10th in AJHL scoring with the Camrose Kodiaks in 2025-26. The North Vancouver, BC native racked up 65 points in 54 games for Camrose.
Inked to a contract extension, 25-year-old forward Nicholas Cherkowski will remain with Nice in France’s Ligue Magnus. The Vernon, BC product produced 24 points in 38 games with Nice in 2025-26. Spanning 2017 to 2020 with the Vernon Vipers, Wenatchee Wild, and Chilliwack Chiefs, his BCHL career featured 24 points in 109 regular-season outings.
Switching clubs in the ICEHL, 33-year-old forward Brady Shaw transferred from Ferencvárosi TC to Black Wings Linz. The Ottawa, Ontario native posted 50 points in 47 games with Ferencvárosi TC in 2025-26. Competing from 2011 to 2013 for the Penticton Vees, Coquitlam Express, and Surrey Eagles, he amassed 71 goals and 68 assists for 139 points in 113 career BCHL regular-season contests.
Taking his talents to France, 25-year-old goaltender Tommy Scarfone signed with Gap of Ligue Magnus after a 2025-26 ECHL stint with the Cincinnati Cyclones. He posted a 3.59 goals-against average and an .883 save percentage in 18 games for the Cyclones. The Montréal, Quebec native originally shone for the Surrey Eagles from 2019 to 2021, amassing a 2.50 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage across 43 career BCHL games.
Heading overseas, 24-year-old forward Dawson Good signed his first pro contract with Mont-Blanc in France. The Abbotsford, BC native recently concluded his collegiate career after four seasons at the University of Vermont. Good was a reliable contributor for the Chilliwack Chiefs from 2018 to 2022, accumulating 24 goals and 44 assists for 68 points in 78 career BCHL regular-season games.
Departing Bordeaux, 31-year-old forward Craig Puffer will play elsewhere in 2026-27. The Greenwich, Connecticut native recorded 17 points in 31 Ligue Magnus games during the 2025-26 season. During his lone 2014-15 BCHL campaign with the Chilliwack Chiefs, he impressively tallied 29 goals and 29 assists for 58 points in 58 regular-season games. He added 15 points in a dozen BCHL playoff games in 2015.
