Cents and Vipers connect on a blockbuster
The Merritt Centennials and Vernon Vipers connected on a blockbuster trade on Tuesday evening involving five players in total and future considerations.
The deal sees 2004-born forward Luke Lavery and 2002-born defenseman Talon Zakall go from the Cents to Vernon in exchange for 2002-born forward Nick Remissong, 2002-born defenseman Desmond Johnson, 2003-born defenseman Braden Smith, and future considerations.
Lavery was acquired by Merritt on Nov. 6 from Nanaimo. He had no points through three games with his hometown Clippers this season. He is committed to Providence College for September 2023.
Zakall, who’s headed to Dartmouth College next September, was a four-year hometown player for the Centennials. Over the span of 134 games for the same Merritt franchise his dad Dave played for, Zakall notched 14 goals and 61 points.
Remissong is a sophomore forward in the BCHL this season. In 37 career games with the Vipers this season and last, the Lake Forest, IL product had six goals and 10 points.
Johnson is also into his second season in the BCHL in 2021-22. The native of Phoenix, AZ had five assists in 17 games with Vernon this season after posting a goal and two assists in 19 games in 2020-21.
Smith, a product of Valemount, BC, is a veteran of 15 Western Hockey League games with the Victoria Royals, which included tallying two assists during the hub season last spring. He was scoreless in 16 games with the Vipers this season.
Eagles flip Bohn to Prince George for Gagno
The Surrey Eagles have acquired 2002-born defenseman Brody Gagno from the Prince George Spruce Kings in exchange for 2002-born defenseman James Bohn and future considerations. Surrey picked up Bohn from Coquitlam in a separate trade on Monday.
Gagno, a Surrey, BC native, had one assist in 10 games with the Spruce Kings this season. The blueliner is in his third BCHL season and has 15 points in 115 career games.
Bohn, who hails from Coquitlam, BC, has three goals and 22 points in 87 games with the Express over parts of four seasons. Included in the totals are seven points in 19 games with his hometown team this season.
Henry commits to the University of Vermont
The Chilliwack Chiefs announced on Tuesday that 2001-born defenseman Xavier Henry has committed to playing NCAA Division I hockey at the University of Vermont starting with the 2022-23 season.
The Scarborough, ON native has five points in 15 games for the Chiefs this season and 25 points in 69 games since joining Chilliwack for the 2019-20 season.
Eagles add Penney to their blueline
The Surrey Eagles unveiled the official signing of 2001-born defenseman Cade Penney on Tuesday despite the fact that he’s played six games already for them. He has one assist in those six games.
Penney hails from nearby White Rock, BC, and started the season with the Madison Capitols of the US Hockey League, where he posted five assists in eight games. He is committed to the University of New Hampshire for September 2022.
Spruce Kings bring in Laylin from Lincoln
The Prince George Spruce Kings have signed 2001-born defenseman Luc Laylin for the remainder of the 2021-22 season.
Laylin is committed to the University of St. Thomas for the 2022-23 season and comes from the Lincoln Stars of the USHL. The St. Michael, MN product had a goal and four points in 14 games with the Stars this season.
Trotter commits to the University of St. Thomas
Joining Laylin at the University of St. Thomas is new teammate Aaron Trotter, who announced his commitment to the school on Tuesday afternoon.
The 2001-born goaltender from Victoria, BC is 14-7-1, with a 1.99 goals-against average, a .922 save percentage, and two shutouts in 22 career games with Prince George.
Bucks bring in Self as an affiliate player
2002-born goaltender Trystan Self of the Kimberley Dynamiters has signed with the Cranbrook Bucks as an affiliate player.
The Calgary, AB native has an 8-3-0 record with a 2.08 goals-against average, a .926 save percentage, and three shutouts in 13 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League games this season.
Surrey adds Zuvic to its reserve roster as an AP
The Surrey Eagles have signed 2001-born goaltender Daniel Zuvic as an affiliate player for this season.
The product of Maple Ridge, BC has spent the last four seasons with Abbotsford, Mission, and White Rock of the Pacific Junior Hockey League. Over that time, Zuvic has a 27-23-2 record to go along with a 3.37 goals-against average and three shutouts.
Gervais called up by Iowa of the AHL
Forward Bryce Gervais (71 goals, 55 assists in 117 games with Salmon Arm and Penticton from 2010-12) was recalled by the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League from the Iowa Heartlanders of the ECHL on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old from Battleford, SK is scoreless in six games with the Wild this season after signing a two-way, AHL contract with Iowa in late August. He also has three points in six games with the Heartlanders.
Kehler traded in the ECHL from Cincinnati to Rapid City
Goaltender Cole Kehler (18-24-0, 3.84 goals-against average, .898 save percentage in 43 games with Merritt in 2015-16) has been traded in the ECHL from the Rapid City Rush to the Cincinnati Cyclones for future considerations.
The 23-year-old from Altona, MB was 1-0-1 with a 4.25 goals-against average and an .830 save percentage in two games with the Rush this season.
