Bucks and Grizzlies connect on a big trade
Cranbrook and Victoria hooked up on a big trade on Saturday that sees the Bucks get 2003-born defenseman Declan Ride from the Grizzlies for 2002-born forward Noah Leibl and future considerations.
Leibl, who hails from Del Mar, CA, has a goal and two assists in 13 games with Cranbrook this season. He also had five goals and six points in 20 games with the Bucks in 2020-21.
Ride is committed to Miami University (Ohio) for September 2022. The native of Oakville, ON posted a goal and three assists in 21 games with the Grizzlies this season. He was ranked 201st among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting for the 2021 NHL Draft but wasn’t selected.
Prince George vs. Vernon first career BCHL goals
2004-born forward Max Borovinskiy scored his first BC Hockey League goal for the Vernon Vipers with 6:02 left in the second period in a 2-1 win over Prince George on Saturday.
He was skating in his 30th career BCHL game after the Vipers acquired him from the Spruce Kings in a trade in early November. Borovinskiy, who hails from West Vancouver, BC, is in his second BCHL season and now has eight career points.
Alberni Valley vs. Chilliwack first career BCHL goals
With the Bulldogs up 3-2 with 8:40 left in the third period, 15-year-old Diego Buttazzoni tallied his first BCHL goal for Alberni Valley and it stood up as the insurance marker in a 4-2 win against Chilliwack this past Saturday.
Buttazzoni was playing in his third BCHL contest as an affiliate player for the Bulldogs. The 2006-born forward from Langley, BC, has 26 points in 14 games with Burnaby Winter Club U18 Prep of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League this season.
Nanaimo vs. Victoria first career BCHL goals
In his second BCHL game, Nanaimo Clippers forward Mateo Dixon scored his first goal in the league. It came at 17:36 of the final frame on a power play in Saturday’s 4-2 loss to Victoria.
Dixon, a 2002-born forward from Toronto, ON, was acquired by the Clippers from the Toronto Patriots of the Ontario Junior Hockey League on Dec. 9.
Penticton vs. West Kelowna first career BCHL goals
2003-born defenseman Charles-Alexis Legault scored his first BC Hockey League marker at 18:27 of the third period into an empty net as his West Kelowna Warriors dumped Penticton 5-2 on Saturday.
He was skating in his 13th career BCHL game. Legault, who hails from Pierrefonds, QC, is committed to playing NCAA hockey at Boston University in September 2022.
Clippers bring in De-Leon as an affiliate player
The Nanaimo Clippers have added 2004-born forward Alyandro De Leon as an affiliate player for the 2021-22 season. The Langley, BC product made his BCHL debut in Saturday’s 4-2 loss in Victoria.
De Leon is a full-time player with the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds U18 of the BC Elite Hockey League. In 20 games this season with the T-Birds, he has 13 goals and 23 points.
BCHL DOPS suspends Fudger for five games
2001-born forward Brett Fudger of the Cowichan Valley Capitals has been suspended for five games by the BC Hockey League department of player safety after receiving a gross misconduct.
The infraction occurred at the 18:30 mark of the third period of Friday’s 3-1 win against Nanaimo. Fudger, a Prince Rupert, BC product, is eligible to return to the Caps’ lineup on Jan. 11 at home against Alberni Valley.
Giesbrecht joins Prince George as an affiliate player
The Prince George Spruce Kings have brought on 2004-born forward Gavin Giesbrecht of the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds of the BCEHL as an affiliate player. The native of Abbotsford, BC has 11 goals and 24 points in 20 games for the Hawks this season.
Mulrenin suspended for three games by the BCHL DOPS
Merritt Centennials forward Ryan Mulrenin has been suspended for a trio of games after a gross misconduct he was assessed was changed to a match penalty. The infractions came in Friday’s 6-1 loss in Wenatchee.
The Wayzata, MN native sat out Saturday’s game against the Wild. He’ll also miss games on Dec. 29 at home against Salmon Arm and Jan. 2 against Cranbrook. Mulrenin can return on Jan. 5 as West Kelowna visits the Centennials.
Cranbrook taps Sookro as an affiliate player
The Cranbrook Bucks have added 2004-born defenseman Bryce Sookro to their reserve roster as an affiliate player. Sookro is a full-time member of the Nelson Leafs of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.
In 25 games with the Leafs this season, the Nelson, BC product has four goals and 19 points. Sookro made his BCHL debut in Cranbrook’s 4-3 win over Trail on Saturday.
Noel will sit with a one game suspension
Maynard, MA native Andrew Noel of the Nanaimo Clippers was suspended by the BCHL DOPS on Saturday after getting his second five-minute major of the season for fighting with 6:25 left in the first period of Friday’s 3-1 loss to Cowichan.
The 20-year-old defenseman sat out the Clippers’ road loss to Victoria on Saturday and should be eligible to return to Nanaimo’s lineup on Jan. 2 in Coquitlam.
Sumners inks with Coquitlam as an affiliate player
The Coquitlam Express has brought aboard 2004-born defenseman Justin Sumners as an affiliate player. The Aldergrove, BC product has a goal and seven assists in 20 games with the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds of the BCEHL this season.
BCHL DOPS hands Fraser a two game suspension
Prince George Spruce Kings forward Austin Fraser has been suspended two games by the BC Hockey League department of player safety following a major penalty and game misconduct for checking from behind that he incurred during a game on Friday in Salmon Arm.
The 2003-born forward from West Vancouver, BC missed PG’s game on Saturday in Vernon and will also sit for a Dec. 30 game in Wenatchee. Fraser can return for the Spruce Kings on New Year’s Eve for a return visit against the Wild.
Three Stars of the Night ⭐⭐⭐
First Star: Powell River forward Branden Toye scored a pair of goals in a 6-4 win over Surrey.
Second Star: Surrey forward Primo Self notched a goal and two assists against the Kings.
Third Star: Kings netminder Zak Brice stopped 43 shots, including 16 in the third period.
Honourable mentions: Eagles forward Michael Abgrall tallied a goal and two assists. Powell River defenseman Casey Aman scored once and added an assist.
