BCHL Bulletin: Milburn heads to Lake Superior State, Littler, Williams, and Hamlin earn three star honours, and more!

Milburn commits to Lake Superior State

Vernon Vipers forward Reagan Milburn has committed to Lake Superior State University. The 2003-born Kamloops, BC product has eight goals and 16 points in 25 games with the Vipers so far during the 2021-22 season.

Milburn is into his second season in the BCHL with Vernon after posting seven goals and 11 points in 17 games as a rookie during the 2020-21 pod season. He is the 10th member of the Vipers roster to commit to an NCAA school.

Littler, Williams, and Hamlin earn BCHL three star honours

Wenatchee forward Cade Littler, Penticton forward Fin Williams, and Coquitlam forward Ray Hamlin are the BCHL’s three stars for the week ending Dec. 19.

Littler, 17, had four goals and five assists as the Wild went 3-0 last week. The East Wenatchee, WA product led the Wild to three straight home wins over Merritt on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Friday’s game saw Littler score his first career BCHL hat trick in a 6-2 win against the Centennials.

Williams, an 18-year-old, posted three goals and two assists last week. The North Vancouver, BC native had his 10th multi-point game of the season on Friday with two goals and two assists as the Vees waxed Vernon 6-0. He also scored for Penticton in a 5-2 loss against West Kelowna. Williams is now fifth in league scoring.

18-year-old Hamlin recorded two goals and five points in a pair of games for the Express last week. The Windsor, ON product scored two goals and added an assist in a 6-0 romp over Powell River on Saturday. He started the week with two assists in a 4-3 loss on Friday in Chilliwack. Hamlin is now third in scoring with Coquitlam.

San Jose reassigns Weatherby to the Barracuda

Forward Jasper Weatherby (49 goals, 57 assists in 104 games with Wenatchee from 2016-18) was reassigned by the NHL’s San Jose Sharks to the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League on Monday.

The 23-year-old from Portland, OR has two goals and six points as a rookie with the Sharks this season. He made his first appearance with the Barracuda on Tuesday night and had an assist in a 4-1 victory over the Colorado Eagles.

Hershey signs Vela to a professional tryout

Forward Marcus Vela (31 goals, 37 assists in 104 games with Langley from 2013-15) has signed a professional tryout with the AHL’s Hershey Bears. He joins the Bears from the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL.

The 24-year-old Burnaby, BC native has a dozen goals and 20 points with the Walleye this season. He also made his American League debut on Tuesday as Hershey lost 2-1 to Lehigh Valley.

Hirose reassigned from Detroit to Grand Rapids

Forward Taro Hirose (33 goals, 88 assists in 116 games with Salmon Arm from 2014-16) was assigned from the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL on Tuesday.

Hirose, a 25-year-old from Winnipeg, MB, has only played one game with the Red Wings this season. He does have four goals and 19 points in 22 games with the Griffins in 2021-22.

O’Donnell inks a two-year extension with Dusseldorf

29-year-old forward Brendan O’Donnell (29 goals, 43 assists in 58 games with Penticton in 2010-11) has signed a contract extension through the 2023-24 season with Düsseldorfer EG of the Deutsch Eishockey Liga.

The Winnipeg, MB native has posted 15 goals and 32 points in 30 games with Düsseldorfer this season and sits seventh overall in scoring in the DEL as of this writing.