BCHL Bulletin: Caps and Spruce Kings swap defensemen, Vees bring in WHL veteran Dunsford, and more!

Capitals send Marciano to Prince George for Elliott and futures

Cowichan Valley and Prince George swapped defensemen on Monday with 2003-born Connor Elliott and future considerations going to the Capitals and 2002-born Nick Marciano heading to the Spruce Kings.

Elliott, a native of Coldstream, BC, has a goal and eight points in 39 games with Prince George and Penticton over the last three seasons.

Marciano hails from Greenwich, CT, and the Princeton University commit has posted 15 points in 21 games as a rookie with Cowichan this season.

Vees add Dunsford to their crease

The Penticton Vees announced the signing of 2003-born goaltender Mason Dunsford for the remainder of the 2021-22 BC Hockey League season.

The New Westminster, BC product was most recently with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League but didn’t make any appearances with them this season.

He had a 3-14-0 record and a 6.28 goals-against average, and an .844 save percentage in 23 games with the WHL’s Tri-City Americans over the last two seasons.

Bar-Lev-Wise commits to Yale University for 2022

West Kelowna Warriors forward and captain Elan Bar-Lev-Wise has committed to Yale University to play Ivy League hockey in September 2022. He was previously committed to Ohio State but de-committed to head to Yale.

The 2001-born centre from Vancouver, BC is a veteran of 145 career BCHL games, posting 25 goals and 74 points over parts of six seasons with the Warriors, Vernon, and Salmon Arm.

Vipers bring in Chalmers for 2022-23

The Vernon Vipers announced the recruitment of 2003-born Kimball Union Academy defenseman Conner Chalmers for the 2022-23 BCHL season.

Chalmers, who is from Windham, NH, has four goals and 14 points in 20 games for the GBL Bruins 18U AAA of the Eastern Hockey Federation 18U Elite league this season.

Hunter, Nadeau, and Bongo earn BCHL three star honours

Trail forward Brady Hunter, Penticton forward Josh Nadeau, and Surrey forward Jake Bongo are the BCHL’s three stars for the week ending Dec. 5.

Hunter, 19, had four goals and four assists for the Smoke Eaters last week as the team went 2-1. The Enfield, NS product led Trail to road wins over Cranbrook and Merritt. He was in on every goal the Smokies scored in their 5-3 loss to Vernon on Saturday.

Nadeau, an 18-year-old who is committed to the University of Maine, posted three goals and four assists to help lead the Vees to a trio of wins. The St-François-de-Madawaska, NB native is now riding a nine-game point streak and sits third in BCHL scoring with 28 points in 19 games.

18-year-old Bongo recorded three goals and seven points in three games for the Eagles last week. The Ridgefield, CT product scored a goal and added two assists in a 7-2 romp over Victoria on Friday. He then had one assist versus Cowichan on Saturday and two goals and an assist against Nanaimo on Sunday.

BCHL DOPS suspends Legault for one game

The BC Hockey League department of player safety suspended West Kelowna Warriors defenseman Charles-Alexis Legault for one game after he received an instigating minor, a fighting major, and a game misconduct.

The 2003-born native of Pierrefonds, QC was assessed the penalties during Sunday’s 5-2 loss to the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. Legault will sit out Friday’s game against Merritt and be back in the Warriors lineup Saturday in Vernon.

Clippers add Cameron as an affiliate player

The Nanaimo Clippers have brought aboard 2004-born forward Hudson Cameron as an affiliate player. He made his debut with the Clippers in Sunday’s 4-1 loss at home against the Eagles.

The Kamloops, BC product has five goals and 16 points in 17 games with his hometown Storm of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League this season.

BCHL announces partnership with Johnston Meier Insurance

The BC Hockey League announced on Monday a partnership with Johnston Meier Insurance. According to a news release, the partnership sees Johnston Meier Insurance Agencies Group have a visible presence at BCHL games, league events, and on social media.

Johnston Meier is the presenting sponsor of the alumni game during the BCHL’s 60th Anniversary event in Penticton, BC next month and the weekly NCAA Roundup feature on the league’s website.

Robson called up by Rochester of the American Hockey League

Goaltender Mat Robson (35-13-0, 1.94 goals-against average, .930 save percentage, and six shutouts in 49 games with Penticton in 2016-17) has been recalled by the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League from the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL.

The Mississauga, ON native is 7-6-0 with a 2.39 goals-against average, a .905 save percentage, and one shutout in 13 games with the Cyclones thus far this season.

Caron named ECAC goalie of the week

Brown University goaltender Mathieu Caron (67-38-11, 2.67 goals-against average, .905 save percentage, eight shutouts in 126 games with Chilliwack from 2017-21) was announced as the ECAC goalie of the week on Monday.

The 21-year-old from Abbotsford, BC was 2-0 last week, with back-to-back shutouts over Harvard and Dartmouth. He made 62 saves in the process.

Red Wings assign Barton to Grand Rapids of the AHL

22-year-old defenseman Seth Barton (six goals, 27 assists in 51 games with Nanaimo and Trail from 2016-18) was reassigned by the Detroit Red Wings from Toledo of the ECHL to Grand Rapids of the AHL on Monday.

The native of Kelowna, BC hasn’t found the scoresheet through two ECHL games with the Walleye this season. He has yet to make an AHL appearance for the Griffins.

Lee signs with TranĂĄs AIF for the remainder of the season

Forward Chong Min Lee (22 goals, 40 assists in 134 games with Prince George from 2017-20) has signed with TranĂĄs AIF of HockeyEttan, which is the third tier of professional hockey in Sweden.

The 22-year-old from Seoul, KOR had 12 goals and 26 points in 18 games with Nässjö HC of Sweden’s Division 2 earlier this season. Division 2 is the fourth tier of Swedish pro hockey.

Wicks transfers to Simon Fraser University

23-year-old forward Nick Wicks (35 goals, 82 assists in 161 games with Merritt from 2016-19) has transferred from Clarkson University to Simon Fraser University and will play in the BC Intercollegiate Hockey League starting in the new year.

Wicks, who’s from Delta, BC didn’t get into any games with Clarkson this season but had three points in a dozen games last season. He posted 16 points in 35 NCAA games for the University of Alaska-Anchorage in 2019-20.

Finley traded in the WHL from Spokane to Winnipeg

Forward Jack Finley (one goal in two games with Penticton in 2017-18) was traded from the Spokane Chiefs to the Winnipeg ICE in a massive WHL trade on Monday.

Finley, a 2002-born product of St. Louis, MO, and Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick, had six goals and six assists in 18 games with the Chiefs this season. He is currently in camp with Canada’s world junior hockey team.

Braun is off to the University of Victoria

2001-born forward Riley Braun (no points in one game with Cowichan Valley in 2017-18) has committed to the University of Victoria of the BCIHL for September 2022.

The Victoria, BC native has spent the last five seasons with the Peninsula Panthers of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League. He has an eye-popping 28 goals and 73 points in 30 games for the Panthers in 2021-22.