Eagles fly in Burgin for 2023-24
The Surrey Eagles announced the recruitment of 2006-born forward Miles Burgin from the Valley West Giants U18 AAA of the British Columbia Elite Hockey League U18 division for 2023-24. Burgin was selected 155th overall in the seventh round of the Western Hockey League Prospects Draft by Edmonton in 2021.
Burgin, from Surrey, B.C., had a solid 29 goals and 62 points in 36 games as an alternate captain for the Giants last season. He also added six points in four BCEHL playoff games. Burgin got into five games with the Eagles as an affiliate player but didn’t register any points.
Vees recruit Hellyer from the AJHL
The Penticton Vees added a skilled piece to their forward group on Monday, with the announcement that 2004-born Conyr Hellyer, who’s committed to Arizona State University, will join the team for the 2023-24 season.
Hellyer is from Okotoks, Alta., and finished seventh among all 18-year-old players in scoring in the Alberta Junior Hockey League last season with 30 goals and 61 points for his hometown Oilers. He chipped in with six assists in 10 AJHL playoff games. Hellyr heads to the Arizona State campus in September 2024.
Surrey signs Fazio for the upcoming season
2005-born forward Massimo Fazio has committed to playing with the Surrey Eagles for the 2023-24 B.C. Hockey League season.
Fazio, who hails from Vancouver, played 33 games this past season for the Greater Vancouver Canadians U18 AAA in the BCEHL U18 division. He scored 21 goals and 48 points with the Canadians. Fazio also appeared in three games as an affiliate player for the Eagles before scoring one goal in five BCHL playoff games with Surrey.
Spruce Kings recruit Perdion for 2023-24
The Prince George Spruce Kings have signed 2003-born forward J.R. Perdion out of Strongsville, Ohio for the upcoming 2023-24 BCHL season.
Perdion spent the 2022-23 season with the Odessa Jackalopes of the North American Hockey League. In 54 games, he posted 10 goals and 28 points. The Long Island University commit also got into one game with Sioux Falls of the United States Hockey League as an affiliate player. He heads to LIU next September.
Brar joins the Eagles for his junior hockey debut
The Surrey Eagles have added 2006-born defender Joven Brar for the upcoming season. Brar hails from Surrey, B.C., and appeared in one game with his hometown Eagles during the 2022-23 season.
Brar spent the season in the BCEHL U18 division with the Valley West Giants U18 AAA squad, where he notched four goals and 27 points. He also posted four assists in four BCEHL games during the post-season.
Pakulak commits to Clarkson University
Vernon Vipers’ 2003-born forward Luke Pakulak has committed to Clarkson University, starting in September 2024. The Surrey, B.C. product finished 2022-23 with 17 goals and 40 points in 46 games for the Vipers.
He also had one assist in six games with Vernon during the 2023 Fred Page Cup playoffs. Clarkson is a private research university with its main campus in Potsdam, New York.
BCHL announces officiating development coaches and mentors
The BCHL announced on Monday who will act as mentors and development coaches for the league’s officiating program this season. According to a release the league sent out, the group will work directly with its officials by watching video or attending games to offer feedback.
The development coaches and mentors include current National Hockey League referee Kelly Sutherland, former NHL officials Shane Heyer and Jay Sharrers, as well as Big Ten head of officiating Steve Piotrowski. Sutherland, Heyer, and Sharrers were all officials in the BCHL early in their careers.
The BCHL also notes that it will announce its 2023-24 officiating and Department of Player Safety staff in the coming weeks.
Smokies promote Korlak to director of skill development and performance
The Trail Smoke Eaters unveiled on Monday that 34-year-old Dustin Korlak has been promoted to their director of skill development and performance.
Korlak, from Stonewall, Man., was an associate coach and director of player development for the Smokies for the last two seasons. He was an assistant coach in Trail from 2018 to 2021.
His promotion means that Trail is looking to hire an assistant coach. The Smokies note that applicants should reach out to general manager and head coach Tim Fragle at t.fragle@trailsmokeeaters.com.
BCHL looks to hire a communications coordinator
The B.C. Hockey League shared on social media on Monday that it is looking to hire a part-time communications coordinator. The position pays $20,000 to $25,000 annually and is 20 hours per week.
Further details on the position are available here. Those interested are asked to submit a resume and cover letter to jadamson@bchl.ca by August 10th, 2023.
Three BCHL alumni at Florida Panthers development camp
The Florida Panthers unveiled their 2023 development camp roster and schedule on Friday, and three former BCHL players are among those participating.
22-year-old goaltender Cooper Black (24-7-1, a 2.62 goals-against average, .924 save percentage, and two shutouts in 33 games with Nanaimo in 2021-22) played 30 NCAA Division I games with Dartmouth College in 2022-23. The Alpena, Michigan product earned a 5-23-1 record with a 3.07 goals-against average, a .899 save percentage, and three shutouts.
23-year-old forward Skyler Brind’Amour (23 goals, 45 assists in 104 games with Chilliwack from 2017-19), from Raleigh, North Carolina, had 14 goals and 32 points in 41 NCAA games at Quinnipiac University this past season. He signed a two-year deal with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers back in April.
21-year-old forward Ryan McAllister (five goals, eight assists in 37 games with Prince George in 2019-20) had a goal and four assists in four AHL games with Charlotte this past season. McAllister, who calls London, Ont. home, wrapped up his NCAA career with 13 goals and 49 points in 39 games with Western Michigan University in 2022-23.
Recchi heads to camp with the Devils
The New Jersey Devils have forward Cameron Recchi (five goals, seven assists in 20 games with Salmon Arm in 2020-21) at their 2023 development camp.
Recchi, a 22-year-old from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, recorded two goals and 10 points through 35 games with the University of St. Thomas as a second-year NCAA player this past season.
AHL Chicago signs a trio of BCHL alumni
The Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League put pen to paper with three former BCHL players for the 2023-24 season on Monday. Joining the Wolves for the upcoming season are forwards Kyle Marino (17 goals, 34 assists in 111 games with West Kelowna from 2014-16) and Dominic Franco (13 goals, 15 assists in 47 games with Langley in 2015-16), and goaltender Adam Scheel (29-12-0, 2.08 goals-against average, .927 save percentage, three shutouts in 45 games with Penticton in 2017-18).
Marino, a 28-year-old product of Niagara Falls, Ont., posted two goals and two assists in 50 games with the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights during the 2022-23 season.
Franco, a 26-year-old from Scituate, Rhode Island, played 49 AHL games with the Charlotte Checkers last season, tallying two goals and six assists. He also notched four goals and 14 points in 16 ECHL games with Florida.
Scheel is a 24-year-old from Lakewood, Ohio. He appeared in two games with the American Hockey League’s Texas Stars this past season. He added a 28-8-0 record with a 1.97 goals-against average, five shutouts, and a .932 save percentage in 37 ECHL games with the Idaho Steelheads.
Kaldis jumps to HC Dinamo Minsk
HC Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League inked a deal with 27-year-old defender Yanni Kaldis (18 goals, 92 assists in 112 games with Nanaimo from 2014-16) for the 2022-23 season on Monday.
Kaldis, from St-Laurent, Que., led all Bakersfield Condors’ blueliners in scoring this past season, putting up six goals and 26 points in 51 AHL games.
