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BCHL Bulletin: Express alumnus Lucic retires, Warriors forward Jamaldinov commits, and more

Brian Wiebe

Roster moves

Adding high-end skill to their lineup, Mount Royal University secured a commitment from Ruslan Jamaldinov. The 2005-born forward from Luleå, Sweden, spent the 2025-26 season with the West Kelowna Warriors. During his lone BCHL campaign, he posted 28 goals and 35 assists for 63 points in 53 games.

Joining his hometown teammate at MRU, Liam Nilsson also departs the West Kelowna Warriors. The 2005-born defender from Luleå, Sweden, provided significant offensive punch last year. He recorded 17 goals and 19 assists for 36 points in 45 games in preparation for making the jump to U SPORTS.=

Heading overseas to continue his career, Nikolaj Rupi signed with IF Troja-Ljungby in Sweden’s HockeyEttan. The 2005-born forward from Ronneby, Sweden, split his 2025-26 season between the Cranbrook Bucks and the Blackfalds Bulldogs. He accumulated 15 goals and 15 assists for 30 points across 53 total BCHL games.

Making a move to the North American Hockey League, Kolby Gapter has committed to the Elmira Aviators. The 2006-born defender from Laramie, WY, moved through the Brooks Bandits and the Surrey Eagles organizations last year. He appeared in seven BCHL games with the Bandits during the 2025-26 season, registering zero points and 17 penalty minutes. Gapter didn’t play any games with Surrey after being traded there by Brooks in December.

Alumni updates

Calling it a career, Milan Lucic officially retired from professional hockey. The 38-year-old from Vancouver, BC, played for the Coquitlam Express during the 2004-05 campaign. His BCHL career yielded nine goals, 14 assists, and 23 points in 50 regular-season games with the Express. He spent his final season with the Fife Flyers in the UK’s Elite Ice Hockey League, notching 12 points in 26 games.

Taking his talents to Denmark, Mathieu Caron signed with the Rødovre Mighty Bulls. The 26-year-old from Abbotsford, BC, guarded the crease for the Chilliwack Chiefs from 2016 to 2021. In 126 career BCHL games with the Chiefs, Caron recorded 67 wins, eight shutouts, a 2.67 goals-against average, and a .905 save percentage. He posted a 3.26 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage in 39 games for Anglet last season in France’s Ligue Magnus.

Staying in Sweden for another season, Josh Laframboise transferred from Bodens HF to Boro/Vetlanda HC in HockeyEttan. The 29-year-old from Thunder Bay, Ontario, represented the Penticton Vees, Salmon Arm Silverbacks and Trail Smoke Eaters. His BCHL tenure included 48 goals, 75 assists, and 123 points in 165 games. He delivered 33 points across 38 games for Bodens HF last year.

MacEwan University recruited Casey Black to bolster its back end. The 2005-born defender from Calgary, Alberta, arrives from the Canmore Eagles of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Black previously skated for the Okotoks Oilers during the 2024-25 campaign, notching two assists. He tallied three goals and 18 assists for 21 points across 25 games with Canmore last season.

Brian Wiebe

Brian's been involved in the BCHL in a variety of capacities for 17 years. From 2002 to 2012, he served in several roles around the Merritt Centennials organization, including as team president, board member, beat writer, colour commentator, webmaster, media and communications coordinator and marketing assistant. He's been writing about the BCHL since 2008 and served as colour commentator on the TSN 1040 broadcasts in 2012-13. BCHLNetwork is one of Brian's many passion projects that he balances around his full-time job as an instructor in the Radio Arts and Entertainment Program at BCIT in Burnaby.