BCHL Bulletin

BCHL Bulletin: Tong makes his Rivermen debut, Beck joins Ilves, and more!

Brian Wiebe

Rivermen add Tong as an affiliate player

Langley added 2004-born defenseman Ryan Tong as an affiliate player and he made his debut with the Rivermen on Saturday against Alberni Valley

Tong, who’s from Vancouver, BC, finished the season with 15 goals and 47 points in 41 games split between the Port Moody Panthers and Langley Trappers of the Pacific Junior Hockey League.

He made his BCHL debut as an affiliate of the Coquitlam Express in November while a member of the Panthers. His 47 points were second among all defensemen in the PJHL in 2021-22.

Beck goes from Austria to Finland

31-year-old forward Colton Beck (76 goals, 78 assists in 162 games with Langley from 2007-10) has signed a contract for the remainder of the 2021-22 season with Ilves of Finland’s Liiga.

The forward from Langley, BC had 13 goals and 33 points in 45 games as an alternate captain with Dornbirner EC of the ICE Hockey League this season before joining Ilves.

Taylor takes his game to Orlando

Goaltender Ty Taylor (36-17-0, 2.38 goals-against average, .919 save percentage, eight shutouts in 60 games with Vernon from 2016-18) has signed a standard player contract for the remainder of the 2021-22 season with Orlando of the ECHL.

The 22-year-old native of Richmond, BC played 13 USPORTS games with Grant MacEwan University this season, posting a 1-11-0 record along with a 4.16 goals-against average, an .890 save percentage, and one shutout.

Pieper released by the Solar Bears

Forward Canon Pieper (33 goals, 33 assists in 57 games with Coquitlam in 2013-14) was released by the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL on Friday.

The 28-year-old from Roseville, MN had four goals and eight points in 24 games with the Solar Bears this season. He also had an assist in two games with the Iowa Heartlanders.

Stead signs a loan agreement with South Carolina

Goaltender Kristian Stead (4.61 goals-against average, .862 save percentage in two games with Merritt between 2013-15) has been signed by the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays on loan from Knoxville of the Southern Professional Hockey League.

In three games with the Stingrays this season, the 25-year-old from Merritt, BC is 0-2-0 with a 4.71 goals-against average and an .859 save percentage. He is also 14-1-1 with a 2.25 goals-against average, a .921 save percentage, and two shutouts in 19 SPHL games with the Ice Bears.

Danis commits to Hamilton College

2001-born forward Alex Danis (no points in one game with Wenatchee this season) has committed to Hamilton College to play NCAA Division III hockey this September.

Danis, a product of Calgary, AB, has six goals and 23 points in 45 Alberta Junior Hockey League games this season split between the Fort McMurray Oil Barons and Bonnyville Pontiacs. The Wild traded him to the Oil Barons last October.

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.