Penticton forward Gojsic joins Kelowna Rockets
Penticton Vees’ 2006-born forward Hiroki Gojsic has signed with the Western Hockey League’s Kelowna Rockets following a trade of his WHL rights. He was originally a second-round selection of the Victoria Royals at the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft. The Royals received a 2025 second-round and a 2027 fifth-round WHL Prospects Draft selection.
He had 10 goals and 11 assists in 37 games with Penticton this past season. The Langley, B.C. product added a goal in two playoff games during the Vees’ run to the Fred Page Cup. Gojsic joins his brother Kanjyu, who signed with the Rockets on May 30.
Kings make it Harder on their opponents
The Powell River Kings announced they have signed 2006-born forward Jace Harder for the 2023-24 B.C. Hockey League season.
Harder, who hails from Lake Country, B.C., spent the 2022-23 season with Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna U18 of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League, where he earned 16 goals and 30 points in 31 games. He also added 16 goals and 12 assists through 46 games in the U18 AAA league.
Kanter heads to the Giants
Former Salmon Arm Silverbacks play-by-play announcer and communications coordinator Nathan Kanter has joined the WHL’s Vancouver Giants as its Director of Media Relations and Broadcasting.
Kenter, who is from Toronto, joins the team from the Regina Pats of the WHL, where he served as the Manager of Digital Media, Fan, and Community Engagement. He was with the Silverbacks in 2019-20 and 2020-21.
Force signs Skinner as head coach
39-year-old Brett Skinner (11 goals, 24 assists in 59 games with Trail from 2000-01) has been named the head coach of the United States Hockey League’s Fargo Force.
Skinner, who hails from Brandon, Man., spent last season as the head coach of the Minnesota Wilderness of the North American Hockey League. It was his first as a head coach following five seasons as an assistant coach with the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede.
Eagles on the hunt for a Team Trainer
The Surrey Eagles have begun the hunt for a team trainer for the 2023-24 BCHL season. Stefan Pinto was the Eagles’ trainer during the 2022-23 season, joining them from the Delta Ice Hawks of the Pacific Junior Hockey League.
Anyone interested in the Eagles’ trainer position is requested to send their application to operation@surreyeagles.ca.
Belisle signs in France
25-year-old forward Brad Belisle (eight goals, 15 assists in 55 games with Nanaimo in 2017-18) has signed with Les Elephants de Chambery of Fédération Française de Hockey sur Glace Division 1, the second-highest professional league in France. 2023-24 is Belisle’s first professional season.
Belisle, who is from Thunder Bay, Ont., played four NCAA Division I seasons at Bemidji State University. This past season, he played in eight games.
Carbery earns first NHL head coaching gig
Carbery, who is from Victoria, has also spent time as a coach in the ECHL, Ontario Hockey League, and American Hockey League. He was named ECHL Coach of the Year in 2013-14 with the South Carolina Stingrays and AHL Coach of the Year in 2020-21 with the Hershey Bears.
Degraves re-acquired by Bandits
2003-born forward Nicholas Degraves has been re-acquired by the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Brooks Bandits. Degraves had nine goals and 24 assists in 29 games with Penticton this past season.
He was acquired by the Vees in November in a trade involving the Bandits, Trail Smoke Eaters, and Cowichan Valley Capitals. As part of the original trade, Degraves’ rights reverted to the Bandits at the conclusion of 2022-23.
Degraves, who hails from Edmonton, also played 13 games with the United States Hockey League’s Waterloo Blackhawks, registering one goal and eight points. Previously, in parts of three seasons, Degraves scored 17 goals and 57 points in 72 games for the Bandits.
Dawson is no longer with the Eagles
Following one season as an assistant coach, Matt Dawson (six goals, 28 assists in 61 games with Surrey from 2012-14) is no longer with the Surrey Eagles. There’s no word as to the circumstances around Dawson leaving the Eagles organization.
Dawson, who is from Delta, B.C., helped the Eagles to a 35-16-2-1 record, good for second in the Coastal Conference. The team was ousted in the second round of the playoffs by the fifth-seed Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
Yates signs a tender with Brown Bears
2003-born Nanaimo Clippers forward Rylan Yates has signed a tender with the NAHL’s Kenai River Brown Bears. The Brown Bears are located in Kenai River, Alaska. He had three goals and seven assists in 45 games with Nanaimo in 2022-23.
Yates, who is from Antioch, California, joins his second NAHL club. During the 2021-22 season, he played 51 games with the Odessa Jackalopes before joining Nanaimo.
Turnbull departs HKM Zvolen
Following just six regular season and seven playoff games, 24-year-old forward Carter Turnbull (78 goals, 75 assists in 155 games with Powell River and Cowichan Valley from 2014-18) has departed HKM Zvolen of Tipos Extraliga in Slovakia. He had a goal and two assists in 2022-23.
Turnbull, who hails from Nanaimo, B.C., spent the first part of the 2022-23 season with the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays. In 41 games, he scored 24 goals and added 18 assists.