COVID-19 pauses the Nanaimo Clippers
The BCHL announced on Saturday that the Nanaimo Clippers have paused all team activities for the next five days in accordance with the league’s COVID-19 protocol and provincial health regulations.
The Clippers’ schedule had them visiting Alberni Valley on Saturday and home to Victoria on Saturday. Both of those games are postponed.
Nanaimo’s next game is now a home date against Langley on Jan. 14.
Backs send Ciccarello to Melfort of the SJHL
The Salmon Arm Silverbacks tweaked their roster on Saturday, sending 2001-born forward Danny Ciccarello to the Melfort Mustangs of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League for future considerations.
Ciccarello, who hails from Kirkland, QC and is committed to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, had seven goals and 17 points in 45 games with the Silverbacks over the last two seasons. He had four goals and 10 points in 27 games in Salmon Arm this season.
Merritt picks up goaltender Baker and defenseman Dornan
New Merritt Centennials general manager and head coach Curtis Toneff continued to reshape his roster by signing 2003-born goaltender Jackson Baker and 2004-born forward Drew Dornan.
Baker, a native of Hermosa Beach, CA, played three games with the Lincoln Stars of the US Hockey League this season, posting a 3.32 goals-against average and an .889 save percentage, and a 1-0-0 record. He also got into one game with the North Iowa Bulls of the North American Hockey League, going 0-1-0 with a 4.00 goals-against average and an .871 save percentage.
Despite being a 17-year-old, Dornan already has a season of BCHL hockey under his belt. The Abbotsford, BC product played 15 games for the Chilliwack Chiefs during the 2020-21 pod season and notched a pair of assists. He didn’t play anywhere of record so far during the 2021-22 season.
Smokies buoy blueline with the addition of Orrico
The Trail Smoke Eaters made a move on the blueline on Saturday, bringing in 2003-born St. Lawrence University commit Joshua Orrico from the Chilliwack Chiefs for future considerations.
The product of Woodbridge, ON had two goals and seven points in 25 games as a rookie defenseman with the Chiefs this season. He is slated to head to St. Lawrence to begin his NCAA career this September.
Wenatchee makes a deal for Murray from Oakville of the OJHL
The Wenatchee Wild added some scoring punch with the addition of 2003-born forward Parker Murray from the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Oakville Blades in exchange for future considerations.
Murray, whose dad Glen is the Los Angeles Kings Director of Player Development and a veteran of 1,009 National Hockey League games over 16 years, was fourth in scoring on the Blades this season with 14 goals and 23 points in 30 games.
Cents trade for Jones from SJHL’s Humboldt Broncos
Merritt GM and head coach Curtis Toneff is reunited with one of his former players as the Centennials acquired 2003-born forward Jakob Jones from the SJHL’s Humboldt Broncos for future considerations.
Toneff was an assistant coach with the Broncos for two-and-a-half seasons before joining the Cents late last month. As a freshman forward for Humboldt this season, Jones, a Vernon, BC product, had a goal and two assists in 20 games.
Capitals shuttle Montgomery to Flin Flon of the MJHL
Cowichan Valley has alleviated its glut of goalies by sending 2002-born netminder Ben Montgomery to the Flin Flon Bombers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League for future considerations.
Montgomery, a native of Hamilton, ON, was 2-4-0 with a 4.13 goals-against average and an .882 save percentage in seven games with the Caps this season. They signed Montgomery in October after he spent the last two seasons with French River of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.
Schartz signs with ECHL’s Kansas City Mavericks
Defenseman Zane Schartz (eight goals, 27 assists in 80 games with Surrey, West Kelowna, and Trail from 2013-15) has signed with the Kansas City Mavericks of the ECHL for the remainder of the 2021-22 season.
The native of Plano, TX hasn’t played any games of note this season and only got into one game with the Knoxville Ice Bears of the Southern Professional Hockey League in 2020-21.
Coatta farmed back to Rapid City of the ECHL
27-year-old goaltender Billy Christopoulos (22-22-0, 3.05 goals-against-average, .906 save percentage, and three shutouts with Alberni Valley in 2014-15) has signed a pro tryout contract with the American Hockey League’s Chicago Wolves.
The native of Raleigh, NC has played 17 games with Toledo of the ECHL this season, compiling a 13-2-2 record with a 2.45 goals-against average, and a .922 save percentage.
Moffat leaves the NAHL for the MJHL
Forward Joey Moffatt (five goals, four assists in 20 games with Cowichan Valley in 2020-21) has signed with the Waywayseecappo Wolverines of the MJHL.
The product of Portage la Prairie, MB played the first half of the season with the Anchorage Wolverines of the NAHL, scoring eight goals and 11 points in 24 games.
Kozlowski goes from the Wild to the Heartlanders
Goaltender Trevin Kozlowski (9-16-0, 3.98 goals-against-average, .892 save percentage, one shutout in 29 games with Salmon Arm in 2016-17) was reassigned from the Iowa Wild of the AHL to the Iowa Heartlanders of the ECHL on Sunday.
The 24-year-old from Valencia, CA is 5-6-1 with a 3.48 goals-against average, and a .903 save percentage in 13 games with the Heartlanders this season. He’s also 1-1-0 with a 2.53 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage in three games with the Wild.
Scheel shuffled from Texas to the Stars’ taxi squad
22-year-old goaltender Adam Scheel (29-12-0, 2.08 goals-against average, .927 save percentage, three shutouts in 45 games with Penticton in 2017-18) has been assigned by the Dallas Stars from Texas of the AHL to their taxi squad.
The Lakewood, OH is 2-2-3 with a 3.57 goals-against average and an .886 save percentage in nine games with Texas and 3-3-0 with a 2.37 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage in six games with the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads this season.
Robson loaned by Rochester of the AL to Cincinnati of the ECHL
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) was loaned by the Rochester Americans of the AHL to the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL on Sunday.
The 25-year-old Mississauga, ON native is 10-6-1 with a 2.51 goals-against average, a .902 save percentage, and one shutout in 17 games with the Cyclones thus far this season. He also played three games with Rochester, going 2-1-0 with a 5.87 goals-against average and an .826 save percentage.
