BCHL Bulletin: COVID-19 postpones more games, Burns Lake Road Show moved to 2023, and more!

League postpones two more games because of COVID protocols

Due to travel issues with the Wenatchee Wild re-entering Canada following a five-day pause per BCHL COVID-19 protocols, the BCHL has postponed Wenatchee’s Wednesday and Thursday road games against the Trail Smoke Eaters and Cranbrook Bucks.

There have not been any dates announced for the possible rescheduling of the games. Wenatchee, Trail, and the Merritt Centennials have all played a league-low 25 games this season.

Chiefs and Express reschedule upcoming game

With the cancelation of the BCHL All-Star game this coming weekend, the Chilliwack Chiefs and Coquitlam Express were able to agree on changing their scheduled game on Wednesday, Jan. 19 to this Saturday, Jan. 15. This also assists the teams in avoiding a three games in four nights situation.

Grizzlies rescheduled road games have new dates

Three road Victoria Grizzlies games that were postponed this season have been rescheduled.

The team will now play the Powel River Kings this Friday at 7:30 PM, the Langley Rivermen on Sunday, February 6th at 2:30 PM, and the Coquitlam Express on Saturday, February 26th at 7:00 PM.

The team will still need to find a date to make up the game scheduled for tonight against the Nanaimo Clippers.

Burns Lake Road Show event postponed to 2022-23

The BCHL has been forced to postpone the Road Show event in Burns Lake, BC, due to COVID-19 cases rising in the province. The event was to feature two regular-season games between the Prince George Spruce Kings and the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, which had originally been scheduled for Feb. 26 and 27 at Tom Forsyth Memorial Arena in Burns Lake.

The games will now be played in Prince George on February 25 and 26. The BCHL has committed to having games in Burns Lake during the 2022-23 BCHL season.

Bulldogs sign Maltais

The Alberni Valley Bulldogs announced that they have signed 17-year-old forward Matthew Maltais.

Maltais, from St. Basile-le-Grande, QC has yet to play a game with Kimball Union Academy this season. Last season with the United States High School Hockey team, Maltais scored three goals and added one assist in five games.

Rivermen keep Wormald for remainder of season

The Langley Rivermen announced on Tuesday that they are keeping 2002-born affiliate defenseman Dylan Wormald for the remainder of the season.

Wormald, a native of Langley, B.C., has been with the Rivermen for five games this season while also playing 22 games with the Langley Trappers of the PJHL. He has seven goals and 15 assists with the Trappers.

Johnson commits to Centennials

2006-born forward Diego Johnson has committed to the Merritt Centennials for the 2022-23 BC Hockey League season.

Johnson, who is from Fort St. James, BC, has skated in one game this season as an affiliate player for the Cents. He has also played in 18 games for Okanagan Hockey Academy Black U17 Prep this season where he scored nine goals and added 14 assists.

Adano signs as AP with Centennials

2005-born defenseman Kai Adano has signed as an affiliate player with the Merritt Centennials and is added to their reserve roster for this season.

Adano, who hails from Burnaby, BC, is currently playing for Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna U18 of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League U18. Through 17 games this season he has scored two goals and added five assists. In 2020-21 Adano played in five games with the Burnaby Winter Club U16 team.

Frank re-joins the Storm

Forward Davis Frank, a 2002-born forward from Campbell River, BC has rejoined his hometown Storm of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League for the third time, after being released by the Coquitlam Express.

Frank played 16 games with the Express this season, registering three assists. He also played in two games for the Chilliwack Chiefs in the 2018-19 BCHL season.

Van de Leest dealt by Hitmen to Rebels

Defenseman Jackson van de Leest (No points in five games with Penticton in 2016-17) has been traded by the Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitmen to the Red Deer Rebels.

The 20-year-old van de Leest, a native of Kelowna, BC, has played in 221 WHL games in his career, amassing nine goals and 69 assists. He has one goal and 10 assists through 26 games this season.

Tufto farmed out to Solar Bears

Forward Odeen Tufto (25 goals, 40 assists in 57 games with Vernon in 2015-16) has been reassigned by the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL.

The 25-year-old, who is from Chaska, MN, has played two games this season with the Lightning’s AHL-affiliate Syracuse Crunch. He has yet to register a point this season. He has yet to play for the Solar Bears.