COVID-19 hits pause on the Kings, Wild, and Grizzlies
The BCHL announced on Thursday that the Powell River Kings and Wenatchee Wild have paused all team activities for the next five days in accordance with the league’s COVID-19 protocol and provincial health regulations.
The Kings’ schedule had them hosting Surrey on Saturday and Sunday this weekend. The Wild were set to visit Coquitlam and Chilliwack on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Powell River’s next game is Jan. 14 against Victoria to kick off a five-game homestand at Hap Parker Arena. Wenatchee’s next action is now on Jan. 12 in Trail against the Smoke Eaters.
The league also announced on Wednesday the pausing of all of the Grizzlies’ activities per the BCHL’s COVID-19 protocol and provincial health regulations. It caused the postponement of Wednesday’s road game in Powell River and Saturday in Coquitlam.
Victoria’s next game is on the slate for Jan. 12 at Frank Crane Arena in Nanaimo against the Clippers.
Express deal Merritt to Alberni Valley for Buttazoni
Alberni Valley and Coquitlam hooked up on a trade on Wednesday that saw 2001-born forward Arlo Merritt join the Bulldogs while 2004-born forward Mirko Buttazzoni and future considerations head to the Express.
Merritt, who was Coquitlam’s captain, had 12 goals and 20 points in 25 games with the Express this season. The Halifax, NS product played in the US Hockey League with Sioux Falls in 2020-21 and posted four points in 32 games. He is committed to Bentley University for this fall.
Buttazzoni is in his first BCHL season, posting seven goals and 14 points in 24 games for the Bulldogs. The Langley, BC native is committed to Clarkson University for September 2023.
Vernon signs Cliche to their blueline
The Vernon Vipers announced the signing of 2003-born defenseman Anthony Cliche on Thursday morning. Cliche spent the first half of the 2021-22 season with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL and put up a pair of assists in 19 games.
Cliche, who hails from Vallée-Jonction, QC, split the 2020-21 season between Muskegon, Bismarck of the North American Hockey League, and the Northern Cyclones of the National Collegiate Development Conference.
Tremblay commits to Surrey for 2022-23
The Surrey Eagles have added 2004-born forward Isaac Tremblay as a new recruit for the 2022-23 BC Hockey League season. The Sherbrooke, QC product has six goals and 29 points in 11 games with the Mount Academy U18 Saints in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League this season.
Tremblay was chosen in the 14th round, 239th overall, by the Cape Breton Eagles in the 2021 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Draft.
Dukovac commits to Miami University
2002-born Langley Rivermen forward Max Dukovac will attend Miami University (Ohio) starting this September. The Aurora, IL native, who is in his first BCHL season, has five goals and 18 points in 24 games for the Rivermen this season.
Dukovac is the fourth member of Langley’s roster to commit to playing for an NCAA Division I school.
Farren suspended for one game by BCHL Department of Player Safety
Merritt Centennials forward Connor Farren has been suspended by the BCHL Department of Player Safety for one game after his major penalty and game misconduct penalties for a blow to the head were changed to a major penalty and game misconduct for cross checking.
The infraction came with 1:31 left in the Cents’ 8-3 loss to West Kelowna on Wednesday. The 2003-born forward from Vancouver, BC is eligible to return to Merritt’s lineup on Saturday as the Centennials head to Royal LePage Place to face the Warriors.
Mendelson joins the Spruce Kings for next season
The Prince George Spruce Kings announced on Wednesday that 2003-forward Adam Mendelson has agreed to join the team for the 2022-23 BCHL season.
Mendelson, a native of Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC, is playing US high school hockey with Westminster Prep this season. He started 2021-22 with the Buffalo Regals 18U AAA and posted three goals and seven points in 17 games.
Chiefs and Eagles rescheduled for Jan. 14
A game that was originally scheduled for the South Surrey Arena between the Chiefs and Eagles has relocated to the Chilliwack Coliseum to be played on Jan. 14. The change is due to a lack of ice availability in the Eagles’ home rink. Surrey is still the home team for the rescheduled game.
Express name Tattle captain, Devlin alternate captain
With the trading of Arlo Merritt to Alberni Valley, the Coquitlam Express named 2001-born forward Ryan Tattle as its new captain. The Port Moody, BC product was an alternate captain for the last season and a half for the Express. He has 22 points in 23 games in 2021-22.
Tattle’s promotion to captain left an alternate spot open on Coquitlam’s roster and it was filled by 2002-born defenseman Ian Devlin of Nashville, TN. Devlin has eight assists in 28 games with the Express this season.
Despite it being his first season in the BCHL, he played 66 combined games in the Alberta Junior Hockey League and Ontario Junior Hockey Leagues during the previous two seasons.
Michaelis, Tassy, and Fairlie earn three stars of the month for December
Trail forward Zach Michaelis, Salmon Arm forward Simon Tassy, and Prince George goaltender Jordan Fairlie are the BCHL’s three stars for the month of December 2021.
Trudeau, 19, lead all players in scoring in December with 15 points in eight games. His seven goals during the month were the second-most in the league.
20-year-old Tassy achieved the highest points-per-game in December, finishing with 13 points in six games. He is tops among all scorers in the league this season with 47 points in 27 games.
Fairlie finished the month with a 3-1-1 record to go along with a 1.35 goals-against average, a .944 save percentage, and two shutouts. The 2002-born netminder’s 1.77 goals-against average is the best in the BCHL this season.
New BCHL stats source launches
BCHLNetwork co-founder Paul Figler has launched a new statistics resource for BCHL fans. The stats, which are located here, break down the numbers beyond what the BCHL website does. Figler has recently built the same extended stats for the Western Hockey League and USHL.
Westhaver signs as an affiliate with Powell River
The Powell River Kings have signed 2003-born forward Jack Westhaver as an affiliate player and added him to their reserve roster. Westhaver, from Victoria, BC, notched 11 goals and 22 points in 29 games with the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League’s Westshore Wolves this season.
Coyotes claim Nash from Tampa Bay
Forward Riley Nash (38 goals, 46 assists in 56 games with Salmon Arm from 2006-07) was claimed on National Hockey League waivers by the Arizona Coyotes from the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday.
He signed a one-year contract worth $750,000 with Winnipeg on July 31. Nash, a 32-year-old from Consort, AB, was scoreless through 25 games with the Jets and Lightning this season.
Canucks shuffle Rempal to AHL Abbotsford
The Vancouver Canucks sent forward Sheldon Rempal (110 goals, 103 assists in 167 games with Nanaimo from 2013-16) from their taxi squad to the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League on Thursday.
Rempal, a 26-year-old Calgary, AB native, has nine goals and 22 points in 23 games with the baby Canucks this season, his first as a member of Vancouver’s organization.
Rockford recalls Howarth from the ECHL
Forward Kale Howarth (66 goals, 80 assists in 148 games with Trail from 2015-18) has been recalled by the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL from the Indy Fuel of the ECHL.
Howarth, a 24-year-old from Red Deer, AB, has posted two goals and two assists in five games with the Fuel this season. He also has one goal in three games with the IceHogs.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton inks Hutchison to a pro tryout
Hicksville, NY product Nick Hutchison (23 goals, 29 assists in 63 games with Salmon Arm from 2014-16) signed a professional tryout contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL on Thursday.
In 19 games with the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers this season, Hutchison, 26, has nine goals and 26 points. He’s also gone pointless in four games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2021-22.
Coughlin signs a pro tryout with Springfield of the AHL
Forward Liam Coughlin (38 goals, 67 assists in 107 games with Vernon from 2013-15) inked a professional tryout agreement with the Springfield Thunderbirds of the AHL on Thursday.
Coughlin, a 27-year-old from South Boston, MA, has five goals and 13 points in 15 games with the ECHL’s Worcester Railers this season. He was also pointless in two AHL games with the Bridgeport Islanders.
Claeys heads back to Roanoke
25-year-old goaltender Brody Claeys (24-40-0, 3.13 goals-against average, .904 save percentage, one shutout in 76 games with Alberni Valley from 2015-17) is back with the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs of the Southern Professional Hockey League after being released by the ECHL’s Worcester Railers.
He went 1-1 with a 2.52 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage in two games with the Railers. The Dauphin, MB native is 1-1-2 with a 2.52 goals-against average, and an .891 save percentage in five games with the Rail Yard Dawgs in 2021-22.
Madge commits to the University of Oregon
Goaltender Austin Madge (1-1-0, 2.87 goals-against average, .922 save percentage in two games with West Kelowna in 2020-21) has committed to playing ACHA hockey at the University of Oregon this fall.
The native of Lake Country, BC is 14-1-0 with a 1.90 goals-against average, a .945 save percentage, and three shutouts in 15 games with the Kam River Fighting Walleye of the Superior International Junior Hockey League this season.
