Rivermen bring in Gelbard in trade with Cranbrook
The Langley Rivermen announced on Thursday that they have acquired 2002-born forward Hayden Gelbard from the Cranbrook Bucks for future considerations.
Gelbard, who’s from West Vancouver, BC, put up seven goals and 10 points in 52 games with the Bucks over the last two seasons. His 2005-born brother Walker was picked up by Langley from Cranbrook in a trade last Dec. 30.
Smoke Eaters increase Calvin’s profile, Urekar moves on
Trail Smoke Eaters assistant coach Dallas Calvin (19 goals, 36 assists in 53 games with Trail and Vernon between 2010 and 2015) has added the role of director of scouting to his portfolio for the team.
2021-22 was the first season behind the Smoke Eaters’ bench for the 27-year-old from Trail, BC. Calvin has also been the head coach for the West Kootenay U15 AA club for the last two seasons.
He takes over from Jeff Urekar, who was director of scouting and player personnel for the Smokies this past season. Urekar was hired as head coach of the Okanagan Hockey Academy U15 team last August, which caused his role in Trail to change.
Urekar, 34, also served as assistant general manager and assistant coach for the Smoke Eaters from 2019-21.
Bucks add Johnson as athletic trainer and equipment manager
The Cranbrook Bucks announced the hiring of John (J.J.) Johnson as their new athletic trainer and equipment manager for the upcoming BC Hockey League season.
Johnson comes from Barrie, ON, and has worked in a number of leagues over the last eight years, mostly as trainer and equipment manager with the Powassan VooDoos of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. He was also assistant equipment manager for North Bay of the Ontario Hockey League in 2018-19.
Belfast inks Foley for the 2022-23 season
Defender Matt Foley (one goal, eight assists in 38 games with Merritt in 2014-15) has signed with the Belfast Giants of the UK’s Elite Ice Hockey League for 2022-23.
Foley, a 27-year-old from Longmeadow, MA, had two goals and six points in 24 games with the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers as a sophomore last season.
He also got into 18 American Hockey League games between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Tucson, finishing with four assists.
Sherbinin signed by the Fife Flyers
Defender Brayden Sherbinin (22 goals, 56 assists in 160 games with Westside, Cowichan Valley, and Salmon Arm from 2010-13) signed a deal with the EIHL’s Fife Flyers on Thursday.
Sherbinin, a 29-year-old from Kelowna, BC, got into 42 games with Cergy-Pontoise of Ligue Magnus, the top league in France, in 2021-22. He finished with a goal and 15 assists. Sherbinin added an assist in 11 playoff games.
McClure goes from Germany to Italy for 2022-23
Forward Brad McClure (69 goals, 57 assists in 111 games with Penticton from 2012-14) was signed by HC Bolzano of the ICE Hockey League on Thursday.
McClure, a 28-year-old from Stratford, ON had 10 goals and 27 points in 49 games with the Augsburger Panther of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga this past season, his second in Germany.