8 players with ties to the BCHL selected in NAHL Draft
The North American Hockey League held its annual entry draft on Wednesday and after 16 rounds, a number of players with BCHL ties were selected.
By my count, four players who were regulars in the BCHL during the 2021-22 season were drafted.
- 2002-born Alberni Valley Bulldogs forward AJ Vasko (1st round, 21st overall to Kenai River Brown Bears)
- 2003-born Trail Smoke Eaters defender Josh Orrico (2nd round, 47th overall to Janesville Jets)
- 2002-born Cowichan Valley Capitals defender Jakob Karpa (2nd round, 58th overall to Lone Star Brahmas)
- 2003-born Powell River Kings goaltender Zak Brice (3rd round, 85th overall to New Jersey Jr. Titans)
Also selected was 2005-born forward Logan Nagle, who got into four games with the Wenatchee Wild as an affiliate player this past season. He was selected by the Odessa Jackalopes in the 4th round, 99th overall.
In addition, another three former BCHL players were chosen:
- 2002-born defender Joe Harney (no points in two games with Cowichan Valley in 2021-22) – selected by New Jersey Jr. Titans in the 1st round, 14th overall
- 2002-born forward Julian Recine (two goals, three assists in 17 games with Salmon Arm in 2020-21) – selected by Fairbanks Ice Dogs in the 1st round, 24th overall
- 2002-born forward Jason Siedem (two assists in three games with Cowichan Valley in 2021-22) – selected by Minnesota Wilderness in the 9th round, 250th overall
Vipers add Tremblay for 2022-23
The Vernon Vipers announced on Wednesday that 2004-born centre Isaac Tremblay has signed on for the 2022-23 BC Hockey League season.
The Sherbrooke, QC product had an outstanding season in 2021-22, putting up 21 goals and 62 points in 26 games with the Mount Academy Saints U18 of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League East.
He was selected in the 14th round, 239th overall, by the Cape Breton Eagles in last year’s Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Draft.
Gendron inks a deal with Storhamar
Defender Miles Gendron (five goals, 12 assists in 54 games with Penticton in 2014-15) has signed with Storhamar of Fjordkraft-ligaen, which is the top pro league in Norway, for the 2022-23 season.
Gendron, a 25-year-old from Oakville, ON, had five goals and 12 points in 34 games as an alternate captain with the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies this past season. This coming season will be his first playing in Europe after three seasons split between the ECHL and American Hockey League.
Luedtke resurfaces with Brest
A day after it was announced that forward Jeremiah Luedtke (41 goals, 103 assists in 164 games with Prince George from 2012-15) was leaving Cholet of the French Ice Hockey Federation Division 1, he signed with Brest, which plays in the same league.
FFHG Division 1 is the second tier of pro hockey in France. The 27-year-old from Seattle, WA had 16 goals and 35 points in 23 games as an alternate captain with Cholet during the 2021-22 season, his second with the Dogs.
