Vees bring in Michigan State University commit Heise
2006-born forward Max Heise signed with the Penticton Vees for 2023-24. The Michigan State University commit from Calgary played the majority of the 2022-23 season in the Alberta Elite Hockey League with the Calgary Flames U18 AAA team where he suited up for 34 games, collecting 14 goals and 32 points.
Related: First days of BCHL roster moves reflect a new world order
Heise also played five games as an affiliate with the Okotoks Oilers of the Alberta Junior Hockey League in 2022-23, where he scored a single goal. He is slated to head to MSU in September 2024.
Cowichan Valley signs Swanson from Lloydminster
2003-born forward Matthew Swanson has signed with the Cowichan Valley Capitals and will join them for the 2023-24 season after finishing second in scoring on the Lloydminster Bobcats of the AJHL last season.
The Czar, Alta. product spent the last two seasons with the Bobcats, scoring 47 goals and 90 points in 120 games. He added four points in 11 career AJHL playoff games.
Smoke Eaters and Wild swap forwards
The Trail Smoke Eaters have acquired 2004-born forward Jason Stefanek from the Wenatchee Wild for 2003-born forward Trey Fechko.
Fechko was a rookie with the Smoke Eaters in 2022-23, posting nine goals and 23 points in 25 games. The Raritan, New Jersey product is committed to Arizona State University.
Stefanek was also a first-year BCHL player this past season. The native of Yorba Linda, California finished with 10 goals and 28 points in 53 games for the Wild. He is committed to Dartmouth College.
Rivermen pick up Guilbault from the Vees
The Langley Rivermen have picked up 2006-born defender Gabriel Guilbault from the Penticton Vees in exchange for future considerations.
In 33 games with the Vees this past season, Guilbault had a goal and five assists. The Burnaby, B.C. product was scoreless in 14 BCHL playoff games.
Guilbault also played seven games for Canada Red at the 2022 World U17 Hockey Challenge, where he notched one assist and earned a silver medal.
Vipers bring in Larkin for 2023-24
The Vernon Vipers announced that 2005-born defender Nicholas Larkin has signed with the Snakes for the 2023-24 season. He was chosen by the Sudbury Wolves in the fifth round of the 2021 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.
Larkin, who is from Nepean, Ont., played the 2022-23 season in the Central Canada Hockey League with his hometown Raiders. He finished with 10 goals and 29 points in 47 games and earned a spot on the CCHL All-Rookie Team in the process.
Chiefs name 11 B.C. players to their roster
The Chilliwack Chiefs announced 11 B.C. players who will be on their roster for the 2023-24 B.C. Hockey League season. Eight of the 11 are returnees while three are new recruits.
Returning to the Chiefs are 2005-born forwards A.J. Lacroix, Nico Grabas, and Brady Milburn, 2004-born forwards Mateo Mrsic and Dalton MacGillivray, 2005-born defender Hunter McInnes, and 2004-born defenders Ben Feenan and Lucas Sorace.
Of the eight, Lacroix (Michigan State University), Mrsic (Colorado College), Milburn (Lake Superior State University), and Sorace (Quinnipiac University) each have NCAA Division I commitments.
New players joining the Chiefs include 2007-born forward Savin Virk, and 2005-born forwards Tyler Pretty and Brendan Ruskowski.
Virk, who is from Surrey, B.C., played 29 games in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League for the Yale Hockey Academy U18 Prep team last season. He scored 26 goals and posted 21 assists and then added 11 points in four playoff games. Virk also got into two regular season games and two playoff games as an affiliate player for the Chiefs.
Pretty hails from Abbotsford, B.C., and played 36 games in 2022-23 for the B.C. Elite Hockey Leagueโs Fraser Valley Thunderbirds U18 squad. He scored 28 times and added 28 assists before racking up two goals and two assists in the BCEHL U18 playoffs. Pretty also skated in one game with the Cranbrook Bucks as an affiliate player.
Ruskowski, who is from Langley, B.C. was a teammate of Pretty’s on the Thunderbirds, where he scored 21 goals and added 41 assists in 36 games. He notched four goals for the T-Birds in three BCEHL U18 playoff games. In seven games as an affiliate for Chilliwack, Ruskowski tallied two goals and two assists. He also played three BCHL playoff games for Chilliwack.
Capitals add Osborne to their blueline
2006-born defender Brandon Osborne has signed with the Cowichan Valley Capitals for the 2023-24 BCHL season.
Osborne, who hails from Maple Ridge, B.C., played 48 games with his hometown Ridge Meadows Flames of the Pacific Junior Hockey League in 2022-23, posting two goals and 19 points. He added 10 points in 16 PJHL playoff games.
Former Cents captain Hill passes away
Kamloops This Week published an obituary for 39-year-old Brandon Hill (49 goals, 83 assists in 158 games with Coquitlam and Merritt from 2002-05) on Monday.
The obituary stated that the Kamloops, B.C. native passed away on May 29 from an accidental fentanyl overdose. Hill was named Cents rookie of the year in 2002-03, most valuable player in 2003-04, and most dedicated player in his final season of 2004-05.
BCHLNetwork sends its condolences to the Hill family, as well as friends of Brandon and the Merritt Centennials organization.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you can reach the BC Alcohol & Drug Information Referral Service (ADIRS).
Wild seeks an athletic trainer for 2023-24
The Wenatchee Wild announced on Monday that it is looking for an athletic trainer for the upcoming BCHL season. Details are available here on Wenatchee’s website. Interested applicants are asked to apply directly to Wild general manager Bliss Littler at blittler@wenatcheewildhockey.com and Wild head coach Chris Clark at cclark@wenatcheewildhockey.com.
Merner leaves Vernon for Sherwood Park
2006-born Vernon Vipers forward Ethan Merner has signed with the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the AJHL for the 2023-24 season. Merner, a product of Kelowna, B.C., finished this past season with three goals and 10 points in 38 games for the Vipers.
He is committed to Merrimack College to start his NCAA Division I career in September 2024. Merner was selected by Calgary in the fourth round, 80th overall, in the 2021 Western Hockey League Prospects Draft.
Trzaska commits to Adrian College
2002-born goaltender Peyton Trzaska (0-2-0, 5.58 goals-against average, .883 save percentage in six games with Merritt in 2021-22) has committed to playing at the American Collegiate Hockey Association level next season with Adrian College.
The Drayton Valley, Alta., native was 10-1-0 with a 2.62 goals-against average, and a .922 save percentage in a dozen games with Princeton of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League in 2022-23, after starting the season in junior A with Neepawa of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.
Marks departs Corsaires de Nantes
28-year-old defender Cameron Marks (six goals, 29 assists in 99 games with Penticton and Coquitlam from 2012-14) won’t be back with Corsaires de Nantes in 2023-24, the team announced on Twitter on Monday. Nantes plays in FFHG, Division 1, which is the second tier of pro hockey in France.
The North Vancouver, B.C. product ended up with four goals and 16 points in 25 games as an alternate captain for Nantes in 2022-23. It was his fourth season playing in France. Marks has also played eight games with the CBR Brave of the Australian Ice Hockey League this season, posting eight points.
