Vees clinch 2021-22 Ron Boileau Memorial Trophy
The Penticton Vees clinched the 2021-22 Ron Boileau Memorial Trophy as the top regular season team following Salmon Arm’s 5-3 loss to West Kelowna on Thursday.
For the Vees, it’s the 15th time they’ve led the league in points and fifth occasion in the last 10 years. Penticton has also won the Interior Conference regular season pennant for 10 consecutive seasons dating back to the 2011-12 season.
Trudeau suspended five games by BCHL Department of Player Safety
The West Kelowna Warriors are without 2002-born forward Felix Trudeau for the final three games of the season and the first two playoff games after he was handed a five-game suspension for a gross misconduct.
The penalty came at the 20-minute mark of Friday’s 7-1 win over the Centennials in Merritt. Through 49 games this season, the University of Maine commit from Terrebonne, QC has 27 goals and 61 points.
Bulldogs claim Coastal Conference crown
The Alberni Valley Bulldogs nabbed the top spot in the Coastal Conference on Saturday after a 4-1 win over the Langley Rivermen. With a 35-15-4 record, it’s the best season for the Bulldogs since 2009-10 when they went 45-12-1-2.
It is the third time in franchise history the Bulldogs have finished first in their division. In addition to 2010, they also did it in 2000-01 when the team was still located in Burnaby.
Darby to sit for five games for a blow to the head
Surrey Eagles defender Jimmy Darby has been suspended five games after a major penalty and game misconduct for a blow to the head was increased to a match penalty.
The infraction took place with 2:28 left in the second period of Friday’s 6-2 loss to Chilliwack. The 2001-born University of Alaska-Anchorage commit will sit for Surrey’s game on Sunday at home against Powell River.
The North Vancouver, BC native is also out for the first four games of the Eagles’ first-round playoff series.
Grizzlies sign Anderson for 2022-23
The Victoria Grizzlies have announced the signing of 2004-born forward Zakery Anderson for the 2022-23 BC Hockey League season.
The Kamloops, BC product notched 22 goals and 40 points in 40 games with his hometown Storm in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League this season. He also scored once in three games as an affiliate for the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
Toneff tossed for three games after gross misconduct
Merritt Centennials general manager and head coach Curtis Toneff will miss three of his team’s final four games after he was handed a suspension by the BCHL Department of Player Safety.
The penalty was handed out to the Cents’ bench at the end of Friday’s 7-1 home loss to the West Kelowna Warriors. The 28-year-old sat out Saturday’s 4-1 loss in Vernon and won’t be behind the bench for games in Chilliwack and West Kelowna on Mar. 25 and 26, respectively.
He can return to Merritt’s bench to close out the Centennials season on Mar. 27 in Penticton against the Vees.
Suniev commits to UMass
2004-born forward Aydar Suniev of the Penticton Vees has committed to the University of Massachusetts Amherst. It’s unknown what year the native of Moscow, RUS will head to the Minutemen.
In 15 games since joining the Vees in February, Suniev has eight goals and 16 points. He started the season with St. Andrew’s College in Aurora, ON, and posted 13 goals and 23 points in 11 games. He added five goals and eight points in a trio of games with Thorold of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League before heading west.
Ward signs with the Los Angeles Kings
23-year-old forward Taylor Ward (36 goals, 41 assists in 162 games with Penticton from 2015-18) has signed an entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings that kicks in for the 2022-23 National Hockey League season.
In the meantime, the Kelowna, BC product signed an amateur tryout with the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League for the remainder of 2021-22. In 131 NCAA games with the University of Nebraska-Omaha over the last four seasons, Ward put up 57 goals and 115 points.
Canucks recall Rempal from Abbotsford
26-year-old forward Sheldon Rempal (110 goals, 103 assists in 167 games with Nanaimo from 2013-16) was recalled by the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks on Thursday. He currently has 24 goals and 51 points through 42 games in his first season with the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks.
The Calgary, AB product has 46 goals and 123 points in his four-year, 181-game AHL career with Abbotsford, Chicago, and Ontario. Rempal does not have a point in 11 career NHL games with Vancouver, Carolina, and Los Angeles.
Welsh inks a deal with Trois-Rivières
Halifax, NS native Connor Welsh (17 goals, 38 assists in 113 games with Alberni Valley and Trail from 2016-18) has turned pro with the Trois-Rivières Lions of the ECHL.
The 24-year-old forward spent the last four seasons playing U SPORTS hockey at Dalhousie University, where he tallied seven goals and 48 points in 81 games.
Trumbley cut loose by Tulsa
Defender Wyatt Trumbley (no points in seven games with Cowichan Valley and Penticton between 2011-12 and 2013-14) was released by the ECHL’s Tulsa Oilers on Saturday.
The 27-year-old from Campbell River, BC had two goals and an assist in 34 games with the Oilers this season, which is his first in the ECHL. He spent most of last season with Columbus River in the Federal Prospects Hockey League.
