Bentham commits to Yale
Cranbrook Bucks defender Rhys Bentham has committed to Yale University starting this September. He is the fifth member of Cranbrook’s roster to secure an NCAA Division I commitment.
The 2002-born blueliner from Calgary, AB is captain of the Bucks this season and has a goal and 21 assists in 50 games, his second in the BCHL.
Davidson to play at IIHF U18 World Championship
Merritt Centennials defender Liam Davidson has been selected to represent Norway at the 2022 World U18 Hockey Championship Division I from April 11 – 17 in Slovakia.
The 2004-born native of Trondheim, NOR has posted a goal and three assists in 37 games as a rookie with the Cents thus far this season.
Fraser suspended by BCHL Department of Player Safety
Nanaimo Clippers forward Tristan Fraser has been suspended three games after being assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for a blow to the head.
The infraction took place 49 seconds into the second period of Sunday’s 3-2 loss to Coquitlam. The 2001-born University of Connecticut commit will sit for the Clippers game on Friday at home against Victoria.
The West Vancouver, BC native is also out for the first two games of Nanaimo’s first-round playoff series.
Giesbrecht commits to the Express for 2022-23
The Coquitlam Express announced the commitment of 2004-born forward Gavin Giesbrecht for the 2022-23 BC Hockey League season.
The Abbotsford, BC product spent the 2021-22 season with the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds U18 in the BC Elite Hockey League and posted 22 goals and 47 points in 36 games.
Evans and Turnbull turn pro with South Carolina
Forwards Jonny Evans (82 goals, 108 assists in 194 games with Powell River from 2014-18) and Carter Turnbull (78 goals, 75 assists in 155 games with Cowichan Valley and Powell River from 2014-18) have each signed with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL.
Evans, 24, just wrapped up a four-year NCAA career at the University of Connecticut, where he posted 37 goals and 42 assists in 106 games. The Delta, BC native was a 2020-21 All-American.
23-year-old Turnbull was the captain this past season at UConn after serving as an alternate captain in 2020-21. The product of Nanaimo, BC finishes his NCAA career with 34 goals and 25 assists in 122 games.
Olischefski inks an amateur tryout with Rochester
Forward Kohen Olischefski (38 goals, 87 assists in 124 games with Chilliwack from 2014-17) has signed an amateur tryout with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League.
The 24-year-old from Abbotsford, BC had eight goals and 18 points in 38 games with Providence College this past season. Over the course of 172 NCAA games with the Friars and the University of Denver, he posted 30 goals and 41 assists.
Brubacher loaned to Fort Wayne by Abbotsford
After playing 20 games with the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks, defender Adam Brubacher (18 goals, 31 assists in 58 games with Prince George and Powell River in 2015-16) has been loaned to the Fort Wayne Komets of the ECHL.
2021-22 is the second pro season for the 26-year-old Elmira, ON native after four years of NCAA hockey at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Thus far this season, he has a goal and two assists with the Canucks.
Gillam signs a professional tryout with Rockford of the AHL
The Rockford IceHogs of the AHL have signed goaltender Mitch Gillam (50-34-0, 2.80 goals-against average, .921 save percentage, four shutouts in 87 games with Chilliwack from 2011-13) to a pro tryout contract.
The 29-year-old from Peterborough, ON is 12-11-1 with a pair of shutouts to go along with a 3.08 goals-against average and an .896 save percentage in 25 games with the Indy Fuel of the ECHL this season.
Von Ungern-Sternberg leaves Rostock
24-year-old August von Ungern-Sternberg (28 goals, 41 assists in 113 games with Wenatchee between 2015-16 and 2017-18) has left the Rostock Piranhas of Oberliga, which is the third tier of hockey in Germany. He is expected to sign with a team in the higher level Deutsche Eishockey Liga 2.
The Singapore, SGP product notched 42 goals and 70 points in 43 games with Rostock this season, his second with the club after posting 48 points in 45 games as a rookie in 2020-21.
Bardaro returns to Pustertal for 2022-23
Delta, BC’s Anthony Bardaro (four goals, 14 assists in 26 games with Surrey in 2008-09) has signed an extension with HC Pustertal in the ICE Hockey League for 2022-23.
Bardaro, 29, has spent the last five seasons playing in Italy, including this season in Pustertal where he posted 13 goals and 40 points in 40 games.
Hahn signs an extension with the Piranhas
Forward Dante Hahn (32 goals, 60 assists in 200 games with Victoria, West Kelowna, Langley, and Coquitlam from 2012-16) signed a one-year extension with the Oberliga’s Rostock Piranhas for the 2022-23 season.
In 2021-22, the 26-year-old from Victoria, BC had four goals and 10 points in 14 games with Rostock, his first year in Germany after playing in Finland in 2020-21.
