Joyce signs with West Kelowna for 2022-23
The West Kelowna Warriors have received a commitment from 2003-born defender Nolan Joyce for the 2022-23 BC Hockey League season.
Joyce, who’s from Dedham, MA, is ranked 203rd among North American skaters by National Hockey League Central Scouting for the 2022 NHL Draft.
The Boston College commit has 14 goals and 38 points in 25 US high school games as a junior at St. Sebastian’s School this season.
Stevens turns pro with the Heartlanders
Defender Jake Stevens (14 goals, 58 assists in 112 games with Victoria from 2015-17) has signed an amateur tryout with the Iowa Heartlanders of the ECHL and made his debut on Sunday against Cincinnati.
The 25-year-old product of Naperville, IL was an alternate captain at Long Island University this season and tallied four goals and 17 points in 34 games.
Over his five-year NCAA Division I career, Stevens ended with 11 goals and 57 points in 149 games split between LIU and St. Lawrence University.
Baker released by Adirondack of the ECHL
25-year-old forward Matt Baker (39 goals, 46 assists in 108 games with Wenatchee from 2015-17) was released by the ECHL’s Adirondack Thunder on Sunday.
After Baker’s season at the University of Massachusetts Amherst ended last month, the product of Midhurst, ON signed with the Thunder and notched a goal and an assist in 11 games.
In a five-year, 115-game NCAA career, Baker put up 20 goals and 59 points combined between UMass and Dartmouth College.
Ward jumps from the Mariners to the Mavericks
Kamloops, BC native Tyler Ward (31 goals, 26 assists in 86 games with Merritt from 2015-17) was claimed by the Kansas City Mavericks on ECHL waivers on Sunday.
Ward was released by the Maine Mariners on Saturday after signing with them on Mar. 16. He played three games with Maine and didn’t register any points.
The 22-year-old spent the last four seasons in the NCAA with the University of New Hampshire and the University of Denver, compiling 29 goals and 68 points in 129 games.
Worcester cuts Jandric loose
Despite averaging a point-per-game since signing an amateur tryout on Mar. 20, the Worcester Railers of the ECHL released forward Steven Jandric (35 goals, 39 assists in 121 games with Salmon Arm and Vernon) on Sunday. He had two goals and three assists in five games.
Jandric is a 24-year-old native of Prince George, BC. He spent his five-year college career with the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, University of Denver, and Merrimack College, finishing with 35 goals and 114 points in 161 NCAA games.
Bentham commits to the University of Victoria
2001-born forward Blake Bentham (no points in one game with Victoria in 2018-19) has committed to play in the BC Intercollegiate Hockey League at the University of Victoria next season.
The Victorian put up a stellar campaign with the Westshore Wolves of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League in 2021-22, tallying 30 goals and 78 points in 49 games.
