Evans, Dyck, Devlin named three stars of the week
The BC Hockey League unveiled its three stars of the week on Monday, with West Kelowna Warriors forward John Evans, Cranbrook Bucks forward Tyson Dyck, and Coquitlam Express defenseman Ian Devlin taking the honours.
Evans, a 19-year-old from South Surrey, BC, recorded three goals and four assists in three games last week to lead the league with seven points. The University of New Hamsphire commit finished the week with back-to-back three-point performances to lead the Warriors to a pair of wins.
Dyck, a 2004-born product of Abbotsford, BC, led the league in goals last week with five in three games played. He scored both of the Bucks goals in a 2-1 overtime victory against Salmon Arm on Thursday and then notched a third period hat-trick to seal a 4-2 come from behind win over Wenatchee on Saturday.
Devlin, a 2002-born native of Memphis, TN, scored one goal and added four assists for five points in two contests last week. He recorded three assists on Wednesday, and then a goal and an assist on Friday as the Express swept a home-and-home with Langley.
Rempal recalled by Canucks
26-year-old forward Sheldon Rempal (110 goals, 103 assists in 167 games with Nanaimo from 2013-16) was recalled by the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks on Monday. He currently has 23 goals and 48 points through 41 games in his first season with the American Hockey League’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 10 career NHL games with Carolina and Los Angeles.
Itagaki commits to Army West Point
19-year-old Nanaimo Clippers forward Max Itagaki announced over the weekend his commitment to play NCAA Division I hockey at Army West Point. In his first season with the Clippers, Itagaki has 26 goals and 51 points through 47 contests.
The Glenview, IL native spent the previous two seasons with the North American Hockey League’s Janesville Jets, where he managed 15 goals and 43 points in 73 games. Itagaki committed to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute back in 2018, but de-committed and chose Army instead.
Willcox signs extension in Italy
28-year-old defenseman Reece Willcox (10 goals, 27 assists in 105 games with Merritt from 2010-12) signed a contract extension with Italian club HC Pustertal of the ICE Hockey League, the top-tier of professional hockey in Austria and Central Europe.
The Surrey, BC product is in his first season with Pustertal, posting five goals and 20 points in 49 contests. Prior to heading overseas, Willcox played six seasons in the AHL, racking up 12 goals and 63 points in 259 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Hershey Bears.
Keith suspended for three games by BCHL DOPS
The BC Hockey League’s department of player safety suspended Surrey Eagles head coach Cam Keith for three games after receiving a gross misconduct penalty. The infraction came at 19:24 of the third period during Surrey’s 6-3 loss to Langley on Mar. 1.
The 41-year-old from Nelson, BC served his three-game ban during the Eagles’ recent weekend road trip and is eligible to return to Surrey’s bench on Wednesday against Coquitlam.
Fraser given a three-game ban
18-year-old Prince George Spruce Kings forward Austin Fraser is suspended for three games after receiving a major penalty and game misconduct for a blow to the head. The penalty was assessed at 6:24 of the second period during Prince George’s 2-0 loss to Vernon on Mar. 2.
The West Vancouver, BC native will fulfill his suspension on Friday when the Spruce Kings host Vernon, and will be eligible to return to the lineup on Saturday against West Kelowna.
McNelly suspended four games
Vernon Vipers defenseman Cade McNelly was suspended four games accumulated in a pair of separate infractions. McNelly, 20, was given a three-game ban after his minor penalty and misconduct for a blow to the head 2:03 into Vernon’s 9-0 win against Merritt on Friday was increased to a major penalty and game misconduct.
The Westlock, AB product was then suspended an additional game after receiving a gross misconduct for removing his chin strap prior to a fight. The altercation occurred at 12:01 of the second period during the game against the Centennials.
McNelly begins serving his four-game ban on Wednesday when the Vipers play in Prince George and is eligible to return to the lineup on Mar. 19 when Vernon hosts Merritt.
A pair of Centennials given suspensions
McNelly wasn’t the only player to be suspended following Friday’s game, as Merritt defenseman Geoff Bjarnason was also given a one-game ban after receiving a gross misconduct penalty for removing his chin strap prior to the fight as well.
The 18-year-old from Edmonton, AB served his suspension on Saturday when the Centennials played in Salmon Arm and is eligible to return to the lineup Thursday night in Cranbrook.
Cents forward Ben Ward was also given a suspension following Friday’s game, receiving a two-game sentence for being assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for a blow to the head.
The infraction came at 8:56 of the third period during the 9-0 loss to Vernon. The 20-year-old from Kamloops, BC will complete his suspension on Thursday in Cranbrook and return to the lineup on Friday against the Bucks.
Trail adds Juck for 2022-23
The Trail Smoke Eaters announced last week that they have committed 2005-born defenseman Brody Juck to their roster for next season.
Juck is in his first campaign with the Vancouver NE Chiefs of the BC Elite Hockey League, in which he has managed two goals and six points in 13 contests. The Coquitlam, BC product also suited up in 14 BCHL games this season with his hometown Express, picking up an assist.
A trio of Smoke Eaters suspended
20-year-old Trail defenseman Charlie Strobel has been suspended two games for receiving a major penalty and game misconduct for a blow to the head. The infraction came 7:19 of the first period during the Smoke Eaters 5-2 loss to West Kelowna on Friday.
The Stillwater, MN native fulfills his sentence on Wednesday when Trail visits Wenatchee and is eligible to return on Friday in Salmon Arm.
Smoke Eaters 19-year-old forward Connor Michaud is suspended three games after receiving his third minor penalty and misconduct for a blow to the head this season.
The penalty was assessed at the 13:05 mark of the third period during Trail’s 8-2 loss in Penticton on Saturday. The Moncton, NB product can get back in the lineup on Mar. 17 in Wenatchee.
Trail’s 18-year-old defenseman Joel Barton has been given a one-game suspension for receiving his second major penalty and game misconduct for fighting.
The infraction came at 16:26 of the third period on Saturday, and the Kelowna, BC product is able return on Friday against the Silverbacks.
