Didmon won’t be back with the Grizzlies
The Victoria Grizzlies announced on Monday that general manager and head coach Craig Didmon won’t return to the team for the 2022-23 season. The Grizz didn’t unveil if Didmon resigned or was let go.
Didmon, 50, has been with the Grizzlies as GM and head coach for the last seven and a half seasons. He first joined Victoria as an assistant coach in 2007.
The Victoria, BC product also played 172 games in the BCHL with Cowichan Valley and Victoria from 1989 to 1992, posting 87 goals and 188 points.
Smokies add Hamilton for 2022-23
The Trail Smoke Eaters announced the commitment of 2004-born forward Rhett Hamilton for the 2022-23 BCHL season.
Hamilton, who’s from Bonnington, BC, tallied 14 goals and 24 points in 40 games with Nelson of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League this past season.
He also played two games with the Smoke Eaters as an affiliate and notched his first career BCHL goal in a game against Salmon Arm on Feb. 11.
Serhyenko commits to York University
2002-born Penticton Vees goaltender Carter Serhyenko has committed to play U SPORTS hockey at York University this September.
The Saskatoon, SK product joined the Vees in late December after two and a half seasons with the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League.
He finished the season with a 10-2-2 record, a 2.38 goals-against average, an .893 save percentage, and two shutouts in 15 games with Penticton.
Waters, Donaldson, and Lane named BCHL Three Stars of the Week
The BC Hockey League unveiled its three stars of the week on Monday, with Nanaimo Clippers forwards Brody Waters and Sean Donaldson, and Penticton Vees goaltender Kaeden Lane taking the honours.
Waters, a 20-year-old from Heidelberg, ON, recorded three goals and two assists in two games last week to tie for the league lead with five points. He had a goal and an assist in game three of the Coastal Conference final against Langley on Tuesday. Waters added two goals and an assist in the series-clinching win over the Rivermen on Wednesday.
Donaldson, a 2001-born product of Vancouver, BC, also tied for the league lead in points last week with five in two games played. He scored twice, including the overtime winner, in Nanaimo’s game three win over Langley. The Cornell University commit tallied a pair of assists in the Clippers’ series-deciding 6-1 against the Rivermen in game four.
Lane, a 2001-born native of Burnaby, BC, was a wall for the Vees last week, kicking out 46 shots over two games which saw Penticton eliminate West Kelowna in four. He finished the two games with a .939 save percentage and a 1.50 goals-against average. The Northern Michigan University commit is now 12-1 in the playoffs.
Capitals sign Salo for next season
The Cowichan Valley Capitals picked up a commitment from 2003-born forward Oliver Salo ahead of the 2022-23 BCHL season. He is the son of former National Hockey League defender Sami Salo.
Salo, who hails from Kaarina, FIN, played for Rothesay Netherwood School in Rothesay, NB in 2021-22. In 36 games, he finished with 28 goals and 59 points.
Barzal and Johnson to play for Canada at the World Hockey Championship
Two BCHL alumni have been named to the Canadian men’s hockey team that is heading to Finland for the 2022 World Hockey Championship.
24-year-old forward Mathew Barzal (two assists in six games with Coquitlam in 2012-13) and 19-year-old forward Kent Johnson (61 goals, 86 assists in 111 games with Trail from 2017-20) are each rostered players for Team Canada.
Barzal had 15 goals and 59 points in 73 games for the New York Islanders this past season. Johnson finished the season with the Columbus Blue Jackets and notched three assists in nine games.
He also put up eight goals and 37 points in 32 NCAA games as a sophomore at the University of Michigan before signing with the Blue Jackets.
Hanna released by HC Pustertal
28-year-old defenseman Shane Hanna (15 goals, 59 assists in 108 games with Penticton and Salmon Arm from 2011-13) has been released by HC Pustertal of the ICE Hockey League, which is the premier league in Austria.
Hanna, who’s from New Westminster, BC, had 11 goals and 31 points in 49 games with Pustertal during the 2021-22 ICEHL season.
Lavallée moves from EA Schongau to Landsberg
Forward Jason Lavallée (two goals, four assists in 13 games with Penticton in 2015-16) has signed with HC Landsberg of Oberliga, which is the third level of pro hockey in Germany, for the 2022-23 season.
This past season, the 26-year-old from Thetford Mines, QC posted 33 goals and 54 points in 29 games with Regionalliga’s EA Schongau, which is the fourth tier of German pro hockey. It was his first year playing in Europe.
