Vees take game one of Fred Page Cup
Defender Ryan Hopkins scored the eventual winner on a power play with 1:32 left in the first period and the Penticton Vees dumped the visiting Nanaimo Clippers 4-1 in game one of the Fred Page Cup Final on Friday.
Luc Wilson had a goal and two assists for the Vees, who have won 13 straight games in the playoffs.
Bradly Nadeau also had a goal and an assist for Penticton while Casey MacDonald scored the Vees opening goal 15:13 into the first period.
Penticton’s Kaeden Lane stopped 19-of-20 shots and Cooper Black made 36 saves for Nanaimo.
The Vees entered the second period up 2-0 and Kai Daniells brought the Clippers to within one just eight seconds into the middle frame. Nanaimo went 0-for-2 on the power play while the Vees were 1-for-4.
Penticton hosts game two of the series on Saturday at 7 pm.
Ferster joins Victoria as general manager and head coach
The Victoria Grizzlies have hired Rylan Ferster as head coach and general manager. He replaces Craig Didmon, who parted ways with the Grizzlies earlier this week.
The 53-year-old Ferster has spent the last two seasons as head coach of the Philadelphia Hockey Club of the National Collegiate Development Conference. From 2011 to 2018, he was GM and head coach of the West Kelowna Warriors.
He started his career in the BCHL as an assistant coach for the Trail Smoke Eaters in 1999 and spent two years in the Kootenays. From 2001 to 2010, Ferster was twice the head coach in Salmon Arm as well as in Victoria.
Smoke Eaters bring in Peskett for 2022-23
The Trail Smoke Eaters have brought in 2006-born forward Logan Peskett for the 2022-23 BC Hockey League season.
Peskett, who’s from North Vancouver, BC, had 13 goals and 17 points in 30 games for West Van Academy U18 Prep of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League in 2021-22.
He was chosen in the sixth round, 127th overall, by the Kelowna Rockets in the 2021 Western Hockey League Prospects Draft.
Clarke joins Cowichan Valley for next season
2004-born forward Brandon Clarke is set to join the Cowichan Valley Capitals for next season.
The native of Sydney, NS spent 2021-22 at Rothesay Netherwood School and finished with 29 goals and 42 points in 37 games.
He also made his junior A debut, playing three games as an affiliate with Miramichi of the Maritime Junior Hockey League but not registering any points.
Eagles name Gagno captain for 2022-23
The Surrey Eagles unveiled their captain for the 2022-23 season on Wednesday, and it is 2002-born defender Brody Gagno.
The Quinnipiac University commit from Surrey, BC posted a goal and nine points in 34 games split between the Eagles and Prince George Spruce Kings this past season.
He is a veteran of 140 BCHL games over parts of four seasons with Surrey, Prince George, and Chilliwack.
Frias twins sign with the Bucks
The Cranbrook Bucks will activate twin powers in 2022-23 with the addition of brothers Julian and Donovan Frias as new recruits.
Both brothers are committed to Yale University for 2023-24 and spent time this past season with St. George’s School in Rhode Island and South Shore Kings 18U AAA Prep.
In 46 games with St. George’s and the Kings, Donovan finished with 19 goals and 42 points while Julian posted 13 goals and 35 points. The brothers hail from Hudson, MA.
Whipple heads to Trail for the 2022-23 season
Defender Alec Whipple of Far Hills, NJ will don the black, orange, and white of the Trail Smoke Eaters this fall after the team announced his commitment on Thursday.
The 2004-born native played 27 games at Minnetonka High this past season, tallying a goal and nine points. He also had four points in eight games with Fairbanks Ice Dogs 18U AAA in the North American Prospects Hockey League.
Warriors recruit Green for next season
After four seasons as part of the Okanagan Rockets program, 2004-born forward Kailus Green will join the West Kelowna Warriors for the 2022-23 season.
The Kelowna, BC product had 17 goals and 33 points as captain for the U18 Rockets in 2021-22. He also played four games for the Warriors as an affiliate and had one assist.
Green also got into three junior B games as an affiliate with Princeton of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, scoring one goal.
Erichuk commits to play ACHA hockey
2001-born defender Alek Erichuk (two assists in 18 games with Merritt in 2020-21) has committed to the University of Jamestown of the American Collegiate Hockey Association for this fall.
The product of Kamloops, BC finished his junior career with his hometown Storm of the KIJHL and posted four goals and 22 points in 31 games. Erichuk started 2021-22 with one assist in three games with the KIJHL’s Nelson Leafs.
Jones announces his retirement
Montrose, BCâs Kellen Jones (39 goals, 134 assists in 154 games with Vernon from 2007-10) took to Twitter on Wednesday to announce his retirement from professional hockey.
As an alternate captain with the ECHL’s Fort Wayne Komets in 2021-22, the 31-year-old finished with 12 goals and 59 points in 70 games.
In total, Jones played eight pro seasons with nine different teams in four different leagues. He spent the most time in the American Hockey League, getting into 175 games.
MacDonald inks a deal in Finland
Windsor Junction, NS native Alex MacDonald (11 goals, nine assists in 53 games with Alberni Valley in 2016-17) has signed with JoKP of Mestis for 2022-23. Mestis is the second level of pro hockey in Finland.
The 25-year-old spent the last three seasons playing U SPORTS hockey at Royal Military College, where he put up 21 goals and 43 points in 70 games.
Torrel won’t return to Cholet for 2022-23
Forward Gage Torrel (36 goals, 52 assists in 82 games for Langley from 2013-15) won’t be back with Dogs de Cholet of FFHG, Division 1 in France next season.
Torrel, 27, registered 10 goals and 22 points for Cholet during the 2021-22 season, his first in Europe.
McNeely moves to Rosenheim for next season
Forward Tyler McNeely (74 goals, 141 assists in 161 games with Surrey, Coquitlam, and Burnaby from 2004-07) signed a contract with Starbulls Rosenheim of Oberliga, the third tier of pro hockey in Germany.
2022-23 marks the 35-year-old Burnaby, BC native’s 10th season in Germany. He spent the last three years with Tölzer Löwen of the DEL2, putting up 46 goals and 131 points in 110 games.
Vela assigned from Hershey to Toledo
25-year-old forward Marcus Vela (31 goals, 37 assists in 104 games with Langley from 2013-15) was assigned by the AHLâs Hershey Bears to the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye on Thursday.
Vela, who calls Burnaby, BC home, played 42 games with the Bears this season, collecting six goals and 10 points. He has also appeared in 24 games with the ECHLâs Toledo Walleye, picking up 12 goals and eight assists.
