BCHL Bulletin: Smoke Eaters sign four, de Vries commits to Hamilton College, and more!

Four players sign with Smoke Eaters following ID camp

The Trail Smoke Eaters announced that they have signed four players following their recently held ID camp. They include 2005-born goaltender Ryan Parker, 2005-born defender Jack Ketsa, 2004-born forward Nathan Dominici, and 2006-born forward Callas Pierce.

Parker, who hails from Sooke, B.C., played 23 games in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League with Pacific Coast Academy U18 Prep earning a 13-8-1 record, a 3.02 goals-against average, a .921 save percentage, and one shutout. He also participated in two playoff contests, going 0-2 with a 5.33 goals-against average and a .869 save percentage.

Ketsa, who is from St. Albert, Alta., spent 2022-23 with Northern Alberta Xtreme U18 Prep of the CSSHL’s U18 division. He scored four times and had 15 points in 26 regular season games. Ketsa also played in three playoff games, earning one assist.

Dominici, who is from Trail, B.C., played 39 regular-season games with the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League’s Beaver Valley Nitehawks, scoring 23 times and finishing with 41 points. He also had nine goals and nine assists in 17 playoff games. Dominici was also an affiliated player for the Smoke Eaters, scoring one goal in seven regular season and playoff games.

Pierce, who hails from Prince Rupert, B.C., played 83 regular-season games with RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna U18 in 2022-23 where he earned 23 goals and 70 points. He also had two goals and four points in five playoff contests.

de Vries commits to Hamilton College

2002-born forward Devon de Vries (21 goals, 39 assists in 124 games with Victoria from 2020-23) has committed to Hamilton College of NCAA Div. III. He will join teammate Noah Leibl at the school in Clinton, N.Y.

de Vries, who hails from Saint-Lazare, Que., graduated from junior hockey at the end of the 2022-23 BCHL season after scoring seven goals and 23 points through 54 regular season games with the Grizzlies. He also had one goal and one assist for Victoria in four playoff games.

Fischer commits to the University of Minnesota-Duluth

2002-born forward Braden Fischer (one goal, one assist in 16 games with Salmon Arm in 2020-21) has committed to play NCAA Division I hockey at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

This past season, the Winnipeg product played for the Minot Minotauros of the North American Hockey League. He scored six times and added 13 assists in 24 regular-season games. He then added two goals and an assists in three NAHL playoff contests.

Albertus Magnus College gets commitment from Kindrachuk

2002-born forward Zeth Kindrachuk (five goals, 11 assists in 50 games with Cranbrook from 2020-22) has committed to NCAA Division III Albertus Magnus College for the 2023-24 season. The program is based in New Haven, Conn.

Kindrachuk, who is from Calgary, spent the 2022-23 season with the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Okotoks Oilers. Through 55 regular season games, he scored 15 goals and 39 points. In seven AJHL playoff games, he had three goals and two assists.

Malmquist transfers to University of St. Thomas

22-year-old forward Liam Malmquist (24 goals, 40 assists in 78 games with Penticton from 2019-21) has transferred from the University of Wisconsin to the University of St. Thomas for this September. His new school is located in St. Paul, Minn.

Malmquist, who hails from Edina, Minn, had four goals and three assists in 33 NCAA Division I contests during his sophomore season with the University of Wisconsin.

Getz transfers to Michigan Tech

21-year-old defender Lachlan Getz (three goals, 20 assists in 56 games with Chilliwack from 2020-22) has transferred from Boston University to Michigan Tech University. Houghton, Mich. is the home of Michigan Tech.

Getz, who is from Northfield, Ill., played 16 games in his second season with Boston University in 2022-23. He did not register a point.

Fitzgerald departs IF Bjorkloven

29-year-old forward Gerry Fitzgerald (83 goals, 105 assists in 211 games with Salmon Arm, Nanaimo, Prince George, and Victoria from 2009-14) has departed IF Bjorkloven of HockeyAllsvenskan following two seasons.

Fitzgerald, who is from Port Alberni, B.C., scored 20 goals and 42 points in 49 regular-season games with Bjorkloven. He also added three goals and three assists in 11 qualification round games.

Rockwood heads to ICEHL

27-year-old forward Adam Rockwood (19 goals, 81 assists in 107 games with Coquitlam from 2011-14) has signed with HC Innsbruck of the ICE Hockey League for the 2023-24 season. It will be his fourth professional season in Europe.

Rockwood, who is from Coquitlam, B.C., spent the 2022-23 season with AIK of HockeyAllsvenskan in Sweden. He scored six times and finished with 39 points. He also played eight games in qualification earning three goals and six assists.

EV Duisburg signs Mitchell

28-year-old forward Mason Mitchell (23 goals, 16 assists in 82 games with Naniamo from 2012-14) has signed with EV Duisburg of Oberliga for the 2023-24 season, his second professional season in Europe. Oberliga is the third tier of professional hockey in Germany.

Mitchell, who is from Edmonton, played 20 games with the Sheffield Steelers of the Elite Ice Hockey League in England. He scored three goals and added seven assists.