BCHL Bulletin: Warriors add four players, Cowichan signs its first import, and more!

Warriors sign two imports, an American, and a Canadian

The West Kelowna Warriors announced the signing of four players for the 2023-24 season.

2003-born forward Viggo Nordström, who hails from Sweden, spent the 2022-23 season with Lulea HF J20 of the J20 Nationell league in Sweden. He scored 16 goals and added 32 assists in 43 regular-season games. He also scored one goal and five points in six playoff games.

2004-born forward Johannes Løkkeberg, who hails from Norway, spent the 2022-23 season with Mora IK J20 of the J20 Nationell league in Sweden. In 45 regular-season games, he scored 12 goals and 36 points. He also had one point in two playoff games. Lokkeberg also played five games for Norway at the WJC-20 Division 1A championships, earning one point. In three other international junior hockey games, he had two goals.

2006-born forward Callum Hughes, who is from Basking Ridge, New Jersey, played 39 games with Mount St. Charles Academy 16U AAA, which is located in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. He scored 14 goals and had 52 points. He is committed to Boston University for the 2024-25 season.

2005-born forward Caden Kemkaran Humble, who hails from Calgary, played in 33 games for the Calgary Buffaloes U18 AAA in the Alberta Elite Hockey League. He earned 17 goals and 21 assists in 33 regular season games. He also had one point in five playoff games. Kemkaran Humble also joined the Whitecourt Wolverines of the Alberta Junior Hockey League for one game.

Cowichan welcomes its first import

The Cowichan Valley Capitals have signed their first import, it’s 2004-born forward Lars Petter Eckholm of Fetsund, Norway.

Petter Eckholm played 39 regular season games with Rogle BK J20 of the J20 Nationell league in Sweden. He had 13 goals and 19 points. In six playoff contests, he had three points.

Kings sign University of Maine commit

The Powell River Kings announced they have signed 2005-born defender Alex Bosland for the 2023-24 season.

Bosland, who is from Basking Ridge, New Jersey, played 54 games with Mount St. Charles Academy 18U AAA, which is located in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. He scored six times and added 23 assists. Bosland is committed to the University of Maine for the 2024-25 season. The school is located in Orono, Maine, and plays in NCAA Division I.

Van Lierop heads to France

27-year-old defender Cody Van Lierop (10 goals, 56 assists in 152 games with Victoria from 2014-17) has signed with Strasbourg of the Fédération Française de Hockey sur Glace Division 1 or French Ice Hockey Federation Division 1. Strasbourg is located in the Eastern portion of France, against the border with Germany.

Van Lierop, who hails from Sutton West, Ont., spent the 2022-23 season with Snackpoint Eaters Limburg of the BeNeLiga. The league is the highest level of professional hockey in Belgium and the Netherlands. In 29 regular season games, he scored 11 goals and 26 points. He also added two goals and 11 assists in eight playoff games.

DeMelo heads to Westshore

2004-born goaltender Dryden DeMelo (1-0-0, a 1.95 goals-against average, a .933 save percentage in one game with Victoria in 2020-21) has been traded to the Westshore Wolves of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League to complete the 2022-23 trade of Jack Westhaver. The VIJHL is a junior B league on Vancouver Island.

DeMelo, who is from Victoria, spent the 2022-23 season as a member of the Saanich Predators, appearing in 25 regular season games, earning a 14-4-2 record, a 3.02 goals-against average, and a .916 save percentage. In 15 playoff appearances, he was 7-4-4 with a 2.62 goals-against average, a .962 save percentage, and two shutouts.

Treliving named Maple Leafs General Manager

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Wednesday that they have hired 53-year-old Brad Treliving (five goals, 12 assists in 57 combined games with Penticton in 1986-87 and 1988-89) as their general manager.

Treliving, who hails from Penticton, B.C., was the general manager of the Calgary Flames since the 2014-15 season before being let go earlier this spring. He has also been the general manager of the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League, the Phoenix Coyotes assistant general manager, and the general manager of the AHL’s Portland Pirates.