No positive COVID-19 tests among BCHL personnel
An update on COVID-19 testing ahead of the BCHL season. pic.twitter.com/HIBHIMB4ad
— BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague) April 1, 2021
The BC Hockey League announced on Thursday that there were no positive COVID-19 tests after the first round of testing ahead of the season start on Friday night.
The league notes that 439 players and staff were tested in this first round. Teams quarantined up until this week when they began to prepare for the pod season in five locations around the province.
Friday night sees five games on the slate, one in each pod city of Chilliwack, Burnaby, Penticton, Vernon, and Port Alberni.
A breakdown of all 16 team rosters for the 2020-21 season is available here.
Smokies name captains for 2020-21 season
The Trail Smoke Eaters are thrilled to announce this years leadership group!
Article: https://t.co/ZIpPCtvEP0
Congratulations to Chase Dafoe who will wear the 'C'. Senkoe, Hendry, Wolford, Wakeford and Roussel will all play a role as assistant captains!#WeAreSmokeEaters pic.twitter.com/KrmiF3dBq9
— Trail Smoke Eaters (@BCHLSmokeEaters) April 1, 2021
The Trail Smoke Eaters announced a massive leadership group for the 2020-21 season, with six of their 25 rostered players having a letter on their jersey.
2002-born forward Chase Dafoe dons the ‘C’ as captain for the Smokies while 2001-born forwards Nicolas Roussel, Coalson Wolford, and Jaden Senkoe, along with 2000-born forward Noah Wakeford and 2002-born defenseman Jordan Hendy will act as alternates.
Kings unveil broadcast deal for pod season
The Kings are pleased to announce that all games during the 2020-21 pod season will be aired live on @957CoastFM as well as viewed online at https://t.co/nUHchV8hZ8.
🗞️: https://t.co/PejezGVs1T#OurKingdom #BCHLIsBack @BCHockeyLeague pic.twitter.com/pFkGUfZxTG
— Powell River Kings (@BCHLKings) April 1, 2021
The Powell River Kings announced on Thursday that all 20 of their games against Coquitlam and Surrey during the 2020-21 season will be broadcast on 95.7 Coast FM in the northern Sunshine Coast region.
Justin Sulpico serves as the Kings play-by-play voice this season, his first with the team after being hired last September.
Scheel signs college free-agent deal with Dallas
Mid-game signing coming in!
We’ve signed goaltender Adam Scheel to a two-year, entry-level contract. Scheel will report to the @TexasStars.#GoStars https://t.co/bZ9sCWarda
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) April 2, 2021
University of North Dakota goaltender Adam Scheel (29-12-0, 2.08 GAA, .927 SV%, 3 SO in 45 games with Penticton in 2017-18) has signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars that begins with the 2021-22 season.
Scheel, 21, has also signed an amateur tryout contract with the Stars’ American Hockey League affiliate in Cedar Park, Texas, and will report there for the rest of the 2020-21 season.
The Lakewood, Ohio product was 20-4-1 with four shutouts, a 1.74 goals-against-average and a .931 save percentage in 26 NCAA games this season.
Neaton looks to leave UMass-Lowell
Winnipeg Jets draft pick and sophomore goaltender Logan Neaton of UMass Lowell enters the transfer portal. He joins four others from Lowell looking to grad transfer – F Austin O'Rourke, D Dominick Procopio, D Anthony Baxter, D Nolan Sawchuk.
— Brad Elliott Schlossman (@SchlossmanGF) April 1, 2021
UMass-Lowell goaltender Logan Neaton (32-8-5, 1.92 GAA, .914 SV%, 5 SO in 47 games with Prince George in 2018-19) will likely be at a new school this fall.
According to Grand Forks Herald college hockey writer Brad Elliott Schlossman, Neaton has entered the NCAA’s transfer portal with the intention of leaving the UMass-Lowell River Hawks.
The 2019 fifth-round pick of the Winnipeg Jets has only played six games with UMass-Lowell over the last two seasons. In those six games, the 21-year-old has a 0-3-0 record with a 4.29 goals-against-average and a .862 save percentage.
