BCHL Today: Five score first BCHL goals, NCAA transfers, and more!

 

Leibl tallies first BCHL goal

2000-born Cowichan Valley forward Tyler Leibl of San Diego, California posted his first BCHL goal on Wednesday in a 4-2 loss to Nanaimo.

The goal was the Capitals’ second of the game, at 16:40 of the third period, to make the score 3-2 Clippers. It came in Leibl’s ninth career BCHL game and is also his first point in the league.

Walker scores first career BC Hockey League goal

2003-born Alberni Valley Bulldogs forward Logan Walker scored his first BCHL goal at 10:07 of the second period in a 5-3 win against the Victoria Grizzlies.

Walker’s marker gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead as part of a three-goal second period. The Courtenay, BC product was playing his sixth BCHL game after committing to Alberni Valley just before the season started.

Thomson records first career BCHL shutout

Cranbrook Bucks goaltender Jay Thomson made 22 saves for his first career BC Hockey League shutout in a 1-0 shootout victory over Penticton on Wednesday.

It was the first career junior A shutout for the 2001-born product of Canmore, Alberta as he didn’t have one in 62 games in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

Coquitlam vs. Powell River first career BCHL goals

2002-born defenseman Dylan Hewlett potted his first BCHL goal on Wednesday in a 6-3 win against Coquitlam.

The goal was the Kings’ first of the night, just 22 seconds into the first period, and came in Hewlett’s 44th career BCHL game. He played 32 games as a rookie last season in addition to three games as an affiliate in 2018-19 and nine this season.

2003-born Kings forward Aaron Neal scored his first BCHL goal at 11:38 of the first period to give Powell River a 2-0 lead in the eventual win over the Capitals.

The North Vancouver product was playing his 10th BCHL game after originally committing to the Kings for 2021-22. He was able to join them after his Vancouver NW Hawks U18 AAA was cancelled due to COVID-19.

Coquitlam Express forward Benjamin Chubbs posted his first BCHL goal on a penalty shot at the 12:34 mark of the second period to make the score 3-1 Powell River.

The Vancouver native was playing in his fifth BCHL game after starting the season with the Port Moody Panthers of the Pacific Junior Hockey League. In eight games with the Panthers, the 2002-born forward had three goals and four points.

Debrouwer and Linnel transfer to Bentley University

Arizona State University goaltender Evan Debrouwer (41-37-0, 2.64 GAA, .908 SV%, 5 SO in 84 games with Nanaimo and Prince George from 2016-18) has transferred to Bentley University for the 2021-22 season.

The 24-year-old from Blenheim, Ontario posted a 22-20-4 record with a 3.02 goals-against-average, a .908 save percentage, and four shutouts in 51 games with ASU over the last three seasons.

Forward Eric Linell (54 goals, 48 assists in 118 games with Coquitlam, Surrey, and Penticton from 2017-19) has transferred from the University of Connecticut to Bentley.

The 22-year-old product of Great Neck, New York had one goal in 28 games with UConn over the last two seasons.

Calder switches from Lake Superior State to the University of North Dakota

23-year-old forward Ashton Calder (22 goals, 20 assists in 49 games with Surrey in 2016-17) will join the University of North Dakota next season after transferring from Lake Superior State University.

Calder, who’s from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, was an alternate captain at LSSU last season. He put up 33 goals and 79 points in 107 games with the Lakers over the last three seasons.

Three Stars of the Night ⭐⭐⭐

First Star: Cranbrook goaltender Jay Thomson kicked out 22 shots for the shutout in a 1-0 shootout victory against Penticton.

Second Star: Salmon Arm forward Simon Tassy put up two goals and an assist in the Silverbacks 5-2 win over West Kelowna.

Third Star: Powell River forward Aaron Neal had a goal and two assists in a 6-3 victory over Coquitlam.

Honourable Mentions: Alberni Valley forward Stephen Castagna posted two goals and an assist. Prince George goaltender Aaron Trotter made 22 saves in a shutout. Powell River forward Tyden McWillis scored a pair of goals. Bucks forward Walker Gelbard scored a shootout winner. Vees goaltender Kaleb McEachern made 20 stops for the shutout. Bulldogs forward Josh Van Unen, and Salmon Arm forwards Noah Serdachny and Drew Bennett, and Powell River forward Branden Toye each notched a pair of assists.