BCHL Bulletin, Coastal Conference, Interior Conference, NCAA Div. III, NHL

BCHL Today: Patrick off to college, 15 score first BCHL goals, and more

Written by Brian Wiebe on

Patrick commits to Skidmore College

2000-born forward Kaeden Patrick of the Langley Rivermen has committed to play NCAA Div. III hockey at Skidmore College this fall.

Patrick, who’s from Kelowna, had a goal and four points in 10 games for the Rivermen during the BC Hockey League’s exhibition season.

He posted 11 goals and 18 points in 39 games as a rookie with Langley in 2019-20. Skidmore College is located in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Salmon Arm vs. Vernon first career BCHL goals

2002-born forward Nicholas Remissong opened the scoring for the Vernon Vipers halfway through the second period of Wednesday’s 6-5 overtime win against Salmon Arm.

The Lake Forest, Illinois product committed to the Vipers last June. He combined for six goals and 12 points in 26 games split between Lake Forest High and Chicago Mission 18U AAA last season.

Veteran forward Kjell Kjemhus has five career Western Hockey League goals, but scored his first in the BCHL on Wednesday. His marker came 89 seconds after Remissong’s and made it 2-1 Vipers.

The 2001-born Grande Prairie, Alberta product played 110 WHL games with Regina, Prince George, Moose Jaw, and Saskatoon before joining Vernon for this season.

2002-born forward Reagan Milburn scored the Vipers final goal of their four-goal, second period explosion with 4:37 left in the middle frame.

The Kamloopsian lit the lamp 24 times with the Thompson Blazers U18 AAA in 2019-20 and finished with 51 points in 38 games. He signed on with Vernon last June.

Defenseman Griffen Barr provided the heroics on Wednesday as he scored the overtime winner 3:40 into the extra frame on Wednesday for his first BCHL goal.

Barr, a 2002-born blueliner, made his BCHL debut as an affiliate player for his hometown Nanaimo Clippers last season. He also put up five goals and 42 points in 36 games with Shawnigan Lake School U18 Prep.

Not only did 2001-born forward Daniel Panetta score his first BCHL goal for the Salmon Arm Silverbacks on Wednesday, but he also scored his first BCHL hat trick.

The Colgate University commit is no stranger to scoring in junior A as he tallied 34 goals in 159 Ontario Junior Hockey League games between 2017-20. He was acquired by Salmon Arm via trade from Wellington last June.

Silverbacks forward Noah Serdachny scored a pair of goals for his first two in the BCHL, including the tying goal with 55 seconds left in the third period to force overtime.

The 2003-born Edmonton product leads Salmon Arm in scoring this season with four points in three games. He put up 18 goals and 60 points in 36 games with RINK Hockey Academy Prep in 2019-20.

Merritt vs. Prince George first career BCHL goals

As part of an 11-goal onslaught against Merritt, three members of the Prince George Spruce Kings scored their first career BCHL goals on Wednesday.

2003-born defenseman Connor Elliott of Coldstream, BC found twine 4:14 into the second period to give PG a 4-1 lead.

Elliott committed to the Spruce Kings over a year ago while still a member of the Okanagan Rockets U18 AAA. He played six exhibition games with PG but didn’t score any points.

John Herrington got his first BCHL goal 34 seconds after Elliott as the Spruce Kings extended the lead over the Cents to 5-1.

The 2002-born centre from Hudson’s Hope, BC appeared in 10 games as an affiliate player for Prince George over the last two seasons. He had two points in seven exhibition games last fall.

Youngster Linden Makow not only made his BCHL debut against the Centennials, but scored his first goal in the league as well. No matter that it was the 11th on the night for the Spruce Kings, they all count just the same.

The 2004-born right winger scored nearly a goal-a-game with the Cariboo Cougars U16 AAA in 2019-20, putting up 23 goals and 37 points in 26 games.

Cowichan Valley vs. Victoria first career BCHL goals

A veteran of 178 junior A games in Ontario, 2000-born forward Jackson Alexeev had 45 career goals at the level heading into this season.

He was then traded to Cowichan Valley last October and scored his first BCHL goal for the Capitals in their 3-2 win over Victoria on Wednesday.

Cranbrook vs. Trail first career BCHL goals

2002-born Smoke Eaters defenseman Jordan Hendry scored a goal 6:10 into the first period to give Trail a lead it wouldn’t relinquish en route to an 8-3 win over Cranbrook.

Hendry, who was traded from Fort McMurray of the Alberta Junior Hockey League to the Smokies last September, had a goal and three points for Trail during the BCHL exhibition season.

Zach Park scored his first career BCHL goal for the Smoke Eaters 2:51 into the second period of Wednesday’s game to give Trail a 4-1 lead.

The 2002-born forward had 11 goals and 24 points in 41 games with the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League’s Beaver Valley NiteHawks in 2019-20.

Forward Quinn Disher scored his first goal in his third BCHL game on Wednesday when he found the back of the net with 8:03 left in the middle frame to stake Trail to a 7-1 lead.

The Fort St. John, BC product produced 42 points in 36 games with Okanagan Hockey Academy Red U18 Prep during the 2019-20 season.

Enfield, Nova Scotia’s Brady Hunter scored Trail’s final goal with 17:14 left in the third period of Wednesday’s game against Cranbrook for his first BCHL marker.

The 2002-born forward played 34 games with Minnesota and Northeast of the North American Hockey League in 2019-20 and posted four goals and 11 points.

Although it came much too late to impact the game, Cranbrook Bucks forward Zeth Kindrachuk‘s first BCHL goal was still notable for him. It came at the 5:28 mark of the third period vs. Trail to make the game 8-2 Smoke Eaters.

The 2002-born left winger from Calgary had a goal and an assist in nine games with Cranbrook during the exhibition season last fall.

Zajac traded from New Jersey to Long Island

Forward Travis Zajac (59 goals, 105 assists in 118 games with Salmon Arm from 2002-04) was part of a huge National Hockey League trade on Wednesday that saw him go from the New Jersey Devils to the New York Islanders.

This season was the 35-year-old Winnipegger’s 15th with the Devils after being drafted by New Jersey in the first round, 20th overall, in the 2004 NHL Draft. Zajac sits third in all-time points for the Devils.

Red Wings reassign Cholowski and Rasmussen

Defenseman Dennis Cholowski (16 goals, 51 assists in 106 games with Chilliwack from 2014-16) has been reassigned by the Detroit Red Wings from their taxi squad to their American Hockey League affiliate in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Cholowski, who was chosen 20th overall by Detroit in the 2016 NHL Draft, appeared in two games for the Red Wings this season. He also has three goals and 10 points in 13 games with Grand Rapids.

Forward Michael Rasmussen (no points in one game with Penticton in 2014-15) was reassigned from the Red Wings to their taxi squad on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old has two goals and seven points in 25 games with the Red Wings this season. He’s also posted two goals and six points in seven AHL games with Grand Rapids.

Fischer commits to the University of Arizona

2000-born defenseman Ryan Fischer has committed to the University of Arizona for the 2021-22 season. U of A plays in the non-NCAA American Collegiate Hockey Association.

The product of Anaheim Hills, California spent the past two seasons with the Victoria Grizzlies, scoring a goal and seven points. He wasn’t with the Grizz during the exhibition season and hasn’t played any junior hockey of record during 2020-21.

Cotton clears unconditional waivers

Forward Jason Cotton (50 goals, 67 assists in 108 games for West Kelowna from 2013-15) cleared NHL waivers on Wednesday and his contract with the Carolina Hurricanes will be terminated. There was a report earlier this week that the Texan was set to retire.

The 26-year-old has four goals and six points in 17 games with the Komets this season. He’s also played one game with the Wolves in 2020-21, going scoreless in a 4-2 win over Grand Rapids on Feb. 11.

Buffalo sends Fogarty from emergency loan to taxi squad

Forward Steven Fogarty (33 goals, 48 assists in 60 games for Penticton in 2011-12) was reassigned from the Buffalo Sabres to their taxi squad on Wednesday. He was with the Sabres on an emergency loan basis.

Fogarty, who’s from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and in his fifth professional season, has a goal and three points in seven games with Buffalo in 2020-21.

Three Stars of the Night

First Star: Prince George forward Andrew Seaman had three goals and an assist as the Spruce Kings thumped Merritt 11-2.

Second Star: Salmon Arm forward Daniel Panetta notched a hat trick in the Silverbacks 6-5 overtime loss to Vernon.

Third Star: Forward Quinn Disher put up a goal and two assists in Trail’s 8-3 waxing of Cranbrook.

Honourable Mentions: Prince George forward Christian Buono scored a hat trick and added one assist. Spruce Kings forward Carter Cochrane had a goal and two assists. Smoke Eaters forward Coalson Wolford, Salmon Arm forward Noah Serdachny, and Surrey forward Tio D’Addario each tallied a pair of goals. Cowichan Valley forward Jacob Brockman finished the night with two assists.