AHL, BCHL Bulletin, Coastal Conference, ECHL, Interior Conference, NCAA, NHL Draft, OJHL, WHL

BCHL Today: Wood commits to UConn, Vees bring Smith to the Peach City, and more!

Written by Brian Wiebe on

Wood reportedly commits to the University of Connecticut

University of Connecticut insider Daniel Connolly reported late Thursday that 2005-born Victoria Grizzlies forward Matthew Wood has committed to the UConn Huskies for September 2023.

Wood had five goals and 13 points in 18 games with the Grizzlies during the BC Hockey League’s 2020-21 pod season as a 15-year-old affiliate player. The Nanaimo, BC product is committed to Victoria for this upcoming season.

He was a second-round pick of the Regina Pats in the 2020 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft.

Vees acquire UMass commit Smith

2002-born forward Spencer Smith, who’s committed to the University of Massachusetts for September 2022, was picked up by the Penticton Vees from the Buffalo Jr. Sabres of the Ontario Junior Hockey League on Thursday.

Smith is from St. Catharines, ON, and actually spent the last two seasons with the Lincoln Stars of the US Hockey League. In 45 USHL games, he posted eight goals and 13 points. He notched 37 points in 47 games as a 16-year-old with the Jr. Sabres in 2018-19.

Burke leaves Connecticut for Nanaimo

The Nanaimo Clippers announced the signing of 2001-born defenseman Joshua Burke on Thursday. The native of Land O’Lakes, FL put up 23 points in 45 games with the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks of the North American Hockey League this past season.

Burke, who doesn’t have an NCAA commitment to this point, had six points in 31 games with the NAHL’s Amarillo Bulls as a rookie in 2019-20.

Lukosevicius signs with Abbotsford Canucks

Squamish, BC product Jarid Lukosevicius (59 goals, 76 assists in 116 games with Powell River from 2013-15) has signed a one-year American Hockey League contract with the Abbotsford Canucks.

The 26-year-old played 17 games in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2020-21 and finished with a goal and an assist. He also had eight points in 29 games with the Griffins in 2019-20.

Bourne signs in Germany for 2021-22

Forward Joshua Bourne (52 goals, 61 assists in 115 games with Nanaimo from 2017-20) inked a contract with ERV Schweinfurt of Regionalliga, which is the fourth tier of pro hockey in Germany.

The 22-year-old from Richmond, BC was set to play U SPORTS hockey at Brock University this past season before COVID-19 restrictions caused it to be cancelled.

Chiefs roster starts to take shape

The Chilliwack Chiefs were highlighted in a “Next Generation” feature on the BCHL website on Thursday. Among the news included in the feature is the return of 2002-born forwards and Miami University Ohio commits Kienan Draper and Frankie Carogioiello.

Both were with the Chiefs during the BCHL’s extended training camp season. Carogioiello finished with three goals and three assists in eight games while Draper, a draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings, had four goals and an assist in eight games.

When the BCHL season was delayed due to the pandemic, Draper left for the USHL’s Omaha Lancers. He had three goals and seven points in 37 games with them to round out the season.

Carogioiello joined the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL and tallied one goal and four points in 25 games to wrap up his campaign.

Robson joins AHL’s Rochester Americans

Goaltender Mathew Robson (35-13, 1.94 GAA, .930 SV% and 6 SO in 49 games with Penticton in 2016-17) has signed a one-year, AHL contract with the Rochester Americans for the 2021-22 season.

The 25-year-old Mississauga, ON native was 1-8-0 with a 3.61 goals-against-average, a .861 save percentage in nine games with the Straubing Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga this past season.

Keane is keen on the Orlando Solar Bears

Denver, CO product Jackson Keane (eight goals, 16 assists in 49 games with Penticton in 2017-18) has signed a contract for the 2021-22 ECHL season with the Orlando Solar Bears.

The 24-year-old played nine games with the Wheeling Nailers at the end of the 2020-21 season and had one assist. He spent the past three seasons at the University of North Dakota, putting up 14 points in 72 games.

Scarfo signs a deal to return to Rochester

Forward Ryan Scarfo (17 goals, 31 assists in 50 games with Powell River in 2013-14) signed a one-year, AHL pact with the Rochester Americans on Thursday.

The 27-year-old from North Chelmsford, MA, had one goal in five games with the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers this past season. He signed a pro tryout with Rochester in February and scored a pair of goals in nine games for the Amerks.

Turner commits to Holy Cross

Incoming Wenatchee Wild defenseman Weston Turner has committed to play NCAA hockey at College of the Holy Cross.

The 2003-born native of Granite Bay, CA didn’t play in 2020-21 due to the pandemic but spent the 2019-20 season playing US prep hockey at Groton School in Massachusetts, where he tallied 22 points in 30 games.

Holick joins WHL’s Blazers as an associate coach

The Western Hockey League’s Kamloops Blazers unveiled Mark Holick as their new associate coach on Thursday.

Holick, 52, was the general manager and head coach of the Vernon Vipers in 2006-07 and Surrey Eagles from 1997-2002.