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BCHL Today: Clippers add junior A sophomore Craig, Smoke Eaters bring in forward Roussel, and more

Written by Brian Wiebe on

 

Clippers add second year junior A defenseman Craig

The Nanaimo Clippers have signed 2002-born defenseman Michael Craig for the 2020-21 season. As a rookie last season, Craig had 19 points in 51 games with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.

He added two assists in six OJHL playoff games. Craig. from St. Catharines, Ontario, was free to sign with any junior A team in Canada after the Jr. Sabres went on hiatus for the upcoming season due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Craig is set to return to Buffalo for the 2021-22 season as part of the loan to the Clippers for this season.

Smokies bring Roussel back to BC

According to a report in the Maple Ridge News, the Trail Smoke Eaters have signed 2001-born forward Nicolas Roussel for the 2020-21 season. Roussel scored one goal in a dozen games this past season with the Gananoque Islanders of the Provincial Junior Hockey League, which is a junior C league in Ontario.

He played with the Islanders while attending Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. In 2018-19, Roussel had 12 points in 38 games with the Vancouver NE Chiefs of the BC U18 AAA league.

Spruce Kings business ops manager Anderson named to Team BC

Prince George Spruce Kings business operations manager Kyle Anderson has been named to the Team British Columbia mission staff for the Canada Summer Games next year in Niagara, Ontario.

Anderson, who’s been with the Spruce Kings since 2017, was a participant at the Canada Winter Games in 2007.

Laframboise joins Kansas City

Forward Josh Laframboise (48 goals, 75 assists in 165 games with Penticton, Salmon Arm, and Trail from 2014-17) has turned pro after signing with the ECHL’s Kansas City Mavericks for the 2020-21 season.

The 23-year-old from Thunder Bay, Ontario spent the last three seasons playing U SPORTS hockey at Lakehead University. In 59 games at Lakehead, he had 27 goals and 21 assists.

Noonan cut loose by Krefeld

Defenseman Garrett Noonan (two goals, 16 assists in 58 games with Vernon in 2009-10) is looking for a new team after not being offered a contract by the Krefeld Pinguine of the DEL, which is the top pro league in Germany.

Noonan, a 29-year-old from Norfolk, Massachusetts, played the last two seasons in Krefeld and put up seven goals and 25 assists in 104 games.

Steffler re-ups with Klagenfurter

Defenseman Kele Steffler (no points in two games with Wenatchee in 2017-18) has signed a contract extension through 2021 with Klagenfurter AC in the Austrian Hockey League.

Steffler, 21, had 13 assists in 38 games with Klagenfurter AC II of the Alps Hockey League in 2019-20. He also got into six games with the main Klagenfurter club but didn’t get any points.

Spruce Kings sign 33-year-old footballer?

It wasn’t April Fool’s Day, but the Prince George Spruce Kings had some fun on Tuesday when soccer superstar Lionel Messi announced he was leaving Barcelona FC.

As you can see in the graphic in the tweet above, the Spruce Kings put Messi’s head on a team jersey, imaging what it would be like if the phenom suited up in BC’s Northern Capital. Nevermind the fact that Messi is 13 years too old to play junior hockey.

For the record, Messi has chosen Manchester United as his preferred destination.