BCHL

BCHL Today: Cents forward Matsui commits to UAF, Silverbacks veteran Rybarik will attend UAA, Clippers rookie O’Brien commits to Cornell, and more

Written by Brian Wiebe on

Cents veteran Matsui heads to University of Alaska-Fairbanks

Merritt Centennials second year forward Payton Matsui is off to school this September after his commitment to the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. The 19-year-old from Lakeville, Minnesota has nine goals and 18 assists in 43 games this season with the Cents. He had eight goals and nine assists in 35 games as a rookie in Merritt last season.

Salmon Arm forward Rybarik commits to UAA

Much like Matsui, Salmon Arm Silverbacks Daniel Rybarik will take his game to Alaska this September. The 20-year-old will attend the University of Alaska-Anchorage. Rybarik, who joined the Silverbacks after the AJHL’s Calgary Mustangs folded in the off-season, has 23 goals and 13 assists in 41 games in Salmon Arm this season. Prior to signing with the Backs, the Calgary product had 57 goals and 47 assists in 115 AJHL games from 2017-19.

Clippers rookie O’Brien commits to Cornell

Nanaimo Clippers rookie defenceman Jack O’Brien is off to an Ivy League school in the fall of 2022. The 16-year-old has committed to Cornell University. O’Brien, who’s from White Rock, BC, has a goal and three assists in 41 games with the Clippers this season. He is the eighth Nanaimo player to commit to an NCAA Div. 1 hockey program and school.

Three Stars of the Night

First Star: Salmon Arm forward Nick Unruh scored a goal and added two assists.

Second Star: Coquitlam forward Joshua Wildauer notched the winning goal and added an assist.

Third Star: Penticton forward Nico Somerville scored the overtime winning goal for the Vees.

Honourable Mentions: Vernon goaltender Reilly Herbst kicked out 44 shots. Salmon Arm forward Luke Mylymok had two goals and an assist. Surrey netminder Reece Klassen made 23 saves.

Brian's been involved in the BCHL in a variety of capacities for 17 years. From 2002 to 2012, he served in several roles around the Merritt Centennials organization, including as team president, board member, beat writer, colour commentator, webmaster, media and communications coordinator and marketing assistant. He's been writing about the BCHL since 2008 and served as colour commentator on the TSN 1040 broadcasts in 2012-13. BCHLNetwork is one of Brian's many passion projects that he balances around his full-time job as an instructor in the Radio Arts and Entertainment Program at BCIT in Burnaby.