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BCHL Today: Vees player diagnosed with COVID-19, Bulldogs forward Tverberg to join UConn early, and more

Written by Brian Wiebe on

 

Vees face positive COVID-19 case

The BC Hockey League announced on Saturday that a player on the Penticton Vees has COVID-19. According to the league, all Vees players are now in a 14-day quarantine and will undergo a test for the virus.

In addition, any billets and team staff who were in contact with the player will also have to take a COVID-19 test.

The Vees’ last game was on November 14 at home against Vernon. The BCHL was set to start its 2020-21 regular season this week but pushed the date back after travel restrictions were extended by the Provincial Health Officer.

Tverberg to join UConn in the new year

2002-born Alberni Valley Bulldogs forward Ryan Tverberg is off to the University of Connecticut before even playing a BCHL regular season game.

According to Daniel Connolly of The UConn Blog, the Huskies decided to bring the Toronto Maple Leafs 2020 seventh-rounder to campus because the start of the BCHL season is delayed.

Tverberg was acquired by the Bulldogs from the Toronto Junior Canadiens of the Ontario Junior Hockey League in October. He had a goal and three assists in seven games with Alberni Valley during the extended training camp.

Eagles unveil all star challenge

The Surrey Eagles announced the details of an all star challenge event set for this Friday at the South Surrey Arena.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Eagles are unable to play games against any other teams, but they’ve come up with a number of competitions that will air on HockeyTV.

Included in the event are six skills competition events as well as a three-on-three minigame, with teams drafted by all star captains Kieran O’Hearn and Jimmy Darby.

Mackin joins ECHL’s Allen Americans

Forward Corey Mackin (74 goals, 80 assists in 115 games with Coquitlam from 2013-15) has signed a free agent contract with the Allen Americans of the ECHL for the 2020-21 season.

Mackin, 25, played 58 games in the ECHL as a rookie in 2019-20 and scored 46 points for the Reading Royals.

The Ferris State University grad became a free agent when the Royals opted to take this season off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

LaCouvee signs in Slovakia

Goaltender Connor LaCouvee (27-30, 3.09 GAA, .913 SV%, 4 SO in 62 games with Cowichan Valley, Merritt, and Alberni Valley from 2012-14) signed with HK Dukla Trencin of the Slovakian League for 2020-21.

The 26-year-old from Qualicum Beach, BC was 20-13-3 with a 2.75 GAA, a .915 SV%, and three shutouts in 36 games with the Maine Mariners of the ECHL in 2019-20. It was his sophomore pro season.

McCoy commits to Brown

Forward Hunter McCoy (12 goals, 12 assists in 55 games with Powell River and Langley in 2019-20) has committed to Brown University for September 2021.

The 2000-born product of Newburyport, Massachusettes has 12 points in 12 games this season with the Maryland Black Bears of the North American Hockey League.