BCHL Today: Grizzlies MacDonald secures NCAA future, Calgary names Sigalet to new role, Hammond signs a contract in Minnesota, and more

 

MacDonald is off to Dartmouth

Defenseman Brady MacDonald, who only played one game for the Victoria Grizzlies during the extended training camp season due to injury, has committed to attend Dartmouth College in Sept. 2021.

The 2000-born product of Dorchester, Ontario has seven goals and 21 assists in 68 games with Victoria over the last two seasons.

MacDonald is the fourth member of the Grizzlies roster to commit to an NCAA school for next season.

Hammond inks deal with Minnesota

Goaltender Andrew Hammond (46-27-3, 2.74 GAA, .904 SV%, 8 SO in 82 games with West Kelowna, Vernon, and Surrey from 2007-09) has signed a one year, two-way contract with the Minnesota Wild worth $700,000 in the National Hockey League and $200,000 in the minors.

Hammond was 16-12-5 with a 2.53 goals-against-average, a .908 save percentage, and four shutouts in 33 games with Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League last season.

The 32-year-old from White Rock, BC has played 56 NHL games over the span of parts of six seasons. He’s also played 165 AHL games in his career.

Sigalet added to Flames development staff

New Westminster, BC product Jordan Sigalet (3.13 GAA and a .910 SV% in 81 games with Victoria from 1999-2001) was promoted to the Calgary Flames director of goaltending on Wednesday.

2020-21 is the 39-year-old’s tenth season helping develop goaltenders in the Flames organization. He was Calgary’s goaltending coach for the last six of those seasons.

Pierog joins ECHL’s Indy Fuel

Forward Nic Pierog (40 goals, 33 assists in 112 games with Surrey and Penticton from 2012-14) has signed with the ECHL’s Indy Fuel for the 2020-21 season.

The 27-year-old from Georgetown, Ontario, had 22 goals and 13 assists in 48 ECHL games with the Worcester Railers in 2019-20. He added five points in 13 AHL games with Bridgeport.

Beck leaves Landshut due to COVID concerns

Forward Colton Beck (79 goals, 80 assists in 166 games with Langley from 2007-10) agreed to have his 2020-21 contract with EV Landshut of DEL2 terminated, less than a week after it was signed.

In a news release, EV Landshut announced that Beck, who has a newborn baby, had doubts about the safety of his family due to the current conditions surrounding COVID-19.

The 30-year-old from Langley had 41 goals and 63 assists in 329 games with the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League over the last five seasons.

Nardi’s contract terminated by Italian club

Forward Mitch Nardi (22 goals, 54 assists in 110 games with Coquitlam and West Kelowna from 2011-13) had his contract with Italian club HC Merano dissolved due to financial reasons caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nardi, 27, had three points in one game with Merano this season after putting up 44 points in 29 games in 2019-20. HC Merano plays in Serie B, which is the second level of hockey in Italy.

Zawatsky signs in Germany

Neuzugang in der Offensive: Alec Zawatsky verstärkt die Blue Devils

Forward Alec Zawatsky (eight goals, nine assists in 57 games with Cowichan Valley from 2016-17) signed a contract for the 2020-21 season with Blue Devils Weiden of the Oberliga, which is the third tier of hockey in Germany.

The 21-year-old from Winfield, BC finished his junior hockey career with the Yorkton Terriers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League last season. He posted 50 points in 47 games with Yorkton.