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BCHL Today: Alumni in the running for the Hobey Baker Award, Silverbacks bring in scoring forward Recine, and more

Written by Brian Wiebe on

 

11 former BCHLers up for Hobey Baker

The initial list of nominees is out for the 2021 Hobey Baker Award as the top player in NCAA Division I hockey and 11 former BCHL players are among those included.

The athletic departments of each school submitted the nominees with a maximum of three players from any one school. There are more than 50 players nominated.

Ashton Calder – Lake Superior State University (Surrey Eagles)
Braeden Tuck – Sacred Heard University (Trail Smoke Eaters)
Grant Cruikshank – Colorado College (Penticton Vees)
Jack LaFontaine – University of Minnesota (Penticton Vees)
Jonny Evans – University of Connecticut (Powell River Kings)
Jordan Kawaguchi – University of North Dakota (Chilliwack Chiefs)
Keaton Mastrodonato – Canisius College (Alberni Valley Bulldogs)
Kent Johnson – University of Michigan (Trail Smoke Eaters)
Odeen Tufto – Quinnipiac University (Vernon Vipers)
Ryan Steele – Sacred Heart University (Alberni Valley Bulldogs/West Kelowna Warriors)
Taylor Ward – University of Nebraska-Omaha (Penticton Vees)

Online voting is open until March 8 with the top 10 to be unveiled shortly afterward. Fan voting is available here.

Silverbacks bring an impact forward

The Salmon Arm Silverbacks have acquired 2002-born forward Julian Recine from the Ottawa Jr. Senators of the Central Canada Hockey League for future considerations.

Recine, who’s from Stittsville, Ontario, had five goals and 12 assists in 20 games with the Sens after being dealt from the Kanata Lasers at the 2020 trade deadline.

In 39 games as a rookie with the Lasers, Recine put up 15 goals and 18 assists before the trade. His point totals and performance in the classroom earned him a spot on the 2020 CCHL high school academic all-star team.

He played at Lake Forest Academy in 2018-19 and posted 65 points in 62 games.

Moberg signs a pro tryout with Rockford of the AHL

2000-born forward Cole Moberg has signed a professional tryout contract with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League.

Moberg, who was loaned to the Prince George Spruce Kings in November by the Western Hockey League’s Prince George Cougars, didn’t end up playing any BC Hockey League games due to provincial COVID-19 restrictions.

The North Vancouverite was a seventh-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2019 NHL Draft. Moberg finishes his junior career with 29 goals and 60 assists in 187 WHL games.

Dalpe named Cleveland Monsters captain

Forward Zac Dalpe (27 goals and 36 assists in 46 games with Penticton in 2007-08) was unveiled as captain of the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League on Monday. It is Dalpe’s second season donning the ‘C’ for the Monsters.

Dalpe, from Paris, Ontario, is a veteran of 378 career AHL games over parts of a dozen seasons. He has also played 141 career NHL games with Carolina, Vancouver, Buffalo, Minnesota, and Columbus.

PG arena to be named after former Spruce King Staley

Chad Staley (60 goals, 87 assists in 173 games with Prince George from 2012-15), who tragically passed away in March 2020, will have a new hockey rink in PG named after him.

Ted Clarke of the Prince George Citizen reports the rink will be named the Chad Staley Memorial Arena.

It was discovered that Staley died of a fentanyl overdose when he took what he thought was oxycodone to treat the pain after taking a puck to the mouth in a men’s league game.

Moore named NCHC defenseman of the week

Defenseman Cooper Moore (12 goals, 21 assists in 55 games with Chilliwack in 2019-20) was announced on Monday as the National Collegiate Hockey Conference defenseman of the week.

The 2001-born Detroit Red Wings draft pick had a goal and an assist in two games for the University of North Dakota.

Moore, who’s from Cos Cob, Connecticut, finished the weekend with two points, two shots on goal, and a +2 plus/minus rating.

Red Wings reassign Rasmussen and Boyle to the AHL

The Detroit Red Wings have reassigned forward Michael Rasmussen (no points in one game with Penticton in 2014-15) and goaltender Kevin Boyle (20-15-0, 2.99 GAA, .903 SV%, 1 SO in 39 games with Westside in 2010-11) to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League.

The 21-year-old Rasmussen had two assists in eight games with the Red Wings this season. He also put up 16 points in 18 games with the Graz 99ers in Austria earlier in the campaign.

Boyle, 28, was a member of the Red Wings taxi squad but didn’t play any games. He is a veteran of 117 career AHL games and has played two games at the NHL level.

Rempal reassigned to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves

Forward Sheldon Rempal (110 goals, 103 assists in 167 games with Nanaimo from 2013-16) was reassigned by the Carolina Hurricanes to the Chicago Wolves of the AHL on Monday.

Rempal, a 25-year-old Calgary native, played three games with the Hurricanes this season, but didn’t register any points. He was a full-time AHL player for the last two seasons.

Conway cut loose by the Solar Bears

The Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL have released forward Scott Conway (56 goals, 60 assists in 56 games with Penticton in 2015-16) from his 2020-21 contract.

Conway, 25, had a goal and an assist in five games with the Solar Bears so far this season. He signed his contract with Orlando just over a month ago.

Meyer and Fritz released by South Carolina

Defenseman Paul Meyer (eight goals, 26 assists in 58 games with Alberni Valley in 2015-16) has been released by the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays less than a week after signing with them.

Meyer, 24, had a goal in three games with the Stingrays. He was signed by the Macon Mayhem of the Southern Professional Hockey League on Jan. 6 but hasn’t played any games with them.

Defenseman Daniel Fritz (eight goals, 30 assists in 55 games with Coquitlam in 2014-15) was also released by South Carolina.

The 25-year-old signed with the Stingrays last week and played two games for them. Fritz had two assists in eight games with Pensacola of the SPHL to start the season.

Birks sent packing by the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers

Defenseman Dane Birks (nine goals, 32 assists in 112 games with Trail and Merritt from 2011-14) has been released by the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers.

Birks, who’s from Merritt, was scoreless and minus-3 in six games with the Nailers this season. He signed in Wheeling last November.