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BCHL Today: Cents add Benson, Chiefs bring in Grabas, Bucks sign Sombrowski, and more

Written by Brian Wiebe on

 

Centennials bring in Benson for this season

The Merritt Centennials announced the signing of 2003-born defenseman Devin Benson for the 2020-21 BC Hockey League season.

Benson, who’s from Kamloops, BC, played two games with his hometown Storm of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League this season.

He had two goals and 13 points in 35 games with Thompson Blazers U18 AAA last season.

Chiefs nab forward Grabas from BWC

The Chilliwack Chiefs have signed 2003-born forward Luca Grabas for this season. He was with Burnaby Winter Club U18 Prep but didn’t play any games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The product of Burnaby, BC spent the 2019-20 season with West Van Academy Prep of Canadian Sport School Hockey League U18. In 19 games, Grabas finished with five goals and 10 points.

Bucks buoy forward group with the addition of Sombrowski

The Cranbrook Bucks have added 2001-born forward Nikolas Sombrowski. He had a goal in one game with his hometown Fernie Ghostriders of the KIJHL this season.

Sombrowski played junior A in 2019-20, posting 14 points in 45 games with the Weyburn of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.

He played seven games with Salmon Arm as an affiliate player in 2018-19 and had a goal and four points.

Vees add three Osoyoos Coyotes as affiliate players

With the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League cancelled, the Penticton Vees have added a trio of Osoyoos Coyotes as affiliate players.

Joining the Vees are 2003-born forwards Crae Dawson and Levi Carter along with 2002-born forward Ethan O’Rourke.

Dawson is from Oliver, BC, and had two goals and three points in three games with the Coyotes this season. He also played nine games in Osoyoos in 2019-20 and had one assist.

Carter hails from Keremeos, BC. He posted five goals and six points in three games with Osoyoos this season. Carter also had three points in four games with Summerland in 2019-20.

O’Rourke was in his first season of junior hockey with the Coyotes. The Penticton product tallied four assists in three games.

Capitals sign Cougars forward Pollock

The Cowichan Valley Capitals have signed 2003-born forward Simon Pollock for the remainder of this season.

The Victoria native had three goals and six points in 10 games last fall with his hometown Cougars of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.

Merritt recruits Des Moines forward Mulrenin for next season

The Merritt Centennials have recruited 2002-born forward Ryan Mulrenin for the 2021-22 BCHL season.

He has 36 goals and 64 points in 70 games with the Des Moines Buccaneers 18U AAA this season. The product of Wayzata, Minnesota added a goal and an assist in four playoff games with the Bucs as well.

He was selected by the Vancouver Giants in the 9th round, 178th overall in the 2017 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft.

Thornton signs a WHL agreement with the Cougars

2003-born defenseman Hudson Thornton (six goals, 11 assists in 54 games with Chilliwack in 2019-20) has signed a WHL standard player agreement with the Prince George Cougars.

Thornton, who’s from Winnipeg, Manitoba, had three assists in seven games with Chilliwack during the 2020-21 BCHL training season before leaving for Fargo of the US Hockey League in December.

He was committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth for 2022.

Vees alumni in the running for college hockey’s top goalie award

The list of finalists is out for the 2021 Mike Richter Award as the top goaltender in NCAA Division I hockey and two former BCHL players are among those included.

The winner will be announced during the NCAA Frozen Four in April.

Miska earns first career NHL win

Goaltender Hunter Miska (53-21-5 with a 2.03 GAA, a .924 SV%, and seven shutouts in 80 games with Penticton from 2013-15) earned his first career National Hockey League win on Friday night.

The Stacy, Minnesota native made 16 saves in a 3-2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes. Miska now has a 1-1-1 record with a 3.03 goals-against-average and a .883 save percentage in three games with the Avalanche this season.