BCHL Bulletin

BCHL Today: Spruce Kings acquire OJHL defenseman Wright, Chiefs recruit Lacroix for 2021-22, Canada wins without Newhook, and more

Brian Wiebe

 

Spruce Kings acquire defenseman Wright from the OJHL

The Prince George Spruce Kings have acquired 2001-born defenseman Josh Wright from the Brantford 99ers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League. There’s no word on what the OJHL club receives in return.

Wright is from Woodstock, Ontario, and saw his rights acquired by Brantford in June 2020. He had 14 points in 43 games as a rookie with the OJHL’s Trenton Golden Hawks last season.

Chiefs bring in Lacroix for 2021-22 season

The Chilliwack Chiefs have received a commitment from 2005-born forward A.J. Lacroix for the 2021-22 BC Hockey League season.

The West Vancouver, BC product is scoreless in two games with Delta Hockey Academy U17 Prep of the Canadian Sport School U17 Hockey League this season.

He had 26 goals and 34 assists in 30 games with West Van Academy U15 Prep of the CSSHL U15 in 2019-20 to finish 10th overall in scoring.

Newhook misses Canada’s quarterfinal game due to an injury

Forward Alex Newhook (60 goals, 108 assists in 98 games with Victoria from 2017-19) missed Canada’s quarterfinal game against the Czech Republic on Saturday at the 2021 World Junior Hockey Championship with an undisclosed upper body injury.

The Boston College sophomore left Canada’s game on New Year’s Eve after taking a big hit in the second period against Finland.

Despite missing Newhook, Canada won Saturday’s game 3-0 over the Czechs to advance to a semifinal against Russia on Monday.

Winters goes from USHL to NAHL

2001-born forward Morgan Winters made his NAHL debut with the Kenai River Brown Bears on Saturday – and scored a goal – in a game against Chippewa.

Winters, who committed to the Langley Rivermen in March 2020 but didn’t play in the BCHL, was with the Tri-City Storm of the US Hockey League, where he had one goal in four games this season.

The Osprey, Florida product is committed to attend the University of New Hampshire this coming September.

Badal traded in the North American Hockey League

2001-born forward Jacob Badal (14-18-32 in 48 games with Powell River in 2019-20) was traded from the Odessa Jackalopes to the Minnesota Wilderness in the North American Hockey League on Saturday.

The Flushing, Michigan product had five goals in 14 games with Odessa this season. Badal is committed to playing NCAA hockey at Western Michigan University this fall.

Brian Wiebe

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.