2020-21 BCHL season delayed yet again
Extension of PHO restrictions pushes BCHL season start to February
RELEASE: https://t.co/u8bPv62ZRP pic.twitter.com/LzHLKZs5eW
— BC Hockey League (@GoBCHL) January 8, 2021
With the extension of the current Provincial Health Officer’s order to Feb. 5, which in part restricts hockey to operate under viaSport Phase 2 guidelines, the BC Hockey League announced it has delayed the start of the 2020-21 season to February.
The league initially announced a start date of Dec. 1 in July and pushed it back to Dec. 8 in November. On Dec. 8, it announced a postponement to Jan. 8. Now the 2020-21 season won’t start any earlier than Feb. 6.
In an interview with BCHLNetwork, commissioner Chris Hebb touched on a number of topics, including the extension of the public health order, the number of players leaving the BCHL for teams in the United States, the likelihood of a hub situation to complete the season, and more.
King leaves Surrey to start school early
We’ve added Carter King to our roster! The 5’10,” 178-pound forward had 33 points in 58 games for the Surrey Eagles last seasonhttps://t.co/cXqbgJslbG | #PioneerTogether pic.twitter.com/83tTGhzB0d
— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) January 8, 2021
2001-born forward Carter King of the Surrey Eagles has left the team and joined the University of Denver a semester early.
King, who’s from Calgary, was set to play for the Pioneers starting this Sept. but Denver announced his addition to its roster on Friday.
He had three goals and three assists in seven games for the Eagles during the 2020-21 BCHL training season last fall. King committed to the Pioneers in June 2020.
Merritt bolts from the Express to the Stampede
2001-born forward Arlo Merritt leaves Coquitlam to join Sioux Falls of the USHL.
He played his first game for the Stampede tonight in a 5-1 win over Waterloo.
Merritt is committed to Ohio State University for this fall.#BCHL | #BCHLNetwork | @BCHLNetwork
— Brian Wiebe (@Brian_Wiebe) January 9, 2021
Forward Arlo Merritt, who was traded from Chilliwack to Coquitlam in October, won’t don an Express jersey as he is now with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the US Hockey League.
The 2001-born Ohio State University commit had three assists in six games between the Express and the Chiefs during the training season.
Merritt notched 21 points in 48 as a rookie with Chilliwack in 2019-20. The Haligonian played his first game with the Stampede on Friday night in a 5-1 win against Waterloo.
Wild bring in another recruit for 2021-22
Connor Overson joins the Wild for the 2021-2022 season. #WelcomeToWenatchee #Wild4Wenatchee @GoBCHL @T1EHL https://t.co/ho9KuyJdAj pic.twitter.com/PLKr8urEQP
— Wenatchee Wild (@WenatcheeWild1) January 8, 2021
The Wenatchee Wild has added a somewhat local player to their roster for 2021-22 with the commitment of 2004-born defenseman Connor Overson.
He is a native of West Richland, Washington, which is about two hours south of Wenatchee. Overson is playing this season with the Rocky Mountain Roughriders 16U team in Colorado.
Carogioello leaves Chilliwack for Muskegon
2002-born forward Frankie Carogioiello has left Chilliwack to join Muskegon of the USHL.
He had an assist in the Lumberjacks 5-4 shootout win over Green Bay tonight.
Carogioiello is committed to Miami University (Ohio) for this fall.#BCHL | #BCHLNetwork | @BCHLNetwork
— Brian Wiebe (@Brian_Wiebe) January 9, 2021
After posting three goals and three assists in eight games with Chilliwack during the BCHL training season, 2002-born forward Frankie Carogioiello is now with Muskegon of the USHL.
The product of Woodbridge, Ontario committed to the Chiefs back in July 2020 and is set to attend Miami University (Ohio) this September.
Carogioiello made his USHL debut on Friday and had an assist as the Lumberjacks beat Green Bay 5-4 in a shootout.
Brackett joins Maryland from the USHL
Welcome to the team Jack Brackett!! The Manassass native takes a puck that was turned over and slots it home for the icebreaker in Middletown! pic.twitter.com/Zpu4Ads5Nv
— Maryland Black Bears (@BlackBearsNAHL) January 9, 2021
2000-born forward Jack Brackett (13 goals, 18 assists in 46 games with Powell River in 2019-20) has joined the Maryland Black Bears of the North American Hockey League.
He played his first game with the Black Bears on Friday and scored a pair of goals to pace Maryland to a 4-1 win over the New Jersey Titans.
The Manassas, Virginia product was supposed to be a freshman this season in the NCAA with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, but the Engineers had their season cancelled last fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Collins cut loose by Kansas City of the ECHL
The Mavericks have added Adam Brady, assigned by Stockton.
We have also released forward, Anthony Collins https://t.co/jSsSK0UJhw
— Kansas City Mavericks (@kc_mavericks) January 8, 2021
Forward Anthony Collins (eight goals, 16 assists in 85 games with Merritt, Prince George, Burnaby, and Victoria from 2007-09) was released by the ECHL’s Kansas City Mavericks on Friday.
The Langley native only played two games with the Mavs after joining them in October. Collins has played seven seasons in the ECHL with South Carolina, Quad City, Rapid City, Indy, and Atlanta.
Yip signs deal with Finnish club
☀️ Hyvää huomenta, Mikkeli!
Toivotamme joukkueeseemme tervetulleeksi Brandon Yipin ja Pontus Netterbergin!
➡️https://t.co/ofXj5SyrWa#OmienPuolesta #Jukurit #Mikkeli #Liiga pic.twitter.com/Yg6S2pfzC0
— Mikkelin Jukurit (@MikkelinJukurit) January 9, 2021
Forward Brandon Yip (51 goals, 80 assists in 99 games with Coquitlam from 2003-05) has signed with Mikkelin Jukurit of Liiga, which is the top tier Finnish hockey league.
The 35-year-old from Maple Ridge, BC, spent the last three seasons with Kunlun Red Star of the Kontinental Hockey League and posted 85 points in 160 games.
He is also a veteran of 174 National Hockey League games with Colorado, Nashville, and Arizona.
