BCHL

BCHL Today: Vees grab Fin Williams from Prince George, 29 BCHL alumni included on NHL restart training camp rosters, and more

Written by Brian Wiebe on

 

Vees pick up Williams from Prince George

The Prince George Spruce Kings made a big trade on Monday, sending 2003-born forward Finlay Williams to Penticton for future considerations.

The deal comes after Williams asked to be sent to the Vees at the end of this past season. In a news release announcing the trade, Spruce Kings general manager Mike Hawes says the request was precipitated in part by the fact that Penticton hosts the 2021 Centennial Cup.

“I was told that a lot of Fin’s focus for this upcoming season will be on the NHL draft and he feels his chances of getting drafted are better in Penticton based largely on the fact that they are scheduled to host the National Championship this season,” said Hawes.

Williams, a North Vancouverite who is eligible for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, had 11 goals and 20 assists in 40 games with Prince George in 2019-20 as an alternate captain. He is committed to attend the University of Michigan in the fall of 2021.

29 former BCHLers listed on NHL rosters

Training camp opened on Monday as part of the National Hockey League’s Return to Play plan and 29 BCHL alumni are featured on the rosters released by each team. The Penticton Vees have seven alumni taking part while the Coquitlam Express has six.

Calgary Flames

  • Milan Lucic (Coquitlam Express)

Chicago Blackhawks

  • Duncan Keith (Penticton Panthers)

Colorado Avalanche

  • Tyson Jost (Penticton Vees)

Columbus Blue Jackets

  • Riley Nash (Salmon Arm Silverbacks)

Dallas Stars

  • Jamie Benn (Victoria Grizzlies)

Edmonton Oilers

  • Jujhar Khaira (Prince George Spruce Kings)

Florida Panthers

  • Dryden Hunt (Trail Smoke Eaters)
  • Chase Priskie (Salmon Arm Silverbacks)

Minnesota Wild

  • Brad Hunt (Coquitlam Express)
  • Mat Robson (Penticton Vees)

Montreal Canadiens

  • Carey Price (Quesnel Millionaires)

Nashville Predators

  • Daniel Carr (Powell River Kings)
  • Ryan Johansen (Penticton Vees)
  • Colton Sissons (Westside Warriors)
  • Kyle Turris (Burnaby Express)
  • Dante Fabbro (Penticton Vees)

New York Islanders

  • Mathew Barzal (Coquitlam Express)
  • Andrew Ladd (Coquitlam Express)
  • Devon Toews (Surrey Eagles)

New York Rangers

  • Steven Fogarty (Penticton Vees)

Philadelphia Flyers

  • Derek Grant (Langley Chiefs)

Pittsburgh Penguins

  • Brandon Tanev (Surrey Eagles)
  • Justin Schultz (Westside Warriors)

St. Louis Blues

  • Tyler Bozak (Victoria Grizzlies)

Toronto Maple Leafs

  • Alexander Kerfoot (Coquitlam Express)
  • Tyson Barrie (Victoria Grizzlies)

Vancouver Canucks

  • Jordie Benn (Victoria Grizzlies)
  • Troy Stecher (Penticton Vees)

Winnipeg Jets

  • Laurent Brossoit (Cowichan Valley Capitals)

Express name Veit goaltending coach

The Coquitlam Express announced on Monday the return of Ron Veit to the team as goaltending coach and director of goaltender development for the upcoming season.

Veit previously worked with the Express as a coach during the 2005-06 season when the club won the RBC Cup.

Kawaguchi tapped as Fighting Hawks captain

University of North Dakota forward Jordan Kawaguchi (120 goals, 122 assists in 213 games for Chilliwack from 2013-17) has been named captain of the Fighting Hawks for the 2020-21 season.

The Abbotsford, BC product has 30 goals and 60 assists over the last three seasons with UND, including 45 points as an alternate captain last season.

Weatherby named alternate captain at UND

Kawaguchi’s teammate Jasper Weatherby (49 goals, 57 assists in 104 games with Wenatchee from 2016-18) has been named an alternate captain at the University of North Dakota for the 2020-21 season.

The 2018 fourth round pick of the San Jose Sharks, who’s from Ashland, Oregon, has 13 goals and 10 assists in 71 games for the Fighting Hawks over the last two seasons.

Bonar signs extension with Atlanta of the ECHL

Goaltender Sean Bonar (38-15-0, 2.60 GAA, .908 SV%, six shutouts) has signed for another year with the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL.

The 29-year-old from Delta, BC, was 9-8-1 with a 3.72 GAA, a .889 SV% and one shutout in 20 games with the Gladiators in 2019-20, his third season in Atlanta.

Hoover signs pro deal with Utah in the ECHL

Forward Matt Hoover (38 goals, 43 assists in 57 games with Nanaimo in 2015-16) signed his first pro contract on Monday, with the Utah Grizzlies of ECHL.

The 24-year-old wrapped up his college career as the captain at Canisius College in 2019-20 and compiled 47 goals and 52 assists in 148 NCAA games over four seasons.