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BCHL Today: Vees recruit McDonald for 2021-22, BCHL alumni sign AHL deals, and more!

Written by Brian Wiebe on

McDonald joins Penticton for 2021-22

The Penticton Vees announced the commitment of 2001-born forward Casey McDonald for the 2021-22 BC Hockey League season.

McDonald, a product of Kindersley, SK, spent the last two seasons with the Fargo Force of the US Hockey League, putting up nine goals and 26 points in 83 games.

Edwards and Calvin join Beaver Valley’s hockey operations staff

Dallas Calvin (19 goals, 36 assists in 53 games with Trail and Vernon between 2010 and 2015) and Ryan Edwards (three goals, six assists in 19 games with Vernon and Trail between 2011 and 2013) have joined the staff of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League’s Beaver Valley NiteHawks.

Edwards, 28, is an assistant coach for the NiteHawks, while Calvin, 26, will run Beaver Valley’s fitness program. Both Edwards and Calvin are from Trail, BC, and played the bulk of their junior hockey careers for the NiteHawks.

Lucchini signs AHL contract with Laval

Forward Jake Lucchini (48 goals, 69 assists in 168 games with Trail from 2012-15) has signed a one-year American Hockey League contract with the Laval Rocket.

The Trail, BC product had three goals and six points in 28 games with the Rocket this past season. Lucchini, 26, became a restricted free agent at the end of the 2020-21 season.

McLain inks an AHL contract with Milwaukee

Forward Mitch McLain (38 goals, 54 assists in 111 games with Langley from 2012-14) has signed a contract with the Milwaukee Admirals for the 2021-22 American Hockey League season.

McLain, a 27-year-old from Baxter, MN, had five goals and seven points in 22 games with the AHL’s Iowa Wild in 2020-21. He’s a veteran of 118 American League games.

Cavaliere inks a deal with Ånge IK

Goaltender Mario Cavaliere (3-9-0, 3.83 goals-against-average, .908 save percentage, three shutouts in 12 games with Surrey in 2017-18) has signed with Ånge IK of Sweden’s HockeyTvåan for 2021-22.

Cavaliere, 24, spent the last two seasons with Brock University in U SPORTS and the native of Mississauga, ON finished with an 11-12-0 record, a 2.86 goals-against-average, and a .902 save percentage.

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.