BCHL Bulletin, BCIHL, Coastal Conference, Interior Conference, MHL, NHL, U SPORTS

BCHL Today: Eagles get Galata back from Summerside, Ladd traded from New York to Arizona, and more!

Written by Brian Wiebe on

Eagles bring back Galata from P.E.I.

The Surrey Eagles announced the acquisition of 2002-born forward Cole Galata for the 2021-22 season.

Bentley University-bound Galata, of Barrie, ON, was recruited by the Eagles in Mar. 2020. He ended up posting a goal and two assists in seven games with Surrey during the BCHL exhibition season last fall.

He was traded to Summerside of the Maritime Hockey League on Jan. 12 and finished with a goal and 16 assists in 17 games with the Western Capitals.

Ladd traded from the Islanders to Arizona

Forward Andrew Ladd (15 goals, 40 assists in 58 games with Coquitlam in 2002-03) was traded from the New York Islanders to the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday along with three draft picks. The Isles received nothing back in the deal.

Ladd, who hails from Maple Ridge, BC, only played one game in 2020-21. It came with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL and he didn’t post any points. He also spent time on New York’s taxi squad.

The 35-year-old is signed to a $5.5-million a year contract through the 2022-23 season but has battled knee injuries over the last two seasons. He was left unprotected by the Coyotes for Wednesday’s expansion draft.

Popoff inks a deal in France for 2021-22

Forward Carter Popoff (one assist in six games with Penticton and Surrey in 2011-12) has signed with Neuilly-sur-Marne of the French Ice Hockey Federation Division 1 for the 2021-22 season.

The 26-year-old from Richmond, BC spent the last five seasons playing U SPORTS hockey with the University of British Columbia. In 110 games with UBC, Popoff posted 57 points.

French retires from Tölzer Löwen

Forward Max French (67 goals, 82 assists in 193 games with West Kelowna from 2009-13) has retired from Tölzer Löwen of DEL2, the second tier pro league in Germany, due to a variety of injuries during his career.

French, 28, spent the last two seasons with Tölzer, putting up 68 goals and 129 points in 89 games. The West Kelowna, BC native signed an extension with Tölzer in May and was set to play his fourth season in Europe.

Gatenby transfers to the University of Victoria

Defenseman Dan Gatenby (one goal, five assists in 20 games with Nanaimo in 2018-19) has transferred from the University of British Columbia to the University of Victoria of the BC Intercollegiate Hockey League for 2021-22.

The 22-year-old from Kelowna, BC didn’t play any games with UBC in 2020-21 after U SPORTS cancelled the winter sports season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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.