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BCHL Today: Bucks sign Johnson for 2021-22, Floris commits to Iowa State, and more!

Written by Brian Wiebe on

Bucks bring in veteran Johnson for 2021-22

The Cranbrook Bucks announced the commitment of 2001-born forward John Johnson for the upcoming BC Hockey League season.

The product of Naperville, IL spent the last two seasons with the New Jersey Rockets of the National Collegiate Development Conference and posted 29 goals and 53 points in 86 games.

He also spent time in the North American Hockey League between 2018-19 and the start of the 2019-20 season, putting up eight points in 47 games with the Brookings/St. Cloud franchise.

Floris commits to Iowa State University

Trail Smoke Eaters forward Hunter Floris has committed to Iowa State University for this fall. The 2000-born product of Vanderhoof, BC had two points in 13 games with the Smokies during the 2020-21 season.

He added five points in three games as he started the season with the Nelson Leafs of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.

Floris was captain of the Olds Grizzlys of the Alberta Junior Hockey League in 2019-20 and put up 23 goals and 40 points in 52 games.

BC Hockey League awards scholarships to five graduating players

The BCHL announced on Tuesday the five players to receive the Shaw Communications BCHL Scholarship for the 2020-21 season.

According to the league’s news release, the players were selected ” based on their academic track record, their stated future career and education goals and their time spent in the BCHL.”

Each player receives a $2,000 scholarship to attend a Canadian post-secondary institution.

BCHL alumni named AHCA All-American Scholars from RIT

17 players from the Rochester Institute of Technology men’s hockey team were named All-American Scholars by the American Hockey Coaches Association on Monday.

Among the 17 named are five former BCHL players, listed with the team they last played with in the league.

Low returns to the ECHL’s Reading Royals

Forward Brayden Low (nine goals, 17 assists in 61 games with Merritt and Powell River from 2011-12) has signed a contract with the Reading Royals of the ECHL for the 2021-22 season.

The 27-year-old from Richmond, BC posted 10 goals and 18 points in 17 games with EV Lindau of Oberliga, which is the third tier of pro hockey in Germany, in 2020-21.

He previously played in Reading for two seasons from 2018-20 and notched 33 goals and 71 points in 123 games.

Valente signs in Austria for 2021-22

Defenseman Grayson Valente (10 goals, 29 assists in 138 games with Alberni Valley from 2017-20) has signed with VEU Feldkirch of the Alps Hockey League for the upcoming season.

The 2000-born blueliner tallied three goals and six points in 44 games with the NAHL’s Austin Bruins during the 2020-21 season.

He was traded from Alberni Valley to Merritt last June but opted to go to the NAHL in January because the BCHL season was on pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Zalewski goes from Germany to Austria

Forward Mike Zalewski (50 goals, 54 assists in 106 games with Vernon from 2010-12) has signed with the Graz 99ers of the ICE Hockey League, which is the highest level of pro hockey in Austria.

Zalewski, 28, spent the 2020-21 season with Kölner Haie in Germany’s Deutsche Eishockey Liga and had 12 points in 38 games. The New Hartford, NY product previously played in Austria in 2019-20, scoring 33 points in the Vienna Capitals of the EBEL.

Lang finds himself back in the ECHL

Forward Chase Lang (no points in five games with Alberni Valley in 2011-12) has signed a deal with the Norfolk Admirals for the 2021-22 ECHL season.

The 24-year-old from Nanaimo, BC didn’t play anywhere of note in 2020-21 but spent parts of the previous four seasons in the ECHL with four different teams.

In 138 career ECHL games, he has 30 goals and 78 points. Lang was the Bulldogs’ selection in the now-defunct BCHL Affiliate Player Draft.

Lowry leaves the AHL for the DEL

Forward Joel Lowry (39 goals, 72 assists in 99 games with Victoria from 2009-11) won’t be back with the Iserlohn Roosters of the DEL in 2021-22.

The 29-year-old Calgary, AB native was released by the Roosters after putting up seven goals and 12 points in 28 games during the 2020-21 season.