BCHL Today: Bucks bring in Air Force commit Hansson, Vees add Quinnipiac commit Wallace, and more!

Bucks add Hansson for 2021-22

The Cranbrook Bucks announced the commitment of 2001-born forward Liam Hansson for the 2021-22 BC Hockey League season. Hansson is committed to playing NCAA hockey at Air Force starting in Sept. 2022.

Hansson, who hails from Ramsey, NJ, scored 10 goals and 30 points in 34 games with the Chippewa Steel of the North American Hockey League in 2020-21.

It was his second season in the league after playing the bulk of his amateur hockey career in Sweden. Hansson was also selected by the Fargo Force in the 2020 US Hockey League Entry Draft.

Wallace signs with the Vees for the upcoming season

2003-born defenseman and Quinnipiac University commit Nicky Wallace is the newest player to join the Penticton Vees for the 2021-22 season.

He is set to join Quinnipiac in fall 2022. The product of Atlantic Highlands, NJ played 31 games for the Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL in 2020-21 and finished with three assists.

Wallace split the 2019-20 season between three teams but spent the bulk of the year with the North Jersey Avalanche 16U AAA. In 23 games with the Avs, he posted a goal and 13 points.

Liffiton joins the Clippers as an assistant coach

The Nanaimo Clippers announced the addition of 36-year-old Dave Liffiton of Windsor, ON as an assistant coach on Thursday.

Liffiton was a second-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche in 2003 and had a 13-year professional career that saw him play around North America and Europe, as well as seven career NHL games.

The Clippers also announced a partnership with the VI Vikings which sees the Vikings rebrand to the Nanaimo Junior Clippers Elite and AAA spring hockey clubs.

Mastrodonato named Atlantic Hockey student-athlete of the year

Canisius College forward Keaton Mastrodonato (40 goals, 54 assists in 125 games with Alberni Valley from 2016-19) was recognized as an Atlantic Hockey student-athlete of the year on Thursday.

The product of Powell River, BC had nine goals and 18 points in 17 games as a sophomore with the Golden Griffins this past season.

Weatherby named alternate captain at UND

Forward 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 2021-22 season.

The 23-year-old from Portland, OR spent the last three seasons with the Fighting Hawks, posting 47 points in 100 games. Weatherby was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the fourth round of the 2018 NHL Draft.

Craighead inks a deal in Norfolk

Forward Darien Craighead (52 goals, 86 assists in 143 games with Langley, Cowichan Valley, and Chilliwack) has signed with the Norfolk Admirals of the ECHL for the 2021-22 season.

Craighead, a 24-year-old who’s from Surrey, BC, had 10 points in 25 games with the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays in 2020-21 after a four-year college career at Northern Michigan University.

Thompson goes back to Adirondack for 2021-22

Defenseman Blake Thompson (four goals, 22 assists in 47 games with Victoria in 2012-13) has signed an extension with the ECHL’s Adirondack Thunder for 2021-22 after not playing this past season.

Thompson, 28, was with the Thunder from 2018-20 and put up nine goals and 40 points in 125 games.

Plevy rejoins Evansville Thunderbolts

Forward Austin Plevy (65 goals, 109 assists in 204 games with Langley and Chilliwack from 2010-14) has signed with the Evansville Thunderbolts of the Southern Professional Hockey League.

The 26-year-old native of Langley, BC spent the 2020-21 season with the SPHL’s Knoxville Ice Bears and finished with 12 goals and 31 points in 41 games.

Plevy was the SPHL’s rookie of the year and most valuable player in 2020 after leading the league in scoring with 65 points in 45 games.

Franson moves from Rockford to Hershey

DefensemanΒ Cody Franson (one assist in two games with Trail in 2003-04) signed a contract with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League for the 2021-22 season.

Franson, 33, spent this past season with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs and notched 17 points in 26 games. The Sicamous, BC product is a veteran of 550 NHL games over the last decade.