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BCHL Today: 10 BCHL alumni sign new NHL deals, Smokies add Rimmer as goalie coach, and more!

Written by Brian Wiebe on

Rimmer joins Trail as its goaltender coach

The Trail Smoke Eaters announced the addition of Ty Rimmer to their staff as a goalie coach on Wednesday. Rimmer, who’s from Edmonton, AB, spent 2020-21 as the goalie coach of the Leduc Oil Kings U18 AAA of the Alberta Elite Hockey League.

The 29-year-old takes over in Trail from Cam Basarab, who leaves to become the coordinator of goaltending development at Rink Academy in Kelowna.

Brossoit gambles on a deal in Vegas

Goaltender Laurent Brossoit (10-8-0 with a 3.78 goals-against-average, an .898 save percentage, and two shutouts with Cowichan Valley in 2009-10) has signed a two-year contract extension with the Vegas Golden Knights worth $2.35 million per season.

Brossoit, a 28-year-old from Port Alberni, BC, was 6-6 with a 2.42 goals-against-average, a .918 save percentage, and one shutout in 14 games with the Winnipeg Jets in 2020-21.

Mitchell returns to Cincinnati in 2021-22

Forward Mason Mitchell (23 goals, 16 assists in 82 games with Nanaimo from 2012-14) signed with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL on Wednesday. He previously played for the Cyclones in 2019-20.

The 27-year-old from Edmonton had four assists in 25 games with the ECHL’s Florida Everblades this past season, his fourth year of pro hockey.

Khaira blows into the Windy City

Forward Jujhar Khaira (39 goals, 82 assists in 112 games with Prince George from 2010-12) signed a two-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday that pays him an average of $975,000 per season.

The 26-year-old from Surrey, BC played parts of the previous six seasons in Edmonton, compiling 24 goals and 63 points in 258 games.

Rempal returns to BC with the Canucks

Forward Sheldon Rempal (110 goals, 103 assists in 167 games with Nanaimo from 2013-16) signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Vancouver Canucks as an unrestricted free agent.

Rempal, a 25-year-old Calgary, AB native, played three games with the Carolina Hurricanes this past season but didn’t register any points. He did score 14 points in 25 games with the Canes’ American Hockey League affiliate in Chicago.

Hunt takes a bite of the Big Apple

Forward Dryden Hunt (no points in four games with the Trail Smoke Eaters in 2010-11) has signed a two-year contract with the New York Rangers worth $762,500 per season.

The 24-year-old from Cranbrook, BC had three goals and eight points in 26 games with the Arizona Coyotes during the 2020-21 season.

Barrie re-ups with the Oilers for three more years

Defenseman Tyson Barrie (two assists in three playoff games with Victoria in 2006-07) signed a three-year extension with the Edmonton Oilers worth $4.5 million per season.

The 30-year-old from Victoria, BC had 48 points in 56 games with the Oilers in 2020-21. Overall, he has 394 points in 610 career NHL games with Colorado, Toronto, and Edmonton.

Maple Ridge’s Hunt signs close to home with the Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday announced the signing of defenseman Brad Hunt (20 goals, 69 assists in 122 games with Burnaby from 2006-08) to a one-year, one-way contract worth $800,000.

Hunt, a 32-year-old from Maple Ridge, BC, is a veteran of 191 NHL games over the last nine seasons. He had one goal in a dozen games with the Minnesota Wild in 2020-21.

Irwin goes from Buffalo to Washington

Defenseman Matt Irwin (41 goals, 70 assists in 178 games with Nanaimo from 2005-08) signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Washington Capitals as an unrestricted free agent.

The Victoria, BC product finished the 2020-21 season with two assists in 24 games with the Buffalo Sabres. The 33-year-old veteran has played 383 career NHL games with San Jose, Boston, Nashville, Anaheim, and Buffalo.

Fogarty signs a deal in Beantown

Forward Steven Fogarty (33 goals, 48 assists in 60 games for Penticton in 2011-12) has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $750,000 with the Boston Bruins.

Fogarty, a 28-year-old from Chambersburg, PA, tallied 10 points in 16 games with the Rochester Americans of the AHL last season. He added three assists in nine NHL games with the Buffalo Sabres.

Zech to play in the City of Brotherly Love

Defenseman Cooper Zech (11 goals, 58 assists in 58 games with Wenatchee in 2017-18) has signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Philadelphia Flyers worth $875,000.

Zech hails from South Lyon, MI, and had a goal and six assists in 21 games with Providence of the AHL in 2020-21. He also added 10 points in 15 games on loan to Slovakian club HK Nitra to start the season.

Reilly returns to the Bruins on a one-year extension

Defenseman Mike Reilly (24 goals, 59 assists in 51 games with Penticton in 2011-12) has inked a three-year contract extension with the Boston Bruins worth an average of $3 million per season.

The 28-year-old from Chicago, IL was acquired by the Bruins from Ottawa at last season’s trade deadline. He finished 2020-21 with 27 assists in 55 games split between Boston and the Senators.

Anderson commits to Albertus Magnus College

Forward Sam Anderson (two goals, four assists in 54 games with West Kelowna in 2018-19) has committed to Albertus Magnus College to play NCAA Division III hockey this September.

The 2000-born blueliner from Calgary, AB had five points in 12 games with the Philadelphia Hockey Club of the National Collegiate Development Conference in 2020-21. He was also scoreless in a pair of games with Whitecourt of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

Maine welcomes Fortier as an assistant coach

Former Coquitlam Express general manager and head coach Jason Fortier is the new assistant coach at the University of Maine.

The 46-year-old product of Sault Ste. Marie, ON spent the 2020-21 season as the GM and head coach of the Odessa Jackalopes of the North American Hockey League.

Fortier had an 87-51-11 record with the Express over the course of three seasons and was named BCHL coach of the year in 2019-20.