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BCHL Today: BCHL extends partnership with HeadCheck Health, Vipers are looking for a new athletic therapist, and more!

Written by Brian Wiebe on

BCHL extends partnership with HeadCheck Health

The BC Hockey League announced on Tuesday that it has extended its partnership with HeadCheck Health, which is a concussion management and data collection system.

“We are thrilled to extend our longstanding relationship with HeadCheck,” said BCHL Deputy Commissioner Steven Cocker in a news release. “Player-safety testing and injury tracking (are) of the utmost importance as BCHL athletes advance in their hockey careers.”

“We want to ensure our teams’ medical personnel are using a concussion-management platform that provides access to gold-standard tests and analysis tools, such as comparison with a player’s historical test performance.”

The 2021-22 season is the fifth straight in which the BCHL has partnered with HeadCheck Health.

Vipers are looking to hire a new athletic therapist/trainer

The Vernon Vipers are on the hunt for an athletic therapist and trainer for the 2021-22 season.

Details about the job and how to apply are available on the Vipers website here.

Express president and GM named GM of PCAHA development program

The Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association announced on Wednesday that Coquitlam Express vice-president and general manager Tali Campbell has been named general manager of its female district development program.

Despite assuming the role with the PCAHA, Campbell will remain in his capacity with the Express.

Dodd transfers to Alvernia University

Forward Frazer Dodd (four goals, 13 assists in 41 games with Merritt from 2017-19) has transferred from Bryn Athyn College to Alvernia University for the 2021-22 season. Both schools play hockey at the NCAA Division III level.

Dodd, a 22-year-old from Hazleton, BC, didn’t get into any games at Bryn Athyn this past season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He had 36 points in 46 games with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Swan Valley Stampeders in 2019-20.

Hanlon signs in France for 2021-22

Forward Jacob Hanlon (19 goals, 33 assists in 114 games with Nanaimo from 2013-15) signed his first professional contract with Montpellier of the French Hockey Federation Division 1 for the 2021-22 season.

The 26-year-old product of Mississauga, ON spent the last five seasons playing U SPORTS hockey at the University of Ottawa. In 109 games with the Gee-Gees, Hanlon tallied 18 goals and 49 points.

Garman promoted to GM of the Chicago Steel

Michael Garman (36-15-0, 2.72 goals-against-average, .895 save percentage, four shutouts in 53 games with Nanaimo from 2006-08) is the new general manager of the Chicago Steel of the US Hockey League.

Garman, a 33-year-old from Vail, CO, served as associate head coach of the Steel in 2020-21. In the three seasons prior, he was an assistant coach for Chicago.

Ferraro nominated for Canadian Screen Award as best sports analyst

TSN broadcaster Ray Ferraro (65 goals, 70 assists in 48 games with Penticton in 1981-82) is nominated for a 2021 Canadian Screen Award in the best sports analyst category.

The 56-year-old from Trail, BC was nominated for his analysis as colour commentator on the TSN broadcast of the gold medal game at the 2020 World Junior Hockey Championship.

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.