BCHL Bulletin

BCHL Today: Serdachny heads off to Colorado College, Express confirm the return of three staff, and more!

Brian Wiebe

 

Serdachny commits to Colorado College

Salmon Arm Silverbacks forward Noah Serdachny has committed to play NCAA hockey at Colorado College this September.

The 2003-born forward from Edmonton had six goals and 24 points for the Silverbacks this past season. Serdachny is ranked 208th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting for next month’s NHL Draft.

Express confirm more staff for 2021-22

The Coquitlam Express announced on Saturday the return of director of goaltender development and scouting Ron Veit, skills development coach Justin Rai (47 goals, 55 assists in 116 games with Prince George from 2012-15), and team chaplain Colin Chornohus for the 2021-22 BC Hockey League season.

Veit, who has worked with countless goaltenders over the last 20 years, was hired in his current role with the Express last July. Chornohus has been chaplain for the Express for no fewer than the last three seasons.

Rai was on Coquitlam’s coaching staff for the last two seasons, including as an assistant coach during the pod season.

Clippers bring in Martin as head scout for the Vancouver area

The Nanaimo Clippers announced on Monday the appointment of Jim Martin as the club’s head scout for the Vancouver area.

A skills development coach in the Lower Mainland of BC, Martin also works with the Selects BC spring hockey program and the Semiahmoo Minor Hockey Association.

Price and the Habs brush away the Leafs

Goaltender Carey Price (2.70 goals-against-average in 18 games with Quesnel in 2002-03) and his Montreal Canadiens advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs with a 3-1 win in game seven of their first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Price, a 33-year-old from Anahim Lake, BC, started all seven games for Montreal in the series and finished with a 2.24 goals-against-average and a .932 save percentage.

The Habs now play Jordie Benn (24 goals, 90 assists in 172 games with Victoria from 2005-08), Laurent Brossoit (10-8-0 with a 3.78 GAA, a .898 SV%, and two shutouts with Cowichan Valley in 2009-10), and the Winnipeg Jets in the second round of the post-season.

Pears signs with Cholet

Defenseman Drayson Pears (eight goals, 42 assists in 138 games with Victoria from 2015-18) has signed with Cholet of FFHG, Division 1, which is the second tier of pro hockey in France.

Pears, 23, was set to play his third season with the University of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves this past season but had it cancelled due to the pandemic.

Brian Wiebe

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.