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BCHL Today: Spruce Kings, Warriors and Clippers all make trades, Eagles and Vipers add new recruits, and more

Written by Brian Wiebe on

 

Spruce Kings pick up Lakoduk from Penticton

The Prince George Spruce Kings made a deal on Wednesday, acquiring 2000-born forward Darwin Lakoduk from the Penticton Vees for future considerations.

The 20-year-old from Edmonton is entering his third year in the BCHL after splitting 2019-20 between the Vees and the Victoria Grizzlies. He started with the Grizz in 2018-19 and played as an affiliate with Cowichan Valley in 2017-18.

Lakoduk, who’s committed to play NCAA hockey at American International College in 2021-22, has 17 goals and 19 assists in 113 career BCHL games. He’s also played in 19 career Fred Page Cup playoff games.

Nanaimo brings in defenseman Palandra from Ontario

The Nanaimo Clippers swung a trade with the Brantford 99ers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League to get 2001-born defenseman Michael Palandra for future considerations.

Palandra is committed to the Rochester Institute of Technology for September 2021. He put up 10 goals and 18 assists in 51 games with the 99ers in 2019-20.

The Markham, Ontario product scored four goals and posted 21 assists as a rookie in 2018-19 with the OJHL’s Aurora Tigers. Palandra was selected by Cedar Rapids in the 2019 US Hockey League Entry Draft and Flint in the 2018 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.

Warriors bring veteran forward Penner to the BCHL

The Notre Dame Hounds of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League announced on Wednesday evening that they have traded 2000-born forward Jarrett Penner to the West Kelowna Warriors in exchange for 2001-born forward Ryan Upson.

Penner, who hails from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, has spent the last two seasons with Notre Dame and posted 41 goals and 35 assists in 109 SJHL games.

Upson is from West Vancouver, BC. He had three goals and nine assists in 54 games as a rookie with the Warriors in 2019-20. Upson also played nine games as an affiliate with Vernon in 2018-19 and chalked up one assist.

Eagles add Gatto to their flock

The Surrey Eagles have added 2001-born Connor Gatto of Jacksonville, Florida for the 2020-21 season.

Gatto spent 2019-20 with the Islanders Hockey Club of the National Collegiate Development Conference and compiled 14 goals and 26 assists in 49 games, good enough for fifth on the team in scoring.

Vipers import forward Lorenz from Alberta

The Vernon Vipers added another recruit from the Canadian Sport School Hockey League by signing 2002-born forward Logan Lorenz, who is from Consort, Alberta.

The 17-year-old led the CSSHL in assists with 49 as he totaled 78 points in just 33 games for the Northern Alberta X-Treme Prep team. Lorenz also got into five games with Spruce Grove of the Alberta Junior Hockey League as an affiliate player.

In addition to winning a CSSHL championship with Northern Alberta in 2018-19, Lorenz was named to the CSSHL All-Academic Team this past season.

Vees bring defenseman Muzyka back

The Penticton Vees brought in a familiar face for the upcoming season with the addition of 2000-born defenseman Peter Muzyka.

The Toronto product was with the Cornell University Big Red in the NCAA this past season but didn’t play any games after skating in both of the team’s exhibition games.

Muzyka played with the Vees in 2018-19, notching three assists in 39 games after missing part of the season with an injury. The 20-year-old is a veteran of 148 career junior A games with Penticton and in the OJHL.

Silverbacks ink Quebec scorer Jacques

The Salmon Arm Silverbacks injected some offense into their roster after signing 2002-born forward Philippe Jacques, who is a Quebec City resident.

The 17-year-old skated at Stanstead College high school in Stanstead, Quebec in 2019-20 and was third in team scoring with 30 goals and 29 assists in 55 games.

Spruce Kings forward Brodziak commits to LIU

Another BCHLer will join Long Island University this fall as Prince George Spruce Kings forward Preston Brodziak has committed to play NCAA hockey for the Sharks.

The 1999-born veteran from Estevan, Saskatchewan wrapped up three years in the BCHL in 2019-20. He played 165 combined games with the Spruce Kings, Cowichan Valley, and Nanaimo and scored 37 goals to go along with 45 assists.