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BCHL Today: Spruce Kings trade Richter to Cowichan, Smoke Eaters and Capitals add new forwards, and more

Written by Brian Wiebe on

Spruce Kings send forward Richter to Cowichan

The Prince George Spruce Kings and Cowichan Valley Capitals hooked up on a trade on Tuesday that sees 2000-born forward Tom Richter head to the Island. The Spruce Kings receive future considerations in return.

Richter, whose dad Mike won a Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers in 1994, had two goals and eight assists in 56 games as a rookie with Prince George in 2019-20.

The Greenwich, Connecticut product is set to join Union College in the NCAA in September 2021.

Smoke Eaters sign forward Michaud

The Trail Smoke Eaters added 2002-born forward Connor Michaud to their forward group on Tuesday.

The Monctonian spent this past season with the Okanagan Hockey Academy Black Prep team of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League, where he put up 10 goals and 23 assists in 36 games.

He also served as an alternate captain with OHA in 2019-20.BCH

Capitals add forward Kerr

The Cowichan Valley Capitals have signed 2002-born forward Brendan Kerr from the Notre Dame Hounds U18 AAA of the Saskatchewan Midget Hockey League.

In 44 games with the Hounds, the Victoria, BC resident posted 16 goals and 16 assists. He also added two goals in three playoff games. In addition, Kerr played four games with Notre Dame in the North American Prospects Hockey U18 League and notched two assists.

Longo trade details confirmed

The full details of the trade that saw the Victoria Grizzlies acquire 2000-born defenseman Trevor Longo from the Drumheller Dragons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League were posted on the BCHL transactions page on Tuesday.

The Grizzlies give up future considerations to the Dragons in the deal. Longo has spent the last 2.5 seasons in the Western Hockey League, most recently with the Vancouver Giants.

Clippers update fans on season likelihoods

The Nanaimo Clippers released an open letter to their fans on Tuesday morning. Among the most notable points in the letter is that the 2020-21 season may only be open to Clippers’ season ticket holders.

Nanaimo general manager Tali Campbell adds that season tickets for the Clippers will be capped at 1,200. Capacity at Frank Crane Arena, which is the Clippers home rink, is 3,000, including standing room.

Grizzlies alum Newhook gets invite to Hockey Canada summer development camp

Boston College forward Alex Newhook (60 goals, 108 assists in 90 games with Victoria from 2017-19) is among the 41 Canadian players invited to Hockey Canada’s World Junior summer development camp. Newhook and University of Wisconsin forward Dylan Holloway are the only two invitees who don’t play major junior hockey.

Newhook, a first round pick of the Colorado Avalanche at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, had 19 goals and 23 assists in 34 games as a rookie for BC this past season. He finished seventh overall among all scorers in NCAA Div. I hockey.

Nachbaur named bench boss in Bern

Don Nachbaur (22 goals, 27 assists in 54 games with Merritt in 1976-77) is the new head coach of SC Bern in the National League, which is the top tier of the Swiss Hockey League.

The 61-year-old spent 2019-20 as the head coach of HKM Zvolen in Slovakia. Nachbaur has coached in the NHL, American Hockey League, and Western Hockey League over the last 25 years.