BCHL Bulletin, Coastal Conference, Interior Conference, MJHL, NAHL, NCAA, NCAA Div. III

BCHL Today: Rivermen trade for Wessels, Kings swing a deal for Andrew, and more!

Written by Brian Wiebe on

Rivermen acquire Wessels from Powell River

The Langley Rivermen have acquired 2003-born defenseman Josh Wessels from the Powell River Kings for future considerations.

Wessels, who’s from Richmond, BC, had five assists in 18 games with the Kings in the 2020-21 BCHL season in the Coquitlam pod.

More on the trade is available here.

Kings swap forwards with Virden of the MJHL

The Powell River Kings have acquired 2002-born forward Hunter Andrew from the Virden Oil Capitals of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League for 2002-born forward Braden Fischer.

Andrew hails from Virden, MB and he finished the 2020-21 season with the Charlotte Rush of the USPHL Premier League. In four games, he posted a goal and three assists.

He started the season with his hometown Oil Capitals and put up three goals and four points in seven games before the Manitoba Junior Hockey League was shut down due to COVID-19.

Griebel commits to Merrimack for 2022-23

2001-born forward Trevor Griebel (seven goals, 21 assists in 95 games with Wenatchee from 2018-20) has committed to Merrimack College starting in September 2022.

The product of Tampa, FL had four goals and 17 points in 53 games with the Fargo Force of the US Hockey League this past season.

Gracel re-ups with ESV Kaufbeuren

Forward Branden Gracel (one goal, one assist in 21 games with Alberni Valley in 2008-09) has signed a contract extension for the 2021-22 season with ESV Kaufbeuren of DEL2, which is the second tier of pro hockey in Germany.

The 31-year-old from Calgary has spent four of the last five seasons with Kaufbeuren, posting 79 goals and 211 points in 187 games.

Pearce inks a deal with Amiens

Forward Elgin Pearce (five goals, five assists in 40 games with Langley in 2008-09) signed a contract with Amiens in Ligue Magnus for the 2021-22 season. Ligue Magnus is the top division of pro hockey in France.

Pearce, a product of Port Coquitlam, BC, didn’t play hockey of record during the 2020-21 season but split the 2019-20 season with Dundee and Belfast in the UK’s Elite Ice Hockey League. He finished with 20 goals and 39 points in 49 games.

Philpott commits to Hamilton College

Defenseman James Philpott (one assist in six games with West Kelowna in 2018-19) has committed to Hamilton College to play NCAA Division III hockey this fall.

The 2000-born native of Calgary had six goals and 27 points in 52 games as captain of the Maine Nordiques of the North American Hockey League this past season.

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.