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BCHL Today: Bulldogs acquire Beattie from Cobourg, Grizzlies ship Kitchen to Nanaimo, Express forward Ong commits to LIU, and more

Written by Brian Wiebe on

Bulldogs acquire Darren Beattie from Cobourg

The Alberni Valley Bulldogs swung a trade on Monday to acquire 2002-born defenseman Darren Beattie from the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Cobourg Cougars for 2001-born forward Isaac Pascoal.

Beattie had four goals and 15 assists in 46 games for the Cougars as a freshman this past season.

He was selected in the first round, 25th overall by the Fairbanks Ice Dogs in this year’s North American Hockey League Supplemental Draft. Beattie was also drafted by the Sudbury Wolves in the 2018 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.

Pascoal had six goals and nine assists in 42 games as a rookie with the Bulldogs in 2019-20. He is from Kingston, Ontario, so the trade brings him much closer to home.

Clippers bring back defenseman Kitchen

The Nanaimo Clippers have reacquired 2001-born defenseman Colton Kitchen from the Victoria Grizzlies in a trade that sees future considerations go to BC’s capital city.

Kitchen spent 2019-20 with four teams, including the Clippers. He was traded by the Chilliwack Chiefs to Drumheller of the Alberta Junior Hockey League last July. After one game with the Dragons, Kitchen landed with Nanaimo in mid-October.

He was then traded to Penticton on October 23 before being moved to the Grizzlies on November 28. In 39 total games in 2019-20, Kitchen finished with two goals and three assists.

Clippers announce ID camps

With Hockey Canada lifting the ban on sanctioned activities, the Nanaimo Clippers announced two identification camps for prospective players. One camp is at the Shawnigan Lake Arena, which is about an hour from Nanaimo, and the other is at the Summit Ice Centre in Abbotsford, BC. Both camps are set for August 7-9.

Bulldogs launch summer camp

The Alberni Valley Bulldogs revealed details for their summer identification camp as well. Their camp runs from August 14-16 at the Multiplex in Port Alberni.

Express forward Ong commits to Long Island

1999-born forward Bradley Ong, who spent this past season with the Coquitlam Express, has committed to play NCAA Div. I hockey at Long Island University this fall.

The West Vancouver product had 12 goals and 10 assists in 57 games with the Express in 2019-20.

U Sports hockey delayed until at least January 2021

U SPORTS cancels 2020 fall championships due to COVID-19 / U SPORTS annule ses championnats d’automne 2020 en raison de la COVID-19🔗EN: bit.ly/2XGgIcS /🔗FR: bit.ly/3f44gJW

Posted by U SPORTS Canada on Monday, 8 June 2020

U Sports canceled all fall term championships on Monday due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, three of the four university sport conferences, Atlantic University Sport, Ontario University Athletics, and Canada West, announced the cancellation of all 2020-21 first term competitions.

AUS, OUA, and CW also announced that hockey wouldn’t start any earlier than January 1, 2021, and a decision on that will come no later than this coming October 8.

Thirteen graduating BCHL players are set to attend U Sports campuses this fall.

  • Ethan O’Rourke (Coquitlam Express – Dalhousie University)
  • Brady Lynn (Cowichan Valley Capitals – Ontario Tech University)
  • Ryan Winter (Merritt Centennials – MacEwen University)
  • Joshua Bourne (Nanaimo Clippers – Brock University)
  • Travis Walton (Nanaimo Clippers – Trinity Western University)
  • Devin Leduc (Powell River Kings – Royal Military College)
  • Jett Alexander (Prince George Spruce Kings – University of Toronto)
  • Lucas Breault (Salmon Arm Silverbacks – York University)
  • William Poirier (Salmon Arm Silverbacks – McGill University)
  • Jackson Caller (Vernon Vipers – University of British Columbia)
  • Landon Fuller (Vernon Vipers – Trinity Western University)
  • Dawson Holt (Vernon Vipers – University of Saskatchewan)
  • Matt Kowalski (Vernon Vipers – Queen’s University)

Terness offers fans a chance to design his mask

Trail Smoke Eaters goaltender and reigning BCHL rookie of the year Logan Terness and the team have created a contest where fans can submit a design to be considered for the goaltender’s mask this season. Details are available on the Smokies website here.

Tufto named Quinnipiac captain for 2020-21

Forward Odeen Tufto (25 goals, 40 assists in 57 games with Vernon in 2015-16) has been named captain for the Quinnipiac University Bobcats for the 2020-21 season.

Tufto, 23, is going into his fourth season of NCAA Div. I hockey at Quinnipiac. He has 31 goals and 90 assists in 110 games over the last four years.

Butte’s thriller against Air Force named Black Knights play of the year

A goal that Army forward Eric Butte (21 goals, 33 assists in 109 games with Langley from 2016-18) scored with 51 seconds left against Air Force to send the game to overtime has been named the Black Knights 2019-20 play of the year.

The game, which took place on January 10, was decided after a nine round shootout. Butte had eight goals and seven assists in 33 games as a sophomore for Army West Point this past season.

Gare signs an extension with Selber Wölfe

Forward Lanny Gare (67 goals, 107 assists in 117 games for Vernon from 1997-99) has signed a one-year extension with Selber Wölfe of the Oberliga, which is the third tier of hockey in Germany.

Gare, 41, has spent the last five seasons with Selber, putting up 109 goals and 205 assists in 214 games.

Grizzlys staff includes BCHL alumni

The Olds Grizzlys announced their 2020-21 coaching staff on Monday and it includes former Salmon Arm Silverbacks boss Scott Atkinson as general manager and head coach. Atkinson was hired by the Grizzlies this past January after being let go by the Silverbacks in December.

Meanwhile, Peter deGraaf (14 goals, 13 assists in 29 games with Penticton in 1985-86) returns to the Olds as an assistant coach. He made his debut behind the bench for the Grizzlys prior to the 2018-19 season.