BCHL Today: League simulates playoffs on NHL 20, Cents, Chiefs and Vees add recruits, and more

BCHL simulates 2020 playoffs on NHL 20

The BCHL has partnered with its players and teams to create a simulation of the remainder of the playoffs using EA Sports NHL 20.

The eight remaining BCHL playoff teams were created in the game. Then each team selected a player rep to go head-to-head in an online match-up that would decide the de facto winner of their real-life second-round series.

Clippers forward Walton commits to Trinity Western University

Nanaimo Clippers forward Travis Walton has committed to attend Trinity Western University this fall. The 21-year-old had 15 goals and 12 assists in 53 games with the Clippers in 2019-20.

He is a veteran of 141 Western Hockey League games with the Kamloops Blazers, where he played for three seasons before joining Nanaimo prior to last season. He is the 13th member of the Clippers roster to commit to a post-secondary institution.

Cents add forward Ochitwa for 2020-21

The Merritt Centennials have signed forward Alexander Ochitwa for the 2020-21 season.

The 17-year-old from Prince George had 23 goals and 31 assists in 30 games with the Cariboo Cougars of the BC Major Midget League this past season.

His 54 points were the best on the Cougars and second overall in the BCMML.

Chiefs sign defenceman Wiebe for next season

The Chilliwack Chiefs have added 16-year-old defenceman Abram Wiebe for the upcoming season.

He had five goals and 29 assists in 39 games with the BCMML’s Fraser Valley Thunderbirds. The Mission, BC native also played three games with the Chiefs as an affiliate but didn’t get any points.

Vees add second Niedermayer brother

The Penticton Vees have received a commitment from 16-year-old defenceman Josh Niedermayer of the Okanagan Hockey Academy Red Prep team for next season.

Niedermayer had ten goals and ten assists in 36 games for the OHA team this season. He was also pointless in three games as an affiliate player with the Vees.

His brother Jackson just wrapped up his first season in the BCHL with Penticton. 2020-21 will be the first time the two have played on the same team. Their father is Hockey Hall of Famer Scott Niedermayer.

Two BCHL alums in the running for Mike Richter Award

Zach Driscoll (21-4-0, 1.90 goals-against-average, .933 save percentage, four shutouts in 26 games with Penticton in 2015-16) and Matt Galajda (43-32-2, 2.52 GAA, .918 SV%, seven shutouts in 83 games with Victoria from 2015-17) are among the ten semifinalists for the Mike Richter Award as the NCAA’s top collegiate goaltender.

Driscoll plays for Bemidji State and finished the season with a 21-8-4 record, four shutouts, a 1.63 GAA and a .937 SV%.

Galajda is a junior for Cornell University. He had a 23-2-4 record in 2019-20 with a 1.56 GAA, a .931 SV% and five shutouts.

Former Penticton forward Morrison featured on Sportsnet 650

Brendan Morrison (35 goals, 59 assists in 56 games with Penticton in 1992-93) was a guest on The Scott Rintoul Show on radio station Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver on Thursday.

Among the things he talked about during the interview was a story about how Brett Hull ended up in the BCHL with the Penticton Knights back in 1982. According to Morrison, Hull was invited to the Knights camp as a favour because the team wanted to recruit a friend of his.

Hull is one of the most prolific scorers in both BCHL and NHL history. The Hockey Hall of Famer had 153 goals and 139 assists in 106 games in Penticton.

Three Stars of the Night ⏪ March 27, 2015

First Star: Clippers forward Sheldon Rempal notched a goal and an assist in a 7-3 thumping of Chilliwack.

Second Star: Nanaimo forward Brett Roulston had a goal and two assists in the win over the Chiefs.

Third Star: Clippers forward Corey Renwick scored a pair of goals.

Honourable Mentions: Chilliwack forwards Jake Hand and Rory Bell each had a goal and an assist. Nanaimo forwards Nicolas Carrier and Brendan Taylor along with defenceman Nicholas Gushue each had two assists.