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BCHL Today: Gurney commits to U SPORTS, additional Rivermen find homes, and more

Written by Brian Wiebe on

 

Gurney commits to Wilfrid Laurier for 2021-22

2000-born Coquitlam Express forward Justyn Gurney has committed to Wilfrid Laurier University of U SPORTS for this September.

Gurney, who’s from Delta, BC, was traded to Coquitlam by Trail in January. He had no points in three games with the Smoke Eaters during the exhibition season.

He is a veteran of 175 Western Hockey League games with Calgary, Regina, and Everett from 2016-20, putting up 10 goals and 31 points during that time.

O’Neill loaned to Nanaimo by Langley

The Nanaimo Clippers have acquired 2002-born forward Daniel O’Neill on loan from the Langley Rivermen.

The Surrey product is entering his sophomore season in the BCHL after posting two assists in nine exhibition games for the Rivermen last fall.

He had three goals and seven points in 36 games with Langley during the 2019-20 season.

BCHL confirms pod locations and participants

The BC Hockey League made the worst kept secret official on Friday, announcing the five pod locations and participants for the upcoming 2020-21 season.

As reported last week on BCHLNetwork, the teams hosting pods are Alberni Valley, Chilliwack, Coquitlam, Penticton, and Vernon.

The league revealed the schedule is set for release next week.

Chilliwack brings in two Rivermen as affiliate players

The Chilliwack Chiefs have added 2004-born forward Cameron Johnson and 2002-born goaltender Jakob Gullmes as affiliate players who are on loan from Langley.

Johnson, who hails from Vancouver, posted five goals and 10 points in as many games for the Rivermen during the exhibition season.

The fall 2023 Harvard commit had an eye-popping 29 goals and 78 points in 33 games for the St. George’s School Elite 15s of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League in 2019-20.

Gullmes, a rookie from Maple Ridge, BC, had an 0-1 record with a 5.41 goals-against-average and a .804 save percentage in three games with Langley during exhibition play.

He spent the last two seasons with the 100 Mile House Wranglers for the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, going 19-13-1 with a 2.75 GAA, a .908 SV%, and one shutout.

Tufto named ECAC player of the year

Quinnipiac University captain Odeen Tufto (25 goals, 40 assists in 57 games with Vernon in 2015-16) was named ECAC hockey player of the year on Friday.

The 24-year-old from Chaska, Minnesota, was second in the nation in scoring with 44 points in 27 games and is a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as the best player in college hockey.

Sydor signs with the Kamloops Blazers

2003-born forward Dylan Sydor put his BCHL plans on hold on Friday and signed with the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL.

The Kamloopsian played four games for the Merritt Centennials during the exhibition season but didn’t score any points.

Sydor’s dad Darryl is part-owner and an associate coach for the Blazers. He also played 227 games for them from 1988-92, winning a Memorial Cup in his final 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.