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BCHL Today: Express add more to its roster, Vipers name captains, and more

Written by Brian Wiebe on

Express bring in Chubbs and Yee

The Coquitlam Express announced the addition of 2004-born defenseman William Yee and 2002-born forward Benjamin Chubbs for the 2020-21 BC Hockey League season.

Yee, who played for St. George’s School U18 prep of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League in 2019-20 and had 16 points in 36 games, is signed as a regular roster member.

Chubbs, who had three goals and four points in eight games with the Port Moody Panthers of the Pacific Junior Hockey League, is signed as an affiliate player for the Express.

The addition of 2003-born forward Tyler Schweitzer as an affiliate and 2000-born goaltender Jaden Little as a regular roster member was announced earlier.

Vipers name leadership corps for 2020-21 season

The Vernon Vipers announced the four players who will serve as the leadership corps for them during the 2020-21 BCHL season.

The Snakes won’t have a captain, but 2000-born defensemen Seth Bafaro and Hunter Donohoe along with 2000-born forward Tyler Carpendale and 2002-born defenseman Trey Taylor will each wear an ‘A’ on their jersey.

Report: Hardman to sign with Chicago Blackhawks

According to a report from ESPN sports anchor John Buccigross, Boston College forward Mike Hardman (39 goals, 33 assists in 58 games with West Kelowna in 2018-19) is set to sign with the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks as an NCAA free agent.

The 22-year-old from Hanover, Massachusetts had 22 goals and 44 points in 58 games with Boston College over the last two seasons.

Leahy and Babichuk transfer to Vermont

Per Mike McMahon, who is a senior writer at College Hockey News, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute defenseman Cory Babichuk (seven goals, 33 assists in 65 games with Surrey from 2016-18) and Cornell University defenseman Joe Leahy (seven goals, 32 assists in 93 games with Penticton and Salmon Arm from 2016-18) are both set to transfer to the University of Vermont.

Babichuk, 22, had four goals and 16 points in 27 games with RPI in 2019-20, but didn’t play this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leahy, 23, had four goals and 12 points in 40 games with Cornell over the last two seasons. He also didn’t play any games this season due to the pandemic.

Johnson ranked 5th overall by The Athletic

The Athletic senior NHL prospects writer Corey Pronman released his latest 2021 NHL Draft rankings on Monday and University of Michigan forward Kent Johnson (61 goals and 86 assists in 112 games with Trail from 2018-20) is ranked fifth overall.

Johnson, an 18-year-old from Port Moody, BC, had nine goals and 27 points in 26 games as a freshman for the Wolverines this season.

Selkirk College shutters men’s hockey

Selkirk College, which is located in the West Kootenay city of Castlegar, BC, announced on Monday it was shutting down its men’s hockey program due to “budgetary constraints”.

The Saints didn’t play this season after the BC Intercollegiate Hockey League announced a shutdown of 2020-21 back in November. Selkirk also had its season cut short last year due to the effects of COVID-19.

Three players on the Saints roster for 2020-21 have BCHL experience.

  • Forward Blake Sidoni (two goals, 10 assists in 44 games with Trail from 2017-18)
  • Defenseman Evan Gorman (no points in one game with Trail in 2015-16)
  • Goaltender Jared Breitkreuz (1-0, 3.13 goals-against-average, and .911 save percentage in two games with Merritt in 2017-18)

Selkirk College was a member of the BCIHL since 2006 and won four straight championships from 2013-16.

Express launch campaign to help local eateries

The Coquitlam Express have organized a campaign called “We Are Here For You!” to help advertise local restaurants for delivery, take-out, or patio service after the Province of BC implemented restrictions on indoor dining as of midnight on Tuesday.

The Express will promote each restaurant that reaches out on the team’s official social media channels. Details are available here.

Cholowski assigned to American Hockey League

Defenseman Dennis Cholowski (16 goals, 51 assists in 106 games with Chilliwack from 2014-16) has been assigned by the Detroit Red Wings to Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League.

Cholowski, who was chosen 20th overall by Detroit in the 2016 NHL Draft, has appeared in two games for the Red Wings this season.

He also has three goals and eight points in 11 games with the Griffins.

Finley out for the season with injury

Spokane Chiefs forward Jack Finley (one goal in two games with Penticton in 2017-18) will miss the remainder of the Western Hockey League season due to a shoulder injury. He will have surgery and is expected to fully recover within six months.

The 2002-born draft pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning didn’t get into any games with Spokane this season, but did play a pair of games with Syracuse of the AHL last month.