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BCHL Today: Nause, Fischer and Bhabra score first BCHL goals, alumni movement in Europe, and more!

Written by Brian Wiebe on

 

Nause notches first BCHL goal

2001-born Alberni Valley defenseman Ryan Nause scored his first BC Hockey League goal at 11:19 of the first period in Saturday’s 2-1 loss to the Cowichan Valley Capitals. He now has nine points on the season.

The Riverview, New Brunswick native’s milestone marker provided the lone goal for the Bulldogs and tied the game at one. He was playing in his 15th BC Hockey League contest and 63rd junior A game after spending last season in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

Fischer posts first career BCHL goal

Salmon Arm Silverbacks forward Braden Fischer potted his first BCHL goal on Saturday in a 6-2 win over Vernon. It came in the Winnipeg product’s 13th career BCHL game.

The 2002-born left winger scored at the 16:56 mark of the first period to give the Backs a 3-1 lead. Fischer scored 19 goals with the Winnipeg Blues of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League last season.

Bhabra cashes in his first in the BCHL

2003-born Prince George defenseman Amran Bhabra is on the board with his first BCHL goal. The milestone came at 10:19 of the second period and gave the Spruce Kings a 2-1 lead in a 6-5 loss to Merritt on Saturday.

Bhabra, a product of Nelson, BC who’s into his second BCHL season with PG, was playing his 63rd career BCHL game and now has a goal and four assists this season.

McCormack signs with Mountfield HK

Forward Graeme McCormack (31 goals, 92 assists in 157 games with Victoria and Nanaimo from 2009-12) has signed with HK Hradec Kralove of the Czech Extraliga, which is the top pro league in the Czech Republic.

The 30-year-old from Thunder Bay, Ontario had seven goals and 34 points in 46 games with HK Dukla Michalovce of the Slovak Tipos Extraliga this past season.

French signs an extension with the Tölzer Lions

Forward Max French (67 goals, 82 assists in 193 games with West Kelowna from 2009-13) has signed a contract extension for the 2021-22 season with Tölzer Löwen of DEL2, the second tier pro league in Germany.

French, 28, spent the last two seasons with Tölzer, putting up 68 goals and 129 points in 89 games. The West Kelowna native is entering his fourth season playing in Europe.

Genoway won’t be back with Russian club HC Avtomobilist

Defenseman Chay Genoway (17 goals, 32 assists in 56 games with Vernon in 2005-06) won’t return to Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg of the Kontinental Hockey League for the 2021-22 season.

The 34-year-old Morden, Manitoba product had three goals and 25 points in 58 games for Avtomobilist in 2019-20, his sixth career season in the KHL.

Three Stars of the Night ⭐⭐⭐

First Star: Merritt forward Ben Ward had a goal and three assists in the Centennials’ 6-5 win over Prince George.

Second Star: Silverbacks forward Sullivan Mack posted a goal and two assists in Salmon Arm’s 6-2 victory against Vernon.

Third Star: Grizzlies 15-year-old affiliate player Matthew Wood notched three assists as Victoria beat Nanaimo 6-1.

Honourable Mentions: Cranbrook netminder Nathan Airey kicked out 45 shots. Cents defenseman Tristan Allen and Victoria forward Ellis Rickwood each gathered three assists. Trail goaltender Logan Terness made 37 saves. Merritt forward Walker Erickson, Surrey forward Holden Katzalay, and Cents forward Alex Ochitwa each potted a pair of goals. Nanaimo goalie Ethan Neitsch stopped 41 shots. Merritt netminder Colton Phillips-Watts turned away 46 shots.