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BCHL Today: BCHL hands out Penticton pod awards, Garteig signs in Finland, and more!

Written by Brian Wiebe on

 

BCHL hands out Penticton pod awards

The BC Hockey League announced the award winners for the Penticton pod on Thursday. Players from the Cranbrook Bucks, Penticton Vees, and Trail Smoke Eaters were eligible to earn awards.

  • Penticton pod champions: Penticton Vees
  • Penticton pod top scorer: Luc Wilson, Penticton Vees
  • Penticton pod top rookie: Jacob Quillan, Penticton Vees
  • Penticton pod most valuable player: Kaeden Lane, Penticton Vees
  • Penticton pod top goaltender: Lane
  • Penticton pod top defenseman: Ryan Helliwell, Trail Smoke Eaters

The 2020-21 BCHLNetwork award winners are here.

Buono inks a deal in France for 2021-22

Defenseman Carmine Buono (12 goals, 59 assists in 121 games with Powell River from 2014-18) has signed with Neuilly-sur-Marne of FFHG, Division 1, which is the second tier of hockey in France.

The 24-year-old from Burnaby didn’t play this past season due to COVID-19, but spent the previous two years with the University of Alaska-Anchorage and posted 12 points in 59 games.

Torrel signs with Cholet for 2021-22

Forward Gage Torrel (36 goals, 52 assists in 82 games for Langley from 2013-15) signed with Dogs de Cholet of FFHG, Division 1 in France on Thursday.

Torrel, 26, didn’t play in 2020-21 because of COVID-19 restrictions. He split 2019-20 between three teams in the ECHL, putting up five goals and 12 points in 38 games with Rapid City, Fort Wayne, and Florida.

Garteig moves to Helsingin IFK for next season

Goaltender Michael Garteig (92-23-3 with a 2.07 GAA, .921 SV%, 13 SO in 120 games with Penticton, Powell River, and Quesnel from 2009-12) signed with Helsingin IFK of Liiga, which is the top level of pro hockey in Finland, for the 2021-22 season.

The 29-year-old from Prince George had a 16-12-0 record with a 2.61 goals-against-average, a .902 save percentage, and one shutout in 29 games with ERC Ingolstadt of Deutsche Eishockey Liga this past season.

O’Donnell cut loose by Bratislava

28-year-old forward Brendan O’Donnell (29 goals, 43 assists in 58 games with Penticton in 2010-11) wasn’t offered a contract for the 2021-22 season by HC Slovan Bratislava of Slovakia’s Tipos Extraliga.

The Winnipeg native posted 22 goals and 41 points in 47 games with Bratislava this past season.

Davidson let go by Everett Silvertips

The Everett Silvertips announced on Thursday evening that they won’t offer a new contract to general manager Garry Davidson and parted ways with the 70-year-old effective immediately.

Davidson, who coached no fewer than 850 games in the BCHL with Penticton, Victoria, Trail, and Salmon Arm and was also part-owner of the Silverbacks from 2001-08, was GM of the Silvertips for the last nine seasons.

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.