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BCHL Today: Rivermen and Clippers make a deal, Chiefs ship Valk to Trail, Tritt commits to LSSU, and more

Written by Brian Wiebe on

 

Rivermen and Clippers swap forwards

The Langley Rivermen and Nanaimo Clippers hooked up on a Friday evening trade that sees the teams swap 2001-born forwards. Going to Langley is Tyler Schleppe while Tristan Fraser is headed to the Clippers.

Schleppe, who’s from Vancouver, posted three goals and four assists in 13 pre-season games with Nanaimo this fall. In 2019-20, he tallied 32 points in 56 games with Coquitlam. Schleppe was traded to Merritt on June 1 and flipped to the Clippers that same day.

Fraser hails from West Vancouver and he has two goals and two assists through 10 games during the extended training camp this season. He posted 34 points in 56 games as a rookie with the Rivermen in 2019-20.

Chiefs move Valk to Trail

The Trail Smoke Eaters acquired 2002-born defenseman Garrett Valk from the Chilliwack Chiefs on Friday for future considerations.

Valk, a North Vancouverite, is entering his second BCHL season after posting four assists in 40 games as a rookie with the Chiefs during the 2019-20 season. He has one assist in eight extended training camp games this season.

Valk’s father Garry played 777 NHL games during a 13-year career.

Tritt commits to Lake Superior State

Alberni Valley Bulldogs forward Dawson Tritt has committed to Lake Superior State University starting in September 2021.

The 2000-born veteran is second in scoring on the Bulldogs during the extended training camp this season with six goals and seven assists in 14 games.

Tritt, who’s from Spokane, Washington, has 63 points in 119 BCHL games over parts of three seasons with Alberni Valley.

Kings-Capitals game cancelled

Due to the Provincial Health Officer’s order regarding travel into the Vancouver Coast Health Region, Saturday’s game between the Powell River Kings and Cowichan Valley Capitals at Hap Parker Arena is off.

The order states “No person may travel to or from the affected area or between the regions of the Fraser Health Authority and the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority for any sport-related activity, including practice, training, games or tournaments…”

If the Capitals travelled from the Island Health Region into the Vancouver Coast Health Region, which Powell River is part of, they would be in violation of the health order.

The BCHL website notes the game as postponed while the Kings’ tweet above says the game is cancelled, so it remains to be seen if the two teams make up the game at a later date.

BCHL alumnus recognized by The Hockey News

The Hockey News came out on Friday with a list of the top 100 NCAA hockey players to watch in 2020-21 and the BCHL was well represented. In total, 11 BCHL graduates are included on the list.

Eight BCHL teams have a player on the list. Penticton has the most with three and Victoria is next with two.

#4 – Alex Newhook, Boston College (Victoria Grizzlies)
#9 – Kent Johnson, University of Michigan (Trail Smoke Eaters)
#26 – Jordan Kawaguchi, University of North Dakota (Chilliwack Chiefs)
#32 – Jay O’Brien, Boston University (Penticton Vees)
#43 – Layton Ahac, Ohio State University (Prince George Spruce Kings)
#45 – Jonny Tychonick, University of Nebraska-Omaha (Penticton Vees)
#81 – Slava Demin, University of Denver (Wenatchee Wild)
#82 – Brett Stapley, University of Denver (Vernon Vipers)
#83 – Alex Campbell, Clarkson University (Victoria Grizzlies)
#99 – Nick Leivermann, University of Notre Dame (Penticton Vees)
#100 – Angus Crookshank, University of New Hampshire (Langley Rivermen)

Scarfo inks ECHL deal for 2020-21

Forward Ryan Scarfo (17 goals, 31 assists in 50 games with Powell River in 2013-14) has signed a contract with the ECHL’s Reading Royals for the 2020-21 season.

The 26-year-old from North Chelmsford, Massachussettes had 26 points in 43 ECHL games with the Wheeling Nailers in 2019-20. He also posted three points in 12 American Hockey League games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Coatta signs contract extension with Idaho

Forward Max Coatta (15 goals, 17 assists in 50 games with Penticton in 2013-14) signed a contract extension for 2020-21 with the Idaho Steelheads.

The 26-year-old Minnetonka, Minnesota product notched 13 points in 42 games with the Steelheads this past season.