Suspensions come down on Cranbrook and West Kelowna
The BC Hockey League department of player safety announced suspensions on Sunday that stem from a melee at the end of Saturday’s game in Cranbrook between the Bucks and West Kelowna Warriors.
2002-born Cranbrook defensemen Rhys Bentham and Cameron Kungle, along with West Kelowna 2001-born forward Marcus Joughin and 2002-born forward John Evans, are each suspended two games for being assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for fighting at the 20-minute mark of the third period.
Bentham and Kungle will miss the Bucks’ two games at the BCHL Showcase on Friday against Powell River and Saturday against Cowichan Valley. They are eligible to return to Cranbrook’s line-up on Oct. 30 at home against Nanaimo.
Joughin and Evans are also out for the Warriors’ two games at the Showcase in Chilliwack. They’ll sit for Friday’s game versus Victoria and Saturday’s tilt with Alberni Valley. Both players can return to West-K’s line-up on Oct. 29 when the Kings visit Royal LePage Place.
Alberni Valley vs. Cowichan Valley first career BCHL goals
Two periods down and the Bulldogs are up 6-1 over the @cowichancaps
Shots were 14-7 for the Bulldogs, 29-16 overall#DawgPound pic.twitter.com/9tg2CsKVDl
— AVBulldogs (@AVBulldogs) October 18, 2021
It may have been the final goal in a 6-2 win, but it didn’t feel any less special for Alberni Valley Bulldogs forward Mirko Buttazzoni.
He scored his first career BCHL goal with 11:22 left in the second period of the Dogs victory over Cowichan Valley on Sunday. It came in the 2004-born forward’s fourth BCHL game.
2003-born Capitals defenseman Owen Simpson notched his first BCHL goal to open the scoring for Cowichan at 10:52 of the first period on Sunday. It was his fifth career BCHL game.
It was also the first point in the BCHL for the University of Connecticut commit. He added his first assist later in the game.
Weatherby scores first career NHL goal
Congrats @jasperweatherby on your first NHL goal! 👏 pic.twitter.com/pmDXASxSVZ
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) October 17, 2021
San Jose Sharks forward Jasper Weatherby (49 goals, 57 assists in 104 games with Wenatchee from 2016-18) scored his first career National Hockey League goal on Saturday in a 4-3 win over Winnipeg.
The 23-year-old from Portland, OR spent the last three seasons with the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, posting 47 points in 100 games.
He signed a two-year contract with the Sharks in August after being drafted by them in the fourth round of the 2018 NHL Draft.
Pieper signs tryout with Iowa of the ECHL
The Iowa Heartlanders have signed 2 forwards
– 29 year old Tommy Tsicos, who has played 2 games this year with @QuadCityStorm of the SPHL
– 27 year old Canon Pieper, a Roseville, MN native (tryout) https://t.co/5twVGEQO2l— Wild Farm Report (@WildFarmReport) October 17, 2021
Forward Canon Pieper (33 goals, 33 assists in 57 games with Coquitlam in 2013-14) has signed a tryout with the Iowa Heartlanders of the ECHL.
The 27-year-old from Roseville, MN didn’t play in 2020-21. He split the 2019-20 season between Birmingham and Fayetteville of the Southern Professional Hockey League and had 16 points in 47 games.
Hutchison traded in the ECHL from Adirondack to Wheeling
Trade: The @WheelingNailers have acquired F Nick Hutchison/@Nick_hutch91 from @ECHLThunder in exchange for D Ivan Chukarov/@chuk1395. (Note: This completes the future considerations aspect of the trade which previously sent D Jake Ryczek to Adirondack.) pic.twitter.com/JcEduykGNk
— ECHL Week (@ECHLWeek) October 17, 2021
Hicksville, NY product and forward Nick Hutchison (23 goals, 29 assists in 63 games with Salmon Arm from 2014-16) was traded in the ECHL from the Adirondack Thunder to the Wheeling Nailers on Sunday.
Hutchison, 26, had six goals and 19 points in 47 games with the ECHL’s Indy Fuel in 2020-21. He signed a one-year ECHL contract with the Adirondack in August.
Three Stars of the Night ⭐⭐⭐
First Star: Alberni Valley forward Brandon Buhr had two goals and an assist in the 6-2 win against the Capitals.
Second Star: Surrey goaltender Eli Pulver stopped 31 shots plus six in the shootout as the Eagles edged Langley 4-3.
Third Star: Bulldogs forward Finn Brown notched a pair of goals in the game versus Cowichan.
Honourable Mentions: Rivermen forward Tyler Schleppe finished with two goals. Surrey forward Cole Galata, Bulldogs forwards Mirko Buttazzoni and Josh Van Unen, and Capitals defenseman Owen Simpson each had a goal and an assist.
