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BCHL Today: Clippers connect on a trio of trades, Bucks unveil captains, and more!

Written by Brian Wiebe on

 

Clippers make a trio of deals ahead of the season

The Nanaimo Clippers have acquired 2002-born goaltender Jayden Shull from the Cowichan Valley Capitals for 2001-born defenseman Klim Georgiev.

Shull hails from North Vancouver, BC. He played six games for the Capitals in the Port Alberni Pod last season and finished with a 1-4-0 record, a 5.31 goals-against average, and an .874 save percentage.

Georgiev, a native of Toronto, played two games for the Pembroke Lumber Kings of the Central Canada Hockey League during the league’s Developmental Scrimmage Action in 2020-21 but didnโ€™t register any points.

Additionally, the Clippers picked up 2002-born defenseman Owen Forfellow from the Penticton Vees for future considerations. Forfellow posted one assist in 12 games with the Vees during the 2020-21 BC Hockey League pod season.

The Abbotsford, BC productย committed to Cranbrook in February 2020 and played four games with the Bucks during the extended training camp last fall.

The Clippers also traded 2002-born defenseman Jordan Edwards to the AJHL’s Blackfalds Bulldogs for future considerations. Nanaimo acquired Edwards in July from the Drumheller Dragons of the AJHL for 2002-born defenseman Chase Barlow and futures.

Edwards, whoโ€™s from Saskatoon, SK, played seven games for the Dragons in 2020-21, finishing with 54 penalty minutes. He had four assists in 2019-20 with the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes 18U AAA of the Tier 1 Elite Hockey 18U League.

Bucks name leadership group for 2021-22

The Cranbrook Bucks announced which players will have a letter on their jersey during the 2021-22 season. Leading Cranbrook as captain this season is 2002-born defenseman Rhys Bentham, who is entering his second season in the BCHL.

His alternate captains are 2002-born defenseman Cameron Kungle, and 2001-born forwards Brendan Rogers and Johnny Johnson.

Caps ship Truman to Camrose of the AJHL

The Cowichan Valley Capitals have picked up future considerations from the Camrose Kodiaks of the AJHL in exchange for 2001-born forward Roc Truman. The Caps acquired him via trade from AJHL Bonnyville in August.

Truman is a Lethbridge, AB product committed to the UMass-Lowell. He had five assists in 13 games with the Pontiacs during the shortened 2020-21 AJHL season.

Bulldogs bring Rabbit aboard as an assistant coach

The Alberni Valley Bulldogs have added 34-year-old Wacey Rabbit as an assistant coach to bench boss Joe Martin.

Rabbit, who’s from Lethbridge, AB, announced his retirement in August after a 15-year professional career that saw him play in eight different leagues, including 309 games in the American Hockey League.

Cressey signs a tryout in Lehigh Valley

Forwardย Jackson Cressey (54 goals, 70 assists in 170 games with Coquitlam from 2012-16) has inked a tryout with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL and will attend training camp with them. He signed with the Reading Royals of the ECHL for the 2021-22 season in August.

The 25-year-old West Vancouverite had six goals and 13 points in 14 games with Tyringe SoSS in the third tier of pro hockey in Sweden in 2020-21.

Skirving goes camping with the Marlies

Forwardย Todd Skirving (eight goals, nine assists in 49 games with Vernon and Prince George in 2010-11) has signed a tryout with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies and is attending their training camp.

He is already signed with the Newfoundland Growlers of the ECHL for 2021-22 after spending last season as an assistant coach for the Cranbrook Bucks.

Skirving, 29, last played during the 2019-20 season, putting up 12 points in 37 games with the Growlers before they went on hiatus this past season due to COVID-19.

Crasa earns Hockey East player of the week honours

UMass-Lowell forward Matt Crasa (25 goals, 19 assists in 51 games with Cowichan Valley in 2019-20) was named Hockey East player of the week on Monday.

The 20-year-old freshman from New York, NY posted three goals and an assist in a pair of games against Arizona State University to claim the POW honours.

Desbiens attends camp with the Providence Bruins

25-year-old Rosemere, QC forwardย Jonathan Desbiens (71 goals, 66 assists in 112 games with the West Kelowna Warriors 2014-16) is attending AHL training camp with the Providence Bruins. He signed with the Maine Mariners in the ECHL back in August.

Desbiens didn’t play in 2020-21 due to COVID-19 restrictions. He finished a four-year career at Bentley University in 2019-20, scoring 13 goals and 17 assists in 35 games in his final season.

Vilio goes from the Spartans to the Gladiators

24-year-old defenseman Elijah Vilio (no points in one game with Surrey in 2016-17) has turned pro and signed for the 2021-22 season with the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL.

The Abbotsford, BC product spent the last four seasons with the Trinity Western University Spartans. He was the top-scoring defenseman in the BC Intercollegiate Hockey League in 2019-20 with 27 points in 22 games.

Jaswal joins the Swamp Rabbits

Defenseman Roshen Jaswal (no points in three playoff games with Prince George in 2013-14) has signed a contract with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits of the ECHL.

Jaswal, a Burnaby, BC native, joins the Swamp Rabbits after recording two goals and 13 points in 15 games for the Federal Prospects Hockey Leagueโ€™s Carolina Thunderbirds during the 2020-21 season.

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.