BCHL Today: Trade Deadline Edition

Vipers pick up Bulawka from West Kelowna, add Karki from WHL Prince Albert

The Vernon Vipers made two moves ahead of Friday’s deadline, knowing that they had to acquire a goaltender after James Porter Jr. moved to the WHL. As a result, the Vipers picked up the junior A rights to Keegan Karki from Cowichan Valley for future considerations. Karki, 19, was 9-2-3 with a 3.41 GAA and an .888 SV% in 17 WHL games this season with Everett and Prince Albert.

Vernon also made a significant deal with West Kelowna that saw the Vipers get forward Max Bulawka for forward Elan Bar-Lev-Wise and future considerations. At 18-years-old, Bulawka is already a three year BCHL veteran with 32 goals and 44 assists in 144 games with the Warriors.

Bar-Lev-Wise is in his second BCHL season with the Vipers. The 18-year-old has one goal and eight assists in 33 games with Vernon this season after putting up seven goals and 19 assists in 58 games as a rookie in 2018-19.

Capitals pick up Ohio State commit Chorney from West Kelowna

The Cowichan Valley Capitals added a veteran piece to their blueline on deadline day with the acquisition of Austin Chorney from West Kelowna for defenceman Maxime Dumas and future considerations.

Chorney, 19, has played 196 BCHL games over the last 4.5 seasons with Chilliwack, Salmon Arm, Vernon and West Kelowna. Over that strech, he has 15 goals and 34 assists. The Caps actually had Chorney’s rights in the summer of 2018 after acquiring him from Bonnyville of the AJHL before flipping him to Nanaimo before the 2018-19 season started. Chorney is committed to Ohio State University for this September.

Dumas is a 19-year-old rookie who had five assists in 22 games this season with the Capitals.

Warriors get forward McCann from Trail

West Kelowna head coach Simon Ferguson is reunited with one of his former players as the Warriors acquired defenceman Corey McCann from Trail for future considerations. McCann was coached by Ferguson last season as a member of the Okanagan Rockets in the BC Major Midget League. The 18-year-old had one goal in 26 games with the Smoke Eaters this season after putting up four goals and 26 assists in 40 games with the Rockets last season.

Bulldogs acquire Dal Monte from Swan Valley

Defenceman Mattias Dal Monte is back in the BCHL after Alberni Valley picked him up from the Swan Valley Stampeders of the MJHL for future considerations. The 19-year-old played 72 games in the BCHL with Merritt from 2017-19 before being traded to Swan Valley by the Centennials this past off season. In 39 games with the Stampeders this season, Dal Monte had 12 goals and 30 assists.

Alberni Valley moves Hemenway to Penticton

By bringing in Dal Monte, the Bulldogs needed to make roster room for him, and they did by trading rookie defenceman Carson Hemenway to Penticton for future considerations. The 17-year-old had one goal and seven assists in 28 games with Alberni Valley this season.

Warriors sign veteran goalie Morgan

The West Kelowna Warriors needed to fill a void in goal, and they did by signing 19-year-old Riley Morgan. Morgan, who’s from Arizona, has played one game this season with the Selkirk Steelers of the MJHL. He won that game and shows a 3.00 GAA and an .885 SV%.

Silverbacks get veteran defenceman Gervais from Bonnyville

Salmon Arm added 140 games of junior A experience to its roster by trading for defenceman Jeremy Gervais from Bonnyville of the AJHL for future considerations. Gervais, who actually turned 21 a day before the trade deadline, had seven goals and 28 assists in 36 games for the Pontiacs this season, his second with the team. He started his junior hockey career with the Nanaimo Clippers in 2017.

Spruce Kings add vet Sutton to their blueline in trade with Grande Prairie

Defenceman Jarin Sutton, who was actually an affiliate player for Prince George in 2016-17, is now a full time member of the Spruce Kings roster. The 20-year-old was acquired from Grande Prairie of the AJHL for future considerations. The Prince George product has nine goals and 31 assists in 100 junior A games with Grande Prairie and the Victoria Grizzlies.

Rivermen send goalie Lyon to Battlefords

After signing Jonathan Mor from the NAHL, Langley alleviated its glut of goalies by sending Kristian Lyon to the Battlefords North Stars of the SJHL for futures. Lyon, 19, was in his first BCHL season and had a record of 2-4-1 with a 3.30 GAA and an .886 SV%.

Silverbacks ship Knights to La Ronge in the SJHL

Salmon Arm freed up some roster space by trading forward Holden Knights to the La Ronge Ice Wolves of the SJHL for future considerations. The 18-year-old had one goal and five assists in 30 games with the Silverbacks this season, his first in the BCHL.

PG picks up forward depth with the addition of Zloty

The Spruce Kings added another veteran when they acquired forward Jackson Zloty from the Calgary Canucks of the AJHL for future considerations. Zloty, 19, spent last season and this season with the Canucks, posting a total of 12 goals and 19 assists in 84 games.

Cents lose Galloway to WHL for the season

The Merritt Centennials lost the services of 16-year-old defenceman Tyson Galloway for the remainder of the season when he was added to the active roster of the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen. He has one assist in eight games with the Hitmen this season and two goals and three assists in 27 games with the Centennials.

 Cents sign blueliner Johnston from KIJHL’s Kamloops Storm

Merritt added another 16-year-old to its roster by signing defenceman Brody Johnston from the Kamloops Storm of the KIJHL. Johnston, who’s from Vanderhoof, BC, had seven assists and 89 penalty minutes in 29 games with the Storm this season.

BCHL Trade Tracker (since Dec. 1)

Trades Made: 27
Trades Made Within BCHL: 14
Trades Made With Teams Outside BC: 13
Players: 34
Future Considerations: 24

Forwards: 14
Defencemen: 15
Goaltenders: 5

1999-born: 7
2000-born: 16
2001-born: 10
2002-born: 1
2003-born: 0