BCHL

BCHL Today: Wolford wins Community Hero Award, Chiefs recruit St. Andrew’s forward Draper, former Smokies captain Lucchini traded in the NHL, and more

Written by Brian Wiebe on

Backs forward Wolford wins BCHL Community Hero Award

Salmon Arm forward Coalson Wolford is the February recipient of the BCHL Community Hero Award. The 18-year-old is recognized for his work in local schools reading to kids, volunteering with minor hockey teams in Salmon Arm and taking time to acknowledge young fans at Silverbacks games.

Chiefs recruit Miami University commit Draper for 2020-21

The Chilliwack Chiefs signed forward Kienan Draper for the 2020-21 season. The 18-year-old comes from St. Andrew’s College where he’s posted three goals and three assists in ten games this season. Draper, who’s dad Kris is a veteran of 1,157 NHL games, is committed to Miami University (Ohio) for the 2021-22 season.

 

Former Smokies captain Lucchini traded from Pittsburgh to Montreal

Forward Jake Lucchini (48 goals, 69 assists in 168 games with Trail from 2012-15) had his NHL rights traded on Thursday. Lucchini and forward Joe Blandisi were sent from Pittsburgh to Montreal for forwards Riley Barber and Phil Varone.

Lucchini, who’s in his first full pro season after a four year college career at Michigan Tech, has seven goals and eight assists in 53 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL this season. After the trade, the Canadiens assigned him to their AHL affiliate in Laval, Quebec.

Former Vees forward Zerter-Gossage’s AHL rights traded

Forward Lewis Zerter-Gossage (18 goals, 28 assists in 57 games with Penticton in 2014-15) and goaltender Tom McCollum were traded in the AHL on Thursday from Hartford to Lehigh Valley for future considerations. The Phantoms have assigned Zerter-Gossage to the ECHL’s Reading Royals.

The 24-year-old had two goals and one assist in 25 games with Hartford this season. He also added a goal and five assists in 13 games with the Maine Mariners of the ECHL.

If the playoffs started today…

Mainland Division

(1) Coquitlam vs. (4) Langley
(2) Surrey vs. (3) Chilliwack

Island Division

(1) Cowichan Valley vs. (4) Alberni Valley
(2) Nanaimo vs. (3) Powell River

Interior Division

(1) Penticton vs. (6) West Kelowna
(2) Trail vs. (WC2) Prince George
(3) Wenatchee vs. (WC1) Victoria
(4) Vernon vs. (5) Salmon Arm

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.