BCHL Today: Capitals release Bridgewater and Verbicky, Canada West opens WJAC with a loss and more

Caps reduce roster by two

NEWS: The Capitals have released forwards Andy Bridgewater (00) and Kobe Verbicky (03). We thank Kobe and Andy for their time spent with the Caps and wish them nothing but the best with their new teams.

📸 Mijen Multimedia pic.twitter.com/CwNFlv3P8F

— Cowichan Capitals (@cowichancaps) December 7, 2019

Cowichan Valley reduced its roster by two players on Saturday, releasing forwards Andy Bridgewater and Kobe Verbicky. Bridgewater, 19, had 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) in 22 games with the Capitals this season while Verbicky, 16, had one goal in 14 games.

Bridgewater had 33 points (10 goals, 23 assists) in 51 games for the AJHL’s Calgary Mustangs last season. He became a free agent this past summer when the Mustangs franchise went on hiatus.

Verbicky spent 2018-19 with the North Island Silvertips of the BC Major Midget League where he posted 35 points (12 goals, 23 assists) in 35 games. He also got into two WHL games with the Edmonton Oil Kings.

Canada West opens WJAC with a narrow loss

FINAL | United States (3), #CANWest (2)
📊📰: https://t.co/XIHWqorMiB#WJAC 🇺🇸🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/HHg9iJBB2r

— World Junior A Challenge (@HC_WJAC) December 8, 2019

Brendan Budy of the Langley Rivermen scored for Canada West while Trail’s Philippe Lapointe had an assist, but Canada West opened the World Junior A Challenge in Dawson Creek with a 3-2 loss to the United States.

Canada West takes on Canada East today at 6 pm PST.

BCHL trio named as leadership group for Canada West

Meet the captains… #CANEast🇨🇦
C: @Ryland68 (CPC)
A: @crafter_6 (ROC)
A: @CharlesTrem24 (LON)#CANWest🇨🇦
C: @MassimoRizzo28 (COQ)
A: @BrendanBudy (LAN)
A: @Plapointe22 (TRA)#WJAC pic.twitter.com/GVqYeWZewg

— World Junior A Challenge (@HC_WJAC) December 7, 2019

Hockey Canada announced that Coquitlam Express forward Massimo Rizzo is the captain for Canada West while Budy and Lapointe will serve as alternate captains. The BCHL has more players on Canada West than the AJHL, SJHL, MJHL or SIJHL.

Grizzlies add Peacock as AP

Congratulations to Tynan Peacock who has been called up by the @BCHLGrizzlies tonight. Enjoy yourself Tynan! pic.twitter.com/WEcJzlMgBO

— Campbell River Storm (@CR_STORM) December 7, 2019

The Victoria Grizzlies added Campbell River Storm defenceman Tynan Peacock as an affiliate player as they continue to be ravaged by injuries. Peacock, 18, has three points (1 goal, 2 assists) in eight VIJHL games with the Storm this season after being acquired from the Osoyoos Coyotes of the KIJHL in late October.

Smokies sign Feaver as an affiliate

Congratulations to captain Zack Feaver, he has been called up by the @BCHLSmokeEaters and will be playing tonight!#TBirdNation | #WeAreSmokeEaters@BCHockey_MML @GoBCHL pic.twitter.com/sRZ4OP4Rsr

— Major Midget Thunderbirds (@MMLThunderbirds) December 6, 2019

17-year-old forward Zack Feaver has signed with the Trail Smoke Eaters as an affiliate player. In 21 games with the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds of the BCMML, he has 27 points (8 goals, 19 assists) this season.

Former Cents/Express/Millionaires boss is back in junior A

Head Coach And General Manager Geoff Grimwood Resigns…

Details Here >> https://t.co/GsIOJJ6Xay pic.twitter.com/cBJ0NwyOWg

— Swan Valley Stampeders (@SVStampeders) December 6, 2019

The same week that he was announced as an assistant coach for the junior B 100 Mile House Wranglers, Barry Wolff is back in junior A hockey. Wolff was announced as the new head coach and GM of the Swan Valley Stampeders of the MJHL after Geoff Grimwood stepped down.

Grimwood has coached in the BCHL for West Kelowna and Powell River and also had stints in the SJHL, BCMML and WHL. He said in a release that he is stepping away from the game of hockey.

Wolff was fired by the Merritt Centennials on Oct. 16 after joining the team during the off season. He returns to Swan Valley after leading the Stampeders in 2018-19.

Two BCHL alums included in big WHL trade

TRADE 🔁: The Vancouver Giants have acquired forward Tyler Preziuso, defenceman Trevor Longo, a 2020 first-round pick, and a conditional fifth-round pick in 2021 in a blockbuster trade with the @tigershockey.

Full Details 📎: https://t.co/89e20FXlLs pic.twitter.com/13ftPTIoY5

— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) December 7, 2019

Forward Lukas Svejkovsky (5 goals, 6 assists in 16 games with Wenatchee in 2017-18) was traded from the Vancouver Giants to Medicine Hat in a huge WHL trade on Saturday. Among the pieces heading to Vancouver is defenceman Trevor Longo (3 assists in 17 games with Salmon Arm in 2017-18.

2012 RBC Cup champion Garteig featured on InGoal podcast

This week on the InGoal Podcast presented by @THSgoal : Michael Garteig went from Canucks prospect out of college, to an ECHL Kelly Cup with the Toronto Maple Leafs affiliate last season, to tearing it up with Tappara in Liiga, Finland’s top league.https://t.co/HaTyVMJOEt pic.twitter.com/iN0ionmNsP

— InGoal Magazine (@InGoalMedia) December 6, 2019

Goaltender Michael Garteig (92-23-3, 2.07 GAA, .921 SV% and 13 shutouts with Penticton, Powell River and Quesnel from 2009-12) is featured in the latest episode of the InGoal podcast. You can listen to it here.

Former Powell River forward Byrne moves to junior B

The Summerland Steam are pleased to announce the signing of 2000 born forward Matthew Byrne.

Byrne will wear # 21 and is available to play tonight! pic.twitter.com/PSiEeCVs77

— Summerland Steam (@SteamKIJHL) December 6, 2019

Forward Matthew Byrne, who started the season with Powell River before being traded to Drayton Valley of the AJHL, has been signed by the junior B Summerland Steam.

Byrne had 11 points (3 goals, 8 assists) in 22 games with the Thunder this season and no points in four games with the Kings.

Three Stars of the Night

First Star: Alberni Valley’s Jacob Bosse had two goals and an assist.

Second Star: Vernon forward Dawson Holt notched two goals and an assist.

Third Star: Cowichan Valley forward Primo Self tallied a goal and added two assists.

Honourable Mentions: Penticton’s Jackson Niedermayer and Langley’s Kaeden Patrick each had two goals. Penticton’s Connor Marritt ended the night with three assists.