After the 2021-22 season, three members of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs left for the same NCAA school. Forwards Stephen Castagna, Arlo Merritt, and defender Ryan Nause all currently play for the Bentley University Falcons. It’s not all that uncommon for players to play together at the same school. Karter McNarland […]
AJHL
Examining the blockbuster Capitals and Bandits trade deadline deal
At the 2023 BCHL trade deadline on Jan. 10, the Cowichan Valley Capitals made two transactions. The first was sending 2002-born forward Luke Strickland to the Wellington Dukes of the Ontario Junior Hockey League for future considerations. The second deal involved the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Brooks Bandits. In exchange […]
Trade freeze underway between BCHL and CJHL teams
As is customary each year, the BC Hockey League’s 18 teams aren’t permitted to make trades with any of the 118 teams in the Canadian Junior Hockey League due to a holiday trade freeze. Each year, the halt on deals is between Dec. 10 and New Year’s Day. However, it […]
Capitals Update: The return of Mike Vandekamp
On Nov. 16, there was a change behind the bench in Cowichan Valley. Brian Passmore was relieved as head coach and general manager. Replacing him is Mike Vandekamp. Vandekamp is familiar to Capitals fans as he coached the team from 2018 to 2020. After the 2020 playoffs were canceled, Vandekamp […]
Revisiting the Jackson Glassford trade and Hayden Dunford signing
Last December, the Alberni Valley Bulldogs completed several transactions. One trade saw goaltender Jackson Glassford go to the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Blackfalds Bulldogs. In exchange, Alberni Valley received defender Wyatt Wilson and a player development fee. Glassford played parts of two seasons with Alberni Valley, protecting the Bulldogs’ crease […]
Cowichan Valley Capitals update: New signings and trades
With the 2022-23 season underway, the Cowichan Valley Capitals have finished building their roster. Several new players joined the Caps during training camp and they traded for several more players during the preseason. For several months, Cowichan Valley was busy recruiting new players. These new additions are the latest in […]
Bucks set to open preseason against Centennial Cup champion Brooks Bandits
The Cranbrook Bucks begin exhibition play this upcoming weekend, kicking things off against the defending national junior A champion Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. The Bucks head east and open their preseason schedule in Brooks at 7:00 pm on Saturday, Sept. 10, before a date with the […]
Examining recent Grizzlies alumni at U SPORTS Schools
In a previous article, I wrote about Grizzlies alumni attending NCAA schools after they committed to Division I and Division III schools. While many former Victoria players have committed to the NCAA, many others have committed to Canadian universities. These players are usually the exception instead of the norm simply […]
BCHL Bulletin: Grimwood joins Victoria as assistant coach, Vees forced to shuffle their crease, and more!
Grizzlies bring in Grimwood as an assistant coach The Victoria Grizzlies have added 41-year-old Geoff Grimwood (one goal, three assists in 29 games with Victoria in 1998-99) as an assistant coach for the 2022-23 season. Grimwood, who’s from Victoria, BC, spent last season as head coach of the Kamloops Storm […]
BCHL Bulletin: Warriors add new recruits, Spruce Kings, Bulldogs, Caps make trades, and more!
Bulldogs trade Leyer to Spruce Grove of the AJHL The Alberni Valley Bulldogs have traded 2002-born Ethan Leyer to the Spruce Grove Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League for future considerations. Leyer, who’s from St. Albert, AB, is committed to St. Cloud State University for this September. With the […]