In May, the Cowichan Valley Capitals announced the recruitment of goaltender Cody Butikis. Butikis is an 2005-born goaltender from Sewall, New Jersey. He spent last season at Mount St. Charles Academy in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Butikis is joining a rebuilding Capitals squad this season. Midway through the 2022-23 season, the […]
VIJHL
BCHL Bulletin: Backs, Kings, Smokies, and Cents get new recruits, BCHL reveals officials’ awards, and more!
Silverbacks add two new forwards for 2023-24 In a busy afternoon for the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, the team announced the signing of 2005-born forwards Christian Kim and Cole Cooksey for the 2023-24 season. Kim, from Torrence, California, played 50 games for the Wenatchee Wild in 2022-23, scoring 10 goals and 28 […]
BCHL Bulletin: Bucks sign McGowan to the herd, Cents add Lane to their crease, and more!
Bucks bring in McGowan The Cranbrooks Bucks have signed 2006-born defender Tyler McGowan out of Irvine, California for the 2023-24 B.C. Hockey League season. McGowan spent the 2022-23 season with the Anaheim Junior Ducks 16U AAA split between the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League 16U division and 16U AAA hockey […]
BCHL Bulletin: Passmore hired in Merritt, BCHL invites special presenter to AGM, and more!
Centennials hire new assistant GM and head coach The Merritt Centennials announced on Wednesday that they have hired 43-year-old Brian Passmore to be the team’s assistant general manager and head coach. Passmore brings with him three-and-a-half seasons of BCHL head coaching experience with the Cowichan Valley Capitals. He was their […]
Cents hire Brian Passmore as head coach and assistant general manager
Brian Passmore was hired as head coach and assistant general manager of the Merritt Centennials on Wednesday, signing a three-year contract with the BCHL’s longest continuously-run franchise. The 43-year-old was head coach of the Kerry Park Islanders of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League this past season. He joined the […]
Hockey Canada’s non-sanctioned policy restricts BCHL affiliate player possibilities
Every season, B.C. Hockey League teams rely on affiliate players to step into their lineups to fill in for those who are unable to play due to injury or any other reason. While operating under Hockey Canada’s umbrella, BCHL teams signed players from teams in lower divisions or categories as […]
Three former Victoria Grizzlies currently on Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League teams
For junior hockey players, making a junior A roster is a big accomplishment, potentially a path toward a future college commitment to an NCAA school. However, not every player stays in junior A. Different opportunities open up for players on other teams and at different levels. Most often, players advance […]
Alberni Valley Bulldogs player profile: Hobie Hedquist
After the 2021 Pod Season, the Alberni Valley Bulldogs replaced departing netminder Luke Pearson by signing Hobie Hedquist from the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League. During the 2021-22 season, Hedquist was outstanding. He helped backstop the Bulldogs to first place in the Coastal Conference. However, in […]
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: Cents pick up Dunford from Alberni Valley, Eagles add Hilditch to their blueline, and more!
Cents bring in Dunford from Alberni Valley The Merritt Centennials announced the acquisition of 2002-born netminder Hayden Dunford from the Alberni Valley Bulldogs for future considerations. Dunford, who’s from Guelph, ON, was 4-3-0 with a 2.48 goals-against average, an .892 save percentage, and one shutout in eight games with the […]