Chilliwack Chiefs: Graduating players and eligible returnees

The Chilliwack Chiefs are one of the most prolific BCHL clubs when it comes to players committing to NCAA schools. On this year’s roster, no fewer than 17 are headed to play NCAA college hockey after their time in the BCHL is done. For seven of those players, their college career starts this fall.

It means Chiefs head coach Brian Maloney will rely on the 15 eligible returnees in a big way during the 2020-21 season. According to our 23-man roster of 13 forwards, eight defencemen and two goaltenders, it also means Chilliwack has one of the strongest group of returning players in the BC Hockey League.

Hometown player Kolby Thornton is back between the pipes, but the Chiefs will need someone to share the crease with him. On the blueline, five players are eligible to return. Up front, the list is even deeper, with nine forwards set to be back in Chiefs colours in 2020-21. That includes super rookie Reynolds who had 14 goals and 33 assists to finish second on the team in scoring this past season as a 16-year-old.

Graduating Players

Brett Willits (Northern Michigan University)
Trevor Adams (Union College)
Jack Agnew (Boston College)
Mathieu Caron (Brown University)
Cooper Moore (University of North Dakota)
Nikita Nesterenko (Boston College)
Kyle Penney (Cornell University)
Davis Murray (aged out)

Eligible Returnees

(* indicates an open spot – assuming the team goes with 13 forwards and 8 defencemen)

Forwards
Clark Nelson (00)
Nicholas Cherkowski (00)
Tommy Lyons (00)
Joey Larson (01)
Connor Milburn (01)
Brett Rylance (01)
Arlo Merritt (01)
Ethan Bowen (02)
Peter Reynolds (03)
*
*
*
*

Defencemen
Nathan Kelly (00)
Xavier Henry (01)
Brody Gagno (02)
Garrett Valk (02)
Hudson Thornton (03)
*
*
*

Goaltenders
Kolby Thornton (01)
*