Previously, I wrote about former Major Junior players who joined BC Hockey League rosters and the 2022-23 season has seen several more.
Olivier Picard came from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Aidan Campbell came from the Ontario Hockey League, and Aiden Reeves came from the Western Hockey League. Those are just three recent examples. This article will profile these players and several others from past seasons.
As before, I’m dividing these players by position. I’ll also limit my selections to recent players that joined BCHL teams during the 2022-23 season.
Forwards
For this section, I’ll profile Logan Camp and Scott Cousins. Camp is a 2002-born forward with the Cowichan Valley Capitals. Cousins is a 2004-born forward playing for the Prince George Spruce Kings.
Camp comes from the QMJHL and played parts of three seasons for the Cape Breton Eagles. Before that, Camp was briefly with for the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. After the 2021-22 season, he joined the Caps.
As for Cousins, he played 52 games for the Kelowna Rockets over the last three seasons. To start this season, Cousins played three games in Kelowna. The Prince George native signed with his hometown Spruce Kings in late October.
Officially, Cousins is an affiliate player for the Rockets and is still on their protected list. He is available to them throughout the season.
Camp is playing his final year of junior hockey with the Capitals. As for Cousins, he’s definitely familiar to hockey fans in Prince George. He came from the Cariboo Cougars hockey program.
Defenders
For this section, I’ll profile Anson McMaster and Aiden Reeves.
McMaster is a 2002-born defender playing for the Vernon Vipers. Reeves is also a 2002-born blueliner, he’s with the West Kelowna Warriors.
McMaster played 49 games for the Victoria Royals between this season and last. Before that, the product of Siksika, AB played parts of four seasons for the Winnipeg Ice. He played 10 games as an affiliate for the Kootenay Ice before it relocated to Manitoba in 2019. In addition to being with the Ice, McMaster played one game for the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Calgary Mustangs as an affiliate.
As for Reeves, he played for two full seasons with the Prince George Cougars. He was an affiliate with them in 2019-20 and also played seven games for the Spruce Kings that season.
Both McMaster and Reeves are in their final seasons of junior hockey.
Goaltenders
For this section, I’ll take a look at the careers of netminders Aidan Campbell and Campbell Arnold. Both goalies are 2002-born and in their final junior hockey season.
Before joining the Nanaimo Clippers, Campbell played for the OHL’s Erie Otters. His playing time in Erie was limited to 31 games over the last three seasons as injuries and COVID-19 cancellations were the cause.
Meanwhile, Arnold appeared in at least one game in each of the last six WHL seasons split between the Spokane Chiefs and Victoria Royals. Arnold played 37 games for Spokane and 29 games for Victoria.
Before joining the Bulldogs, Arnold’s junior A rights belonged to Penticton. The Vees traded his rights to Alberni Valley on Oct. 26 for future considerations. The trade came about because of an injury to Bulldogs netminder Callum Tung.
A new trend emerges?
There’s something different about these players. Not since the 2020 extended pre-season have protected Major Junior players joined BCHL rosters. Back then, goaltender Cole Schwebius played games for Salmon Arm and West Kelowna during the Okanagan Cup. He eventually ended up as a regular with the Victoria Grizzlies.
At the time, that situation was temporary as COVID-19 restrictions prevented the WHL from operating, and several teams wanted their players to play meaningful games.
It almost appears as if the Kelowna Rockets are treating the Spruce Kings like a farm team. They’re allowing Cousins to play games with another team at a different level while remaining available to them as a signed player on their protected list.
For Kelowna, it accomplishes several things at once as the Rockets create a roster spot and room for a 2002-born player. Meanwhile, the Spruce Kings get a veteran player with several seasons of junior hockey experience.