BCHL, COVID-19, Interior Conference, NCAA

The Silverbacks commit a trio of fresh faces for 2021-22 season

Written by BCHLNetwork Staff on

 

Many BC Hockey League teams, including the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, are already preparing themselves for the future success of their squads. While the league has been waiting out the 2020-21 season, the Silverbacks have made moves by committing a pair of forwards and a defenseman for the 2021-22 season.Ā 

Salmon Arm looks to add young forwards Nathan Mackie and Ryan Remick to help contribute depth offensively. Remick is a University of Maine commit and looking to develop his skills in Salmon Arm alongside Mackie who will be seeking a college commitment with his time playing for the Silverbacks.

The moves don’t stop with these two as defensemen and St. Lawrence University commit Jake Lammens will help hold down the blue line starting this fall.

A pair of American commitments for 2021-22

On Feb. 5, 2003-born forward Remick came to an agreement to play in Salmon Arm. Originally from Sparta New Jersey, he played north of the border for the Canadian International Hockey Academy Voyuegers from 2017-19. He tallied 27 points in 30 games at the U15 level and 42 points in 43 games at the U18 AAA level.

Remick then took his newly developed skills to play with Kent School prep in Connecticut. He put up a swift 17 points in 26 games before the season ended due to COVID-19.

On top of all these impressive stats, Remick was listed on the 2021 National Hockey League Central Scouting preliminary list with a ā€œCā€ grade, which makes him a potential draft candidate for teams selecting in the later rounds. Remick should be an offensive threat for the Silverbacks next season, as he has shown lots of potential throughout his career thus far. Ā 

Remick’s American counterpart is 2002-born Lammens, who is originally from Norwalk, Connecticut. Lammens has his sights set for St. Lawrence University where he is committed to playing NCAA hockey after Salmon Arm.

Lammens began his career playing U15 and U16 for the Elite Hockey Academy in Northford, Connecticut from 2017-19. He recorded 22 points in 80 outings with the organization across both levels and started the 2019-20 season playing six games for the Mid-Fairfield Rangers 18U AAA.

Lammens then found himself playing for Salisbury School, one of the top prep campuses in the nation. He gathered a pair of assists in 28 games in his new colours and was part of the team that won the 2020 New England prep championship.

He committed to the Backs on Jan. 20 and will be a contributing factor next season in Salmon Arm before heading to the NCAA.Ā 

Newly-acquired skilled, young forward

Mackie, a 2004-born forward, is set to join the Silverbacks for the 2021-22 season and will add some much-needed offensive depth.

At just 16 years old, the young forward grew up in Prince George, Mackie took his skills with ambitions to develop them at Okanagan Hockey Academy. Gathering 24 points at the Elite 15 level with the club, Mackie felt ready to play AAA and transferred to play for the Okanagan Rockets U18 for this season.

He finished with eight points in four exhibition games with the Rockets this past fall before things being paused due to COVID-19. Mackie showed promising potential even during an uncertain preseason and is Salmon Arm’s youngest addition for the 2021-22 season thus far.

It will be exciting to watch Mackie develop throughout his years in Salmon Arm with the Silverbacks.

Preparing for Uncertanty

Salmon Arm look’s like it’s ahead of the curve on preparing for next season, as they have already filled the gaps for 2000-born veteran forwards Logan Shaw and Drew Bennet, along with defenseman Hunter Sansbury, who are all aging out.

There is still a certain amount of unpredictability that comes for the 2000-born players as they never got a final season to compete on the ice.Ā  With no news on the 2021-22 season yet, teams need to treat it as normal and prepare for the uncertainty ahead.

These new additions for the Silverbacks seem promising for the organization, but junior is a time where players mature and begin to develop their full potential.

Hopefully these young bucks will get a chance to showcase their potential with a full season next year. It will be an interesting look on how this young trio fares in the coming years and what future success lies for them with the Silverbacks.