BCHL Team-By-Team Reports
January 13, 2012
Posted in BC Edition, Junior A
By Brent Mutis
Hockey Canada’s roster deadline was Jan. 10 and correspondingly, the BCHL transactions page saw a number of deals. But Hockey Now’s press deadline came before the trade cutoff so check your team’s roster for any moves that may have come since.
COASTAL CONFERENCE
Alberni Valley Bulldogs
Positives have been hard to find for the ‘Dogs and new coach Kevin Willison is still trying to find the right buttons to push. Veterans Dylan Nowakowski and Mike Puddifant were moved recently to the AJHL’s Brooks Bandits and Fort McMurray Oil Barons respectively for future assets. Young d-men Daniel Delbianco, Turner Popoff and Marlon Sabo are getting valuable experience.
Coquitlam Express
Keeping pace with the Surrey Eagles has been tough but the Express have managed to do it thanks in part to a stellar power play that ranks second in the league. Clinton Atkinson is one of just four BCHL blueliners averaging more than a point a game while first-year players Brady Shaw and John Siemer have been productive too.
Cowichan Valley Capitals
The Caps landed one of the most sought-after pieces on the trade market landing former Salmon Arm captain Brett Knowles from in exchange for Travis Stephens. Knowles had five points in his first two games after the move.
Langley Rivermen
Big Mike Tebbutt has shown nice offensive growth this season, 16-year-old defenceman Bo Pellah is one of the top young players in the league and Dartmouth-bound goalie Jim Kruger has turned in some eye-popping performances but the Rivermen still languish in seventh place.
Nanaimo Clippers
The final stretch will be a test for the Clips as they sat just outside the playoff picture on Jan. 11, four points back of Coquitlam. The rest of January brings five more games against teams ahead of them in the standings. Goalie Billy Faust will have to be huge and the team will need more from secondary scorers Colton Cyr, Brett Hartskamp and Jesse Neher.
Powell River Kings
Jamie Phillips provided great relief in net, securing a scholarship to Michigan Tech in the process, as Sean Maguire recovered from post-World Junior A Challenge fatigue. The Kings get a lot of offence from blueliners Craig Dalrymple, Jon Jutzi and Chris Williams and could use a hand from forwards Daniel Schuler and Steven Schmidt as the playoffs near.
Surrey Eagles
A seven-game unbeaten streak was recently snapped by Powell River but the Eagles may stand the best chance of catching the Kings and Cowichan Valley Capitals as they hold games in hand on both teams. Tyler Morley is the only point-a-game player in the lineup but Andrew Hunt has had a hot hand in net all season.
Victoria Grizzlies
After Penticton, the Grizz were the highest-scoring team in the BCHL much of the year but have recently been passed by Coquitlam and Cowichan Valley in goals for. Garrett Rockafellow began 2012 with a couple of nice performances in net and, if given the reins, will need to keep it up if Victoria is to have a shot at the postseason.
INTERIOR CONFERENCE
Chilliwack Chiefs
Harvey Smyl’s team continues to get it done without any superstars but will have to contend with Vernon and Prince George for the final playoff berth in the Interior. Goalies Mitch Gillam and Bryton Udy provide a good tandem but more offence from Spencer Graboski, who led Quesnel in scoring last year, would be nice.
Merritt Centennials
Another team without a 20-goal scorer yet, the Cents remain solidly in second spot and appear content to smother opponents on the small ice at Nicola Valley Arena. Another nice development this year is in academic achievement with scholarship earners Brandon Pfeil and Reece Willcox committed to Ivy League Brown and Cornell respectively.
Penticton Vees
The 1989/90 New Westminster Royals record 29-game win streak is being threatened by the Vees, who were at 21 straight on Jan. 8. Opposing coaches are saying defenceman Mike Reilly, drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets last year, might be the best player in the league. He is sixth in BCHL scoring and has a chance to top Joey Laleggia’s 82-point campaign from 2011.
Prince George Spruce Kings
Paul De Jersey is proving to be no fluke. The hot start has continued for the 6-3, 200-pound forward and he was the league’s leading scorer with 30 goals and 37 assists going into the Jan. 13 to 14 weekend. Defenceman Chase Golightly has been great since coming back from the USHL and has chipped in four goals and 23 assists. Goalies Ty Swabb and Kirk Thompson are both solid.
Salmon Arm SilverBacks
The league’s biggest sellers in advance of the roster deadline have shipped off Bryce Gervais to Penticton and Brett Knowles to Cowichan Valley in return for younger players in Shane Hanna, Garrett Hendrickson and Travis Stephens. Coach and general manager Colin O’Hara appears to have his eye towards next season.
Trail Smoke Eaters
With six wins, the Smokies will be the last club in the league to reach double-digits in wins, provided they get there at all. Lyndon Stanwood continues to be a bright spot in net and on Jan. 7, earned the team’s first win since Nov. 30 with a 3-2 decision over Victoria.
Vernon Vipers
Dylan Walchuk, who returned to the club after beginning the season with Northern Michigan University, should help matters as he was part of the team’s last two RBC Cup runs. Another new face that will make a difference is blueliner Sean Robertson who had played his entire 221-game BCHL career with Victoria prior to a Dec. 12 deal.
Westside Warriors
On Nov. 12, the Warriors went below .500 for the first time on the season when they dropped a 7-4 decision to Penticton and they haven’t been on the good side of that mark since. Westside has gone 3-7-1-1 since Dec. 1 and have fallen below Salmon Arm to seventh in the Interior.
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