I found these press releases off team websites, other hockey blogs or online.
BCHL News & Trades:
Brar, Lavallee & Sillinger Commit To Vees:
The Penticton Vees Jr. ‘A’ Hockey Club is pleased to announce three more recruits for the upcoming 2015-2016 season. Forwards Ben Brar (98), Jason Lavallee (96) and Owen Sillinger (97) have committed to play in Penticton next fall. The trio will be relied upon to help fill the void up front as the Vees are graduating 10 of their 13 forwards from this past season. Brar, who doesn’t turn 17 until November, just completed a very successful season at the Yale Academy in his hometown of Abbotsford, BC. Brar and the Yale Academy Prep Lions were runners-up in the Canadian Sports Schools Hockey League (CSSHL) playoffs. In the regular season, he finished third on the team in scoring and inside the top five in the CSSHL with 29 goals and 59 points in 28 games. His 29 goals was a team-best and he finished with the third-most in the CSSHL. Brar is another recruit who brings a nice compliment of size and skill to the Vees line-up and was a standout out at the Vees recently completed Spring Camp. Brar is committed to play at Denver University. 17-year-old Owen Sillinger chose to play in Penticton after receiving heavy interest at both the Jr. ‘A’ and Major Junior level. Sillinger captained the Regina Pat Canadians to a bronze medal finish at the Telus Cup Midget National Championship in April. The Regina, Saskatchewan, product was the Telus Cup MVP, Top Scorer and Top Forward after amassing six goals and 17 points in just seven games. Sillinger led the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL) in playoff scoring, totaling 17 points in 10 games, as the Pat Canadians knocked-off Battlefords in the Provincial Championship. Sillinger was fifth in the SMAAAHL scoring race in the regular season, putting up 25 goals and 64 points in 42 games. Owen is another recruit with strong bloodlines, as he’s the son of former NHL player Mike Sillinger. Mike played over one thousand games in the NHL with 11 different teams and now is the Director of Player Development for the Edmonton Oilers. Lavallee follows in the footsteps of former Vee Olivier Mantha. The 19-year-old comes from the Sorel-Tracy Rebelles of the Quebec College Hockey League (QCHL), the same league Mantha played in before landing in Penticton. Lavallee, who hails from Thetford Mines, Quebec, helped lead the Rebelles to the QCHL championship this spring. In nine playoff games, the right-winger recorded five goals and 11 points, as the Rebelles lost just twice on their run to the championship. In the regular season, Lavallee finished with 28 goals and 50 points in 31 games. Brar, Sillinger and Lavallee will join the rest of their new teammates in late August for the start of the Vees Main Camp. The Vees Organization is excited to add Ben, Owen and Jason to the fold and look forward to welcoming them to the South Okanagan.
Roseboom Joins Chiefs:
The Chiefs are pleased to announce that after serving as an affiliate player with the Chiefs last season, 19 year old forward Ryan Roseboom will join the Chiefs on a full time basis for the 2015-16 season. Roseboom spent last season with the Osoyoos Coyotes of the Kootenay International Hockey League where he scored 16 goals and added 28 assists in 45 games. He also appeared in three regular season games with the Chiefs scoring one goal. He joined the Chiefs after the Coyotes season came to an end, appearing in two playoff games. “We are really excited to add Ryan to our roster. He will bring a physical element to our team as he demonstrated in the playoffs,” said Chiefs Head Coach and General Manager Jason Tatarnic. “He skates well and we expect him to be hard player for opponents to play against. He brings an honest work ethic to the rink every day.” "I'm really excited to be joining the Chiefs organization, the coaching staff is great, and living in Chilliwack is going to be a really good experience,” said Roseboom. “I'm looking forward to the upcoming season, the fans are electric and every night is going to be a blast playing in front of them."
Stevens Commits To Kings:
The Powell River Kings are proud to announce the commitment of 17-year-old defenceman Andy Stevens from Campbell River. The 6’2, 195lb Campbell River product should be a name familiar with Kings fans, as Stevens played 12 games during the regular season and playoffs with the Kings last season. “When I was an AP last season, I found out first hand that Powell River was such a first class organization with a great coaching staff and a great group of guys in the room” says Stevens on the decision to come to the Kings. “It seems like a great place to live and a good place for me to develop.” “Andy is a high end defenceman who garnered a lot of WHL and BCHL interest” says Kings Head Coach and GM Kent Lewis. “Even at 16 with us last season in the regular season and playoffs, he showed a lot of maturity with the puck and his play away from it, he was a good kid to have in the room down the stretch and we’re happy to add him to the roster permanently this season.” Away from Powell River, Stevens patrolled the blue line for his hometown Campbell River Storm in the VIJHL, scoring 2 goals and adding 15 assists in 40 regular season games. He also helped the Storm to a magical season that saw them win the VIJHL, Cyclone Taylor and Keystone Cups as Western Canada’s top Junior B team. “Obviously that’s a once in a lifetime experience to win a Junior B Championship” says Stevens on the achievement. “It was tough, a lot of hockey, but it was well worth it and something I’ll never forget.” “We were very happy for Andy’s success and the Storm’s season last year” adds Lewis. “We’ve fostered a great relationship between the two clubs, that was evident when Andy joined us during their playoffs, missing some of their games to play for us.” After a busy season, Stevens is excited to get back to hockey come August, and will prepare for the grind of a 58+ game Junior A schedule. “I’m already a pretty tall guy for my age, but I really need to fill out a bit and put on some muscle” says Stevens. “Junior A is a faster game, I felt I did well as an affiliate last season, but I need to work on getting faster and more powerful.” “Andy is young, but he’s skilled and he’s going to develop here” says Lewis on early expectations for Stevens. “He skates well, he makes smart, simple plays and that’s what we ask out of our defensemen.” Stevens will spend the off-season at home in Campbell River, before joining the Kings in late-August ahead of Main Camp at the Hap towards the end of the month. The Kings are currently preparing for their Spring Camp in Kamloops at the end of May.
Eruzione Commits To Surrey:
The Surrey Eagles are thrilled to announce the commitment of forward Danny Eruzione for the 2015-16 BCHL season. Eruzione, 19, joins the Eagles from the USHS Cushing Hockey Academy, with whom he was nearly a point per game player; 11 goals, 20 assists, 31 points in 33 games.. Cushing Academy has had many kids move on to play D1 hockey (well over 200 kids) and several play in the NHL, so there is a deep history of strong hockey at Cushing. It is one of the top prep school hockey programs in North America and have always finished in the top 10 every year. There is a strong winning tradition with 3 New England championships and having produced 3 USA Olympians. “I've heard that Surrey is a great place to play and they place a lot of guys into the next level. I’m very excited to play for such a great city,” said Eruzione, “I'm excited about playing in such a high caliber league, that produces a lot of great players at the NCAA level.“ The 19 year old forward is looking forward to showing the coaching staff his attitude, work ethic, and ability to be a great teammate. Head Coach Blaine Neufeld commented, “When we do our recruiting we are looking at many different aspects. First off, can the player skate, and Danny is a tremendous skater. Secondly, can he contribute offensively, and Danny has great stick handling skills and can make plays happen out of nowhere. Finally we ask what intangibles set the player apart from others, and for Danny we feel like it is, as his former coach Rob Gagnon explained it, “his ability to play like a junk yard dog.” Coach Neufeld went on to say that he thought Eruzione had similarities to Buffalo Sabres Tyler Ennis with a little more bite, something that is sure to get the Eagles fan base excited. The name Eruzione is a familiar one and although Danny is tired of it, he states his teammates in the past have given him a hard time about his uncle Mike Eruzione and the movie Miracle. Mike was one of five players on the US Olympic team not drafted that year and went on to become an NHL analyst and broadcaster. As Danny calls Surrey home for the 2015/16 season we are sure to get to know him better, but here are some bits of information we know so far: Danny’s favourite NHL team: Boston Bruins, Danny’s favourite NHL player: Johnny “Hockey” Gaudreau, If he wasn’t a hockey player: He’d be a golfer, His hobbies are: Golfing, street hockey, fishing and hanging with friends. Family influence: “ My father was the biggest role model in why I started playing hockey, as well as my uncle Mike. My brother played 4 years of baseball at Bentley University. I also have two sisters whom I love dearly, as well as my mother who does everything for me.” Danny and the Eagles receive their schedule after League Meetings June 4-6th, and you can be assured the newly formed Eagles will be ready to rock in their 25th year! Welcome, Danny, to the Eagles family!
Campese Lands Back In Penticton:
Former Penticton goaltender Bruno Campese (1979-81) is back coaching in BC after being announced as the Okanagan Hockey Academy Prep team's new Head Coach. The 51-year-old was Head Coach of the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL from 2008-11 and then General Manager from 2011 until this past season. Campese also coached in the BCHL from 2000-02 with Trail and 2003-07 with Penticton.
Harbinson Turns Down College Offer-Staying With Vees:
It appears Mike Eaves has patched one hole on his staff, but two huge openings remain for the University of Wisconsin men’s hockey coach. According to multiple college hockey sources, Eaves has tabbed John Hamre as his director of hockey operations pending administrative clearance from UW Athletics. Hamre, a former Minnesota high school math teacher as well as junior-league coach and general manager, is set to take over for Zach Remiker, who is going into private business after serving as the DHO for the past four years. Meanwhile, more than seven weeks have gone by since Eaves fired assistant coaches Gary Shuchuk and Matt Walsh and, so far, those positions remain open and three known targets are no longer in the mix. The latest to bow out is Fred Harbinson, the coach and general manager of the Penticton Vees, a perennial powerhouse in the British Columbia Hockey League. Harbinson, who played and coached at UW-Superior, confirmed he had multiple conversations with Eaves about the opportunity and received what he called a “very strong” offer, but told Eaves in a phone conversation Tuesday he would pass. “It’s better for me and my family to stay put,” Harbinson said Thursday. Eaves also met with Don Granato, a former UW co-captain who said he planned to remain as a coach with the prestigious U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he currently oversees the under-18 squad. Another former UW co-captain, Mark Osiecki, was initially identified by Eaves as a person of interest, but Eaves later changed his mind. Osiecki, a top recruiter for Eaves from 2004 to ’10 before a stint as Ohio State’s head coach, is now an assistant with Rockford of the American Hockey League. His employers, the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL, asked that Eaves not speak with Osiecki until after AHL playoffs were done. But by the time the Icehogs were eliminated, Eaves said he’d already decided he couldn’t wait for his former colleague and moved on with the process. According to college hockey sources, Eaves has had contact with at least three others about the openings since Shuchuk and Walsh were fired April 7. The dismissals came on the heels of the worst season in program history (4-26-5) and shortly after Eaves met with UW athletic director Barry Alvarez. Eaves sat down last week with Madison Capitols coach and former UW-Eau Claire winger Luke Strand and this week with J.B. Bittner, a former Ohio State winger and assistant who spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with Tri-City of the U.S. Hockey League. Eaves has also had contact with Nick Fohr, a top assistant with the U.S. NTDP who was a winger at Nebraska-Omaha and worked as an assistant under the likes of Dean Blais at Omaha and Enrico Blasi at Miami (Ohio). Two other possible targets for Eaves are Bentley assistant Matt Curley, a former Clarkson defenseman who coached in the USHL with Indiana and at the U.S. NTDP, and Brian Renfrew, a former Western Michigan goaltender and associate head coach at Michigan State who spent last season as an NHL scout with Winnipeg. Hamre, who interviewed with Eaves on May 20, will handle a variety of duties, a list that starts with scheduling and team travel details.
Smoke Eaters Name Donald New Assistant Coach:
The Trail Smoke Eaters would like to announce the hiring of Ryan Donald as their new Assistant Coach. Ryan will leave his position as Head Coach / Assistant GM of the Woodstock Slammers of the Maritime Junior Hockey League. Ryan has also held the assistant coach position with the Florida Junior Everblades (EJHL). Ryan is a Yale University Graduate (Bachelor of Arts, Political Science), and former Captain of the Yale University Bulldogs (NCAA Division 1). With Yale, Ryan was part of the 2007, 2009, 2010 Ivy League Championship Teams, and in 2010 as Captain led his team to a #6 National Ranking and a NCAA Division 1 Regional Final. Ryan's playing experience also includes time with the Providence Bruins (Boston Bruins Affiliate), the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League and with the Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL. Ryan's junior hockey career was spent in the AJHL where he was an AJHL Rookie of the Year finalist with the Fort Saskatchewan Traders, and also played for the Camrose Kodiaks as an assistant captain. "I am thrilled to get started with the Smoke Eaters and work to build a championship caliber program alongside Coach Deschenes. The BCHL is widely recognized as one of the premier Junior 'A' Leagues in North America, and I am excited to return to Western Canada where I grew up and played myself. My goal is to help each player within the Smoke Eaters organization reach their individual goals, while also growing the footprint the Smoke Eaters have in the community and surrounding area. My wife Carly and I are eager to get involved in the Trail community, and look forward to starting the next phase of our lives in Southeast BC." remarked Ryan regarding his confirmation of taking the position. "We are very pleased to introduce Ryan Donald as our new Assistant Coach/Assistant GM for the 2015-16 season. Ryan's coaching experience with the Woodstock Slammers, his playing experience in the AHL, ECHL, ECAC, championship experiences, and leaderships qualities make him an extremely well qualified coach for the BCHL. Adding someone of Ryan's calibre is not an opportunity that presents itself often and we are fortunate he has chosen to be in Trail for the upcoming season. It speaks volumes of the Trail Smoke Eaters organization, as it remains a well recognized and respected brand in the hockey world, and also reflects positively on the BCHL reputation to not only draw top end hockey players, but coaches as well." Ryan will be involved in all aspects of hockey operations working alongside assistant coaches Barry Zanier and Craig Clare to continue to further grow and enhance the Smoke Eater's program. We look forward to welcoming him and his wife Carly to the Trail community." commented Coach/GM Nick Deschenes on the hiring of Ryan Donald. Ryan Donald joins Coach Deschenes having both played for the Fort Saskatchewan Traders and for Yale University. With the hiring of Donald to the coaching staff and the recent signing of highly recruited goaltender Bailey Macburnie the Smoke Eaters continue to show their commitment to their goal of getting into the BCHL playoffs and moving the Smoke Eaters to the top of the BCHL rankings.
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