BCHL News & Trades:

I found these press releases off team websites, other hockey blogs or online.

BCHL News & Trades:

Victoria-Winkler Trade:

The Winkler Flyers have acquired 19 year old forward Luc Soares (96) from the Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL) in exchange for a Player Development Fee. The Delta, B.C. product suited up this season for both the Grizzlies and Prince George Spruce Kings after recording over a point per game with the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners (NOJHL) last season. The 5’10”, 175lbs forward recorded three points (1 goal – 2 assists) in 14 games with the Grizzlies, after playing the first six games of the year in Prince George. Soares had a tremendous rookie season with Kirkland Lake in 2014-15 recording 52 points (24 goals – 28 assists) in 49 regular season games played. He also had five points (2 goals – 3 assists) in six playoff games. His solid play last season earned him an invite to the Canada – East try out camp for the 2014 World Junior A Challenge. The Flyers would like to welcome Luc and his family to the organization.

Vees Stars Happy In Penticton:

Fred Harbinson wasn’t upset about Sportsnet’s Damien Cox suggesting during a TV game Friday night that the Kelowna Rockets might conceivably trade for Tyson Jost’s and Dante Fabbro’s Western Hockey League rights. He also insisted Rockets president and GM Bruce Hamilton would be “just doing his job” if he investigated acquiring the rights to Jost (from Everett) and/or Fabbro (from Seattle) ahead of the Jan. 10 trade deadline. What irritated the Penticton Vees president, GM and head coach is the “arrogance” of some who suggested Jost and Fabbro should leave their teammates and their program in the middle of what has been a magnificent season for the Vees. “It’s shocking and offensive to those kids that people think of them in that light,” said Harbinson. “They are both tired of hearing about all this stuff.” Harbinson said Jost and Fabbro already told Everett and Seattle they are not interested in being traded to another WHL or Major Junior team. Whether it’s Everett, Seattle, Kelowna, Swift Current or even Erie, they’re content, happy and proud to be playing in Penticton. “That’s the thing … this was never anything against playing in Everett or Seattle,” said Harbinson. “They wanted to play here, they wanted to go the college route. They shouldn’t be made to feel like they made a bad choice.” Jost’s idol is Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, who starred at University of North Dakota before being picked in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft by Chicago and winning three Stanley Cups in the last six seasons. “He wants to follow that path,” said Harbinson. “And Dante is also going to a great school (Boston University) that could have as many as five first-round picks in the upcoming draft.” Jost and Fabbro are both 17 and both are expected to be picked in the first round of the 2016 draft. Jost leads the BCHL in scoring, Fabbro leads all defencemen in scoring. Their Vees team is ranked No. 1 in Canada with a 26-2 record. Could they help push a contending team like Kelowna over the top in a bid for a Memorial Cup? Absolutely. But they’re more interested in helping Penticton win an RBC Cup, which they came agonizingly close to doing as 16-year-olds last season. Harbinson certainly impacted their decision to play in Penticton, but choosing the college route over Major Junior were careful and informed decisions made by Jost, Fabbro and their respective families. “I’m a big supporter of both NCAA and Major Junior,” stressed Harbinson. “First and foremost, I’m a hockey coach, and I can understand the reasons why some choose to go one way and some go the other.”

Surrey-Cowichan Trade:

The Surrey Eagles have announced the acquisition of forward Rhett Willcox from the Cowichan Valley Capitals in exchange for future considerations. Willcox ('96) began the year with the Trail Smoke Eaters, where he scored three goals in three games before being moved to Cowichan Valley. In total this season, he has scored six goals and eight assists in 25 games. The 5-foot-10 Surrey native is known for his agitating style of play, and finished the 2014-2015 season with 73 penalty minutes in 56 games. He will be a welcome addition to the current group of forwards, according to Eagles head coach Blaine Neufeld. "We are thrilled to bring a player in such as Rhett. We like his maturity and experience that he brings to our group. We are in a spot where we have a very bright future and know that Rhett is a piece we need in that process." "He brings skill and will be in a position to perform offensively for us while playing the game the right way. We also anticipate him to bring a sense of leadership to our group."

Penticton-Surrey Trade:

The Penticton Vees Jr. ‘A’ Hockey Club has acquired forward Darius Davidson (96) from the Surrey Eagles for future considerations, the team announced Wednesday. President, General Manager and Head Coach Fred Harbinson sees a good fit with the power forward, “Darius is a proven contributor on the offensive side of the game and his numbers reflect that. We feel his blend of skill and size will make him a very effective player at both ends of the ice.” “With the amount of injuries we’ve had in recent weeks, we felt this move made more and more sense going forward.” Davidson, 19, led the Eagles in scoring this season with 11 goals and 25 points through 30 games; he had a team-best four power-play goals too. The 6’1, 195 pound winger had a breakout sophomore season a year ago, when he racked up 25 goals and 51 points in 58 games for a struggling Surrey squad. He finished in the top 40 in the BCHL scoring race last season and was tied for 19th in goals. Since the start of last season, the Surrey, BC, native has put up 36 goals and 76 points in 88 games. Impressive numbers considering Surrey finished 16th in the BCHL with nine wins and 22 points one season ago. To make room on the roster, the Vees put injured forward Demico Hannoun (95) on the 30-day Injured Reserve after he sustained a broken arm in last Friday’s game against Vernon; Hannoun is expected to be out six-weeks. Davidson is expected to join the Vees today and make his debut on Friday in Salmon Arm.

Surrey-Alberni Valley Trade:

The Alberni Valley Bulldogs trade 1996-born defenseman Tyler Cooper to the Surrey Eagles for 1995-born defenseman Owen Johnson. The Alberni Valley Bulldogs would like to thank Tyler for his contributions to the organization and are excited to welcome Owen to the Bulldogs family.

Salmon Arm-Coquitlam Trade:

The Salmon Arm Silverbacks have acquired the BCHL/CHL list rights to Ayrton Nikkel(95)(D) from the Coquitlam Express in exchange for future considerations.

West Kelowna-Tri-City Trade:

The Warriors have acquired G Matthew Greenfield (95) from the Tri-City Storm (USHL) in exchange for Future Considerations.

Chilliwack-Tri-City Trade:

The Chiefs have acquired forward Aaron O'Neill from the Tri-City Storm of the USHL. He is expected to be in the lineup Sunday.

Westgard Leaves Surrey Eagles For Western Hockey League:

The Victoria Royals are pleased to announce that 1998-born forward Ty Westgard has agreed to join the club. Westgard was originally selected by the Royals in the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft in the eighth round, 165th overall. “Ty is a smart and skilled forward who will be an excellent addition to the team.” General Manager Cameron Hope said. “We are excited to welcome him to the club.” The native of Surrey, BC started the 2015-16 season with the Surrey Eagles of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). Over 23 games with the Eagles Westgard recorded 21 points (6g-15a) and was tied for second on the team in scoring. Westgard leaves the BCHL as the fourth highest scoring 1998-born player in the league. The 6-0, 180 lb forward spent last season with the Eagles where he amassed nine points (5g-4a) in 17 games played. Westgard was named as a C-ranked skater by NHL Central Scouting and is projected to be taken in either the fourth, fifth, or sixth round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. The newest Royal was shortlisted by Team Canada West for the upcoming 2015 World Junior A Challenge and recently attended their selection camp in Leduc, AB.

Alberni Valley-Cowichan Trade:

The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are pleased to announce the acquisition of Rhett Willcox from the Cowichan Valley Capitals in exchange for Future Considerations. Willcox is a gritty two-way forward with 130 games of BCHL experience who previously spent time with the Merritt Centennials, the Trail Smoke Eaters, and the Capitals. This season Willcox has 19 points in 33 games. Prior to that, Willcox was a standout player for the Valley West Hawks in the British Columbia Major Midget League where he scored 21 goals and 52 points in 2012-13. The 5-foot-10, Surrey, BC, native is expected to join the Bulldogs immediately and make his debut against his former team, the Trail Smoke Eaters, tonight at 6pm on Teddy Bear Toss night.

Silverbacks Sign Nikkel:

The Salmon Arm Silverbacks are proud to announce that they have signed D-Man Ayrton Nikkel from Kelowna, BC . Ayrton’s rights were acquired last week from the Coquitlam Express and GM Troy Mick has been in contact with Ayrton ever since and is on his way to Salmon Arm to make his season debut Friday night in Trail with his new teammates and followed by his home debut Saturday vs the Powell River Kings. “I have known Ayrton and his family for many years as I coached him at the Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy in Kelowna 4 years ago,” stated Troy Mick. “He is a leader and one of the toughest competitors on the ice I have seen, he will be able to play in all situations for us and with his 4 years of WHL experience will add to the veteran leadership in the dressing room” continued Mick. Nikkel says, "I am extremely excited to be a part of the Silverbacks organization, and look forwarding to helping the team push for the playoffs."

Penticton-Cowichan Trade:


Before their game Saturday against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, the Penticton Vees announced they traded defenseman Sam Jones (97) to the Cowichan Valley Capitals for future considerations. Jones, 18, had four assists in 27 games this season, whilst patrolling the Vees blue-line.Jones had spent the last three seasons at the Okanagan Hockey Academy next door netting 31 points (7-24-31) in 28 games last season for OHA Prep Red. The move does leave the Vees with four defensemen avaialble for their remaining three games before the Christmas break. To help fill the void on the backend, the Vees will have two Osoyoos Coyotes in the line-up Tuesday, when the team travels to Vernon to face the Vipers. AP's Daniel Stone (96) and Ryan Morrell (97) have been called up from the KIJHL. Morrell is the top-scoring defenseman on the Coyotes, with 22 points (7-15-22) in 28 games. Stone has 19 points (8-11-19) in 26 games. Stone has played in six games this season with the Vees and Morrell has played in a pair, picking up an assist in one of those two games. The Vees are missing defensemen Gabe Bast and Seamus Donohue due to injury and Dante Fabbro, who's playing at the 2015 World Junior 'A' Challenge.