BCHL News & Trades:
Salmon Arm-Prince George Trade:
Salmon Arm Silverbacks general manager Troy Mick today announced the team has acquired forward Tanner Campbell for future considerations from the Prince George Spruce Kings. Campbell from Kelowna, BC has 28 goals and 41 assists in 3 years in the BCHL for a total of 69 points. Tanner also had 29 goals and 38 assists for 67 points for the BCMML Bronze Medal Okanagan Rockets based out of Kelowna in the 2013-2014 season. “Tanner is an offensive player who has the speed to go with it” says GM Troy Mick. He plays with passion and has a very good hockey IQ on the ice” He will be a very good offensive point producer for us this season. “I am looking forward to the opportunity to play in Salmon Arm. Its a privilege to be part of a great organization with the Silverbacks and the fact that I’m able to play close to home makes it even more special for me. I am excited to call the Shaw Centre home this year, as it has always been a tough rink to play in over the years as a visitor. I know how special the fan support is in Salmon Arm and I can’t wait to get things going and push for a national championship this season”. Stated Tanner. Welcome to the Backs!
Alberni Valley-Battlefords Trade:
The Alberni Valley Bulldogs announced during the long weekend that they have completed a trade with the Battlefords North Stars of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. The trade sees 1997-born forward Keith Anderson head to the North Stars in exchange for future considerations. Anderson dressed in 29 games for the Bulldogs last season following a trade from the Vernon Vipers, tallying a total of four goals, four assists and 76 penalty minutes. He previously suited up in 46 games with the WHL’s Victoria Royals and Everett Silvertips. The Bulldogs would like to wish Keith all the best in his upcoming season.
Powell River Kings Ice Install:
Powell River Kings Ice Install – We strongly believe you can never have enough time lapses of ice being put into the ol’ arena. First, its strangely satisfying to watch but more importantly it signals that hockey season is just around the corner. The BCHL’s Powell River Kings put together this time-lapse of ice going in which means the Junior A Hockey season is just about ready to begin. Most hockey teams in the league will be beginning their camps and pre-season in three to four weeks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfuPIDTw3wY
Rons Joins Wenatchee Wild:
As the Wenatchee Wild prepare to begin their third season in the BCHL, the task of reloading a club that has lost a lot of key components took another step forward with the addition of Brenden Rons, a second-year junior defenseman who is expected to provide a solid presence on and off the ice. Rons arrives in Wenatchee with his college commitment already secured, as he will play Division I hockey for the Michigan Tech Huskies in his home state. “Growing up in Michigan, I watched MTU play at the Great Lakes Invitational every year, so committing there was obviously special”, Rons declares. “Also, my grandparents grew up 10 minutes from the university, so they are thrilled with my decision.” He’s still deciding on a major, but is interesting in the school’s Engineering program. He has plenty of time to make that choice, but for now he’s enjoying the ride. “Just being able to see the world and travel while doing what I love is an amazing experience. It has created many memories and friendships.” A towering 6’5”, 225 lb. defenseman, Rons played for Victory Honda as a Bantam, then spent three years with the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies U16 and U18 teams before joining Omaha in the USHL at the beginning of last season. At the midway point of the season, he joined Topeka in the NAHL where he finished the season. The decision to play for Wenatchee this season was a simple one. “It’s just the full junior hockey package”, he says. “Every year, you must take major steps in your development. I feel Wenatchee gives me the best opportunity to do that.” Wenatchee Head Coach / GM Bliss Littler is pleased to welcome Rons to Wild Country. “He is a big-bodied d-man that skates well, and comes with experience”. Littler goes on to add, “He does a very good job defending. We also expect some offense out of him.” Rons and the rest of his new Wild teammates report to Training Camp on August 21.
Warriors Name Marino Captain:
On Friday, September 8th in Trail, Warriors forward Jared Marino will play in his 100th career regular season BCHL game. It will also mark the first regular season game of his captaincy in the 2017/18 season. In this “Countdown to Warriors Hockey”, we chat with the Warriors newest captain in anticipation of the Warriors Main Camp, which culminates at Royal LePage Place in West Kelowna on Monday, August 21st. In 99 career regular season games, Marino has compiled 6 goals and 29 points to go along with 68 penalty minutes but is the owner of 39 career playoff games between the BCHL, Western Canada Cup and Royal Bank Cup. The Niagara Falls, Ontario native has found a nice home in the western part of the country and will begin his third season in West Kelowna come early September. With the potential of 12 players returning to the Warriors roster for this upcoming season, Marino likes the look of this year’s squad, “I think the group we are bringing back puts us in a great spot to start the year,” commented Marino, who is keeping his eye on the big prize, “A successful year for me would be nothing less than winning another RBC Cup with this team.” The offseason can be a great time for players when it comes to developing strength and getting some reps in the weight room and on the ice that they might not have during the grind of a season. For Marino, it’s all about keeping busy, “I like keeping busy in the summers, training in the mornings and working at night,” stated the Warriors captain, “Being a bigger guy, I focus my offseasons on getting faster and developing more power in my legs.” The 6’3″, 205-pound winger is one of two players (the other being Jake Harrison) that remains from the Warrior group that won it all back in 2016 with Jared’s brother, Kyle, captaining that team to the franchise’s best season yet. The Marino’s have always been close, something which Jared holds closely, “I look up to my brother everyday of my life”, said Marino, “With Kyle being such a great leader, it has taught me so much and has shaped me into the person I am today.” Looking up to his brother does not just stop off the ice as Jared learned a thing or two from his older sibling during the Warriors championship run, “I learned a lot that year from Kyle about leadership and how hard you have to work as a captain both on and off the ice.” Although being miles apart with older brother Kyle in Alaska playing college hockey for the University of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks, the brotherly love runs deep for the Marino’s. Jared and the rest of the Warriors are set to hit the ice at Royal LePage Place for Main Camp on Monday, August 21st before the first preseason game on Wednesday, August 23rd at 7:00 PM at RLP against the Penticton Vees, tickets are just $5.
Wild Goaltender Eisele Releases New Mask:
Wenatchee Wild goaltender Seth Eisele released a photo of his newly painted mask for the upcoming season.
Victoria-Prince George Trade:
The Prince George Spruce Kings have acquired 18 yr old forward Nolan Welsh from the Victoria Grizzlies for future considerations. Welsh tallied 11pts in 52 games last season with the Grizzlies.
Alberni Valley-Melville Trade:
The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are pleased to announce the acquisition of 1997-born defenceman Tyson Slater from the Melville Millionaires of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League in return for 1998-born forward Ethan Kopyczyn and 1999-born defenceman Jake Wilhelm. Slater is a Courtenay, BC product who spent the 2016/17 season with the Trail Smoke Eaters. As a BCHL rookie, he scored five goals and added five assists and 24 penalty minutes in 39 regular season games. He was dealt to the SJHL’s Millionaires earlier in the offseason. “Tyson is a smooth-skating defenceman with good size and excellent offensive instincts,” says Bulldogs head coach Matt Hughes. “He made some really good strides in Trail last season and proved that he belongs in our league. We’re excited to see him step up and play a key role on our blueline as a 20-year old this season.” Slater spent the 2015/16 season with the VIJHL’s Comox Valley Glacier Kings while making his BCHL debut as an affiliate player with the Powell River Kings. “Growing up in Courtenay it was always a dream of mine to play for the Bulldogs,” says Slater, who describes himself as a physical, offensive blueliner who isn’t afraid to rush the puck. “I love the community and the support the Bulldogs receive and I’m very excited to be a part of it.” “I’m going into the season hoping to secure an NCAA commitment, but most importantly I’m going to do whatever I need to on and off the ice to help the team succeed. This town deserves to have a winning team again and I want to help make that happen.” Wilhelm completed his rookie season with the Bulldogs in February, while Kopyczyn was earlier acquired as future considerations in a trade with the AJHL’s Calgary Mustangs. Slater will take the ice with his new teammates when the Bulldogs begin their main training camp on Monday, August 21st at Weyerhaeuser Arena.
Wild Signs Zech:
Some ice hockey players have been on skates so long, they don’t remember learning. It’s just always been a part of their life. For Cooper Zech, that’s not exactly the case. “My earliest hockey memory was around 5 years old”, he recalls. “I didn’t like skating very much and wasn’t very good at it so my dad would skate in front of me dropping m&m’s on the ice so I would skate around following him the whole time picking up the m&m’s as I went.” It may not have been the most conventional method, but it certainly was effective. 14 years later, Cooper Zech is headed to play junior hockey in Wenatchee with a Division I college commitment to Ferris State in his pocket. The fleet-footed Zech started as a forward. “One year in peewees, the defensemen on our team weren’t very strong, and I played a few games at defense and just stuck ever since.” The move paid dividends, allowing him to secure a commitment with Ferris State University in the WCHA. It’s admittedly taken the pressure off the Michigan native. “It’s definitely a relief not having to worry as much about who is in the stands that night and it makes it easier to just play my game the best I can.” His preference is to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice, and hopefully become a police officer. He checks in at 5’7” and 160 lbs., and loves to handle the puck. “I am a defenseman that is offensive, I like to jump in the rush when I can and make plays in the offensive zone”, Zech reveals. That’s part of what led him to the Wenatchee Valley. “Wenatchee is known for having one of the best rinks with the best fan base and an unbelievable track record”, he says. “Their style of play is very similar to the style that I like to play.” He has his list of goals lined out for the coming year, both personal and team-based. “What I am most excited for is playing for a team that is known to make deep playoff runs and have a real chance at winning it all.” Wenatchee Head Coach / GM Bliss Littler is looking forward to what Zech will bring to the fold. “Cooper is an experienced puck moving defenseman that has run a power play at the NAHL level”, Littler notes. “We expect him to be an exciting player to watch.”
Around the Pound Episode 6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-v1tcuI_CDQ&feature=youtu.be
Kleysen Set For Final Year Of Junior Hockey In West Kelowna:
After almost one year and a full season of BCHL hockey under his belt, Stephen Kleysen has found a second home in West Kelowna as he is set to begin his final season of Junior ‘A’ hockey in the Okanagan. The Warriors acquired Kleysen from the Winnipeg Blues of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) on the 17th of August in 2016 and proved to be one of the biggest additions to last year’s Warriors squad, playing in all 58 regular season games with 6 goals 23 points to go along with 48 penalty minutes. Kleysen saw an increased role and was on the ice consistently for the Warriors in the playoffs and also generated some offense in that time with three assists in four games played. The six goals Kleysen tallied was the most he had scored in a season in his Junior ‘A’ career. The 5’11”, 185-pound blueliner learnt a lot from his first year out west last season, “With last year being my third year of junior hockey, I became more conscious of my responsibility,” said Kleysen, “to show up ready to play like it’d be our last game every single night.” It’s not only the playing aspect of the game for Kleysen either, strength and conditioning plays a big part in his life as well, “After seeing several of my teammates suffer some unfortunate injuries, the importance of taking care of my body and mind became more apparent to me than it had in previous seasons.” As the Winnipeg, Manitoba native states, it’s not just his body he needs to take care of during the long season, “Coming into games mentally prepared, well rested and well fueled made a huge difference in what I could contribute to the team,” Kleysen continued, “It became especially apparent and more important during the playoffs; I wanted my energy to be contagious to the team on the ice. Those experiences have motivated me to push harder than I ever have this offseason.” With Warriors Main Camp commencing in just 10 days, Kleysen is excited to get into town and return to hockey, “I can’t wait to rejoin the returning group of guys we have and to meet all the new players coming in as we will have a strong team this season.” Stephen and the rest of the Warriors are set to hit the ice at Royal LePage Place for Main Camp on Monday, August 21st before the first preseason game on Wednesday, August 23rd at 7:00 PM at RLP against the Penticton Vees, tickets are just $5.
Weatherby Prepared To Lead By Example:
On a team heavily laden with veteran talent last year, Jasper Weatherby came in to Wenatchee for his first season of junior hockey and embraced his role, and now returns this season prepared to lead by example for the younger players. He played on a line that featured two other first year players, Lucas Sowder and Sam Morton. The energetic line not only kept the pressure on against some of the league’s top lines, they also generated 80 points of offense. Weatherby led the way with 12 goals and 20 assists. At 6’3”, 215 lbs., his physical stature combined with his puck handling skills and situational awareness made him a force at both ends of the ice. For Weatherby, Wenatchee has been a perfect fit. “The best part has to be the people associated with the team: the team staff, trainer staff, billets, rink staff, and the thousands of fans showing up for every game. With that being said, the coaching staff is phenomenal; they’re always there to help you succeed as a team and an individual. Everywhere you go, you’re treated like a pro and have every opportunity to succeed.” He’s taken a no-nonsense approach to preparing for the coming season. “This off season I really focused on my skating”, he said. “Being able to skate well and make plays at high speed is definitely important. I also really try and take care of my body, from getting enough sleep and eating well to stretching a lot and doing some yoga, I think all those things help in the long run with being a better player and injury prevention.” He played in Omaha with the U16 and U18 teams for a couple of years prior to joining the Wild, but feels his game has really started to improve in the BCHL. “I’d say the area of my game that has changed the most is my speed of game. Junior hockey is fast and being able to make plays under pressure is something that grew a lot over the course of the last season. I think the BCHL is the perfect league to continue developing as a player.” For this season, Weatherby says, “My goal this season is to be a better player and person on and off the ice. I think it’s also important to help the younger guys out as much as you can, especially being a returning guy. As a team, I think the goal should be the same, and that is to win a championship.”
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