BCHL News & Trades:
Maglio Ready To Go As Spruce Kings New Bench Boss:
With great power comes great responsibility. That is the case for first year head coach Adam Maglio who will guide the Prince George Spruce Kings into the 2017-18 BCHL season against the arch-rival Chilliwack Chiefs Friday and Saturday at 7 pm from the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena. Maglio took over the job during the spring after Chad van Diemen stepped down for personal reasons following the team’s hard fought first round series against the Wenatchee Wild where they fell in six games. He and the players are anxious to finally lift the curtain on home ice. “We are excited and I think our team as a group is prepared, we’re ready but now we just want to play hockey. I think for our guys it’s using that excitement and controlling their emotions and coming out with a competitive fire because Chilliwack is a big divisional rival for us.” The Spruce Kings went 2-4-1-0 against the high-flying Chiefs last season only getting outscored by a 28-22 margin in those seven games. Those results include a 3-2 victory in Chilliwack along with a 4-1 victory and a 6-5 double overtime loss on home ice. Maglio feels the gap closed considerably last season when both teams hit the ice. “We broke some barriers last year against Chilliwack. I know our team in the past didn’t have the success they wanted to but I think last year we would have wanted a little bit of a better record but I think we are confident playing them.” “Beating them at home was a big boost for our guys but it’s a new year and a new team so we are going to have build our own identity starting tomorrow (Friday),” Maglio says. Prince George will also enter the season with a new leadership group that includes 19-year old forward Kyle Johnson who will be wearing the “C”. Johnson says the gradual rise since his rookie season two years ago has helped him come full circle. “Year one was a rebuilding and young team so obviously the roles weren’t very static as they changed all the time but in year two it was kind of nice being a supporting role player and play under Brett Mennear as the second line centre and kind of watch him and the way he approached things. I feel like myself and the core guys that have been here for a couple of seasons believe it is our turn to lead the way and were all really excited about it because it is a new challenge.” The opening weekend games will also mark the return of Prince George native and former Spruce King Bryan Allbee who was dealt to the Chiefs in August. Prince George begins the season with a four game home stand that will continue September 15 and 16 against the Surrey Eagles.
Bulldogs Coach's Update #4
Bulldogs Head Coach and GM, Matt Hughes, talks about the rest of the preseason, his game plan for the first regular season game, and his roster.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZnjtUYoXJo
Trail Smoke Eaters New Bus:
Eagles Name Roberts Captain:
Captain – Jordan Robert
Assistant – Jackson Ross
Assistant – Johnny Wesley
Assistant – Domenic Masellis
Jordan Robert will be returning as captain for his second season with the Surrey Eagles. He received the captaincy in the final half of last season from Paul McAvoy, who has since left for Colgate University. Robert, 19, is a Clarkson University commit – which is located in his hometown of Massena, New York. A heart and soul type of player, Robert is a natural leader for the Eagles heading forward. Jackson Ross joined the Eagles last season after spending time with the Kamloops Storm of the KIJHL. The Centennial, Colorado native is a key defensive cog on the back end, and is another leader by example. He received the team’s Most Improved Player award last season after notching 10 points in 50 games. Johnny Wesley returns to the Eagles for his 20-year-old season, and will look to take a leadership role both on and off the ice. Praised for his upbeat attitude, Wesley backs it up on the ice with both speed and skill. The White Rock native could be a deadly force on the first line for the Eagles as the season progresses. Domenic Masellis was acquired at the trade deadline last season from the Coquitlam Express. He quickly became a fan favourite, and a leader in the dressing room. Masselis, who is in his final year of junior hockey, should be another key defensive player for the Eagles this season.
Penicton Vees TV:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=65&v=PNhBpG1_9Is
Alberni Valley-Bonnyville Trade:
The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are pleased to announce the acquisition of 1997-born defenceman Mitchell Oliver from the Bonnyville Pontiacs of the Alberta Junior Hockey League in return for 1999-born forward Lucas Thorne. Oliver is a Kelowna, BC product who split the 2016/17 season between the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers and the AJHL’s Pontiacs. He combined to score 11 goals and 33 points in 58 regular season games while adding four points in nine playoff games in Bonnyville. “Mitchell is an experienced veteran defenceman who will give us an immediate boost on the blueline,” says Bulldogs head coach Matt Hughes. “He’s a skilled puck-mover with a hard shot and good size who will contribute positively in all three zones. We’re very happy to add a player of Mitchell’s ability to our defence corps.” Oliver’s Junior A career began in Vernon in 2014 and he went on to play 117 games in a Vipers uniform over the next two-plus seasons, collecting 39 points. Prior to making the jump to the BCHL, he was part of the Okanagan Rockets major midget squad that represented BC at the Telus Cup. Oliver will make his Bulldogs’ debut tonight when Alberni Valley hosts the Victoria Grizzlies at 7:00 PM. Admission is $7.00.
Chiefs Gear Up To Host 2018 RBC Cup:
The Chilliwack Chiefs have had their share of recent successes advancing to the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) finals in each of the past two years. The Chiefs are also guaranteed to have a lengthy 2017-18 campaign. That’s because regardless of how the Chilliwack franchise fares in its regular season and playoff action, the squad will still be playing next May. As hosts, the Chiefs are guaranteed a berth in the five-team national RBC Cup tournament which will be staged at the Prospera Centre from May 12 to 20, 2018. Jason Tatarnic, who is heading into his fourth season as the Chiefs’ head coach/GM, said it’s a good feeling being the only squad in the entire Canadian Junior Hockey League that has secured an appearance at the 2018 national tourney. “It’s nice to know that,” he said. “But we’re not going to put any added pressure on our guys. Our mindset is just going to be to keep developing throughout the year and be ready for the RBC Cup.” The Chiefs, who kick off their BCHL regular season schedule on Sept. 8, are expected to have just five returnees (three forwards and two defencemen) on their roster this season. “Our turnover is pretty high every year,” Tatarnic said. “We usually lose 10 to 15 kids to scholarships.” Tatarnic, however, is confident his squad will once again be near the top of the league standings this coming season. “We like our recruits,” he said. “We’re really happy with all of them.” One of the newcomers is 18-year-old forward Skyler Brind’Amour, whose father Rod is a former NHL star and currently an assistant coach with the Carolina Hurricanes. The younger Brind’Amour was selected in the sixth round of the NHL Entry Draft this past June by the Edmonton Oilers. He’s also committed to attend Michigan State but not until the 2019-20 season. Meanwhile, it’s not only the Chiefs’ organization that is preparing for the national tournament. Those who were presenting partners for the bid include officials from the City of Chilliwack, Chilliwack Tourism and the Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe. Barry Douglas, the Chiefs’ director of marketing and sales, is one of the key figures on the 2018 RBC Cup organizing committee. He said quite a bit of interest for next May’s event has already been generated. Chiefs’ season ticket holders have already scooped up about 500 ticket packages. Other members of the public will also soon be able to buy their packages. “Our goal is to break the all-time RBC Cup attendance record,” Douglas said. “We’ll need to average 2,800 tickets (per game) to get the record.” Helping to spread the word are six volunteers who are part of the RBC Cup Street Team launched in June. These volunteers have been and will continue to be rather visible at numerous events in the city. Douglas added there was no shortage of others looking to help out as well. “We’ll need about 150 people to help out with our game day operations,” he said. It was announced back in June of 2016 that Chilliwack had been awarded the 2018 RBC Cup. Shortly afterwards, more than enough people indicated they would be willing to serve as volunteers. “But we are taking some new applications still,” Douglas said. While the Chiefs will make their first appearance at the RBC Cup tournament next year, Tatarnic will have an inkling of what to expect. He was the bench boss of the New Brunswick-based Woodstock Slammers, members of the Maritime Hockey League, who competed at the 2012 RBC Cup in Humboldt, Sask.
Salmon Arm Silverbacks 2017-18 Intro:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_OTAY7Dfq8
Big Changes At Cominco Arena:
Action on the ice will be enhanced by a lot of action off the ice, as the Trail Smoke Eaters new era begins tonight. The Smokies open the 56th BCHL season against the West Kelowna Warriors at the Cominco Arena, but tonight’s match up is the first opening-season game for the new Smoke Eaters staff and owners Annie and Rich Murphy, who have been working overtime to make it a memorable and activity-packed evening. “Things are going great,” said Allison McCarthy, corporate sales and events manager. “We are just putting the finishing touches on the season-opener details, but overall things are going really well.” And while the puck drops at 7 p.m., the opening night festivities kick off well before that. “We have a lot planned for this evening. It’s going to start with a Kids Tailgate Party in the parking lot under the mural at 5:30 p.m.” The Kids Tailgate Party, courtesy of Teck, includes a variety of hockey-themed kids games and pizza from Rustic Crust with all proceeds going to KidSport-Trail from 5:30-6:30 p.m. In addition, fans are encouraged to show up early as the state-of-the-art video wall will be unveiled at 6:45 p.m., and Smokies’ media guru Geoff Fontes has compiled footage for what should be an explosive Trail Smoke Eater entrance. “We are going off of the theme, ‘The legacy lives on,’” explained McCarthy. “So, not to give too much away, but it’s going to highlight our incredible hockey history and how it transitions into current day.” With close to $2 million invested in the team and comprehensive renovations to the Trail Memorial Centre, the Smoke Eater game experience will be unlike any before it with upgrades to the Spud and Suds Shacks, the addition of the Trail Beer Refinery kiosk, and the video wall where Trail fans and their sponsors will be treated to instant replay, corporate partnership ads, commercials, and entertaining clips. “It is really going to tie the whole element of entertainment together with the addition of this video wall, so we’re all super excited to see this in action.” Following a live rendition of the national anthem, representatives from Sanctuary will be on hand for the ceremonial puck drop. Game night sponsor, Teck, donated the Smokies Fan Box to Sanctuary, a safe and nurturing community centre for pre-teens. The first intermission features a fun Smokies X’s and O’s game with the winner receiving a $100 Royal Theatre gift pack, and the second intermission highlights a paper-airplane toss, which, similar to the puck toss, will award a prize to the plane that is closest to the centre-ice dot. Smoke Eater souvenirs will also be available with a new line up of hats, T-shirts and sweatshirts, hockey-glove foam fingers, and of course – baby onesies. Following the Murphy’s acquisition of the team on Nov. 1, 2016, the owners quickly hired local staff to direct hockey and off-ice operations to improve ticket sales and energize the game-night experience. The result: a much-improved Smoke Eaters team, along with new events and promotions that boosted attendance last season, culminating in an average of almost 2,000 per game during the Smokies first playoff appearance in eight years. The Smoke Eaters hope to kick off this season with the same success. “All of the current staff started on this adventure last November and December so this is our first time opening the season together,” added McCarthy. “But everything is running smoothly, and we are ready for a great season.” Doors open at 6 p.m. with the puck drop at 7 p.m. Smoke Signals: The game-night experience requires a robust group of volunteers and while many have been recruited and are returning from last year, the Smoke Eaters can still use more hands to help out in the concession and Spud Shack.
Penticton Vees TV:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfWGtjUB3HE
Bulldogs Name Steele Captain:
The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are pleased to announce that 20-year old forward Ryan Steele has been named team captain for the 2017/18 British Columbia Hockey League season. Forward Cole Poliziani and defencemen Connor Welsh and Mitch Oliver have been named as alternate captains. Steele is entering his second season as a Bulldog following a 29-point campaign as a BCHL rookie last season. “Ryan is an outstanding young man who sets a great example for his teammates of what it takes to prepare and play at a consistently high level,” says Bulldogs head coach Matt Hughes. “He has the respect of everybody in our dressing room and he leads every day with tremendous work ethic and character.” Welsh is also back for his sophomore season in the Alberni Valley, while Poliziani and Oliver were acquired in offseason trades. “Connor, Cole and Mitch are all positive, vocal guys who have earned this opportunity,” says Hughes. Steele and the Bulldogs open the 2017/18 season tonight in Nanaimo with a revamped roster that includes five returning players, four summer trade acquisitions and 14 rookies. “It’s an honour to be named captain of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and to have the support of my teammates and coaches,” says Steele. “I’m looking forward to this being a great season we can all be proud of, both on the ice and in the community.”
Bochen Commits To Spruce Kings For 2018-19 Season:
The Prince George Spruce Kings are pleased to announce the commitment of 16-year-old defenceman Nick Bochen to the team beginning in the 2018-19 season. Nick was with the team recently in training camp and throughout the exhibition season and proved that he will be a great player in the BCHL in the years to come. He will be an affiliate player with the team this season and will spend some time with the team as his schedule allows and when the team needs to fill a roster spot due to injuries. This season Nick will play for the Burnaby Winter Club Academy Midget Prep Team. This program has produced some tremendous players for the Spruce Kings over the past several seasons. “We are pleased and excited to have Nick Bochen committed to the Prince George Spruce Kings for the 2018/2019 Season. Nick exemplifies the type of defensemen that our program values on and off the ice. His ability to transition fast, his on ice awareness and his offensive prowess will allow him to be an elite contributor at the Junior A level. Nick comes from a program that promotes a team culture that aligns with our core values which will make for an easy transition into our organization. We look forward to seeing Nick in a Spruce King’s jersey next season,” said Spruce Kings Head Coach Adam Maglio.
Atkinson Talks Silverbacks Leadership Group:
The Salmon Arm Silverbacks started the 2017-18 BCHL season with a new head coach and GM and a brand new leadership group. Scott Atkinson says they wanted their leadership to reflect the way they want to play on the ice. They want to place hard, fast and big and the players selected bring that grit to the game. Grayson Constable will wear the ‘C’ this season and will be supported by Marcus Mitchell, Josh Latta along with Mitch Stapley, Rhett Kingston, and Logan Mostat. They’ll all serve as assistant captains on a rotating basis.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm0QH03XMyk
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