BCHL News & Trades:
Penticton Vees Going For Junior-A Attendance Record:
The Penticton Vees are closing in a record-setting year for attendance — not only for the BCHL, but for Junior A leagues anywhere in Canada. Through their first 23 home games this year, the Vees have averaged 3,036 fans per game at the South Okanagan Events Centre. No Junior A team in the country has ever averaged more than 3,000 fans per game during the regular season. Vees assistant coach Matt Fraser, who added director of community events to his hats this season, said the team has expanded its presence beyond Penticton's borders. “To me, the biggest one is the school visits because the kids at the elementary schools love seeing the players up close and in person," Fraser said. "The look on the kids faces when they get to play floor hockey with their favourite Vees is something that shows you how important it is to get out in the community.” Apart from school visits, the Vees have volunteered for a number of community initiatives this season, such as the 'Cover with Kindness' blanket drive, as well as several free skates with fans. "We receive such incredible support from this community, it’s only fair that we return the favour," Fraser added. The Vees set an attendance record last season, with an average of 2,981 fans per game at the SOEC. Attendance for the Vees has grown starkly in the past six seasons. In 2012-13, the team had an average attendance of 1,774, according to hockeydb.com. Penticton has five more home games remaining in the regular season. Their average attendance this season compares to 1,988 for the Vernon Vipers and 875 for the West Kelowna Warriors, according to hockeydb.
Spruce Kings Give Hawes Contract Extension:
The Prince George Spruce Kings are pleased to announce that they have signed General Manager Mike Hawes to a 3 year contract extension. Hawes’ current 3 year contract is set to expire on May 31, 2018. The new contract will keep Hawes with the Spruce Kings until May 31, 2021. Mike has been with the team for the past 13 seasons. He came on board as Associate Coach prior to the 2005/2006 season. After 2 seasons as Associate Coach he became Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel for 4 seasons before being named General Manager part way through the 2010/2011 season. Under Hawes as General Manager the Spruce Kings have compiled a 177(W) – 165 (L) – 14(T) – 32(OTL) regular season record over the past 7 seasons and have qualified for the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) playoffs in 6 of the 7 seasons. “The Board of Directors is pleased to extend the contract of General Manager Mike Hawes for an additional three year term.” says Spruce Kings team President Rick Turgeon. “It is very important to have consistency in a hockey operation for recruiting players and retaining them. Hockey is a twelve month a year business and Mike has worked hard in the past and continues to put significant effort into building our program.” “I’m excited to have signed an extension with the Spruce Kings. Having grown up in Prince George I have a lot of pride in the teams from the North and from our community. I feel this organization has come a long way in the past decade and has evolved into an organization that is well respected throughout our league and the junior hockey world. It has taken a lot of hard work by some very dedicated individuals but we are now a team that good players from throughout North America want to play for. I really look forward to continuing that evolution and progression and to continue moving this team forward over the next 3 seasons” said Spruce Kings General Manager Mike Hawes.
Jang Commits To Alberni Valley Bulldogs For 2018-19 Season:
The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are pleased to announce that 2001-born forward Ethan Jang has committed to join the team for the 2018/19 British Columbia Hockey League season. Jang is currently playing in his rookie season with the Fernie Ghostriders of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, where he has scored seven goals and added three assists in 30 regular season games. He recently represented the league’s Kootenay Conference in the 2018 KIJHL Top Prospects Game in Kelowna. “Ethan plays an aggressive, in-your-face style and skates very well for his age,” says Bulldogs head coach Matt Hughes. “He stepped into our lineup back in October as an affiliate player against a good Wenatchee team and his speed and compete level stood out immediately. He plays with intensity, finishes checks and has a ton of potential to be a contributor in all facets of the game. We’re excited to see Ethan continue his development in a Bulldogs uniform.” The 16-year old spent the 2016/17 season with the BC Major Midget League’s Kootenay Ice, where he scored 14 goals and finished with 29 points in 39 regular season games. His goals total ranked sixth among all 2001-born players in the league, while his points total ranked fifth. “Committing to the Bulldogs is a great feeling for sure,” says Jang, who describes himself as a quick North-South skater known for taking the body and providing energy for his teammates. “My family and I believe that the Alberni Valley is the right place for me to play and develop as a player. Living on Vancouver Island and meeting new people will also be a great experience.” Jang enjoyed his first taste of BCHL action against the Wild and is looking forward to making the jump full-time: “Stepping on the ice and playing in a faster-paced game was a great feeling,” he says. “I felt comfortable out there, and just being with the guys joking around was a experience I will not forget.” “We’d like to congratulate Ethan on his commitment to the Bulldogs,” says Ghostriders head coach Craig Mohr. “Alberni Valley will be getting a fast skating, hard hitting left winger. Ethan leads our team in shorthanded goals and is consistently our leading hitter in most games. Not only are the Bulldogs getting a great player, they’re also getting a great person.” Jang will continue to play for the Ghostriders and be available to play BCHL games as an affiliate player this season before joining the Bulldogs full-time next year.
Grisdale Moving On:
John Grisdale will retire as commissioner of the B.C. Hockey League at the end of this season, his 15th in charge of the Junior A circuit. Grisdale is the first person to have taken on the title of commissioner and he has held the league’s top job longer than anybody in league history. He succeeded Ron Boileau, who was league president, in 2003. Prior to that, Grisdale was a partner for 18 years in a successful industrial insulation company. In his playing career, after graduating from NCAA Michigan Tech, he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs but was traded to Vancouver in 1974 and spent the bulk of his 250-game NHL career with the Canucks. “The BCHL has meant a lot to me and I’m happy with the work we’ve done but the time is right for me to step aside and let a new face run the show,” said Grisdale. “I believe the league is in a good place and I think I’m leaving it in a better position than when I began so I take great pride in that. “The strength of our league is in our history, 56 seasons now, and in our 17 member franchises. Our league enjoys an overwhelmingly positive reputation in the hockey world and there are so many people that deserve credit, including our owners and coaches as well as our volunteers, billet families, broadcasters and marketing directors.” BCHL teams have claimed five RBC Cup national Junior A titles in Grisdale’s time and 67 BCHL players have been selected in the NHL Entry Draft including five first-rounders. For 2017-18, there are already 120 players in the BCHL committed to NCAA Division I hockey, more than all the other Canadian Junior A leagues combined. By the end of this season, the BCHL should top its record set in the 2016-17 season of 151 college-committed players. Going back to the start of Grisdale’s tenure, it was his vision that ushered the BCHL into the Internet age with the creation of the league website for the 2003-04 season and the introduction of pay-per-listen audio broadcasts which have given way to today’s pay-per-view broadcasts of all games. The league is a constant draw for scouts from the college and professional ranks and remains a destination of choice for players planning to advance to the next level. “John’s contributions to the BCHL are significant and we certainly respect the job he’s done as commissioner,” said Mark Cheyne, owner of the West Kelowna Warriors and the interim chairman of the BCHL board of directors. “Because John established such a high standard when he started for the operation of the league, we now attract top players from across North America and have a proven record in developing them for college and pro hockey and for success in life.” The remainder of the 2017-18 season will proceed as planned and Grisdale’s last official day as commissioner will be on June 1. The BCHL board of governors has begun a search process to find Grisdale’s successor and will be accepting applications starting immediately. Grisdale was in Vernon for the final BCHL game at Civic Arena in early January and returned two weeks later to pay last respects to longtime Vipers’ owner Duncan Wray.
Weme Commits To Nanaimo For Next Season:
Greyson Weme from Nanoose Bay has committed to play for the Clippers’ 2018-2019 season. The six foot, 175 lb. forward, presently plays for the Oceanside Generals of the VIJHL. So far this season, in 34 games, he has 14 goals, 12 assists and 51 penalty minutes. Greyson was selected for the VIJHL Prospects game, held Jan. 7, 2018 Greyson played his minor hockey in Oceanside Minor Hockey Association. In 2016-2017 he played for the Pacific Sea Devlis (CSSHL) in Victoria. Scoring 3 goals, 6 assists and 28 penalty minutes in 29 games.
KIJHL Says No To Quesnel:
The Parallel Sports Group’s bid to bring an expansion Junior B franchise to Quesnel has been turned down by the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) Governors. The vote was 16 to three against expansion. “I did attend the weekend meetings and participate in the discussions. Everyone was clear on and understood the bid put forward. It simply came down to a secret ballet vote and this is the outcome,” said Matt Kolle, who is part of a committee trying to bring a team to the Gold Pan city.” Kolle says the feeling he got from the meeting however, was the Governors do believe the KIJHL will eventually operate in Quesnel and Williams Lake. “Right now though in their minds they are hesitant to take that first step because it presents change and change is unknown. They seem to know its the right step just struggling to take it. To me, I actually believe the first step was taken when the 100 Mile House Wranglers were granted their franchise and what happens next is actually a natural progression for another division.” Kolle adds as far as junior hockey in Quesnel is concerned they aren’t done. He says they are going to take the next few weeks to re-evaluate their options and then make a decision as to how to proceed.
Vees Hosting ID Camp In California:
The Penticton Vees will be hosting a prospects camp in the golden state this spring for the first time ever. The team will hold an identification camp in Lakewood, Calif. from Jun. 7-10, for players born between 1999 and 2003. Vees assistant coaches Jason Becker and Matt Fraser along with assistant general manager Steve Cocker will be attendance for the camp. Players there will be evaluated from games and on-ice practices and will receive individual feedback sessions. There will also be a symposium to educate players on the Vees program and the B.C. Hockey League. Penticton has had several California-born players in the team's history, most notably Greater Los Angeles native Beau Bennett in the 2009-10 season. Bennett scored 41 goals and had 120 points in 56 games in his lone year with the Vees. That spring, he was taken 20th overall in the NHL entry draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Benson Commits To Langley Rivermen For 2018-19 Season:
Langley Rivermen are proud to announce the commitment of 1999 born 6’4 194 pound forward Seth Benson from Omaha U18. ” I’m a guy that likes to use my size, I take pucks to the net, like to take the body when I can, I consider myself a bit of a playmaker trying to use my size to make space and find open guys.” Said Benson. Seth began his road back to hockey this season after taking last year off. He was diagnosed with cancer after recovering from a shoulder injury that had kept him out a few weeks. He began treatment immediately catching the cancer in its early stages, after undergoing Chemotherapy for 3 months, Seth was now cancer free and ready to begin his journey back to hockey. “Im not going to lie it was hard, I was really excited to get back playing after recovering from a shoulder injury and I got the worst possible news. I consider myself a leader on and off the ice, a hard worker at all times and I was ready to apply those skills to this part of my life. I had to change my mindset, be positive and focused. I love hockey, hockey helped me beat cancer, it kept me hungry training to get ready for this season, it gave me hope and somthing to look forward too. Deep down I knew if I could overcome this kind of adversity, I could take this into other parts of my life and hopefully help others facing adversity.” ‘I cannot wait to get out west to begin my journey with the Rivermen, I have talked with all staff member, they’re all really welcoming and excited to have me, as am I to be there.” Added Benson.
Lewis Relieved Of Kings Duties:
The Powell River Kings have relieved Kent Lewis of his duties as Head Coach and General Manager of the Powell River Kings. The decision was made by the Board of Directors at a recent meeting. “We (the Board) just felt this course of action was in the best interests of the Powell River Kings moving forward”, says Board President Rob Villani. “It was an incredibly difficult decision.” Lewis has been a big part of the Kings organization for around 25 years as first an Assistant Coach, then Head Coach and finally Head Coach/General Manager. In 2011, Lewis was honoured after recording his 500th win in the BCHL as a Head Coach with Powell River and leaves behind a lasting legacy of player development and on-ice success in Powell River. Lewis was at the helm for the team’s seven Coastal Conference Championships and has helped move countless players onto the NCAA and pro hockey. The Kings would like to thank Lewis for his years of service to the organization, and wish him the best in his future endeavours. Assistant Coach Brock Sawyer has been promoted to Interim Head Coach, effective immediately. He will control the bench as the Kings visit the Wenatchee Wild on Wednesday January 31st. Kyle Bodie to remain on as Assistant Coach.
Schreifels Commits To Penticton Vees For Next Season:
The Penticton Vees Junior ‘A’ Hockey Club is excited to announce they have received a commitment from 2000-born forward Henri Schreifels for the 2018-19 season. Schreifels, from Agoura Hills, California, currently plays for the Anaheim Jr. Ducks in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League Under-18 and has recorded 25 goals and 27 assists in 32 games so far this season. His 52 points leads the league in scoring. Schreifels and his Ducks teammates were in Penticton at the beginning of training camp to skate with the Vees for a week. The Ducks’ coaching staff features a former Vee as T.J. Miller is a assistant coach on the team. Miller played the 05-06 season in Penticton, being named the BCHL’s Interior Division defenceman of the year. The 6’-forward is a dual citizen and of Swiss decent on his mothers side.
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