I found these press releases off team websites, twitter accounts, blogs or online. All Vipers news-trades are posted on this blog as soon as released-announced.
BCHL News & Trades:
Ozar Commits To Smoke Eaters:
The Trail Smoke Eaters are pleased to announce the commitment of 2000-born forward, Owen Ozar. Ozar, who hails from Prince Albert Saskatchewan, has spent the past two seasons skating for the Swift Current Legionnaires of the SMAAAHL. This past season, the 5’6” forward captained the squad while tallying 22 goals and 33 assists. Ozar’s 55 points were the 8th best total in Saskatchewan’s top midget league. In addition to his impressive point total, the fiesty forward spent 93 minutes in the penalty box last year. Ozar is a player that the Smoke Eaters feel can bring a combination of skill and grit to the team in the upcoming season. Having watched him during Trail’s Spring Camp, the Smoke Eaters feel that he plays a game that is suited well to the BCHL. Director of Hockey and Business Operation Craig Clare was impressed with Ozar’s play: “While Owen was here for our evaluation camp I had a good chance to watch him play. His speed and skill were noticeable, and it was evident that he is not afraid to play in the tough areas. Having met with him I also feel he is a character young man that will have a positive impact with our group next season”. The 18-year-old is looking forward to joining the team for the 2018-2019 season, stating “I am extremely happy to be joining such a promising hockey team and I am pumped for the future.” The Smoke Eaters welcome Owen and his family to the organization and look forward to seeing him in the fall.
Vees Could Have Solid Returning Nucleus:
Though much can change in the coming months, the Penticton Vees currently have 11 players from the past season positioned to return for 2018-19. The 11 players – some who have university commitments for 2019-20 and some who have yet to commit – include goalie Nolan Hildebrand, defencemen Kenny Johnson (Michigan), James Miller, Michael Campoli and Luke Reid (North Dakota), and forwards Massimo Rizzo, Jack Barnes, Lukas Sillinger, Cassidy Bowes (Michigan), Ryan Sandelin (Minnesota State) and Ocean Wiesblatt. Forward Cole Shepard, a 16-year-old who suited up for the Vees in the playoffs, has committed to the Vees for 2018-19. The six graduating 20-year-olds from this season are forwards Jackson Keane (North Dakota), Chris Klack (Clarkson), Owen Sillinger (Bemidji State), Dakota Boutin (Northern Michigan) and Wyatt Sloboshan, and defenceman Jordan Henderson. Players still junior-eligible but committed to university for 2018-19 include forwards Taylor Ward (Nebraska-Omaha), Marcus Mitchell (Michigan Tech), Jared Nash (Alaska-Anchorage) and Grant Cruikshank (Colorado College), defencemen Nicky Leivermann (Notre Dame) and Ryan O’Connell (Boston), and goaltender Adam Scheel (North Dakota).
Surrey Eagles To Retire Jaxon Joseph’s No. 10
A few days after Jaxon Joseph’s death – one of 16 in the Humboldt Broncos’ bus crash April 6 – Blaine Neufeld, former coach with the Surrey Eagles, said what he wanted, more than anything, was for the 20-year-old hockey player to be remembered. Now, the Eagles have found a way to do just that – by retiring Joseph’s No. 10 jersey. Team president Chuck Westgard confirmed to Peace Arch News this week that the number will go up into the rafters, but said official plans to honour Joseph – who played for the Eagles during the 2015/16 season – were still being worked out. After his time in South Surrey, Joseph moved on to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, first with the Melfort Mustangs and then with Humboldt. The Broncos were on their way to a playoff game in Nipawin when their team bus collided with a semi truck. Westgard hopes the gesture will serve as a way not only to honour Joseph, but his Humboldt teammates, as well. “It’s a tragedy that hit everyone hard, especially those of us in the hockey community,” Westgard said Tuesday. “Number one, this is a way to honour Jaxon, but number two, it’s a way to acknowledge what happened and make sure people don’t ever forget. “We need to remember those kids, and those people.” Speaking with PAN a few days after the bus crash, Neufeld said the tragedy hit home with everyone involved in the sport, calling it “heartbreaking, horrific – it’s about as bad as it gets.” Though Joseph only played part of one season in Surrey, he was one of the team’s most well-respected players, Neufeld said. “Beyond the game of hockey, he was a young man who was built to succeed in life, and it’s just a shame he isn’t going to get that chance,” he said at the time. Joseph’s number will be the second retired by the club. Former forward Jeff Nabseth’s No. 8 jersey was retired after he was killed in a bike accident on Vancouver Island in 1999. Caige Sterzer wore No. 10 last season with the Eagles, and while the team brass hasn’t spoke with him yet about making a switch, Westgard said “he won’t have any problem with it.”
O'Leary Commits To Victoria Grizzlies For 2018-19 Season:
You can’t buy a reputation. It must be earned. The Victoria Grizzlies of the B.C. Hockey League have to be glad they have a good one. It has netted them another prize recruit in forward Jack O’Leary. Committed to the Cornell Big Red of the Ivy League in the NCAA for 2019-20, O’Leary has chosen the Grizzlies as the team, and BCHL as the league, where he wants to skate next season. “The BCHL fits my style as a smaller, skill guy with speed, who is more of a playmaker,” said the five-foot-seven, 165-pound American from the PAL Junior Islanders hockey organization on Long Island, New York. “The Cornell coaches passed on the contact numbers of the Grizzlies coaches. And I’ve heard Victoria is a great city.” Again, rep counts for everything in sports recruiting. It doesn’t hurt that former Grizzlies goaltender Matthew Galajda, Hobey Baker top-10 nominee as NCAA player of the year, had an outstanding rookie season with the Big Red. Or that the Grizzlies have sent the likes of Jamie and Jordie Benn and Tyler Bozak on to the NHL; and that Alex Newhook from this season’s Grizzlies squad is ranked No. 2 by The Hockey News for the 2019 NHL draft. “A lot of junior teams had communications with Jack and he had a lot of options in North America,” said Grizzlies GM and head coach Craig Didmon. “He is highly skilled and we are glad he chose to use us, and the BCHL, as his development stage before the NCAA.” With the likes of Matthew Phillips and Dante Hannoun of the WHL’s Royals, Victoria junior hockey is no stranger to the seam in the sport that is opening up for small but fast forwards. “Hockey is definitely changing from a more grinding game to one where speed and skill are valued more,” said O’Leary, pointing to NHLers such as Johnny Gaudreau, Tyler Johnson and Conor Sheary. “It doesn’t matter what your size is, as long as you can make plays.” That is something O’Leary can clearly do, as attested by his 27 goals and 76 points for the PAL U-16 team in 2016-17, that had Cornell jump all over him in just Grade 11. The dream is pro hockey, but with a safety chute. “I’ll see where hockey takes me,” said O’Leary, 18, who graduates Grade 12 in June at St. Anthony’s High School on Long Island. “I will also have an Ivy League education from Cornell to fall back on.” O’Leary is on course to become the second NCAA varsity athlete in the family — older brother Mike O’Leary runs track at Providence. Jack O’Leary was also an all-rounder. “I played lacrosse, which is probably the biggest sport on Long Island, and soccer, baseball and also ran track,” said Jack O’Leary. You can’t teach natural athleticism: O’Leary didn’t even learn to skate until age 11 and only joined hockey at age 12. “It’s my first time away from home but I’m really excited to be going to Victoria,” he said. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies are also in the hot recruiting hunt for another blue-chip player in 17-year-old forward Jackson Niedermayer of Newport Beach, California, the son of former NHL Norris Trophy top-defenceman Scott Niedermayer. “We would love to have him, but a lot of junior teams are sourcing him,” said Didmon, of the highly competitive recruiting race to land Niedermayer.
O'Hearn Commits To Smoke Eaters For Next Season:
The Trail Smoke Eaters would like to announce the commitment of 2000-born defenceman, Kieran O’Hearn from North Delta, BC. Kieran has played in the Delta Hockey Academy program of the CSSHL for the past four seasons. Last season saw the 6’2” defenceman contribute 16 points, and 44 penalty minutes from the backend for The Delta Academy Prep team. Kieran suited up for the Smoke Eaters for seven regular season games this past season as an affiliate player. While skating with the Smoke Eaters, O’Hearn showed he is capable of playing at the BCHL level. Director of Hockey Operations Craig Clare feels that “Kieran will add size, stability, and character to our defensive group”, adding, “we are very excited to add a player of Kieran’s calibre to our group for next year”. The Smoke Eaters are pleased to secure another highly-recruited player out of the CSSHL to their roster for the upcoming season. O’Hearn looks forward to playing for Trail next season and recognized his current coaches and teammates for helping achieve his goals: “I want to thank my coaches, teammates, and family for helping me get to this point. I’m extremely excited to be joining such a historic and first-class organization”. The entire Trail Smoke Eaters organization would like to welcome Kieran to the team and look forward to successful seasons to come.
Rizzo Returning To Vees:
Jon Keen, the radio voice of the Kamloops Blazers, reported Tuesday that the Blazers were told before the May 3 bantam draft that F Massimo Rizzo is “pursuing an NCAA scholarship and will not be coming to training camp in the fall.” The Blazers selected Rizzo with the 15th overall selection of the 2016 bantam draft. This season, Rizzo had 13 goals and 25 assists in 50 games with the BCHL’s Penticton Vees. He will be back with the Vees in 2018-19.
Spruce Kings Mourn Loss Of Malcom Poburan:
The Prince George Spruce Kings are sad to announce the passing of long time equipment manager Malcolm Poburan, who passed away peacefully this morning. Poburan has been with the Spruce Kings for almost 40 years, holding both the Equipment Manager, and Assistant Equipment Manager roles. Malcolm watched his final Spruce Kings game at the RMCA during Game 3 of the BCHL Fred Page Cup Finals. “It is certainly a sad day for the Spruce Kings organization. Malcolm was a mainstay in our locker room for almost 40 years. Our organization is not where it is today without people like Malcolm. He was loved by all the players and staff that have come through this organization over the years. He will be remembered for his sense of humour but also for his commitment and dedication to the team. He will forever be a Spruce King. The Spruce Kings organization would like to offer our condolences to Malcolm’s family during this sad time.” said Spruce Kings General Manager Mike Hawes.
Kovich Joins Clippers:
The Nanaimo Clippers are pleased to announce that 2002 born forward Kyler Kovich will join the team for the upcoming season. The 16-year-old had 15 goals and 26 assists in 37 games for the Vancouver Northeast Chiefs of the BCMML in the 2017-18 campaign. Clippers coach Darren Naylor is very excited about the addition of such a high level prospect. “Kyler is a very dynamic forward with pro potential. He is a player that I know our fans will enjoy watching.” As a bantam player for the Burnaby Winter Club in 2016-17 Kovich posted some incredible numbers. In 67 games he scored 67 goals and added 72 assists for 139 points. Kovich was selected 78th overall by Red Deer in the 2017 WHL bantam draft, but he has chosen to come to the BCHL and play for the Clippers. The Coquitlam product attended one of the Clippers Spring Prospects Camps and was one of the true standout players. The organization is proud to welcome Kyler to the Clipper family.
Grisdale Set For Swan Song As BCHL Commissioner At Chilliwack RBC Cup:
John Grisdale’s first days on the job with the British Columbia Hockey League occurred in July of 2003. Duncan Wray, the league’s chairman of the board at the time, was quoted in The Vancouver Sun saying that Grisdale was hired as commissioner of the Junior A loop because BCHL stakeholders were “concerned with raising our profile and getting the message out to the public that we’ve got a great product.” Grisdale’s final days with the BCHL are underway. The 69-year-old, a former Vancouver Canucks’ defenceman, announced earlier this year he’ll be stepping down at the end of the season after 15 campaigns at the helm. The RBC Cup national Junior A finale is this weekend at the Prospera Centre, hosted by one of the BCHL’s benchmark franchises in the Chilliwack Chiefs. The Penticton Vees are another of the standard bearers in the 17-team loop. On Tuesday, they announced during a news conference that 16-year-old forward Massimo Rizzo would be back for a second season in 2018-19 and would be their captain. Rizzo was the No. 15 overall selection by the Kamloops Blazers in the 2016 WHL bantam draft. It feels, at least, like the BCHL is starting to get those type of up-and-comers a lot more often. The league was home to three first-round picks in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, via Vees’ centre Tyson Jost, Vees’ defenceman Dante Fabbro and Chiefs’ defenceman Dennis Cholowski. It could have another first rounder next month if Penticton defenceman Jonny Tychonick slips into the tail end of the opening 31 picks like some suggest he might. Victoria Grizzlies’ forward Alex Newhook, named the Canadian Junior A rookie of the year last week, is getting buzz as a potential lottery draft pick for 2019. For comparison, the league featured five NHL first rounders from 2004 to 2015. You can argue where that surge in young talent is coming from. You can debate who the main driving force is. Without question, though, the league has more cachet than it did when Grisdale first entered it. That should be your take away on his BCHL tenure. “I think John has done a tremendous job of combining or merging the varying needs and wants of the league’s owners,” Surrey Eagles’ general manager Blaine Neufeld said of Grisdale, who played 199 games with the Canucks from 1974-79. “He’s had a feel all along for what the league needs moving forward. The league has only gained more and more respect over his time. He’s done a great job of advancing what’s now the premier Junior A league in the country.” The BCHL has yet to announce Grisdale’s successor. He or she will have considerable work to do. The BCHL lost one of its leaders when Wray, the 68-year-old owner of the Vernon Vipers, died in his sleep in January. As well, there were a number of coaches fired this season, which, collectively, can’t help the league’s recruiting. That included the Chiefs parting ways with Jason Tatarnic just before the RBC was about to start. Despite that late switch, Chilliwack has qualified for Saturday’s semifinals at the RBC, as has the BCHL champion Wenatchee Wild. Heading into Wednesday’s action, there was still a possibility the two clubs could meet in Sunday’s title match. There would be no greater sendoff possible for Grisdale. “I think he’s taken our league forward by leaps and bounds,” said veteran West Kelowna Warriors’ GM and coach Rylan Ferster, whose team increased the BCHL’s RBC crowns accumulated during Grisdale’s reign to five when they won it all in Lloydminster, Sask., in 2016. “I’ve been around for a long time and I’ve seen our league come so far and in so many different ways and John’s been at the helm.”
Dent, Anderson & Douthart Commit To Warriors:
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