Saturday, June 30, 2018

Former Vernon Lakers-Vernon Vipers Alumni Mick Named USA CHL Advisor:

Former Vernon Lakers-Vernon Vipers forward, Assistant Coach & Head Coach-GM Troy Mick has been recently named an USA Central Hockey League advisor. Mick along with several others held a press conference Thursday, announcing Wichita Falls will be getting a team after a one year hiatus. 

The USA CHL will start out as a six-team league with all the teams owned by the same group. Franchises in Rio Grande Valley and Laredo have already been publicized with three more set to be announced in the coming weeks.  

Mick recently parted ways with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks June 8th 2018. Mick had spent the past six seasons with the Silverbacks.

Mick played two seasons with the Vernon Lakers (1984-1986) before leaving the Lakers for the Merritt Warriors. Mick was also an Assistant Coach and in charge of marketing with the Vernon Lakers for two seasons (1993-1995) & spent one season as an Assistant Coach with the Vernon Vipers (1995-1996) before being named the Vipers Head Coach-GM the following season. Mick was Head Coach-GM of the Vipers for four years (1996-2000) before leaving for the Western Hockey League Portland Winterhawks. Mick returned to the Vipers as GM for two seasons (2005-07) before leaving in 2007 to sell real estate in Mexico. Mick was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in round 7 #130 overall at the 1988 NHL Entry Draft.

Troy Mick's Player-Coach Profile:

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=94293

This was posted on the newschannel6 website:

The Central Hockey League brings hockey back to Texoma

Thursday, June 28th 2018

By Brian Shrull, Sports Director




WICHITA FALLS, TX (KAUZ) - "The Wichita Falls hockey team returns to MPEC for the 2018-2019 season," Brian Hoffman, General Manager of the MPEC, said.

It has been a few years but hockey is back in Texoma.

It is official, the new team will post up in Kay Yeager Coliseum with the season starting this October.

The press conference today answered some questions, but others you will have the chance to answer yourself. 

"This is all about the kids," Troy Mick of the Central Hockey League said.  "This is 18 to 20 year-old young men trying to get an education while playing the
game that they love."

Wichita Falls becomes the third team in the U.S. Central Hockey League joining Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees and the Laredo Bucks.

The CHL is a junior hockey league where the players are not paid but also do not pay to play. 

The idea, this league can help a player get a better chance at playing in the NCAA's or join a community and still play the sport they love.

Now here's where you, the fan, comes in; there is no team name yet. 

"We want to integrate this community like no other," Mick said. "You guys have to understand that junior hockey is your team and we are going to be doing a name the team contest through facebook.

"We want our own identity but we want the fans to be behind this team and this moniker this brand is all about Wichita Falls."

Mick said he knows the passion for sports that Texoma has and that is why Wichita Falls was chosen. 

In terms of ownership, the CHL is using a unique model.

"The league owns all the teams so you aren't worrying about individual ownerships for each community," Mick said.

"Each team will have their budget through the league. 

"This isn't a short-term fix nobody wants to come in for one year and then gone the other."

The league and the M-PEC have a three year deal right now with an additional two that can be added on as part of the contract.

The C-H-L will have six teams in its league with a 48 game schedule. 

The three other teams should be announced in the next two weeks. 

The league will be headquartered in Texas to cut down on travel cost. 

Season tickets will go on sale within the next week and you can find that and other information on the recently launched WichitaFallsHockey.com. 

This was in the Timesrecordnews.com

USACHL announces hockey's return to Wichita Falls with new nickname

Zach Duncan, Wichita Falls Times Record News 

Published June 28, 2018 

Hockey is back in Wichita Falls after a one-year hiatus, becoming official Thursday when league officials from the USA Central Hockey League announced its return.

“I know how good this community supports not only hockey but sports in general,” USACHL advisor Troy Mick said at a press conference inside the MPEC. “This is a sports town and we’re looking forward to bringing exciting junior hockey to this community.”

The Wichita Falls franchise will be playing a 48-game schedule beginning in late October and will not be named the Wildcats, who played in the North American Hockey League from 2004-17. A three-year lease has been signed and a name-the-team contest will be held on Facebook soon.


“We want our own identity, but we want the fans to be behind the team so they’re going to have an opportunity to name the team,” Mick said. “It’s really a sense of pride when you can bring the community to know that this moniker, this brand is all about Wichita Falls.”

A season-ticket campaign and announcement of coaching/management hires should also take place soon according to Mick and USACHL managing partner Bill Davidson, who were on hand for the announcement.

The USA CHL will start out as a six-team league with all the teams owned by the same group. Franchises in Rio Grande Valley and Laredo have already been publicized with three more set to be announced in the coming weeks.  


Friday, June 29, 2018

BCHL News & Trades:

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:

Alberni Valley-Listowel Trade:

The Alberni Valley Bulldogs have added a key offensive piece for the 2018/19 season, acquiring 1999-born forward Mitch Deelstra from the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Listowel Cyclones. Deelstra hails from Wallace, ON and spent the past two seasons with the Cyclones, most recently scoring 20 goals and totaling 40 points in 44 regular season games. He went on to add six goals and five assists in 19 playoff contests as Listowel captured the Sutherland Cup as GOJHL champions in May. “Mitch is a skilled offensive player coming off an excellent season playing for the top team in the GOJHL,” says Bulldogs head coach Matt Hughes. “He has a real knack for finding the back of the net and making plays in transition and in the offensive zone. I had an opportunity to see Mitch up close during Listowel’s playoff run and I’m confident his game will translate well to the style of play in the BCHL. We’re excited to add a veteran player who we believe can make an immediate impact to our line-up.” Deelstra began his junior hockey career as a 16-year old with the Wingham Ironmen of the WOJHL, netting 22 goals and 42 points in 41 regular season and playoff games. He then joined the Cyclones, where he totaled 50 goals and 95 points in 131 games. “I’m excited to join the Bulldogs because I think this is a great next step in my junior hockey career,” says Deestra, who describes himself as a gritty, exciting player. “I believe I’m stepping into a great team and organization with a great staff. My personal goal for next season is to obtain an NCAA Division I scholarship, and as a team I’m hoping to help build on last season and ultimately win a championship.” Deelstra will join the Bulldogs when training camp opens in August.

Krall Commits To Penticton Vees:

The Penticton Vees are excited to announce 1999-born goaltender Derek Krall has committed to the Vees for the 2018-19 season. Krall, from Nanaimo, spent the majority of last season with the Nanaimo Buccaneers in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League. In 27 games, Krall posted a record of 18-7-0 with a 2.76 goals against average and a .921 save percentage. For his efforts, he was awarded the VIJHL’s goalie of the year award. He also appeared in the BCHL as an affiliate player for the Powell River Kings. In four games, all starts, Krall had a 3-1-0 record with a 2.08 goals against and a sparkling .947 save percentage. His finest performance came February 16 when he made 46 saves in a 2-1 win against the Vernon Vipers in Powell River. Krall also had three playoff appearances for the Kings last season, starting games one and two of their opening round series against the Nanaimo Clippers along with a relief appearance in game two of the Mainland Division final against the Prince George Spruce Kings. He was 1-1 with a 2.21 GAA and .923 save percentage in those three appearances. Krall will join the rest of his Vees teammates for training camp in Penticton in August. Vees play-by-play broadcaster caught up with Derek Krall for this feature story Often times goaltenders have an origin story about transitioning from defence or forward to goalie when they were kids. While that holds true for Derek Krall, he also has a interesting story about how he became a hockey player. “When I was younger I only played baseball and soccer,” Krall recalled. “Every morning I’d get up super early and watch NHL highlights. It eventually caught my parents attention and they thought ‘maybe we should put this kid in hockey.’ I started out on defence in atom and saw my friends playing in net. I thought it was cool, you’re kind of in your own little world. I started playing goalie in peewee.” There’s no reason to doubt Krall would have become a successful defenceman as he grew older, but the switch to goaltender has proven to be a smart decision so far. After two seasons with the North Island Silvertips Major Midget team in his hometown of Nanaimo, Krall elected to head to Shawnigan Lake School for his final year of midget eligibility in the 2016-17 season. “I just thought it was a good opportunity for me, I couldn’t pass it up,” Krall said. “I wanted that school aspect of it, junior ‘B’ wasn’t really what I was leaning towards while I was still in high school, I wanted to make sure I had that taken care of.” After graduating, Krall then looked to Junior ‘B’ as he latched on his with hometown Nanaimo Buccaneers in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League. While he split the net with Blake Wood, it was clear Krall was the number one goalie as the season progressed, culminating into being named the VIJHL’s top goalie. “I’m so fortunate I got to play alongside so many great 20 year olds,” Krall said of his season in Nanaimo. “It definitely exceeded my expectations, not only with what the team was able to do but with my own personal stats as well. I didn’t expect the award at all. I’m totally happy to get it but that wasn’t in my mind at all, it was definitely a team effort.” Krall finished the season with an 18-7-0 record, 2.76 goals against average and .921 save percentage in 27 games. His efforts didn’t go unnoticed, as he appeared in five games with the Powell River Kings as an affiliate player. “I backed up a bunch of games for them and unfortunately both of their goalies got hurt,” Krall said. “I knew I had to wait for my chance and knew that it was a chance to showcase myself. I can’t thank them enough for the opportunity they gave me.” Krall’s first BCHL game didn’t quite go as expected, 5-1 loss in Victoria December 10. He had to wait two months before getting another start, and he hit the ground running. Krall made 25 saves in a 4-1 win over Alberni Valley February 12, and followed that up with a monstrous 46 save performance in a 2-1 win over the Vernon Vipers four days later. “You can mark that one down. That was a pretty cool feeling after the game to be able to say I beat the Vernon Vipers,” Krall said. “That’s something that I want to build off of but definitely was the pinnacle of my hockey career so far.” Two nights after that game Krall was at it again, turning away 39 Chilliwack shots in a 7-1 drubbing of the Chiefs. His efforts again didn’t go unnoticed, this time by the BCHL as he was named the league’s player of the week. “That week was pretty cool. I was just blown away with what was happening,” Krall admitted. “I didn’t feel like I was changing much in my game, things just kind of fell together. I felt great from there and want to keep working toward what’s next.” All told, he posted a 3-1-0 record with a 2.08 GAA and .947 save percentage with the Kings. Krall’s time in the BCHL didn’t end with the regular season coming to a close. With the Kings starting goalie still injured and given Krall’s recent performances, he was given the reigns to open the Fred Page Cup playoffs for Powell River, in his hometown. “That was the cherry on top,” Krall said. “In front of my home crowd was insane. It’s a night and day difference between the BCHL and VIJHL. I’m thankful for getting that kind of experience for coming to a team like Penticton that always showcases themselves in the playoffs.” Looking to make the jump to the BCHL for the 2018-19 season, Krall came to the Vees spring camp at the end of May hoping to make an impression. After having some discussions with Vees head coach and general manager Fred Harbinson leading up to the camp, Krall was given the good news during the camp that he would be a Penticton Vee next season. “I can’t ask for much more, it’s something that I’m taking in stride,” Krall said. “Having a chance with Penticton is something that I’ve kind of dreamt of. I got to see them win the Fred Page Cup in Nanaimo in 2015, so to see that and now to be able to throw on the jersey is pretty special to me. I just want to do everything I can for the team to help them win.”

Farrell Commits To Express:

Forward Dallas Farrell (1999) has committed to the Coquitlam Express for this season. A former Toronto Junior Canadian AAA played the past few seasons in the United States.

Cowichan-Kanata Trade:

The Cowichan Capitals have completed a trade with the Kanata Lasers of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL).  Going to the Lasers is 19 year old forward David Laroche.  The Capitals would like to wish David all the best in Kanata. Coming to the Capitals is Dan McIntyre.  The 6’0″ 170lb forward joins the Capitals after tallying 4 goals and 6 assists for 10 points in his rookie campaign with the Lasers.  Before joining the Lasers the 17 year old Almonte, Ontario native was a member of the Championship Team of the Hockey Eastern Ontario Midget AAA League as well as a draft pick of the OHL’s Ottawa 67s.   The Capitals would like to welcome Dan to the Capitals Family and look forward to seeing him on the ice at camp in late August.

Coquitlam-Bonnyville Trade:

The Coquitlam Express have acquired forward Regan Kimens (99) from the Bonnyville Pontiacs of the AJHL. The Vaughan, Ontario native split last season with the Langley Rivermen and Chilliwack Chiefs. The majority of his time was spent in Chilliwack. Regan played 6 games in Langley, then was acquired by the Chiefs in a trade. In 54 games in the 2017-18 season he had 10 goals and 9 assists for 19 points. He tallied all those numbers in 48 games with the Chiefs. On October 20th, he scored a hat-trick scoring all three goals shorthanded in a 6-1 win over Salmon Arm. In the playoffs Kimens had 1 assist in 5 games. Following the season, Kimens was included as future considerations to complete a trade between the Chiefs and Pontiacs during the 2017-18 campaign. Regan is listed at 6’1, 190 pounds. He’s entering his second full season in the BCHL. Coming into the season he’s looking forward to being a part of what GM and Head Coach Jason Fortier is building. “I was really happy when Jason picked me up. He came in and turned the program around. And it’s looking like a good team next year.” says Kimens. The Express can expect a forward that can contribute in all three zones. “I can play a 200 foot game. I like to play physical too. I love working below the goal line, that’s my office, I’m hoping to create a lot of offence this year.” says Kimens. “Regan is a player who brings energy each night. He has the speed and skill to be an impact player and we are hopeful he can have a breakout year. He will quickly be a fan favorite and we are excited to have him.” says Express GM and Head Coach Jason Fortier. Prior to the BCHL, Kimens spent two seasons at St. Andrews College. Welcome to the Express Regan.

Returning Netminders Figure Big In Chilliwack Chiefs Roster Reload:

Fresh off coaching his team to an unexpected RBC Cup championship, Chilliwack Chiefs hockey boss Brian Maloney turns his attention to building the 2018-19 roster. Maloney has nine players returning, including both of his goalies. Whether Daniel Chenard and Mathieu Caron remain with the team throughout next season is anyone’s guess, but for the moment Maloney is enjoying having two legit No. 1 stoppers on his depth chart “When the RBC Cup was coming up, a lot of people were on us to get an older goalie, but as a staff we made the decision to stick with these guys,” Maloney said. “It wasn’t fair to judge them, especially early in the season, because we weren’t playing well defensively. You kind of had to see them on a day to day basis to realize how good they were.” The goalies rewarded that faith. Chenard had an excellent playoffs in a hard-fought seven game loss to Prince George, then won Top Goalie honours at the RBC Cup. Caron posted a shutout in his lone RBC Cup appearance, a 2-0 win over the Wellington Dukes. “Their numbers got quite a bit better in the second half of the season, and you could have stuck either one of them in the net on the first day of the playoffs,” Maloney noted. “To have both of these guys back really helps us. They’ll be a big part of our team.” Complications arise if the teenagers are no longer OK with a job share. If either wants to be a clear cut number one, they’ll have to go elsewhere to do it. “You’re seeing the 1A-1B scenario more and more,” Maloney reasoned. “But it is a development league, and I believe it’s important to get goalies in the net facing shots. “Both of them are unbelievable people, the exact type of people we want to be bringing in, but if they feel they want to move on and be a starter somewhere else, then that’ll be a conversation we’ll have to have. “But we’ll have open arms, for sure.” Chilliwack returns three guys on defence in Marcus Tesink, Powell Connor and Sean McCloskey. Tesink may be the team’s only 20 year old and figures to be a ‘jack of all trades’ type of guy, logging big minutes five on five while playing an expanded role on special teams. “With me running the defensive corps last year, Marcus was kind of our Swiss army knife guy who could play offensively but also shut guys down,” Maloney said. “He’ll probably be used in more of an offensive role this year, but he’s also going to have to take on more of a leadership role with a young back end.” Connor, a 2000-born Michigan State commit will be playing his third full season with Chilliwack. “Powell is mature for his age and he knows he’s still got a lot to learn,” Maloney said. “He wants to do it the right way and be ready when he gets to Michigan State. “He has to improve his footspeed and he’s working on that this summer, but you have to love the compete side of his game and he brings that old-school type of game. If he’s hopefully going to be a pro one day, it’s going to be in a gritty shut-down role, and we’re working on his stick and body positioning too.” Up front, Maloney brings back four players. Skyler Brind’Amour is a quiet and steady defensive rock with untapped offensive upside. “What I love about Skyler is his hockey IQ,” Maloney said. “You bring him in, show him a video and right away he knows what you’re talking about.” Offensively, Brind’Amour’s 10 goals and 24 points seemed underwhelming. “There are things that he does at this level that are dominant, like faceoffs, and you see signs of other things from time to time when he uses his big body to hold onto pucks and create chances,” Maloney noted. “He’s like a Jordan Staal guy where he’s always in the right position doing the right thing, and it’s just a matter of putting it together every shift. “Guys think they need to be flashy and put up numbers, but I think every coach will take a reliable 200 foot center, and if Skyler can become that then he’s in good shape.” Maloney describes Blaisdell as “mature beyond his years” with a non-stop motor. The 17 year old posted nine goals and 21 points in 49 games. “He’s got leadership qualities already and a kid like that with a work ethic like that, he’s the type of kid who can go off and have a fantastic career,” Maloney said. “I think you’ll see more offensive output him him, but he’s going to be a kid who’s hard to play against who battles for every puck. Ethan Bowen kind of sort of qualifies as a returnee after playing in three regular season games and two RBC Cup matches. Maloney looks forward to seeing what the highly-touted 16 year old can do. “He’s a great kid with massive upside to become a great player, but I’m not expecting him to come in and be a franchise saviour,” Maloney said. “We’ll put him in positions to succeed and expect some growing pains as he learns to defend and become a complete player.”

New NCAA Rules Aim To Stop Early Recruiting... But Will They?

Earlier this month, the NCAA Division I Council passed legislation to the current recruiting model aimed at curbing early commitments to college athletics programs. Starting with the 2018-19 academic year, Division I prospects in all sports except football and basketball will follow a recruiting model designed to resemble the schedule non-student-athletes follow when choosing where to go to college. The bottom line is that college coaches will not be able to discuss recruiting with a prospect, in person, until Sept. 1 of a potential recruit's junior year. Lacrosse and softball passed additional legislation to further limit recruiting contact (more on that later). Specifically, official visits can now take place beginning Sept. 1 of a prospect's junior year in high school, essentially a year earlier than previously allowed. Also, athletics departments cannot participate in a prospect's unofficial visit until Sept. 1 of their junior year. Recruiting conversations during a school’s camp or clinic can also take place on that same date. The NCAA says the new recruiting model will allow potential student-athletes more time to make thoughtful decisions about their next steps after high school.  “These changes will improve the recruiting experience for prospective student-athletes and coaches and lead to better decision-making,” said Blake James, Council chair and Miami (Florida) director of athletics. “Ultimately, a better recruiting process will improve the college experience for Division I student-athletes.” It's a noble effort, to be sure, but will the legislation have the desired effect? Will we still see eighth-graders announcing their commitment to Division I programs? Or will Sept. 1 annually be a banner day for commitments? Although the new rules prevent college coaches from discussing recruiting until a prospect's junior year, younger student-athletes can and surely still will contact college coaches early and often. Similarly, and perhaps just as significantly, college coaches may still discuss a prospect - including the recruiting process - with the student-athlete's high school or club coach.  These caveats are important in that it may not change the landscape of recruiting as desired. College coaches can still evaluate prospects at camps, clinics and showcases prior to a potential recruit's junior year. The legislation also cannot prevent a prospect from essentially recruiting a college even if that college program cannot yet explicitly recruit them. And because college coaches can have recruiting conversations with high school coaches, early commitments may still be very much in play with a prospect's high school coach essentially able to act as a middleman between a recruit and a college. An important factor to keep in mind is that the NCAA does not recognize verbal commitments. The only commitment the NCAA is concerned with is when a student-athlete signs a National Letter of Intent. Although this new legislation looks to curb early commitments, the NCAA does not place rules on prospects announcing their commitments to colleges at any age. As mentioned earlier, additional legislation governing lacrosse and softball has recently passed to further limit contact with prospects prior to their junior year in high school. For lacrosse, college coaches cannot communicate in any way with a prospect until Sept. 1 of their junior year. Softball doesn't go quite as far, restricting incoming calls and off-campus visits for college coaches, but does not prohibit prospects from sending messages to coaches. For both sports, club and high school coaches are still allowed to communicate with colleges about student-athletes. The new legislation is a good first step to stem the tide of early recruiting - something that college hockey is currently experiencing at higher rates than ever. In the most recent edition of Let's Play Hockey, Josh Levine looked at commitments to men's and women's Division I hockey programs during the 2017-18 season. He found that 29 percent of men's commitments and 56 percent of women's commitments occur prior to a prospect's junior year in high school. For Minnesota natives, the percentages are even higher with 34 percent of men's commitments and 71 percent of women's commitments coming before a prospect's junior year. If they're as concerned as they say about stemming the tide of early commitments, college hockey coaches and administrators would be smart to follow the lead of their colleagues in lacrosse and softball, and pass additional legislation to delay the recruitment process. A move to older commitments would be a win-win for both coaches and student-athletes. Coaches would gain more time to evaluate prospects and better plan for graduation and early departures. Student-athletes, meanwhile, would inherit more time to mature, develop as an athlete, work on their grades, research colleges and enjoy their time in high school. The NCAA's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee has said it will continue to examine the recruiting environment, with communications (telephone, email, text), verbal and written offers, and off-campus contacts on the agenda for the next phase.

Thursday, June 28, 2018

Ex Vipers Goaltender Taylor Attending Lightning Development Camp:

Former Vernon Vipers goaltender Ty Taylor will be attending the Tampa Bay Lightning development camp this week-weekend.

Taylor spent the past two seasons in Vernon (2016-2018) going (36-17-5) with a 2.38 GAA Taylor is heading to the University of New Hampshire this coming season was drafted 214th overall in Round 7 by Tampa Bay at this year's NHL draft.

Ty Taylor's Player Profile:

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/297989/ty-taylor

This is posted on the Lightning website:

Lightning announce 2018 Development Camp roster

27 prospects will be in attendance at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon from June 26 to June 30

by Press Release / TampaBayLightning.com

June 24th, 2018

TAMPA BAY - The Tampa Bay Lightning today announced the roster for their 2018 Development Camp, presented by Florida Blue, which begins on Tuesday, June 26 and culminates with the annual 3-on-3 tournament on Friday, June 29 and Saturday, June 30. The annual camp will feature the Lightning's top prospects, 2018 NHL Draftees, invitees and more. The camp is free and open to the public.

The camp will feature some of the Lightning's top prospects competing in on- and off-ice workouts as well as skating and shooting drills. Friday and Saturday's 3-on-3 tournament will be streamed live on www.tampabaylightning.com. Notable players attending this year's camp include 2017 first-round pick Cal Foote, CHL Player of the Year Alex Barre-Boulet, former second-round picks Boris Katchouk and Taylor Raddysh, as well as goaltender Connor Ingram. Also participating will be six of seven picks made during the NHL Draft this past weekend in Dallas.

At 3 p.m. on Tuesday, June 26 players from Development Camp will take part in an afternoon of service. Foote, Ingram and Raddysh will spend time with kids at the Lightning Made Summer Camp being held at Florida Hospital Center Ice, while the remaining players will visit the Simmons Family Riverview Boys & Girls Club to play street hockey and other actives. 

Draftee Breakdown:                                         Attendees by Country:

1st Round:      1                                                 United States:               12
2nd Round:     3                                                 Canada:                        9
3rd Round:      3                                                 Russia:                         2
4th Round:      3                                                 Finland:                        2
5th Round:      2                                                 Czech Republic:            1
6th Round:      4                                                 Sweden:                       1         
7th Round:      5                                                
                    
2015 Draft:     4
2016 Draft:    7
2017 Draft:    4                                                                                    
2018 Draft:     6                  
Free Agents   1
Invitees          5
FORWARDS (17)

No.NameHTWTDOBBornAcquired2017-18 Club
19BARRE-BOULET, Alex5'101655/21/1997Montmagny, QuebecFA Signing (2/28/18)Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
92COLTON, Ross6'02019/11/1996Robbinsville, New Jersey16 Draft (4th Rd)U. of Vermont (H-East)
78FORTIER, Gabriel5'101702/6/2000Lachine, Quebec18 Draft (2nd Rd)Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)
41KATCHOUK, Boris6'11926/18/1998Waterloo, Ontario16 Draft (2nd Rd)Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
45KOEPKE, Cole6'11965/17/1998Two Harbors, Minnesota18 Draft (6th Rd)Sioux City (USHL)
60KRIEGER, Peter5'1119012/9/1993Oakdale, MinnesotaInviteeMinnesota-Duluth (NCHC)
50LEPPARD, Jackson6'21961/18/2000North Vancouver, B.C.InviteePrince George (WHL)
36LIPANOV, Alexey6'01708/17/1999Moscow, Russia17 Draft (3rd Rd)Sudbury (OHL)
Syracuse (AHL)
33LOHIN, Ryan6'01936/26/1996Chester, Pennsylvania16 Draft (7th Rd)UMass-Lowell (H-East)
90MacDOUGALL, Mathew5'91711/23/2000Newmarket, OntarioInviteeWindsor (OHL)
46RADDYSH, Taylor6'22092/18/1998Caledon, Ontario16 Draft (2nd Rd)Erie (OHL)
Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
39SMITH, Cole6'319510/28/1995Brainerd, MinnesotaInviteeU. of North Dakota (NCHC)
42SOMPPI, Otto6'01811/12/1998Helsinki, Finland16 Draft (7th Rd)Halifax (QMJHL)
Syracuse (AHL)
47TAMMELA, Jonne5'111858/5/1997Ylivieska, Finland15 Draft (4th Rd)Syracuse (AHL)
61WALKER, Samuel5'101426/7/1999Edina, Minnesota17 Draft (7th Rd)Sioux City (USHL)
51WOUTERS, Chase6'01762/8/2000Lloydminster, AlbertaInviteeSaskatoon (WHL)
38YAN, Dennis6'12024/14/1997Portland, Oregon15 Draft (3rd Rd)Syracuse (AHL)
DEFENSEMEN (6)

No.NameHTWTDOBBornAcquired2017-18 Club
57GREEN, Alexander6-21776/18/1998Chicago, Illinois18 Draft (4th Rd)Cornell (ECAC)
52FOOTE, Callan6'421012/13/1998Denver, Colorado17 Draft (1st Rd)Kelowna (WHL)
Syracuse (AHL)
48PERBIX, Nicklaus6'21916/15/1998Minneapolis, Minnesota17 Draft (6th Rd)Omaha (USHL)
58SALDA, Radim6'01852/18/1999Pardubice, Czech Rep.18 Draft (7th RdSaint John (QMJHL)
76SOSUNOV, Oleg6'82304/13/1998Ryazan, Russia16 Draft (6th Rd)Moose Jaw (WHL)
43ZUHLSDORF, Ryan6'01957/1/1997Edina, Minnesota15 Draft (5th Rd)U. of Minnesota (Big-10)
GOALTENDERS (4)
No.NameHTWTDOBBornAcquired2017-18 Club
35CHRONA, Magnus6'42098/28/2000Sweden18 Draft (5th Rd)Nacka HK U18/U20 (Sweden)
1INGRAM, Connor6'12023/31/1997Imperial, Saskatchewan16 Draft (3rd Rd)Kamloops (WHL)
32OLDHAM, Kristian6'22036/25/1997Anchorage, Alaska15 Draft (6th Rd)U. of Nebraska-Omaha (NCHC)
49TAYLOR, Ty6'31967/5/1999Richmond, B.C.18 Draft (7th Rd)Vernon (BCHL)



Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Stapley, Taylor Drafted In Dallas Lottery:

This was in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Stapley, Taylor drafted in Dallas lottery

Kevin Mitchell

Jun. 27, 2018 

Sports

A pair of Vernon Vipers were chosen in Round 7 of the 56th NHL Entry Draft on the weekend at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.

Centre Brett Stapley was selected by the Montreal Canadiens, while goalie Ty Taylor is now the property of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Stapley, a 5-foot-10, 170-pounder with magical hands, rang up 27 goals and 59 points in his third B.C. Hockey League season with the Vipers. The Campbell River product has an NCAA Division 1 scholarship with the University of Denver Pioneers. He was chosen 190th overall.

“I just got a call from (executive vice-president-GM) Marc Bergevin and he said, ‘We got ya, congratulations,’” said Stapley, in Denver taking some summer courses. “I was looking at the draft a little bit on my computer. It’s a pretty exciting day. I phoned my family and they’re really excited.”

Stapley’s roommate in a house off-campus is Wenatchee Wild defenceman Stanislav Demin, who was chosen 99th by the Vegas Golden Knights.

“That was pretty cool,” said Stapley, 19. “There are a bunch of freshmen living together in one of the juniors’ house taking courses.”

The crafty Stapley was a Vancouver Canucks fan growing up, “but I guess that’s changed now.”

He turned some heads in physical testing a few weeks ago in Montreal.

“I went to the pre-draft combine and met with all the Montreal scouts and management. We had some good talks and I did well in the physical testing.”

Taylor, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound Richmond native, won the league’s Top Goalie award after going 23-5 with a 1.87 GAA and .931 save percentage. Taylor tied a league record with seven shutouts. He will be a crease cop with the University of New Hampshire Wildcats next year. He was the fourth-last player taken in the amateur lottery, at No. 214.

Taylor was at his parents’ home in Richmond when learned the awesome news.

“I was watching it on TV and then there was a commercial and my advisor (Scott Bonner) text me. It was kind of crazy. My mom and dad were losing it. I think my mom was more excited than I was. I was in shock. I didn’t know how to react.”

Taylor, who turns 19 the day after U.S. Independence Day, leaves Sunday for New Hampshire.

“I really wanted to get drafted so this is a pretty good day. Stacy Roest (of Vernon, Tampa’s Director of Player Personnel) phoned me and congratulated me. That felt pretty nice.”

On the Bolts’ website moments after Taylor was selected, was: “The Lightning end their draft taking a second goalie to go with Magnus Chrona. Taylor played with the Vernon Vipers in the BCHL last year and put up good numbers but again, that doesn’t mean too much. This is another late round flyer and gives the organization another player in the goalie pipeline.”

Penticton Vees D Jonny Tychonick won the inaugural John Grisdale Awards as the highest-drafted CJHL player when he was plucked 48th by the Ottawa Senators, who had Vernon-based scout George Fargher at the draft table. Tychonick is committed to the University of North Dakota. The Penticton product helped the Vees win the Fred Page Cup as a 16-year-old two years ago.

Kelowna blueliner Seth Barton of the Trail Smoke Eaters landed with the Detroit Red Wings 81st overall. Vernon-based scout Marty Stein was the Wings’ table with GM Ken Holland, who was born and raised in Vernon. Barton will play at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell and is currently set to leave for school in 2019.

Power forward Jasper Weatherby of the Wild, the BCHL’s MVP out of Oregon, went to the San Jose Sharks 102nd overall. The league’s leading scorer will be a teammate of Tychonick’s at North Dakota next season. In the fifth round, at No. 126, the Senators came calling again when they selected Langley Rivermen forward Angus Crookshank of North Vancouver.