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:

Perets Commits To Penticton Vees:

The Penticton Vees are excited to announce 2000-born goaltender Yaniv Perets has committed to the team for the 2019-20 season. Perets, from Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, is coming off a 2018-19 season with the Boston Junior Bruins of the National Collegiate Development Conference in which he was named the leagues top goaltender. Perets posted a record of 23-10-1 with a 2.48 goals-against average and .929 save percentage. He also collected three shutouts. Perets then brought his game to another level in the playoffs going 6-1-1 with a staggering .952 save percentage and 1.62 GAA to help the Bruins win the league championship. Prior to heading south of the border, Perets played the 2016-17 season with the Brockville Braves of the Canadian Central Hockey League in Ontario. The goaltender comes to Penticton with an NCAA scholarship to Quinnipiac University.

Struble Commits To Grizzlies:

The Victoria Grizzlies lost four big pieces of their blue line at the end of this past season as Carter Berger, Jeremie Bucheler and Kenny Johnson move on to NCAA hockey, and Cole Noble joins Canada’s Royal Military College to pursue his dream of becoming a pilot in the Canadian Air Force. So Grizzlies general manager and head coach Craig Didmon has been busy trying to fill the holes on Victoria’s back end. Last week he landed Brown University-committed James Davenport from St. Sebastian’s School near Boston, and Thursday he dipped into that St. Sebastian’s pipeline again to sign soon-to-be NHL draft pick Jayden Struble. Struble is a six-foot, 200-pound mobile defenceman who is ranked 48th by Central Scouting for next month’s NHL draft in Vancouver. The Cumberland, Rhode Island, native racked up 10 goals and 30 assists in 28 games for St. Sebastian’s this season. And when the 17-year-old, who already has an NCAA scholarship to Northeastern University in his back pocket, had the chance to join good friend Davenport on Vancouver Island, he jumped at the chance. “I know [former Grizzlies forward Riley] Hughes as well and he had nothing but good things to say about Victoria, the team and the city, so I’m really excited to be joining the Grizzlies,” said Struble, over the phone from St. Sebastian’s. “I want to take my game to the next level and I think I can do that in the BCHL and help the Grizzlies win.” If Struble has any questions about the Grizzlies and Victoria, he can get them answered next week as he’s off to the NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo where Alex Newhook and Alex Campbell, the stars of this year’s Grizzlies squad, will also be in attendance. “I’m excited about the combine and have been training hard for it,” said Struble, who has already talked to several NHL teams. “And for sure I’ll try to talk to those two guys. I’ve heard they’re great players.” Didmon expects Struble to have a smooth transition to the Grizzlies’ lineup. “Jayden is a physical presence on the back end, but he’s also capable of providing offence so he’ll be a big addition to our club,” said Didmon. Struble has never been to Victoria but does plan to be at Rogers Arena for the June 21-22 draft, so a trip over the water might also be on the itinerary. “We may visit in the summer or maybe around the draft.” While Newhook is moving on to Boston College, there’s a good chance Campbell returns for one more season with the Grizzlies, which would give Victoria at least two NHL draft picks, both likely second-rounders as Campbell goes into the draft ranked No. 42. “That would be cool,” Struble said.

Cocker Named League’s New Executive Director:

The BC Hockey League is pleased to announce the hiring of Steven Cocker as the league’s new Executive Director, Competition and Events. The Orangeville, Ont. native brings with him a diverse background in hockey. Before accepting his role at the BCHL, Cocker had been an assistant general manager with the Penticton Vees since 2015 as well as an amateur scout for the Buffalo Sabres since 2017. He also has previous experience working in Europe where he was a consultant for the Zurich Lions in Switzerland and the general manager for the Lahti Pelicans U20 in Finland. “I am honoured to be named as the Executive Director for the BCHL,” said Cocker. “I am excited for the bright future that lies ahead for the league, on and off the ice. “Over the past season I’ve been able to see firsthand the progressive direction the league is heading and am excited to be a part of it.” According to BCHL Commissioner Chris Hebb, Cocker has all the tools to make him the right fit for the job. “We could not be happier with the addition of Steve to our league,” said Hebb. “He brings a wealth of experience as a hockey executive, including several years in the BCHL, and he possesses a work ethic and drive that will see him do great things for this league.”

Alami Commits To Surrey:

The Surrey Eagles organization is extremely pleased to announce the commitment of 2001-born defenceman Cade Alami for the upcoming 2019-20 season. Alami is ranked as the 173rd North American skater for the 2019 NHL Draft, and is committed to play Division I NCAA hockey for Providence College. Measuring in at 6-foot-7, 200 pounds, Alami is an intimidating presence on the ice and will be a key part of the defensive group on a new-look Eagles team. He is coming off a season in which he appeared in 12 total games with Berkshire high school in Massachusetts, and the Mid-Fairfield Rangers U18 midget team. “I chose to go to Surrey because I want to develop as a player,” Alami told SurreyEagles.ca in an interview. “I think coach [Cam] Keith will help me tremendously, but I also want to do what I can to help this team win a championship. I’m focused on going there and doing what I can to help the team.” Alami’s size is usually the first thing that jumps off the paper when people see his name on the roster sheet, but he wants the fans in Surrey to know that he’s more than just a big, bruising defenceman. “When people see a 6-foot-7 defenceman, they think he must be just a big kid who buries people in the corner. I certainly like to do that, but I like to think of myself as more of a two-way defenceman. I’m a big kid but I can also produce offensively as well, so that’s what I’m going to try to do in Surrey.” Despite battling through an injury in 2018-19, Alami managed to impress NHL scouts in the limited action that they saw. Being selected by NHL Central Scouting for their final rankings didn’t necessarily come as a surprise to him based on the attention that he received throughout the year, but he still appreciates being noticed. “It’s definitely very exciting,” Alami said about his ranking. “I talked to a couple of NHL scouts before my injury, and I’ve talked to a few pretty recently. I honestly wasn’t expecting much because I haven’t played a lot of hockey lately, but it is an honour that they put me on there.” As a multi-sport athlete, Alami will also turn to his other love to aid in his injury recovery this summer: Tennis. Although it is a very different sport than hockey, he does find the emphasis on footwork to be similar to playing defence. “Tennis is a big footwork sport,” he explained. “You have to be very co-ordinated with your feet, so I think it translates to hockey with foot speed and gapping, that’s how I look at it.” As a 6-foot-7 defenceman, having clean and smooth footwork is extra important. Those skills can also become exposed on South Surrey Arena’s Olympic-sized ice surface. Luckily, Alami’s high school club also played in an Olympic-sized arena, so he is more than ready for the challenge. Aside from playing tennis, Alami will continue to work out and get stronger as he prepares for his first season of junior hockey. Under the guidance of head coach Cam Keith, he feels like he’ll be prepared well to make the jump to NCAA Division I hockey in 2020. “Just from talking to coach Keith, I love everything about the situation in Surrey. It’s awesome. He seems like a very reliable guy that will always do the right thing. I liked him from the start. I can’t wait to play for him. I want to bring a championship back to Surrey, that’s my mindset going in.”

Hemenway Commits To Bulldogs:

The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are pleased to announce a commitment from 2002-born defenceman Carson Hemenway to join the team for the 2019/20 BCHL season. Hemenway joins the Bulldogs from the BC Major Midget League’s North Island Silvertips, where he scored three goals and totaled 19 points in 39 games this season. He is the third player in three seasons to commit to the Bulldogs from the Silvertips program, joining forwards Keaton Mastrodonato and Ethan Jones. “Carson is a smooth, skilled blueliner who plays fast and smart in all three zones,” says Bulldogs assistant coach Jeff Dubois. “He was a standout at our spring camp in Port Alberni after impressing our staff throughout his Major Midget season. We’re pleased to welcome Carson and his family to the Alberni Valley.” “I’m very exited to join the Bulldogs for the coming season,” says Hemenway, who describes himself as an offensive defenceman with a good shot who loves to get involved in the play. “I chose the Bulldogs because I’ve heard nothing but good things about the organization, and at camp the returning players made me feel welcome from the get go. From the people I’ve talked to they’ve all said that the Bulldogs have an amazing fan base and great atmosphere, and the chance to be a part of that is very exiting for me.” Hemenway will join his new teammates when the Bulldogs’ 2019 Main Camp opens at the Alberni Valley Multiplex on August 19.

Andreozzi Commits To Silverbacks:

The Salmon Arm Silverbacks are pleased to announce the commitment of 2000-born defenceman Antonio Andreozzi for the upcoming 2019-20 BCHL season. The left-shot blueliner registered four goals and 16 assists in 31 games this past season while playing for the Rivers School prep team in Weston, Massachusetts, who compete in the New England conference of the United States High School (USHS) Prep League. Andreozzi tallied 86 points in 122 games over the course of his four seasons at Rivers, including a point-per-game campaign in 28 games as a junior during his 2017-18 season. “Antonio possesses an excellent all-around skill set and he has a high hockey IQ. His outstanding skating ability enables him to contribute at both ends of the ice,” Silverbacks head coach and general manager Scott Atkinson said. “He also brings many highly sought-after intangibles to the table: he is an intense competitor and a team leader, making him a very difficult player to play against. Antonio fits right into our overall game plan: he defends well, has the skill to play the puck possession game and can push the pace.” Andreozzi served as one of three team captains during his final two years at Rivers. He said he’s excited to join the Silverbacks for the upcoming season. “After a tour of the town and facilities, I immediately knew Salmon Arm would be a good fit for me,” Andreozzi said. “The coaching staff was very welcoming to me and I was impressed by their attitude and commitment to their players.” The 19-year-old is committed to Brown University, a Div. I NCAA program that competes in the ECAC Hockey conference.

Dumas Commits To Capitals:

The Cowichan Capitals are very pleased to announce that Maxime Dumas has committed to play for the team for the upcoming season. The 6’0″ 205lb defenceman joins the Capitals from the St. Paul’s School of the Lakes Region Hockey League in New England.  The 19 year old Quebec City native tallied 2 goals and 5 assists for 7 points in 27 games played for St.Paul’s  this past season.  The Capitals would like to welcome Maxime to the Capitals Family and look forward to seeing him on the ice at Main Camp in late August.

Amonte Commits To Penticton:

The Penticton Vees announced today that they have received a commitment from 2000-born forward Tristan Amonte for the 2019-20 season. Amonte, from Norwell, Massachusetts, spent last season with the Youngstown Phantoms after the previous four years at Thayer Academy. The right-shot forward played 121 games at Thayer over those four seasons, racking up 23 goals and 93 assists. Amonte is the son of long-time NHL player Tony Amonte, who skated in 1,174 games from 1991-2007 with the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, Phoenix Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers and Calgary Flames. Tristan’s older brother Ty spent one season with the Vees in 2016-17, scoring 17 goals and 20 assists to help the Vees claim the Fred Page Cup. He finished his sophomore season at Boston University this past year. The six-foot forward will join his teammates for training camp in mid August.

Shaw Leaves Centennials:

The Merritt Centennials regrettably announce the departure of Assistant Coach Brandon Shaw from the organization effective today. Shaw was in his second season behind the bench in Merritt, but is electing to pursue other hockey opportunities moving forward. Coach Shaw had nothing but thanks for the team, the town, and community. “I want to thank you all for the past 2 years. I’ve grown as a coach and as a person through highs and lows. I think the team has accomplished great things both on and off the ice this past season and proved to the league that Merritt is a special team and a special place to play. It is a special place to play because of you who support the team and the staff. I will never forget my time in Merritt and will always cherish it.” The Centennials organization and the Board of Directors wish Brandon the best in his future endeavors and thank him for his commitment to the organization over the past two years.

Wood Commits To Clippers:

The Nanaimo Clippers have announced that Nanaimo native, Blake Wood, has committed to the team for the upcoming season.  Wood played 16 games in 2018-2019 for the Nanaimo Buccaneers in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League posting a .909 save percentage.  He also played games for Alberni Valley Bulldogs as well as Cowichan Valley Capitals in the BCHL in 2018-2019 so he brings some Junior A experience to the Clippers program. “We are excited to be adding Wood to our roster as a 2001 born goaltender. We feel he will be a great addition”, mentioned Darren Naylor, Head Coach of the Clippers. “Anytime you can add a local talent it is a win-win for the player and team.”  Prior to the Nanaimo Buccaneers program, Wood spent two seasons at Yale Hockey Academy playing on the Bantam Prep Team and Elite-15’s squad. He was selected in the 8th round by the Kamloops Blazer of the WHL Bantam Draft. Wood, who grew up watching the Clippers, says it means a lot to join the team “from going to the Clippers games every Friday night with my family to now being able to throw the Clippers jersey on and play in front of family and friends is an incredible feeling” mentioned Blake Wood. “My goal with this team is to be a great team player and hopefully play NCAA once my junior career is done.” Wood will join the Clippers starting August 19th for Main Camp.

Ferguson Commits To Cowichan Capitals:

The Cowichan Capitals are very pleased to announce that Cullen Ferguson has committed to play for the team for the upcoming season. The 6’0″ 180lb defenceman joins the Capitals from the Hamilton Kilty B’s of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. The 18 year old Glanbrook, Ontario native tallied 4 goals and 15 assists for 19 points in 41 games played for the Kilty B’s this past season.  The Capitals would like to welcome Cullen to the Capitals Family and look forward to seeing him on the ice at Main Camp in late August.

Gilowski Commits To Vees:

The Penticton Vees announced today that they have received a commitment from 2002-born defenceman Scott Gilowski for the 2019-20 season. Gilowski, from Vernon, might be familiar to Vees fans as he suited up for three games as an affiliate player last season. His BCHL debut came November 17 at home against the Victoria Grizzlies for the annual Pink in the Rink game.  The towering 6’6’’ defender spent the past two seasons with the Okanagan Rockets of the British Columbia Major Midget League in Kelowna. His first season he scored three goals and seven assists in 40 games, before scoring twice and adding 14 assists in 34 games this past season. Gilowski has spent a season in Penticton before as he played his bantam season at the Okangan Hockey Academy in 2016-17, scoring three goals and adding 12 assists in 25 games. He will join his new teammates for training camp in August.

Salmon Arm Silverbacks Name Kanter New Play By Play Broadcaster:

The Salmon Arm Silverbacks are pleased to welcome Nathan Kanter as the team’s new Play-by-Play Broadcaster and Social Media Manager. Kanter joins the Silverbacks after two seasons as the voice of the Battlefords North Stars in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), where he was a broadcaster as well as a sports journalist for BattlefordsNOW.com and 1050 CJNB. In his time with the North Stars, he called over 140 regular season and playoff games, and was behind the mic for a Canalta Cup championship and a Western Canada Cup appearance in 2016-17. The Toronto, Ont. native has also broadcasted over 50 games for LEGACY Global Sports at elite international youth hockey tournaments in France, Italy and Minnesota. “We feel we’ve gained a great broadcaster who can step into a role with our radio station and give the fans listening a great experience,” Silverbacks operations manager Brooks Christensen said. “I was very impressed with the way Nathan carried himself in a professional manner.” Before his time in the Prairies, Kanter graduated from Western University in London, Ont. with a master’s in journalism and then served as the Digital Managing Editor at the Western Gazette, the school’s campus newspaper, where he ran the sports section. It was at Western where he first got the chance to call hockey games, doing play-by-play and then colour commentary for MustangsTV, a student-run webcast of the men’s and women’s Western Mustangs USports teams. “I am beyond excited at the prospect of calling games in the BCHL for the Silverbacks organization,” Kanter said. “It’s clear to me that Salmon Arm is a hockey-crazed community and I look forward to sharing my passion for junior hockey with all Silverbacks fans. I want to thank Brooks Christensen, Scott Atkinson and Silverbacks ownership for this wonderful opportunity.” Kanter will broadcast all 58 regular season games plus four exhibition games and the entire playoffs on the home of the Silverbacks, 91.5 EZ Rock. He will relocate to Salmon Arm at the end of July.

Chilliwack-Wenatchee Trade:

The Chilliwack Chiefs have transferred the CJHL playing rights of (99) Goaltender Daniel Chenard to the Wenatchee Wild in exchange for Future Considerations. Chenard, a native of Waterloo, Ontario, had an extremely successful tenure in Chilliwack and won the RBC National Championship with the Chiefs in 2018. Last season after his return from off-season surgery, Chenard registered an impressive 13 wins in 18 games to go along with a 0.913 save % and a 2.70 GAA. Chenard was absolutely outstanding for the Chiefs in the playoffs and played a massive role in the Chiefs 3-0 series comeback against the Langley Rivermen.  “Daniel has been a big part of our organization over the last few years and we can’t thank him enough. His leadership and professionalism was a big reason why we were able to become 2018 National Champions. Being one of the top goalies in the league we know he will have success this season before he heads off to school.” said Chiefs Head Coach and General Manager Brian Maloney before adding “The Chilliwack Chiefs organization thanks Daniel for all of his contributions and wishes him nothing but success moving forward.”

Bridgewater Commits To Cowichan Capitals:

The Cowichan Capitals are very pleased to announce that Andy Bridgewater has committed to play for the team for the upcoming season. The 5’10” 175lb forward joins the Capitals from the Calgary Mustangs of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. The Mustangs have decided to not operate their team this season so all of their players are free to choose new teams. The 19 year old Calgary, Alberta native tallied 10 goals and 23 assists for 33 points in 51 games played for the Mustangs this past season.  The Capitals would like to welcome Andy to the Capitals Family and look forward to seeing him on the ice at Main Camp in late August.