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:
Brackett Commits To Powell River:
The Powell River Kings are excited to announce the commitment of 2000-born forward Jack Brackett for the 2019-2020 season. Brackett, from Manassas, Virginia has spent the last two seasons playing with the Boston Bandits of the NCDC where he recorded 36 goals and 21 assists in 83 games. “Jack has always been known as one of the hardest-working players on his team.” Said Kings Head Coach and General Manager Tyler Kuntz, “He’s also proven that he’s good at scoring goals. As an 18-year-old last year in an older league, he tied for third in goals. He also plays with a ton of speed, which is a quality we wanted in the players we added for this year. We’re very excited to add Jack to the team, he’s a high character kid that will be a big help for us.” Brackett moved to Boston in 2017 to start his junior career after playing midget hockey in his home state of Virginia. “It was my first experience with junior hockey,” said Brackett when talking about his time with the Bandits, “I was really comfortable there and I felt my game really improved in terms of my skills, speed and overall game. That was a big part of why I went to Boston, I knew I would be in a good environment.” After spending the last two years playing on the east coast, Brackett said he’s excited to head west and play in Powell River. “It was a unique opportunity for me.” Said Brackett, who is set to go to RPI in the fall of 2020, “I’ve lived on the east coast the past two years away from home, and now going to British Columbia which I’ve heard is an unbelievable place to live. I’m excited to go to Powell River, I’ve heard so many great things about the community and I can’t wait to get out there.” Brackett will join his new teammates in Powell River for training camp, starting August 19th.
Eagles Name Schandor Alternate Captain:
The Surrey Eagles are pleased to announce that the recently-acquired Hudson Schandor has been named an alternate captain for the upcoming 2019-20 season. Schandor, a veteran of 91 BCHL games, was acquired by the Eagles on Monday afternoon from the Bonnyville Pontiacs of the Alberta Junior Hockey League in exchange for Matthew McKim. He spent the previous two seasons with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. Schandor joins a leadership group that will be guided by returning defenceman and Yale commit Cody Schiavon, who was named captain in mid-June. “It’s a pretty unreal feeling,” Schandor said in an interview with SurreyEagles.ca. “I can’t wait to be a leader on this team. Hopefully we can help the young guys and make it easier for them to come to the league and be productive right away.” The Eagles aren’t expected to have many returning players from the 2018-19 season, so Schandor’s BCHL experience will be a major asset early on in the season. Dealing with a young, developing team is something that he has experience with, and he’s up for the challenge. “On Salmon Arm, we had a really young team last year,” Schandor explained. “I like to think I have a bit of experience dealing with younger guys. They usually love to play offence, so it’s our job to make sure we stay responsible at both ends. Being an older guy on a younger team, I’m really looking forward to it.” Although this will be his first time wearing a letter at the BCHL level, Schandor has always seen himself as a leader in the dressing room. More than just a vocal leader, he also likes to lead by example on the ice with his work ethic and responsibility with the puck. “I’ve always tried to be a vocal leader on the bench, always try to do my part around the room,” Schandor detailed. “On the ice as well, whether it’s helping a younger guy out or sometimes even one of the older guys. I’ve been trying to be a leader and I think it’s worked out pretty well so far.” For the North Vancouver-native, the trade to Surrey was something of a homecoming. After spending two years in Salmon Arm, it will be much easier for Schandor’s family to come out and watch his games. That’s something that he is very excited about, and is an added bonus to being acquired by the Eagles. “It’s definitely a cherry on top. I’m going to have lots of friends and family out at the games. I can’t wait to get started. It’s been a hectic couple of weeks, but I’m super glad I landed in Surrey.”
Trail-Flin Flon Trade:
The Trail Smoke Eaters Junior ‘A’ Hockey Club is pleased to announce the team has acquired goaltender, Gabriel Waked (‘99) from the Flin Flon Bombers in exchange for forward, Bryce Anderson (‘01). Waked, 20, comes to the Smoke Eaters after two seasons in the QMJHL with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, before being acquired by the SJHL’s Flin Flon Bombers. The 6’1”, 194-pound St-Bruno-de-Montarville, QC native played in 14 games, earning a 3.36 goals against average and a .894 save percentage, taking his game to an even better level in the playoffs with a 2.51 GAA and 0.922 SVS% in 9 games. Prior to his time in the QMJHL, Waked played with the Granby Inouk of the QJAAHL during the 2017-18 season, posting a 2.26 GAA in 16 games, earning a league best save percentage of 0.919. “Gabriel Waked is the last big addition for us this off-season”, said General Manager & Head Coach, Jeff Tambellini. “It was important to find a 20-year-old goalie who has experience and we believe Gabe is the right player to help win us win hockey games this season. He comes from a great hockey family and the Trail Smoke Eaters are looking forward to helping him join his brother Antoine in pro hockey next season.” The Smoke Eaters would like to welcome Gabriel to the team and the city of Trail. The team would also like to thank Bryce for his time and contributions with the club.
Next Generation: Penticton Vees
All summer we’ll be going team-by-team to profile new players coming in for the 2019-20 season with recaps of offseason commits and acquisitions. We will also have interviews and scouting reports from the coaches.
Next up is the Penticton Vees.
After being upset in the first round of the BCHL playoffs last season, the Vees wasted little time in building their team for the 2019-20 season. All summer, Penticton has been adding high-profile talent to their roster, including a pair of NHL draft picks, one being a former first-rounder, and several other players committed to NCAA programs. With so many new players committing to the team and several more joining them via trades, Vees head coach Fred Harbinson has his work cut out to get everyone on the same page at training camp in August. “We’ll obviously have meetings about our systems,” said Harbinson. “But we’re going to have different presentations and the first one will basically be about what it means to be a Penticton Vee. I think we’ve got a good nucleus of guys coming back that will help with that message. We’re probably going to have a couple former players come back and talk to our guys as well. It’s a special place to coach and to play. We feel it’s a unique spot. In a town of this size, we have over 3,000 people a game in our building. Right off the bat, we really want to get across how fortunate we are and we’re not going to take it for granted.”
2019-20 commits
Jay O’Brien (1999, F)
- Hometown: Hingham, Mass.
- Previous team: Providence College (NCAA)
- Commitment: Boston University (2020-21)
- Drafted: 1st Round (19th overall) by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2018
O’Brien is taking a mandatory year away from NCAA hockey as he transfers to Boston University. He had five point in 25 games for Providence last year and also won a silver medal with Team USA at the 2019 World Junior Championships. In 2017-18, the 19-year-old had 80 points in 30 games at Thayer Academy.
Harbinson’s scouting report:
“When he made the decision he was going to leave school, we obviously wanted to get involved with him. The biggest reason is that he brings a little bit of everything to the table. He plays with a lot of pace, but for an offensive guy, he plays with a lot of jam. He’s a guy that gets in first on the forecheck and uses his body to create space for himself and his teammates.
“On top of everything he’s going to do on the ice, he’s going to be leaned on as a good leader for our team and a guy that can explain to the guys what the next level really is.”
Cade Webber (2001, D)
- Hometown: Meadville, Penn.
- Previous team: The Rivers School (USHS-Prep)
- Commitment: Boston University (2020-21)
- Drafted: 4th Round (99th overall) by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2019
Listed at 6-foot-6, Webber brings size and intimidation to the Vees backend and also adds some offensive ability as he piled up 26 points in 29 games last year.
Harbinson’s scouting report:
“He’s a very rangy defenceman. At 6-foot-6, he uses his stick well and he has good offensive instincts for a big guy. His game has really grown and caught up to his body. He’s a great kid. One of the biggest keys we looked at this year is making sure we were really drilling down on character and here’s a player that’s well-respected by his teammates. I think he’s going to be relied on in a defensive role, playing against the top part of the other teams’ lineups.”
Danny Weight (2001, F)
- Hometown: Lattingtown, N.Y.
- Previous team: U.S. National U18 Team (USDP)
- Commitment: Boston College (2020-21)
The son of former NHL all-star and Stanley Cup champion Doug Weight, Danny had 17 points in 41 games with the U.S. National U18 Team last season.
Harbinson’s scouting report:
“He’s got great hockey IQ. You can tell that he’s been in a hockey environment his whole life. I think he’s going to be relied upon as a player that plays a good 200-foot game. I think he’s really improved his skating in the last year-and-a-half. We talk about professional lifestyle here and, he’s a guy coming from an NHL environment his whole life, he can really push that to the rest of team too.”
Yaniv Perets (2000, G)
- Hometown: Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que.
- Previous team: Boston Jr. Bruins (NCDC)
- Commitment: Quinnipiac University (2020-21)
Perets had the fourth-best save percentage in the NCDC last season with a mark of .929 and also boasted a top-10 goals-against average at 2.48 in 36 games.
Harbinson’s scouting report:
“He’s had great numbers his whole career. We’re going to have two really capable goalies. He’s slightly undersized, but he’s very quick and positionally very solid, which you pretty much have to be if you’re under 6-foot-2. He’s always been known, from all of our reports, as a really good competitor.”
Liam Malmquist (2000, F)
- Hometown: Edina, Minn.
- Previous team: Edina High (USHS-MN)
- Commitment: University of Wisconsin (2020-21)
The 18-year-old had almost a goal game playing high-school hockey last year with 23 in 24 contest and ended the year with 52 points to finish second on his team.
Harbinson’s scouting report:
“When you watch Liam, it’s all about his motor. He’s one of those guys you would call a rink rat. He loves being at the rink. He just plays with so much energy. I really like his hockey intelligence. For a smaller guy, he’s always driving to get to the inside ice and the hard areas. When you watch him, you can see the passion for the game.”
Scott Gilowski (2002, D)
Hometown: Vernon, B.C.
- Previous team: Okanagan Rockets (BCMML)
Another physically intimidating presence on the Vees blueline, Gilowski played three games as an affiliate with Penticton last season. He had 16 points in 34 games playing major midget last year.
Harbinson’s scouting report:
“He’s another big body. He’s a great student and a great kid. He was an affiliate player with us and played a few games. He played a great game when we were really shorthanded against Victoria in our building last year. He came in and did an outstanding job. When you’re that big, learning how to use your stick and making plays at a quicker level will be key for him. We know he wants to work to get better and be a part of our program.”
Steve Holtz (1999, D)
- Hometown: White Lake, Mich.
- Previous team: Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
- Commitment: University of Michigan (2020-21)
Holtz played the last two years in the USHL for Youngstown where he put up a goal and five assists in each season.
Tristan Amonte (2000, F)
- Hometown: Norwell, Mass.
- Previous team: Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
Ty Amonte, the son of former NHL all-star Tony Amonte, is the second player from his family to play for the Vees as his brother Ty played the 2016-17 season in Penticton.
Acquired via trade
Colton Kalezic (1999, F)
- Hometown: Toronto, Ont.
- Previous team: Tri-City Storm (USHL)
- Commitment: Northern Michigan University (2020-21)
Before playing in the USHL last season, Kalezic played three seasons for the Toronto Patriots of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL). He had 11 goals and 10 assists in 47 games for Tri-City in 2018-19.
Alex DiPaolo (2000, F)
- Hometown: Oakville, Ont.
- Previous team: Coquitlam Express
- Commitment: University of Massachusetts-Amherst (2020-21)
The 19-year-old brings a year of BCHL experience to the team as he was Coquitlam’s third-leading scorer last season with 48 points in 53 games.
Vincent Nardone (2000, F)
- Hometown: Rosemère, Que.
- Previous team: Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL)
- Commitment: University of Nebraska-Omaha (2020-21)
Nardone made the move from Quebec to play in Flin Flon last year where he put up 39 points in 56 games as a rookie.
Ethan Martini (2000, D)
- Hometown: Trail, B.C.
- Previous team: Powell River Kings
The BCHL veteran is entering his fourth season in the league, having suited up for Powell River last year and his hometown Trail Smoke Eaters the two years prior.
Lach Hadley (2000, F)
- Hometown: Victoria, B.C.
- Previous team: Cowichan Valley Capitals
5 comments:
Hello VDHF... looking forward to an exciting year & having a few chats with you. Do you have any times yet for training camp, think it starts on Monday? Thanks for all the good work with keeping us up to speed.
Good afternoon, Thank you for the comments and visiting my blog. Much appreciated!
Yes I too am already excited for another new season. For the first time in at least ten-fifteen years, the Vipers have been keeping the fans updated with new recruits/committed players and roster news etc over the summer as well as updating the website with some of Don Klepp's articles. At least heading into training camp this summer, we know who the new recruits/committed players are. I was told a few months ago from a very reliable source the Vipers have fifteen players from last years team that could return, but its not guaranteed. I like the sounds of the new coach & the players they have brought in so far. With the new owners having a year of owning a Junior hockey team, under there belt, they have a more general idea on what to expect and do this coming season.
All teams across the league open training camps Monday. I haven't heard any times or dates about the Vipers training camp. I'm hoping someone from the Vipers reads these comments and posts the training camp schedule soon.
Once again vdhf are you satisfied with news or competitive teams?
I think every fan wants to see a competitive team on the ice no matter who they cheer for. But at the same time, I think fans also want to hear news, information, stats, anything regarding the team they cheer for no matter what month or time of year it is. Most hockey fans are passionate about the team they cheer for and for someone like myself, something very minor is newsworthy to me, may not be as newsworthy to the next hockey fan.
Hockey is not only a sport but its also now a business, and to keep fans coming back and interested you not only have to put a competitive team on the ice, you still also have to market and advertise your team off the ice. Back in the 1970's and 80's there was no real marketing, or internet with all the great information fans have now a days. Back in the day, you heavily relied on the local newspaper, radio broadcasts and gossip going around the rink. Unless you knew somebody involved with the team in some way, they didn't advertise or produce press releases and news info like they do now. I think if you don't keep your fans involved and in the know, that's when you start to lose fans.
All I am saying is none of these recruits look like blue chip prospects. The team has a strong core returning. But the recruiting class is well behind the top teams of the bchl. In the past the team's may have not announced everything in order to continue to attract top talent. Oenticton, chilliwack, and Pg for that matter all seem to have stronger recruits. Time will tell but I think this ownership group is in for a wake up call
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