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:

Carter Returns To Cowichan Capitals:

The Cowichan Capitals are pleased to announce the addition of goaltending coach Chris Carter to the coaching staff. Chris has been a professional goaltending coach for 13 years and brings his wealth of experience back to the Capitals organization. Chris is very familiar with being the goaltending coach for the Capitals, making his BCHL coaching  debut with the Capitals for the 2016/2017 season. After spending the 2017/2018 season and part of the 2018/2019 season with the Powell River Kings, he is very excited to return to Cowichan. “This rink was where I coached in my first year of Junior ‘A’ and it’s always been special to me. Always felt like home whenever I visited with the Kings. I couldn’t be happier to return to this organization and I’m looking forward to getting to work here at main camp. The future looks very promising for this team and I’m honoured to be a part of it. I’d like to thank Mike Vandekamp for trusting me with this very important role on the team and also Dan Whiteford for his assistance in making this happen for me.”

On The Bench With Trevor Miller:

Our first guest of the season is Penticton Vees President, General Manager and Head Coach Fred Harbinson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-wGjpj_FeI&feature=youtu.be

Merritt-Swan Valley Trade:

The Merritt Centennials have made another trade with Barry Wolff’s former club as they’ve sent defenseman Mattias Dal Monte (’00) to the Swan Valley Stampeders in exchange for defenseman Troy Quinn (’99). A native of Nepean, Ontario, Quinn spent the entirety of last season with the Stampeders. The 6’4″, 200 pound defender supplied 5 goals and 19 points in 40 games throughout the regular season and added another 9 points, with two goals in the post season that saw the Stampeders come just a goal away in game 7 of the MJHL finals. Head Coach and General Manager Barry Wolff says that Quinn is a big body who has the full tool kit. “He’s a big horse, he’s hard to play against, gritty, strong skater. He can play just about any situation, can come in and be a leader. He’s a great acquisition for us.” Dal Monte was coming into his 3rd season in Merritt, but never truly got his chance to shine. Last season despite playing only 40 games he put up 4 goals and 5 assists along with 41 penalty minutes. The Centennials would like to thank Mattias and his family for their contributions  over the past 2 years, and welcome Troy and his family to the Nicola Valley.

Clippers Sign Mahovlich:

The Nanaimo Clippers announced the signing of WHL Veteran Forward Scott Mahovlich. Mahovlich, an Abbotsford native played in 151 games in the WHL with three teams, Kamloops Blazers, Regina Pats and the Lethbridge Hurricanes proving himself as a force to reckon with. Head Coach of the Clippers Darren Naylor coached Mahovlich back when he was nine-years old and has always kept an eye on him “I knew since an early age he was going to be a great hockey player.” Naylor commented “His is going to add a lot to our team, from his ability to play a two-way game, his size and physical presence to his leadership amongst his teammates.” As he enters his final year of Junior Hockey his goal is to leave with a championship “My goal this season is to win a championship and I really think this team can do that” said Mahovlich “seeing the roster and knowing Wes Mussio (Clippers Owner) and Darren Naylor I knew I would like it here.”

BCHL Next Generation: Victoria Grizzlies

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 Victoria Grizzlies.

You could excuse the Grizzlies if there was going to be a letdown in 2019-20. Last season, they won the Island Division, finished with the most goals scored in the BCHL, had the league’s leading scorer and MVP and saw three of their players get drafted in the 2019 NHL Draft, including first-rounder Alex Newhook. After all the highs of last year, head coach Craig Didmon is determined to prevent that letdown from happening. His group of returning players will be leaned upon heavily to guide the new group and draw from their experiences from last season. “We’ve got a lot of guys that have been around for a few years,” said Didmon. “I just hope they’ve learned from the previous group and grown with them, because now it’s their time to lead. I like my leadership group. They all played good playoff rounds last year. They’re all eager and ready to go. They all have good habits and a lot of that was from the character of the players last year.”

Acquired via trade

Liam Soulière (1999, G)

• Hometown: Brampton, Ont.
• Previous team: Brockville Braves (CCHL)
• Commitment: Penn State University (2020-21)
• 
  

Soulière was awarded the CCHL’s Best Goaltender award and was named a First-Team All-Star after posting a 26-8-1 record with a .930 save percentage, a 2.13 goals-against average and two shutouts in 37 regular-season games.

Didmon’s scouting report:

“He’s had two really good seasons at the Junior A level and he wanted to come to B.C. to challenge himself before he goes to Penn State. We’re really fortunate he’s here. He seems like a great kid and we know he’s going to be a great goalie.”

2019-20 commits

Cody Monds (2001, F)

• Hometown: Brockville, Ont.
• Previous team: Northwood School Junior (USHS-Prep)
• Commitment: Providence College (2020-21)
• 
  

Monds was his league’s second-leading scorer last year with 95 points in 66 games and had the third-most goals with 36.

Didmon’s scouting report:

“He’s a skilled forward, but he also plays really hard. He had a great season last year and he just seems to get better and better every time we see him. We’re excited about him and we’re hoping he can be an impact guy for us right away.”

Chase McInnis (2001, F)

• Hometown: Hingham, Mass.
• Previous team: Dexter School (USHS-Prep)
• Commitment: Northeastern University (2020-21)
• 
  

The son of former NHL player Marty McInnis, the 18-year-old led his school in scoring last year with 43 points in 30 games.

Didmon’s scouting report:

“He’s a really good 200-foot player. He plays a smart game in all areas, so he’s going to be really handy in a lot of different parts of the game. He’s going to be a great player to have because he plays a complete game and those guys are contagious.”

Brendan Bowie (2001, F)

• Hometown: Burlington, Ont.
• Previous team: St. Andrew’s College (CAHS)
• Commitment: St. Lawrence University (2021-22)
• 
  

The 18-year-old led St. Andrew’s in goals (38), assists (50) and points (88) last season.

Didmon’s scouting report:

“He’s a great shooter. He’s another guy that had a great season last year. He just finds offence. He’s got a really good knack as a playmaker too. He’s someone that we’re definitely looking at to create offence this year.”

James Davenport (2000, D)

• Hometown: Natick, Mass.
• Previous team: St. Sebastian’s School (USHS-Prep)
• Commitment: Brown University (2020-21)
• 
  

Davenport had nearly a point per game last year at prep school, putting up seven goals and 17 assists for 24 points in 29 games.

Didmon’s scouting report:

“He’s a skilled, right-handed defenceman who is more than ready to come into the league. He plays our style of game, the way we like to play with the defencemen getting involved. He’s going to be big addition.”

Michael Hoekstra (2002, F)

• Hometown: Victoria, B.C.
• Previous team: South Island Royals (BCMML)
• 
  

The 17-year-old joins his hometown team after leading the Royals in scoring last season with 34 points in 40 games.

Didmon’s scouting report:

“Michael is a local guy. He’s a big kid who skates well for his size and he plays hard. I think there’s a huge upside to his game and he’s going to learn a lot this year. I think he’s going to be a dominant power forward in the league down the road.”

Andrew Amousse (2001, F)

• Hometown: Laval, Que.
• Previous team: Stanstead College (MPHL)
• 
  

Amousse spent the last three seasons at Stanstead College. Last year he was an assistant captain and had 16 points in 18 games.

Isack Bandu (2001, D)

• Hometown: Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, Que.
• Previous team: Stanstead College (MPHL)
• 
  

The 18-year-old also played at Stanstead College last year where he had six points in 19 regular-season games and added two goals and two assists in five playoff contests.

Benjamin Biester (2001, F)

• Hometown: Danville, Calif.
• Previous team: Anaheim Jr. Ducks 18U (T1EHL U18)
• 
  

In 30 games played last year, Biester led his team in goals with 19 and points with 32.

Joe Howe (2001, G)

• Hometown: Barrie, Ont.
• Previous team: Upper Canada College (CISAA)
• 
  

Howe played the last two seasons at Upper Canada College. His best stretch came in the 2017-18 season where he posted a 1.33 goals-against average and a .943 save percentage in eight games.

2019-20 Penticton Vees Spotlight: Jay O'Brien

“Putting that Philly jersey on, on the stage, was unbelievable.” It was a moment that time stood still for then 18-year-old Jay O’Brien in Dallas, Texas as he was selected 19th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1st round of the National Hockey League Entry Draft. The road to Dallas was an exciting one for O’Brien, who played two seasons at Dexter School before finishing his high school hockey at Thayer Academy, located in Braintree, Massachusetts and about a 20 minute drive from O’Brien’s home in Hingham. “It was an awesome experience, being able to play for Tony Amonte as a coach,” O’Brien mentioned, “I’m actually living with Tristan when I come to Penticton so that connection is awesome to have. When you grow up in Massachusetts, everybody wants to play prep hockey and there’s so many good prep schools around the area. You grow up watching Miles Wood,Ryan Donato, Cam Atkinson and a ton of other guys that are in the NHL that played prep school and there’s a lot of talent around New England.” It was a night filled with emotion on June 22nd, 2018 for O’Brien and his family in Dallas as the 1st round of the NHL Draft began, “I was already sweating because it was 102 degrees in Dallas with a suit on,” O’Brien said, “I’m friends with Brady Tkachuk, Quinn Hughes and all the American guys so growing up with them and talking with them, knowing we are getting drafted was just surreal. Watching them go before me, I couldn’t have been happier for them and all the other guys I know that got drafted.” “I think it was about the 10th to 13th pick that I was thinking ‘I think I could go here'” O’Brien continued, “I don’t think I said a word before I got drafted, just soaking it all in and feeling a ton of different emotions. Once it happened and I heard my name called, giving my family hugs is something I will never forget. Putting that Philly jersey on on the stage was unbelievable.” The 5’11”, 185-pound forward moved into his freshman year of college, attending Providence College as an 18-year-old and learning a lot while on the ice and off the ice, “We had a pretty deep run into the playoffs, making the Frozen Four tournament,” O’Brien explained, “Being an 18-year-old coming in and experiencing going that far was something pretty special. It was great to experience that and how much it took to get that far into the year and I was able to learn so much from being one of the youngest guys in college hockey, it felt like being a freshman in high school again.” “Going from high school and living at home to being away and living on your own, Mom’s not making steak dinners for you anymore,” O’Brien joked, “The schooling was the biggest thing, being prepared for your classes and manage your time as best as you can. There’s a lot of stuff going on away from hockey as well so I was able to get into a groove after a while, going to the rink and doing your thing before getting back and doing school and homework so the biggest thing for me was finding a balance between school and hockey.” During the season, O’Brien had a chance to represent his country on an international stage as he joined Team USA at the World Junior Hockey Championship in Victoria. Earning a silver medal at the tournament, it was an experience of a lifetime, “Playing in the World Juniors is something that I will never forget,” O’Brien said, “It was awesome, we had such an unbelievable group and the coaches were amazing. When you’re waking up on Christmas morning and you’re together as a team, it was really cool. It felt surreal and was just such an awesome experience.” It was a big summer for the 20-year-old forward in finding a destination to play for the upcoming 2019/20 season. Getting into Penticton for a visit, O’Brien knew right away, “Honestly, right when I got to the rink and met Fred and the staff, it felt like I was at a pro facility and I felt at home,” commented O’Brien, “It’s beautiful there and I wanted to go to a place where it was all about the hockey and that’s the feel I got from Penticton and the town.” “The amount of fans they get and how the rink is set up, everything is first class,” O’Brien continued, “The schooling aspect was a big part of it too, they’ve had a lot of success moving guys along. I’ve talked to a lot of guys like Ty (Amonte) and (Dante) Fabbro that played for the Vees and I haven’t heard one bad thing about Penticton or the BCHL. It’s going to be an incredible season, we’ve got a good group coming in and I can’t wait to get out there.” Another big decision for O’Brien to make during this offseason was making a college commitment and as a Massachusetts kid, Boston University was extremely appealing, “I know a lot of guys who have gone there and, similar to Penticton, I didn’t hear one bad thing about it,” O’Brien recalled, “Everybody loved the program and playing for BU, they love their hockey there and I wanted to go to a place where hockey was a big thing.” Getting a chance to work out in Boston with NHL guys in Kevin Hayes, Keith Yandle and Brian Boyle is something O’Brien relishes in, “The older guys keep the room light, there are a lot of jokes being thrown around,” O’Brien said, “I’m a guy that doesn’t skate too much during the summer. I like to let my body heal and work on getting bigger and stronger; once I started skating about a week ago, it feels great and my legs feel fresh and I get the rhythm back real quick.”