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:
Prince George-Drayton Valley Trade:
The Prince George Spruce Kings have acquired forward Jaxon Steele (’00) from the Drayton Valley Thunder of the AJHL in exchange for forward Henry Wagner and future considerations. Steele, a Calgary Alberta product, spent last season with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL, where he played in 48 games, and having 5 points. “We’re excited to add Jaxon to our lineup. Jaxon will add some size up front and give us a boost offensively. He makes us much deeper and gives the coaches more options with the forward group” says GM Mike Hawes. “Henry is a 10 out of 10 person and it’s always tough to part with kids like that. However, he is going to get more opportunity in Drayton Valley than we can give him. We wish him all the best.”
Express Name Rizzo & Trotman Alternate Captains:
Coming off the best September in Express franchise history, the Express have *officially* strengthened the leadership group of the team, naming Massimo Rizzo and Adam Trotman as alternate captains. They join Connor Gregga and Joshua Wildauer with As and Drew Cooper with the C. “This was group decision by players and staff. Adam’s demeanor and professionalism are very impressive. Players look up to the way he takes care of himself. Massimo is a former captain in the league, and leads by example. His path to get healthy and make it back to the lineup is definitely an inspiration to our group,” – HC Jason Fortier Rizzo served as captain of the Penticton Vees last season, leading them to a first place finish in the Interior Division. Trotman wore an A last season in the OJHL with the Newmarket Hurricanes. The Express currently sit atop the Mainland Division with an 8-2 record.
Kings Sign Euerby:
The Powell River Kings are pleased to announce the signing of 2002-born goaltender Braedy Euerby. Euerby, 17, was selected by the Vancouver Giants in the fifth round (103rd overall) in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft, and attended their pre-season camp, making two appearances (1-1, 3.50 GAA / .885 SV%). The Delta, BC native played for Delta Hockey Academy Prep last season, going 16-8 with a 3.12 GAA and .893 SV%. The Vancouver Giants have two NHL prospect goaltenders in David Tendeck (ARZ – Rd: 6) and Trent Miner (COL – Rd: 7), leaving Euerby without any playing time, resulting in this move to further his development. “For the Giants, it’s a great spot to be in because they have two drafted goalies that are unreal kids and great goalies,” said Kings Head Coach Tyler Kuntz. “It’s tough for Braedy (Euerby) because he’s behind those two guys, but he’s young and he’s going to come here to get some experience and play.” Kings overage goaltender Matteo Paler-Chow has had to make 11-straight starts, and nine consecutive starts since the injury to backup goalie Alex Rolfe on September 15th. During that time, the Kings have used five different backup options. “He’s (Braedy Euerby) going to add a support system for Matteo Paler-Chow,” added Kuntz on his new tandem. “They’re going to be a tandem because he (Paler-Chow) has been alone for too long. Goalies need support, so he’s going to bring that, and he’s a young hard working goalie with a lot of potential.” Euerby said he’s excited to get started with the Kings after gaining valuable experience with the Giants. “I’ve worked with both of them (David Tendeck & Trent Miner) for the last couple years, and I learned a lot about how they play the game, how they think and what they do before and after the game,” said Euerby on working with two NHL prospect goaltenders. Euerby had previously played with Nic Porchetta, Nolan Krogfoss and Jacob Slipec at Delta, and said that he knows most of the Kings roster. “As soon as I stepped in the dressing room, I knew I was at home,” smiled Euerby. “I know half of the team just through playing against them, playing with them, or just from another academy.”
On The Bench With Trevor Miller:
Time for another episode of On The Bench presented by @TheBenchMarket! This week's guest is Vees forward Vincent Nardone
Salmon Arm-Notre Dame Trade:
The Salmon Arm Silverbacks have traded 2001-born defenceman Ben Hamilton to the Notre Dame Hounds of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League in exchange for future considerations. The 6-foot-4 blueliner played in six games this season for the Backs, recording one assist. “First off, we’d like to thank Ben for all his effort and hard work. We just thought it was a move that would be best for him and his career,” Silverbacks assistant coach and assistant general manager Tanner Cochrane said. “They’re very excited to have him and for us, he wasn’t going to get the ice time he needed to be able to showcase his talents to the best of his ability,” The Silverbacks would like to thank Hamilton for his dedication to the Silverbacks and wish him well with his new organization.
Cenntenials Name Van Unen Captain:
The Merritt Centennials are proud to announce their leadership group for the 2019-20 season. Fourth year Centennials forward Rylan Van Unen has been named Captain while the team will split assistant roles for home and away games. All told there will be 6 assistants and they will include: 3rd year Cent Joey Berkopec, 2nd year forward Brett Roloson, 2nd year centre Payton Matsui, and newcomers Olson Werenka, Matt Osadick, and Troy Quinn. Werenka, Roloson, and Osadick will serve as alternates when the Cents sport their Whites, while Berkopec, Matsui, and Quinn will be a part of the leadership group when the Cents wear their traditional reds. Van Unen says that it’s very special to serve as Captain for his final year. “It’s and honour to be named Captain of the Centennials and to be a part of the great history here. Some amazing people have been Captain during my time in Merritt and it’s a privilege to be a part of that same group now. I look forward to leading this talented group of guys both on and off the ice.”
Salmon Arm’s Bid To Host Junior A Hockey Championships Proves Unsuccessful:
Despite support from local businesses, various community organizations, Salmon Arm council and hockey enthusiasts, Salmon Arm’s bid to host the Junior A Hockey Championships in 2021 has fallen short. The process of creating the bid began in February 2019. By the following month, the newly formed Shuswap Sports Society presented plans to submit a bid to Salmon Arm council, which gave the bid their unanimous support. If successful in securing the 10-day event, visitor spending and extensive media coverage was projected to generate more than $2 million for the Shuswap. Out of eight other communities that submitted their bids to host the event, Salmon Arm made it to the top three, which qualified Shuswap Sports Society to present their bid to Hockey Canada in Calgary in mid-May. “I thought we were the best represented community out of the final three that actually got to present,” said Ian Gray, chairperson for the Shuswap Sports Society. “Nobody else had a mayor there which I think really spoke loudly to the city commitment.” While the Shuswap Sports Society does not plan on making another bid, Gray believes there is hope for another Salmon Arm organization to make a bid to host the championships in 2023 or 2024. The 127-page bid included $500,000 put forward by businesses and local groups. Salmon Arm Mayor Alan Harrison said he didn’t think there was anything more that could have been put into the bid. “Our facility is a perfect size for a Junior A hockey championship and of course our location, you can’t beat it,” he said. “I would say perhaps that the timing perhaps just wasn’t quite right from Hockey Canada’s perspective to come this way this time.” Harrison said he believes that if and when Hockey Canada looks to host the championships again in B.C., Salmon Arm would be high on their radar as a potential host. Hockey Canada has not released the official winner of the bid yet.
Nanaimo-Victoria Trade:
The Nanaimo Clippers announced today that they have traded 1999 born Thomas Samuelsen to the Victoria Grizzlies in exchange for future considerations. “This was one of the hardest moves I have had to make since joining the Clippers’ organization.” commented Darren Naylor, General Manager and Head Coach of the Nanaimo Clippers “Thomas is an incredible young man with a work ethic like none other. Unfortunately, with Hansen-Bukata coming off the IR, we had too many 20 year old players and we had to make a move.” Samuelsen was entering his second season with the Clippers as a key part of the team and was also an Assistant Captain. His defensive plays ranks near the top of the BCHL where he was a key part of the top ranked Penalty Killing unit in the league. The Nanaimo Clippers Organization would like to thank Thomas Samuelsen and wish him the very best in the future.
On The Bench With Trevor Miller:
Time for another episode of On The Bench, presented by @TheBenchMarket! This week, our guest is Vees forward, Alex DiPaolo!
Spruce Kings Name Minardi New Associate Coach:
The Prince George Spruce Kings have hired Colin Minardi has the team’s new Associate Coach. Minardi replaces now former Associate Coach Jessie Leung. Leung has stepped down due to personal reasons. “It’s not the ideal situation when you have to make a coaching change part way through the season but that being said there are things in life much more important than the game of hockey. Jessie is leaving for personal reasons and we wish him nothing but success in his future endeavors”, says GM Mike Hawes. Minardi, 28, played at several different levels including Finlandia University (NCAA), Selkirk College, and Concordia University. Minardi has been coaching through the midget ranks in the Okanagan before taking the job here in Prince George. “This opportunity does open the door for another good young coach and we are excited to add Colin to our program” says Hawes. “Colin has a lot of playing experience including a stint under Alex with Selkirk College. They are very familiar with each other and that was a great selling point for me. I think Colin will transition quickly into what we’re doing here and I’m excited to see him working with our coaches to make our players better”.
BCHL Board Of Govenors Approve Sale Of Express:
The BCHL has announced that its Board of Governors have approved the sale of the Coquitlam Express to local businessman Fayaz Manji. Manji will serve as the team’s Governor and the team has announced that Ron Veit will serve as Alternate Governor and special advisor to ownership. “I look forward to helping Junior A hockey prosper in Coquitlam,” said Manji. “Our commitment to the community, sponsors and fans will remain as strong as ever. The organization will endeavour to produce future community leaders by providing players an opportunity to fulfill their dream playing in the top league, while opening doors to higher education.” Manji has also appointed Dave McLellan as President of Hockey Operations, Mark Pettie as Vice President and Alannah Kedra as Manager of Business Operations. “Junior Hockey is an important part of the fabric of Canada,” said McLellan. “We have made a commitment to provide the city of Coquitlam with a highly-competitive and exciting brand of Junior A Hockey. The players proudly represent the community and we encourage the Tri-City community and the rest of the Lower Mainland to come out and support the team.” Manji expressed gratitude to the previous ownership group and will continue to build on the established foundation with plans to elevate the team to the next level. “My passion for hockey from a young age will drive our vision and, with the players determination, excellent coaching staff and community support, we will reach new heights in Junior A Hockey in Canada,” he said. The Express joined the BCHL for the 2001-02 season and played in Coquitlam for four years before moving to Burnaby. In 2010-11 the Express returned to their original home and have been there ever since. “The BCHL is pleased to have Fayaz Manji come on board as the Owner of the Coquitlam Express,” said league Commissioner Chris Hebb. “This news, combined with a great start by the team on the ice, is sure to drive renewed interest and ensure stability for the franchise going forward.” The team has enjoyed significant success on the ice in years past as they captured the Fred Page Cup as BCHL champions in both 2005-06 and 2013-14 and also won a National Championship in the same 2005-06 season. The franchise has served as the starting point for the careers of many future NHLers, including Milan Lucic, Kyle Turris, and Alexander Kerfoot.
Barrett Announces Retirement:
The Merritt Centennials are announcing that longtime Governor and Director of Hockey Operations Brian Barrett is retiring from his position within the team citing personal reasons. For parts of 47 years, Brian Barrett has been integral to the success and longevity of the Centennials franchise. As a Player, Coach, General Manager, BCHL Governor, Director of Hockey Operations, and even Owner Barrett has done whatever was required of him to keep the team thriving. For his commitment to the game of hockey, Barrett was inducted into the BC Hockey Hall of Fame in 2016. President of the Centennials Neil Menard says that there is nothing but thanks from him and the Board of Directors for Barrett’s many years of service. “Brian has been so integral to this hockey team for so many years. He’s affected the lives of players on the team, helped them reach the next level, sometimes professionally, and sometimes beyond the realm of hockey. His commitment and dedication to the team cannot be questioned, and we’d like to thank him sincerely for all the time and effort he put into the club and wish him the best in his next chapter.” Barrett will continue to be a fan, and get more time to devote to his family.
Chilliwack-Salmon Arm Trade:
The Chilliwack Chiefs are proud to announce the acquisition of 2001 born forward Connor Milburn from the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in exchange for future considerations. Milburn, a 6’3” forward from Kamloops, BC played last season for the Thompson Blazers Major Midget Program where he tallied 14 goals and 15 assists in 25 games. Milburn is a player the Chiefs are quite familiar with as he attended last season’s annual Spring Camp in May. “We are very happy to add Connor to our mix today,” said Chiefs Associate Coach and Assistant GM Brad Rihela. “Connor had an excellent showing in our spring camp last season, and is a player we recruited heavily during the 2018-19 season. He is a high character individual that will fit in nicely with our program.” With the Chiefs currently having a spot available at the forward position, Head Coach and General Manager Brian Maloney felt like this was the right move at the right time for the Chiefs. “We are very happy with the direction of our young group and the progress we have made at this point in the season. We feel that the acquisition of Connor allows us to create some more internal competition within our group which is healthy for us going forward,” said Maloney.
West Kelowna Warriors And Former Coach Try To Settle Lawsuit:
The owner of the West Kelowna Warriors and the club's former head coach are scheduled to face off in court Tuesday. Kim Dobranski and Geoff Grimwood are expected to take part in a settlement conference of the lawsuit brought down by the Warriors former coach. Grimwood filed suit in June, claiming Dobranski breached his contract when the coach was fired in January. He claims the contract signed in September of 2018 provides for an immediate lump sum payment of an amount necessary to ensure his salary met the BCHL's minimum standard of $50,000 if he were terminated. He said the team failed to, or refused to make the payment. Grimwood is suing for $30,000 including interest and filing fees. Dobranski has denied the claims, stating the entity Grimwood sued never employed his services. "The West Kelowna Warriors Hockey Club (Society #S0064872) is a non-profit booster club for the Warriors franchise operated by KD Sports Ltd. We operate spring hockey programs and provide gaming for our youth programs. Contrary to his claim, Mr. Grimwood has never been employed by our organization," stated Dobranski in his response to the court at the time. As such, Dobranski disagrees with the breach of contract claim, "as we didn't have a contract with him." This is the first of two lawsuits facing Dobranski. The second involved his former business partner Xiaorong Liang. Liang is asking that a $300,000 investment in the team, plus other payments, be returned because of breach of contract. Dobranski claims that lawsuit is "frivolous, unfounded" and a tactic to try and bully him. He says that lawsuit was filed because of his refusal to roster her 15-year-old son, and play him in the fall. That suit was filed in Vancouver.
Coquitlam-Humboldt Trade:
2001 born forward Logan Kurki has been traded to the Humboldt Broncos of the SJHL in exchange for future considerations. Kurki appeared in 6 games this season. Last season as an AP with the Express, Kurki scored a goal and added an assist in 2 games. The Maple Ridge native joins former Vancouver NE Chiefs teammates and former Express APs Cody Hough and Michael Harroch with the Broncos. We wish Logan the best in Humboldt.
Centennials Part Ways With Wolff:
The Merritt Centennials announced today that they are parting ways with Head Coach and General Manager Barry Wolff. The Centennials Board of Directors elected by a majority vote to terminate Head Coach Barry Wolff and promote Assistant Coach Derek-Sweet Coulter to Interim Head Coach. President Neil Menard says that the Centennials had to address some of the unrest within the team. “It comes down to some philosophical differences. It wasn’t solely the wins and losses, you expect that early on in a season. The Board has taken action to address some of the issues brought to them from others close to the team.” The move will be effective immediately, and Derek Sweet-Coulter will assume Interim Head Coach and General Manager duties as of today. He says the move isn’t how he envisioned, but is excited for the future. “I want to thank Barry for everything he did for me and bringing me here, he will always be a mentor and friend to me. Obviously this isn’t the way you want to receive a job but the business side of the game is out of our control. I am excited to lead this group into the future developing young adults who will be great leaders that have a positive impact on the community of Merritt.”
Nanaimo-Langley Trade:
3 comments:
Does anyone know the status of Vernon's max palaga?
What is max PALAGA'S STATUS
Max Palaga was injured late in the 1st period in a game vs Merritt back on October 11th and left the game after the 1st period. The Vipers have only reported that Palaga is injured/out of the lineup with either a lower or upper body injury (Cant remember)
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