Monday, May 4, 2020

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:

Mahoney Commits To Nanaimo:

The Nanaimo Clippers continue their off-season recruiting, landing 2002 born forward Shaun Mahoney. This Québec native already has an NCAA Division 1 commitment with Cornell University, the #1 ranked program in the United States for the 2019-2020 season. Mahoney is now the 3rd Clipper from the Cornell University program to commit to playing for the Clippers in the upcoming season, showing that the Clippers will be a very strong contender for the league championship again. Mahony played for Stanstead College in the 2019-2020 season, a high level Canadian prep school. He was drafted 73rd overall in the 2018 Major Junior entry draft but has chosen college as his preferred route to fulfil his pro-aspirations. Previous to Stanstead College, Mahoney played in the Québec midget program. In his last year of midget, he accumulated 20 goals and 30 assists for 50 points in 42 games. In the 2017-2018 season, he was as key part of the silver medalists team for the Telus Cup, Canada’s national under-18 ice hockey championship. Coach Birkas, Associate Coach for the Clippers, was instrumental in bringing Mahoney to the program. He commented that “Shaun is a fast, highly skilled offensive forward who has the speed to dominate in the BCHL. He’s going to provide an offensive push that we sometimes lacked last year. I can’t say enough good things about Stanstead College’s development program so I’m very optimistic Shaun will be a big force on the team.” Darren Naylor, Head Coach and Vice President of the Clippers, stated; “With Shaun, we have acquired a smart play making forward with a high offensive IQ. Shaun was acquired as we feel he’s going to boost our offensive output this year and be a key part of our team. I’m very pleased with this recruit.”

Salmon Arm Silverbacks: Graduating Players And Eligible Returnees:

After a season which saw them change coaches just before the calendar turned to 2020, the Salmon Arm Silverbacks were awaiting a second-round match-up with the Trail Smoke Eaters when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the season. The Backs were one of the rare teams whose leading scorer was a defenseman after Akito Hirose put up 51 points in 57 games. He’s off to college this fall but Salmon Arm general manager Brooks Christensen and head coach Tyler Shattock have some solid pieces to build upon going forward. Returning up front is Noah Wakeford, who was second in scoring behind Hirose with 18 goals and 50 points in 58 games. After Wakeford, there is a bit of a drop off in point production, but rookies Drew Bennett and Coalson Wolford had solid performances in their first BCHL seasons with 28 and 21 points respectively. Simon Tassy and his ten goals are set to return as well. On defense, no one will replace Hirose, but Hunter Sansbury and his 24 points as a rookie is encouraging. He had 15 power play points, including all three of his goals. In total, four defensemen are eligible to return, so having that amount of experience on the back end should benefit. The Silverbacks will start from scratch between the pipes as both Ethan Langenegger and Grant Adams are off to school this fall. The depth chart is based on coaches going with a 23-man roster of 13 forwards, eight defensemen and two goaltenders.

*All college commitment years are collated from each player’s profile on the Silverbacks roster on the BCHL website.

Graduating Players

Luke Mylymok (University of Minnesota-Duluth)
Nick Unruh (Dartmouth College)
Daniel Rybarik (University of Alaska-Anchorage)
Jeremy Gervais (Lake Superior State University)
Antonio Andreozzi (Brown University)
Akito Hirose (Minnesota State University, Mankato)
Ethan Langenegger (Lake Superior State University)
Grant Adams (St. Lawrence University)
William Poirier (aged out)
Lucas Breault (aged out)

Eligible Returnees

(* indicates an open spot – assuming the team goes with 13 forwards and eight defencemen)

Forwards

Nick Martino (00)
Logan Shaw (00)
Noah Wakeford (00)
Drew Bennett (00)
Simon Tassy (01)
Coalson Wolford (01)
Jarrod Semchuk (02)
Sam Schofield (02)
*
*
*
*
*

Defensemen

Hunter Sansbury (00)
Devan Newhook (00)
Kieran Ruscheinski (01)
Zach Gabruch (01)
*
*
*
*

Goaltenders

*
*

Centennials Will Make It Through These Tough Times:

Some junior hockey teams in Canada will have to battle to survive through this COVID-19 pandemic and the related shutdowns of their respective leagues. The BC Hockey League (BCHL) is no different with Commissioner Chris Hebb saying the league and some teams may be in trouble moving forward due to a loss in revenue. It’s as the league is asking for government funding to help offset major losses for its 18 teams. In Merritt, the Centennials just keep on surviving despite tough times in the past, present, and the uncertain future that lies ahead. Speaking to NL Sports, Governor Neil Menard says the team will make it through these tough times as well. “There is enough support here in the city that if things got tough, our citizens would step forward and make sure that we are around,” he said. “You know this will be our 48th season, we’re coming close to the 50th season. “I think we’ll be okay and I think we’ll have the necessary support when the time comes.” Menard says Merritt is a strong community that loves its local hockey team. “We think our sponsors are going to stay. On the game, we’re working hard and trying to get more bums in the seats,” added Menard. “We haven’t been forcing our season tickets because we don’t know what’s happening, but the sponsorship I think has been good here in the city and I hope that they will continue to support us.” The Centennials have had to cancel one spring camp already, and Menard knows it will be tough to host a camp in the fall – both of which are revenue generators for the hockey team. As it stands, none of the BCHL’s 18 teams have given word that they will not be participating in the 2020/21 season, if its given the go-ahead by Hockey Canada.

Looking Back At Vees Forward David Silye:

With the 2019/20 season coming to a close, we will take a look at each of the six 20-year-olds on the Vees roster and look back on their junior hockey careers. Our final article takes a look at the Captain, David Silye. The end of the 2018/19 season left a sour taste in the mouth of forward David Silye, as it did for each of the returning Vees in the following campaign. When it came to time for players to head back to their respective hometowns, Silye remembers the conversations leading to his appointment as the team’s Captain for the 2019/20 season, “I think the conversation between Fred and I really started at the end of the season in my exit interview,” Silye said, “We both didn’t like the way the season ended and we were both on the same page from that day on with how the summer would look and some of the differences on what to do from last season to this season.” “I didn’t really find out I was going to wear the ‘C’ until training camp,” continued Silye, “Coming in and earning that spot, it was a really good feeling. I’m honoured to have been the captain of this team and join a long list of players who have done a lot of great things.” With a bit of a weight on his left chest, the Arnprior, Ontario native went to work on his second season with the Vees and his team started the best way they could have imagined, beginning with an unbeaten preseason record including a pair of victories against the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Brooks Bandits. As has been a theme amongst the players looking back on the season, those two games against their Alberta foes paved the way for a competitive end to the exhibition season. “I think if you ask any guy that took part in those games, they will tell you it felt like a playoff game,” mentioned Silye, “I think that’s exactly what we needed to get ready for the season and get into that mindset to be game ready. Those first couple of games to begin the season are always the toughest and you never know how they are going to go but I think those games against Brooks really helped prepare us for the regular season.” The new season kicked off with a budding rivalry as the Vees travelled to the West Kootenays to take on the Trail Smoke Eaters. Two teams that recruited very well in the offseason led to a hyped open weekend of the BCHL season, where Penticton went on to outscore Trail by an 11-2 margin in the two contests against teams that would finish 1-2, respectively, in the Interior Division, “After the Brooks series, we were ready to go,” explained Silye, “Especially with the rivalry between us and Trail, we had some confidence in winning those games and it helped us out all year. We had a winning record against Trail and I thought we outplayed them every time we faced off against each other and that was big for us.” The two wins to begin the season kicked off a stretch of 11 victories in a row for the Vees and one that did not see the team trail much during that time, “There was a game against Prince George where we battled from behind and got a win but we felt good about our game and just had different guys step up every night and that was the story all season,” commented Silye, “We had five 20-goal scorers and it just shows you how spread out our offense was while still having guys produce a high-level of points.” It didn’t take long for the captain to realize the Vees had something special going this season, “At the beginning of the year, when we beat Brooks, it was kind of that moment where I thought we had something going,” stated Silye, “Whether we were down or up in games, we were always fighting for each other and sticking up for one another and that’s when you felt we were a real close team when everyone wanted to help in every way they could.” Penticton only faltered three times from January to the end of the season with pressing the ‘reset’ button at the holiday break being a big contributor, “It’s kind of nice to have that little break,” said Silye, “Guys are starting to miss their family and with the trade deadline coming up, I think it had guys worried here and there but as soon as we came back from the break, we had our team and we just ran with it. Everyone bought into the system and played playoff hockey and because of that, we had a real strong finish to the season.” As part of the leadership group, welcoming new players into the locker room was part of the job description for Silye, who felt the right kind of players were brought in at the right time, “I think it was all in the kind of guys were brought in and Fred was able to get character guys,” commented Silye, “The guys we brought in had experience, whether it be at this level or in major junior, and they were veterans and knew how to carry themselves. They made it easy on us to help them feel welcome and I think the boys did a great job in making everyone who came in the locker room feel welcome as well.” No one expected the season to end on Carson Kosobud’s overtime winning, series-clinching goal against the West Kelowna Warriors in Game #5 of the Interior Division Quarter Finals but for Silye, who was injured for the bulk of the series, sitting on the bench for his first career playoff series win was a moment that will always stick out. “Fred giving me the chance to just be on the bench and with the way we won the game, it kind of just summarized it all,” said Silye, who turned 21-years-old two days prior to the Vees concluding the series, “Winning my first playoff series in four years and coming from behind to win in overtime is a one of the biggest memories I am going to take away from my junior hockey career.” The memories are a plentiful for a four-year BCHL veteran like Silye, who spent the first two seasons of his career in Nanaimo with the Clippers before making his way to the Peach City and there will be things that he will miss about the city, “I think just everything about Penticton, it’s a special hockey town,” mentioned Silye, “The facilities are top notch and every person they bring in is a high quality person and it makes coming to the rink every day that much better. Whether you need help with schooling or some work with physio, they have all the tools to help you and I think Graham and Sue Fraser do a great job in giving a lot to the team and the community and it’s one of the best spots to play in.” After a junior hockey career of 247 games, split between regular season and playoff action, Silye is ready to usher in a new chapter in his life, that of a college hockey player where he will head to Clarkson University in the fall, “When I was 17, I wanted to be in college so I’m pretty excited and anxious to get out there,” said Silye, “It’s been something I have been looking forward to for the last four years and I’m really excited to get things going with them and I will be ready whenever I get the chance to play.” The Vees would like to thank David for everything he contributed over the past two seasons to the organization and the City of Penticton and wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavours!

NHL 20 Playoff Simulation: Caps vs. Express

We kick off Round 3 of our NHL 20 simulations with Nolan Barrett of the Cowichan Valley Capitals taking on Joe Howe and the Coquitlam Express for a spot in the Fred Page Cup Finals! This simulation is powered by Shaw.


Preston Commits To Merritt:

The Merritt Centennials are proud to announce they’ve committed to Forward Carson Preston (01) of the Aldergrove Kodiaks (PJHL). The Langley, BC native is another player who relies on speed, skill, work ethic, and compete as he comes in at 5’7″ and 160 pounds. Preston started off the 2019-20 campaign with a very strong Revelstoke Grizzlies (KIJHL) club that had a strong nucleus of returning players from their Cyclone Taylor Cup championship. In a limited role, Preston put up 4 points in 13 games before making the move to the Aldergrove Kodiaks of the PJHL. After joining the Kodiaks, and getting more of an opportunity on the depth chart, Preston’s numbers sky rocketed where he put up 15 goals and 10 assists for 25 points in 21 games. Preston also was a huge factor in the abbreviated playoff run for the Kodiaks putting up 7 goals and 6 assists in 9 games on the teams march to the PJHL Championship series against the North Vancouver Wolf Pack before the season was cancelled due to Covid-19.  Fans will also remember Preston from the exhibition season last year, where provided some offense before being one of the final cuts. Preston says that playing for the Centennials and in the BCHL has always been a dream of his. “It’s always been my goal to play in the BCHL. Growing up I’ve spent my summers at Nicola Lake and Merritt has become a second home to me in the off-season, I can’t wait to make it my home during the season. I went to main camp last year and everybody in the organization and in the community was great to me.” Director of Hockey Operations John Stuart says that Preston is a player he’s followed for a long time, and knows he will fit the Centennials core beliefs.“Carson is a player I have known and followed for 10 years. I know his character, his work ethic, and his values and that he will bring them day in and day out to the Merritt Centennials. Carson is a student of the game and is constantly striving to learn and develop. He’s a team first player that is happier for team success than his own. This past season Carson showed he has great leadership, talent, work ethic and above all that he’s a good teammate. He is exactly the type of player the Merritt Centennials are looking for moving forward.” Preston says that he brings a number of tools to the table, but a few stand out above the rest. “I plan on using my speed, offensive skill, and tenacity to help the Cents however I can.” Over the off-season Preston plans to put the work in to be ready to join the Cents. “I will be working a lot on my speed, and spending a lot of time in the gym working on my size and strength.” The Centennials would like to welcome Carson and his family to the Nicola Valley and the community, and look forward to seeing him on the ice next season.

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