In Memory: Duncan Wray

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(Image: Vernon Vipers)

When news broke on Thursday about the passing of Vernon Vipers owner and BCHL Chairman of the Board Duncan Wray, tributes began to flood in from around the league from players and coaches to fellow owners and people around the hockey world.

I didn’t know Duncan really well, but I had interacted with him enough times to know what type of person he was. Although I was with the Centennials and Merritt radio station at the time, Duncan was always respectful and friendly. He exuded a passion for junior A hockey that very few have and his impact on the BCHL will reverberate for many years.

“We were shocked and saddened to receive word today about Duncan,” said BCHL commissioner John Grisdale in a release from the league. “He was the lifeblood of the Vipers franchise for a very long time and he leaves a huge void in our league and in our hearts.”

“We had the same type of attitude and mentality towards the game,” West Kelowna Warriors owner Mark Cheyne told Castanet News. “Our goals were very similar, that’s why we became pretty good friends away from the game.”

Salmon Arm Silverbacks President Troy Mick shared his thoughts on Wray with Roger Knox of the Salmon Arm Observer. “This is the saddest day of my life. Part of my heart feels ripped out. I haven’t stopped crying since this morning. He was an unbelievable owner. He never had a hidden agenda. He wanted the kids to play hockey and get an education. That’s all he wanted. He wasn’t in it for the money and for a guy who never played the game, he had so much love for it.”

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Merritt Centennials – Eligible Returnees and Graduating Players:

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The Cents will have last year’s leading scorer Zach Risteau back in 2017-18.
The 19-year-old from Lakeville, Minnesota had 26-24-50 in 53 games with the Centennials as a rookie in 2016-17.
Photo credit: Ian Webster/Merritt Herald


Graduating Players
Zach Court (University of Nebraska-Omaha)
Cade Gleekel (St. Lawrence University)
Brett Jewell (Yale University)
Michael Regush (Cornell University)
Mike Faulkner (Hobart College)
Aaron Murray (Concordia University Wisconsin)
Stephan Seeger (aged out)
Nick Fidanza (aged out)

Eligible Returnees
(* indicates an open spot – assuming the team goes with 13 forwards and 8 defencemen)

Forwards
Chase Bell (97)
Henry Cleghorn (97)
Zach Zorn (97)
Zach Risteau (98)
Nicholas Wicks (98)
Tyler Ward (99)
Rylan Van Unen (99)
*
*
*
*
*
*

Defensemen
Tyrell Buckley (97)
Zach Bleuler (97)
Zach Metsa (98)
Ethan King (99)
Michael Van Unen (99)
*
*
*

Goaltenders
Jacob Berger (97)
Colten Lancaster (98)

Langley Rivermen – Eligible Returnees and Graduating Players:

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20-year-old Ryan Barrow of Banff led Langley in scoring in 2016-17 with 68 points in 51 games.
He’s off to the University of Denver in September 2017.
Photo credit: Garrett James (http://garrettjamesphoto.photoshelter.com/index)

Graduating Players

Ryan Barrow (University of Denver)
Frank Boie (College of the Holy Cross)
Andrew Dumaresque (College of the Holy Cross)
Bo Didur (Penn State University)
Cameron Ginnetti (Clarkson University)
Max Kaufman (University of Vermont)
Gavin Payne (Rochester Polytechnic University)
Reid Yochim (Princeton University)
Zac Masson (aged out)
Cooper Leitch (aged out)

Eligible Returnees
(* indicates an open spot – assuming the team goes with 13 forwards and 8 defencemen)

Forwards
Satchel Clendenin (97)
Eric Butte (97)
Nicholas Ponak (97)
Baylee Wright (98)
Angus Crookshank (99)
Sean Gulka (00)
Brendan Budy (00)
*
*
*
*
*
*

Defencemen
McKay Flanagan (97)
John Schuldt (97)
Spencer Berry (98)
Jake Livingstone (99)
*
*
*
*

Goaltenders
Braedon Fleming (99)
*

Cowichan Capitals – Eligible Returnees and Graduating Players:

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Cowichan alternate captain Max Newton is a veteran of 153 BCHL games. 
The Grand Forks Border Bruins alumni led the Caps with 59 points in 58 games. 
Photo credit: Garrett James (http://garrettjamesphoto.photoshelter.com/index)
Graduating Players
Mitch Skapski (aged out)
Ayden MacDonald (aged out)
Ben Verrall (aged out)
Josh Owings (aged out)
Lane Michasiw (aged out)
Chris Harpur (Niagara University)

Eligible Returnees
(* indicates an open spot – assuming the team goes with 13 forwards and 8 defencemen)

Only counting eligible returnees, the Capitals are currently one over the limit of six 1997-born players for 2017-18.

Forwards
Rhett Kingston (97)
Max Newton (97)
Michael Montambault (97)
George Sennott (97)
Haydn Hopkins (97)
Jared Domin (97)
Ty Pochipinski (98)
Justin Perron (98)
John Sladic (98)
Nicholas Wilson (99)
Alex Zawatsky (99)
*
*

Defencemen
Simon Chen (97)
Nii Noi Tetteh (98)
Marshall Skapski (98)
Sean Driscoll (98)
Ben Grist (99)
*
*
*

Goaltenders
Adam Marcoux (98)
*

Coquitlam Express – Eligible Returnees and Graduating Players:

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Coquitlam captain Luca Leone is a veteran of 112 BCHL games and 70 WHL games.
He led the Express with 36 points in 49 games.
Photo credit: Damon James (http://garrettjamesphoto.photoshelter.com/index)

Graduating Players
Luca Leone (aged out)
Erik Udahl (aged out)
Cameron Bertsch (aged out)
Lawson Fenton (aged out)
David Giunta (Bentley University)
Mitchell Newsome (Michigan Tech University)
Owen Stout (Rochester Polytechnic Institute)

Eligible Returnees
(* indicates an open spot – assuming the team goes with 13 forwards and 8 defencemen)

The Express have nine eligible returning defencemen, so it is technically at one player over the 23-man roster limit at this point.

Forwards
Alex Ambrosio (97)
Hayden Knight (97)
Cal Babych (97)
William Lawrence (97)
Keegan Jones (97)
Jonathan Irving (97)
Sam Kozlowski (98)
Blake Hayward (98)
Christian Bosa (98)
Callum Cusinato (98)
Jake Toor (99)
*
*

Defencemen
Jake Brien (97)
Brandon Kennedy (97)
Domenic Masellis (97)
Cal Walker (97)
Troy Robillard (98)
Noah Turanski (98)
Devin Mussio (99)
Jordan Schulting (99)
Michael Sande (99)

Goaltenders
Reid Cooper (98)
*

Alberni Valley Bulldogs – Eligible Returnees and Graduating Players:

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Trevor Cosgrove led the Bulldogs in scoring in 2016-17 with 49 points, he’s committed to Colgate University.
With the 2016-17 BCHL season officially done for three of the circuits’s 17 teams, anticipation is building for next season already.

With future considerations from this season’s trades potentially turning into players for next season, recruiting, and players moving on due to age or college commitments, there’s no shortage of work to be done before the 2017-18 season starts in September at the 6th Annual BCHL Showcase in Chilliwack.

I’ll break down what all 17 teams are looking at roster-wise heading into the off-season. These numbers will likely change as players look to move to other leagues like the WHL, USHL, NAHL, are included in trades, retire, or wind up committing to post-secondary institutions before September and don’t return to their BCHL clubs.

The depth chart is based on coaches going with a 23-man roster of 13 forwards, 8 defensemen and 2 goaltenders.

So let’s start alphabetically, with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs:

Graduating Players
Jake Witkowski (aged out)
Nicholas Rasovic (aged out)
Paul Savage (aged out)
Malik Kaila (aged out)
Brody Claeys (aged out)
Trevor Cosgrove (Colgate University)
Henry Marshall (Colgate University)
Darren Rizzolo (Northeastern University)

Eligible Returnees
(* indicates an open spot – assuming the team goes with 13 forwards and 8 defencemen)

Forwards
Keith Anderson (97)
Tristan Bukovec (97)
Alex Macdonald (97)
Ryan Steele (97)
Spencer Hunter (98)
Jordan Sandhu (99)
Braydon Nelson (99)
Kyle Kaufmann (99)
Cayden Kraus (99)
Mackenzie Wight (99)
*
*
*

Defencemen
Cameron Kuhl (97)
Connor Welsh (97)
Cole Slaney (98)
Jake Wilhelm (99)
*
*
*
*

Goaltenders
Carson Schamerhorn (97)
*

2017 Roster Deadline Coverage:

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The Canadian Junior Hockey League and BC Hockey League trade/roster deadline arrives today at 6 pm PST for transactions between teams in different leagues (i.e. BCHL to MJHL) and at 8 pm PST for moves made within the BCHL. The deadline for teams to have their roster completely set is 11:59 pm PST.

For the most current confirmed transactions, follow me on Twitter at @Brian_Wiebe.

I’ll have a full breakdown of all roster moves here on the blog tomorrow.

PG loses Wornig to injury and signs Anagnostopoulos, Powell River releases Raffler to junior B:

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Photo credit: Prince George Spruce Kings/EnsLens Photography













The Prince George Spruce Kings were faced to make a move in goal with word that veteran Stefan Wornig is out for the season with muscle cramps. Wornig hasn’t played a game for PG since the beginning of November after amassing a 6-6-2 record with a 2.76 GAA, a .908 save percentage and one shutout this season.

The 19-year-old from Surrey, BC came to the Spruce Kings in the off-season after two years with Powell River. His BCHL career record is 17-28-2 with a 3.22 GAA, a .905 save percentage, and two shutouts. Wornig has been placed on long-term injury reserve by Prince George.

Photo credit: Kamloops This Week

















To fill the void left by Wornig’s absence, the Spruce Kings have signed Aris Anagnostopoulos from the junior B Kamloops Storm. The 18-year-old was an affiliate player for PG this season, playing 9:04 in a game against Salmon Arm on November 26th. He made five saves and didn’t give up a goal. This season in the KIJHL, the Kelowna, BC product is 7-7-1 with a 2.63 GAA and a .916 save percentage along with two shutouts.

Photo credit: Ben Raffler/Twitter


















Powell River has released defenceman Ben Raffler after acquiring Matthew Cairns via trade from Georgetown of the Ontario Junior Hockey League. 

The 18-year-old Raffler skated in 18 games with the Kings this season, putting up three assists. The Burnaby, BC product had his junior B rights traded from Comox Valley to Campbell River in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League in November, and he’ll join the Storm now after being released by Powell River.

Photo credit: Keystone/TI-Press/Gabriele Putzu


















Forward Andrew Ebbett (Salmon Arm, 2001-02) has signed a two-year contract extension with Bern of the Swiss League. The Vernon, BC native has 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 18 games with Bern this season, his second with the club. He recently tallied eight points (four goals, four assists) for Team Canada as it captured the 90th Spengler Cup. The 34-year-old is a veteran of 224 career NHL games with Anaheim, Chicago, Minnesota, Phoenix, Vancouver, and Pittsburgh.

Photo credit: Vancouver Canucks/Facebook













Goaltender Michael Garteig (Quesnel AP/Powell River/Penticton, 2008-12) is on his way back to the ECHL after being assigned to the Alaska Aces by the AHL’s Utica Comets. In four games for the Comets this season, the Prince George, BC product has a record of 0-1-1, a goals against average of 2.85, and a save percentage of .907. The 25-year-old has played eight games this season for the Aces, with a record of 7-1-0, a 2.35 goals against average and a .926 save percentage.

Penticton picks up WHL veteran Taylor Sanheim, Powell River acquires NHL draft pick Matthew Cairns:

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Penticton added a veteran forward to its ranks today with the acquisition of forward Taylor Sanheim.

The Vees picked up the junior A rights to the 20-year-old from the Portage Terriers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League for Ty Barnstable and future considerations.

Sanheim is from Elkhorn, MB and played 132 games in the Western Hockey League with the Calgary Hitmen, posting 12 goals and 39 assists, a +7 rating, along with 202 penalty minutes. He added a goal and six assists in 22 career WHL playoff games with the Hitmen. Calgary released Sanheim in early December.

Barnstable had four goals and five assists in 34 games with Penticton this season. The 18-year-old is a native of Regina.

The Vees were one over the allowed roster limit of 22 with the addition of Sanheim, so they released 20-year-old defenceman Gabe Bast. Per Penticton’s announcement on the move, the blueliner will sign with the junior B Surrey Knights of the Pacific Junior Hockey League. Bast has only played six games in 2016-17 due to injuries.

As an affiliate player, Bast will be eligible to play ten games with Penticton. Once Surrey’s season is over, he can affiliate an unlimited number of times with the Vees, as long as they don’t have more than six 20-year-old players dressed for any game.



Powell River added an NHL prospect to its roster today, picking up defenceman Matthew Cairns from the US Hockey League’s Fargo Force. 


To sign Cairns, the Kings acquired his Canadian junior A rights from the Georgetown Raiders of the Ontario Junior Hockey League. The 18-year-old was chosen by the Edmonton Oilers in the 3rd round, 84th overall in last year’s NHL Entry Draft. He’s committed to Cornell University starting this September.

The Mississauga, ON product had four assists in 17 games with Fargo this season. He posted nine goals and 24 assists in 46 games with Georgetown in 2015-16, plus three goals and 16 assists in 22 OJHL playoff games.

The move puts Powell River over the BCHL roster limit by one, so there should be a corresponding move by the Kings coming soon.











Here’s a list of trades since the December 1st roster deadline:

01-Jan-17: Powell River acquires D Matthew Cairns (98) for future considerations

01-Jan-17: Penticton trades F Ty Barnstable (98) to Portage (MJHL) for F Taylor Sanheim (96) and future considerations

18-Dec-16: Chilliwack trades D Austin Chorney (00) to Salmon Arm for future considerations

3-Dec-16: Surrey trades F Logan Mostat (97) and future considerations to West Kelowna for G Keelan Williams (96)

2-Dec-16: Nanaimo trades F Tate Coughlin (97) to Camrose (AJHL) for future considerations

2-Dec-16: Merritt trades D Marshall Skapski (98) to Cowichan Valley for future considerations

1-Dec-16: Powell River trades F Lucas Fraulin (98) to Melfort (SJHL) for future considerations

—

BCHL TRADE TRACKER (since Dec. 1)
Trades Made: 7
Trades Made Within BCHL: 3
Trades Made With Teams Outside BC: 4
Players: 9
Future Considerations: 7
—
Forwards: 5
Defencemen: 3
Goaltenders: 1
—
1996-born: 2
1997-born: 2
1998-born: 4
1999-born: 0
2000-born: 1

Forward Casey Bailey (Alberni Valley, 2009-11) has been assigned by the Ottawa Senators to Binghamton of the AHL. The Anchorage native has 14 points (nine goals, five assists) in 28 games with the Baby Sens and no points in four games in the NHL this season.

BCHL Roster Numbers Heading into January 10th Roster Deadline:

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With the Hockey Canada roster deadline and BCHL transfer deadline just over a week away, I’ve calculated each BCHL team’s number of roster players, number of 20-year-olds (or 1996-born) and number of imports. 

These numbers may change in the next eight days, but this is where they stand right now. The Canadian Junior Hockey League had a transfer freeze which was lifted on January 1st.

Teams are allowed 22 players overall on their roster, of which no more than six can be 1996-born players and no more than six can be import players. Only American-born players are considered imports. 

Wenatchee has a completely different set of rules when it comes to what’s considered a domestic player and what’s an import. Players not considered imports for the Wild are those from Washington State, California, Colorado, and Missouri.

For teams with players on injured reserve, they are allowed to fill an injured player’s roster spot with another player, even it puts the team over the roster limit of 22.

This should show what some teams are able to add or subtract when the deadline arrives. All numbers for roster size, 20-year-olds and imports are calculated as currently shown on the BCHL website. As always, any corrections and comments are welcome.

Alberni Valley (11-18-5-2)
Number of players: 22
Number of players able to add: 0
Number of 20-year-olds: 4
Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 2
Number of imports: 5
Number of imports able to add: 1
Number of players on injured reserve: 0

Chilliwack (24-9-5-0)
Number of players: 21
Number of players able to add: 1
Number of 20-year-olds: 6
Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 0
Number of imports: 6
Number of imports able to add: 0
Number of players on injured reserve: 0

Coquitlam (6-29-1-2)
Number of players: 22
Number of players able to add: 0
Number of 20-year-olds: 4
Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 2
Number of imports: 2
Number of imports able to add: 4
Number of players on injured reserve: 2

Cowichan Valley (19-15-2-2)
Number of players: 23
Number of players able to add: 0
Number of 20-year-olds: 6
Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 0
Number of imports: 5
Number of imports able to add: 1
Number of players on injured reserve: 2

Langley (16-14-5-2)
Number of players: 22
Number of players able to add: 0
Number of 20-year-olds: 4
Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 2
Number of imports: 6
Number of imports able to add: 0
Number of players on injured reserve: 0

Merritt (13-15-7-2)
Number of players: 22
Number of players able to add: 0
Number of 20-year-olds: 6
Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 0
Number of imports: 6
Number of imports able to add: 0
Number of players on injured reserve: 1

Nanaimo (14-19-5-1)
Number of players: 21
Number of players able to add: 1
Number of 20-year-olds: 5
Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 1
Number of imports: 5
Number of imports able to add: 1
Number of players on injured reserve: 1

Penticton (29-6-1-0)
Number of players: 23
Number of players able to add: 0
Number of 20-year-olds: 6
Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 0
Number of imports: 5
Number of imports able to add: 1
Number of players on injured reserve: 1

Powell River (22-16-1-0)
Number of players: 22
Number of players able to add: 0
Number of 20-year-olds: 6
Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 0
Number of imports: 2
Number of imports able to add: 4
Number of players on injured reserve: 0

Prince George (18-14-2-2)
Number of players: 22
Number of players able to add: 0
Number of 20-year-olds: 5
Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 1
Number of imports: 5
Number of imports able to add: 1
Number of players on injured reserve: 0

Salmon Arm (15-20-2-1)
Number of players: 23
Number of players able to add: 0
Number of 20-year-olds: 6
Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 0
Number of imports: 5
Number of imports able to add: 1
Number of players on injured reserve: 1

Surrey (14-21-2-0)
Number of players: 22
Number of players able to add: 0
Number of 20-year-olds: 6
Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 0
Number of imports: 6
Number of imports able to add: 0
Number of players on injured reserve: 0

Trail (17-17-4-0)
Number of players: 23
Number of players able to add: 0
Number of 20-year-olds: 6
Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 0
Number of imports: 2
Number of imports able to add: 4
Number of players on injured reserve: 1

Vernon (20-13-3-2)
Number of players: 22
Number of players able to add: 0
Number of 20-year-olds: 6
Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 0
Number of imports: 5
Number of imports able to add: 1
Number of players on injured reserve: 0

Victoria (24-6-3-4)
Number of players: 22
Number of players able to add: 0
Number of 20-year-olds: 6
Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 0
Number of imports: 3
Number of imports able to add: 3
Number of players on injured reserve: 1

Wenatchee (28-6-4-0)
Number of players: 22
Number of players able to add: 0
Number of 20-year-olds: 6
Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 0
Number of imports: 6
Number of imports able to add: 0
Number of players on injured reserve: 0

West Kelowna (18-17-1-0)
Number of players: 20
Number of players able to add: 2
Number of 20-year-olds: 5
Number of 20-year-olds able to add: 1
Number of imports: 6
Number of imports able to add: 0

Here’s a list of trades since the December 1st roster deadline:

18-Dec-16: Chilliwack trades D Austin Chorney (00) to Salmon Arm for future considerations

3-Dec-16: Surrey trades F Logan Mostat (97) and future considerations to West Kelowna for G Keelan Williams (96)

2-Dec-16: Nanaimo trades F Tate Coughlin (97) to Camrose (AJHL) for future considerations

2-Dec-16: Merritt trades D Marshall Skapski (98) to Cowichan Valley for future considerations

1-Dec-16: Powell River trades F Lucas Fraulin (98) to Melfort (SJHL) for future considerations

BCHL TRADE TRACKER (since Dec. 1)
Trades Made: 5
Trades Made Within BCHL: 3
Trades Made With Teams Outside BC: 2
Players: 6
Future Considerations: 5
—
Forwards: 3
Defencemen: 2
Goaltenders: 1
—
1996-born: 1
1997-born: 2
1998-born: 2
1999-born: 0
2000-born: 1