BCHL Today: Coquitlam and Alberni Valley add new recruits for 2021-22, Cranbrook loses a pair of players to the NCDC, and more

 

Express bring in Coghlan for next season

The Coquitlam Express announced the addition of 2003-born defenseman Ben Coghlan for the 2021-22 BC Hockey League season.

Coghlan, who’s from Nanaimo, has a goal and four assists in eight games this season with the Campbell River Storm of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.

His cousin Ryan played 21 games for the Express in 2015-16 as part of his four seasons of junior hockey split between the BCHL and Western Hockey League.

Bulldogs add McIsaac and Merritt for 2021-22

The Cariboo Cougars U18 AAA announced on Tuesday that 2003-born forward Jaydon Merritt and 2004-born forward Brady McIsaac have committed to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs for next season.

Merritt is from Prince George and had 10 goals and 12 assists in 40 games for the Cougars in 2019-20.

McIsaac, who’s also from Prince George, spent last season with the Cougars U16 AAA team and posted 24 goals and 19 assists in 30 games.

Bucks lose two players to the NCDC

2001-born forward Brooks Gammill and 2002-born defenseman Jason Marsella are gone from the Cranbrook Bucks to join the Connecticut Junior Rangers of the National Collegiate Development Conference. Both players are committed to Yale University for this fall.

Gammill was named Bucks captain in November after putting up four goals and seven assists in eight games during the BCHL’s training season. The New Canaan, Connecticut native has a goal and three assists in three games thus far with the Jr. Rangers.

Marsella hails from Greenwich, Connecticut, and didn’t play any games for Cranbrook after being signed on Nov. 24. He did notch one goal in seven pre-season games with Penticton before being released by the Vees on Nov. 21.

He is also a C-rated prospect on NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary players to watch list for the 2021 NHL Draft. Marsella is scoreless in three games with the Jr. Rangers this season.

Ghantous earns WCHA forward of the week award

Northern Michigan University forward Andre Ghantous (38 goals, 79 assists in 153 games with Trail and Penticton) was named WCHA forward of the week on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old Glendale, California product had a goal and four assists in a pair of NMU wins over Bemidji State University.

Poisson named Hockey East rookie of the week

Providence College forward Nicholas Poisson (35 goals, 42 assists in 107 games with Prince George from 2018-20) is the Hockey East rookie of the week after putting up a pair of assists in a 4-0 win over UConn on Friday.

Poisson, 19, has 10 points in 18 games as a freshman with the Friars this season.

 

Fairbrother named Silvertips co-captain

2000-born defenseman Gianni Fairbrother (three goals, two assists in eight games with Nanaimo in the 2020-21 training season) was named a co-captain for the Everett Silvertips of the WHL on Tuesday.

Fairbrother is from North Vancouver, BC, and has 66 points in 137 career WHL games with the Silvertips.

He signed an amateur tryout with the American Hockey League’s Laval Rocket last month and attended training camp with the team.

Sabres send Fogarty to their taxi squad

Forward Steven Fogarty (33 goals, 48 assists in 60 games for Penticton in 2011-12) was loaned to the Buffalo Sabres taxi squad on Tuesday.

Fogarty, who’s from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and in his fifth professional season, has a goal in three games as captain of the Americans this season. He was scoreless in one game with the Sabres as well.

Redmond loaned to Toronto Marlies of the AHL

Goaltender Angus Redmond (59-61-0, 2.94 GAA, .906 SV%, 8 SO in 132 games with Salmon Arm from 2013-16) has been loaned by the Kansas City Mavericks of the ECHL to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.

Redmond, a 25-year-old from Langley, is 2-0 with a 2.00 goals-against-average and a .923 save percentage.

He played 20 ECHL games for the Newfoundland Growlers in 2019-20 and finished with a 16-2-0 record along with a 2.55 goals-against-average and a .907 save percentage.

LaFontaine named Big Ten first star of the week

University of Minnesota goaltender Jack LaFontaine (30-13-1, 2.19 GAA, .923 SV%, and 3 shutouts in 45 games with Penticton in 2018-19) was named Big Ten first star of the week for the week ending on Feb. 14.

The Mississauga, Ontario product made 52 saves in a pair of 3-0 shutouts over the University of Notre Dame over the weekend.

McClure inks ECHL pact with Florida Everblades

Forward Brad McClure (69 goals, 57 assists in 111 games with Penticton from 2012-14) has signed with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL.

The 27-year-old from Stratford, Ontario spent the 2019-20 season with the Texas Stars of the AHL and had 13 points in 49 games.

Pelino joins Swedish club Sollentuna HC

Goaltender Aidan Pelino (40-23-3, 2.84 goals-against-average, .902 save percentage, two shutouts in 72 games with Chilliwack from 2014-16) has signed a contract with Sollentuna HC of HockeyEttan, which is the second-highest level of hockey in Sweden.

Pelino, a 25-year-old from Oakville, Ontario, was 2-4 with a 3.92 goals-against-average and a .871 save percentage in six games with Finnish club RoKi this season. RoKi plays in Mestis, the second tier of pro hockey in Finland.