BCHL Today: Rivermen officially opt out of season, Chiefs name leaders, and more

Langley passes on BCHL return to play plan

The Langley Rivermen are the second BC Hockey League team to voluntarily remove itself from participating in the 2020-21 season.

The Rivermen confirmed on Saturday they would opt out of the BCHL’s return-to-play plan.

Langley’s players are able to be loaned to any of the remaining 16 teams playing during the shortened season, which is set to start in early April following a two week quarantine period.

Chefs name leadership group ahead of season start

The Chilliwack Chiefs announced on Saturday the four players who will serve as captains for the upcoming 2020-21 season.

2000-born forward Kyle Penney is the captain, while 2001-born forwards Connor Milburn and Brett Rylance along with 2000-born defenseman Jackson Munro will each have an ‘A’ on their jersey this season.

Munro is entering his fourth BCHL season, but first with Chiefs. Rylance is going into his third season in Chilliwack while Penney and Milburn are each starting their sophomore campaigns.

Hollweg named head coach of North West Hawks

Ryan Hollweg (14 goals, 40 assists in 58 games with Langley in 1998-99) is the new head coach of the North West Hawks of the BC U18 AAA League.

The 37-year-old from Downey, California was hired as an associate coach by Coquitlam last August but ended up being let go by the Express earlier this month.

His hiring by the Hawks is a return to the organization as he was their associate coach from 2018-20.

Christopoulos released from tryout with Henderson Silver Knights

Goaltender Billy Christopoulos (22-22-0 with a 3.05 GAA, a .906 SV%, 3 SO in 46 games with Alberni Valley in 2014-15) has been released from his professional tryout with the Henderson Silver Knights of the American Hockey League.

The 27-year-old from Raleigh, North Carolina is 6-4 with a 2.13 goals-against-average, a .918 save percentage, and one shutout in 11 games with the Indy Fuel of the ECHL this season.