BCEHL WEEKEND UPDATE - JANUARY 13-15

For Immediate Release

January 11, 2023

Saanichton, B.C. - This weekend's BCEHL action features a meeting between the U18 league's top two teams as the first-place Greater Vancouver Canadians take on the Okanagan Rockets in Richmond. Let's take a look at what else is going on around the BCEHL!

Female U18 AAA

After a successful showcase at the Richmond Olympic Oval last weekend, the Female U18 league features a single weekend series. After a 4-1 victory over the Northern Capitals at the showcase on January 6th, the Fraser Valley Rush travel to Prince George to meet the Capitals for three games. Fraser Valley remains undefeated on the year (21-0-0-0) after they earned victories in all four of their games at last weekend's showcase. The Rush were stellar defensively as they only allowed three goals over the entire weekend. On the offensive side of the puck, forward Hannah Dods put up six points (4g-2a) over the weekend, including at least one point in each of her four games. Overall, Dods is in the midst of a seven-game point streak, where she has recorded 10 points (6g-4a). The Capitals split their four games at the showcase, but had a strong finish as they picked up victories in their final two games. Camryn Ward contributed points in all four of the Capitals’ games over the weekend, registering five points in total (2g-3a). The forward is currently on a six-game point streak, where she has picked up seven points (3g-4a). 

Friday’s Female U18 Game

Fraser Valley Rush @ Northern Capitals – 3:45 p.m. – Kin Centre

Saturday’s Female U18 Game

Fraser Valley Rush @ Northern Capitals – 2:00 p.m. – CN Centre

Sunday’s Female U18 Game

Fraser Valley Rush @ Northern Capitals – 2:30 p.m. – CN Centre

Watch All Female U18 Games Live Here

U18 AAA

A matchup between the top two teams takes place in Richmond as the first-place Greater Vancouver Canadians (19-3-1-1) and the second-place Okanagan Rockets (18-3-0-1) battle for positioning in the standings. The two teams split their previous two meetings earlier this season on October 22nd-23rd. Game one saw the Rockets earn a 3-1 victory with goals from Erik Pastro, Hunter Laing and Aiden Bruce. A pair of goals from Jonathan Clasby helped the Canadians answer back in game two with a 2-1 victory. Four of the league’s top 10 scorers will be on display as Okanagan’s Erik Pastro is tied for the league lead in scoring with 41 points (19g-22a), while Greater Vancouver’s Jordan Luk (5g-30a), Jamie Hikida (16g-18a) and Tyler Tse (17g-16a) also rank inside the top 10.

The third-place Vancouver NW Hawks (15-7-2-0) travel to Prince George to take on the seventh-place Cariboo Cougars (7-12-1-0). The Cougars will look to continue their success against the Hawks this season as they claimed a 6-2 victory on October 22nd and a 3-3 tie on October 23rd. A trio of Cariboo forwards led the way offensively as Ryan Toor (3g-1a), Isaiah Bagri (1g-3a) and Parker White (0g-4a) each picked up four points against the Hawks. Winners of three of their last four, the Hawks goaltending has stood strong, allowing only four goals during that span. In their most recent action against the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds on January 8th, Joshua Ravensbergen picked up his second shutout of the season in a 1-0 victory. Ravensbergen leads all U18 goaltenders in a multitude of categories, including wins (12) and goals against average (1.74). 

In Abbotsford, the sixth-place Fraser Valley Thunderbirds (12-11-0-0) welcome the ninth-place North Island Silvertips (0-21-0-1) for a weekend series. Thunderbirds' forward Tyler Pretty has collected five points (3g-2a) over his last three games. On the season, Fraser Valley forward Brendan Ruskowski’s 36 points (11g-25a) leads the team and sits fourth among all U18 skaters.

Saturday’s U18 Games

North Island Silvertips @ Fraser Valley Thunderbirds – 2:30 p.m. – Abbotsford Centre

Okanagan Rockets @ Greater Vancouver Canadians – 2:30 p.m. – Richmond Olympic Oval

Vancouver NW Hawks @ Cariboo Cougars – 6:30 p.m. – Kin Centre

Sunday’s U18 Games

Vancouver NW Hawks @ Cariboo Cougars – 11:00 a.m. – Kin Centre

Okanagan Rockets @ Greater Vancouver Canadians – 11:15 a.m. – Richmond Olympic Oval

North Island Silvertips @ Fraser Valley Thunderbirds – 12:45 p.m. – Abbotsford Centre 

Watch All U18 Games Live Here

U17 AAA

In a home-and-home series, the fourth-place Okanagan Rockets (15-8-2-0) meet the eighth-place Thompson Blazers (8-14-0-0). In their most recent action, the Blazers’ split a weekend series against the Greater Vancouver Canadians. Blazers’ forwards Owen Dewitt (1g-3a) and Noah Paulsen (3g-1a) each picked up four points in their two games last weekend. The pair lead the Blazers in scoring as Dewitt has 33 points (13g-20a) on the season, while Paulsen has totaled 28 points (16g-12a). In their return from the holiday break, Okanagan split their weekend series against the Cariboo Cougars. Rockets’ forward Clayton Gillmore picked up a pair of goals over the weekend, while goaltender Ethan Sawyer made 37 saves in a 2-1 victory.

Winners of two of their last three games, the sixth-place Greater Vancouver Canadians (13-9-1-1) meet the ninth-place Vancouver NE Chiefs (6-13-2-2) for a pair of games at Scotia Barn. Having met previously on October 23rd, Greater Vancouver had five different goal scorers (Miller Bruckshaw, Cody Matsuo, Maxfeld Shin, Kendric Liu, Luca Rizzardo) in a 5-2 victory. Canadians’ forward Massimo Ardizzoni is currently on a three-game point streak, where he has collected four points (2g-2a). The Chiefs started the new year off on the right foot, as successful offensive weekends from Agam Rawan (3g-3a) and Maximillian Aysslinger helped the Chiefs earn a pair of victories.  

Saturday’s U17 Games

Cariboo Cougars @ Fraser Valley Thunderbirds – 11:45 a.m. – Abbotsford Centre

Thompson Blazers @ Okanagan Rockets – 3:00 p.m. – Capital News Centre

South Island Royals @ North Island Silvertips – 3:05 p.m. – Fuller Lake Arena

Greater Vancouver Canadians @ Vancouver NE Chiefs – 3:30 p.m. – Scotia Barn

Valley West Giants @ Vancouver NW Hawks – 8:45 p.m. – Hollyburn Country Club

Sunday’s U17 Games

North Island Silvertips @ South Island Royals – 8:30 a.m. – Juan de Fuca Arena

Cariboo Cougars @ Fraser Valley Thunderbirds – 10:00 a.m. – Abbotsford Centre

Vancouver NE Chiefs @ Greater Vancouver Canadians – 10:45 a.m. – Scotia Barn

Okanagan Rockets @ Thompson Blazers – 3:00 p.m. – Sandman Centre 

Watch All U17 Games Live Here

U15 AAA

Up north, the third-place Vancouver NE Chiefs (13-4-0-0) meet the fifth-place Cariboo Cougars (10-7-3-0) for a weekend series in Prince George. The Chiefs earned a pair of victories last weekend, and have won seven straight games. Multi-goal weekends by a trio of forwards played a hand in the Chiefs’ victories as Nathan Ramos, Rylan Osmack and Charles Robinson each recorded a pair of goals. Over the seven-game streak, both goaltenders have made an impact as Maverick Bell has contributed four wins, while Sante Bove has earned three. Jaxon Larmand helped the Cougars earn a pair of victories last weekend as the forward picked up four points (3g-1a) in two games against the Vancouver NW Hawks.

The sixth-place Fraser Valley Thunderbirds (8-6-1-1) take on the second-place Valley West Giants (12-3-3-0) in a home-and-home series. Goaltending continues to be a strength for Fraser Valley as they possess one of the top tandems in the U15 league. Mason Clegg’s 1.84 goals against average is tied for tops in the league with Okanagan’s Tyson Adams, while Graydon van der Zweep’s 2.20 goals against average also ranks among the league’s best. The Giants have been helped to a four-game winning streak by Adam Lenarduzzi, who has registered nine points (5g-4a) during that span. Lenarduzzi’s 24 points (9g-15a) on the season are tied for fourth in U15 scoring. 

Saturday's U15 Games

Valley West Giants @ Fraser Valley Thunderbirds – 9:00 a.m. – Abbotsford Centre

Vancouver NE Chiefs @ Cariboo Cougars – 3:45 p.m. – Kin Centre

Thompson Blazers @ Greater Vancouver Canadians – 5:15 p.m. – Richmond Olympic Oval

North Island Silvertips @ Vancouver NW Hawks – 6:15 p.m. – Hollyburn Country Club