Calling summer hockey off-season may be a bit of a stretch seeing as how league business, camps and even player moves have recently made the news.
Front and centre has been the press release issued by the BC Hockey League (BCHL) regarding its schedule, playoff format and roster rules.
This year just eight teams, four from each conference, will make the playoffs. The change is meant to promote competitiveness in the opening rounds and will be reviewed at the end of the year.
Regular season schedule changes include a later start on September 23 to give a more traditional finish on March 11. In a bid to reduce costs for the franchises the league will draw up a schedule to be released in July that will see balance in each conference but return to a half-interlocking schedule as they did a few years ago.
With respect to team rosters the number has been reduced from 23 to 21 and each team must carry at least one 16-year -old and one 17-year-old player. The league hopes that these changes will encourage teams to develop home-grown players and present them with a better opportunity for ice time.
Finally, there will be an October selection of 15-year-old affiliate players meant to introduce the players to the BCHL. Teams will hold their rights only until the end of the season.
Reaction around the league has been largely indifferent but two of the changes jump out for Powell River Kings fans who regularly attend games. Grumbling was heard the last time the interlocking schedule was reduced and certainly the playoff format could affect the bottom line of the club.
Speaking of bottom lines, Quesnel Millionaires were unable to sustain theirs and sold the franchise to Chilliwack. Chilliwack reclaimed the Chiefs name and coach Harvey Smyl from Langley, and for this year will slot into the Interior Conference. Langley, meanwhile, has changed its name to the Rivermen and retained former Abbotsford Heat assistant coach Steve O’Rourke as head coach.
On the local front, Kings have already held spring camps in Parksville and Kamloops with the summer main camp to kick off on August 26.
Because of the league roster limit of six 20 year olds, Kings have moved very popular Klay Kachur to Melville of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and received 18-year-old defenceman Jordan Paddock in return. Paddock had 11 points in 52 games for the Millionaires last year and was also invited to the Team Canada West camp last fall.
Several of the Kings alumni have also made the news recently and it shouldn’t be any surprise that Ethan Cox leads the way.
In his rookie year with Alaska Aces of the ECHL (East Coast Hockey League) Cox played a big role helping to win the Kelly Cup, top honours in the league. Cox scored 15 goals and 17 helpers during the year and was named ECHL player of the month in March on the strength of his stellar-plus-19 rating.
Other accolades include Cox’s old linemate Adam Presizniuk who was named Union University’s most valuable player as he became the its all-time leading scorer. Mat Bodie set a Union record for points by a defenceman with 32 that earned him rookie of the year. Kyle Leahy, in his third year at University of Wisconsin-Superior, has been named captain of the team next year and Reid Campbell was named to the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association’s rookie All Star roster.
And last but not least, Jason Yee added his name to the long list of Kings’ commitments by announcing he will wear a University of British Columbia Thunderbird jersey next year while he continues his education in human kinetics.
That’s a lot of news for an off-season.
