BCEHL WEEKEND UPDATE - FEBRUARY 23-26
For Immediate Release
February 22, 2023
Saanichton, B.C. - A marquee matchup is set for the Female U18 league this weekend as the top two teams meet for a pair of contests on the Island. Let's take a look at what's happening around the BCEHL!
Female U18 AAA
In a matchup between the top two teams in the Female U18 league, the first-place Fraser Valley Rush (28-0-0-0) are welcomed by the second-place Vancouver Island Seals (14-11-2-1) for a weekend series at Fuller Lake Arena. Fraser Valley’s offense has clicked all season, as they’ve averaged 5.68 goals per game on the season, which ranks first in the league. Seven skaters (Leah Barnard, Aynsley D’Ottavio, Vienna Rubin, Anna McKee, Hannah Dods, Erica Barnard, Solana Cooper) have scored at a point-per-game pace on the season. Vancouver Island’s offense has been helped lately by forward Tahlia Fisher, who has recorded five goals in her last five games.
The fifth-place Greater Vancouver Comets (5-23-2-0) travel to Kelowna to take on the third-place Thompson-Okanagan Lakers (12-13-1-2). The Comets enter the weekend with wins in two straight, as they earned a pair of victories against the Northern Capitals on February 4th and 5th. Greater Vancouver was helped by forward Paige Whitworth, who totaled four points (2g-2a) over the weekend. On the season, Whitworth has collected 11 points (6g-5a), which ranks fifth among Comets’ skaters. The Lakers’ goaltending will look to slow down the Comets as the tandem of Reese Sliskovic and Chelsea West have combined to allow 79 goals on the season, the second lowest total in the Female U18 league. West recorded her first shutout of the season on February 5th in a 2-0 victory against the Seals.
Saturday’s Female U18 Games
Greater Vancouver Comets @ Thompson-Okanagan Lakers – 3:00 p.m. – Capital News Centre
Fraser Valley Rush @ Vancouver Island Seals – 3:05 p.m. – Fuller Lake Arena
Sunday’s Female U18 Games
Fraser Valley Rush @ Vancouver Island Seals – 10:00 a.m. – Fuller Lake Arena
Greater Vancouver Comets @ Thompson-Okanagan Lakers – 10:45 a.m. – Capital News Centre
Watch All Female U18 Games Live Here
U18 AAA
The fourth-place Vancouver NE Chiefs (17-10-4-2) and the fifth-place Fraser Valley Thunderbirds (19-14-1-0) square off in a matchup between two teams separated by only one point in the standings. Fraser Valley’s offense has been productive against the Chiefs this season, as they’ve recorded 30 goals as a team in four victories. In their most recent matchup on February 20th, six different goals scorers found the back of the net in a 6-5 Thunderbirds’ victory. With a record of 4-1-2-0 over their last seven, the Chiefs’ will look to reverse their fortunes against the Thunderbirds this season. The Chiefs’ received multi-goal performances from Josh Kelly and William Gallant in their most recent loss to Fraser Valley.
In Kelowna, the second-place Okanagan Rockets (22-5-2-1) welcome the sixth-place Cariboo Cougars (15-16-1-2). The two teams met twice on January 28th and 29th at the U18 showcase in Abbotsford, where each team earned one victory. In the first matchup, a pair of goals from Brayden Schwaerzle propelled the Rockets to a 3-2 victory, while the second game saw Erik Powers record 36 saves in a 4-2 Cariboo win. Home ice has been friendly to the Rockets as of late, with a record of 6-0-0-1 over their last seven in Kelowna.
The eighth-place Thompson Blazers (6-22-1-1) travel to face the third-place Vancouver NW Hawks (21-8-3-1). The Hawks’ will look for their goaltending to remain a strength as they’ve allowed two goals or fewer in four consecutive games. The Hawks have allowed 2.21 goals per game this season, which ranks first among all U18 teams. Thompson’s goaltending has also been a strength over their past two games, as they’ve allowed one goal over their last two games, which included a shutout from Kellan Mooney in a 8-0 victory on February 5th against the North Island Silvertips.
Thursday’s U18 Game
Valley West Giants @ Vancouver NE Chiefs – 4:30 p.m. – Scotia Barn
Friday’s U18 Game
Thompson Blazers @ Vancouver NW Hawks – 1:00 p.m. – Karen Magnussen Arena
Saturday’s U18 Games
Vancouver NE Chiefs @ Fraser Valley Thunderbirds – 2:45 p.m. – Matsqui Recreation Centre
Cariboo Cougars @ Okanagan Rockets – 5:45 p.m. – Capital News Centre
Thompson Blazers @ Vancouver NW Hawks – 5:45 p.m. – Hollyburn Country Club
Sunday’s U18 Games
Cariboo Cougars @ Okanagan Rockets – 8:00 a.m. – Capital News Centre
Vancouver NW Hawks @ Vancouver NE Chiefs – 10:45 a.m. – Scotia Barn
Valley West Giants @ Fraser Valley Thunderbirds – 3:45 p.m. – Abbotsford Centre
U17 AAA
In the lone U17 matchup this weekend, the fifth-place Cariboo Cougars (19-11-1-3) and the ninth-place Thompson Blazers (12-20-1-1) square off in Prince George. Thompson enters the weekend with victories in four of their previous five games, which included two against the Cougars on February 4th and 5th. A trio of forwards had a helping hand in Thompson’s success as Owen DeWitt (3g-5a), Tate O’Brien (2g-5a) and Noah Paulsen (4g-1a) found the scoresheet in both games. Cariboo earned victories in two of three games at the U17 showcase in Surrey last weekend. Cougars’ forward Grady Gustafson found the back of the net in all three games, and totaled six points (5g-1a). Gustafson is in the midst of a nine-game goal streak, where he has totaled 15 points (12g-3a).
Saturday’s U17 Game
Thompson Blazers @ Cariboo Cougars – 5:00 p.m. – Kin Centre
Sunday’s U17 Game
Thompson Blazers @ Cariboo Cougars – 12:30 p.m. – Kin Centre
U15 AAA
Separated by only three points in the standings, valuable points will be on the line when the third-place Greater Vancouver Canadians (17-6-2-1) and fourth-place Valley West Giants (15-7-4-0) face off in Delta. Greater Vancouver will look to continue their winning ways, as they’ve won six straight. In their most recent outing, Greater Vancouver goaltender Liam Leslie made 36 saves and picked up the shutout in a 1-0 victory against the Vancouver NW Hawks. Over their last six, the Canadians have allowed only seven goals in total. In two meetings against the Canadians this season, Valley West earned a victory on November 15th, while the second matchup on the 16th resulted in a 4-4 tie. Ronan Coopman recorded three points (1g-2a) in the two games against Greater Vancouver.
The first-place Okanagan Rockets (20-3-2-1) travel to Abbotsford to meet the fifth-place Fraser Valley Thunderbirds (14-10-2-1). Winners of five straight, the Rockets will look to build on their lead in the standings as they lead the second-place Vancouver NE Chiefs by only one point. The two teams squared off last weekend, as Okanagan recorded a pair of home victories. In the first matchup, Rockets’ forward Gavin Wood picked up four points (2g-2a) in a 6-4 victory, while Hudson Getzlaf recorded a pair of assists in the second matchup. Fraser Valley forward Deegan Holding has four points (2g-2a) over a three-game point streak.
The second-place Chiefs (20-5-2-0) and the sixth-place Vancouver NW Hawks (13-14-0-1) meet in Burnaby on Saturday, and Coquitlam on Sunday. A successful weekend for the Chiefs would go a long way in their pursuit of top spot in the standings, as they chase the Rockets for first-place. In their most recent action, the Chiefs’ recorded a pair of wins against the North Island Silvertips on February 11th and 12th. The trio of Nathan Ramos, Christiano D’Addabbo and Lucas Prince each recorded a goal in both games. Hudson Guiel has had success against the Chiefs this season, as the Hawks’ forward put up five points (1g-4a) in their 5-4 victory on November 12th.
Saturday's U15 Games
Vancouver NW Hawks @ Vancouver NE Chiefs – 3:30 p.m. – Scotia Barn
Greater Vancouver Canadians @ Valley West Giants – 5:15 p.m. – Planet Ice Delta
Cariboo Cougars @ Thompson Blazers – 6:30 p.m. – McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre
Okanagan Rockets @ Fraser Valley Thunderbirds – 7:15 p.m. – Matsqui Recreation Centre
Sunday's U15 Games
Cariboo Cougars @ Thompson Blazers – 9:15 a.m. – McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre
Okanagan Rockets @ Fraser Valley Thunderbirds – 1:00 p.m. – Abbotsford Centre
Greater Vancouver Canadians @ Valley West Giants – 4:45 p.m. – Planet Ice Delta
Vancouver NW Hawks @ Vancouver NE Chiefs – 8:00 p.m. – Planet Ice Coquitlam
If you can’t make it out the games you can stream all BCEHL games live at: www.playfullscreen.com.
To stay up to date on everything going on in the BCEHL visit the website to view schedules, standings, stats, and scores: BCEHL.net, follow @BCEHL on Twitter, @BCEHL_AAA on Instagram, and join the conversation by using #BCEHLAAAHOCKEY.
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