Chilliwack Chiefs head coach and general manager Brian Maloney has been named Team Coastal bench boss for the BCHL's Top Prospects Game, Jan. 17.
The event at Rogers Rink in Salmon Arm kicks off the league's All Star Weekend, taking place Jan. 17-19. There is also a skills competition, an 'alumni and friends' game and the 3-on-3 All-Star Tournament.
In addition to the on-ice activities, community events will take place throughout the weekend to engage local hockey fans and visitors to the area. For the first time at this event, the BCHL will also host a Top Prospects Game for the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) as part of the weekend’s schedule.
Brooks Bandits head coach and general manager Ryan Papaioannou will be in charge of Team Interior, BCHL announced in a press release this week. Coaches for the event are selected based on which team has the highest winning percentage at the holiday break.
Maloney’s Chiefs have a record of 18-6-3-0 and sit in first place in the Coastal Conference, tied in points with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, but with two games in hand. They have a conference best plus-36 goal differential.
Papaioannou’s Bandits are also tied for first in their conference with a record of 22-4-0-0, but have played two less games than the Penticton Vees who also have 44 points on the season. Brooks has a league-best 90.5 per cent penalty kill with a BCHL high plus-67 goal differential.
Chiefs goalie Sebastian Gatto and forwards Brady Milburn and Caleb Malhotra are currently listed on the roster online. The game is for the top NHL Draft eligible players in the league, plus 16 and 17-year-old draft prospects. Selections were made through a poll of the 21 team coaches and general managers, and an online vote for fan favourites.