Skip to content

BCHL alums in the big league

National Hockey League opening day rosters are dotted with players who spent a season in the junior A BCHL.

The start of the 2014-15 hockey season finds 26 BCHL grads on National Hockey League rosters.

All of them spent at least one year in the junior A circuit.

The list is headlined by Chicago Blackhawk Duncan Keith, a former Penticton Panther.

Ryan Johansen, who just inked a three-year $12,000,000 deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets, also spent a year in Penticton.

Ex-Vernon Viper/Langley Hornet Mike Santorelli saw his Toronto Maple Leafs lose their Wednesday night opener 4-3 to Montreal.

The Leafs also employ ex-Victoria Grizzly Tyler Bozak. The Benn brothers, Jamie and Benn, are Grizzly grads with the Dallas Stars.

Longtime NHLer and former Kelowna Spartan Willie Mitchell has found a new hockey home, jumping from the Los Angeles Kings to the Florida Panthers. Ex-Nanaimo Clipper Jason Garrison also switched jerseys, traded from the Vancouver Canucks to the Tampa Bay Lighting last summer.

Ex-Chilliwack Chief Shawn Horcoff is settling in with Dallas after years with the Edmonton Oilers.

Edmonton’s young-gun defenceman Justin Shultz is a former West Kelowna Warrior.

Other notables include Kyle Turris (Ottawa, Burnaby Express), Milan Lucic (Boston, Coquitlam), Travis Zajac (New Jersey, Salmon Arm) and Beau Bennett (Pittsburgh, Penticton).

Find the full list at bchl.ca



About the Author: Staff Writer

Read more