Chilliwack Chiefs alum Craig Puffer has signed a contract with the minor pro Indy Fuel, an ECHL hockey team based in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The Connecticut native played his first two games last weekend, on the road against the Reading (Pennsylvania) Royals. The Fuel lost both matches, 5-1 and 5-2, with Puffer failing to hit the scoresheet.
Puffer played for Chilliwack during the 2014-15 BCHL season and just wrapped up his fourth year at the University of Vermont, collecting two goals and 11 points in 33 games for the Catamounts.
Through Tuesday, 37 NCAA players had signed pro contracts.
Puffer is one of nine with BCHL ties, including two who are heading to the National Hockey League. Former Merritt Centennial Josh Teves joins the Vancouver Canucks while former Salmon Arm Silverback Taro Hirose inks a deal with Detroit.
Another former Silverback, Karl El-Mir, is joining the American Hockey League’s Providence Bruins along with Wenatchee Wild alum Cooper Zech.
Trail Smoke Eaters grad Jake Lucchini is going to the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins.
Kurt Gosselin (Alberni Valley) goes to the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones. Penticton Vees grad Miles Gendron joins the ECHL’s Brampton Beast and former BCHL scoring champ Corey Mackin (Coquitlam) signs on with the ECHL’s Reading Royals.