Photo: Contributed - Victoria Grizzlies

The West Kelowna Warriors acquired defenceman Jaden Schmeisser Monday

The West Kelowna Warriors have added some depth to their back end.

On Monday the Warriors acquired defenceman Jaden Schmeisser (93) from the Victoria Grizzlies for future considerations.

Schmeisser spent the last two seasons with the Grizzlies.

The 6’2 product from Qualicum Beach is just what the Warriors were looking for.

"Acquiring Jaden gives us much needed size on the back end," says Warriors Head Coach/GM Rylan Ferster. "He’s a twenty-year-old that will add experience, and bring a physical presence every night."

Schmeisser played in 44 games last year and produced three goals, nine assists and 79 penalty minutes.

In 78 games over four seasons, Schmeisser chipped in with four goals, 18 assists and 132 minutes in penalties.

Schmeisser will be in town mid-August for the start of training camp.

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet File Photo

Canucks Jason Garrison was the honourary chairman for the first ever BCHL Showcase event in 2012

The BC Hockey League will once again open up its season in Chilliwack.

The league announced his week the 2013 Bauer BCHL Showcase will be hl in he Fraser Valley community for the second straight year.

The Showcase event, popular in other Junior A leagues across the country was tried for the fist time this past season by the BCHL.

Last year at the inaugural Showcase, close to 200 scouts from the college and professional ranks taking in the action.

The 2013 event runs from Friday, Sept. 6 to Sunday, Sept. 8. Games will be split between Prospera Centre's main and secondary sheets of ice.

Each club will play two games at the event that count towards the regular season standings.

Bauer Showcase Schedule (home team listed second in each matchup):

Friday, Sept. 6:

3:30 p.m. - Secondary Rink - Penticton Vees vs. Victoria Grizzlies
4:00  p.m. - Main Rink -  Merritt Centennials vs. Coquitlam Express
7:00 p.m. - Secondary Rink - Trail Smoke Eaters vs. Langley Rivermen
7:30 p.m. - Main Rink - Surrey Eagles vs. West Kelowna Warriors

Saturday, Sept. 7:

11:30 a.m. - Secondary Rink - Vernon Vipers vs. Surrey Eagles
12:00 p.m. - Main Rink - Victoria Grizzlies vs. Salmon Arm SilverBacks
3:00 p.m. - Secondary Rink - West Kelowna Warriors vs. Nanaimo Clippers
3:30 p.m. - Main Rink - Alberni Valley Bulldogs vs. Penticton Vees
6:30 p.m. - Secondary Rink - Prince George Spruce Kings vs. Cowichan Valley Capitals
7:00 p.m. - Main Rink - Powell River Kings vs. Chilliwack Chiefs

Sunday, Sept. 8:

10:30 a.m. - Secondary Rink - Salmon Arm SilverBacks vs. Powell River Kings
11:00 a.m. - Main Rink - Coquitlam Express vs. Alberni Valley Bulldogs
2:00 p.m. - Secondary Rink - Nanaimo Clippers vs. Prince George Spruce Kings
2:30 p.m. - Main Rink - Cowichan Valley Capitals vs. Trail Smoke Eaters
5:30 p.m. - Secondary Rink - Langley Rivermen vs. Merritt Centennials
6:00 p.m. - Main Rink - Chilliwack Chiefs. vs. Vernon Vipers

Photo: Contributed - Alex Hill

West Kelowna forward David Pope will take part in this month's NHL Scouting Combine

West Kelowna Warriors forward David Pope will take part in this month's NHL scouting combine in Toronto.

Pope is expected to join 100 other top ranked forwards, defencemen and goaltenders from North America and Europe at the combine.

A total of 86 North American skaters and goalies have been invited to take part along with the top 15 European prospects.

The combine gives players a chance to show scouts from the 30 NHL clubs what they can do through on-ice drills, conditions and strength tests and in one-on-one interviews.

Pope had 127 goals and 39 points in 42 games this past season with the Warriors.

He was listed 67th among North American skaters in the final draft rankings released by NHL Central Scouting.

The combine will take place from May 27 to June1.

Former Vernon Viper forward Adam Tambelline, ranked 42nd among North American forwards will also attend the combine.

The NHL Draft will be held June 30 in New Jersey.

Photo: Contributed - Alex Hill

Matt Anholt will serve as captain of the West Kelowna Warriors next season

It didn't take long for the West Kelowna Warriors to find their new leader.

The Warriors Tuesday announced sophomore Matt Anholt will serve as captain when the club begins the 2013-2014 season.

Anholt will replace two-year captain Max French whose junior eligibility ran out at the conclusion of the season.

The 19-year-old Prince Albert, SK native scored nine times and added 22 assists in 51 games during his rookie season with the Warriors while filling mostly a checking roll with the club.

“It’s a real honour to be named the captain of the Warriors,” says Anholt. 

“Especially following in the footsteps of Max French is something special.  I feel like we’re going to have a real strong team again next year, with a great group of returning players.  I would like to thank Rylan and the entire Warriors organization, for giving me this opportunity.”

Along with his 31 point regular season Anholt added three goals and four assists in 10 playoff games.

"Matt will be a great person to lead the team,” says Warriors head coach and GM Rylan Ferster. 

“He demonstrated a lot of leader type qualities this past year.  Also, being around the very good leadership group we had this past season will be helpful.  Matt is a team first guy that shows up every night."

Ferster says Anholt was a good leader while playing for the Prince Albert Mintos in midget hockey, and saw leadership qualities from his very first interview with Matt.

Anholt will be joined by three former Mintos for the upcoming year in Kylar Hope, Adam Osczevski, and Tanner Bugrardt.

Players hoping to wear the Warriors colours next season will arrive mid-Aug for the start of main camp on Friday, Aug 23.

Assistant captains will be named after training camp.
 

Photo: Contributed

Goaltender Tanner Bugrardt is one of four Saskatchewan products to committ to playing with the West Kelowna Warriors in the upcoming season.

The West Kelowna Warriors have secured four Saskatchewan products for the upcoming BC Hockey League season.

Included in that group are a trio of players from the midget AAA Prince Albert Mintos program, forwards Kylar Hope and Adam Osczevski and goaltender Tanner Bugrardt.

As a rookie, Hope finished 11th in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA league in scoring this past season with 25 goals and 26 assists in 43 games. He added seven points in 11 playoff games.

"Kylar is one of the slickest players that I have watched over the course of the year," says Warriors head coach Rylan Ferster.

Osczevski, described as a two-way player who can skate and is tough to play against, added 16 goals and 46 points in 44 games during the regular season and added another eight points in 11 playoff games.

"Adam is a great skater that works hard every shift," adds Ferster. "He is a no nonsense guy that will bring a physical edge every night."

Bugrardt, who just completed his second season with the Mintos, finished fourth among league goaltenders with a 17-4-2 record with two shutouts in 24 games.

He had a goals against average of 2.03 and a save percentage of .919.

"Tanner has just plain and simply stopped pucks the last two years. His calm demeanor in the net is exactly what we were looking for," says Ferster.

The fourth player committing from Saskatchewan is forward Connor Bucsis from the AAA Tisdale Trojans.

Bucsis, a 6'2" power-forward with a good offensive touch, led his team with 20 goals and added 17 assists in 39 regular season games.

"Connor attended main camp last year and put together a very solid year in Tisdale," added Ferster.

All four are 18 and will join the Warriors for the start of main training camp at the end of August.

They will join Liam Blackburn and Brett Mennear who previously committed to joining the Warriors after playing last season in the BC Major Midget Hockey League.

Blackburn finished second in scoring in the BC Major Midget Hockey League this past season with 35 goals and 50 assists in 40 games while Mennear finished ninth with 24 goals and 55 points in 38 games.