KIJHL announces roster for 2024 BCHC Prospects Game
By Contributor
The British Columbia Hockey Conference announced today the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League roster that will compete in the third annual BCHC Prospects Game on Tuesday, November 19th at the George Preston Recreation Centre in Langley, BC.
The KIJHL’s roster selection process has been guided by head coach Dave Hnatiuk and his coaching and operations staff over the past month. Prospects Game rosters are composed primarily of 2007- and 2008-born players, with a maximum of six 2006-born players eligible to be selected.
In goal, the KIJHL will be represented by Brenner Fyfe (Kamloops Storm) and Michael Makowsky (Sicamous Eagles). Fyfe has posted a 6-6-0 record in his first KIJHL season with a 3.30 goals-against average and .922 save percentage, and leads all KIJHL netminders with 745 minutes played. Makowsky sports a 5-1-2 record, 2.52 goals-against average and .920 save percentage, which rank third and fourth among rookie netminders.
The blueline includes a trio of WHL draft picks in Rhett Serfas (Merritt Centennials | Kelowna Rockets), Kieran Thibault (Kamloops Storm | Prince George Cougars) and Brett Woodard (100 Mile House Wranglers | Seattle Thunderbirds), as well as a signed prospect, Aaron Zulinick (Kamloops Storm | Portland Winterhawks). They are joined by Levi Dewitt (Sicamous Eagles) and Ben Filippone (Castlegar Rebels), who played in the 2022 Prospects Game as a member of the PJHL’s Surrey Knights.
The team’s forward group is highlighted by a pair of 2008-born Williams Lake Mustangs forwards, Asher Lucas (Seattle Thunderbirds) and Kaelen Swanson, who sit fourth and 13th in KIJHL scoring. They are joined by a trio of high-scoring rookies in Jaden Rusznak (100 Mile House Wranglers), Berkley Gross (Creston Valley Thunder Cats) and Luke Davies (Kimberley Dynamiters), as well as a number of others with WHL connections: Phoenix Flett (Grand Forks Border Bruins | Tri City Americans), Clayton Gillmore (Sicamous Eagles | Tri City Americans), Ryker Rougeau (Grand Forks Border Bruins | Tri City Americans), Dylan Ruff (Merritt Centennials | Victoria Royals). The roster also boasts a trio of high scoring BCEHL alumni in Luca D’Amore (Kamloops Storm), Noah Paulson (Kamloops Storm) and Brayden Rotach (Castlegar Rebels).
“Our staff faced a number of difficult choices in narrowing down the group that will represent the KIJHL at the 2024 BCHC Top Prospects Game,” says Hnatiuk. “It was exciting to see the increase of WHL-drafted and listed athletes in our player pool this season, and we look forward to beginning our off-ice preparations so that this group can capitalize on the opportunity to showcase themselves at this event.”
The KIJHL’s Top Prospects will travel to Langley on Sunday, November 17th for the two-day event, which will include a team practice, participation in the WHL Testing Combine and an event banquet on the Monday prior to the game the next evening. The 2024 BCHC Top Prospects Game will face off at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, November 19th and will be broadcast on Flo Hockey.
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