One might think this would have been a natural fit for the Vancouver Canucks. But instead the sa国际传媒 Hockey League is getting Kraken with Seattle.
The BCHL Showcase is moving to the Kraken Community Iceplex in Seattle next season, which is the NHL club’s practice facility. The annual Showcase, in which the 18 BCHL teams play two games each in a one-stop shopping event over four days for NHL and NCAA scouts, has been held in Chilliwack in recent seasons.
“This is an event that brings together members of the amateur, collegiate and professional hockey community as we showcase the talent of tomorrow,” Kraken chief operations officer Rob Lampman said in a statement.
There will be plenty for scouts to do between the games, which will be played on the Kraken practice facility’s three NHL-sized ice rinks, which are adjacent to 12 dressing rooms. There is also the official Kraken restaurant and a bar and grill.
“We are confident the players, their families, scouts and fans will enjoy their time in Seattle,” said Lampman.
The BCHL is happy to jump to a bigger stage.
“We are thrilled to be taking our Showcase event to the next level by working with the Seattle Kraken,” said BCHL deputy commissioner and chief operations officer Steven Cocker. “This opportunity will allow us to enhance the experience for our players and staff, while not losing sight of the primary purpose of this event, which is to provide exposure for our athletes to scouts and college coaches.”
Twenty-four BCHL alumni are in the NHL this season, including former Victoria Grizzlies Jamie and Jordie Benn and Alex Newhook and former Nanaimo Clipper Matt Irwin. Two BCHL graduates play for the Kraken — former Surrey Eagle Brandon Tanev and former Westside Warrior Justin Schultz. Other BCHL notables in the NHL include former Trail Smoke Eater Kent Johnson with the Columbus Blue Jackets, former Warrior Colton Sissons with the Nashville Predators and former Penticton Vees Troy Stecher with the Arizona Coyotes, Tyson Jost with the Buffalo Sabres and Dante Fabbro with the Predators. A total of 41 former BCHL players have also skated in the AHL this season and 62 in the ECHL.
The BCHL set a record this season for the number of players from the league committed to the U.S. collegiate NCAA. The record 174 players breaks the previous league standard of 173 set in the 2019-20 season and matched in 2021-22.
The climb up the development ladder continues this weekend in BCHL action at The Q Centre when the Alberni Valley Bulldogs (27-18-4) visit the Grizzlies (24-15-8) tonight and the Coastal Conference-leading Clippers (34-11-2) come down to face the Grizzlies on Saturday night.
