After guiding his Ridge Meadows Flames to a Stonehouse Cup championship last season, and another brilliant start to the current season, GM Derek Bedard is getting some recognition.
The BC Hockey Conference announced the coaches and team staff that will be a part of the third annual BCHC Prospects Game, and Bedard will be a co-manager of the Pacific Junior Hockey League team.
The showcase of talented young hockey players will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at the George Preston Recreation Centre in Langley, where the best young players in the PJHL will meet the top prospects from the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.
The PJHL Top Prospects team staff includes head coach Cullen Revel (Richmond Sockeyes), assistant coaches Andy Liboiron (Surrey Knights), Jarrett Craig (Abbotsford Pilots) and Caymen Froude (Coastal Tsunami), while the team’s Operations Manager position is being split between Bedard and Will Kump (Richmond Sockeyes).
“Last year’s event was a great experience for the players and a chance for the BCHC to showcase the young talent playing in our two leagues,” said Revel. “This year we look forward to building off that momentum and helping more young talented players earn an opportunity at a higher level.”
The KIJHL Top Prospects team will once again be led by Grand Forks Border Bruins head coach Dave Hnatiuk, who was behind the bench for the 2022 (Chilliwack) and 2023 (Kamloops) events. He will be assisted by Nick Deschenes (Kelowna Chiefs), Chad Scharff (Fernie Ghostriders) and Geordie Wudrick (Creston Valley Thunder Cats). Stephen Piccolo (Beaver Valley Nitehawks) has been named the team’s operations manager.
“It’s an honour to be selected as the head coach for the KIJHL’s BCHC Prospects Team for the third time and have an opportunity to coach our top prospects in this fun and growing event,” said Hnatiuk. “This year’s event will provide our prospects with a great opportunity to showcase themselves in front of WHL scouts. The amount of young players in our league who have been drafted by WHL teams, attended WHL camps or even played in WHL games is a testament to our league’s growth in talent.”
Team rosters for the inaugural BCHC Prospects Game will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
