In the weeks leading up to the start of the 2021-22 regular season, we will be going team-by-team to profile new players coming in for the upcoming year. This will include recaps of offseason commitments and acquisitions, as well as scouting reports from the coaches.
Next up is the Langley Rivermen.
The Rivermen were one of two teams that did not play in the BCHL’s pod season last year, but did participate in the league’s extended training camp season in the fall where they went 3-5-2-0 in 10 games.
The team is back and ready to go for the 2021-22 season and has brought in plenty of reinforcements. New Rivermen head coach Burt Henderson gives us the scouting report on all the new commits and acquisitions heading into the new year.
New recruits
Vitaly Levyy (2003, F)
Hometown: Old Brookville, N.Y.- Previous team: North Jersey Avalanche 18U AAA (AYHL 18U)
Levyy had 10 points in 12 games for the Avalanche last season. Prior to that, he played four years of prep school at Portledge School in New York.
Henderson’s scouting report:
“I have a buddy out in Long Island who coached him his whole life. He’s a really highly skilled forward who has produced at every level. He has the ability to find open guys off the rush. He has really good hands and a good scoring touch in front of the net. He’s really excited to get out here to B.C. and start playing.”
Dylan Fader (2003, F)
Hometown: Vancouver, B.C.- Previous team: St. George’s School U18 Prep (CSSHL U18)
Fader comes from the St. George’s program where he spent the last several years. In his last full season in 2019-20, he notched 19 points in 36 games to tie for fourth in team scoring.
Henderson’s scouting report:
“I’ve known him for a while. He’s a really good two-way centre. He has good leadership qualities. We see him as having future captain type of material. He has a really high hockey IQ and he’s really responsible in the defensive zone. He plays a good 200-foot game, but he has a lot of offensive upside as well. He plays hard every shift.”
Owen Kim (2004, F)
Hometown: North Vancouver, B.C.- Previous team: Vancouver Northwest Hawks U18 AAA (BC U18)
Kim did not get into any game action last season due to COVID shutdowns, but contributed five goals and eight assists for 13 points in 35 games with the Hawks in 2019-20.
Henderson’s scouting report:
“Owen plays a lot bigger than he is. He’s a fearless competitor. He’s a good skater. He has good feet and has the ability to beat guys one-on-one. He has a really good, quick release and an accurate shot. He’s definitely going to be a fan favourite for us this year.”
Acquired via trade
Tanner Attew (2003, D)
Hometown: South Surrey, B.C.- Previous team: Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL)
Attew was a rookie last year for the Grizzlies and suited up for 13 games during the pod season. He contributed a goal and three assists for the team en route to the Island Pod championship.
Henderson’s scouting report:
“He’s a good, young defenceman with a lot of offensive upside. He’s the kind of player that will fit in well with the style that we play. He’s really good at reading the play and jumping in. One thing I really like about him is that he has a really good, hard, accurate shot from the point. He’s good at walking the line and finding that seam to get the puck to the net. He’ll play the quarterback role on the power play. He’s a really good skater and strong on the transition. He can definitely step into the top four right away for us.”
Deven Nagra (2003, D)
Hometown: Vaughan, Ont.- Previous team: Milton Menace (OJHL)
Nagra last played in 2019-20 with the Menace where he had 17 points in 54 games as an Ontario Junior Hockey League rookie.
Henderson’s scouting report:
“He’s a highly intelligent defenceman. He can skate the puck out of trouble if he has to. He’s very dependable in the defensive zone. He’s strong in the corners and makes a great first pass to get the puck out. He’s really good on the penalty kill too because he tends to block a lot of shots. He’s a guy that can play both ends of the rink. He’s just a really smart player.”
Andrej Kovacevic (2004, F)
Hometown: Vancouver, B.C.- Previous team: Coquitlam Express (BCHL)
Kovacevic made his BCHL debut in the pod last year with Coquitlam, scoring twice and adding seven assists for nine points, while playing in all 20 games.
Henderson’s scouting report:
“He’s a big, skilled power forward. We’re looking for him to have a pretty big year for us. He can play a skill game and a physical game with an edge when he has to. He has a really heavy shot and he’s good in traffic. He likes to get into the dirty areas to score goals. We’re looking to him to provide offence this year.”
Josh Wessels (2003, D)
Hometown: Richmond, B.C.- Previous team: Powell River Kings (BCHL)
Wessels is another player who played his rookie campaign last year in the BCHL pod season. He played in 18 of the Kings 20 games and chipped in with five assists.
Henderson’s scouting report:
“He’s another good, young defenceman that I’ve been watching for a while. He’s very responsible in his own end and he has very good vision. He makes a good first pass. At the same time, he’s got that offensive upside as well. He can join in the rush and make good reads in the offensive zone. He makes smart decisions with and without the puck. He has a very high IQ as well.”
Daniel Juca (2002, F)
Hometown: Burnaby, B.C.- Previous team: Coquitlam Express (BCHL)
Juca had a goal and three assists in 19 games as a rookie last season with the Express. Prior to that, he racked up 42 points in 34 games for the Vancouver North East Chiefs U18 team to finish second in team scoring.
Henderson’s scouting report:
“He has a big body. We brought him in to play that physical game. He’s really good in the corners and in front of the net. He uses his body well to shield the puck and he’s got the ability to score goals in tight. He’s got good vision as well. He can find open guys. We’re hoping that with more opportunity, he can come into his own with us.”
Photo credits: Dan Hickling (Levyy, Nagra), Garrett James Photography (Kovacevic, Wessels, Juca)
