All summer we’ll be going team-by-team to profile new players coming in for the 2019-20 season with recaps of offseason commits and acquisitions. We will also have interviews and scouting reports from the coaches.
Next up is the Surrey Eagles.
Last year, the Eagles were the only team on the outside looking in when the playoffs started, so it’s no surprise that they’ve been the busiest team in the league this offseason. After hiring Cam Keith as the team’s new head coach at the end of March, the team quickly began to build their team for next season with a series of commitments and trades.
Although he’s only been on the job for a few months, Keith is already putting his stamp on the roster as Surrey has added 19 new players to the mix heading into training camp.
“We’re going to be a fast-paced team,” said Keith. “We’re very young. We don’t have any 20-year-olds, so some younger kids are going to have to play more minutes than they would normally play in their first year in the BCHL. We’re hoping some of these younger guys can step into those roles and flourish in them.”
2019-20 commits
Cade Alami (2001, D)
- Hometown: Bedford, N.Y.
- Previous team: Mid-Fairfield Rangers U18 (EHF 18U Elite)
- Commitment: Providence College (2020-21)
At 6-foot-7, Alami is sure to be an imposing force on the Eagles blueline. He only played in a handful of games last year due to injury, chipping in with a pair of assists in seven games for Mid-Fairfield and another assist in five games for his prep school team at Berkshire.
Keith’s scouting report:
“He’s a big, good-skating defenceman. He would have been an NHL draft pick this year if he didn’t get injured. He is physical, but he also brings an offensive element to his game. He’s kind of a new-age Zdeno Chara.”
Brett Bliss (2001, D)
- Hometown: Chelmsford, Mass.
- Previous team: Neponset Valley River Rats U18 (Midget)
- Commitment: Brown University (2021-22)
Bliss led his midget team in scoring from the backend with 21 points in 30 games. He also had 14 points in 30 games for his prep school team at Belmont High.
Keith’s scouting report:
“He’s a smooth-skating, big defenceman with a high IQ. He’ll run a power play on the top. He’s offensive, but also can defend.”
Owen Nolan (2000, D)
- Hometown: Mahopec, N.Y.
- Previous team: Milbrook School (USHS-Prep)
- Commitment: Army (U.S. Military Academy) (2020-21)
The 19-year-old was the captain at Milbrook School last season where he had 22 points in 29 games, leading the team in scoring from the back end.
Keith’s scouting report:
“He’s a heart and soul, high-character kid. He also skates very well which will be good on the Olympic-sized ice. He brings an offensive element with leadership qualities as well.”
Sean Ramsay (2001, F)
Ramsay broke the CSSHL scoring record last season with a whopping 96 points in 35 games and also led the league in goals with 46. He played in four games as an affiliate last year for the Victoria Grizzlies.
Keith’s scouting report:
“His ceiling for his offensive ability is very elite. We’re expecting him to come in right away and have an impact. Not only on the power play, but 5-on-5 he’s a kid that’s always a threat.”
Gabe Schovanek (2001, F)
Schovanek finished second on his team and third in the CSSHL in scoring last season with 75 points in 36 games. He also ended up tied for the second-most assists in the league with 52.
Keith’s scouting report:
“He is an intelligent player who sees the ice really well. He’s a playmaker type, but he’s very comfortable below the dots creating offence from the corner and around the net.”
Thomas Scarfone (2000, G)
Hometown: L’Île-Bizard, Que.
Previous team: Stanstead College (MPHL)
The 18-year-old put up some eye-popping numbers in his time at Stanstead College, highlighted by his 2017-18 season where he posted a 1.06 goals-against average and a .945 save percentage in 11 games. He had another solid year last year with a 1.43 goals-against and a .929 save percentage.
Keith’s scouting report:
“He’s a very quick, athletic goaltender. He’s very smart and he competes very hard. He’s going to be a kid that we’ll be leaning on heavily, especially since we have two rookie goalies coming in.”
Riley Gannon (2002, F)
- Hometown: Nanaimo, B.C.
- Previous team: Nanaimo Buccaneers (VIJHL)
Gannon had 50 points in 47 games last year to finish second on his team in scoring and also appeared in a pair of games for the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
Cody Hough (2001, D)
- Hometown: Maple Ridge, B.C.
- Previous team: Vancouver NE Chiefs (BCMML)
The 17-year-old put up 63 points in 77 regular-season games over his two years playing major midget. He also got in one game with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks last year as an affiliate.
Nate Ibraheem (2001, F)
- Hometown: Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.
- Previous team: Fort Saskatchewan Rangers Midget AAA (AMHL)
Ibraheem led his midget team in scoring last year with 39 points in 34 games. He also has some Junior A experience, playing in four games over two seasons as an affiliate for the Fort McMurray Oil Barons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL).
Buddy Johnson (2001, F)
- Hometown: White Rock, B.C.
- Previous team: Delta Hockey Academy Prep (CSSHL)
The 18-year-old put up nearly a point a game last year with 31 in 32 contests and led his team in goals with 22.
Carter King (2001, F)
- Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
- Previous team: Calgary Buffaloes Midget AAA (AMHL)
King led his midget team in goals last season with 23 and finished the year with 32 points in 34 games. He also played one game for the Calgary Mustangs of the AJHL.
Kenny Riddett (2001, F)
- Hometown: Fishkill, N.Y.
- Previous team: North Jersey Avalanche U18 (T1EHL U18)
In 47 total games last year for North Jersey, Riddett had 18 goals and 24 assists for 42 points.
Cal Schell (2001, G)
- Hometown: Burlington, Ont.
- Previous team: Hamilton Kilty B’s (GOJHL)
Schell posted a 2.14 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage in 24 games for his Junior B team last year. He also got called up for a game with the Markham Royals of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL).
Ryan Suzukovich (2001, D)
- Hometown: Port Moody, B.C.
- Previous team: Burnaby Winter Club Prep (CSSHL)
The 17-year-old had 18 points from the blueline last year with Burnaby Winter Club. He also played in 10 games as an affiliate for the Eagles.
Acquired via trade
Hudson Schandor (2000, F)
Schandor spent the last two seasons with Salmon Arm. He’s coming off his best BCHL season where he totaled 31 points in 41 games. The 18-year-old has already been named an assistant captain with the Eagles.
Keith’s scouting report:
“We brought Hudson in to play in every situation. He’s a kid that you can play on your first power-play unit and you can play on your first penalty-kill unit. He can also take those big faceoffs at crunch time. He’s a 200-foot player who really takes pride in his defensive zone as well as the offensive zone.”
Cristophe Tellier (2000, F)
Tellier joins the Eagles after his rookie season in the BCHL where he put up 30 points in 53 regular-season games for the Wenatchee Wild.
Keith’s scouting report:
“Cristophe is an extremely intelligent, high-offence kid who is really good on the power play and good on draws. He competes hard and he’ll be really good on the Olympic ice. When he played in Surrey last year, I think he had three points, so he’ll be very comfortable with the time and space in our arena.”
Adamo Santia (2001, F)
The 17-year-old had 39 points in 53 games last year in his first full season in the OJHL.
Keith’s scouting report:
“He’s a big power forward with really good hockey sense. He’s a goal-scorer, but he’s also someone who likes to pass. He’s that kid that will be good down low and work to find areas to score. We’re going to be relying heavily on him to be an offensive player in his first year in the BCHL.”
Jimmy Darby (2001, D)
- Hometown: North Vancouver, B.C.
- Previous team: Trail Smoke Eaters
Darby joins the Eagles after his first full BCHL season in Trail where he had a goal and five assists in 40 games.
Juliano Santalucia (2001, D)
- Hometown: Burnaby, B.C.
- Previous team: Coquitlam Express
The 17-year-old was acquired this offseason coming off his first season in the BCHL with Coquitlam where he a goal and six assists in 51 games. He played the 2017-18 season for the Olds Grizzlies of the AJHL and put up six points in 45 games.