For this week’s COVID-19 update, we thought we’d take a look at what BCHL teams have been doing in the weeks since the shutdown. Many teams have been helping out in their communities and posting thoughtful or entertaining videos on social media.
Lets take a look at what everyone’s been up to.
BCHL
At the league level, the BCHL launched its NHL 20 Shaw BCHL Playoffs simulation with one player from each remaining playoff team facing off online to determine a winner. The virtual Fred Page Cup was awarded last week and it was Ethan Langenegger and the Salmon Arm Silverbacks taking home the top prize.
Alberni Valley Bulldogs
The Bulldogs have partnered with Save On Foods to offer food delivery for seniors in the community.
Head Coach and General Joe Martin has been busy making deliveries in the Bulldogs truck.
Chilliwack Chiefs
The Chiefs have been busy entertaining their fans on social media with the team’s Trick Shot Challenge. It started off as one-off videos from their players in quarantine, but has turned into a full-on bracket challenge. You can view the latest head-to-head matchup below.
The team has also sent out salutes to health care workers and quarantine updates from their players.
Coquitlam Express
Express forward Bradley Ong provided fans with some entertainment with this Tik Tok video featuring several of the team’s players. The Express have also posted regular quarantine check-ins from players, including this recent one.
Cowichan Valley Capitals
The Caps have kept fans engaged by recognizing the efforts of their graduating players and sharing some of their heartfelt messages, including this one from Brady Lynn.
Cranbrook Bucks
The Bucks have kept their fans engaged with commitment announcements as they build towards their inaugural season in the BCHL. They also held a virtual press conference to announce Ryan Donald as the team’s first head coach.
Langley Rivermen
The Rivermen have also been busy announcing player commitments for next season. They’ve unveiled four highly-touted commits in the last three weeks alone, including most recently Mark D’Agostino who already has a scholarship to the University of Connecticut.
Merritt Centennials
The Cents have been busy on social media, recently posting an update from the team’s Head Coach and General Manager Derek Sweet-Coulter.
They’ve also posted messages from players, a choose your quarantine house feature with players from the team, a COVID help line and a sponsor business booster.
Nanaimo Clippers
Nanaimo is another team that has been heavily involved in helping their community during this pandemic. The Clippers have launched several initiatives designed to help those in need, including a program where staff will mow the lawns of seniors or anyone who is unable to do the work themselves, the Teaching Tuesday initiative designed to help young students develop reading, language arts, math and art skills, Thankful Thursday where the team highlights one of their corporate sponsors and Special Moment Saturday where fans have a chance to look back on a classic Clippers moment.
The team has also been recognizing its many volunteers on social media.
Penticton Vees
The Vees posted a heartfelt video from their players to their fans after the cancellation of the playoffs.
They’ve also shared videos of new recruits and how they are handling quarantine as well as messages from current players.
Powell River Kings
The Kings have gotten in on the action by giving stick taps to health care workers with several videos on Instagram featuring a number of the team’s players.
Prince George Spruce Kings
Prince George recently launched their Buy One, Gift One campaign where each $10 ticket voucher purchased will see the team donate another voucher of the same value to a front-line essential worker in the area.
The team also posted an update shortly after the cancellation of the season from Business Operations Manager Kyle Anderson.
Salmon Arm Silverbacks
The Silverbacks posted this message thanking their fans after their second-round playoff series against the Trail Smoke Eaters was cancelled.
Surrey Eagles
The Eagles have posted messages from their players, as well as a fun video from their PA announcer, giving fans a taste of the goal calls they were missing.
But the highlight was this video from the team’s Head Coach Cam Keith, going through spring training at home with his dog.
Trail Smoke Eaters
The Smokies have shared this great document with COVID-19 messaging from their corporate partners, so the community can stay up to date on their status. They’ve also posted videos giving stick taps to essential workers as well as check-ins from their players.
Vernon Vipers
The Vipers have put the spotlight on their sponsors to try to help them through this tough time. They’ve also shared messages to fans from their players, like this one.
Victoria Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are another team that’s been busy sharing videos of their players in quarantine. They’ve also been introducing their fans to the team’s new recruits as well.
Wenatchee Wild
The Wild have been putting the spotlight on their sponsors, sending regular updates from their players and also rebroadcasting some of their games from the 2019-20 season.
West Kelowna Warriors
The Warriors posted this message to their fans, letting them know they are thinking of them during these trying times.
