Prior to the start of the season, Trail Smoke Eaters coach Nick DeschenesΒ suspected first-year BCHLer Nick Halloran would be a key component to the team’s offence.
Turns out he was right on the money. Halloran leads the team with 20 goals and 35 points and that prompted Colorado College to come calling. The product of Draper, Utah has committed to the Tigers for the 2016-17 season
Halloran’s scoring touch has helped the Smokies get a grasp on the fourth and final playoff spot in a tough Interior Conference division. He is the second in his family to play in the BCHL and earn a college hockey opportunity. His older brother Alex played two seasons for the Cowichan Valley Capitals and recently completed his NCAA career at Air Force.
After a quiet few years, Colorado College has been able to ink several BCHLers over the last 12 months. Cole McCaskill and Andrew Farny headed there after last season and in the years to come, Kristian Blumenschein of West Kelowna and Bryan Yoon of Wenatchee will also go to CC.
The Tigers play in the NCAA’s National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). The other teams in the NCHC are Denver, Nebraska-Omaha, North Dakota, Minnesota-Duluth, Western Michigan, Miami-Ohio and St. Cloud State.