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In the weeks leading up to the start of the 2023-24 season, we will go team-by-team to profile new players entering the league for the upcoming season, including scouting reports from the coaches.
This year, we will go in reverse order of how the teams finished last season, starting with the two clubs that missed the playoffs and ending with the two league finalists. Next up is the Surrey Eagles.
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The Surrey Eagles enjoyed a highly successful 2022-23 campaign. They finished in second place in the Coastal Conference with a record of 35-16-2-1, just four points back of top spot.
In the playoffs, the Eagles dispatched the Powell River Kings in five games in the first round, then were beaten in a classic seven-game series in round two against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
Eagles head coach and general manager Cam Keith is looking to build on last year’s success and get his team back into contention for their first Fred Page Cup championship since 2013. Heading into his fifth year behind Surrey’s bench, he tells us about all the roster moves he has made this offseason.
New recruits
Cade Cranston (2004, F)
Hometown: Rochester, N.Y.- Previous team: New Jersey Rockets (NCDC)
- College commitment: Bentley University
Cranston was the leading scorer in the NCDC last season with 76 points in 50 games. He also led the league in assists with 58, 17 more than the next closest competitor.
Keith’s scouting report:
“He has a really high hockey IQ. He just understands how to play the game the right way. We’re excited about the potential of this kid and for him to come in and replace Jake Bongo in our lineup, who moved on to college this year.”
Nathan Oickle (2003, D)
Hometown: Peterborough, Ont.- Previous team: Trenton Gold Hawks (OJHL)
Oickle put up impressive numbers last year with Trenton of the Ontario Junior Hockey League. He finished the regular season with 41 points in 47 games from the back end, but was even more effective in the playoffs, tying for the overall league lead in points with 22 in 22 games to help guide the Gold Hawks to the league championship series.
Keith’s scouting report:
“Nathan has had a lot of NCAA interest, but he wants to come to B.C. so he can prove that he’s deserving of interest from high-end schools. He brings a little bit of everything – offence, defence, playoff experience. He’s going to be an everything player for us. With the loss of [Ross] Roloson who moved on to college, we’re hoping he takes that position as a kid that logs 25 minutes a game, plays power play and penalty kill minutes and is a leader as well.”
Sid McNeill (2004, D)
Hometown: Summerside, P.E.I.- Previous team: Summerside Western Capitals (MHL)
In his third season playing for his hometown team in Summerside of the Maritime Hockey League last year, McNeill averaged over a point per game with 50 in 46 contests.
Keith’s scouting report:
“We’re bringing Sid in to run our power play. He’s an offensive player. He’s a little bit on the smaller side, but he plays with a lot of heart. He’s one of those guys that’s always involved in the play. We’re going to lean on him heavily for his offensive ability.”
Ryan Schelling (2004, F)
Hometown: Airmont, N.Y.- Previous team: Northeast Generals (NAHL)
- College commitment: Providence College
Schelling is coming off a strong season in the North American Hockey League where he put up 11 goals, 31 assists and 42 points in 49 games.
Keith’s scouting report:
“Ryan is a kid that just understands the game. He has incredible hockey awareness. He’s always in the right position and always makes the right play. He’s also a leader that blocks shots and does all of the small things well. He’s a man of many hats.”
Ryan Comishock (2004, F)
Hometown: Enosburg Falls, Vt.- Previous team: Lonestar Brahmas (NAHL)
Comishock was Lonestar’s leading scorer last season, finishing his 2022-23 campaign with 33 points in 57 games on 16 goals and 17 assists.
Keith’s scouting report:
“Ryan is a big, heavy power forward with a hard shot. He’s also really smart and can make plays in tight. We wanted to bolster our group up front coming into this season. From last year’s playoff run, we ran into a bit of a heavier team, so we wanted to get a bit bigger and stronger and Ryan is the epitome of that.”
Arvega Hovsepyan (2003, F)
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.- Previous team: Wenatchee Wild (BCHL)
- College commitment: Michigan State University
Hovsepyan played for three different teams last year, starting with the Tri-City Storm and Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the USHL, then finishing his season with Wenatchee where he had 10 points in 26 regular-season games and another two in 10 postseason contests.
Keith’s scouting report:
“Arvega is a kid that I’ve been recruiting since he was 18 years old. His ceiling is so high. He had bit of an unfortunate last couple years in the USHL and hasn’t really had a chance to come into his own. We feel like this year is going to be his breakout year. He has the potential to be one of the best forwards in the league if he settles in.”
Miles Burgin (2006, F)
Hometown: Surrey, B.C.- Previous team: Valley West Giants AAA (BCEHL U18)
Burgin was a massive offensive producer last year for Valley West. He led the team with 29 goals in 36 games, good enough for third overall in the league, and was also second on the Giants and tied for fourth in the league with 62 points. Burgin had a taste of BCHL experience last year, playing five games with Surrey as an affiliate.
Keith’s scouting report:
“Miles is an energy bug. He just seems to always have his gas tank on full. He’s got a great offensive mind. He’ll come in as a younger player and learn from some of the older guys, but he’ll be a huge piece of our program going forward.”
Massimo Fazio (2005, F)
Hometown: Vancouver, B.C.- Previous team: Greater Vancouver Canadians AAA (BCEHL U18)
Fazio finished third in team scoring with Greater Vancouver last year, wrapping up his season with 48 points in 38 games. His 21 goals were also third best and put him just four off the team lead. Fazio played in three games with the Eagles as an affiliate during the regular season, then suited up for another five in the playoffs and scored his first goal in the league in their second-round matchup with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
Keith’s scouting report:
“When we brought Massimo in last year during the playoffs, he fit right in. He plays with heart and soul. He’s smart. He can shoot the puck and can play up and down our lineup. Massimo is another local kid that’s going to be a big part of this program.”
Joven Brar (2006, D)
Hometown: Surrey, B.C.- Previous team: Valley West Giants AAA (BCEHL U18)
Another player out of the Valley West U18 program, Brar played the last four seasons with the Giants and led their U18 team in points from the back end with 27 in 35 games in 2022-23. He also played one game with the Eagles last year as an affiliate.
Keith’s scouting report:
“He’s coming off a massive year with his U18 team. Joven is a kid that’s an elite skater with a great hockey mind. He’s also going to be a big part of this program going forward.”
Brock Devlin (2005, D)
Home state: California- Previous team: Anaheim Jr. Ducks (18U AAA)
Devlin piled up the points from the back end last year for the Junior Ducks. His 73 points in 70 games across all competition was by far the most among all Ducks blueliners. He also played high-school hockey for Santa Margarita Catholic and had 38 points in 25 games, also the highest among defencemen on his team.
Keith’s scouting report:
“Brock is a kid that you can’t tell if he’s playing defence or forward, which will be perfect on the Olympic-sized ice.”
Jagjeevan Panghura (2004, F)
Hometown: Surrey, B.C.- Previous team: Estevan Bruins (SJHL)
Panghura was Estevan’s third-leading point producer last year with 41 in 49 games. He also brings some BCHL experience, having played 33 games with the Prince George Spruce Kings in 2021-22.
Keith’s scouting report:
“Jag is big, heavy and smart. He’s probably got one of the hardest one-timers I’ve seen at this level. I know he’s itching to get back into the league and prove himself. We’re really excited about what he can bring.”
Carter Frankiw (2005, D)
Hometown: Sherwood Park, Alta.- Previous team: Lloydminster Bobcats (AJHL)
Frankiw chipped in two goals and three assists in 36 games during his rookie year in the Alberta Junior Hockey League last year.
Keith’s scouting report:
“He’s extremely smart and he’s got some edge to him. He can also skate well. There’s some huge offensive upside to him. He really compliments us on the back end where we needed to be a little bit grittier, but still have that offensive mind.”
Acquired via trade
Ajeet Gundarah (2003, G)
Hometown: Richmond, B.C.- Previous team: Langley Rivermen (BCHL)
Gundarah will be familiar to Eagles fans, having been stationed in the opponents crease for a large number of games the past few seasons when he was with the Rivermen. Gundarah finished in the top five in the BCHL in save percentage in each of the past two seasons and has a combined .922 save rate over that stretch. The Eagles acquired him in a three-team trade on June 8.
Keith’s scouting report:
“All you have to do is look at his statistics in the BCHL to see what he’s all about. We want to win a championship this year and we believe he’s the guy to take us there. We think he’s going to be the best goalie in the league. He’s a local kid with heart and soul. He’s going to be the guy this year and he’ll take us as far as we’re going to go.”
Liam Tanner (2003, F)
Hometown: Langley, B.C.- Previous team: Coquitlam Express (BCHL)
Tanner brings 126 games of BCHL experience, having been in the league since 2020-21. Last year, with the Express, he notched 11 goals, seven assists and 18 points in 51 contests.
Keith’s scouting report:
“We brought Liam in for his experience. He’s a local kid that plays a great two-way game. He’s a bigger, thicker kid that can play down low and is good on faceoffs. He does everything. We wanted to get bigger, stronger and more experienced to make more of a run this season and he was a big part of that line of thinking.”
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Photo credit: Dan Hickling (Devlin), Island Images (Gundarah), Garrett James Photography (Tanner)
