Presented by Chevrolet.
In the weeks leading up to the start of the 2024-25 season, we will go team-by-team to profile new players entering the league, as well as offseason acquisitions through trades. We speak with the coach/GM of each team to get their thoughts on the new crop of players.
Next up is the Trail Smoke Eaters.
+++
The Trail Smoke Eaters finished their 2023-24 campaign with a record of 28-20-6-0, good enough for fifth place in the Interior Conference. The Smokies matched up with the Vernon Vipers in the first round of the playoffs and were defeated in five games.
With less than a month to go until training camp, we caught up with head coach and general manager Tim Fragle to recap his team’s offseason additions.
New recruits
Deacon Drummond (2006, F)
Hometown: West Vancouver, B.C.- Previous team: North Shore Warriors Prep (CSSHL U18)
Drummond tied for the points league in all of the CSSHL with 64 in 34 games last year on 23 goals and 41 assists.
Fragle’s scouting report:
“He’s a hard-nosed, 200-foot player that plays the game the right way. He’s coming off a really good year in the CSSHL.”
Jared Coccimiglio (2004, F)
Hometown: Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.- Previous team: Philadelphia Rebels (NAHL)
- College commitment: University of Maine
Coccimiglio was Philadelphia’s leading goal-scorer in 2023-24 with 23 in 60 games, while his 37 points were second most on the team. Prior to last year, he played two seasons in the Ontario Junior Hockey League.
Fragle’s scouting report:
“He’s a slippery, skilled offensive player who put up good numbers in the OJHL and in the NAHL. We’re looking for production out of him.”
Dylan Lariviere (2005, F)
Hometown: Welland, Ont.- Previous team: Merritt Centennials (BCHL)
- College commitment: Rensselaer Polytechnic University
After playing one game with the Brooks Bandits to start last season, Lariviere made the move to the BCHL with Merritt and played 52 regular-season games with the Centennials, contributing 12 goals, 20 assists and 32 points in 52 contests, good enough to put him in third in team scoring.
Fragle’s scouting report:
“He’s a big kid with some junior experience, coming over from Merritt. He’s just a hard guy to handle and has a good skill set.”
Jack Ziliotto (2005, F)
Hometown: Waterdown, Ont.- Previous team: Merritt Centennials (BCHL)
- College commitment: Rensselaer Polytechnic University
Ziliotto evenly split his 46 BCHL games last year between the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and the Merritt Centennials. In total, he put up 22 points, 17 of which came with the Centennials.
Fragle’s scouting report:
“He’s a big forward with range and has a couple years of junior experience. We think, in an elevated role, he’ll be able to produce more offensively.”
Carter Matthews (2006, D)
Hometown: Calgary, Alta.- Previous team: Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL)
- College commitment: Rensselaer Polytechnic University
Matthews was the Kodiaks top point producer from the back end last year, notching 24 points in 52 games.
Fragle’s scouting report:
“He’s a dynamic, puck-moving defenceman. We’re looking to have him play a lot of minutes for us this year.”
Cooper Moore (2006, F)
Hometown: Red Deer, Alta.- Previous team: Red Deer Chiefs AAA (AEHL U18)
Moore was the Chiefs leading scorer with 56 points in 38 games last year, good enough for third overall in the Alberta under-18 league.
Fragle’s scouting report:
“He had a really strong season last year in Alberta. He’s a crafty, undersized forward who disrupts plays and has a good nose around the net.”
Jake Torget (2006, G)
Hometown: Langley, B.C.- Previous team: Fraser Valley Thunderbirds AAA (BCEHL U18)
Torget had a 17-3-1 record in 21 games with Fraser Valley last season and posted a 2.06 goals-against average with three shutouts.
Fragle’s scouting report:
“He was one of the best goalies in the BC Elite League last year. We were able to watch him play a number of times and got a good scouting report on him. We think he’s got a good opportunity this year to step in and make an impact.”
Drew Anastasio (2005, D)
Hometown: West Simsbury, Conn.- Previous team: The Loomis Chaffee School (USHS-Prep)
- College commitment: Quinnipiac University
Anastasio played for both Loomis Chaffee and the Yale Jr. Bulldogs under-18 program in his home state of Connecticut last season. He totaled 19 points in 29 games for his prep school team and another 12 points in 30 games for the Bulldogs.
Fragle’s scouting report:
“Drew is a good-skating, puck-moving defenceman that has a high IQ. We look forward to him stepping in and playing right away.”
Gavin Jensen (2005, F)
Hometown: Roseau, Minn.- Previous team: Roseau High (USHS-MN)
Jensen totaled 30 points in 38 games for Roseau in his home state of Minnesota last year.
Fragle’s scouting report:
“He’s a big forward with range at 6-foot-3 and has big potential in his game. He’s produced offensively in the past as well.”
Owen McCarthy (2008, D)
Hometown: Trail, B.C.- Previous team: RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna (CSSHL U18)
McCarthy spent the past two seasons with RINK Hockey Academy in Kelowna. In 2023-24, he put up a goal and 22 assists in 29 contests.
Fragle’s scouting report:
“He’s a good, young player. He skates well and is very competitive. He got into a few games for us last year against a good team like Penticton in the preseason and played really well. He’s a high-end talent.”
Brayden Rotach (2007, F)
Hometown: Castlegar, B.C.- Previous team: Okanagan Rockets AAA (BCEHL U18)
Rotach, who is a dual Canadian and Swiss citizen, finished his 2023-24 season with 47 points, second most on his Okanagan Rockets team.
Fragle’s scouting report:
“He’s a good, young local player who is coming off a strong year with the Okanagan Rockets. He’s really cerebral and he’s got a nice skill set.”
Josh Evaschesen (2006, F)
Hometown: Medicine Hat, Alta.- Previous team: Southern Alberta Hockey Academy Prep (CSSHL U18)
Evaschesen had 27 points in 23 games for Southern Alberta last year, good enough for fourth in team scoring, while his 14 goals were third most.
Fragle’s scouting report:
“He’s a player that just plays the game hard. He’s physical and in your face. He earned a spot out of our camp in the spring, based on his performance.”
Cash Carter (2006, F)
Hometown: St. Albert, Alta.- Previous team: St. Albert Raiders AAA (AEHL U18)
Carter was the captain of his under-18 team last year and finished as their third-leading scorer with 49 points in 36 games. He also played in one BCHL game as affiliate with Trail where he scored his first goal in the league.
Fragle’s scouting report:
“We liked what we saw from Cash when he finished the season with us last year. He’s a 200-foot player that plays hard and has some offensive upside to his game.”
Cohen Carter (2007, D)
Hometown: Drayton Valley, Alta.- Previous team: Southern Alberta Hockey Academy Prep (CSSHL U18)
The cousin of Smokies recruit Cash Carter, Cohen played for Southern Alberta in the CSSHL last year and put up four goals, five assists and nine points in 29 games.
Fragle’s scouting report:
“He’s a young, puck-moving defenceman with good size and high potential in his game.”
Acquired via trade
Evan Sundar (2005, F)
Hometown: St. Albert, Alta.- Previous team: Spruce Grove Saints (BCHL)
- College commitment: Minnesota State University
Sundar spent the past two seasons with Spruce Grove and totaled 11 points in 15 BCHL games last year. He was acquired by Trail in a trade on June 25.
Fragle’s scouting report:
“He’s a good addition for us. He brings a lot of speed and tenacity. We’re looking for him to contribute on the offensive side of things.”
Attila Lippai (2004, F)
Hometown: St. Paul, Minn.- Previous team: Penticton Vees (BCHL)
- College commitment: University of St. Thomas
Lippai put up nine goals, nine assists and 18 points in 48 games for Penticton in 2023-24.
Fragle’s scouting report:
“We like him. He plays hard and can be a pain to play against. We feel, with more of an opportunity, he can produce and contribute in all areas.”
Photo credits: CSSHL (Drummond, McCarthy, Evaschesen, Cohen Carter), Dan Hickling (Anastasio), Island Images (Lippai)
