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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 are the West Kelowna Warriors.
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The West Kelowna Warriors were the second seed in the Interior Conference last season after putting together a 33-10-11-0 regular-season record. After defeating the Cranbrook Bucks in seven games in the opening round of the postseason, they were defeated by the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in five games of round two.
With an eye on 2024-25, we connected with head coach and general manager Simon Ferguson to highlight his new recruits for the fall.
New recruits
Dawson Labre (2004, G)
Hometown: Les Cèdres, Que.- Previous team: Smiths Falls Bears (CCHL)
- College commitment: Ohio State University
Labre spent the past two seasons with Smiths Falls of the Central Canada Hockey League. In 2023-24, he owned a .920 save percentage, 2.16 goals-against average and a record of 24-13-0 to go along with a pair of shutouts.
Ferguson’s scouting report:
“Dawson is a big goalie that we spent a lot of time watching throughout the year. We expect him to push to be one of the top goalies in the league.”
Elias Callgren (2004, F)
Hometown: Luleå, Sweden- Previous team: Luleå HF (J20 Nationell)
Callgren has spent his entire hockey career before this season with his hometown team of Luleå. In 2023-24, while playing with their under-20 club, he led them with 24 goals in 41 games and finished with 34 points.
Ferguson’s scouting report:
“Elias is a big power forward who has an elite scoring touch. We expect his game to translate very well to the BCHL. He should be able to physically dominate with his size and skating ability.”
Frankie D’Ancona (2004, F)
Hometown: St. James, N.Y.- Previous team: Northeast Generals (NAHL)
D’Ancona spent the majority of the past two seasons with the Generals. In 2023-24, he finished with 20 goals, 27 assists and 47 points in 59 games.
Ferguson’s scouting report:
“Frankie is a speedy top-end scorer who netted a bunch of goals in the NAHL last year. We are looking for him to be a top point producer in the league.”
Dylan Krayer (2007, F)
Hometown: Concord, Mass.- Previous team: Mount St. Charles Academy (16U AAA)
- College commitment: Arizona State University
Krayer put up impressive number for Mount St. Charles Academy’s under-16 team last year, piling up 53 points in 37 games. After scoring in one of his two appearances with the Warriors as an affiliate in the regular season, he made a name for himself in the 2024 BCHL postseason, scoring two goals and adding two assists in 12 playoff contests.
Ferguson’s scouting report:
“Dylan scored a couple of key goals in the playoffs for us last year. He is an exciting player who we think, even at his young age, can come in and contribute offensively every night.”
Luciano Bruno (2006, F)
Hometown: Woodbridge, Ont.- Previous team: Toronto Patriots (OJHL)
- College commitment: Clarkson University
Bruno was the Patriots second-leading scorer in 2023-24, piling up 42 points in 38 games.
Ferguson’s scouting report:
“Luciano is a top young forward out of Ontario who plays with speed and grit. We watched him a lot throughout the season and we expect him to take a top role making jump from the OJHL.”
Zach Ferris (2005, G)
Hometown: Venetia, Pa.- Previous team: Johnstown Tomahawks (NAHL)
In his first season in the North American Hockey League, Ferris posted a .924 save percentage, a 2.64 goals-against average and three shutouts in 27 appearances.
Ferguson’s scouting report:
“Zach is coming off a really strong season in the NAHL. He is a hyper-competitive kid who we think is going to push for starts, which will be a benefit for [fellow goaltender] Dawson [Labre] and the team going into the playoffs.”
Kelsen Podworny (2007, F)
Hometown: Onoway, Alta.- Previous team: RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna (CSSHL U18)
Podworny was his team’s second-leading scorer in 2023-24, just one point back of the team lead with 48 points in 30 games, including a team-high 20 goals.
Ferguson’s scouting report:
“Kelsen is another local product, coming out of RINK Academy in Kelowna, who has an elite shot and hands. We think that, if he commits to following our development plan on and off the ice, he will be a top point producer in the BCHL in the coming years.”
Logan Flint (2007, F)
Hometown: Cranbrook, B.C.- Previous team: Yale Hockey Academy Prep (CSSHL U18)
Flint totaled nine goals, 17 assists and 26 points in 29 games for Yale last year. He played in one game as an affiliate for the Warriors last season.
Ferguson’s scouting report:
“Logan is a resident of Kelowna and has spent time with academies in the area. He showed well when he joined us last season in the playoffs. He is a young, hard-nosed power forward that has finish. We think that, with some development, he could become a consistent contributor for our team.”
Laz Giardina (2006, F)
Hometown: Reading, Mass.- Previous team: Lawrence Academy (USHS-Prep)
Giardina put up 21 points in 27 games in prep school last year on 11 goals and 10 assists.
Ferguson’s scouting report:
“Laz is a big power forward who impressed us in our Boston development camp for the second year in a row. He makes the opposing team look over their shoulders when he’s on the ice with his physicality in a way I haven’t seen in a long time. Once he continues to develop his offensive instincts, he will be a tough player for visiting teams to handle.”
Brady Flynn (2006, D)
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio- Previous team: Shattuck St. Mary’s 18U (USHS-Prep)
In his second season with Shattuck St. Mary’s in 2023-24, Flynn had four goals and 10 assists in 51 games across all competition.
Ferguson’s scouting report:
“Brady attended our Boston development camp and impressed the coaching staff, earning a commitment. He was the top goal scorer among defencemen on his under-16 team at Shattuck, while also showing us in Boston that he can play a solid physical defensive game. We expect him to show he can be an impact player out of the gates.”
Aidan Malone (2006, D)
Hometown: Kelowna, B.C.- Previous team: Okanagan HC (JPHL U18)
Malone put up 18 points in 28 games for Okanagan HC last year and also appeared in two games as an affiliate for the Warriors, including one postseason contest.
Ferguson’s scouting report:
“Aidan played on our JPHL Warriors under-18 team and they did an incredible job pushing his development to the next level. He has a high IQ, can make plays and can skate. He will be an exciting player for us next year and in the coming seasons as well.”
Maddox Watson (2006, F)
Hometown: Kelowna, B.C.- Previous team: Okanagan HC (JPHL U18)
Watson tied for third in team scoring with Okanagan HC last year with 31 points in 26 games on nine goals and 22 assists. He also has three games of BCHL experience as an affiliate with the Trail Smoke Eaters during the 2022-23 campaign.
Ferguson’s scouting report:
“Maddox is another local player who had a big year with our JPHL team. When he uses his size, physicality and shot, he can be a tough player for opponents to deal with.”
Photo credits: Dan Hickling (Krayer, Ferris, Giardina, Flynn), CSSHL (Podworny, Flint)
