Since the National Collegiate Athletic Association hockey season ended, more former BCHL products are getting their foot into the NHL door.
Twenty-seven players have signed contracts and tryouts with NHL teams. Of the 27, six played for the Penticton Vees on their 2012 national championship team. The most recent is Michael Garteig, who joined former teammate Troy Stecher by signing with the Vancouver Canucks. Others who have signed include Joey Benik with American Hockey League club Bakersfield, the Edmonton Oilers affiliate, Mario Lucia with the Minnesota Wild, Steven Fogarty with the New York Rangers and Bryce Gervais, an amateur tryout agreement with the Chicago Wolves, AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues, in late March. The Battlesford, SK., product completed his four-year career with the Minnesota State University Mavericks setting records for career games played and consecutive games played at 163, as reported on the Mavericks website. Gervais, who also played with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, owns the Mavericks record with nine shorthanded goals and is ranked sixth all-time in game-winning goals with 11. He finished with 67 goals and 101 points. In 10 regular season games with the Wolves, Gervais scored four goals and had six points.
Other BCHL teams having players sign are Powell River, Surrey, Nanaimo, Alberni Valley, Burnaby, Victoria, Salmon Arm, West Kelowna, Chilliwack, Vernon, Coquitlam, Prince George, Merritt and Langley. Of the 27 players, six were drafted by NHL teams.
Former Vee Curtis McKenzie played in his first NHL playoff game with the Dallas Stars, registering two shots and four hits in seven minutes and 18 seconds of ice time.