PENTICTON, B.C. – The BC Hockey League (BCHL) announced the rosters for the 2023 BCHL Top Prospects Game on Thursday, and six Penticton Vees have been named to the Team East roster.
Defencemen Gabriel Guilbault and Ryan Hopkins, along with forwards Hiroki Gojsic, Bradly Nadeau, Josh Nadeau, and Aydar Suniev will suit up for Team East.
Also, Vees’ President, General Manager & Head Coach Fred Harbinson has been named the Head Coach for Team East.
The 2023 BCHL Top Prospects Game, featuring Team West versus Team East, is set for Friday, January 20, at the SOEC; puck drop is 6:00 pm. The game is part of the BCHL’s 60th Anniversary All-Star Weekend in Penticton, January 20-21, 2023.
Tickets are now on sale for the Top Prospects game. Tickets are just $5. Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. Vees’ Season Ticket Members get free tickets, based on their Season Ticket package.
Guilbault, 16, is in his Rookie season with the Vees. The Burnaby, BC product has suited up for 10 games this season. The 6’2, 162-pound blueliner won a silver medal with Team Canada Red at the 2022 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge last month in Langley, BC.
Hopkins, 18, is in his second season with the Vees and sits third in scoring among defencemen in the BCHL with 24 points (7G, 17A) in 23 games. His seven goals is tied for second by defencemen in the league. Hopkins is committed to the University of Maine.
Hiroki Gojsic is in his 16-year-old Rookie season. The product of Langley, BC has 12 points (5G, 7A) in 15 games. His five goals is second-most among 16-year-old Rookies in the BCHL.
Bradly Nadeau, 17, has a share of the BCHL scoring lead with 50 points (25G, 25A) in 24 games. Bradly and older brother Josh are tied on points. Bradly leads the BCHL in goals (25), assists (25), power play goals (9), and game-winning goals (6). He is currently riding a six-game point streak, where he has eight goals and 14 points. Bradly is listed as a ‘B’ ranked prospect on NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary Players to Watch list for the 2023 NHL Draft. He was the BCHL Second Star for the month of November. Bradly committed to the University of Maine.
Josh Nadeau, 19, is tied with younger brother Bradly for the most points in the BCHL with 50 (15G, 35A) in 24 games. He has a league best 35 assists. He and his younger brother are the only two players in the BCHL averaging over two points per game. Nadeau was recently named the BCHL First Star for the month of October. He is also committed to the University of Maine.
Aydar Suniev is the top Rookie scorer in the BCHL with 37 points (16G, 21A) in 21 games. He leads all Rookies in goals (16), assists (21), and tied for top spot in power play goals with four. Suniev is a ‘C’ ranked prospect in NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary rankings for the 2023 NHL Draft. Suniev is committed to the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Tickets for the 2023 BCHL Top Prospects Game are available at the Valley First box office, or online at www.valleyfirsttix.com
