California Rubber

California’s and Nevada’s Authoritative Voice of Ice and Inline Hockey

California foursome signs with Wenatchee ahead of upcoming 2021-22 BCHL season

 

The Wenatchee Wild became a casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic last season and did not play during the 2020-21 campaign.

This season, the team is back in BCHL play and has announced the signing of four California natives to the upcoming season’s roster in forwards Owen Bohn (San Jose), Quinn Emerson (Manhattan Beach) and Jayden Price (Dove Canyon) and defenseman Jakob Karpa (Newport Beach).

Bohn played in three games for Wenatchee during the 2019-20 season, collecting one goal and one assist. During the 2020-21 season, Bohn returned home to the San Jose Jr. Sharks’ 18U AAA team where he picked up four goals and two assists for six points in four games. He then headed to the NCDC’s Philadelphia Hockey Club where he tallied eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points in 23 regular-season games. In the playoffs, he had two points in two games with a goal and an assist. He then returned to the Jr. Sharks’ 18U squad, going for two goals and two assists for four points in four games.

“I’m looking forward to playing hockey again with all this COVID stuff happening,” Bohn said. “I love how we play a fast game and score a lot of goals, so I’m excited for that,” Bohn said. “I think I’ll bring competitiveness and just the urge to win, wanting to win.”

Emerson returns to Wenatchee after playing for the Wild during the 2019-20 season. He recorded eight goals and eight assists for 16 points in 53 games that season and in the playoffs, added one goal in five games.

“We are very excited to have Quinn back with us this season,” said Wenatchee director of scouting Leigh Mendelson. “Quinn gives us versatility as a center or wing, he is a very reliable two-way player, and we expect him to add to his offensive production this season. Quinn has impeccable character and competitiveness, and we look forward to his leadership and experience to help our younger players transition to junior hockey while working to have his game to be ready to contribute next season at Bowling Green.”

Due to the Wild going dormant for a year due to COVID-19 border restrictions, Emerson played the 2020-21 season with the NAHL’s Lone Star Brahmas, registering two goals and three assists for five points in 34 games.

As a youth hockey standout, Emerson starred for the Los Angeles Jr. Kings.

Price can play as both a forward and defenseman and has played with four different junior hockey teams across three different leagues – the Salmon Arm Silverbacks of the BCHL, the Janesville Jets and Bismarck Bobcats of the NAHL and the NCDC’s Philadelphia Hockey Club.

During his time with Salmon Arm during the 2019-20 season, he collected five goals and 12 assists for 17 points. In his time with Bismarck, he picked up one goal and four assists for five points in 17 games. With Philadelphia, Price posted eight goals and 19 points in 22 games last season.

“I’m looking to have a good leadership role,” Price said. “I know we’re going to have a young team this year, so I want to be able to lead the team and help show these younger guys the right way to do things. I’m looking to be really active in the community. I’m a really big people person, and I like to hang out with people and fans. Scoring goals and being part of the community will be big for me.

“I’ve heard nothing but good stories about Wenatchee from my short time being there last year, just a really professional organization. They do stuff the right way, there’s no shortcuts, and I think that goes a long way. I’m just excited to get going again and playing some good hockey.”

Price is another Jr. Kings graduate.

Karpa has one season of junior hockey already under his belt after having spent 29 games with the NAHL’s Chippewa Steel in 2020-21, picking up two points with a goal and an assist.

“I think the BCHL’s a faster, more skilled game and they just kind of make decisions quicker and make plays,” Karpa said. “I like to think that I’m a pretty solid defenseman first, then if the opportunity’s there, jump in the offense. I’ve always thought the game pretty well and my skating is definitely a big asset to be able to move up and down the ice, get into space and create opportunity.

“I just want to have the best possible season I can and do the best I can. To be honest, just play my game consistently and see where it takes us from there.”

The Wild start the 2021-22 BCHL regular season on Saturday, October 9 with a 7 p.m. PDT game in Penticton.

(September 13, 2021)

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