Diego Cuglietta has signed on to play for the BCHL’s Merritt Centennials for the 2012-13 season.

Cuglietta, a Kamloops Minor Hockey product, spent last season with the KIJHL’s Kamloops Storm.

As a 16-year-old, he finished with 38 points, 13 of them goals, and 74 penalty minutes in 50 regular-season games. Cuglietta also appeared in 12 playoff games, scoring five goals and assisting on four others.

“Diego is a classic power forward or centre who has tremendous offensive upside and should have an excellent year with the Centennials,” said Storm owner and general manager Barry Dewar, in a press release. “The Storm are pleased that Diego has accepted the position in the BCHL and we know that coach Luke Pierce of the Centennials will help him in advancing his hockey career.”

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B.C. Hockey’s Under-17 B.C. Cup tournament is set to open May 9 in Salmon Arm, and the region will be well represented at the five-day event.

A total of 120 players — all born in 1996 — have been divided into six teams, each with an NHL name.

Team Bruins will feature forward Carson Bolduc, a Salmon Arm native who played for the Jardine’s Blazers in 2010-11, when they won the Kamloops International Bantam Ice Hockey Tournament. Bolduc played for the major-midget Thompson Blazers last season — Thompson’s head coach, Tyler Forsythe, is working as an assistant coach with Team Bruins at the B.C. Cup.

Troy Clifford, a Kamloops resident, will serve as the Bruins’ trainer.

Chad Butcher, another Thompson Blazers forward, will suit up for Team Canucks, as will goaltender Kyle Michalovsky, who played for the midget Tier 1 North Kamloops Lions last season.

Mitchel Barker, a forward, and defenceman Matt Murray are scheduled to play for Team Flyers. Both players were on the major-midget Blazers squad in 2011-12.

Defenceman Joe Hicketts and forward Connor Brown-Maloski are on Team Sabres, whose team director is Troy Mick, a former head coach of the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers and now general manager and head coach of the BCHL’s Salmon Arm SilverBacks. Hicketts played at Penticton’s Okanagan Hockey Academy last season, while Brown-Maloski was with Thompson.

Wes Matsuda, a defenceman for the Thompson Blazers, is a member of Team Stars, as is forward Ryan Gropp, who played at the Okanagan Hockey Academy.

Team Wild’s roster includes goaltender Liam McLeod and defenceman Carter Cochrane, both members of the Thompson Blazers.

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The Kamloops Blaze under-14 girls soccer team played to a scoreless draw with Vernon’s U15 squad on Sunday.

Brenna Worsfold had the shutout for the Blaze.