The Vernon Vipers have signed forward Thomas Duhamel ahead of their next B.C. Hockey League contest.
Duhamel, 18, is a forward in his second season of junior hockey and brings experience from multiple high-level programs.
He joins the Vipers from his hometown Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and previously spent last season competing for the Utah Outliers in the United States Premier Hockey League’s National Collegiate Development Conference.
“I’m extremely excited to join the Vipers,” said Duhamel. “I can’t wait to get started.”
Said Vernon head coach and general manager Matt Cooke: “Thomas gives us a mature hockey player with an elite-level IQ and compete. Add in that he’s a right-shot centre, it gives us options for key faceoffs and more depth up the middle.”
Hockey runs deep in the Duhamel family.
Thomas’ father, Mario Duhamel, is currently an assistant coach with the Utah Mammoth of the NHL, adding to a strong pedigree at the highest level of the game.
He’s the second such player to join the Vipers in 2026. Vernon recently signed forward Cole Bieksa, son of longtime Vancouver Canucks defenceman and current Hockey Night in Canada analyst Kevin Bieksa.
Duhamel is expected to make his debut Wednesday, Jan. 21, when the Vipers host the Powell River Kings. Game time is 7 p.m. at Kal Tire Place.
Powell River kicks off an Interior road trip tonight, Tuesday, in Cranbrook, against the Bucks. Cranbrook starts the week one point ahead of Vernon in the battle for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Interior West Division.