Allen Douglas
2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup

Daily Dose of the Dub: Rosters coming together for U18 Hlinka Gretzky Cup; Hurricanes and Blazers make a trade

Written by Brandon Rivers on

As we near the start of the U18 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, we are finding out more of the eight competing country’s rosters. Lets take a look at some that we know.

Finland’s 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup roster announced:

-There is no WHL representation on the roster. The only three recently drafted import picks who were eligible were Swift Current’s Joona Kiviniemi and Roope Pynonnen and Kamloops’ Joonas Sillinpaa. Of the three, Kivineimi is the only one to play for Finland’s U17 team last year. He also played for Finland’s U16 team back in 2016-17.

Slovakia

-For Slovakia, forward Peter Melcher – who was recently drafted by the Everett Silvertips  – was the only WHL-related player eligible to make the team. He actually played as a 16-year-old a year ago and potted an assist on the silver-medal winning team. Interestingly though, he was not named to this year’s team.

Czech Republic

-The Czech Republic has three players drafted to WHL teams on their Hlinka Gretzky Cup roster. They are forwards Matej Toman – Prince George, Martin Lang – Kamloops and defenseman Simon Kubicek – Seattle. Lang is the only one who has signed a standard player agreement so far.

Russia

-Red Deer import pick Oleg Zaitsev, Medicine Hat pick Vasiliy Podkolzin and Regina selections Sergei Alkhimov and Nikita Sedov are on their roster. Zaitsev, Alkhimov and Sedov have been signed by their WHL teams.

 

–Sweden announced their team last week and it did not have any WHL-drafted players on it. Saskatoon Blades drafted forward Emil Malysjev was the only player eligible to be named, but was not selected,

-Switzerland has yet to announce their team, though Portland Winterhawks drafted forward Dean Schwenninger seems likely to be named. No other player taken by a WHL team in the CHL Import Draft from Switzerland is eligible.

USA Hockey

-Spokane Chiefs forward Luke Toporowski and Everett Silvertips goalie Dustin Wolf made the U18 team for USA Hockey.

Hockey Canada U18 camp continues

The second of three game days took place in Calgary as Team White got revenge for their 5-4 loss to Team Red on Monday with a 2-0 shutout win Tuesday.

Prince George Cougars goalie Taylor Gauthier made his case for one of the goaltending spots on Hockey Canada’s U18 team at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup by stopping all 26 shots he faced. The outing was his first at the camp and had to make a good impression on those selecting who will play for Hockey Canada in Edmonton next week when the Hlinka Gretzky Cup begins.

Saskatoon Blades forward Kirby Dach continued his strong camp with an assist – his second point in as many games for Team White. Kootenay ICE forward Peyton Krebs also had an assist for White.

The Hlinka Gretzky Cup begins on Monday October 6th with games in Red Deer and Edmonton.

BC U16 Provincial Camp rolls on

Three teams full of 2003-born BC hockey players competed on a second day of games on Tuesday. Team BC Blue played twice this day, losing their first game to Team BC White 3-2, before beating Team BC Yellow 3-1.

The players in camp are trying to earn a spot on BC’s U16 team at the Canada Winter Games in February.

The last day of games goes tomorrow with Team BC White being the last to play two short games in one day.

Matthew Seminoff (Kamloops Blazers drafted and signed forward) is the early star of the camp as he has three goals in as many games for Team BC Blue. Calgary Hitmen draft pick Zackary Funk also has three points in three games.

Blazers and Hurricanes make a move

New Kamloops general manager Matt Bardsley made his first trade Tuesday as he moved 2000-born winger Jackson Shepard to the Lethbridge Hurricanes for 1999-born center Zane Franklin and a fourth-round Bantam Draft pick in 2020.

Franklin, who was a gritty fan favorite in Lethbidge was a second round pick by Lethbridge back in 2014. After putting up 14 points and 103 penalty minutes in his first full season with Lethbridge in 2016-17, he potted 14 goals and 24 assists for 38 points in 67 games last year. Then he had a strong postseason with six point in the ‘Canes trip to the Eastern Conference Final.

The right-handed Franklin was an assistant captain with Lethbridge last year and already has some familiarity with two of his new teammates.

Shepard brings speed and grit to the Hurricanes. He also reunites with Brent Kisio, the head coach on his gold medal winning Hockey Canada U18 team at last year’s Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.

Shepard was a key penalty killer on that team and the Blazers last season and could be employed in a similar role with Lethbridge. He had 22 points in 72 games last year with Kamloops and was originally a second round pick by them back in 2015.

Links and notes:

-Former Saskatoon Blades goalie Braden Holtby is celebrating his day with the Stanley Cup by returning to his hometown of Lashburn.

-The Kootenay ICE announced they had extended their radio deal with 102.9 The Drive.