Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the Dub: Rockets add Mohr with Topping out with ankle injury, Cougars sign Woodside and recall Herman and more

Written by Ben Dooley on

Rockets add ex-Blazer Mohr

The Kelowna Rockets have signed 1999-born Kobe Mohr to a WHL Education Contract. He had been playing with the Drumheller Dragons of the AJHL after being released by the Kamloops Blazers earlier this season. Before his release, he had one goal and two assists in six games with the Blazers this season. Since joining Drumheller he has been red hot with six goals and five assists in eight games.

The Rockets had an open overage spot with Kyle Topping going on the injured list with a broken ankle. Topping underwent surgery on Friday morning and there is no timetable for his return.

Cougars recall Herman, sign Woodside 

With Taylor Gauthier dealing with an injury and Tyler Brennan away at the World U-17 Challenge, the Prince George Cougars have recalled 2002-born Jacob Herman and signed 2001-born Carter Woodside to a three-game try-out contract.

Herman had been playing for the SMHL’s Swift Current Legionnaires where he had posted a 2.04 GAA and .930 Save Percentage with eight wins in 10 games. Woodside was with the Princeton Posse of the KIJHL and has played just one game this season with a 1.00 GAA and .960 save percentage. Previously signed by the Regina Pats, Woodside has played one WHL game with the Pats recording a 3.00 GAA and .889 save percentage.

WHL working on plans to improve American presence in league 

Our Guy Flaming reports the WHL is working on finalizing plans for a Seattle-hosted hockey tournament for bantam-aged players. The league is also planning to hold a two-round American draft in the spring of 2020. The hope is this would improve the American presence in the WHL. For full details, you can check out Guy’s article here.

Donahoe released from Thunderbirds active roster 

Defenseman Hunter Donohoe has been released from the Seattle Thunderbirds after playing nine games this season and tallying one assist. He’s expected to join a Junior A club but it’s not known which team he will report to. He last played Junior A with the BCHL’s Surrey Eagles playing three games in the 2016-17 season.

Plenty of international hockey in the coming days as Medicine Hat, AB & Swift Current, SK play host to the 2019 IIHF World U17 Hockey Challenge. If you are traveling to either city, consider DUBNetwork’s new hotel partners: HomeStay Inn & Suites – Medicine Hat and the Days Inn Swift Current. Call to reserve your room and mention the Company Profile “DUBNetwork” to save 15% off the Best Available Rates.

Milestones 

  • Ethan Kruger recorded his first WHL shutout with the Brandon Wheat Kings
  • Drew Englot scored his first WHL goal for the Regina Pats
  • Roddy Ross did a rare thing on Friday, notching a point as a goalie in Seattle’s 5-2 loss to the Tri-City Americans. Reid Schaefer also made his WHL debut for the Thunderbirds.
  • On the opposing side, Sam Stewart scored his first WHL goal for the Tri-City Americans.

Jokiharju scores first NHL goal 

Henri Jokiharju (134 GP, 21 G, 98 A with the Portland Winterhawks) scored his first NHL goal for the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night. Originally drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks, Jokiharju was acquired by Buffalo for Alex Nylander.

Wahl heads to Germany 

Mitch Wahl (273 GP, 98 G, 186 A with the Spokane Chiefs) has signed in Germany for the remainder of the season. Wahl started the year in Slovakia but requested his release after recording six goals and three assists in 10 games.

Troubling Moments 

Brandon Wheat Kings defenseman Braden Schneider could be looking at a suspension for this play on Swift Current Broncos forward Joona Kiviniemi. Schneider was handed a five minute major and game misconduct for the hit while Kiviniemi did not return to the game.

Late in the second period of the same game, Swift Current’s Garrett Sambrook was given a five minute major and game misconduct for this hit which sent Brandon’s Riley Ginnell into the boards. .

Three Stars of the Night

First Star: Moose Jaw’s Brayden Tracey scored four goals in a 5-2 win over Red Deer

Second Star: Lethbridge’s Oliver Okuliar had three goals and one assist on three shots in an 8-2 win over the Winnipeg ICE

Third Star: Kelowna’s Pavel Novak posted three goals and added an assist in a 6-2 over Prince George.

Honourable Mentions:

Kelowna’s Nolan Foote and Lethbridge’s Dylan Cozens each had a goal and three assists. Ryder Korczak had four assists for Moose Jaw.