B.C. Division, Insight, U.S. Division

Daily Dose of Dub: Cross Hanas at USA Hockey’s Select 16 camp

Written by Brandon Rivers on

The development camps continue for USA Hockey with the Select 16 camp going July 7th-13th in Amherst, New York. The 180 players invited compete on 10 teams, each vying for a spot on one of the two all star teams at the end of camp. The best from that event are then named to the U-17 roster for the Five Nations Tournament. The tournament, which the U.S. has won three straight times, takes place August 15-19 in Piestany, Slovakia.

After seeing six players that have signed WHL standard player agreements take part in the Select 17 camp, only one WHL-committed player is at the Select 16 camp.

That player is forward Cross Hanas, who was taken in the fourth round of the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft by the Portland Winterhawks and has subsequently signed with them.

Besides Hanas though there were 11 others who have either been drafted or listed by WHL teams. Four of those 11 have committed to NCAA schools with the remaining seven not committed to either route as of yet.

(There could be other listed players who were invited to the camp. I only listed those here that I could find record of online. All player information was gathered from eliteprospects.com).

Cross Hanas – Forward- Team Red #13 – Portland Winterhawks. He had six points in three games at the USA Select 15 camp last year and already has two assists in his first game – a 6-3 Team Red win over Team Royal- on Sunday. He then potted two more points in Team Red’s 5-4 loss to Team Columbia Monday. He is currently tied for third in camp scoring.

Hanas on the right from when he signed with Portland (photo from Portland Winterhawks)

Aidan Thompson – Forward- Team Royal #12 – Portland Winterhawks. He had a goal and an assist in his first game and the shootout winner in his second game. He was a seventh round pick by the Winterhawks. He has already committed to the University of Denver starting in 2020.

Cameron Berg- Forward – Team Royal #20 – Seattle Thunderbirds. Berg had an assist in his first game at camp and potted a goal in his second. He was a ninth round pick by Seattle and has committed to the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Joe Miller- Forward- Team Royal #19 – Portland Winterhawks. Miller came to Portland’s Neely Cup last summer and was added to the protected list. Miller had an assist in his first game of camp and another in his second. He has committed to the University of Minnesota.

Andrew Ramsey – Defense- Team White #4 – Victoria Royals. Ramsey was drafted by the Royals in the 12th round. He won the NAPHL U16 title last year with the Arizona Bobcats program.He had an assist on Monday in White’s 5-4 loss to Royal.

Hunter Hastings – Forward- Team Forest #10 – Spokane Chiefs. Hastings was drafted in the eighth round of the 2017 Bantam Draft by Spokane. He won the NAPHL with Ramsey last season.

Matthew Knies – Forward – Team Gold #19 – Portland Winterhawks. Knies was added to the Winterhawks protected list last season while with the Phoenix Coyotes U16 team.

Carter Loney – Forward- Team Columbia #18 – Victoria Royals. Loney, who is originally from Winnipeg, but still at USA’s camp was drafted by the Royals in the 10th round. He plays for the Rink Hockey Academy in Winnipeg. He had an assist in Columbia’s 5-4 win over Team Red Monday.

Zach Michaelis – Forward- Team Orange #18 – Prince George Cougars. Michaelis was taken in the fourth round of the 2017 draft by the Cougars. He is from Elk River, Minnesota and has committed to play for the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Jackson Nieuwendyk – Forward – Team Columbia #12 – Portland Winterhawks. Jackson is the son of longtime NHLer Joe Nieuwendyk and was drafted by Portland in the 12th round. He has yet to commit to a college and was a teammate of Hanas and Nick Perna with the Dallas Stars U16 team. Both Perna and Hanas have signed with Portland. He had his first point in Columbia’s win Monday – an assist.

Tristan Rand – Forward – Team Kelly #10 – Tri-City Americans. Rand was drafted in the eighth round by Tri-City out of the Anaheim Duck Jr program. He had a goal in Kelly’s 3-2 victory over Team Orange Monday.

Riley Stuart – Forward – Team Black #17 – Tri-City Americans. Stuart was taken in the fourth round by the Americans. He played last year with the Phoenix Jr Coyotes U16 team. He had an assist on Monday in Black’s 6-4 loss to Gold.

Oleg Zaitsev signs with Red Deer

The first WHL import from last month’s CHL Import draft has signed with the team that drafted them. The 2001-born center from Russia was the 17th overall pick in the draft. Zaitsev is listed as six-foot-0ne and 185 pounds. He played last year with the MHK Dynamo Moskva of the MHL. He played in 48 games and scored eight goals and 19 assists for 27 points. Zaitsev also played in the U-17 World Hockey Challenge for Russia, potting two goals and three assists for five points.

Red Deer had recent luck with a Russian in Alexander Alexeyev and are looking to repeat the fete.

Jeff de Wit added

Also in the same release the Rebels announced that the had added overage forward Jeff de Wit to their protected list. De Wit is from Red Deer and was drafted by them in 2013. He was then moved to Regina at the trade deadline of the 2016-17 season. Regina then dealt him to Kootneay at the start of the 2017-18 season. The Ice then moved him one last time to the Victoria Royals last year. Victoria has since released him as they felt the crunch of getting down to three overage players.

Red Deer themselves are over the limit of 20-year-olds. Goalie Riley Lamb, d-man Colin Paradis and forwards Brandon Hagel and Reese Johnson are all overage options.

As for Victoria, they got even leaner at the forward position. Here is what I have their most recent forward depth chart.

LW Center RW
Kaid Oliver (00) Dante Hannoun (98)^ Lane Zablocki (98)^
Igor Martynov (99)# Braydon Buziak (98)^ Dino Kambeitz (00)
Andrei Grishakov (99)# Tyus Gent (01) Tarun Fizer (01)
D-Jay Jerome (99) Ty Yoder (02) Alex Bolshakov (02)*

There is a possibility that two more forwards will be gone off of this group as they are still at five overage players with Hannoun, Zablocki and Buziak up front and d-man Ralph Jarratt and goalie Griffen Outhouse.

Hannoun and Outhouse would seem to have strong markets for trade, but that is if the Royals want to completely retool and plan for next year. They will definitely have to sign some players regardless of the three overagers they go with.

More NHL Development Camp invites out

Here is who each NHL team has invited and how they got them. I have the final number as 101 players born in 1998, 1999 and 2000 attending camp and also eligible to return to the WHL. That is a big drop from the 120 that attended during the summer of 2017.

Of those 101 players, 34 are likely not coming back to the WHL as they have signed professional contracts or are – in the case of Daniel Bukac – are going to the OHL. That leaves just 67 players going to camps that likely be back for the 2018-19 WHL season.

Here are the numbers from each WHL team. Portland leads the way with nine after leading the way last year with 12. Regina and Swift Current each have seven.

Brandon: 5

Calgary :3

Edmonton: 1

Everett: 6

Kamloops: 4

Kelowna: 5

Kootenay: 2

Lethbridge: 2

Medicine Hat: 6

Moose Jaw: 6

Portland: 9

Prince Albert: 3

Prince George: 2

Red Deer: 4

Regina: 7

Saskatoon: 3

Seattle: 2

Spokane: 7

Swift Current: 7

Tri-City: 6

Vancouver: 6

Victoria:5

Anaheim (3): Josh Mahura (D) – 1998 – Regina Pats – Drafted 3rd round 2016 – signed, Kyle Olson (C) – 1999 – Tri-City Americans – Drafted 4th round 2017 – injured, Sam Steel (C) – 1998 – Regina- Drafted 1st round 2016 – signed.

Arizona (3): Max Gerlach (RW) – 1998 – Saskatoon Blades – Invite, Tyler Steenbergen (LW) – 1998 – Swift Current Broncos – Free Agent – signed, David Tendeck (G) 1999 – Vancouver Giants – Drafted 6th round 2018.

Boston (1): Daniel Bukac (D) – 1998 – Brandon Wheat Kings – Drafted 7th round 2017.

-Bukac has since been released by Brandon.

Sam Steel-Keith Hershmiller Photo

Buffalo (1): Max Patterson (RW) – 1999 – Swift Current – Invite.

Calgary (10): Jake Christiansen (D) – 1999 – Everett Silvertips – Invite, Dalton Hamaliuk (D) – 1998 – Spokane Chiefs – invite, Joel Lakusta (D) – 1998 – Prince George Cougars – invite, Igor Merezhko (D) – 1998 – Lethbridge Hurricanes – invite, Brayden Pachal (D) – 1999 – Prince Albert Raiders – invite, Juuso Vålimåki (D) – 1998 – Tri-City  -Drafted 1st round 2017 – singed, Egor Zamula (D) – 2000 – Calgary Hitmen – 2000 – invite, Dillon Dube (C) – Kelowna Rockets – 1998 – Drafted 2nd round 2016 – signed, Matthew Phillips (C) – Victoria – 1998 – Drafted 6th round 2017 – signed, Milos Roman (C) – Vancouver – 1999 – Drafted 2018 4th round.

Carolina (4): Stelio Mattheos (C) – 1999 – Brandon – Drafted 3rd round – 2017, Jake Bean (D) – 1998 – Tri-City – Drafted 1st round 2016 – signed, Morgan Geekie (C) – 1998 – Tri-City- Drafted 3rd round 2017- signed, Brendan De Jong (D) – 1998 – Portland – Drafted 5th round 2017.

Chicago (1): Henri Jokiharju (D) – 1999 – Portland – Drafted 1st round – 2017 – signed.

Colorado (6): Nick Henry (RW) – 1999 – Regina – Drafted 4th round 2017, Ty Lewis (LW) – Brandon  – 1998 – Free Agent -signed, Josh Anderson (D) – Swift Current – Drafted 3rd round 2016 – signed, Cole Reinhardt (C) – 2000 -Brandon –  invite, Robbie Holmes (LW) – 1999 – Regina – invite, Sean Strange (D) – 2000 – Kamloops Blazers – invite.

Columbus (1): Trey Fix-Wolansky (RW) – 1999 – Edmonton Oil Kings – Drafted 7th round 2018.

Dallas (4): Ondrej Vala (D) – 1998 – Everett – Free Agent – signed, Jermaine Loewen (RW) – 1998 – Kamloops Blazers – Drafted 7th round 2018, Brett Davis (RW) – 1999 – Kootenay ICE – Drafted 6th round 2017, Dawson Barteaux (D) – 2000 – Red Deer Rebels – Drafted 6th round 2018.

Detroit (3): Dennis Cholowski (D) – 1998 – Portland Winterhawks – Drafted 1st round – 2016- signed, Michael Rasmussen (C) – 1999 – Tri-City – Drafted 1st round 2017 – signed, Lane Zablocki (RW) – 1998 – Victoria – Drafted 3rd round 2017.

Edmonton (3): Kailer Yamamoto (RW) – 1998 – Spokane  – Drafted 1st round 2017 – signed, Stuart Skinner (G) – 1998 – Swift Current – Drafted 3rd round 2017 – signed, Tyler Benson (RW) – 1998 – Vancouver – Drafted 1st round 2016 – signed.

Yamamoto (NHL.com)

Florida (2): Linus Nassen (D) – 1998 – Medicine Hat Tigers – invite, Dylan MacPherson (D) – 1998 – Medicine Hat – invite.

Los Angeles (2): Kale Clague (D) – 1998 – Moose Jaw – Drafted 2nd round 2016, signed. Jaret Anderson-Dolan (C) – 1999 – Spokane  – Drafted 2nd round 2017 – signed

Minnesota (2): Connor Dewar (LW) – 1999 – Everett – Drafted 3rd round 2018, Mason Shaw (C) – 1998 – Medicine Hat – Drafted 4th round 2017 – signed.

Montreal (7): Cole Fonstad (C) – 2000 – Prince Albert – Drafted 5th round 2018, Brandon Hagel (LW) – 1998 – Red Deer – invite, Ryan Hughes (LW) – 1999 – Portland – invite, Josh Brook (D) – 1999 – Moose Jaw – Drafted 2nd round 2017, Cale Fleury (D) – 1998 – Regina – Drafted 3rd round 2017, Jarret Tyszka (D) 1999 – Seattle – Drafted 5th round 2017, Scott Walford (D) – 1999 – Victoria Royals – Drafted 3rd round 2017 – injured.

Nashville (1): Vladislav Yeryomenko (D) – 1999 – Calgary – Drafted 5th round 2018.

New Jersey (1): Ty Smith (D) – 2000 – Spokane  – Drafted 1st round 2018.

New York Islanders (1): Kieffer Bellows (LW) – 1998 – Portland – Drafted 1st round 2016 – signed, David Quenneville (D) – 1998 – Medicine Hat – Drafted 7th round 2016 – signed.

New York Rangers (3): Brett Howden (C) – 1998 – Moose Jaw Warriors – Trade with Tampa Bay – signed, Libor Hajek (D) – 1998 – Regina Pats – Trade with Tampa Bay – signed, Ty Ronning (RW) – 1998 – Vancouver – Drafted 7th round 2017 – signed.

Ottawa (3): Jordan Hollett (G) – 1999 – Medicine Hat – Drafted 6th round 2017, Luka Burzan (C) – 2000 – Brandon – invite, Parker Kelly (C) – 1999 – Prince Albert – Free agent – signed.

Philadelphia (2): Carter Hart (G) – 1998 – Everett – Drafted 2nd round 2016 – signed, Wyatte Wylie (D) – 2000 – Drafted 5th round 2018.

Pittsburgh (3): Calen Addison (D) – 2000 – Lethbridge – Drafted 2nd round 2018, Justin Almeida (C) – 1999 – Moose Jaw – Drafted 5th round 2018, Brodi Stuart (LW) – 2000 – Kamloops – invite.

-Jordy Bellerive not attending rookie camp.

Joachim Blichfeld (photo by Ben Ludeman/Portland Winterhawks)

San Jose (5): Joachim Blichfeld (RW) – 1998 – Portland – Drafted 7th round 2016 – signed, Jake Gricius (C) – 1999 – Portland – invite, Jake McGrew (RW) – 1999 – Spokane – Drafted 6th round, Kyle Topping (C) – 1999 – Kelowna – invite, Max Paddock (G) – 2000 – Regina – invite.

St Louis (2): Joel Hofer (G) – 2000 – Swift Current – Drafted 4th round 2018, Tanner Kaspick (C) – 1998 – Victoria – Drafted 4th round 2016 – signed.

Tampa Bay (4): Cal Foote (D) – 1998 – Kelowna  – Drafted 1st round 2017 – signed, Oleg Sosunov (D) – 1998 – Moose Jaw –  Drafted 6th round 2016 – signed, Jackson Leppard (LW) – 2000 – Prince George – invite, Chase Wouters (C) – 2000 – Saskatoon – invite.

Toronto (3): Riley Stotts (C) – 2000 – Calgary – Drafted 3rd round 2018, Filip Kral (D) – 1999 – Spokane – Drafted 5th round 2018, Eli Zummack (C) – 2000 – Spokane – invite.

-Ian Scott not attending rookie camp.

Vancouver (6): Kole Lind (RW) – 1998 – Kelowna – Drafted 2nd round – signed, Liam Kindree (LW) – 2000 – Kelowna – invite, Dylan Plouffe (D) – 1999 – Vancouver – invite, Mitchell Prowse (D)- Victoria – 2000 – invite, Jett Woo (D) – 2000 – Moose Jaw – Drafted 2nd round 2018, Sahvan Khaira (D) – 1998 – Swift Current – inivte.

Vegas (6): Dylan Ferguson (G) – 1998 – Kamloops – Trade with Dallas – signed, Cody Glass (C) – 1999 – Portland – Drafted 1st round 2017, signed, Dylan Coghlan (D) – 1998 – Tri-City – Free Agent – signed, Ryan Chyzowski (LW) – 2000 – Medicine Hat – invite, Reece Harsch (D) – 1999 – Seattle Thunderbirds – invite, Martin Bodak (D) – 1998 – Kootenay – invite.

Washington (6): Garrett Pilon (RW) – 1998 – Everett – Drafted 3rd round 2016 – signed, Riley Sutter (C) – 1999 – Everett – Drafted 3rd round 2018, Alexander Alexeyev (D) – 1999 – Red Deer – Drafted 1st round 2018, Eric Florchuk (C) – 2000 – Saskatoon – Drafted 7th round 2018, Beck Malenstyn (LW) – 1998 – Swift Current – Drafted 5th round 2016 – signed, Alex Kannok-Leipert (D) – 2000 – Vancouver – Drafted 6th round 2018.

Winnipeg (2): Skyler McKenzie (RW) – 1998 – Portland – Drafted 7th round 2017 -signed, Kristian Reichel (RW) – 1998 – Red Deer – signed an AHL deal.

-I only included those eligible to return to their WHL teams. It should be noted that every 1998-born and signed players is more than likely going to play professionally in 2018-19.

 

Dennis Williams named a head coach for Canada at the U-17 Hockey Challenge

Williams had quite the first season in the WHL. He was runner-up for WHL coach of the year and led the Everett Silvertips to their first Western Conference title in 15 years. He was recognized by Hockey Canada as a good developer of talent as he was named a head coach of one of the three teams that Canada will ice for the U-17 World Hockey Challenge.

Camp starts next week for the tournament, which goes November 3rd-10th in Quispamis and Saint John New Brunswick.

Other links:

Adam Deadmarsh was extended for another season as an assistant coach with the Spokane Chiefs.

Cody Glass is primed for a big year in 2018-19 whether it be in the NHL or WHL.

Jusso Vålmiåki will be trying to make the Calgary Flames this year.

Regina Pats with more questions than answers right now.

Kevin Davis signed with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles.

 

Max James committed to the University of B.C.

Tri-City hired Roy Stasiuk as their head scout.

Kamloops adds to their coaching staff with Dan Kordic.

Proud husband and father of two. I cover the WHL at large for @DubNetwork (DubNetwork.ca). I am also the Chief Information Officer. I have followed the WHL since the 1988-89 season and have written about it since 2012.