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Daily Dose of the Dub: Signings galore

Written by Paul Figler on

Saskatoon Blades sign Sammy May

The Blades inked their 11th round WHL Bantam pick from 2018 in forward Sammy May. The native of Richmond, B.C. played last year with the Delta Hockey Academy Bantam Prep team and put up 21 points in 28 games.

The five-foot-eight, 163 pound forward also played a game with Delta Hockey’s Elite 15 team.

May had a strong John Reid Bantam tournament with two goals and two assists for four points in five game.

May is the fourth member of the Blades 2018 class to sign with them. The previous ones being first round pick Colton Dach, second round selection Marek Schneider and fourth rounder Charlie Wright. May is also the 32nd signed player now in camp with the Blades.

Americans sign three

Not to be outdone. the Tri-City Americans signed three players on Monday. They were defenseman and 2016 fifth round pick Bryan McAndrews, forward and 2018 fifth rounder Parker Bell and forward and 2017 sixth round pick Sequoia Swan.

Tri-City now has 17 signed forwards and 13 inked defensemen.

The only ones in camp now that are not signed appear to be 2018 CHL Import pick Krystof Hrabik and goalies Xavier Cannon and Mason Dunsford. There is some question as to whether Cannon is signed as he actually suited up for the Americans last year when injuries forced Tri-City to call him up.

McAndrews, who is six-foot-five and 215 pounds, played last year with the Okanagan Hockey Academy. He put up 11 points in 25 games. He joins a crowded group as one of nine blue liners that are 17 or older. His brother Devon McAndrews played 54 games over two seasons for the Ams.

Bell is six-foot-two and 165 pounds and played last year for Yale Hockey Academy Bantam Prep. He potted 10 points in 20 games.

Swan is from Winnipeg and played last season with the Rink Hockey Academy. He put up 22 points in 32 games. He was the most penalized player in Bantam Division 2 back in 2015-16 and again earned that distinction in the Elite 15 league of the CSSHL in 2017-18 with 177 penalty minutes.

Medicine Hat signs two

The Medicine Hat Tigers’ office was also busy on Monday with two signings of their own. First, they inked 2002-born forward Caleb Willms. The listed player who played for the Airdrie Bisons of the AMHL last year is five-foot-10 and 155 pounds. He potted 10 points in 35 games with the Bisons.

The Tigers also finally made official the signing of six-foot-seven, 190 pound netminder Mads Sogaard. The Danish goalie was taken by Medicine Hat in the first round of the CHL Import Draft this June.

He played last year in the NAHL for the Austin Bruins, where he posted a 2.64 GAA and 0.909 save percentage. He also suited up but did not play in a game for Denmark at the U20 World Junior Championships.

The two signings give the Tigers 36 signed players in camp.

Medicine Hat also revealed that the 1999-born forward James Hamblin was named captain for the 2018-19 season.

Warriors add some depth to the blue line

 

The Moose Jaw Warriors also signed two on Monday with 2002-born Cole Jordan and 2003-born Lucas Brenton both committing to the WHL and the Warriors.

Jordan, who is five-foot-10 and 150 pounds was added to the protected list earlier this year. The Winnipeg native suited up for the Brandon Midget AAA Wheat Kings last year and had 18 points in 46 games.

Brenton is six-foot-two and 163 pounds and was taken in the sixth round of the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft by Moose Jaw.

Brenton is also from Winnipeg and played last season with the Winnipeg Sharks Bantam AAA squad. He had 24 points in 32 games. Brenton is the second member of the 2018 draft class for the Warriors to sign after forward Eric Alarie.

The two blue liners signing means Moose Jaw now have 13 signed defensemen in camp.

Cougars sign their first round pick

The Prince George Cougars got their top pick to sign on Monday. The five-foot-seven, 165 pound forward, who was taken with the ninth overall selection in the 2018 draft is the first member of the 2018 draft for P.G. to sign.

In a decidedly older overall group, Armstrong is one of just three players born 2002 or later for the Cougars.

He was named the top forward in the AMBHL last season and won the league with the Airdrie Xtreme while putting up 54 points in 34 games.

Seattle signs an import

The Seattle Thunderbirds signed their 2018 CHL Import pick. The six-foot-two, 165 pound center brought in 67 points in 42 games last year while playing with the HK Dukla Trencin U20 team.

Kukuca has won league titles in the Czech Republic for two years straight. He also had the most goals in the U20 Czech league last year with 41 (nearly a goal a game).

Kukuca is the sixth member of the Seattle Thunderbirds group of 1999-born players. He is also their 18th signed forward.

Chiefs get in on the action

With 2018 WHL Bantam Draft pick Graham Sward already signed, the Spokane Chiefs added another 2003-born player with the signing of forward Owen MacNeil.

MacNeil had 47 points in 35 games last year for the Calgary Royals Bantam AAA squad.

He also had two goals in the John Reid Bantam tournament.

MacNeil is listed at five-foot-11 and 155 pounds.

Spokane now has 29 signed players in camp with MacNeil being their 15th signed forward.

Edmonton Oil Kings open camp

 

Peter Kope (1999) is a camp invitee. He played five games with Prince George last season.

Josh McNeill (00) was also invited. He played six games for Medicine Hat back in 2015-16 and had a goal and an assist.

They have 34 signed players in camp including the two invites. Those two will find getting a spot in the forward group tough as 21 of those players who have signed WHL contracts are up front.

Overage players:

They have just two in camp in forwards Quinn Benjafield and Vince Loschiavo. Both were acquired in the offseason.

Vancouver reduces down to 32

Of the 32 players left in camp, 31 are signed. The one that is not – so far at least – is 2001-born listed forward Carter Belitski. He has been on Vancouver’s protected list since 2016.

Links and notes:

-Former Kootenay ICE, Lethbridge Hurricanes and Vancouver Giants forward Alec Baer is going the ECHL route as he signed with the Rapid City Rush.

-1999-born forward Owen Hardy and 2000-born d-man Kaleb Bulych will be playing for the Vancouver Canucks in the 2018 Young Stars Tournament in Penticton, B.C.

-Also for the Vancouver Canucks organization, former Prince Albert Raiders and Kelowna Rockets sniper Reid Gardiner has signed. Gardiner has inked a one-year deal with Utica of the AHL.