Doug Wyrostok
Central Division

Daily Dose of the Dub: ICE and Blades make some roster changes; Yeryomenko on his way back from Nashville

Written by Brandon Rivers on

Kootenay lets go of Wegleitner; reassigns Lieffers and Streu

The Kootenay ICE announced Monday that they had trimmed forwards Gunnar Wegleitner, Sebastian Streu and Eli Lieffers from their roster. The press release stated that they had been “reassigned to a team to be named later.”

Wegleitner is an overage and was likely released by the team. He spent some time in the Victoria Royals and Everett Silvertips organizations before finding a home with the Brandon Whet Kings last year and compiling 10 goals and nine assists for 19 points in 57 games.

The ICE acquired him from Brandon in the offseason for a conditional sixth round draft pick. His “reassignment” likely means that pick now remains with the ICE.

Wegleitner spent some time in the BCHL with the Surrey Eagles and the NOJHL with the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners. It is unknown at this time where he will land.

The release of Wegleitner leaves three overage players on the roster in forward Jaeger White and defensemen Martin Bodak and Dallas Hines.

Bodak is also an import and will take up one of their two imports spots as well.

This complicates matters further for the ICE as they already have two imports in camp. They have recently drafted defenseman Valterri Kakkonen and forward Gilian Kohler as their two other imports. The ICE will need to either trade or release Bodak or Kohler or release Kakkonen.

Streu played in 54 games in his 18-year-old season, posting nine goals and three assists for 12 points.

The 2000-born Lieffers was a fourth round pick by Kootenay in 2015 and has skated in nine games over the past two years, compiling one goal and one assist for two points.

Kootenay ICE (26)

14 forwards, 10 defensemen and two goalies.

Berlin and Jette land with Sherwood Park

-Berlin was already known to be released by the Kootenay ICE. Tyler Jette, though is now known to be away from the Tri-City Americans. He is still listed on the 2018 preseason roster for the Ams. Jette, who is a 6-foot-3, 198 pound blue liner is a 1998-born player and was up against it trying to be one of the three overage players on the roster.

Jette, who is from Farmington, Minnesota played five games for Tri-City last year, scoring a single goal. He played in two preseason games this year.

Tri-City had six 1998-born players in camp at the start. They were defensemen Jette, Anthony Bishop and Dan Gatenby and forwards Nolan Yaremko, Parker AuCoin and Brett Clayton.

 

Blades return two

The Saskatoon Blades announced via a press release that they had returned 2002-born forward Braden Plaschewsky to the Calgary Buffaloes of he AMHL and 2002-born goalie Koen MacInnes to the Burnaby Winter Club in the CSSHL.

Saskatoon Blades (26)

15 forwards, nine defensemen and two goalies.

Yeryomenko on his way back

Toronto had already released the info about Riley Stotts, but now it has been announced that the Nashville Predators have sent import defenseman Vladislav Yeryomenko back to the Calgary Hitmen.

Let’s take a look at who is still away at NHL camps for each WHL team.

NHL signed 1998-born players are italicized to signal that they are not as likely tor return to the WHL as they are eligible to play in the AHL. The Calgary Hitmen and Kootenay ICE are the only teams who have nobody eligible to return from NHL camps.

Brandon Wheat Kings (1 not returned yet)

  • Ty Lewis (COL) – 1998 – Free Agent – Signed.

Edmonton Oil Kings (1 not returned yet)

  • Trey Fix-Wolansky (CBJ) – 1999 – Drafted 2018.

Everett Silvertips (6 not returned yet)

  • Connor Dewar (MIN) – 1999 – Drafted 2018.

  • Riley Sutter (WSH) – 1999 – Drafted 2018.
  • Jake Christiansen (CAL) – 1999 – Invite. Extended to main camp.
  • Carter Hart (PHI) – 1998 – Drafted 2016 – Signed. 

  • Ondrej Vala (DAL) – 1998 – Free agent – Signed.
  • Garrett Pilon (WSH) – 1998 – Drafted 2016 – Signed.

Kamloops Blazers (3 not returned yet)

  • Montana Onyebuchi (TB) – 2000 – Invite.
  • Dylan Ferguson (VGK) – 1998 – Drafted 2017 – Signed.

  • Jermaine Loewen (DAL) – 1998 – Drafted 2018.

Kelowna Rockets (3 not returned yet)

  • Dillon Dube (CAL) – 1998 – Drafted 2016 – Signed.
  • Cal Foote (TB) – 1998 – Drafted 2017 – Signed.
  • Kole Lind (VAN) – 1998 – Drafted 2017 – Signed.

Lethbridge Hurricanes (4)

  • Igor Merezhko (CAL) 1998 – Invite. Extended to main camp.
  • Jordy Bellerive (PIT) – 1999 – Free Agent – Signed.
  • Calen Addison (PIT) – 2000 – Drafted 2018.
  • Akira Schmid (NJ) – 2000 – Drafted 2018.

Medicine Hat Tigers (6)

  • Mason Shaw (MIN) – 1998 – Drafted 2017 – Signed.
  • David Quenneville (NYI) – 1998 – Drafted 2016 – Signed.
  • Jordan Hollett (OTT) – 1999 – Drafted 2017.
  • Linus Nassen (FLA) – 1998 – Invite. Earned main camp invite.
  • Dylan MacPherson (FLA) – 1998 – Invite. Earned main camp invite.
  • Ryan Chyzowski (VGK) – 2000 – Invite. Extended to main camp.

Moose Jaw Warriors (6)

  • Josh Brook (MTL) – 1999 – Drafted 2017.

  • Justin Almeida (PIT) – 1999 – Drafted 2018.
  • Kale Clague (LAK) – 1998 – Drafted 2016 – Signed.
  • Brett Howden (NYR) – 1998 – Trade with Tampa Bay – Signed.
  • Oleg Sosunov (TB) – 1998 – Drafted 2016 – Signed.

Portland Winterhawks (7 not returned yet)

  • Cody Glass (VGK) – 1999 – Drafted 2017 – Signed.

  • Jake Gricius (SJ) – 1999 – Invite. Extended to main camp.

  • Joachim Blichfeld (SJ) – 1998 – Drafted 2016 – Signed.
  • Henri Jokiharju (CHI) – 1999 – Drafted 2017 – Signed.
  • Skyler McKenzie (WPG) – 1998 – Drafted 2017 – Signed.
  • Dennis Cholowski (DET) – 1998 – Drafted 2016 – Signed.
  • Kieffer Bellows (NYI) – 1998 – Drafted 2016 – Signed.

Prince Albert Raiders (3 not returned yet)

  • Parker Kelly (OTT) – 1999 – Free Agent – Signed.
  • Brayden Pachal (CAL) – 1999 – Invite. Extended to main camp.
  • Noah Gregor (SJ) – 1998 – Drafted 2016. Signed.

Prince George Cougars (1 not returned)

  • Jackson Leppard (TB) – 2000 – Invite.

Red Deer Rebels (2 not returned yet)

  • Alexander Alexeyev (WAS) – 1999 – Drafted 2018.
  • Dawson Barteaux (DAL) – 2000 – Drafted 2018.

Regina Pats (7 not returned yet)

  • Jake Leschyshyn (VGK) – 1999 – Drafted 2017.
  • Cale Fleury (MTL) – 1998 – Drafted 2017.
  • Nick Henry (COL) – 1999 – Drafted 2017.
  • Max Paddock (SJ) – 2000 – Invite. Extended to main camp.
  • Sam Steel (ANA) – 1998 – Drafted 2016 – Signed.
  • Josh Mahura (ANA) – 1998 – Drafted 2016 – Signed.
  • Libor Hajek (NYR) – 1998 – Trade with Tampa Bay – Signed.

Saskatoon Blades (3 not returned yet)

  • Eric Florchuk (WSH) – 2000 – Drafted 2018.
  • Kristian Roykas-Marthinsen (WAS) – 1999 – Drafted 2017.
  • Chase Wouters (TB) – 2000 – Invite.

Seattle Thunderbirds (1 not returned yet)

  • Jarret Tyszka (MTL) – 1999 – Drafted 2017. Injured. Reportedly staying in Montreal for the time being.

Spokane Chiefs (4 not returned yet)

  • Jake McGrew (SJ) – 1999 – Drafted 2017.
  • Jaret Anderson-Dolan (LAK) – 1999 – Drafted 2017 – Signed.
  • Ty Smith (NJ) – 2000 – Drafted 2018 – Signed.

  • Kailer Yamamoto (EDM) – 1998 – Drafted 2017 – Signed.

Swift Current Broncos (6)

  • Tyler Steenbergen (ARI) – 1998 – Free Agent – Signed.
  • Josh Anderson (COL) – 1998 – Drafted 2016 – Signed.
  • Stuart Skinner (EDM) – 1998 – Drafted 2017 – Signed.
  • Beck Malenstyn (WSH) – 1998 – Drafted 2016 – Signed.
  • Joel Hofer (STL) – 2000 – Drafted 2018.
  • Colby Sissons (NJ) – 1998 – Free Agent – Signed.

Tri-City Americans (6 not returned yet)

  • Michael Rasmussen (DET) – 1999 – Drafted 2017 – Signed.
  • Jusso Valimaki (CAL) – 1998 – Drafted 2017 – Signed.
  • Kyle Olson (ANA) – 1999 – Drafted 2017.
  • Morgan Geekie (CAR) – 1998 – Drafted 2017 – Signed.
  • Jake Bean (CAR) – 1998 – Drafted 2016 – Signed.
  • Dylan Coghlan (VGK) – 1998 – Free Agent – Signed.

Vancouver Giants (4 not returned yet)

  • Milos Roman (CAL) – 1999 – Drafted 2018.
  • Tyler Benson (EDM) – 1998 – Drafted 2016 – Signed.
  • David Tendeck (ARI) – 1999 – Drafted 2018
  • Alex Kannok-Leipert (WSH) – 2000 – Drafted 2018

Victoria Royals (4)

  • Scott Walford (MTL) – 1999 – Drafted 2017. Injured.
  • Tanner Kaspick (STL) – 1998 – Drafted 2016 – Signed.
  • Matthew Phillips (CAL) – 1998 – Drafted 2017 – Signed.
  • Lane Zablocki (DET) – 1998 – Drafted 2017.

Brandon reassigns Ritchie

-The Brandon Wheat Kings are keeping their third round pick from 2017 close as they reassigned the Brandon native to the AAA Midget Wheat Kings. This should make him an easy call up if he is needed.

Brandon Wheat Kings (28)

15 forwards, 10 defensemen and three goalies.