Central Division

Daily Dose of the Dub: Oil Kings acquire Gavlas; Russia and Finland play for gold at U17 Challenge

Written by Brandon Rivers on

Edmonton brings in Gavlas

-Regina, who acquired 18-year-old defenseman Kyle Walker from Everett on Thursday, sent 19-year-old blue liner Parker Gavlas away on Friday.

They acquired a ninth-round pick in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft for the six-foot, 184 pound Gavlas. The right-handed d-man from Saskatoon, had one assist in 20 games over two seasons with Regina.

In the preseason, he was given a six-game suspension for checking to the head major.

Gavlas gives Edmonton seven healthy d-men as both Jacson Alexander and Will Warm are listed as out week-to-week with injuries.

Russia beats Sweden and Finland beats Canada Red, setting up gold medal game

The last Canadian team was eliminated from playing for a gold medal as Finland took down Canada Red 5-2 in one semi-final in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Vancouver’s Justin Sourdif had an assist in the loss.

Russia defeated Sweden 6-4 in the other semi-final.

Canada Red will play Sweden for the bronze Saturday.

In the fifth-place game, Saskatoon’s Kyle Crnkovic had a hat-trick to lead Canada Black over Canada White 5-3. Prince Albert’s Ozzy Wiesblatt had two assist for Canada Black and Spokane’s Jack Finley, Saskatoon’s Aidan de la Gorgendiere and Moose Jaw’s Daemon Hunt each chipped in a single assist.

For Canada White, Kootenay’s Connor McClennon had a goal and Edmonton’s Jake Neighbours had an assist.

With some players still having a game to play, McClennon leads the tournament in scoring with eight goals and 11 points in five games.

Kamloops goalie Dylan Garand is fourth in GAA with 2.23 and third in save percentage with 0.926.

Medicine Hat prospect, goalie Garin Bjorklund is fifth in GAA with 2.42 and fourth in save percentage with 0.919.

 

Three stars of the night:

  1. Noah Gregor – The overage forward had two goals and three assists for five points as the Prince Albert Raiders rolled over the Swift Current Broncos 6-2. They are now 17-1.
  2. Jake Leschshyn – The Vegas Golden Knights prospect and Regina Pats center had a hat-trick, leading the Regina Pats 5-1 over the visiting Tri-City Americans.
  3. Stelio Mattheos – The Brandon Wheat Kings center had a goal and two assists for three points and the Brandon Wheat Kings came back from down 2-0, to beat the Red Deer Rebels 6-3.

Honorable mentions:

-Raider forward and WHL-leading scorer (tied) Brett Leason had an assist and now has at least one point in all 18 games he has played this year…Tyler Hostmann scored on his very first shift in the WHL as the Edmonton Oil Kings ousted the Kootenay ICE 5-2… Jordy Bellerive had a goal and an assist as the Lethbridge Hurricanes slipped by the Calgary Hitmen 4-2… Nolan Maier turned away 35-of-36 shots and the Saskatoon Blades came back and edged the Medicine Hat Tigers 3-1… Gianni Fairbrother had four assists for the Everett Silvertips in their 6-1 shellacking of the Kamloops Blazers in Kamloops… Kyle Topping had a goal and an assist as the Kelowna Rockets kept their hot streak going, 3-1 over the Seattle Thunderbirds… D-Jay Jerome found the net twice and added an assist as the Victoria Royals outscored the Spokane Chiefs 7-5.

Troubling moments:

–Linden McCorrister was assessed a charging major and game misconduct for a hit just 4:47 into their game with Red Deer.