Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the DUB: Cougars, Blades and Pats add staff, Giants sign Vikman, and more!

Written by Paul Figler on

 

Cougars add associate coach

The Prince George Cougars announced on Friday that the team has signed Josh Dixon to serve as an associate coach with the team.

Dixon has an extensive coaching resume, having served as an assistant coach with Carleton University and the University of Calgary and with Mount Royal College/University. Most recently Dixon was the head coach of the Saint John Sea Dogs for parts of three seasons.

Dixon has also been a member of the staff of the Regina Pats and Swift Current Broncos.

Blades add DaSilva as an assistant coach

Former Portland Winterhawk Dan DaSilva (200 games played, 76 goals, 75 assists) has joined the Saskatoon Blades as an assistant coach. The position will be his first in the coaching world.

The Saskatoon, SK native spent several seasons playing between the ECHL and AHL as well as a couple of trips overseas before retiring at the end of the 2020-21 season. He last played for the Waterous Winterhawks of the Long Lake Hockey League in Saskatchewan.

Legend joins Pats in a scouting role

Making yet another return to the team, Dale Derkatch has joined the Regina Pats as a member of the scouting staff. Derkatch played for the Regina Pats from 1981-85, where he scored 222 goals and added 269 assists through 204 games.

For the 2008-09 season, Derkatch served as the head coach of the Pats, a team that was 27-39-1-5 and did not make the playoffs.

More recently, Derkatch was a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ amateur scouting department.

Giants sign import goaltender

The Vancouver Giants have signed 2021 CHL Import Draft pick Jesper Vikman to a standard player agreement. The Stockholm, Sweden native was the eighth overall selection at the draft. The Vegas Golden Knights selected Vikman in the fifth round of the 2020 NHL Draft.

Last season as a member of the AIK J20 team, Vikman was 5-4-0 in nine games with a .851 save percentage and a 4.10 goals-against average. In five games with AIK of HockeyAllsvenskan, Vikman was 2-1-0 with a .885 save percentage and a 3.42 goals-against average. He also played eight games with Tyreso/Hanviken of HockeyEttan, with a 3-5-0 record a .897 save percentage, and a 3.00 goals-against average.

Hagel signs extension with Blackhawks

22-year-old Morinville, AB forward Brandon Hagel (259 games played, 103 goals, 176 assist with the Red Deer Rebels ’15-’19) has signed a three-year contract extension with the Chicago Blackhawks. Last season, Hagel played on loan with HC Thurgau in Switzerland where he scored eight goals and added seven assists in 14 games. Hagel scored nine goals and added 15 assists in 52 games when he returned to the Blackhawks for their NHL season. He then skated in 10 IIHF World Championship games. Hagel was selected in the sixth round of the 2016 NHL Draft by the Buffalo Sabres but was not signed by the team.

Ronning earns extension with New York Rangers

23-year-old Scottsdale, Arizona forward Ty Ronning (285 games played, 127 goals, 91 assists with the Vancouver Giants ’13-’18) has been signed to a one-year contract by the New York Rangers. The Rangers selected Ronning in the seventh round of the 2016 NHL Draft. Last season with the Rangers AHL affiliate, Hartford Wolf Pack, Ronning scored 10 goals and had eight assists in 18 games.

Two WHL alumni re-sign with the Flames

The Calgary Flames announced they have come to contract terms with two former WHLers, Matthew Phillips and Luke Philp.

23-year-old forward Matthew Phillips (215 games played, 136 goals, 145 assists with the Victoria Royals ’14-’18) earned a one-year two-way contract following a 30 game season with the Stockton Heat. Phillips scored eight goals and added 13 assists. He also got into one NHL game with the Flames. Calgary selected Phillips in the sixth round of the 2016 NHL Draft.

25-year-old forward Luke Philp (264 games played, 103 goals, 148 assists with the Kootenay ICE and Red Deer Rebels ’11-16) earned himself the same contract with the Flames. Last season in 30 games with the Heat, Philp scored eight goals and added nine assists. Philp was not drafted by an NHL club.

Clague earns contract extension with Kings

23-year-old Regina, SK defenceman Kale Clague (195 games played, 26 goals, 141 assists with the Brandon Wheat Kings and Moose Jaw Warriors ’13-’18) has signed a two-year, two-way contract extension with the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings selected Clague in the second round of the 2016 NHL Draft. Last season with the Kings AHL affiliate, Ontario Reign, Clague scored one goal and had 11 assists in 23 games. He also had six assists in 18 NHL games.

Transfers in Bet-at-Home Ice Hockey League

With 31-year-old forward Chris Langkow (263 games played, 53 goals, 101 assists with the Spokane Chiefs, Saskatoon Blades, and Everett Silvertips ’05-’10) unable to play in 2020-21 due to injury and his 2021-22 season up in the air, Fehervar AV19 has moved replaced him with Colin Jacobs.

Jacobs (252 games played, 69 goals, 73 assists with the Seattle Thunderbirds and Prince George Cougars ’08-’13), a 26-year-old forward, comes over from HC Kosice of Slovakia. Last season Jacobs played in nine games, where he scored two goals and added an assist. He also scored once in three playoff games.

Storm add Wilson and Hamilton

The Manchester Storm of the EIHL announced two signings on Friday. 30-year-old defenceman/right-winger Ben Wilson (138 games played, 8 goals, 29 assists with the Calgary Hitmen ’08-’10) comes over from ASC Corona Brasov. Last season between the two club teams, Wilson scored seven goals and added 16 assists in 55 regular-season games. He also had one goal and four assists in 27 playoff games.

29-year-old forward Curtis Hamilton (216 games played, 67 goals, 106 assists with the Saskatoon Blades ’06-’11) also signed with the team. He comes over from the Belfast Giants after taking the 2020-21 season off. Hamilton was a second-round NHL draft pick of the Edmonton Oilers at the 2010 NHL Draft. He played in one NHL game.

Lees heads to Nailers

25-year-old Calgary, AB defenceman Jesse Lees (294 games played, 55 goals, 107 assists with the Kelowna Rockets and Prince Albert Raiders ’10-’16) has signed with the Wheeling Nailers. Less split the 2020-21 season between the South Carolina Stingrays and the Wheeling Nailers, totalling 45 games. He scored 10 goals and added 10 assists.

Ferland joins Western Canada Hockey Academy

29-year-old forward Micheal Ferland (215 games played, 88 goals 123 assists with the Brandon Wheat Kings and Saskatoon Blades ’09-’13) has joined the Western Canada Hockey Academy as the new on-ice development coach. From Swan River, MB, Ferland has enjoyed a 335 game NHL career after he was selected in the fifth round of the 2010 NHL Draft by the Calgary Flames. Last season Ferland did not play a game with the Vancouver Canucks and he is currently listed as being injured.

Warriors draft pick signs in BCHL

Goaltender Kyle Kelsey, who was selected 107th overall by Moose Jaw in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft, signed with the BC Hockey League’s Victoria Grizzlies for the 2021-22 season. Kelsey, who’s from Maple Ridge, BC, played three games for the Vancouver North East Chiefs U18 AAA in exhibition play in 2020-21, finishing with a 2-1 record, a 3.00 goals-against-average, and a .910 save percentage.

Hogg joins BC Hockey’s U18 female team as head coach

BC Hockey announced on Friday that Kris Hogg (339 games played, 106 goals, 88 assists with the Kamloops Blazers and Lethbridge Hurricanes ’03-’07) has joined the Program of Excellence Female U18 team as its next head coach. Hogg previously coached the Pursuit of Excellence CSSHL U18 woman’s team in 2018-19. The Calgary Flames selected Hogg in the fourth round of the 2004 NHL Draft. Hogg retired following the 2014-15 season.