T-Birds to pick first overall in 2021 U.S. Priority Draft
The @SeattleTBirds will select first overall in the 2021 WHL U.S. Priority Draft! #WHLDraft
DETAILS ? | https://t.co/pfvOoXg5cK pic.twitter.com/mNCB6BpVDh
— The WHL (@TheWHL) June 3, 2021
The 2021 WHL U.S. Priority Draft lottery on Thursday was won by the Seattle Thunderbirds, who will have the first pick in the proceedings on Dec. 8.
All 22 WHL teams had an equal chance of winning the lottery to claim the first overall pick.
The top 10 picks are as follows:
- Seattle Thunderbirds
- Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Winnipeg ICE
- Prince George Cougars
- Saskatoon Blades
- Swift Current Broncos
- Tri-City Americans
- Red Deer Rebels
- Victoria Royals
- Kamloops Blazers
Red Deer chose first in the 2020 U.S. Priority Draft and selected 2005-born forward Gracyn Sawchyn. The Rebels traded Sawchyn to the Thunderbirds on May 13 for a conditional second-round pick in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.
WHL hands out B.C. Division award winners
The 2020-21 B.C. Division award winners will be announced this afternoon, beginning at the top of the hour! #WHLAwards pic.twitter.com/mxcNMcjAnL
— The WHL (@TheWHL) June 3, 2021
The WHL handed out the B.C. Division awards on Thursday, with three Vancouver Giants leading the honours.
- Player of the year – Justin Sourdif, Vancouver Giants
- Goaltender of the year – Trent Miner, Vancouver Giants
- Defenseman of the year – Alex Kannok-Leipert, Vancouver Giants
- Rookie of the year – Koehn Ziemmer, Prince George Cougars
- Most Sportsmanlike – Tarun Fizer, Victoria Royals
- Scholastic player of the year – Jason Spizawka, Victoria Royals
- Top Scorer – Justin Sourdif, Vancouver Giants
As a result of Thursday’s divisional awards, all players are also nominees for the overall league awards.
Sommer leaves Seattle
? ? NEWS | Assistant Coach Castan Sommer To Pursue New Hockey Opportunity https://t.co/T8YBI6tprO pic.twitter.com/e4z8eJeiLv
— Seattle Thunderbirds (@SeattleTbirds) June 3, 2021
The Seattle Thunderbirds announced on Thursday that assistant coach Castan Sommer is leaving the club.
According to the T-Birds, Sommer is set to be hired as an assistant coach of a yet-to-be-announced team. The 29-year-old was an assistant with Seattle for the last four seasons.
Cracknell signs AHL pact for 2021-22
"We're building towards something great here. The culture is where it needs to be and how a successful organization needs to win. The family loves it and I'm excited to keep playing hockey in such a great place like Bakersfield."@A_Cracknell on coming back to #Condorstown pic.twitter.com/UTyHHNHn0A
— Bakersfield Condors (@Condors) June 2, 2021
Forward Adam Cracknell (94 goals, 119 assists in 283 games with Kootenay from 2002-06) signed a contract for the 2021-22 season with the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League on Thursday.
Cracknell, 35, had 11 goals and 30 points in 39 games with the Condors this past season.
Bohunicky jumps from Slovakia to Hungary
Eishockey:
Lukas Bohunicky verlässt die Bratislava Capitals https://t.co/ZOBYX58d17 #ICETransfers— Sportreport_biz (@sportreport_biz) June 3, 2021
Defenseman Lukas Bohunicky (three goals, 13 assists in 130 games with Kootenay from 2005-07) signed with Ferencvárosi TC of Hungary’s Erste Liga for the 2021-22 season.
The 33-year-old had three goals and six points in 41 games with his hometown Bratislava Capitals of the ICE Hockey League in 2020-21.
Bacek re-ups for another season with Hannover
Forward Igor Bacek (five goals, 24 assists in 64 games with Tri-City in 2005-06) inked an extension with the Hannover Indians for the 2021-22 Oberliga season.
Bacek, 35, had 10 goals and 36 points in 35 games with the Indians in 2020-21, his 12th season in the Oberliga, which is the third tier of pro hockey in Germany.
Mueller signs extension with Herner EV 2007
Extension: Richard Mueller (F) | Herner EV 2007 -> Herner EV 2007 | https://t.co/6LsoIQkp7v #Germany3
— EP Transfers (@ep_transfers) June 3, 2021
Forward Richard Mueller (69 goals, 78 assists in 218 games with Brandon, Saskatoon, and Calgary from 1998-2003) agreed to a contract extension for 2021-22 with Herner EV 2007 of the Oberliga.
Mueller, a 39-year-old from Richmond, BC, potted 24 goals and added 16 assists in 29 games with Herner EV this past season.
