Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the DUB: Fleury and Twarynski sign with the Kraken, Zellweger inks an entry-level deal in Anaheim, a plethora of alumni notes, and more!

Written by Brian Wiebe on

Fleury signs with the Kraken

Defenseman Cale Fleury (32 goals, 95 assists in 269 games with Kootenay and Regina from 2014-18) has signed a one-year contract with the Seattle Kraken for the 2021-22 season.

Fleury, a 22-year-old from Calgary, AB, had six assists in 22 games with the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League in 2020-21. The Kraken selected Fleury fifth overall in the NHL Expansion Draft earlier this summer. He was a restricted free agent heading into the 2021-22 season.

Zellweger inks entry-level contract with Anaheim

2003-born Everett Silvertips defenseman Olen Zellweger signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks on Friday. The Ducks picked the Fort Saskatchewan, AB product in the second round, 34th overall, at the 2021 NHL Draft after he posted 13 points in 11 games with the Silvertips in 2020-21.

Twarynski puts pen to paper with the Kraken

Forward Carsen Twarynski (88 goals, 94 assists in 257 games with Calgary and Kelowna from 2014-18) has signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Seattle Kraken.

The Kraken selected Twarysnki 14th overall in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft. The 23-year-old Calgarian played seven games with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyer and two games with the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms in 2020-21.

Feser to play for Eispiraten Crimmitschau in 2021-22

Forward Scott Feser (44 goals, 61 assists in 230 games with Red Deer and Swift Current from 2012-16), a 26-year-old from Red Deer, AB, has signed a contract with Eispiraten Crimmitschau of the DEL2 in Germany. Feser spent the last five seasons playing U SPORTS hockey and finished with 83 points in 110 games at York University.

Nielsen turns pro in the Fraser Valley

Vancouver Giants forward Tristen Nielsen has signed a two-year AHL contract with the Abbotsford Canucks. Nielsen, 21, hails from Fort St. John, BC. He finished his WHL career with 82 goals and 175 points in 241 games with Calgary and the Giants from 2016 through this past season.

Dupont moves from Denmark to Wales

Forward Brodie Dupont (81 goals, 68 assists in 214 games with Calgary from 2004-07) has signed a contract with the Cardiff Devils of the UK’s Elite Ice Hockey League for 2021-22. Dupont, a 34-year-old from St. Lazare, MB, spent the last two seasons in Denmark with the Herning Blue Fox and put up 33 goals and 66 points.

Sautner returns to the Canucks organization

Flin Flon, MB product Ashton Sautner (24 goals, 93 assists in 265 games with Edmonton from 2011-15) signed a one-year AHL contract with the Abbotsford Canucks on Friday. The 27-year-old has 49 points in 242 AHL games with the Manitoba Moose and Utica Comets over the last six seasons.

McNeill signs in Denmark for 2021-22 season

28-year-old Mark McNeill (97 goals, 146 assists in 276 games with Prince Albert from 2009-13) inked a contract with the Frederikshavn White Hawks of Denmark’s Metal Ligaen. The Langley, BC product posted five goals and 15 points in 28 games with HC Vita Hästen of HockeyAllsvenskan, the second tier of hockey in Sweden.

Pollock makes a deal with Södertälje SK

Forward Brett Pollock (89 goals, 110 assists in 253 games with Edmonton from 2012-16) has signed a pact with Södertälje SK of HockeyAllsvenskan for 2021-22. The 25-year-old product of Regina, SK finished the 2020-21 season with 25 points in 38 games with the Nürnberg Ice Tigers of Deutsche Eishockey Liga.

Crooks signs in Scotland for 2021-22

Forward Jamie Crooks (111 goals, 86 assists in 293 games with Saskatoon, Chilliwack, and Victoria from 2009-13) of Lloydminster, AB has signed with the Glasgow Clan for the 2021-22 EIHL season.

The 29-year-old didn’t play in 2020-21 but spent the previous two seasons with the Guildford Flames of the EIHL, where he notched 39 goals and 70 points in 100 games.

DUBNetwork was down for a time early Friday, so we’ve included a summary of WHL-related news from Thursday in today’s Daily Dose.

Thorpe joins the Giants from Brandon

The Vancouver Giants have traded for 2002-born forward Ty Thorpe from the Brandon Wheat Kings. In return. the Wheaties get a conditional pick in the sixth round of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft. Thorpe, who hails from Winnipeg, MB, put up 10 goals and 30 points in 136 games over the last three seasons with Brandon.

Portland signs import blueliner Alscher

The Portland Winterhawks have signed 2021 CHL Import Draft first-round pick Marek Alscher to a WHL standard player agreement. The 2004-born defenseman played 27 games in Finland’s U18 SM-sarja with the Pelicans in 2020-21 and finished with three goals and 14 points.

Blazers bring in Holick as associate coach

The Kamloops Blazers announced the hiring of Mark Holick (10 goals, 20 assists in 165 games with Saskatoon and New Westminster from 1984-88) as an associate coach on Thursday.

He takes over from Cory Clouston, who stepped down on Wednesday for personal reasons. Holick, 52, spent the last three seasons as the head coach of Yale Hockey Academy U18 Prep in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League.

Holick is a veteran who’s been a head coach in the WHL for seven seasons with Kootenay and Prince George. He’s also coached professionally in the AHL and Europe.

Silvertips and Blades connect on a deal

The Everett Silvertips acquired 2002-born goaltender Koen MacInnes from the Saskatoon Blades for 2002-born forward Brendan Lee in a trade on Thursday.

MacInnes, who’s from Burnaby, BC, has a career 18-7-2 record with a 2.78 goals-against-average, a .904 save percentage, and three shutouts in 31 games with the Blades.

Lee is entering his third WHL season in 2021-22. The Seattleite has 11 goals and 19 points in 71 career games with the Silvertips.

Hitmen and Siksika Health Services sign an MOU

On Thursday, the Calgary Hitmen and Siksika Health Services announced a memorandum of understanding has been reached between the two organizations.

According to a news release, the partnership has a goal to “address stereotypes and racism by advancing inclusion in our communities through the promotion of the Blackfoot culture, language, and history.”

Another component is to “promote healthy lifestyles for all youth and to highlight the benefits of participation in sport.”

Wood

Matthew Wood, the Regina Pats’ second-round pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft, has committed to the University of Connecticut for the 2023-24 season. Wood, who’s from Nanaimo, BC, had five goals and 13 points in 18 games with the Victoria Grizzlies of the BCHL this past season.

Lajoie re-ups in Hurricane country

Defenseman Maxime Lajoie (22 goals, 97 assists in 203 games with Swift Current from 2014-17) has signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Carolina Hurricanes worth $750,000 at the NHL level.

The Québec, QC native spent the 2020-21 season with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves and posted 21 points in 27 games. He also got into two Stanley Cup playoff games with the Hurricanes.

Corbett makes his way to Kalamazoo

27-year-old defenseman Cody Corbett (30 goals, 99 assists in 190 games with Edmonton from 2011-14) has signed with Kalamazoo of the ECHL for 2021-22.

The Lakeland, MN product didn’t play in 2020-21 but posted four goals and 12 points in 46 ECHL games split between Atlanta and Allen in 2019-20. He also appeared in two AHL games with Bakersfield and didn’t register any points.

Kuvayev signs in HockeyTvåan for 2021-22

Russian forward Alexander Kuvayev (13 goals, 24 assists in 92 games with Lethbridge and Vancouver from 2010-12) will play in Sweden for the first time in his career in 2021-22.

The 28-year-old from Moscow has signed with Borås HC of HockeyTvåan after scoring 10 goals and 21 points in 44 games with Arlan Kokshetau of the Kazakhstan Hockey Championship in 2020-21.