Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the Dub: Bedard becomes first player ever to earn exceptional status in WHL, WHL changes off-season schedule

Written by Ben Dooley on

 

Bedard granted exceptional status

For the first time ever, a Western Canadian player has been granted exceptional status as BC Hockey announced that Connor Bedard was granted exceptional status. This will allow Bedard to play full-time as a 15-year-old with whichever team selects him in this year’s bantam draft. In just 36 games with West Vancouver Academy’s U18 team in the CSSHL, he lit the lamp 43 times with 41 assists in for 84 points. He is only the seventh player in history to be given this status following John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad, Connor McDavid, Sean Day and Shane Wright in the OHL and Joe Veleno in the QMJHL.

WHL Changes Off-Season Schedule

The WHL has made some changes to its offseason schedule in light of ongoing COVID-19 concerns. The WHL Bantam Draft lottery and U.S. Prospects Draft will both still take place this afternoon. Regina holds the best odds at winning the Draft Lottery after acquiring Swift Current’s first-round pick via a trade with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Meanwhile, the Red Deer Rebels have the first overall pick in the WHL U.S. Prospects Draft.

The WHL Bantam Draft and Awards Ceremony which were scheduled to take place in Red Deer in early May, have been canceled. The Bantam Draft will now take place online on April 22nd, while there are no details as of yet for alternate plans for this year’s awards.

Thunderbirds sign Hanzel

The Seattle Thunderbirds have signed 2003-born Jeremy Hunzel to a WHL Education Contract. A defenseman from Coquitlam, B.C., Hanzel was added to Seattle’s protected list in mid-October. He played 38 games with the BCMML’s Vancouver NE Chiefs scoring four goals and adding 30 assists.

Hurricanes announce ticket information for canceled games

The Lethbridge Hurricanes announced their policy for tickets to canceled games because of COVID-19 on Tuesday. In most situations, they will be offering a refund however in some cases they will only offer a ticket to a game next season, so you’ll want to head to their website for more information.

Cougars hand out two more team awards

The Prince George Cougars handed out their Fan Favourite Award to Majid Kaddoura and their Rookie of the Year award to Ethan Samson. 

ICE hand out defenseman of the year award

The Winnipeg ICE handed out their defenseman of the year award to trade deadline acquisition Dawson Barteaux.

Jacobson named Chiefs Scholastic Player of the Year

Reed Jacobson has been named the Spokane Chiefs Scholastic Player of the Year for the 2019-20 season.