Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the Dub: Blades sign three prospects, Pats sign Feist

Written by Ben Dooley on

Blades sign first three picks from 2019 WHL Bantam Draft

The Saskatoon Blades have signed forwards Brandon Lisowsky, Hayden Smith and goaltender Ethan Chadwick from their 2019 Bantam Draft Class.

Lisowsky is from Coquitlam, B.C. and played this year at Burnaby Winter Club with the bantam prep team. In 53 games with the squad, he scored 61 goals and added 48 assists for a total of 109 points. He was the ninth overall pick in the 2019 Bantam Draft.

Smith is another B.C. native hailing from the northern city of Chetwynd. He played against Lisowsky with the Yale Hockey Academy Bantam team and had 24 goals and 23 assists. The Blades selected Smith with their second-round pick, 24th overall in this year’s bantam draft.

Chadwick will already be familiar with Saskatoon hockey as he was born and raised in the city. He played his bantam hockey locally with the Saskatoon Stallions. In 22 games with the Stallions, he put up a league-best .920 save percentage among goalies who played at least 20 games and had a 2.83 goals-against average.

 Pats sign Feist to Standard Player Agreement

The Regina Pats have announced the signing of 2019 first round pick Layton Feist. Feist was selected by the Pats with the 17th overall pick and played this season with the Omaha North Zone Kings. The Dawson Creek, B.C. native saw action in 20 games and hit the score sheet eight goals and 14 assists. The five-foot-nine 163 pound forward is the younger brother of current Pats defenseman Tyson Feist.

15 WHLers to participate in NHL Scouting Combine 

15 WHL players have been invited to and are participating in the 2019 NHL Scouting Combine. The WHL contingent is led by Vancouver Giants defenseman Bowen Byram and includes Saskatoon Blades forward Kirby Dach, Lethbridge Hurricanes forward Dylan Cozens and Winnipeg ICE forward Peyton Krebs. All four players were included in the top 10 of NHL Central’s Scouting Rankings. Also of note, recently-acquired Kelowna Rockets forward Dillon Hamaliuk will participate in the Combine, despite not appearing in a WHL game since December 2018 due to injury.

WHL asks players to withdraw from minimum wage lawsuit

According to a report from TSN reporter Rick Westhead, the WHL has asked current and former players to withdraw from a lawsuit launched against the league which argues players should be protected under employment rights legislation, which would include benefits such as minimum wage.

In an email obtained by TSN and addressed to current and former WHL players the WHL says:

“Given the potential damage a lawsuit of this nature may have on the WHL, Canadian Hockey League (CHL) and the entire amateur sport system, it is extremely important to keep you informed as the case progresses, The lawsuit was initiated by a group of Ontario-based lawyers who we don’t believe have any experience with our teams or leagues. We do not believe amateur sports can or should be regulated by employment legislation. Almost all provincial governments across our country agree with the CHL. Despite this, the lawsuits and the ongoing challenge to our player experience and the overall amateur hockey development system continues.”

Panthers sign Abols 

The Florida Panthers have signed forward Rodrigo Abols to a two-year entry-level contract. Abols played 64 games in the WHL with the Portland Winterhawks and registered 20 goals and 30 assists. He was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the seventh round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft but did not sign with the organization.

Brule returns to Kunlun Red Star

The Kunlun Red Star of the KHL have announced that Gilbert Brule (165 GP, 87 G, 98 A with the Vancouver Giants) will be returning to the team on a two-year contract. Brule played 47 games with the Red Star in 2017-18 and had 17 goals and 19 assists.

Metsola named KHL goaltender of the Year

WHL alumni Juha Metsola (83 GP with the Lethbridge Hurricanes) has been named the KHL’s goaltender of the year. In 48 games with Salavat Yulaev Ufa, Metsola posted a 2.02 GAA and .934 save percentage.

Lamoureux named head coach of USHL’s Fargo Force

The Fargo Force of the USHL have hired former Red Deer Rebels forward Pierre-Paul Lamoureux to be the team’s new head coach. Lamoureux played 181 games with the Rebels scoring three goals and adding 15 assists before leaving for the USHL’s Tri-City Storm for his final season of junior hockey.

He also spent the 2016-17 season as an associate coach with the Red Deer Rebels.