Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the Dub: Broncos sign first round pick Ward, Silvertips’ Palaga commits to BCHL’s Vipers

Written by Ben Dooley on

Broncos sign first-round pick Ward

The Swift Current Broncos announced that 2019 first round selection Mat Ward has committed to the organization. Ward was drafted by the Broncos with the 14th overall selection in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft from the Delta Hockey Academy Bantam Prep Green team. Ward is a native of Richmond, B.C., and stands at five-foot-seven and weighs 130 pounds. The forward averaged more than two points per game with Delta scoring 24 goals and 40 assists in just 30 games. With the signing, the Broncos now have commitments from three of their top five prospects from the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft. A total of 17 first round picks from the 22 total have now reached commitments with their WHL teams.

Palaga to return to BCHL’s Vipers

The Vernon Vipers of the BCHL have announced that goaltender Max Palaga is returning for the 2019-20 season. The Kamloops, BC native was originally a member of his hometown Blazers, playing in 18 games over the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. He started last season with the Vipers playing in five games and posting a 1.77 GAA and .942 save percentage before being traded by Kamloops to the Everett Silvertips for a sixth-round pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft. After joining the Silvertips, Palaga saw action in 13 games posting a 1.65 GAA and .942 save percentage.

The Silvertips have goaltenders Dustin Wolf, Danton Belluk and Keegan Karki signed to WHL contracts for the 2019/20 seasons. Unless Wolf is moved in a trade, he will likely return to the Silvertips as their starter and Karki will serve as his back-up.

Royals home rink to host Canucks’ training camp

The Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, home of the WHL’s Victoria Royals will play host to the Vancouver Canucks training camp from September 13th to 15th and will host a Canucks pre-season game on Monday, September 16th when the Calgary Flames head to Victoria to take on the Canucks.

This is the second consecutive season the Canucks have used a WHL facility to host their training camp as the 2018 edition was held at Prospera Place, home of the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets. It is also the second time the Canucks have hosted training camp at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, last doing so in 2007.

ICE announce a partnership with Shaftesbury High School

The Winnipeg ICE have announced a partnership with Shaftesbury High School in Winnipeg. In this partnership, the ICE will have all of their high school aged players attending Shaftesbury High School starting this fall. RINK Hockey Academy, which is owned by the ICE, also has their players attending the high school. The school boasts a population of 750 students.

AJHL announces Team AJHL for 2019 Junior Club World Cup

The AJHL has announced its roster for the 2019 Junior Club World Cup which is set to take place in late August in Russia and a number of WHL prospects are going to represent the AJHL:

  • Defenseman Michael Benning (Victoria Royals)
  • Defenseman Robert Kincaid (Kelowna Rockets)
  • Defenseman Eric Parker (Prince George Cougars)
  • Forward Carter Savoie (Winnipeg ICE)
  • Forward Alex Young (Everett Silvertips)

Winterhawks alumni Coburn re-signs with NHL’s Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed defenseman Braydon Coburn to a two-year contract extension. Coburn played 238 games in the WHL registering 29 goals and 102 assists all with the Portland Winterhawks before being selected by the Atlanta Thrashers with the eighth overall pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He has played 924 NHL games with the Thrashers, Philadelphia Flyers and Lightning and has 48 goals and 180 assists.

Americans alumni Jette commits to Lakehead University

Defenseman Tyler Jette who played five games and scored one goal with the Tri-City Americans in the 2017-18 season has committed to Lakehead University for the 2019-20 season. Jette battled injury problems throughout his junior career which caused him to miss the entire 2016-17 season.