Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the Dub: Byram and Cozens return to WHL, Broncos acquire Pelletier and more

Written by Ben Dooley on

Byram returned to Vancouver

The Vancouver Giants won’t have to wait and wonder if Bowen Byram will come back to the team this season as the Colorado Avalanche announced they’ve sent him back to the WHL. Giants fans will get to see their star defenseman tonight when the Giants host the Portland Winterhawks.

Kannok-Leipert named Captain of Giants

The Giants also announced Alex Kannok-Leipert will be the team’s 17th captain in franchise history. The nineteen-year-old defenseman joined the Giants as a fourth-round pick in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. He made his debut in the 2016-17 season and has since tallied 11 goals and 33 assists in 137 games.

Cozens back to Lethbridge 

Dylan Cozens is headed back to the Lethbridge Hurricanes after Buffalo assigned him from their training camp roster. He’ll be in the lineup tonight as the Hurricanes host the Red Deer Rebels.

Broncos acquire Pelletier from Oil Kings 

The Swift Current Broncos have acquired forward Raphael Pelletier from the Edmonton Oil Kings for a 2020 fourth-round pick (originally Edmonton’s own pick). The third-round pick of the Oil Kings cracked the lineup as an underage player for five games in 2017-18 but has not seen regular-season game action since. He played one pre-season game with the Oil Kings this year and did not hit the scoresheet.

Hayes off to Gulls training camp 

Zack Hayes impressed Anaheim Ducks management enough to earn a spot in training camp as an undrafted free agent and now he’s impressed the team enough to be kept around in the organization as he’s set to attend training camp with their AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls. The 1999-born defenseman is eligible to return to the Prince Albert Raiders this season but if things keep going the way they have been for Hayes, Raiders fans have seen the last of him in the WHL.

Stars sign Barteaux to entry-level contract 

The Dallas Stars have signed Red Deer Rebels defenseman Dawson Barteaux to his entry-level contract. The 2000-born defenseman was selected by the Stars in the sixth round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He’s played both games so far with the Rebels going pointless with five shots on goal.

Gottfried released from Rebels active roster 

The Red Deer Rebels 2001-born defenseman Ryan Gottfried has been released from the active roster and is expected to join the Neepawa Natives of the MJHL. He suited up for both Rebels regular-season games this year but did not hit the scoresheet.

Murray joins Smoke Eaters 

We previously noted that the Victoria Royals had decided to move on from Jameson Murray as he fell victim to the overage number crunch. We now know he’ll be joining the Trail Smoke Eaters of the BCHL. The Kelowna, B.C.  native registered five goals and 23 assists in 129 games with the Calgary Hitmen, Everett Silvertips, and Victoria Royals.

Broncos games to be broadcast in HD 

Swift Current Broncos fans who are tuning into games on WHL Live will no longer have to tolerate standard definition broadcasts for home games according to Broncos digital media personnel Ryan Switzer.

Hughes gets jersey number in Kamloops 

Kamloops Blazers fans looking for their newest acquisition Ryan Hughes in the lineup tonight should note he’s wearing #21

Petrovic signs with Bruins organization

After attending training camp on a professional try-out contract, defenseman Alex Petrovic (270 GP, 29 G, 117 A with the Red Deer Rebels) has inked a one-year contract with the NHL’s Boston Bruins. Petrovic played 35 games last year with the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers recording two assists.

IceMen sign McCue 

Beau McCue (270 GP, 85 G, 85 A with the Tri-City Americans) has signed with the ECHL’s Jacksonville IceMen after a three-year stint at the University of Prince Edward Island.