Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the Dub: CHL Weekly Rankings, Prospect & Alumni Updates, Milestones and more!

Written by Ben Dooley on

CHL announces Weekly Rankings

The Everett Silvertips have moved up into the third spot of the weekly CHL rankings. The Prince Albert Raiders held on to the fifth spot while the Edmonton Oil Kings fell down to the eighth spot in the rankings. The Portland Winterhawks also earned themselves an honourable mention.

Newkirk cut by a skate in Winterhawks-Giants game

Portland Winterhawks forward Reece Newkirk was helped off the ice after being cut on the wrist by a skate and did not return to the game. In his post-game media availability, Winterhawks head coach and general manager Mike Johnston told our Josh Critzer:

“It was kind of scary. The scary thing was we thought the skate cut an artery but it didn’t. That is the only thing I know right now is it didn’t get an artery. It looked like a very deep cut to me on his wrist, it looked scary. It seems like he is okay, so whether that means will he be back in a week, or two, I don’t know, but he is okay.”

Change to the warm-up procedure at Sandman Centre

There’s been a bit of a change to the warm-up procedure at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops. In order for a visiting team’s player to leave the ice, they have to exit through the Zamboni gate which in the past allowed the opportunity for pucks to leave the ice if a player left warm-up early. In order to prevent this from happening in the future, players will be required to stay on the ice or the bench for the entirety of the 15-minute warm-up period before departing for the dressing room.

Warriors recall Firkus and Hoekstra 

As noted yesterday, Jagger Firkus has been recalled from the Lloydminster Bobcats Midget AAA team. The Moose Jaw Warriors officially announced that move as well as recalling Josh Hoekstra from OHA Edmonton Prep. In 11 games this year, Hoekstra has five goals and eight assists.

Milestones

  • Daylan Kuefler recorded his first WHL point for the Kamloops Blazers on a goal from Martin Lang
  • Recent acquisition Trevor Thurston scored his first WHL goal with the Lethbridge Hurricanes while Dylan Cozens played in his 150th WHL game and Calen Addison notched his 150th career assist.
  • Lukas Parik notched an assist for the rare first career point for the Spokane Chiefs netminder.
  • Nolan Bentham also recorded his first WHL assist with the Victoria Royals.

Ice Wolves acquire Culling’s CJHL rights

The La Ronge Ice Wolves of the SJHL have acquired the CJHL rights to Swift Current Broncos defenseman Matthew Culling from the Weyburn Red Wings from the SJHL. In 19 games with the Broncos, Culling has three goals and one assist.

USA Hockey announces Youth Olympics Roster

USA Hockey has announced the roster for the 2020 Youth Olympics in January. Among the notable WHL names on the roster are:

  • Maddox Fleming (Portland Winterhawks 12th round pick)
  • Cruz Lucius (Seattle Thunderbirds 8th round pick)
  • Dylan Silverstein (Medicine Hat Tigers 5th round pick)
  • Jimmy Snuggerud (Portland Winterhawks 10th round pick)
  • Charlie Stramel (Victoria Royals 10th round pick)

Are you traveling the prairies to watch your favorite hockey players? Take advantage of DUBNetwork’s hotel partnership! You can save 15% off the Best Available Rates when booking at HomeStay Inn & Suites in Medicine Hat; the HomeStay Express in Airdrie, or the Days Inn Swift Current. Phone to reserve your room and mention the Company Profile “DUBNetwork”. You can also give them a “follow” on Twitter, @HomeStayInnMHAT.

Smilanic commits to Quinnipiac 

Ty Smilanic, a 2017 third-round pick of the Regina Pats has committed to Quinnipiac University for the 2020-21 season. In 13 games with the U.S. National U-18 team this season, he has scored three goals and seven assists.

Malenstyn makes NHL debut

Beck Malenstyn (238 GP, 65 G, 63 A with the Calgary Hitmen and Swift Current Broncos from 2013-18) made his NHL debut with the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night. Malenstyn was drafted by the Capitals in the fifth round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

Brouwer signs one-year contract with Blues

Troy Brouwer (287 GP, 103 G, 116 A with the Moose Jaw Warriors from 2001-06) has signed with the St. Louis Blues for the rest of this season. A former seventh-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks, Brouwer has played 838 NHL games with the Blackhawks, Washington Capitals, Blues, Calgary Flames and Florida Panthers.

Leafs ax Babcock

Mike Babcock (30 GP, 1 G, 1 A with the Saskatoon Blades in 1980-81) was fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday. The former Moose Jaw Warriors and Spokane Chiefs head coach was in his fifth season as coach of the Maple Leafs.

Heshka re-signs in Finland

Shaun Heshka (204 GP, 25 G, 82 A with the Everett Silvertips from 2003-06) has re-signed with Karpat Oulu in Finland on a one-year contract. In his fourth season with the club, Heshka has three goals and 12 assists in 20 games.

Ranford signs in Sweden

Brendan Ranford (348 GP, 137 G, 220 A with the Kamloops Blazers from 2007-13) has signed with Mora in Sweden for the remainder of this season. A former seventh-round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers, Ranford spent last season in Germany with Eisbaren Berlin where he had 13 goals and 15 assists in 51 games.

Wick signs one-year contract extension in Switzerland

Roman Wick (127 GP, 53 G, 65 A with the Red Deer Rebels and Lethbridge Hurricanes from 2004-06) has signed a one-year contract extension with ZSC Zurich in Switzerland and announced he plans to retire at the end of next season. A former fifth-round pick of the Ottawa Senators, Wick is in his eighth season with Zurich and has three goals and seven assists in 19 games.

Three Stars 

First Star: Kamloops Blazers forward Connor Zary had a hat-trick in a 10-1 win

Second Star: Calgary Hitmen forward Mark Kastelic had two goals and two assists

Third Star: Kamloops Blazers defenseman Max Martin recorded four assists

Honourable Mentions

Zack Stringer had three assists for the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Evan Herman had a goal and two assists for the Prince Albert Raiders as did Martin Lang for the Kamloops Blazers.