Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the Dub: Cougars sign two players, Chiefs hire associate coach, sign import and more

Written by Ben Dooley on

Kyren Gronick, Filip Koffer sign with Prince George 

The Prince George Cougars have signed forwards Kyren Gronick and Filip Koffer to WHL agreements. Gronick joins the Cougars after being selected in the second round of the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft from the Regina Aces in the SBAAHL where he garnered 27 goals and 26 assists in 24 games. As a 2004-born player, Gronick will not be eligible to join the Cougars full-time until 2020-21.

With the signing of Koffer, the Cougars are getting a player who can step into their lineup immediately and hopefully for Cougars fans, be able to make an impact. The 10th overall pick in the 2019 CHL Import Draft, Koffer played the majority of last season in the Czech Republic U-19 league with HC Dynamo Pardubice where he put up 10 goals and 28 assists in 38 games.

Cougars hire new Athletic Therapist

The Prince George Cougars also announced that they have hired Mike Matthies to be the team’s new athletic therapist. A native of Prince George, Matthies has spent the last two seasons as a Student Athletic Therapist with the Victoria Royals. He also has international experience as an equipment manager. Matthies’ hiring comes after Craig Hyslop left the organization to launch his own Athletic Therapy company.

Meanwhile, Cougars’ Equipment Manager Ramandeep “Chico” Dhanjal has been named to Team Canada’s staff for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in November. Dhanjal has been with the Cougars since the 2008-09 season.

Chiefs sign 2019 import draft pick Startsev 

The Spokane Chiefs have signed 2019 second-round import draft pick Matvei Startsev to a WHL Agreement. A 2002-born defenseman from Russia, Startsev played 13 games in the Russian U-18 league with Moskva Russia recording three goals and six assists with 35 penalty minutes.

If Filip Kral does not turn pro within the Toronto Maple Leafs organization for the 2019-20 season, the Chiefs will have a decision to make with their imports as they have already signed goaltender Lukas Parik which would put them one above the CHL Import limit of two.

Chiefs make changes to the coaching staff 

The Chiefs also announced they have hired Adam Maglio from the BCHL-Champion Prince George Spruce Kings to be the team’s associate coach. Maglio had spent the last four seasons with the Spruce Kings, two as an associate coach and the latter two as the head coach. Under Maglio, the Spruce Kings saw an 18-point improvement in his first season as head coach as well as back-to-back appearances in the BCHL Final.

At the same time, the Chiefs announced that assistant coach Scott Burt (254 GP, 85 G, 87 A with the Seattle Thunderbirds, Swift Current Broncos, Edmonton ICE, and Red Deer Rebels) won’t be returning to the organization next season. He had spent the last six seasons as the Chiefs assistant coach and will coach Team BC at the 2019 WHL Cup.

Byram signs entry-level contract with Avalanche

Vancouver Giants defenseman Bowen Byram has signed his entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche. The fourth overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Byram had 26 goals (most among WHL defensemen) and 45 assists in 67 games. He also led the entire WHL in playoff assists (18) and playoff points (26) as the Giants made a run to the WHL Final, falling just short of a Memorial Cup berth. Byram is the seventh WHL prospect from this year’s draft class to sign an entry-level contract so far.

Lucic traded to Flames

The Edmonton Oilers have traded Milan Lucic (133 GP, 33 G, 48 A with the Vancouver Giants) and a conditional 2020 third-round pick to the Calgary Flames for James Neal. A second-round pick of the Boston Bruins in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Lucic has 198 goals and 303 assists in 890 games with the Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, and Oilers.

Finley joins Jets scouting staff

Jeff Finley (216 GP, 30 G, 156 A with the Portland Winterhawks) has been hired by the Winnipeg Jets as an amateur scout. After an 18-year professional hockey career which included stops with the New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues, Finley retired in 2005-06, joining the Detroit Red Wings as a scout four years later, a position he held until this year.