Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the Dub: Giants and Broncos swap imports, Broncos add Kaluski, Weekly Report and more

Written by Ben Dooley on

Broncos and Giants swap overagers 

The Vancouver Giants have acquired import forward Joona Kiviniemi from the Swift Current Broncos for import forward Sergei Alkhimov and a 2020 sixth-round WHL bantam draft pick.

Kiviniemi has gotten off to a hotter start this year with six goals and four assists in 15 games while Alkhimov struggled with the Giants since joining them in an off-season trade with only one assist in 16 games. However, both players put up similar point totals last year with Alkhimov recording 13 goals and 14 assists in 66 games with the Regina Pats compared to Kiviniemi’s 19 goals and six assists in 62 games with the Broncos.

Williams, Wouters added to Team WHL for CHL-Russia series

With Kirby Dach (Saskatoon Blades) in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks and Peyton Krebs (Winnipeg ICE) still recovering from an off-season training injury, the WHL has added Edmonton Oil Kings forward Josh Williams and Saskatoon Blades forward Chase Wouters to their roster for the WHL leg of the CHL-Russia series. Williams has played 17 games for the Oil Kings and is second in team scoring with eight goals and 11 assists. Wouters is also second in team scoring on the Blades with 10 goals and seven assists in 18 games.

Blazers unveil Military Appreciation Night jerseys

The Kamloops Blazers will be honouring Canada’s military on Saturday in their Military Appreciation Night with these jerseys which show the image of soldiers descending on Juno Beach on June 6th, 1944.

Plenty of international hockey in the coming days as Medicine Hat, AB & Swift Current, SK play host to the 2019 IIHF World U17 Hockey Challenge. If you are traveling to either city, consider DUBNetwork’s new hotel partners: HomeStay Inn & Suites – Medicine Hat and the Days Inn Swift Current. Call to reserve your room and mention the Company Profile “DUBNetwork” to save 15% off the Best Available Rates.

Milestones

  • Edmonton Oil Kings defenseman Keegan Slaney tallied his first goal in the WHL.
  • Red Deer Rebels defenseman Mason Ward scored his first goal in the WHL.

World U-17 Challenge 

In a battle of two undefeated squads, it was the Canadians who came out on top as Canada Black defeated the Americans 5-4 in overtime. Sean Tschigerl (Calgary Hitmen) and Jayden Grubbe (Red Deer Rebels) each had assists for Canada in the win.

The WHL starred in Canada White’s 3-0 shutout victory over the Czech Republic as Dylan Guenther (Edmonton Oil Kings) had two goals and Cole Sillinger scored Canada’s other goal.

Canada’s lone blowout win on Tuesday came in Canada Red’s 7-2 triumph over Finland. Logan Stankoven (Kamloops Blazers) and Conner Roulette (Seattle Thunderbirds) each had goals and Olen Zellweger (Everett Silvertips) had an assist.

Chara plays 1500th NHL game 

Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (49 GP, 3 G, 19 A with the Prince George Cougars) played his 1500th NHL game on Tuesday in a 5-4 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Originally drafted in the third round of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders, Chara’s 23-year NHL career has also included a stop with the Ottawa Senators and a stat line of 202 goals and 445 assists.

Bouwmeester suits up for 1200th NHL game 

St. Louis Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester (194 GP, 40 G, 111 A with the Medicine Hat Tigers) played in his 1200th NHL game on Tuesday night against the Vancouver Canucks. Drafted third overall by the Florida Panthers in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Bouwmeester has also spent time with the Calgary Flames in his 18-year professional career.

Sutter signs two-year contract in Switzerland 

Dave Sutter (137 GP, 6 G, 24 A with the Seattle Thunderbirds) has signed a two-year contract in Switzerland with HC Fribourg-Gottéron for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. He’s played 13 games with the ZSC Lions this season.

Mikhalchuk receives his release from KHL club

Vladislav Mikhalchuk (128 GP, 39 G, 44 A with the Prince George Cougars) requested and received his release from Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the KHL. He had played one game this year and had no points.

Scherbak signs with new KHL club 

Nikita Scherbak (130 GP, 55 G, 105 A with the Saskatoon Blades and Everett Silvertips) has signed with Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL for the rest of this season. Scherbak was released by Avangard Omsk last week after recorded two goals and four assists in 16 games.

Three Stars of the Night

First Star: Spencer Moe had two goals and one assist for the Prince Albert Raiders

Second Star: Ozzy Wiesblatt also scored two goals and one assist for the Raiders.

Third Star: Ben McCartney notched two goals for the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Honourable Mentions

Brayden Watts had one goal and three assists for the Raiders and Aliaksei Protas had two assists.

Weekly Report

Brandon Wheat Kings 

  • Markus Kallionkielli has been upgraded from month-to-month to week-to-week.

Calgary Hitmen 

  • Riley Fiddler-Schultz is week-to-week with a lower-body injury after being day-to-day last week. Tye Carriere has returned from injury.

Everett Silvertips

  • As we previously noted, Jacob Wright, Max Patterson, Tyson Phare, and Cole Fonstad are day-to-day with various injuries. One we missed was Keegan Karki being day-to-day with an illness.

Moose Jaw Warriors 

  • Tate Popple is back on the injury list with a lower-body injury that has him day-to-day. Bryden Kiesman is also day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Prince George Cougars 

  • Ethan Samson is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
  • Ethan Browne and Taylor Gauthier have returned from injury.

Red Deer Rebels 

  • Jace Isley and Chase Leslie have returned from injury.

Saskatoon Blades

  • Ethan Chadwick has returned to the Saskatoon Contacts with the SMHL.

Seattle Thunderbirds 

  • Reid Schaefer and Sam Popowich have been returned to the Spruce Grove Saints of the AJHL.
  • Cade McNelly is now week-to-week instead of indefinite.

Spokane Chiefs 

  • Brett Balas has returned to the Drumheller Dragons of the AJHL.

Swift Current Broncos 

  • 1999-born Jaxan Kaluski has been added from the Lloydminster Bobcats of the AJHL. With Jake Kustra still week-to-week, the Broncos won’t have to make any changes to their roster to accommodate this move.
  • Garrett Sambrook is out indefinitely with an upper-body injury

Tri-City Americans

  • Parker Bell (illness) and Blake Stevenson (injury) have both returned to the lineup.

Vancouver Giants 

  • Krz Plummer is out indefinitely with an upper-body injury.

Winnipeg ICE

  • Dean McNabb has returned from injury.