Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the DUB: Zaripov re-ups with Ak Bars Kazan, Cardiff Devils sign three WHL alumni, and more!

Written by Brian Wiebe on

Ross, Vandane, and Padakin sign with Dornbirn Bulldogs

The Dornbirn Bulldogs of the Austrian Hockey League, also known as the ICE Hockey League, announced the signing of defensemen Nick Ross (33 goals, 112 assists in 288 games with Regina, Kamloops, and Vancouver from 2004-09) and Davis Vandane (15 goals, 64 assists in 189 games with Saskatoon, Spokane, and Prince Albert from 2010-13), among others, on Saturday.

Ross, a 32-year-old from Lethbridge, AB, had eight goals and 37 points in 44 games as an alternate captain with Lausitzer Füchse of DEL2 in 2020-21. It was his ninth season playing in Europe.

Vandane, 29, notched eight goals and 39 points in 44 games with Esbjerg Energy in Denmark’s Metal Ligaen this past season. The Yorkton, SK product has spent the last three seasons playing in Europe.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old forward Pavel Padakin (76 goals, 71 assists in 206 games with Calgary and Regina from 2012-15) also inked a deal with Dornbirn. He was scoreless in eight games with HK Sochi of the Kontinental Hockey League in 2020-21 before being released last November.

Zaripov signs extension with Ak Bars Kazan

Team captain Danis Zaripov (23 goals, eight assists with Swift Current in 1998-99) signed a one-year extension with Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL for the 2021-22 season.

The 40-year-old native of Chelyabinsk, RUS has 32 goals and 92 points for Ak Bars Kazan since joining the club prior to the 2017-18 season. He also played a dozen seasons with Ak Bars from 2001-13.

Cardiff Devils add three former WHLers

The Cardiff Devils of the UK’s Elite Ice Hockey League announced the signing of five players on Saturday, and three of them are WHL alumni.

Those signed include goaltender Mac Carruth (117-46-6, 2.85 GAA, .910 SV%, 11 SO in 176 games with Portland from 2009-13), and forwards Trevor Cox (98 goals, 207 assists in 324 games with Medicine Hat and Vancouver from 2011-16) and Cole Sanford (126 goals, 123 assists in 260 games with Medicine Hat and Regina from 2012-16).

Carruth, a 29-year-old from Salt Lake City, UT, was 13-24-0 with a 3.10 goals-against-average and a .911 save percentage with Lausitzer Füchse of DEL2 this past season.

Cox, who’s from Surrey, BC, posted 13 goals and 35 points in 48 games with HC Detva in 2020-21. It was the 25-year-old’s first season playing Europe.

Sanford, 25, notched three goals and nine points in 19 games with the ECHL’s Florida Everblades during the COVID-19 shortened 2020-21 season. Joining Cardiff for 2021-22 is the Vernon, BC product’s first sojourn to play overseas.