Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the DUB: Prokop comes out as first openly gay WHL player, Giants and T-Birds make a deal, and much more!

Written by Brian Wiebe on

Calgary Hitmen defenseman Prokop proudly comes out as gay

Calgary Hitmen defenseman Luke Prokop became the first player under contract to an NHL to come out as gay when he made the announcement on Twitter on Monday. He was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the third round last year and signed a contract with them in December.

The 2002-born blueliner received support across social media from teams, leagues, and athletes around the world. The Predators praised Prokop’s courage to come out, saying they will “support him unequivocally in the days, weeks, and years to come as he continues to develop as a prospect.”

Oil Kings sign import forward Demek

The Edmonton Oil Kings have signed 2003-born forward Jakub Demek to a WHL standard player agreement. The native of Kosice, SVK was the Oil Kings’ first selection, 47th overall, in this year’s CHL Import Draft.

He had 13 points in 25 games with Team Slovakia U18 of Slovenská hokejová liga this past season. Demek is ranked 129th among European skaters for this month’s NHL Draft.

Giants acquire Mount and McNelly from Seattle

The Vancouver Giants acquired 2002-born forward Payton Mount and 2001-born defenseman Cade McNelly from the Seattle Thunderbirds for a 2023 second-round pick and a 2024 fifth-round pick in the WHL Prospects Draft.

Mount, who hails from Victoria, BC, had 23 goals and 68 points in 140 career games with the Thunderbirds. McNelly is a veteran of 121 career WHL games. The Westlock, AB product notched six goals and 17 points for Seattle over four seasons.

Saskatoon signs import forward Sidorov

The Saskatoon Blades announced the signing of 2004-born forward Yegor Sidorov on Monday. The native of Vitebsk, BLR was the Blades’ first selection, 20th overall, in this year’s CHL Import Draft.

He had 14 points in 24 games with Team Belarus U18 of Belarusian Extraleague B this past season. Sidorov added 27 points in 20 games with the Belarus U17 team of the Belarusian Higher League.

Winnipeg firms up coaching staff for 2021-22

The Winnipeg ICE announced that head coach James Patrick will be joined on the bench by Josh Green (142 goals, 136 assists in 282 games with Medicine Hat, Swift Current, and Portland from 1993-98), Byron Spriggs, and Larry Woo (eight goals, 14 assists in 95 games from 1989-91) as assistant coaches for 2021-22.

Green, 43, is entering his third season as an assistant coach with the ICE. Spriggs, 27, is going into his second season in that role with Winnipeg, and Woo, 50, is a newcomer with the ICE entering his first season.

Silvertips get second overall import pick Huuhtanen signed

The Everett Silvertips announced the signing of 2003-born forward Niko Huuhtanen on Monday. The product of Helsinki, FIN is ranked 49th among European skaters for this month’s NHL Draft.

He had 34 points in 37 games with Tappara of U20 SM-sarja in 2020-21. Huuhtanen was the Silvertips’ first selection, second overall, in this year’s CHL Import Draft.

Hannoun switches Italian teams for 2021-22

Forward Dante Hannoun (108 goals, 171 assists in 314 games with Victoria and Prince Albert from 2014-19) has signed with HC Pustertal of the ICE Hockey League for 2021-22. The ICEHL is the top tier of hockey in Austria.

The 22-year-old from Delta, BC had 14 goals and 43 points in 35 games with Vipiteno of the Alps Hockey League this past season.

Stastny signs a deal with HK Dukla Trencin

Forward Andrej Stastny (10 goals, 20 assists in 32 games with Vancouver in 2010-11) has signed with HK Dukla Trencin of Slovakia’s Tipos Extraliga for the 2021-22 season.

The 30-year-old Povazska Bystrica, SVK native scored seven goals and 21 points in 29 games with HK Nitra in Tipos Extraliga during the 2020-21 season.