Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the DUB: WHL alumni take it to the bank in NHL free agency, Royals sign goalie Wraneschitz, and more!

Written by Brian Wiebe on

33 WHL alumni sign new NHL deals

Free agency opened on Thursday afternoon in the National Hockey League and although the deals will continue to roll in, as of this writing 33 former WHL players have signed new contracts.

Overall, $147,600,000 total contract dollars were signed by former WHLers as the NHL’s annual free-agent frenzy started.

More on the signings is available here.

Bear traded by Edmonton to Carolina

Defenseman Ethan Bear (66 goals, 126 assists in 264 games with Seattle from 2013-17) was traded from Edmonton to Carolina in exchange for forward Warren Foegele on Wednesday.

Bear is 24-years-old and entering his third full season in the NHL. The Regina, SK product posted 33 points in 132 career games with the Oilers.

Royals sign Austrian goalie Wraneschitz

The Victoria Royals announced on Wednesday the signing of 2002-born goaltender Sebastian Wraneschitz, who was their first pick, 60th overall, in this year’s 2021 CHL Import Draft.

Wraneschitz, who’s from Wien, AUT, posted a 5-7-0 record to go along with a 3.18 goals-against-average, an .886 save percentage, and one shutout in 12 games with the Vienna Capitals of the ICE Hockey League, which is the top-tier pro league in Austria.

Kuemper traded from Arizona to Colorado

The Colorado Avalanche has acquired goaltender Darcy Kuemper (94-60-17, 2.48 goals-against-average, .914 save percentage, and 19 shutouts in 178 games with Red Deer from 2008-11) from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for defenseman Conor Timmins and a pair of draft picks.

The 31-year-old Saskatonian put up a 10-11-3 record to go along with a 2.56 goals-against-average, a .907 save percentage, and a pair of shutouts in 27 games with the Coyotes in 2020-21.

He also played for Canada’s gold-medal winning team at the World Hockey Championship, finishing the tournament with a 2.17 GAA and a .916 SV% in eight games.

Chiefs beef up their business staff

The Spokane Chiefs announced on Wednesday the addition of three new members to their business staff.

Heading to The Lilac City are Brandon Holloway and Manny Cortes in the Chiefs’ ticketing department while Sydney Olmstead joins the team as digital media and communications coordinator.

Holden moves from Sin City to Bytown

34-year-old defenseman Nick Holden (30 goals, 61 assists in 137 games with Chilliwack from 2006-08) has been traded along with a draft pick from Vegas to Ottawa for forward Evgenii Dadonov.

The native of St. Albert, AB has 143 points in 513 career NHL games over the last 10 seasons with Columbus, Colorado, the New York Rangers, Boston, and Vegas.

Alfaro signs an extension with Wheeling

Forward Matt Alfaro (62 goals, 93 assists in 263 games with Kootenay and Lethbridge from 2013-17) has signed an extension with the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL for the 2021-22 season.

The 24-year-old from Calgary, AB had 13 goals and 41 points in 61 games with the Nailers as a rookie in 2020-21.

Rimmer joins Trail of the BCHL as goalie coach

The Trail Smoke Eaters announced the addition of Ty Rimmer (74-65-14, 3.01 goals-against-average, .910 save percentage, and 10 shutouts in 159 games with Brandon, Prince George, Tri-City, and Lethbridge from 2010-13) to their staff as a goalie coach on Wednesday.

Rimmer, a 29-year-old from Edmonton, AB, spent 2020-21 as the goalie coach of the Leduc Oil Kings U18 AAA of the Alberta Elite Hockey League.

Sharks acquire Pederson from Arizona

Forward Lane Pederson (53 goals, 87 assists in 199 games with Seattle, Red Deer, and Swift Current from 2014-17) was traded from Arizona to San Jose on Wednesday in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.

The 23-year-old from Saskatoon, SK had a goal and three points in 15 games with the Coyotes in 2020-21. He added seven goals and 17 points in 16 games at the American Hockey League level with the Tucson Roadrunners.

Parkkonen moves from Wichita to the Czech Republic

Defenseman Patrik Parkkonen (seven goals, 26 assists in 110 games with Medicine Hat from 2010-12) has signed a deal for 2021-22 with HC Energie Karlovy Vary of the Czech-based Tipsport Extraliga.

Parkkonen, who’s from Porvoo, FIN, had four goals and 20 points in 33 games with Wichita of the ECHL during the 2020-21 season. It was the 28-year-old’s second season playing pro in North America after seven seasons in Europe.

Chase inks a contract to return to Maine

Forward Greg Chase (78 goals, 143 assists in 265 games with Calgary and Victoria from 2011-15) signed with the ECHL’s Maine Mariners for the 2021-22 season.

The 26-year-old from Sherwood Park, AB didn’t play anywhere of note in 2020-21 due to the pandemic but had 28 points in 42 games with the Mariners in 2019-20.

Kozun takes his game to Wales

Goaltender Taran Kozun (64-52-15, 2.73 goals-against-average, .912 save percentage, and 10 shutouts in 135 games with Kamloops and Seattle from 2011-15) has his name on a contract with the Cardiff Devils of the UK’s Elite Ice Hockey League for 2021-22.

Kozun, 26, was on the roster of six different ECHL teams this past season, including Kansas City, Indy, Rapid City, Orlando, Allen, and Wheeling. He also made one appearance with the Pensacola Ice Flyers of the Southern Professional Hockey League.

Oksanen jumps to Mora IK for 2021-22

Forward Emil Oksanen (16 goals, 32 assists in 58 games with Regina in 2017-18) signed with Mora IK of HockeyAllsvenskan, which is the second tier of pro hockey in Sweden.

The product of Kirkkonummi, FIN played 19 games for Kiekko-Espoo in Finland’s Mestis in 2020-21 and posted 16 points. Oksanen also got into a pair of games with Cracovia Krakow of Poland’s Polska Hokej Liga.

Mattson signs in the Czech Republic

Forward Leif Mattson (79 goals, 115 assists in 240 games with Kelowna and Spokane from 2016-20) has signed with SK Kadan of Chance Liga, the second-highest level of Czech hockey.

Mattson, 22, was due to play with St. Francis Xavier University of U SPORTS in 2020-21 but the season was cancelled due to the pandemic.