Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the Dub: Liwiski suspended for kneeing penalties, three other suspensions handed out; WHL hands out weekly honours; Hitmen make prospect moves; three milestones in the night’s only game

Written by Stephen Hawco on

Kelowna Rockets forward out one game

There is still nothing listed on the WHL Discipline page in regards to possible suspensions for either Portland forward Joachim Blichfeld’s hit on Spokane’s Ty Smith or Kamloops defenseman Montana Onyebuchi’s one-man fight from Saturday.

However, they did post a one-game suspension for Kelowna Rockets 2001-born forward Mark Liwiski.

The suspension was for “accumulation of kneeing penalties.”

Liwiski took a kneeing minor on Friday against the Spokane Chiefs.

It was his third kneeing minor this season. His others were:

  • October 10th, 2018 vs Seattle
  • September 29th, 2018 vs Prince George

Liwiski, who was acquired by Kelowna from Everett last season has nine points and 72 penalty minutes in 45 games so far this season.

He already served his one game suspension on Saturday against Kamloops.

An inquiry has been sent to the WHL to find out whether three kneeing minors is a hard rule in terms of a suspension and whether Liwiski is at risk of getting suspended for every kneeing minor for the rest of the season.

DUBNetwork has not heard back yet from the WHL regarding this.

More discipline handed out

Edmonton Oil Kings forward Jake Neighbours has been suspended four games for a five minute major for a boarding and a game misconduct. This is the 2017 fourth overall pick’s first suspension of his WHL career.

Moose Jaw’s Tristin Langan has been suspended one game for his game misconduct at the end of Saturday’s game against Prince Albert. He was also assessed a five minute major for fighting, as well as a two minute minor for Leaving the Penalty Box. This is the overager’s third suspension of his WHL career.

Prince Albert’s Justin Nachbaur has been suspended three games for his game misconduct versus Moose Jaw, he also got five minutes for fighting in the same play. This is the 18-year-old’s second suspension of his WHL career.

 

WHL announces player and goalie of the week:

Everett Silvertips forward Connor Dewar was named WHL Player of the Week after putting up eight points (4G, 4A) in just two games this week, which included a six point game in a 7-2 win over Seattle. The Minnesota Wild prospect surpassed his previous point record total of 68 points in 21 less games than last season with 70 points in 47 games this season.

Spokane Chiefs goalie Reece Klassen was named WHL Goaltender of the Week with a 1-0-0-1 record with an impressive 0.71 GAA, a .971 save percentage along with his first career WHL shutout against Kelowna. The 19-year-old was acquired earlier this season from Lethbridge and has compiled a record of 13-5-4-5 with a 3.25 GAA, .897 save percentage and one shutout.

Hitmen make roster moves

The Calgary Hitmen have recalled 2003-born defenceman Tyson Galloway from the Thompson Blazers of the BCMML. The Kamloops native was the Hitmen’s second round pick (25th overall) in 2018 and has 12 assists in 32 games this year with Thompson.

18-year-old goaltender Carl Stankowski has been activated off injured reserve after being out of the line-up since November with a lower-body injury. In a corresponding move, the Hitmen have reassigned goaltending prospect Brayden Peters to the Lethbridge Midget AAA Hurricanes of the AMHL. The 18-year-old got into one game with the Hitmen, earning his first WHL win, stopping 30 of 32 shots in a 6-2 win over Swift Current.

Milestone night in Edmonton

In the only game around the league, there were three milestones reached from the Prince Albert Raiders.

20-year-old Sean Montgomery played in his 330th WHL game in a 5-1 win over Edmonton on Monday, recording an assist. The 2013 sixth round pick (114th overall) ties the Raiders franchise record for games played and has 133 points (64G, 69A) in his WHL career, all in Prince Albert.

One of the newest Raiders, Dante Hannoun, skated in his 300th WHL game on Monday, recording two assists. The overage forward was acquired by Prince Albert one week before the trade deadline and has 14 points (5G, 9A) in 14 since the trade from Victoria. The Delta, BC native played in parts of six seasons with the Royals and is top 5 in multiple franchise records. Hannoun has 262 points (103G, 159A) in 300 games in his career.

19-year-old Max Martin skated in his 200th WHL game, going +2 against the Oil Kings. The Winnipeg native was originally drafted in the second round (27th overall) by Prince George in 2014 and has 98 points (22G, 76A) in 200 games split between the Cougars and Raiders.

Three Stars of the Night

1st Star: Prince Albert’s Brett Leason had a goal and two assists in a 5-1 win over the Oil Kings.

2nd Star: Raiders forward Dante Hannoun had two assists.

3rd Star: Parker Kelly scored his 24th of the season which stood up to be the game winning goal for the Raiders.