Daily Dose of the Dub: Mikhalchuk returns to Cougars, Toman traded to Saskatoon, Zabransky to Moose Jaw and more

Mikhalchuk returns to Prince George 

We noted yesterday that Vladislav Mikhalchuk had requested and received his release from Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the KHL. We now know that request was made so that he could return to the Prince George Cougars for one more season of junior hockey. Returning to the team he led in scoring last year with 25 goals and 25 assists in 68 games, this will be Mikhalchuk’s third season with the Cougars.

Toman traded to Blades

To make room for Mikhalchuk, the Cougars traded 2001-born forward Matej Toman to the Saskatoon Blades for a sixth-round pick in the 2021 WHL Bantam Draft. Originally a fifth overall selection by the Cougars in the 2018 CHL Import Draft, Toman has scored three goals and added three assists in 16 games this season.

Cougars name leadership group 

Josh Maser has been named the 25th captain in Cougars’ history. In his fourth season with the Cougars, Maser is leading the Cougars in scoring with 11 points in 16 games. Joining him in the leadership group will be Ilijah ColinaCole Moberg, and Ryan Schoettler.

Blades send Zabransky to Warriors 

To make room for Toman, the Blades traded Libor Zabransky to the Moose Jaw Warriors for a seventh-round pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft. Selected in this year’s CHL Import Draft by the Blades, Zabransky has played 16 games with one goal and five assists. Zabransky re-entered the CHL Import draft pool after being released by the Kelowna Rockets following two seasons with the club.

Warriors place Brkin on waivers 

The Moose Jaw Warriors also placed goaltender Bailey Brkin on waivers. In 13 games this season, Brkin had posted a 3.81 GAA and .889 save percentage. With Adam Evanoff returning to the lineup, Brkin was not going to be the starting goaltender, so this move allows him to pursue other opportunities.

The Warriors now have an open overage spot with only Owen Hardy and Jadon Joseph remaining with the organization.

CHL unveils weekly rankings 

The Canadian Hockey League has once again unveiled its weekly rankings. Prince Albert has climbed into the second overall spot while the Edmonton Oil Kings have fallen to #3. The Everett Silvertips are also climbing up the rankings, moving into the seventh spot. The Portland Winterhawks and Lethbridge Hurricanes earned honourable mention.

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Milestones

  • Trevor Longo played his 100th WHL game all with the Medicine Hat Tigers
  • On the other side of the Tigers-Cougars affair, Taylor Gauthier also suited up for his 100th WHL game.
  • Mike Ladyman notched his first career WHL goal for the Winnipeg ICE

De Jong scores first professional goal 

Brendan De Jong (317 GP, 24 G, 64 A with the Portland Winterhawks from 2014-2019) scored his first professional goal on Wednesday with the Wichita Thunder of the ECHL.

Postma signs in Switzerland for rest of season

Paul Postma (270 GP, 44 G, 117 A with the Swift Current Broncos and Calgary Hitmen from 2004-2009) has signed a contract with Lugano in Switzerland for the rest of the season. The former seventh-round pick of the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers started the year with Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the KHL where he had two assists in 10 games.

Harrison released by Romanian club 

Chase Harrison (240 GP, 17 G, 94 A with the Regina Pats from 2013-2017) was released by Corona Brasov in Romania after tallying one goal and five assists in 13 games.

Troubling Moment 

Parker Gavlas served a five-minute major and was given a game misconduct for a check to the head on Prince George’s Ilijah Colina. Gavlas was previously suspended in September of last year for six games so it would not be a surprise if he heard from the league on this one.

Three Stars:

First Star: D-Jay Jerome had two goals and one assist in a 4-1 win for the Lethbridge Hurricanes

Second Star: Brad Ginnell had two goals for the Winnipeg ICE in a 5-3 win.

Third StarCole Moberg notched two goals and one assist in a 5-4 loss to the Medicine Hat Tigers

Honourable Mention

Orca Wiesblatt had two goals for the Calgary Hitmen. Michal Teply and Nino Kinder had a goal and two assists for the Winnipeg ICE.