Daily Dose of the Dub: More WHL players get NHL Development Camp invites, Valenti back to Europe, Thompson signs in MJHL

Four undrafted WHLers attending Maple Leafs Development Camp

The Toronto Maple Leafs have four undrafted WHLers attending their development camp:

  • Import forward Vladimir Alistrov (62 GP, 12 G, 26 A last season with the Edmonton Oil Kings)
  • Overage forward James Hamblin (67 GP, 33 G, 44 A last season with the Medicine Hat Tigers)
  • Graduating forward Riley Woods (230 GP, 75 G, 105 A in his WHL Career with the Regina Pats and Spokane Chiefs)
  • Overage import defenseman Sergei Sapego (58 GP, 10 G, 33 A with the Prince Albert Raiders last season)

Avalanche to have four WHL players attend development camp

The Colorado Avalanche have invited four WHL players to their development camp:

  • Forward Logan Barlage (68 GP, 15 G, 24 A with the Lethbridge Hurricanes last season)
  • Overage forward Bryce Kindopp (67 GP, 39 G, 34 A with the Everett Silvertips last season)
  • Overage defenseman Nolan Kneen (55 GP, 6 G, 39 A split between the Saskatoon Blades and Kamloops Blazers last season)
  • Defenseman Wyatt McLeod (66 GP, 4 G, 15 A with the Edmonton Oil Kings last season)

Jets development camp roster features three WHL players

Three WHL players will be attending Winnipeg Jets Development Camp:

  • Forward Luke Toporowski (67 GP, 21 G, 28 A with the Spokane Chiefs last season)
  • Graduating forward Noah Philp (259 GP, 54 G, 112 A with the Kootenay ICE and Seattle Thunderbirds in his career)
  • Overage defenseman Scott Walford (62 GP, 9 G, 38 A with the Victoria Royals last season)

Lee and Gricius in San Jose development camp 

Kelowna Rockets defenseman Jake Lee (67 GP, 3 G, 21 A with the Seattle Thunderbirds last season) and Portland Winterhawks overage forward Jake Gricius (68 GP, 27 G, 34 A with Portland last season) will be on the ice with the San Jose Sharks at their development camp.

Two WHL defensemen in camp with Ottawa

The Ottawa Senators have defenseman Clay Hanus (68 GP, 8 G, 19 A with the Portland Winterhawks last season) and overage defenseman Conner McDonald (68 GP, 19 G, 31 A with the Edmonton Oil Kings last season) attending their development camp.

Graduating MacPherson and Dureau in Florida

The Florida Panthers will have graduating defenseman Dylan MacPherson (181 GP, 6 G, 37 A with the Medicine Hat Tigers in his career) and forward Jaydon Dureau (67 GP, 12 G, 17 A with the Portland Winterhawks last season) at their development camp.

Williams off to Pittsburgh Penguins Camp

Edmonton Oil Kings forward Josh Williams is one of 41 players who will be attending Pittsburgh Penguins development camp. Williams split last season between the Oil Kings and Medicine Hat Tigers after a mid-season trade saw him go to Edmonton for forward Brett Kemp. In 66 games split between the two teams, Williams had 14 goals and 19 assists.

McCartney receives invite to Philadelphia Flyers development camp

Brandon Wheat Kings forward Ben McCartney will be joining the Philadelphia Flyers at their development camp. Last season with Brandon, he broke the 20-goal plateau for the first time in his career and added 20 assists in 67 games.

Zummack heads to Tampa Bay 

Spokane Chiefs forward Eli Zummack will be taking his talents to Tampa Bay at their development camp. Zummack is coming off a career year in which he had 15 goals and 53 assists in 61 games with the Chiefs.

Americans goaltender Warm in Washington D.C. for development camp

Tri-City Americans overage goaltender Beck Warm is at Washington Capitals Development Camp. Last season with Tri-City, he suited up for 61 games with a 2.94 GAA and a .916 Save Percentage.

Graduating Koch receives Kings development camp invite

Graduating forward Davis Koch (319 GP, 91 G, 164 A with the Edmonton Oil Kings and Vancouver Giants) will look to keep his hockey career going when he hits the ice with the Los Angeles Kings at their development camp.

Valenti going back to Germany

After a challenging year with the Vancouver Giants, Yannick Valenti is packing up his bags and going back to Germany after being assigned to Heilbronner Falken of the DEL2 by Adler Mannheim of the DEL. He played 52 games for the Giants but had just four goals and five assists.

Thompson joins MJHL’s Dauphin Kings

After three seasons in the WHL with the Brandon Wheat Kings, forward Baron Thompson is joining the Dauphin Kings of the MJHL for his overage season of junior hockey. Thompson had a career 50 points in 172 games with Brandon, tallying 24 goals and 26 assists. The move leaves the Wheat Kings with four overage players for next season but that includes NHL prospects Stelio Mattheos (Carolina Hurricanes) and Jiri Patera (Vegas Golden Knights), who could both turn pro next season.

Rockets to pick twice in CHL Import Draft

With Lassi Thomson being selected in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators, the Kelowna Rockets will be allotted two picks in this year’s CHL Import Draft. As a first round pick, Thomson was placed on a special list which allows teams to exceed the import quota. The Red Deer Rebels (Alexander Alexeyev) and Portland Winterhawks (Henri Jokiharju) are two recent examples of teams being allowed to exceed the import limit because of this rule. You can read all about the Rockets’ busy off-season here.

Ludvig headed for sunglasses and sunscreen

Portland Winterhawks defenseman John Ludvig has a great story about how he got drafted. Ludvig watched the draft from his sister’s house on a stream that was around five minutes behind what was actually going on in Vancouver. When his name was called, Ludvig was bombarded with texts from friends and family, but nobody told him where he had been drafted. The only thing that he knew was that he was going to need sunglasses and sunscreen. You can read the full story and more from his sit-down with Josh Critzer here.

Loschiavo to play pro hockey in Italy

Fresh off graduating from the WHL, Vince Loschiavo is headed to Italy to play pro hockey with Asiago. Loschiavo split his WHL career between the Kootenay ICE, Moose Jaw Warriors, and Edmonton Oil Kings. His WHL career stat line will forever read 318 games played, 95 goals, and 79 assists.

WHL announces home openers for all 22 WHL clubs

The WHL has announced the home openers for all 22 WHL clubs for the 2019-20 season. Highlights include the Winnipeg ICE playing a home-and-home with the Brandon Wheat Kings on September 20th and 21st and the Prince Albert Raiders taking on the Saskatoon Blades at home on September 20th.

Beauchemin joins Broncos as the play by play broadcaster

The Swift Current Broncos have hired Craig Beauchemin to be the team’s new play by play broadcaster and manager of community relations. Beauchemin joins the Broncos from the BCHL’s Penticton Vees where he had spent the last two years as the Director of Communications and Broadcasting. Swift Current will broadcast their games over the internet next season after failing to come to terms on an agreement with a local radio station.

Hitmen unveil new logo for 25th anniversary season 

The Calgary Hitmen have unveiled a new logo for their 25th anniversary season, featured above. They also announced their home opener, which is set for September 27th against the Edmonton Oil Kings.

Silvertips announce Hawes and Parsons will return for 2019-20

The Everett Silvertips have announced Billet Coordinator Janet Hawes and Education Coordinator Darren Parsons will be returning to the club for the 2019-20 season. Hawes will be in her fourth season with the club, while Parson is entering his ninth season.

Blazers prospect Rizzo traded in BCHL

The Coquitlam Express of the BCHL have acquired forward Massimo Rizzo from the Penticton Vees to complete an earlier transaction. Rizzo was originally drafted by the Kamloops Blazers in the first round of the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft, but has not suited up for the team as he has committed to the University of North Dakota in the NCAA. Rizzo faced an injury-plagued season last year, which limited him to just 37 games with 11 goals and 29 assists.

Sanheim signs two-year contract extension with Philadelphia 

The Philadelphia Flyers have signed defenseman Travis Sanheim to a two-year contract extension. Sanheim spent his entire WHL career with the Calgary Hitmen, scoring 35 goals and 127 assists in 186 games. Last season with the Flyers, he played all 82 games, potting nine goals and 26 assists.

Flyers also acquire Pitlick from Stars

Meanwhile, the Flyers have also acquired forward Tyler Pitlick from the Dallas Stars for forward Ryan Hartman. Pitlick played 56 games in the WHL with the Medicine Hat Tigers, and recorded 27 goals and 35 assists. He was originally drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the second round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Blues place Musil on unconditional waivers

The St. Louis Blues have placed forward Adam Musil on unconditional waivers for the purpose of contract termination. Musil played 251 games in the WHL with 65 goals and 97 assists. He was originally drafted by the Blues in the fourth round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Musil spent last season with the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage, playing 68 games and scoring six goals and eight assists.

Harrison signs in Italy

Former Regina Pats defenseman Chase Harrison has signed with ASC Corona Brasov in Italy. In 240 GP with Regina, he scored 17 goals and registered 94 assists. He split last season between the Norfolk Admirals and South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL, playing 60 games, and scoring one goal with 13 assists.

Teubert to coach youth hockey in Washington State

Colten Teubert (263 GP, 32 G, 81 A with the Regina Pats) is joining the Bellingham Blazers and Whatcom Sports and Recreation as the new hockey director and head coach.