Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the Dub: Rockets acquire McDonald as Comrie goes down with injury and more

Written by Ben Dooley on

Comrie out indefinitely 

The Kelowna Rockets announced that defenseman Sean Comrie will be out indefinitely after separating his shoulder on Friday night in Regina. Comrie is in his first season in the WHL after leaving the University of Denver to join the Rockets. In 30 games, he posted three goals and 11 assists.

Rockets acquire McDonald from Oil Kings

The Rockets didn’t wait long to fill the hole left by Comrie’s injury as they acquired overage Conner McDonald from the Edmonton Oil Kings for a first-round pick at the 2021 WHL Bantam Draft and a third-round pick in 2023. McDonald has been out of action for over a month after he left the Oil Kings for “personal reasons”. In 15 games this season, he had two goals and six assists.

Sass placed on WHL waivers

To accommodate the McDonald acquisition, the Rockets had to place overage defenseman Carson Sass on WHL waivers. In 31 games with the Rockets this season he registered two assists

Hitmen update Kastelic injury

Mark Kastelic was listed on the most recent WHL Weekly Report with an undisclosed injury which would keep him out for a to-be-determined length of time. Calgary Hitmen fans received good news on Saturday as we learned the injury, which is a lower-body injury, will only keep him out day-to-day.

Dach won’t be on World Junior squad

According to TSN Hockey Insider, the Chicago Blackhawks have made the decision to keep Kirby Dach (133 GP, 38 G, 91 A with the Saskatoon Blades from 2016-19) on their roster instead of releasing him to Hockey Canada for the 2020 World Juniors. Through 26 games with Chicago this season, he has five goals and five assists.

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Milestones

  • After being recalled from Rink Hockey Academy in the CSSHL, Ryder Thompson made his WHL debut for the Portland Winterhawks.
  • Seattle’s Spencer Penner recorded his first WHL point on a goal from Andrej Kukuca.

Teddy Bear Toss

  • Everett’s Bryce Kindopp scored 1:52 into the first period against Vancouver.
  • Prince Albert’s Brayden Watts scored 11:27 into the third period against Kamloops.
  • Prince George’s Ilijah Colina scored at the 1:28 mark of the first period against Victoria.
  • Red Deer’s Zak Smith scored 1:51 into the first period against Swift Current.
  • Tri-City’s Krystof Hrabik scored at the 11:55 mark of the second period against Portland.

Jones plays in 500th NHL game

Seth Jones (61 GP, 14 G, 42 A with the Portland Winterhawks in 2012-13) played in his 500th NHL game on Saturday. Drafted fourth overall in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft by the Nashville Predators, Jones has 58 goals and 187 assists in his career-to-date.

Bellows plays 100th professional game

Kieffer Bellows (56 GP, 41 G, 33 A with the Portland Winterhawks in 2017-18) played in his 100th professional game on Saturday. He has 19 goals and 10 assists in a career spent entirely with the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Skvrne signs a new contract in the Czech Republic

Marek Skvrne (69 GP, 4 G, 9 A with the Kelowna Rockets from 2017-18) signed with Trutnov in the Czech Republic for the rest of this season. He’s played two games with them already and had one goal.

Three Stars of the Night

First Star: Spokane’s Adam Beckman had three goals and two assists in a 5-2 victory over Seattle.

Second Star: Edmonton’s Josh Williams had two goals and two assists in a 7-1 victory over Medicine Hat.

Third Star: Lethbridge’s Carl Tetachuk made 31 saves in a 3-0 shutout of the Calgary Hitmen.

Honourable Mention:

Spokane’s Eli Zummack and Portland’s James Stefan and Cross Hanas had a goal and two assists.