Thomson will return to Finland for 2019/20 season
Lassi Thomson confirms he will play for Ilves in the Finnish Liiga in the upcoming season. There was some conversations on him possibly returning to the Kelowna Rockets, but that will not be the case. #GoSensGo #KelownaRockets https://t.co/SdhrXSCX3Q
— FinnProspects (@FinnProspects) July 23, 2019
The Kelowna Rockets have suffered a huge blow to their blue-line as import defenseman Lassi Thomson won’t be returning to the team next season. Thomson’s status had been up in the air for a while for next season but it was officially confirmed on Tuesday that he will be playing for Ilves in Finland. In one season with the Rockets, Thomson scored 17 goals and recorded 24 assists. He was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
With Thomson’s departure now official, 2019 CHL Import Draft picks Pavel Novak and Daniil Gutik will both be eligible to suit up for the Rockets this season. It also likely puts pressure on Kelowna Rockets General Manager Bruce Hamilton to add another defenseman via the trade market as Kelowna gets set to host the 2020 Memorial Cup.
Wheat Kings fill out the coaching staff
?BREAKING NEWS?
The Brandon Wheat Kings have announced that Don MacGillivray will return as Assistant Coach!
He will be joined by Assistant Coach Mark Derlago and Goaltending Coach Tyler Plante! #BWK #bdnmb
PRESS RELEASE?: https://t.co/vMEMlSKSq9 pic.twitter.com/JXShPnCAG0
— Brandon Wheat Kings (@bdnwheatkings) July 23, 2019
The Brandon Wheat Kings have filled out the roster of coaches who will join Dave Lowry’s coaching staff. Assistant coach Don MacGillivray will return for his fourth season with the organization. His resume includes time with the Tri-City Americans as a scout and with the Prince Albert Raiders as an assistant and later head coach. Also returning for his fourth season with the Wheat Kings is goaltending coach Tyler Plante (164 GP with the Brandon Wheat Kings). Joining them is Wheat Kings’ alumnus Mark Derlago (209 GP, 82 G, 80 A with Brandon) who is retiring from professional hockey to return to Brandon. Derlago played last season in Denmark for the Esbjerg Energy where he registered 17 goals and 18 assists in 36 games.
Smith, Fonstad won’t participate in 2019 World Junior Summer Showcase
Hockey Canada announced the following will not participate in World Jr Summer Showcase: Forwards Ty Dellandrea (DAL), Cole Fonstad (MTL) and Barrett Hayton (ARZ); defensemen Noah Dobson (NYI), Jared McIsaac (DET) and Ty Smith (NJD).
— Mike Morreale (@mikemorrealeNHL) July 23, 2019
WHLers Cole Fonstad (72 GP, 21 G, 52 A with the Prince Albert Raiders last season) and Ty Smith (57 GP, 7 G, 62 A with the Spokane Chiefs last season) are part of a group of players that have been ruled out of the 2019 World Junior Summer Showcase. Hockey Canada did not provide any information as to why these players will not be participating in the showcase which kicks off on Saturday.
Sissons locked up for seven years in Nashville
SEVEN YEARS! ?@colton_es15 | #Preds https://t.co/Uv1yZsoYHQ
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) July 23, 2019
Colton Sissons (182 GP, 71 G, 78 A with the Kelowna Rockets) has signed a long-term contract extension with the Nashville Predators which will see him in the mustard yellow jersey for the next seven season. Since being drafted in the second round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Predators, Sissons has played 265 NHL games.
Golden Knights sign Engelland to one year extension
✍️ The Golden Knights have re-signed Deryk Engelland to a one-year contract!!! #VegasBornhttps://t.co/aGLI5OT6mN
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) July 23, 2019
Deryk Engelland (243 GP, 14 G, 34 A with the Moose Jaw Warriors) has earned himself a one-year contract extension with the Vegas Golden Knights. Drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the sixth round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, Engelland has played 622 NHL games with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Calgary Flames and Vegas Golden Knights.
Mason joins the Grande Prairie Storm
The Storm complete their Hockey Operations department with the hiring of Jonny Webb as Goaltending Coach and Chris Mason as Goaltending Consultant:https://t.co/N3f13XlvWf
Welcome to the squad @Jonny__W and @cmace30! pic.twitter.com/BWVXCfOlw3
— Grande Prairie Storm (@GPStorm) July 23, 2019
Former WHL Goaltender Chris Mason (158 GP with the Victoria and Prince George Cougars) has joined the AJHL’s Grande Prairie Storm as a goaltending consultant. Mason was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the fifth round of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft and went on to play 18 seasons of professional hockey which included stops with the Nashville Predators, Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues, Atlanta Thrashers, and Winnipeg Jets.
Gainey returns to Kamloops to coach Junior B Storm
Steve Gainey has accepted the head coaching position with the #Kamloops Storm, according to GM Matt Kolle. Assistant coaches will be Cody Lockwood, Jassi Sangha and Andrew Fisher. Trainer is Pete Friedel. #KIJHL
— Marty Hastings (@MarTheReporter) July 23, 2019
Steve Gainey (245 GP, 61 G 90 A with the Kamloops Blazers) is returning to Kamloops to be the head coach of the KIJHL’s Kamloops Storm. Gainey’s coaching resume includes one season as an assistant coach with the Blazers and one season as an assistant coach with Thompson Rivers University. He is the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Bob Gainey.
Former WHL player sentenced to a conditional discharge
Former WHL hockey player sentenced after trying to grab baby, evade police in #Kelowna #ylw https://t.co/d7q9rMMuVS
— Global Okanagan (@GlobalOkanagan) July 23, 2019
Former WHL player Giffen Nyren (269 GP, 28 G, 97 A with the Moose Jaw Warriors, Kamloops Blazers and Calgary Hitmen) has been sentenced to a conditional discharge after pleading guilty to assault on Tuesday. If Nyren abides by the judge’s conditions, which include apologizing to the family whose baby he tried to take, Nyren will not have a criminal record when his sentence concludes.
