Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the Dub: Warriors make coaching change, Hurricanes acquire Davis, Oil Kings and Americans make another trade and more

Written by Ben Dooley on

Warriors announce coaching change

The Moose Jaw Warriors announced they have decided to terminate the contract of head coach Tim Hunter effective immediately. Associate coach Mark O’Leary has been pegged to take over behind the bench. Hunter, who was in the last season of his contract, had been with the Warriors since July of 2014 and under his watch, the team posted an 183-134-25-8 record. That impressed the Hockey Canada brass enough to name him head coach of Canada’s World Junior Hockey Championship for the 2019 edition of the tournament where Canada finished a disappointing seventh.

Hurricanes acquire Davis from Rebels

The Lethbridge Hurricanes acquired overage forward Brett Davis from the Red Deer Rebels in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2021. Davis was originally drafted by the Hurricanes in the fourth round of the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft and scored 12 goals with nine assists in 85 games before being traded to the Kootenay ICE along with Colton Kroeker and two 2018 WHL draft picks for Zak Zborosky, Matt Alfaro and a draft pick. This year with the Rebels, the former Dallas Stars prospect has nine goals and 15 assists in 37 games.

As a result of this move, the Hurricanes had to place D-Jay Jerome on waivers. The overage forward who was born in Lethbridge had 14 goals and 14 assists in 40 games with his hometown team.

Americans acquire Lawson from Oil Kings

In the third trade between the two clubs since December 29th, the Tri-City Americans acquired defenseman Aidan Lawson from the Edmonton Oil Kings in exchange for a conditional eighth-round pick in this year’s bantam draft. In his second season in the WHL, Lawson has suited up for 25 games in Edmonton recording five assists. If you’re struggling to keep up with all the moves ahead of Friday’s trade deadline, our Paul Figler has put together a one-stop-shop for all the moves here. 

Brown out for the season

The Lawson acquisition was necessitated by the injury to defenseman Mitchell Brown who will be out for the rest of this season. On the most recent injury report from the WHL, Brown was listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury. In 25 games this season he had five assists.

Arnold, Leduc out for the season

The Spokane Chiefs have officially shut down goaltender Campbell Arnold and defenseman Matt Leduc for the rest of this season due to injury. Arnold suffered a knee injury on Boxing Day against Seattle just over a minute into the game. He had played 22 games for the Chiefs posting a 2.59 GAA and .902 Save Percentage with a 10-8-1-1 record. Leduc has been out since before the holidays after re-aggravating a prior shoulder injury on December 18th against Victoria. He had already reached career highs this season with two goals and six assists in 27 games this season.

Chiefs release Balas from the active roster

The Chiefs also announced the team has released goaltender Brett Balas from the active roster. Since coming over in a trade with the Prince Albert Raiders, Balas has played two games with Spokane posting a 5.86 GAA and 0.841 save percentage with a 0-1-0-0 record. The Chiefs don’t say where he is headed but expect him to report to the BCHL’s Salmon Arm Silverbacks.

Creta receives a one-game suspension 

Prince George Cougars defenseman Marco Creta has been suspended for one game for a game misconduct at the end of Saturday’s game against Everett. Although the WHL does not specify what led to the suspension, there is a video on social media that shows Creta taking the game puck off the ice as the Silvertips players tried to retrieve it as a memento for goaltender Braden Holt‘s first win in the WHL.

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Hitmen release Galloway & Kushniryk from the active roster

The Calgary Hitmen have released defenseman Tyson Galloway and forward Wil Kushniryk from the active roster. Galloway has played seven games in Calgary with one assist to his name. He is expected to report to the BCHL’s Merritt Centennials. Kushniryk started the year with the Tri-City Americans playing in four games before being released. Since joining the Hitmen he’s played six games and gone pointless. He will report to the BCHL’s Prince George Spruce Kings.

Americans name Hrabik new team captain

Following the trade of Kyle Olson to Calgary, the Tri-City Americans have named Krystof Hrabik for the rest of the season. The Czech Republic native is in his second season with Tri-City after they selected him in the first round of the 2018 CHL Import Draft. In 94 games, he’s tallied 29 goals and 42 assists.

McClennon named WHL Player of the Week

Winnipeg ICE forward Connor McClennon has been named the WHL Player of the Week after registering four goals and seven assists in four games this week as the ICE took over the top spot in the East Divison.

Patera named WHL Goaltender of the Week

Brandon Wheat Kings goaltender Jiri Patera posted a 3-0-0-0 record with a 0.33 GAA and .989 Save Percentage with two shutouts to earn himself the WHL Goaltender of the Week Honours.

Homola signs in the Czech Republic

David Homola (19 GP, 3 A with the Tri-City Americans and Moose Jaw Warriors this season) has returned home to the Czech Republic to sign with Trinec in the Extraliga.

ECHL announces All-Star Game Roster

The ECHL has announced the rosters for the 2020 All-Star Classic and there are a few WHL alumni on the list:

  • Jake Elmer (204 GP, 64 GP 70 A with the Regina Pats, Kootenay ICE and Lethbridge Hurricanes from 2014-19)
  • Peter Quenneville (116 GP, 48 G, 78 A with the Brandon Wheat Kings from 2013-15)