Daily Dose of the Dub: Warriors make trio of late night moves, Raiders put Kechkin on import waivers and more

Warriors claim import off waivers, make a trade with Raiders, release Sanders

The Moose Jaw Warriors made a trio of moves late on Saturday night first claiming import defenseman David Homola off waivers from the Tri-City Americans. The Americans were forced to move on from Homola after Krystof Hrabik returned from the San Jose Barracuda. He’s played two games with the Americans and has one assist.

The Warriors then shipped import forward Daniil Stepanov to the Prince Albert Raiders for a ninth-round pick in the 2023 WHL Bantam Draft. Stepanov came to the WHL last season and recorded eight goals and 11 assists in 68 games with the Warriors last season. This year, he had played four games with two assists. It should be noted the Warriors weren’t required to move Stepanov, as they still have an open import spot with Jesper Wallstedt electing to stay in Sweden for the 2019-20 season.

The Warriors also released 18-year-old forward Matthew Sanders. Over parts of three seasons with the Warriors, Sanders had two assists in 58 games.

Raiders put Kechkin on import waivers 

With the acquisition of Stepanov from the Warriors, the Raiders were one above the CHL Import limit with Aliaksei Protas and Ivan Kechkin already on the roster. The Raiders solved that problem by placing Kechkin on import waivers. The Raiders drafted Kechkin in the 2019 CHL Import Draft and he had played just three games with the Raiders, going scoreless.

Milestones around the league on Saturday

Another night of hockey in the WHL, means another night full of milestones around the league

  • Everett Silvertips forward Michal Gut made his return from injury, scoring his first WHL goal.
  • Kamloops Blazers forward Caedan Bankier tallied his first goal in the WHL
  • Prince George Cougars goaltender Tyler Brennan started and won his first WHL game as the Cougars beat the Kelowna Rockets 4-1. Filip Koffer and defenseman Ethan Samson also added their first career WHL goals.
  • Red Deer Rebels forward Jaxsen Wiebe notched his first career WHL goal.
  • Seattle Thunderbirds forward Conner Roulette is heating up with his first career WHL hat-trick to take the lead in goals on the T-Birds.
  • Spokane Chiefs forward Graham Sward notched his first career assist on a goal from forward Adam Beckman.
  • Tri-City Americans defenseman Marc Lajoie fired a shot from the blue-line for his first career WHL goal.
  • Vancouver Giants forward Justin Lies scored his first career WHL goal.

Senators to retire Phillips number 

Defenseman Chris Phillips (119 GP, 17 G, 71 A with the Prince Albert Raiders and Lethbridge Hurricanes) will have his #4 retired by the NHL’s Ottawa Senators. A first overall pick of the Senators in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, Phillps spent his entire 17-year NHL career with the Senators registering 71 goals and 217 assists in 1179 NHL games.

Calvert suits up for 500th career NHL game

Forward Matt Calvert (198 GP, 99 G, 131 A with the Brandon Wheat Kings) played in his 500th career NHL game when the Colorado Avalanche took on the Minnesota Wild. Calvert is in his second season with the Avs after being drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the fifth round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and spending eight seasons with that organization

Alexeyev scores his first pro goal 

Making his debut in the AHL on Saturday night, Alexander Alexeyev (135 GP, 21 G, 80 A with the Red Deer Rebels) scored his first professional goal as his Hershey Bears fell to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Although he is still eligible to return to the WHL this year, if he keeps scoring goals like that, that won’t be happening.

Helewka signs in Sweden for remainder of 2019-20 season 

Adam Helewka (244 GP, 119 G, 119 A with the Spokane Chiefs and Red Deer Rebels) has signed in Sweden for the remainder of the 2019-20 season. Helewka came to terms on a mutual release with his KHL club on Friday Dafter just eight games this season, in which he tallied a goal and two assists.

Three Stars of the Night:

First Star: Scoring his first career hat-trick, Conner Roulette led his Seattle Thunderbirds to a 5-3 win over the Victoria Royals

Second Star: Vancouver Giants goaltender David Tendeck made 36 saves as the Giants shutout the Winnipeg ICE 4-0.

Third Star: Prince Albert Raiders defenseman Kaiden Guhle scored a goal and added three assists as the Raiders shutout the Regina Pats 6-0.

Honourable Mentions:

Everett Silvertips forward Bryce Kindopp scored two goals and added an assist in 3-2 win for the Silvertips against the Kamloops Blazers. Prince George Cougars forward Filip Koffer had a goal and two assists as the Cougars beat the Rockets 4-1.