Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the DUB: Western Conference full schedules unveiled, Barker retires and joins Vees coaching staff, and more!

Written by Paul Figler on

 

WHL unveils Western Conference regular-season schedule

Slated to begin on Friday, October 1, 2021, the WHL announced the schedules for all 10 Western Conference teams. First up will be the Tri-City Americans playing host to the Portland Winterhawks at 7:05 PM PDT. Five more games take place the following night. The Western Conference schedule will conclude on April 3rd with two games as the Kamloops Blazers head to Prince George for a Sunday matinee with the Cougars and the Vancouver Giants host the Spokane Chiefs.

Barker retires, joins Penticton Vees coaching staff

35-year-old Winnipeg, MB native Cam Barker (214GP, 51G, 128A with Medicine Hat ’01-’06) has joined the Penticton Vees coaching staff for the 2021-22 season. Barker most recently played for Rouen in the Ligue Magnus in France in 2020-21. He scored one goal and had seven assists as the team’s captain. Barker was the third overall pick by the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2004 NHL Draft. He went on to play 310 NHL games with Chicago, the Minnesota Wild, Edmonton Oilers, and Vancouver Canucks.

McCarry listed by Blazers

20-year-old Calgary, AB native Nick McCarry has been listed by the Kamloops Blazers. McCarry had recently become a free agent following a 104 game career with the Medicine Hat Tigers. The 5-foot-9, 163-pound forward has scored 23 times and added 18 assists since being signed by the Tigers in September of 2017.

Two former WHLers sign extensions with Reign

34-year-old forward Brett Sutter (254GP, 58G, 80A with Kootenay and Red Deer ’03-’07) has signed a contract extension with the Ontario Reign of the AHL. 2021-22 will mark the seventh season with the Reign for Sutter. He has been captain for the last four seasons. 2020-21 saw Sutter play in 39 games and contribute four goals and nine assists. Sutter was a sixth-round pick of the Calgary Flames at the 2005 NHL Draft.

28-year-old forward Jacob Doty (270GP, 27G, 38A with Seattle and Medicine Hat ’09-’14) has also signed an extension with the Reign. 2021-22 will be Doty’s third with the team. Last season, Doty scored one goal in 12 games.

Gropp signs with Stjernen Hockey

24-year-old Kamloops, BC forward Ryan Gropp (258GP, 117G, 137A with Seattle ’13-’17) has signed with Stjernen Hockey in Norway. Gropp spent 2020-21 playing with Vasterviks IK of Hockey Allsvenskan in Sweden. He scored seven goals and had two assists in 17 regular-season games. He also had three goals and three assists in 10 qualification games. The New York Rangers selected Gropp in the second round of the 2015 NHL Draft. Gropp was a member of the 2016-17 WHL Champion Seattle Thunderbirds.

Rodewald signs with TPS

27-year-old forward Jack Rodewald (255GP, 76G, 90A with Regina and Moose Jaw ’10-’15) has signed with TPS of Finland’s Liiga. Rodewald played 2020-21 with HC Ocelari Trinec (Czech Extraliga), scoring five times and adding 10 assists in 22 regular-season games. En route to the Czech Extraliga Championship, Rodewald scored six times and added three assists in 16 games.

Fyten signs in France

30-year-old Sundre, AB forward Austin Fyten (193GP, 55G, 67A with Lethbridge and Vancouver ’07-’12) has signed with Boxers de Bordeaux in France. Fyten spent 2020-21 with the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL, scoring 24 goals and 15 assists in 49 games. Bordeaux will be his second team in Europe as he previously played with Eispiraten Crimmitschau of the DEL2.

Mitchell heads to Bulldogs

20-year-old Thorsby, AB forward Conrad Mitchell (98GP, 6G, 6A with Everett and Calgary) is headed to the AJHL’s Blackfalds Bulldogs. The move leaves the Hitmen with five overage players on their 2021-22 roster ahead of training camp. Goaltender Jack McNaughton, defenceman Jackson Van de Leest, and forwards Blake Allan, Connor Gabruch, and Cael Zimmerman are all eligible to return to the Hitmen.

Revenko signs extension with HK Gomel

31-year-old Belarussian forward Igor Revenko (180GP, 61G, 74A with Prince Albert ’08-’11) has signed a contract extension with HK Gomel of Belarus’ top professional league. 2021-22 will be Revenko’s seventh with the team. In 2020-21, Revenko scored 11 goals and added 28 assists through 39 regular-season games. He also contributed three goals and six assists in 11 playoff games. The Raiders made Revenko the 48th overall pick a the 2008 CHL Import Draft.

Hitmen goaltender prospect commits to Sherwood Park Crusaders

2003-born goaltending prospect Marek Pocherewny has signed to play with the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the AJHL. Pocherewny was selected in the third round of the 2018 WHL Draft by the Calgary Hitmen.