Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the Dub: WHL teams make trades, release players and NHL teams announce training camp rosters on busy day in world of hockey

Written by Ben Dooley on

Raiders acquire Aquilon from Royals 

The Prince Albert Raiders have acquired 2001-born defenseman Remy Aquilon from the Victoria Royals for a 2020 seventh-round WHL Bantam Draft pick. The Kelowna, BC native has four assists in 57 career games over two seasons with the Royals.

Rockets acquire Sass from Americans 

The Kelowna Rockets have finalized their overage group acquiring defenseman Carson Sass from the Tri-City Americans in exchange for a 10th round pick in the 2022 WHL Bantam Draft. The Americans claimed Sass off waivers earlier this summer from the Red Deer Rebels. In 64 games with the Rebels last year, he had three goals and seven assists.

Brkin added to Moose Jaw protected list, send Mirwald back to Midget 

1999-born goaltender Bailey Brkin has been added to the Moose Jaw Warriors protected list. The Warriors had a need in net after they learned Adam Evanoff would miss the first 10-14 weeks of the season and 2019 CHL Import Draft pick Jesper Wallstedt wouldn’t be reporting to the club.

Brkin was released by the Spokane Chiefs earlier this summer after playing 52 games with the team over two seasons. Last season, he posted a 2.75 GAA and .914 save percentage as the Chiefs made a run to the WHL Western Conference Final.

In the same press release, the Warriors also note that they have sent 2003-born goaltender Brett Mirwald back to the Saskatoon Blazers of the SMHL. The Warriors selected Mirwald in the seventh-round of the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft.

106 WHL players attending NHL Training Camps

There are 106 WHL players attending NHL Rookie and Training Camps right now. Some notable free agent invites include:

  • Ben McCartney (Philadelphia Flyers/Brandon Wheat Kings)
  • Vladimir Alistrov (Toronto Maple Leafs/Edmonton Oil Kings)
  • David Kope (Calgary Flames/Edmonton Oil Kings)
  • Josh Williams (Pittsburgh Penguins/Edmonton Oil Kings)
  • Conner McDonald (Ottawa Senators/Edmonton Oil Kings)
  • Wyatt McLeod (Colorado Avalanche/Edmonton Oil Kings)
  • Bryce Kindopp (Colorado Avalanche/Everett Silvertips)
  • Jake Christiansen (St. Louis Blues/Everett Silvertips)
  • Leif Mattson (Carolina Hurricanes/Kelowna Rockets)
  • Kyle Topping (Carolina Hurricanes/Kelowna Rockets)
  • Sean Comrie (Philadelphia Flyers/Kelowna Rockets)
  • Jake Lee (San Jose Sharks/Kelowna Rockets)
  • Logan Barlage (Colorado Avalanche/Lethbridge Hurricanes)
  • Ryan Chyzowski (Winnipeg Jets/Medicine Hat Tigers)
  • James Hamblin (Toronto Maple Leafs/Medicine Hat Tigers)
  • Jake Gricius (San Jose Sharks/Portland Winterhawks)
  • Clay Hanus (Ottawa Senators/Portland Winterhawks)
  • Zack Hayes (Anaheim Ducks/Prince Albert Raiders)
  • Brayden Pachal (Vegas Golden Knights/Prince Albert Raiders)
  • Josh Maser (New York Rangers/Prince George Cougars)
  • Taylor Gauthier (Boston Bruins/Prince George Cougars)
  • Nolan Kneen (Colorado Avalanche/Saskatoon Blades)
  • Scott Walford (Winnipeg Jets/Saskatoon Blades)
  • Luke Toporowski (Winnipeg Jets/Spokane Chiefs)
  • Eli Zummack (Tampa Bay Lightning/Spokane Chiefs)
  • Noah King (New Jersey Devils/Spokane Chiefs)
  • Krystof Hrabik (St. Louis Blues/Tri-City Americans)
  • Kyle Olson (Buffalo Sabres/Tri-City Americans)
  • Mitchell Brown (Minnesota Wild/Tri-City Americans)
  • Beck Warm (Washington Capitals/Tri-City Americans)
  • Kaleb Bulych (Carolina Hurricanes/Vancouver Giants)
  • Dylan Plouffe (Montreal Canadiens/Vancouver Giants)
  • Will Warm (Vancouver Canucks/Victoria Royals)

Some players that were returned to their junior clubs:

  • Riley McKay (Chicago Blackhawks/Saskatoon Blades)
  • Cole Fonstad (Montreal Canadiens/Prince Albert Raiders)
  • Brett Kemp (New York Rangers/Medicine Hat Tigers)
  • James Malm (Calgary Flames/Calgary Hitmen)
  • Jackson Van De Leest (Calgary Flames/Calgary Hitmen)
  • Ethan Cap (Edmonton Oilers/Edmonton Oil Kings)
  • Liam Keeler (Edmonton Oilers/Edmonton Oil Kings)
  • Martin Lang (Carolina Hurricanes/Kamloops Blazers)
  • Montana Onyebuchi (Calgary Flames/Kamloops Blazers)
  • Max Martin (Boston Bruins/Prince Albert Raiders)

Blazers release overage Zawatsky 

The Kamloops Blazers have released 1999-born forward Alec Zawatsky (107 GP, 17 G, 19 A with the Saskatoon Blades, Swift Current Broncos and Moose Jaw Warriors) from the roster. With that move, the Blazers are now at the overage limit of three with Kobe Mohr. Jackson Caller and Zane Franklin. As for Zawatsky, he last played in the CJHL with the SJHL’s Notre Dame Hounds so don’t be surprised if that is where he pops up next.

Murray removed from Royals pre-season roster 

The Victoria Royals have removed 1999-born Jameson Murray from their preseason roster. Last season with the Royals, he had three goals and 16 assists in 59 games. The team has not released an official statement on his status with the team

Raiders release Belcourt and Schaufler 

The Prince Albert Raiders have released 2000-born defensemen, Konrad Belcourt and Loeden Schaufler, leaving the team with nine defensemen after the trade with Victoria, four of whom are 1999-born. Of course, the Raiders will only be allowed to keep three 1999-born players on their roster this season.

Belcourt had one goal in seven games with the Raiders last season. He will be reporting to the Fort McMurray Oil Barons of the AJHL if he is not picked up by another WHL club. Schaufler had four assists in 37 games split between the Kootenay ICE, Seattle Thunderbirds, and Prince Albert Raiders. He could report to the SJHL’s Notre Dame Hounds who he played two games with during the 2016-17 season.

Silvertips release Halamandaris and Goodbranson from active roster

The Everett Silvertips have sent 2003-born forwards Carter Halamandaris and Nate Goodbranson back to their midget hockey clubs. Halamandaris will report to the MMHL’s Winnipeg Wild while Goodbranson will report to the MMHL’s Winnipeg Thrashers.

Stanley returned to OHA Edmonton 

2019 second-round pick Ross Stanley has been returned to OHA Edmonton of the CSSHL for his midget hockey season. In 29 games last season with OHA Edmonton’s Bantam Prep team he had four goals and 17 assists.

Cagnoni listed by Winterhawks

The Portland Winterhawks have added Luca Cagnoni to their 50-man protected list from the Burnaby Winter Club Academy. The defenseman posted five goals and 17 assists in 30 games with Burnaby Winter Club last season.

Thornton commits to University of Minnesota Duluth 

Prince George Cougars 2018 second-round pick Hudson Thornton has committed to the NCAA route with the University of Minnesota Duluth. He has played one game with the BCHL’s Chilliwack Chiefs this season, recording no points.

Chiefs reveal 35th-anniversary patches 

The Spokane Chiefs have unveiled a 35th-anniversary shoulder patch which the Chiefs will wear for all 68 games this season. The team will also make 400 patches available to the public via the team store.

Stone re-signs with Flames 

The Calgary Flames have re-signed defenseman Michael Stone (264 GP, 52 G, 129 A with the Calgary Hitmen) to a one-year contract. Last season with the Flames, Stone had five assists in an injury-riddled campaign which limited him to just 14 games.

Morrow attending Rangers camp on a professional tryout 

Joe Morrow (227 GP, 33 G, 118 A with the Portland Winterhawks) will be attending the New York Rangers training camp on a professional try-out. Last season with the Winnipeg Jets, Morrow had one goal and six assists in 41 games.

Conacher moved to amateur scouting staff

Pat Conacher (72 GP, 40 G, 69 A with the Billings Bighorns and Saskatoon Blades) has been moved to the Vancouver Canucks amateur scouting staff. The 60-year-old from Edmonton, Alberta has also served on the staffs of the Kelowna Rockets, Chilliwack Bruins and Regina Pats in various roles.

Ross signs pro tryout contract with AHL’s Wolves 

Our own Paul Figler reports Taylor Ross (233 GP, 65 G, 70 A with the Spokane Chiefs and Lethbridge Hurricanes) has been signed to a professional tryout contract with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. The 1998-born forward signed with the ECHL’s Fort Wayne Komets earlier this summer.

Fafrák signs a new deal in Slovakia

Miloš Fafrák (66 GP, 9 G, 10 A with the Spokane Chiefs) has signed a new contract in Slovakia for the 2019-20 season. Last season he registered 10 goals and seven assists in 24 games.

Kolucz re-signs in PHL

Marcin Kolusz (64 GP, 6 G, 12 A with the Vancouver Giants) has signed a new one-year contract in the PHL in Poland. Last season he had three goals and 13 assists in the PHL.

Stretch signs in Hungary 

C.J. Stretch (341 GP, 85 GP, 163 A with the Kamloops Blazers) has signed in Hungary for the 2019-20 season. Last season in the Czech Republic, he had 16 goals and 35 assists in 51 games.