Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the DUB: WHL unveils 2021-22 pre-season schedule, alumni signings and more

Written by Paul Figler on

Pre-season WHL schedule set

In all, there will be 52 pre-season games on the WHL 2021-22 schedule. The WHL opens its pre-season on September 10th with three games on the docket. Nine pre-season games will close out the schedule on September 25th. 13 of the games will be held in non-traditional WHL rinks. For more visit the WHL website.

Cooke announces retirement

28-year-old goaltender Jordon Cooke (149GP, 92-34-12, 2.54GAA, .915sv% with Kelowna ’10-’14) has announced his retirement. Cooke had played two seasons of his three-year contract with Gyergyoi Hoki Klub in the Erste Liga of Romania. It is believed that an injury situation has caused Cooke to retire from hockey.

Daum announces he is leaving the Pats

The Regina Pats Director of Brand Marketing and Communications, Evan Daum, has announced he is leaving the Regina Pats effective July 2, 2021. This comes as a surprise to many as Daum had only been hired by the Pats on October 6, 2020, and began work last November. He had been working as the associate director of communications and marketing with Canada West, which oversees university sports in Western Canada.

Comeau signs for a fourth season with the Stars

35-year-old forward Blake Comeau (253GP, 60G, 117A with Kelowna ’01-’06) has signed for a fourth season with the Dallas Stars. The Vancouver, BC native has played 15 NHL seasons with the New York Islanders (the team that drafted him), Calgary Flames, Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins, Colorado Avalanche, and Dallas Stars. The Islanders selected Comeau in the second round of the 2004 NHL Draft.

Four former WHLers inked to deals with Barracuda

21-year-old defencemen Montana Onyebuchi (257GP, 19G, 56A with Everett and Kamloops) and Nick Cicek (138GP, 9G, 39A with Portland) have been signed to one-year AHL deals with the San Jose Barracuda. The Barracuda also announced the re-signing of forwards Kyle Topping (226GP, 71G, 125A with Kelowna ’16-’20) and Krystof Hrabik (105GP, 35G, 47A with Tri-City ’18-’20)

Watson joins Guildford Flames

26-year-old defenceman Jamal Watson (328GP, 88G, 93A with Lethbridge, Seattle, and Swift Current ’11-’16) has signed with the Guildford Flames of the EIHL in Great Britian. Watson is coming off a season in which he played just six games, all for the Pensacola Ice Flyers of the SPHL. He had one goal and two assists.

Quenneville joins Lausitzer Fusche

27-year-old forward Peter Quenneville (116GP, 48G, 78A with Brandon ’13-15) has signed with Lausitzzer Fuchse of the DEL2. Quenneville spent 2020-21 playing for the Rapid City Rush of the ECHL, scoring 28 goals and adding 40 assists in 68 games. 2021-22 will be Quenneville’s fourth season overseas, having played in Denmark, Finland, the Czech Republic and Norway previously.

Kininiemi signs to play with RoKi

19-year-old forward Joona Kiviniemi (78GP, 22G, 13A with Swift Current and Vancouver ’18-’20) has signed with RoKi of Mestis in Finland. Last season, Kiviniemi played for Karpat U20 in the U20SM-sarja league, scoring 11 goals and posting 18 assists in 30 games. He also added one goal in five playoff games. The Swift Current Broncos selected Kiviniemi 59th overall in the 2018 CHL Import Draft.