Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the Dub: Yet more training camp rosters and schedules out; U of A announces commitments from former WHLers; O’Rourke hired by Cougars; Mahovlich signs with Nanaimo

Written by Brandon Rivers on

Spokane announces training camp roster:

-The Spokane Chiefs were the latest WHL team to announce their training camp roster. The 65 players there will play on one of three teams named after local legends that made their way to the NHL: Kailer Yamamoto, Derek Ryan and Tyler Johnson.

Accompanying the announcement, the team revealed that 1999-born forward Ethan McIndoe is still coming back from an injury and will not be at camp. Also, not at camp is New Jersey Devils first round pick Ty Smith, who is reportedly at a rookie orientation put on by the NHL. Recently signed import defenseman Matvei Startsev is also absent as he deals with an issue with his visa.

Also of note:

  • 2018 draft picks Zach Burns (F-9th round pick) and Brandt Young (D-10th round pick) are not present.
  • All 2019 draft picks are present.
  • 2001-born forward Ethan Mack is attending. He played three games with the Saskatoon Blades.
  • Overage NHL-drafted players Filip Kral (also an import) and Jake McGrew are scheduled to attend. McGrew was signed by the San Jose Sharks so it is extremely interesting that he is present while so many NHL-signed 1999-born players are not at their WHL camps.
  • McGrew and Kral are two of four overage players skating at the camp. The others are goalie Reece Klassen and defenseman Noah King. Along with McIndoe, that is five overage players for three spots.
  • 2002-born defenseman Cam Newson is attending. He was a ninth round pick by the Calgary Hitmen in 2017.

Steve O’Rourke named director of player development:

-Now former associate coach Steve O’Rourke has been transitioned by the Prince George Cougars into a role as director of player development. O’Rourke will work on developing signed and listed players for P.G. and will also help develop coaches and minor hockey players in partnership with Prince George Minor Hockey Association.

Warriors name training camp roster:

-The next team to unveil their training camp roster was the Moose Jaw Warriors. 88 players head to Moose Jaw to start camp on Thursday, August 22nd beginning with fitness testing.

Besides the things discussed below some notable items from the roster are:

  • Now just one overage player in camp in Luke Ormsby. Forward Alec Zawatsky, who finished last season with the Warriors, is attending Kamloops Blazers camp.
  • 2000-born forward Kale Clouston was not listed on the roster. He played 42 games with the Warriors last season and had three assists.
  • 2000-born forward Hunor Torzsok is in camp. He played 37 games with the Vancouver Giants over three seasons, totaling one goal and three assists for four points.
  • 2001-born forward Dylan Esau is attending. He was a 10th round pick of the Kelowna Rockets in 2016.
  • Not in camp from the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft are d-man Corson Ceulemans (committed to the University of Wisconsin-fifth round pick) and forwards Keenan Allan (eighth round pick) and Trey Fechko (ninth round pick-committed to Arizona State University).
  • Not in camp from the 2019 Bantam Draft are d-men Carson Brisson (fifth round pick-committed to the University of Denver) and Jaden Waddell (sixth round pick).

No Evanoff until Winter:

-While he was listed on the training camp roster, 2000-born goalie Adam Evanoff will be out until likely late December to early January according to a posting by the Warriors.

He had offseason hip surgery and will stay home in Penticton, B.C. until September when he will join Moose Jaw.

Evanoff shared the net with now aged-out goalie Brodan Salmond last season, posting a 2.62 GAA and 0.916 save percentage in 36 games. He then put up a 2.96 GAA and 0.923 save percentage in three playoff games.

Standout Swedish goalie not coming to Moose Jaw for 2019-20 season:

-On top of the Evanoff news, another option in net was taken away as Moose Jaw announced their first round CHL Import Draft pick, goalie Jesper Wallstedt will be staying in Sweden.

Wallstedt, who is a top prospect for the 2021 NHL Draft, just posted a 2.54 GAA and 0.936 save percentage in three games while playing for Sweden at the Hllinka Gretzky Cup. He took home a bronze medal.

With no Evanoff and Wallstedt around, there are opportunities abound for the Warriors in net entering camp. 2001-born goalie Ethan Fitzgerald was also taken off the roster last October. This leaves 2002-born Jackson Berry and 2003-born Brett Mirwald as the lone, signed goalies in camp. 2019 draft pick Kyle Kelsey is in camp along with the listed, 2003-born Marek Andres and 2003-born invitee Hunter Lolacher. None of the goalies have played in a regular season WHL game.

Victoria announces training camp schedule:

-Rookie camp kicks things off for the Royals starting on Thursday. This will be for 2019 drafted players. Then rookie camp goes from Saturday, August 24th to Monday, August 26th. Lastly, main camp goes from August 27th through 28th.

University of Alberta brings in 14 WHL graduates:

-The University Alberta loaded up on former WHL players, adding 14 to their recruiting class. Former Medicine Hat Tigers forwards Ryan Jevne and Chad Butcher are included in the group along with former Everett Silvertips forward Matt Fonteyne, former Kootenay ICE and Seattle Thunderbirds forward Noah Philp, former Regina Pats, Kamloops Blazers and Spokane Chiefs forward Luc Smith, former Victoria Royals goalie Griffen Outhouse, former Seattle Thunderbirds forward Nolan Volcan, former Kelowna Rockets and Brandon Wheat Kings d-man Braydyn Chizen, former Blazers, Pats and Saskatoon Blades blue liner Dawson Davidson, former Pats, Royals and Portland Winterhawks d-man Jared Freadrich, former Chiefs and Moose Jaw Warriors blue liner Dalton Hamaliuk, former Prince George Cougars d-man Joel Lakusta and former ICE, Thunderbirds and Chiefs goalie Matt Berlin.

Lastly, the University of Alberta announced that 1999-born forward Josh Paterson was among their recruits. Paterson was eligible to return to the Winterhawks as an overage player but has decided to get an early start on college.

Johnston comments on Paterson leaving the WHL:

-Our own Josh Critzer  asked Winterhawks head coach and general manager Mike Johnston about Paterson going to the University of Alberta. With no Paterson in camp, Portland has just three 1999-born players in d-man Matt Quigley and forwards Jake Gricius and Lane Gilliss.

Mahovlich joins Nanaimo:

-1999-born forward Scott Mahovlich has signed with the Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL. He played 38 games with the Pas last season before being traded to the Lethbridge Hurricanes along with an eighth round pick in 2019 for a third round pick in 2019 and playing in 21 games.

He had nine points with the Pats and four with the ‘Canes. He also had two assists in six playoff games. If Mahovlich does not return to the Hurricanes, that leaves three overagers in forward D-Jay Jerome and and d-men Ty Prefontaine and Koletrane Wilson as it stands now.