Around the DUB
Chiefs name Hughes captain and leadership group
There's a new captain in town 🐻
We are proud to announce our leadership group for the rest of the season, headed by @Capitals prospect – Bear Hughes!
📰 https://t.co/icRhVzfv8r#GoChiefsGo pic.twitter.com/Lq7FGZt1mz
— Spokane Chiefs (@spokanechiefs) January 20, 2022
Overage forward Bear Hughes was named the Spokane Chiefs 35th captain in team history, he replaces Jack Finley who was traded earlier in the season to the Winnipeg ICE.
18-year-old forward Blake Sweltlikoff and 19-year-old defenseman Raegan Wiles were named full-time alternate captains. 19-year-old forward Erik Atchison, 19-year-old forward Reed Jacobson, and 18-year-old defenseman Graham Sward were named part-time alternates.
11 DUB players make McKenzie’s Mid-Season Rankings
Is it still the Shane Wright draft, or is No. 1 up for grabs?
Check out the mid-season prospect ranking from @TSNBobMcKenzie, today at 11:30am et on #TSN 3/4 (and on the TSN App & TSN Direct) with the full 96-player list afterwards at https://t.co/oqGzu2w3E9#TSNHockey pic.twitter.com/xVKM9KKrsN
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) January 20, 2022
TSN’s Bob McKenzie released his top 80 players in his 2022 Mid-Season Rankings and 11 DUB players have made the cut. The top-rated DUB player is Winnipeg ICE forward Matt Savoie (34GP 19G-34A-53PTS) who is rated fourth.
Savoie’s teammate Conor Geekie (35GP 11G-27A-38PTS) makes McKenzie’s list at 10th. A pair of defensemen both made the top 30 on the list, Thunderbirds’ Kevin Korchinski (32GP 4G-24A-28PTS) was ranked at 25th while Warriors Denton Mateychuk (35GP 7G-24A-31PTS) is on the list at 29th.
Broncos’ defenseman Owen Pickering (34GP 6G-15A-21PTS) comes in at 36th, Blazers defenseman Mats Lindgren (34Gp 2G-19A-21PTS) is 46th, Blazersteammate and forward Fraser Minten (33GP 10G-15A-25PTS) is 53rd, the top goaltender on McKenzie’s list is Cougars Tyler Brennan (20GP 8-11-1, 2SO, 3.34 GAA, .902 SV%) who comes in at 62nd. Thunderbirds Jordan Gustafson (29GP 13G-18A-31PTS) a forward is 67th, another Blazer makes the list as forward Matt Seminoff (30GP 15G-18A-33PTS) is 69th, and finally Thunderbirds forward Reid Schaefer (34GP 14G-10A-24PTS) makes the top 80 at 79th.
Warriors forward Jagger Firkus (38GP 23G-21A-44PTS) received a nod as an honorable mention for McKenzie’s list.
A pair of DUB Import Draft picks both made the list as Pats 2021 first-round pick Joakim Kemell (JYP, Liiga 21GP 12G-6A-18PTS) takes the third spot on the list and Saskatoon Blades 2021 first rounder Brad Lambert (JYP/Pelicans, Liiga 26GP 2G-4A-6PTS) ranks 11th.
DUB Alumni
Pachal named captain of the Silver Knights
🥁 INTRODUCING 🥁
Brayden Pachal, your Henderson Silver Knights captain! 🤩https://t.co/WsO0cplzzx
— Henderson Silver Knights (@HSKnights) January 20, 2022
Brayden Pachal (Victoria, Prince Albert 2015-19) was named the third captain in Henderson Silver Knights’ history. The 22-year-old defenseman from Estevan, SK is in his second season with the club where he has five points (1G-4A) in 29 games with the AHL team.
Over his four-year WHL tenure, Pachal who started with the Royals played the last two-and-a-half seasons with the Raiders where he wore the “C” in his final season in a Memorial Cup appearance. In 239 WHL games, Pachal had 98 points (26-G-72A).
Wilson reassigned to Mavericks
Roster Updates | The Heat have released forward Mason Mitchell from his PTO and assigned defenseman Koletrane Wilson to @kc_mavericks.
— Stockton Heat (@AHLHeat) January 20, 2022
Koletrane Wilson (Lethbridge 2016-20) was reassigned to the Kansas City Mavericks of the ECHL after a one-game stint with the AHL’s Stockton Heat. Wilson has played one game with the Heat where he had a minor penalty. He has also skated in 30 games with the Mavericks where he has seven points (all assists).
The 22-year-old defenseman who hails from Edmonton played his WHL career with the Hurricanes where he collected 63 points (11G-52A) in 190 games.
Rajala makes the Finnish Olympic Team
🇫🇮 @leijonat's women's and men's #Beijing2022 teams are looking pretty stacked.
On the women's side, Jenni Hiirikoski will wear the C. Who's getting the C for the men?
Women: https://t.co/XeNUGCfmLu#hockey #icehockey #jääkiekko @OlympicTeamFI pic.twitter.com/OaeO23ZWs5
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) January 20, 2022
30-year-old Toni Rajala (2009-10) was the lone DUB alumni to be included on the 2022 Finland Men’s Olympic Team roster. Rajala plays in the Swiss NL for the EHL Biel-Bienne where he has played the last six seasons. The team captain has 36 points (17G-19A) in 38 games this season.
In his lone WHL season, Rajala a forward played 60 games with the Wheat Kings the forward had a respectable 63 points (26G-37A).
Lang called up by the Wolves
TRANSACTION | Forward Chase Lang has been called up to the @Chicago_Wolves.
👏 Congrats, Langer! 👏
STORY: https://t.co/tyaKbqYntr || #WEARE757 pic.twitter.com/rAYO6LBGCx
— Norfolk Admirals (@NorfolkAdmirals) January 20, 2022
Nanaimo, BC native Chase Lang (Calgary, Vancouver 2012-16) was called up to AHL’s Chicago Wolves from the Norfolk Admirals of the ECHL. The 25-year-old forward has 16 points (10G-6A) in 28 games for the ECHL club.
Over four WHL seasons, Lang played three-plus seasons with the Hitmen before finishing his career with the Giants. In 244 career games, he had 155 points (66G-89A).