Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the DUB: Imports signing, Calvert retires, Mallette joins U-18 Team Canada coaching staff, and more!

Written by Paul Figler on

Cougars sign their second import pick

Less than 24 hours after the announcement that the Prince George Cougars had signed 23rd overall CHL Import pick Liekit Reichle, the team announced they had signed Jozef Viliam Kmec. The Cougars selected Kmec 104th overall at the 2021 CHL Import Draft. Last season Kmec played defense with Team Slovakia U18 in the Slovakia2 league, posting four assists in 27 games. He also skated in one game for HC Kosice U20 in the Slovakia U20 league.

ICE ink both 2021 CHL Import Draft picks

65th overall CHL Import Draft pick Maximilian Streule and 59th overall pick Martin Bohm both signed their WHL Standard Player Agreements on Thursday. Streule, a native of Switzerland, played 2020-21 with the GCK Lions U20 team scoring five goals and adding eight assists in 28 games. He also played four games at the U-18 World Junior Championships. Bohm, from the Czech Republic, played 17 games with HC Benatky nad Jizerou of the Czech2 league. He scored two goals in 17 contests. Bohm was also a member of Bili Tygri Liberec U20, playing in the Czech U20 league. There he scored three times and added seven assists in eight games.

Mallette added to Hockey Canada U-18 coaching staff

Kelowna Rockets Head Coach Kris Mallette has been added to the coaching staff for Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 team for their summer development camp. Mallette has been the head coach of the Rockets for one season and was an assistant coach from 2014-20.

Mallette was named a replacement for Dennis Williams, who was named an assistant coach with Canada’s National Junior Team.

Abbotsford signs Wouters

2000-born forward Chase Wouters (280 games, 75 goals, 106 assists with Saskatoon Blades ’15-’21) has signed with the newly minted Abbotsford Canucks, the AHL-affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks. Wouters spent the last three seasons as the captain of the Saskatoon Blades. The North Battleford, SK native was the 19th overall pick, by the Blades, at the 2015 WHL Draft.

Condors ink Kambeitz

2000-born forward Dino Kambeitz (211 games, 42 goals, 50 assists with the Victoria Royals and Lethbridge Hurricanes ’16-’20) has signed with the Bakersfield Condors, the AHL-affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers. Last season, Kambeitz was named captain of the Hurricanes while scoring six goals and adding 14 assists. The Royals selected Kambeitz 90th overall at the 2015 WHL Draft.

Buchberger joins Laval Rocket as an assistant coach

Just 10 days after parting ways with the Tri-City Americans, Kelly Buchberger was announced as a new assistant coach with the AHL’s Laval Rocket. The 54-year-old Buchberger spent three seasons behind the bench for the Americans, posting a 58-80-9-3 record. Buchberger also has NHL and AHL coaching experience. Buchberger also played two seasons with the Moose Jaw Warriors (84-85 & 85-86).

Calvert announces retirement

31-year-old forward Matt Calvert (198 games, 99 goals, 131 assists with Brandon Wheat Kings ’07-’10) has announced his retirement from hockey. Calvert played 18 games for the Colorado Avalanche in 2020-21, posting three assists. Over 11 seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche, Calvert played 566 games, scored 95 goals, and added 108 assists. He was selected 127th overall by the Blue Jackets at the 2008 NHL Draft.

Pitlick acquired by Flames

Forward Tyler Pitlick (56 games, 27 goals, 35 assists with Medicine Hat Tigers ’10-’11) earned himself the distinction of being the first player traded by the newly minted Seattle Kraken. Pitlick was dealt to the Calgary Flames in exchange for a 2022 4th round NHL Draft pick. Last season Pitlick scored six times and added five assists as a member of the Phoenix Coyotes. The Kraken selected him in the expansion draft held on Wednesday, July 21. The Edmonton Oilers selected Pitlick 31st overall at the 2010 NHL Draft.

Rasmussen signs extension with Red Wings

Forward Michael Rasmussen (161 games, 81 goals, 76 assists with Tri-City Americans ’14-’18) has signed a three-year contract extension with the Detriot Red Wings. Rasmussen was the ninth overall pick of the 2017 NHL Draft by the Detriot Red Wings. Last season Rasmussen played 40 games with the Red Wings, scoring three times and adding nine assists in 40 games. He also played seven games with the team’s AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, scoring twice and adding four assists. Before the season began, Rasmussen played 18 games with Graz99ers of the ICEHL, scoring five goals and adding 11 assists.

Balcers and Blichfeld re-sign with Sharks

Forward Rudolfs Balcers (66 games, 40 goals, 37 assists with Kamloops Blazers ’16-’17) has signed a two-year contract extension with the San Jose Sharks. Balcers was the 43rd overall pick at the 2016 CHL Import Draft by the Kamloops Blazers. Last season Balcers played 41 games with the Sharks, scoring eight goals and adding nine assists. He also played 10 games on loan to the Stavanger Oilers of Norway’s top professional league where he scored seven goals and added eight assists. The Sharks selected Balcers 142nd overall at the 2015 NHL Draft.

Forward Joachim Blichfeld (187 games, 105 goals, 123 assists with Portland Winterhawks ’16-’19) was also signed to a contract extension by the San Jose Sharks. His contract is for one year. The Winterhawks selected Blichfeld 85th overall at the 2016 CHL Import Draft. He was also selected 210th overall by the Sharks at the 2016 NHL Draft. Last season Blichfeld played for three different teams. He started with Fredrikshavn White Hawks in Denmark, scoring five goals and adding seven assists in 12 games. He then returned to North America, playing five games for the Sharks, scoring one goal, as well as playing 25 games with the San Jose Barracuda. He scored 12 goals and added 10 assists with the AHL club.

Franson signs with the Bears

Defenseman Cody Franson (199 games, 34 goals, 85 assists with Vancouver Giants ’02-’07) has signed with the AHL’s Hershey Bears. They will become his third AHL team. Last season, Franson played 26 games for the Rockford IceHogs, scoring four goals and adding 13 assists. Franson was originally the 79th overall NHL Draft pick of the Nashville Predators and has 550 NHL games under his belt with four teams.

Nichols returns to Kunlun

Forward Josh Nicholls (332 games, 138 goals, 175 assists with Saskatoon Blades ’08-’13) has returned to Kunlun Red Star. Nicholls will be on his third tour of duty with the team after playing 16 games in 2018-19 and four games last season with the team. Nicholls also played 32 games with Heilbronner Falken of DEL2, where he scored eight times and added 23 assists. The Toronto Maple Leafs selected Nicholls 182nd overall at the 2010 NHL Draft.

Grman signs with HPK

Defenceman Mario Grman (103 games, 0 goals, 10 assists with Red Deer Rebels and Kootenay ICE ’14-’16) has signed with HPK of Liiga in Finland. The Rebels selected Grman 87th overall at the 2014 CHL Import Draft and he was then re-drafted by the Kootenay ICE 95th overall at the 2015 CHL Import Draft. Last season Grman played 53 games for SaiPa of Liiga, scoring one goal and adding five assists.