Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the DUB: Americans and Broncos ink players, Dillon moved to Jets, and more!

Written by Paul Figler on

Fan signs with Americans

17-year-old Eagle River, AK, resident Andrew Fan has signed a WHL Standard Player Agreement with the Tri-City Americans. Fan played 16 games in the pandemic shortened 2020-21 season with Fox Motors U16 AAA and posted two goals and 11 assists. Fan also spent two seasons at the world-renowned Shattuck St. Mary’s program in Minnesota.

Broncos ink import draft pick

17-year-old German defenceman Rayan Bettahar has signed a WHL Standard Player Agreement with the Swift Current Broncos. Bettahar played in three games with Jungadler Mannheim U20 in the DNL U20 league, assisting on one goal. He also played four games internationally for Germany.

Hitmen hockey operations staff extended

All members of the Calgary Hitmen’s Hockey Operations staff were given contract extensions on Monday. This means that Jeff Chynoweth will be the general manager of the team for a fifth season. Head Coach Steve Hamilton will be behind the bench for his fourth season with the club and eighth in the WHL. Trent Cassan will be entering his sixth season, while former NHLer Joel Otto will enter his 15th season behind the bench.

New voice of the Raiders announced

Pattison Media announced on Monday that it has named Rob Mahon as the new voice of the Prince Albert Raiders following the departure of Trevor Redden. Mahon spent the past four seasons as the play-by-play voice of the Estevan Bruins of the SJHL. Mahon has prior experience with the Manitoba Bison men’s hockey team, while also calling games in the MJHL (Junior A), MMJHL (Junior B), and the medal round of the Western Canadian Junior B championship, the Keystone Cup.

Dillon dealt to Jets

30-year-old defenceman Brenden Dillon (280 games, 11 goals, 83 assists with the Seattle Thunderbirds ’07-’11) has been traded to the Winnipeg Jets by the Washington Capitals. The Capitals received a 2022 second-round draft pick as well as a 2023 second-round draft pick for the Surrey, B.C. native. Last season, Dillon played 56 games with the Capitals, registering two goals and adding 17 assists. Dillon was not selected in the WHL Bantam Draft or the NHL Draft. He has 654 games of NHL experience with three teams.

Steenbergen not qualified by LA Kings

23-year-old forward Tyler Steenbergen (267 games, 123 goals, 126 assists with the Swift Current Broncos ’14-’18) was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Los Angeles Kings. He now becomes an unrestricted free agent. Steenbergen spent 2020-21 with the Tucson Roadrunners where he scored 10 goals and added three assists in 36 games. The Arizona Coyotes selected Steenbergen 128th overall at the 2017 NHL Draft.

Hunt not qualified by Coyotes

25-year-old forward Dryden Hunt (269 games, 117 goals, 132 assists with Regina, Medicine Hat, and Moose Jaw ’11-’16) was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Arizona Coyotes. He now becomes an unrestricted free agent. Hunt played 26 games with the Coyotes in 2020-21, where he scored three goals and added five assists. Hunt was not selected by a WHL or NHL team at their respective drafts.

Panthers do not qualify Bajkov and Morrison

The Florida Panthers announced on Monday that they did not tender a qualifying offer to two former WHL players. 24-year-old forward Brad Morrison (334 games, 112 goals, 150 assists with Prince George, Vancouver, and Lethbridge ’12-’18) and 23-year-old forward Patrick Bajkov (342 games, 112 goals, 176 assists with Everett ’13-’18) are now unrestricted free agents. Morrison played six games with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs (3G, 2A) and five games with the ECHL’s Indy Fuel (1G,1A). Bajkov spent 2020 with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits where he registered 16 goals and 23 assists in 53 games.

Polei not qualified by Blues

25-year-old forward Evan Polei (242 games, 72 goals, 59 assists with Saskatoon and Red Deer ’13-’17) was not qualified by the St. Louis Blues on Monday. He now becomes an unrestricted free agent. Polei was loaned to the Cleveland Monsters for the 2020-21 season, where he played 15 games, registering three goals and three assists.