Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the DUB: Chiefs to select first, Central Division WHL all-stars named, and more!

Written by Paul Figler on

Chiefs earn first overall selection

Following a very different WHL Draft Lottery process, the Spokane Chiefs earned the first overall selection at the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft. The top 10 picks are as follows:

  1. Spokane Chiefs
  2. Tri-City Americans
  3. Brandon Wheat Kings (from Victoria Royals)
  4. Brandon Wheat Kings (from Moose Jaw Warriors)
  5. Red Deer Rebels
  6. Swift Current Broncos
  7. Swift Current Broncos (from Portland Winterhawks)
  8. Medicine Hat Tigers
  9. Seattle Thunderbirds
  10. Regina Pats

Central Division all-stars named

The Edmonton Oil Kings ruled the day, as they won every available individual award in the Central Division on Wednesday. It was not unexpected as the Oil Kings had the WHL’s best record in the shortened 2020-21 season.

  • Player of the year – Dylan Guenther
  • Goaltender of the year – Sebastian Cossa
  • Defenseman of the year – Matthew Robertson
  • Rokie of the year – Carson Latimer
  • Most Sportsmanlike – Dylan Guenther
  • Scholastic player of the year – Ethan Peters
  • Top Scorer – Jake Neighbours

All players are the nominees for the WHL’s overall league awards.

Shinkaruk signs with Dinamo Riga

 

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Forward Hunter Shinkaruk (211GP, 105G, 130A with Medicine Hat ’10-’14) has signed with the KHL’s Dinamo Riga. Shinkaruk spent the 2020-21 season with the Kunlun Red Star, scoring 12 goals and adding 18 assists in 47 games. The Vancouver Canucks selected Shinkaruk in the first round (24th overall) at the 2013 NHL Draft.

Eller extended in Denmark

Forward Mads Eller (112GP, 16G, 34A with Edmonton ’13-’15) has signed a contract extension with SonderjyskE of Denmark. Last season, his first with he club, Eller scored eight goals and added 12 assists in 43 games. The Edmonton Oil Kings selected Eller with the 57th pick at the 2013 CHL Import Draft. Eller and the Oil Kings won the Ed Chynoweth Cup and the Memorial Cup for the 2013-14 season.

Sozanski signs in France

Defenseman Matt Sozanski (207GP, 6G, 55A with Spokane and Moose Jaw ’13-’17) has signed with France2’s Strasbourg. Following three seasons at Carleton University, Sozanski did not play in 2020-21.

Zorko departs HK Olimpija Ljubljana

Defenseman Luka Zorko (26GP, 1G, 0A with Prince George ’15-’16) has not had his contract renewed by HK Olimpija Ljubljana of AlpsHL in Slovenia. In 2020-21, Zorko scored three goals and added nine assists in 29 games. He also added two assists in 11 playoff games. Zorko was the 80th overall selection in the 2015 CHL Import Draft.