Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the DUB: Americans name leadership group, Winterhawks sign Schelter, and more

Written by Paul Figler on

Americans name leadership group

On Tuesday the Tri-City Americans announced their leadership group for the 2020-21 season. Given the captain’s ‘C’ is 2000-born defenseman Luke Zazula (221GP, 14G, 59A with Kamloops and Tri-City). Joining him as assistant captains are 2001-born forwards Sasha Mutala (198GP, 59G, 75A), Connor Bouchard (182GP, 19G, 64A), and 2001-born defenseman Mitchell Brown (136GP, 6G, 23A).

Winterhawks sign Schelter

The Portland Winterhawks announced the signing of 2004-born forward Luke Schelter. The Winterhawks selected Schelter in the sixth-round of the 2019 WHL Draft. Schelter has spilt the 2020-21 season between Northstar Christian Academy 16U (46GP, 25G, 23A) and the Northstar Kinghts U16AAA (12GP, 10G, 4A)

Royals roster updated

The Victoria Royals roster was updated on Tuesday afternoon on the WHL website. The roster includes 12 WHL rookies, one 2002-born, six 2003-born, and five 2004-born. Goaltender Adam Evanoff (101GP, 47-38-10, 3.10GAA, .905sv% with Moose Jaw and Victoria), defenseman Matthew Smith (189GP, 6G, 26A), and forward Brandon Cutler (236GP, 38G, 52A with Red Deer and Victoria) are the three designated overage players. 2020 WHL first-round draft pick Austin Zemlak is not on the roster.

Gotaas scores first WHL goal

Defenseman Graydon Gotaas scored his first WHL goal, which turned out to be the game-winner, as the Prince Albert Raiders defeated the Brandon Wheat Kings 5-3. The goal was scored at 16:55 of the second period. Gotaas was a second-round 2019 WHL Draft pick of the Raiders.

Yager scores first career WHL goal

Winterhawks hire Ruff in communications role

Walt Ruff announced on twitter that he has been signed by the Portland Winterhawks to be part of the team’s front office staff as part of the communications department. Ruff has previous experience as a  member of the Tucson Roadrunners front office.

Guhle headlines injury report

The latest edition of the WHL weekly report is out and Raiders captain Kaiden Guhle is on it as out indefinitely following a hand injury on Sunday. Also on the indefinite list is Michael Milne. Regina Pats forward Jakob Brook is out for the season with a lower body injury, believed to be a broken leg.

Other updates include: Hitmen – Conrad Mitchell, F, upper body, day-to-day, Lethbridge – Alex Thacker, LW, lower body, day-to-day, Medicine Hat – Lukas Svejkovsky, F, upper body, day-to-day and Teague Patton, F, upper body, day-to-day, Prince Albert – Justin Nachbaur, LW, lower body, day-to-day, Red Deer – Jayden Grubbe, F, lower body, week-to-week and Joel Sexsmith, D, upper body, day-to-day.

Swift Current Broncos defenseman Cayde Augustine has been removed from the roster due to personal reasons.

NHL Draft to be held in July

As originally reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the NHL Draft is going to be held as previously planned in July. The 2021 NHL Draft is scheduled to take place July 23-24.

Warm called up to Hurricanes taxi squad

Goaltender Beck Warm (150GP, 71-56-13, 3.15GAA, .908sv% with Tri-City and Edmonton ’14-’20) has been recalled by the Carolina Hurricanes from the Chicago Wolves to serve on the team’s taxi squad. Warm has play six games with the Wolves this season earning a 5-1-0 record, a 2.02 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage. Warm was not drafted by an NHL team but is a signed prospect of the Hurricanes as of March 5, 2021.

Protas recalled by Capitals

Forward Aliaksei Protas (119GP, 42G, 78A with Prince Albert ’18-20) has been recalled by the Washington Capitals from Dinamo Minsk folliwing the end of their KHL season. Protas played in 58 games, scoring 10 times and adding eight assists. The Washington Capitals drafted Protas in the thrid round of the 2019 NHL Draft, and signed him to an entry-level contract on July 10, 2019. Protas was the 26th overall selection at the 2019 CHL Import Draft by the Raiders.

Red Wings reassign Pickard to the Griffins

Goaltender Calvin Pickard (241GP, 91-120-27, 3.29GAA, .909sv% with Seattle ’08-’12) has been reassigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins from the Detroit Red Wings taxi squad. Pickard has played in just one game in North America this season, with the Red Wings, playing 54 minutes, allowing two goals. Earlier this season he was on loan to the Vienna Capitals. Pickard sported a 3-3-0 record, a 1.96 goals-against average, and a .919 save perecentage. Originally drafted in the second round in 2010 by the Colorado Avalanche, Pickard is now on his fifth NHL contract, which he signed on July 1, 2019 with Detroit.

Ashton extended for three years with Leksands IF

Forward Carter Ashton (239GP, 92G, 89A with Lethbridge, Regina, and Tri-City ’06-’11) has signed a three-year contract extension with Leksands IF of the SHL. This season Ashton scored 13 goals and added five assists in 22 games with the team. Ashton was a first-round 2009 NHL Draft pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and has played 54 NHL games over three different seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs (0G, 3A). Ashton was also the seventh overall selection at the 2006 WHL Draft, by the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

Lang loaned to VHK Vestin

 

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Forward Martin Lang (122GP, 26G, 50A with Kamloops and Moose Jaw) has been loaned to VHK Vsetin of the Czech2 league by HC Plzen. Lang had been loaned previously to HC Stadion Litomerice (Czech2, 4GP, 1G, 1A) and SHC Klatovy (Czech3, 4GP, 1G, 0A). Lang was the 14th overall selection at the 2018 CHL Import Draft.