Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the DUB: Blades ink Elias, Speltz named Silver Knights GM, alumni news and more!

Written by Paul Figler on

 

Blades ink Elias

The 107th overall selection at the 2021 CHL Import Draft, Moritz Elias, has signed a WHL Standard Player Agreement with the Saskatoon Blades. Elias, from Augsburg, GER, played 16 games in the DEL, Germany’s top professional league in 2020-21. He scored one goal and added one assist, becoming the third-youngest player in DEL history to score a goal in that league.

Elias is eligible to enter Canada on September 20th and it is expected he will join the team immediately.

Speltz named Silver Knights General Manager

Former long-time general manager of the Spokane Chiefs, Tim Speltz, has joined the Henderson Silver Knights as the team’s general manager. The Silver Knights are the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights.

Speltz was the general manager of the Chiefs from 1990 until 2016 when he took a position with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was with the Maple Leafs for five seasons in a director of scouting role.

Wedman signs with Gladiators

22-year-old forward Matthew Wedman (92 goals, 119 assists in 310 games with Seattle and Kelowna 2015-20) has signed to play with the ECHL’s Atlanta Gladiators.

Last season Wedman played 34 games with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, where he scored four goals and added four assists in his first professional season.

Wedman was not signed by the Florida Panthers, the team that selected him in the seventh round of the 2019 NHL Draft. He was a member of the 2016-17 WHL Championship-winning Seattle Thunderbirds.

Nikolishin joins Neftyanik Almetievsk

25-year-old forward Ivan Nikolishin (65 goals, 138 assists in 216 games with Everett and Red Deer 2013-16) has signed with Neftyanik Almetievsk of the VHL in Russia.

Last season with the Kunlun Red Star of the KHL, Nikolishin scored eight goals and added 15 assists in 59 games.

Breitkreuz heads to retirement

32-year-old forward Brett Breitkreuz (59 goals, 79 assists in 266 games with Kelowna, Edmonton, and Vancouver 2006-10) has decided to hang up his skates following an 11-year professional career in Germany.

Breitkreuz, a dual German-Canadian citizen, played 2020-21 with the Bietigheim Steelers of the DEL2. He scored 24 goals and added 21 assists in 46 games. He was unable to play in the final series due to an injury and he decided it was time to retire and return to Canada.

Pats draft pick traded to Pontiacs

18-year-old forward Adam Grenier has been traded from the Cowichan Capitals of the BCHL to the Bonnyville Pontiacs of the AJHL.

Grenier was a ninth-round 2018 WHL Draft pick of the Regina Pats.