Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the DUB: Plenty of player signings, Johnson to have number retired by Chiefs, and more

Written by Paul Figler on

Warriors sign four

The Moose Jaw Warriors announced on Tuesday that they have signed forwards Nathan Pilling, Tate Schofer, and Harper Lolacher. They also signed defenceman Matthew Gallant.

17-year-old Pilling, who is from Calgary, AB, spent 2020-21 with the Calgary Flames U18 AAA team of the AEHL. He scored two goals in five games.

17-year-old Schofer, who is from Regina, SK, spent 2020-21 with the Regina Pat Canadians U18 AAA team in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League. He scored three goals and added three assists in seven games.

16-year-old Lolacher, who is from Pilot Butte, SK, was the Warriors’ 11th round pick at the 2020 WHL Draft. He spent 2020-21 playing three games for the Tisdale Trojans U18 AAA team in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League. He had one goal.

17-year-old Gallant hails from Delta, BC. He spent 2020-21 with the Delta Hockey Academy U18 Prep team in the CSSHL. In four games he had zero points.

Wheat Kings sign four

The Brandon Wheat Kings announced on Tuesday that they have signed forwards Evan Groening and Hayden Chaloner, as well as defenceman Eastyn Mannix, and goaltender Carson Bjarnason.

16-year-old Groening hails from Niverville, MB, and was the Wheat Kings ninth-round pick at the 2020 WHL Draft. In 2020-21, Groening played three games for Rink Hockey Academy W U16 Prep, earning four assists.

16-year-old Chaloner hails from Winnipeg, MB, and was the Wheat Kings seventh-round pick at the 2020 WHL Draft. In 2020-21, Chaloner played four games with the Winnipeg Thrashers in the MU18HL. He earned four assists.

16-year-old Mannix hails from Wainwright, AB, and was a fourth-round pick by the Wheat Kings at the 2020 WHL Draft. In 2020-21, Mannix played three games with Northern Alberta U16 Prep in the CSSHL. He collected an assist.

16-year-old Bjarnason hails from Carberry, MB, and spent the 2020-21 season as a member of the Rink Hockey Academy W U16 Prep team. He played in two games and was 1-0-0 with a 2.01 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage.

Blazers ink Finnie

16-year-old forward Emmitt Finnie has signed a WHL Standard Player Agreement with the Kamloops Blazers.

Finnie, who hails from Lethbridge, AB, was the Blazers’ fourth-round pick at the 2020 WHL Draft. He spent the 2020-21 season with Yale Hockey Academy U18 Prep. He was held without a point in five games.

Royals sign Cunningham

16-year-old goaltender Logan Cunningham has signed a WHL Standard Player Agreement with the Victoria Royals.

Cunningham, who hails from Sherwood Park, AB, was the Royals’ seventh-round pick at the 2020 WHL Draft. In 2020-21 he played two games with the Northern Alberta U16 Prep team, going 2-0-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage.

Renas signs with Hurricanes

16-year-old forward Dustin Renas has signed a WHL Standard Player Agreement with the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

Renas, who is from Saskatoon, SK was the Hurricanes’ fifth-round pick at the 2020 WHL Draft. He played seven games with the Warman Wildcats U18 AAA program and collected one assist.

Tigers and Chiefs make a deal

The Medicine Hat Tigers and Spokane Chiefs announced a trade on Tuesday afternoon. The Chiefs sent forward Owen MacNeil to the Medicine Hat Tigers for a 2022 fourth-round WHL Draft pick and a 2023 eighth-round pick.

18-year-old MacNeil played 67 games with the Chiefs in parts of three seasons. Last season he had five assists in 21 games.

Chiefs to retire Johnson’s number

The Spokane Chiefs want you to mark February 4, 2022, on your calendars as Tyler Johnson will have his number 9 jersey retired on that evening.

Johnson spent his entire 266 game WHL career with the Chiefs. He scored 128 regular season goals to go with 154 assists. He also played in 54 playoff games, scoring 20 goals and adding 18 assists.

As a member of the Chiefs, Johnson was not drafted but headed to the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL following his final WHL season in 2010-11. In 2007-08 Johnson and the Chiefs won both the Ed Chynoweth Cup and the Memorial Cup.

Johnson has since gone on to win a Calder Cup with the Admirals and two Stanley Cups as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning. He signed with the Chicago Blackhawks on July 28th.

Wotherspoon signs PTO with Devils

28-year-old defenceman Tyler Wotherspoon (17 goals, 65 assists in 239 games with Portland 2008-13) has been signed to a Professional Try-Out contract by the New Jersey Devils.

Wotherspoon, who is from Surrey, BC, spent the 2020-21 season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the AHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers. He had six assists in 24 games.

The Calgary Flames selected Wotherspoon in the second round of the 2011 NHL Draft. He has 30 games of NHL experience.

Jeri-Leon heads to Maine

The Mariners of Maine have added 21-year-old forward Keltie Jeri-Leon (58 goals, 52 assists in 250 games with Tri-City, Kamloops, Lethbridge, and Seattle 2016-21) to their roster for the 2020-21 season.

Last season with the Thunderbirds, Jeri-Leon scored 17 goals and added 10 assists in 23 games.

WHL Cup earns sponsorship from the City of Red Deer

City approves sponsorships for Powwow and 2021 WHL Cup

The City of Red Deer announced on Tuesday that they have approved a $10,000 sponsorship request for the WHL Cup. The event is scheduled to take place October 19-24 and is expected to bring 400 players, scouts, officials, and personnel to the city.

The event represents the U16 players from across the four western provinces.

Storm sign Price

20-year-old forward Jalen Price (13 goals, 15 assists in 119 games with Everett 2018-21) has returned to his hometown to join the VIJHL’s Campbell River Storm.

Price played three games with the Storm in 2020-21, registering an assist. He also appeared in 19 games with the Silvertips, scoring once and adding two assists.