Daily Dose of the Dub: Leslie and Esposito join Popowich in retirement; Hodson signs with Victoria

Jantzen Leslie moves on to college

The former first round pick has signed on to play for Red Deer College this coming season. The 1999-born blue liner was originally picked 15th overall by the Everett Silvertips in 2014.

He made his debut during the 2014-15 seaosn with the ‘Tips and even played quite a bit in Everett’s first round loss to the Portland Winterhawks. Leslie played well against players like Nic Petan and Oliver Bjorkstrand in that series.

He was dealt in November to the Saskatoon Blades as part of the deal for Brycen Martin. Leslie played just four games with the Baldes – spending most of the year in the AMHL with the Lloydminster Bobcats.

In his 17-year-old year, Leslie played in 64 games and put up two assists. Last year, he struggled with an injury and got into just 20 games.

 

Drea Esposito retires

Along with fellow 2000-born player and member of the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft class Tyler Popowich – Drea Esposito is stepping away from hockey.

The fifth round selection by the Calgary Hitmen had one goal and nine assists for 10 points in 82 games over the 2016-17 and 2017-18 WHL seasons with Calgary.

Blades sign one of their imports

Saskatoon inked their second round import selection Kristian Roykas Marthisen to a WHL education contract. Marthisen Roykas is from Norway and is the first ever selection by the Blades from that country.

He was taken by the Washington Capitals in the seventh round of the 2017 NHL Draft but is not yet signed. The six-foot, 185 pound left wing was born in 1999 and is playing for an NHL contract this year.

He played for Almtuna IS 20 in the J20 Elit league in Sweden last year, putting up 31 points in 23 games. He also played for Norway at the U20 World Junior Championships D1B.

He is the lone import in Saskatoon’s camp as the Blades saw Mark Rubinchik sign to play in Russia and have yet to sign defenseman Emil Malysjev – their first round import pick.

Royals sign Hodson and Schultz

The Victoria Royals announced that they had signed their second overall pick and third round selection Matthew Hodson to a WHL education contract.

Hodson – is five-foot-nine and 142 pounds. He put up 75 points in 31 games in Bantam AA for the Saskatoon Outlaws last year. He also played in seven games in the SMHL with the Saskatoon Blazers.

He is the second 2018 WHL Bantam pick to sign with the Royals after their first round pick Nolan Bentham did earlier this summer.

Victoria also signed their CHL Import Draft selection Phillip Schultz. The six-foot, 200 pound center from Denmark played in the Rodovre program in Denmark last year. The 2000-born center had 29 points in 50 games.

Schultz joins 1999-born right wing Igor Martynov as the Royals two import players.

Seattle signs Ciona

The Thunderbirds have been busy with their 2018 WHL Bantam Draft class as they have already signed four of them this summer.

The latest was their second round pick, Lucas Ciona. The six-foot-two, 174 pound forward has had a strong camp so far and has 48 points in 30 games in the CSSBHL last year with the Northern Alberta Bantam Prep team. He also got into two games with their Elite 15 team.

Ciona joins fellow 2003-born forward Kai Uchacz, Conner Roulette and Mekai Sanders as signees from the 2018 Seattle draft class.

NHL camp roster invites going out

A total of 10 NHL rookie camp rosters are out there now and 41 players eligible to play in the WHL this year are on them.

Lets take a look:

Anaheim (3): Josh Mahura (D) – 1998 – Regina Pats – Drafted 3rd round 2016 – signed, Kyle Olson (C) – 1999 – Tri-City Americans – Drafted 4th round 2017, Sam Steel (C) – 1998 – Regina- Drafted 1st round 2016 – signed.

Arizona (4): Max Gerlach (RW) – 1998 – Saskatoon Blades – Invite (also at Development Camp), Tyler Steenbergen (LW) – 1998 – Swift Current Broncos – Free Agent – signed, David Tendeck (G) 1999 – Vancouver Giants – Drafted 6th round 2018, Dylan Plouffe (D) – 1999 – Vancouver Giants – Invite.

Boston (3): Carson Focht (Calgary – 2000 – invite), John Ludvig (Portland – 2000 – invite), Dawson Weatherill (Spokane – 199 – invite). Rookie camp goes September 7th-10th.

Carolina (4): Jake Bean (Tri-City – 1998 – drafted 1st round – signed), Morgan Geekie (Tri-City – 1998 – drafted 3rd round – signed), Stelio Mattheos (Brandon – 1999 – drafted 3rd round), Brendan De Jong (Portland – 1998 – drafted 5th round). This roster is for the Traverse City Prospect Tournament that goes September 7th-11th.

Colorado (6): Nick Henry (RW) – 1999 – Regina – Drafted 4th round 2017, Ty Lewis (LW) – Brandon  – 1998 – Free Agent -signed, Josh Anderson (D) – Swift Current – Drafted 3rd round 2016 – signed, Cole Reinhardt (C) – 2000 -Brandon –  invite (also at Development Camp), Robbie Holmes (LW) – 1999 – Regina – invite (also at Development Camp), Sean Strange (D) – 2000 – Kamloops Blazers – invite (also at Development Camp).

Columbus (1): Trey Fix-Wolansky (RW) – 1999 – Edmonton Oil Kings – Drafted 7th round 2018.

Detroit (3): Michael Rasmussen (Tri-City – 1999 – drafted first round – signed), Dennis Cholowski (Portland – 1999 – drafted first round – signed), Lane Zablocki (Victoria – 1998 – drafted 3rd round). This roster is also for the Traverse City Tournament.

Los Angeles (2): Kale Clague (D) – 1998 – Moose Jaw – Drafted 2nd round 2016, signed. Jaret Anderson-Dolan (C) – 1999 – Spokane  – Drafted 2nd round 2017 – signed.

San Jose (6): Joachim Blichfeld (RW) – 1998 – Portland – Drafted 7th round 2016 – signed, Jake Gricius (C) – 1999 – Portland – invite (also at Development Camp), Jake McGrew (RW) – 1999 – Spokane – Drafted 6th round, Kyle Topping (C) – 1999 – Kelowna – invite (also at Development Camp), Max Paddock (G) – 2000 – Regina – invite(also at Development Camp), Noah Gregor (C) – 1998 – Prince Albert- signed.

Vegas (9): Dylan Ferguson (G) – 1998 – Kamloops – Trade with Dallas – signed, Jiri Patera (G) – 1999 – Brandon, Cody Glass (C) – 1999 – Portland – Drafted 1st round 2017, signed, Dylan Coghlan (D) – 1998 – Tri-City – Free Agent – signed, Ryan Chyzowski (LW) – 2000 – Medicine Hat – invite, Reece Harsch (D) – 1999 – Seattle Thunderbirds – invite (also at Development Camp), Martin Bodak (D) – 1998 – Kootenay – invite (also at Development Camp), Jake Leschyshyn – 1999 – Regina – Drafted 2nd round 2017 – signed, Brett Kemp (C) – 2000 – Edmonton – invite.

Links and notes:

-Brayden Pachal is the newly minted captain for the Raiders.