Eastern Division

Daily Dose of the Dub: Preseason starts Thursday!

Written by Brandon Rivers on

Saskatoon takes on Prince Albert to start the 2018 preseason

The very first game of the WHL preseason takes place on Thursday at the Art Hauser Center as the Saskatoon Blades take on the Prince Albert Raiders.

The two teams look to be contenders in the East Division this year and this will be the first time they have played each other since the 2017-18 regular season finale – a 5-4 Blades win.

Seattle brings in a defenseman from Kootenay

With only seven signed defenseman on their roster and two of those blue liners heading off to NHL Rookie Camps soon, the Seattle Thunderbirds moved a ninth round pick in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft for 2000-born defenseman Payton McIssac.

The right-handed d-man was originally a second round pick by the Saskatoon Blades back in 2015. McIssac was named the top defenseman in the AMBHL prior to being drafted. The Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta native played 10 games as a 16-year-old – potting a single assist.

Each of the next two seasons, he played one game with the Blades, spending most of his time in 2016-17 with Fort Saskatchewan’s Midget AAA team and with the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the AJHL in 2017-18.

McIssac was recently traded in Junior A from Sherwood Park in the AJHL to the Humboldt Broncos of the SJHL for 1998-born forward Ethan Kopyczyn in July.

Seattle signs another player

Along with McIssac, Seattle brought in another player on Wednesday as they signed 2002-born list forward Matthew Rempe.

The six-foot-three, 165 pound forward played last year for the Okanagan Hockey Academy Elite 15 team. He had 13 points in 35 games.

In a press release, Seattle revealed they had added Rempe to their protected list on May 11th, 2017.

Rempe is the 19th signed forward for Seattle and the fifth they have signed since May.

Regina signs two more players

The Regina Pats revealed their preseason roster on Tuesday and there was three players on it that were not signed to WHL education contracts.

On Wednesday, the Pats signed two of those three. First, they inked 2002-born listed player Cale Sanders and 2001-born camp invitee Steven Zonneveld.

Sanders is listed at five-foot-nine and 141 pounds and was added to Regina’s protected list this Spring. He posted 48 points in 36 games with the Edge School Elite 15 team last year.

Zonneveld impressed in camp enough to find himself with a WHL education contract. The – recently turned 17-year-old – had 18 points in 35 games with the Calgary Midget AAA Flames last year.

Regina now has 30 signed players, with Woodside being the lone unsigned player still in camp.

Victoria signs another player

Another listed player was signed on Wednesday as 2002-born defenseman Carson Golder committed to the Victoria Royals. Golder is from way up North in Terrace, B.C. and was listed by the Royals during last season.

Golder had 17 points in 34 games with the Pursuit of Excellence Elite 15 team in the CSSHL E15.

Golder is the ninth d-man in camp who has signed with Victoria.

Portland gets a commitment from another forward

The Portland Winterhawks have signed 2002-born forward Tyson Kozak to a WHL education contract. Kozak is the 33rd signed player in Portland’s camp as they appear ready to start the WHL preseason on Friday.

Kozak is the fifth 2002-born player Portland has signed with first round pick Seth Jarvis, fourth round pick Cross Hanas, fifth rounder Dante Giannuzzi, seventh round selection Robbie Fromm-Delorme and Kurtis Smythe (a d-man whose rights were acquired from Saskatoon). Kozak was taken in the sixth round of the 2017 draft.

Kozak, who is from Souris, Manitoba had 35 points in 44 games with the Southwest Cougars Midget AAA team last year.

He is the 18th signed forward in a crowded group up front in Portland.

Wheat Kings camp roster set

The Brandon Wheat King rookie camp started today and main camp starts August 31st.

Overage payers:

-Just the trio of forwards Linden McCorrister and Ty Lewis and defenseman Schael Higson.

Brandon has 30 signed players, with seven of those being incoming 19-year-olds.

2018 Draft:

Nine of the Wheat Kings 10 picks from 2018 are in camp with the lone exception being eighth round pick Charlie Larsen. Two of their picks from the draft are signed in first rounder Jake Chiasson and second round selection Brett Hyland.

2017 Draft:

Brandon has signed three players from that draft and all but three of the others are in camp. Anthony Kehrer, Cameron MacDonald and Owen Gallatin.

Links and notes:

–Nice write up on the physical presence 1998-born defenseman Ryan Pouliot brings to the Swift Current Broncos.

-The Prince Albert Raiders are looking for more big things from forward Brett Leason, who blossomed once he came over from Tri-City last year.

-The Edmonton Oil Kings have a lot resting on the development of their top 2018 pick Dylan Guenther.