Eastern Division

Daily Dose of the Dub: Ramsay retires, Kubic and Legien not at Pats camp; Hay with Portland; ICE announce some more stability

Written by Brandon Rivers on

 

Ramsay retires:

For the second time in as many months, the Saskatoon Blades have had an overage forward retire from WHL hockey. Gage Ramsay followed Caleb Fantillo in deciding not to try an play his last season of eligibility in the WHL.

Ramsay was originally drafted in the third round of the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft by the Vancouver Giants. He played part of the 2014-15 season with the Giants, putting up three goals in 37 games. In 2015-16, he spent the entire year in the SJHL with the Notre Dame Hounds.

He played again as a 18-year-old with the Giants for six games before heading home and playing in Saskatoon with the Blades for the rest of the 2016-17 season.

Last year, he had six goals and 14 assists for 20 points in 63 games.

Ramsay leaving the team, means the Blades have just three overage players left in forwards Max Gerlach and Bradly Goethals and defenseman Dawson Davidson. Both Davidson and Gerlach were acquired at the trade deadline last year.

Regina roster notes:

The Pats were the first to announce the rosters for their training camp. There were a couple noticeable absences among the overage group for the Pats.

Jared Legien, the former first round pick by the Kootenay Ice reportedly will not attend camp. He was brought in last year from the Victoria Royals for 1998-born center Braydon Buziak and a seventh round pick in 2018 (Cage Newans). He apparently is planning on playing his 20-year-old season in the SJHL with the Yorkton Terriers.

The other name not on the list is 1998-born goalie Ryan Kubic. The goalie who was brought in from the Saskatoon blades at the trade deadline along with the now aged-out Cameron Hebig in exchange for forward Bryan Lockner, aged-out goalie Tyler Brown, first and second round picks in 2020, a third round pick in 2019 and another third rounder in 2021.

Kubic reportedly is on the protected list of the Moose Jaw Warriors, where he will battle for one of their three overage spots. That trade may be one looked back with a smile for Blades fans and general manager Colin Priestner. They have Lockner and four picks in the first three rounds and the Pats ended up with half a season each from Kubic and Hebig. It should be noted that Hebig had an exceptional Memorial Cup and was a big reason the Pats made the Memorial Cup final.

Hay joining the Winterhawks:

With Danny Flynn leaving the Portland Winterhawks for an NHL scouting gig with the Columbus Blue Jackets, there was an opening on the bench next to Mike Johnston.

That spot will be filled by the all-time wins leader among WHL head coaches Don Hay. The long-time head coach of the Kamloops Blazers and Vancouver Giants achieved the all-time wins record, previously owned by Portland’s Ken Hodge last year against Portland.

Thunderbirds Sign Uchacz

Seattle took Uchacz 10th overall in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft. He is from De Winton, Alberta and had 42 points in 33 games with the Okotoks Oilers Bantam AAA team last year. The five-foot-11, 176 pound forward will be in camp this week with the T-birds.

ICE announce new theme and more

At a press conference on Monday, the Kootenay ICE made many announcements. Their new theme: “Our ICE” was part of the announcement along with the fact that coaches Gord Burnett, Nathan Lieuwen and trainer Darcy Ewanchuk had their contracts extended.

Links and notes:

-Battlefords North Stars marketing/office manager Caitlin Gray has landed a job with the Saskatoon Blades.

-An in depth article on whether or not Portland Winterhawks defenseman Henri Jokiharju will make the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks. 

-Prince Albert Raiders first round pick Cohner Saleski knows he will be playing in Prince Albert this year. He will either be playing with the Raiders or the major midget Mintos.

-CHL Import pick Mads Sogaard is now in Medicine Hat and will be looking to earn a spot in the Tigers net.

-Former Vancouver Giants and Portland Winterhawks center Craig Cunningham’s journey is well known. His younger brother took a more literal journey – a bike ride from Canada to Tucson for hsi brother’s charity.

-The former Spokane Chiefs goalie was signed to a one-year deal with the Rangers.

-The former Kamloops blazers forward will be trying to extend his long NHL career with the Oilers.