Christopher Mast/Everett Silvertips

Daily Dose of the Dub: 16 WHLers headed to Top Prospects Game; Scott signs with Leafs; Fyten an Oil King; Springer signs with Broncos; Zayat inks contract with Wheat Kings

Roster announced for CHL Top Prospects Game

The rosters were announced for the annual Sherwin Williams CHL Top Prospects Game and the WHL was well represented. 16 of the 40 players came from teams in the Western League.

This event is a chance for players vying to be drafted in the following June’s NHL draft to showcase their talents in front of what is sure to be scouts from every NHL team.

Here are the WHL players invited:

  • Mads Sogaard – Goalie – Medicine Hat – 2000 (late birthday)
  • Taylor Gauthier – Goalie – Prince George – 2001
  • Bowen Byram – Defense – Vancouver – 2001
  • Jake Lee – Defense – Seattle – 2001
  • Kaedan Korczak – Defense – Kelowna – 2001
  • Lassi Thomson – Defense – Kelowna – 2000 (late birthday)
  • Dylan Cozens – Center – Lethbridge – 2001
  • Brett Leason – Center – Prince Albert – 1999
  • Kirby Dach – Center – Saskatoon – 2001
  • Nolan Foote – LW – Kelowna – 2000 (late birthday)
  • Dillon Hamaliuk – LW – Seattle – 2000 (late birthday)
  • Peyton Krebs – Center – Kootenay – 2001
  • Sasha Mutala – RW – Tri-City – 2001
  • Josh Williams – RW – Medicine Hat – 2001
  • Oleg Zaytsev – Center – Red Deer – 2001

The game will take place on January 23, 2019 in Red Deer.

Probably the most interesting name left off if you follow the NHL Central Scouting rankings is Vancouver Giants goalie Trent Miner who as rated a “B” prospect in the November rankings.

He was the only “B” rated player from November left off. Meanwhile Prince George’s Gauthier was a “C” rated prospect in November.

Scott signs with Toronto

-In very unsurprising news, the Toronto Maple Leafs have taken notice of the incredible season Prince Albert goalie Ian Scott is having and have signed him to an entry-level contract. This means not only will the 1999-born goalie very likely not return to the WHL for an overage season, Toronto avoids having him become a free agent.

He is the 10th NHL-signed 19-year-old now in the NHL, joining Raiders teammate Parker Kelly among others.

Scott was drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Draft.

He has posted an incredible 1.61 GAA and 0.943 save percentage in 26 games so far this season. His GAA is nearly half what it was in 2017-18.

He is currently with Hockey Canada taking part in their selection camp for the U20 World Junior Championships.

Addison released from selection camp

-There are now just six WHL players vying for an opportunity to represent Canada at the 2019 World Juniors in Vancouver, B.C. Lethbridge 2000-born defenseman Calen Addison was released from the camp on Thursday night and sent back to his WHL team.

The WHL players left at Canada’s camp are:

  • Ian Scott – Goalie – Prince Albert – 1999
  • Ty Smith – Defense – Spokane – 2000
  • Josh Brook – Defense – Moose Jaw – 1999
  • Cody Glass – Center – Portland – 1999
  • Jaret Anderson-Dolan – Spokane – 1999
  • Brett Leason – Center – Prince Albert – 1999

Anderson-Dolan still is working his way back from an October wrist injury.

Edmonton fills open overage spot with Fyten

-On Thursday, the Edmonton Oil Kings dealt a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft to the Swift Current Broncos for 1998-born forward Andrew Fyten.

The overage winger was originally a fifth-round Bantam Draft pick in 2013 by the Everett Silvertips. He was then sent to the Calgary Hitmen before signing with Everett for a sixth-round pick in the 2016 draft.

Fyten played 155 games with the Hitmen, potting 35 points.

Then at the trade deadline last season, he was moved to the Broncos for the rights to d-man Ethan Martini and a conditional third-round pick in 2019.

Springer signs with Swift Current

-The Broncos were able to sign 2002-born forward Dawson Springer to a WHL Education Contract. Springer, who was listed by the Everett Silvertips was moved to the Broncos as part of the deal for 19-year-old forward Max Patterson.

Springer had not signed with Everett prior to the trade. He is currently playing with the Prince Albert Mintos of the SMHL, where he has 28 points in 26 games.

Rebels list Coward

-Swift Current native and 2003-born netminder Chase Coward has been added to the Red Deer Rebels protected list.

The 15-year-old was passed over in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft, but his 2.78 GAA and 0.902 save percentage with the Prairie Hockey Academy’s CSSHL E15 team in 10 games.

Armitage recalled again

-With Carl Stankowski listed as out six-to-eight weeks with a lower body injury, the Hitmen recalled 1999-born goalie Matthew Armitage. He played 19 games last season and one in 2018-19.

He stopped 26-of-31 shots in his only appearance in the WHL back in September – a 6-3 loss to Edmonton.

Brandon signs Zayat

-The Brandon Wheat Kings signed 16-year-old defenseman Jack Zayat to a WHL Education Contract. He is the fifth player from their 2017 WHL Bantam Draft class signed. He was taken in the fourth-round, 74th overall.

He will join the team as they play Saskatoon in a two-game, home-and-home set this Friday and Saturday.

In 20 games with the Calgary Buffaloes of the AMJL, he had 16 points. He also played four games in the AJHL with the Okotoks Oilers, potting one assist.

With d-men Braden Schneider, Chase Hartje and Jonny Lambos sidelined with injuries, Zayat will only be the sixth healthy d-man on the roster for the two games before the Christmas break (unless one of those three come back).