Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the DUB: Catching up on news from around the hockey world

Written by Paul Figler on

 

Blazers sign Ryan Michael to WHL Standard Player Agreement

With their fourth pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft, the Kamloops Blazers took Kelowna, B.C. product Ryan Michael. The defenseman played last season with the Yale Hockey Academy Bantam Prep team where he scored four times and added 21 assists in 30 games. He also contributed two goals and two assists in four playoff games with the team. He will be eligible to play full-time for the Blazers in the 2021-22 season.

Mike Green calls it a career

Mike Green (267GP, 37G, 135A with Saskatoon) has hung up his skates following 15 professional seasons. Originally drafted by the Blades in the second round in 2000, Green grew into a leadership role before his final WHL season in 2004-05. In that season, Green scored nearly a point per game, potting 14 goals and adding 52 assists in 67 games. At the 2004 NHL Draft, the defenseman out of Calgary, AB heard his name called in the first round, 29th overall by the Washington Capitals. In all Green played 880 NHL games with three teams, finishing the 2019-20 season with the Edmonton Oilers. He scored 150 goals and added 351 assists with the Capitals, Red Wings, and Oilers.

Hanzal comes out of retirement to sign with Czech4 league’s new club

https://hokej.cz/paradni-letka-samsonu-hanzal-prilakal-do-krajske-ligy-dalsi-borce-z-nhl/5050586

Posted by HC Samson České Budějovice on Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Martin Hanzal (60GP, 26G, 59A, with Red Deer) has come out of retirement to sign with HC Samson Ceske Budejovice of the Czech4 league. The Piske, Czech Republic native was originally selected by the Regina Pats in the 2004 CHL Import Draft but did not report. Red Deer then selected him 41st overall in the 2005 CHL Import Draft and was able to obtain his services for one season. Hanzal had been selected 17th overall by the then Phoenix Coyotes prior to the Import Draft. Hanzal played 673 NHL games over 13 seasons scoring 126 goals and adding 211 assists with Phoenix/Arizona, Minnesota, and Dallas.

Hamill signs with Les Ducs d’Angers

Zach Hamill (250GP, 87G, 175A with Everett) has signed with Les Ducs d’Angers of France’s top professional hockey league. It is the 10th team in eight seasons overseas for Hamill. Last season, the Port Coquitlam, BC defenseman played for EC Bad Nauheim of the DEL2, scoring 13 times and adding 18 assists in 32 games. Hamill was drafted eighth overall by the Boston Bruins in 2007, and he played 20 games over three seasons for the team, contributing four assists.

Scheidl signs with ECHL’s Mavericks

Lane Scheidl (277GP, 88G, 98A with Vancouver, Red Deer, and Regina) has signed with his third ECHL team following a stint overseas with HK Nitra. Last season Scheidl scored 16 goals and added 11 assists in 53 games played. The Saskatoon, SK native is an ECHL veteran, having played in 271 games over six seasons, scoring 79 times and adding 86 assists.

Valach added to HC Slovan Bratslava roster

Juraj Valach (129GP, 18G, 45A with Tri-City, Vancouver, Regina, and Red Deer) signed with HC Slovan Bratislava of Slovakia’s top professional league. Valach was the 20th overall selection at the 2006 CHL Import Draft. Following his two seasons in North America, the Topolcany, Slovakia native returned overseas and has spent the last 12 seasons split between teams in the Czech, Slovakia, KHL, and EBEL leagues. Last season with EHC Linz of the EBEL, Valach scored one goal and added eight assists in 32 games.

Helgesen returns to Idaho Steelheads

Kenton Helgesen (266GP, 34G, 96A with Calgary) has been signed by the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL following a loan to the team in 2019-2020. Last season with the Evansville Thunderbolts (SPHL), Helgesen scored two goals and added six assists in 19 games. The defenseman also spent four games with the Steelheads, registering an assist. It will be his fifth season of professional hockey in North America.

Merkley signs one-year deal with Assat

Nick Merkley (245GP, 85G, 174A with Kelowna 12-17) has signed a one-year contract with an NHL-out clause until mid-December. The Calgary, AB native spent last season with the Tucson Roadrunners scoring three goals and adding 13 assists in 26 games before being traded by the Coyotes to the New Jersey Devils. He then played four games with the team (4GP, 1G, 1A) before being sent down to the Binghamton Devils. With Binghamton, Merkley scored eight goals and added 11 assists in 28 games. Merkley was drafted 30th overall at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and was a 2014-15 WHL Champion with the Rockets.

Nielsen signs overseas

Andrew Nielsen (131GP, 25G, 69A with Lethbridge) has signed with Black Wings 1992 of the Bet-at-Home IceHL. Nielsen spent the last four seasons in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies and Stockton Heat. Last season with the Heat, the defender had five assists in 45 games. The Red Deer, AB native was drafted in the third round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs and won an AHL championship with the Marlies.

Former WHLer is dealt within the BCHL

Kyle Pow (41GP, 0G, 3A with Kelowna and Winnipeg) has been traded from the Trail Smoke Eaters to the West Kelowna Warriors. The Warriors will be Pow’s third BCHL team in the last four seasons. Last season the Nanaimo, BC defenseman split between the Fort McMurray Oil Barons (17GP, 2G, 1A AJHL), Trail Smoke Eaters (21GP, 0G, 3A BCHL), and the Winnipeg ICE (3GP, 0G, 0A WHL).

Oil Kings prospect signs with BC Jr. B team

Carson Latimer (6GP, 1G, 0A with Edmonton) has signed with the Port Moody Panthers Jr. B team of the PIJHL. Latimer was drafted in the third round of the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft and split last season between the Oil Kings and Delta Hockey Academy Prep (31GP, 15G, 34A).