Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the Dub: Hurricanes sign McCutcheon, Russell to play in BCHL and more

Written by Ben Dooley on

Hurricanes sign third-round pick McCutcheon 

The Lethbridge Hurricanes have signed 2019 third-round bantam draft pick Logan McCutcheon to his WHL Player Agreement. McCutcheon was drafted from the Saskatoon Maniacs Bantam AA team where he had 13 goals and 46 assists in 31 games. The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native was also drafted in the third round of the SJHL Bantam Draft by the Humboldt Broncos.

Russell to play in BCHL next season

After being waived by the Edmonton Oil Kings, overage forward Zach Russell has found his home for next season with the BCHL’s Salmon Arm Silverbacks after they acquired his CJHL playing rights from the Fort McMurray Oil Barons for forward Michael Hodge. A Calgary, Alberta native, Russell played 70 games in the WHL with the Oil Kings and Brandon Wheat Kings, recording four goals and eight assists.

Keystone Centre to get new video score clock

The Keystone Centre, home of the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings, will be installing a new centre-hung video score clock in time for the Wheat Kings home opener against the Winnipeg ICE on September 20th. The previous score clock had been installed just before the Wheat Kings hosted the 2010 Mastercard Memorial Cup.

Red Wings lock up Hicketts for two more seasons

The Detroit Red Wings have locked up Joe Hicketts (224 GP, 32 G, 141 A with the Victoria Royals) for two more seasons. The diminutive defenseman from Kamloops, British Columbia signed with the Red Wings as an undrafted free agent in September of 2014. He has played 16 NHL games with Detroit and has three assists.

Hunt re-signs with Panthers

The Florida Panthers have signed forward Dryden Hunt (269 GP, 117 G, 132 A with the Regina Pats, Medicine Hat Tigers and Moose Jaw Warriors) to a one-year contract. The WHL Player of the Year and leading goal scorer (58) in 2015-16, Hunt was never drafted into the NHL. After his impressive season in the WHL, the Panthers signed him to an entry-level contract in March of 2016. He has played 42 games for the Panthers and has three goals and eight assists to show for it.

Former Brandon Wheat King Jayce Hawryluk (232 GP, 119 G, 159 A with the Wheat Kings) also signed with the Panthers. It is his second contract following 42 NHL games. He has seven goals and five assists over that time. Hawryluk is a veteran of 142 AHL games with the Springfield Thunderbirds.

Lightning sign Thomas for one more year

The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed defenseman Ben Thomas (206 GP, 22 G, 68 A with the Calgary Hitmen and Vancouver Giants) to a new one-year contract. Drafted in the fourth round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by Tampa Bay, Thomas has spent the entirety of his pro career with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch.

Baldwin signs extension with Guildford Flames

Defenseman Corbin Baldwin (248 GP, 11 G, 55 A with the Spokane Chiefs) has signed a one-year contract extension with the Guildford Flames of the EIHL. Last season with the Flames, Baldwin played 60 games registering one goal and eight assists.

Clippers sign Darren Naylor to a long-term contract extension 

The Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL have signed head coach and general manager Darren Naylor (131 GP, 47 G, 55 A with the Victoria Cougars and Swift Current Broncos) to a “long-term contract extension.” Naylor, who has been with the Clippers since December of 2017, also worked with the Seattle Thunderbirds as a scout from 2008-2014.