Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the Dub: ICE relocation official; Oil Kings forward hits 300 games; Chiefs, Giants sign prospects

Written by Stephen Hawco on

ICE heading east

The Kootenay ICE are officially moving east.

The team’s ownership group held a press conference Tuesday morning to officially announce the team will be moving to Winnipeg for the 2019/2020 WHL season. The move comes after months of speculation dating back to this past October. It was also announced the ICE will play their first two seasons out of the 1400 seat Wayne Fleming Arena on the University of Manitoba campus while a more permanent facility is built. The ICE have been in Cranbrook since the 1998-99 season and have won three league championships (’00, ’02, ’11) and a Memorial Cup in 2002 during the 20 year span, but have failed to make the postseason since the ’14/’15 season. To accommodate the move, the ICE and Swift Current Broncos will swap divisions, with the Broncos leaving the East and moving to the Central.

Oil King hits milestone

Edmonton Oil Kings forward Vince Loschiavo skated in his 300th career WHL game in a 4-3 shootout win against the Brandon Wheat Kings on Tuesday. The Winnipeg native was originally drafted in 2013 by the Kootenay ICE in the second round, 31st overall where he spent parts of four seasons before a trade to Moose Jaw in December of 2017 and later acquired by the Oil Kings in an offseason trade. The 20-year-old has recorded 153 points in 300 games in the WHL.

Two teams sign prospects

The Spokane Chiefs have signed 2001-born forward Bear Hughes to a WHL Standard Player Agreement. The Post Falls, Idaho native has been playing this season with the Spokane Braves of the KIJHL where he has been having a successful season, compiling 59 points in just 38 games in his first season of junior hockey. He is not expected to join the team immediately but can play as an affiliate player until his junior B season is over.

The Vancouver Giants announced they have signed 2003-born forward prospect Justin Lies to a WHL SPA. The Flin Flon, Manitoba native was originally drafted by the Giants in the third round, 56th overall in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft and has been spending this season with Rink Hockey Academy where he has 25 points in 28 games. The 15-year-old will represent Team Manitoba in next month’s 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer.

Weekly Report, Report:

Kelowna Rockets: 2003-born forward Trevor Wong is back with the Rockets for the first time since late October. He was called up because RW Liam Kindree joined fellow forward Ted Brennan on the injury list. Both are out day-to-day.

Lethbridge Hurricanes: 2003-born forward Zack Stringer is back in the AMHL after two games with the ‘Canes over the weekend.

Portland Winterhawks: Center Cody Glass is listed as out day-to-day with a lower body injury.

Prince Albert Raiders: 2001-born forward Bryce Bader is out “TBD.”

Seattle Thunderbirds: Overage captain Nolan Volcan is out week-to-week with an upper body injury.

Spokane Chiefs: Defenseman Matt Leduc joined forwards Eli Zummack and Cordel Larson on the shelf.

Vancouver Giants: Forward Dawson Holt is listed as out one week with a lower body ailment.

 

Three Stars of the Night

1st Star: Calgary Hitmen captain Mark Kastelic scored twice and added an assist in a 5-2 win over Regina.

2nd Star: Brandon’s Ethan Kruger had 46 saves in a 4-3 shootout loss to Edmonton.

3rd Star: Calgary’s Kaden Elder had three helpers against the Pats.

Honourable Mentions

Calgary’s Carson Focht had seven shots on goal, scoring twice….Edmonton’s Josh Williams had a goal and an assist in a shootout win over Brandon….

Troubling Moments: