Blazers win tiebreaker
Welcome to the big dance! The @blazerhockey are the 16th team to secure a spot in the 2019 #WHLPlayoffs!
DETAILS ? | https://t.co/WrlF8VTNfS pic.twitter.com/SLQcaCd3AT
— The WHL (@TheWHL) March 20, 2019
The Kamloops Blazers earned the 16th and final playoff spot by defeating the Kelowna Rockets in the tiebreaker game by a score of 5-1. The Blazers will now face the Victoria Royals in the Western Conference Quarter-Finals starting on Friday.
Lottery set for Wednesday
The 2019 #WHLBantamDraft lottery will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. MT.
? Streaming at https://t.co/sfq4z03P7G!
DETAILS ? | https://t.co/DDaYUYO33y pic.twitter.com/q8FXOiwYMe
— The WHL (@TheWHL) March 19, 2019
The WHL announced that the annual Bantam Draft Lottery will take place Wednesday at 10am PST in Calgary. The Prince George Cougars have the best odds to land the 1st overall pick with a 28.6% chance. The Cougars’ pick originally belonged to the Swift Current Broncos which they acquired in a deadline deal that sent defenceman Josh Anderson to the Broncos. Winnipeg and Saskatoon are the other two teams eligible to land the top pick, with the Blades having acquired Regina’s pick in a trade that brought Libor Hajek to the Pats. The other three teams involved in the lottery are the Cougars again with their original pick, Kelowna and Brandon who are all trying to just move up in the draft as teams can only move up by a maximum of two spots.
Philp signs ELC
.@CortexBusiness Transaction Alert: The #Flames have signed forward Luke Philp to an entry-level contract. https://t.co/mWUkbj4YXZ
— x – Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) March 19, 2019
Former Kootenay ICE and Red Deer Rebels forward Luke Philp signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Calgary Flames on Tuesday. The Canmore, AB native just completed his third season with the University of Alberta Golden Bears where he his coming off a 45 point (21G, 24A in 24 games) season and was named USports Men’s Hockey Player of the Year. In a 264 game WHL career split between the ICE and Rebels, he had 251 points (103G, 148A).
Wheat Kings sign prospect
The Brandon Wheat Kings have signed Defenceman Logen Hammett to a WHL Standard Player Agreement. Welcome to the #BWK @LogenHammett! #BWKFamily #bdnmb pic.twitter.com/EGrftBmmig
— Brandon Wheat Kings (@bdnwheatkings) March 19, 2019
The Brandon Wheat Kings have signed prospect Logen Hammett to a WHL Standard Player Agreement. The 2003-born defenceman was drafted by the Wheat Kings in the fifth round (101st overall) in last year’s bantam draft after 48 points (13G, 35A) in 31 games with the Regina Monarchs Bantam AA last season. This year in midget, he has 23 points (4G, 19A) in 40 games with the Regina Pat Canadians.
Cougars sign prospect
NEWS: Cougars sign prospect Ethan Samson (@EthanSamson77) to WHL Standard Player Agreement. | #NorthernUprising #WHL
? https://t.co/BRWZDhU6MR pic.twitter.com/OHfsCJiUB9
— PG Cougars (@PGCougars) March 19, 2019
The Prince George Cougars have signed defensive prospect Ethan Samson to a WHL Standard Player Agreement. The 2003-born has spent this season with the Delta Hockey Academy Elite 15s where he has 24 points (7G, 17A) in 33 games and 58 penalty minutes. The North Delta, BC native was originally selected in the third round (65th overall) by the Cougars in 2018.
Three Stars of the Night
1st Star: Kamloops’ Dylan Garand stopped 27 shots in their 5-1 win over Kelowna.
2nd Star: Kamloops’ Connor Zary had a goal and an assist to lead the Blazers to the last playoff spot.
3rd Star: Kamloops’ Kobe Mohr had the game winner in the tiebreaker.
Honourable Mentions
The Kelowna Rockets three graduating players….Matt Barberis 86 points (21G, 65A) in 179 games….Schael Higson 89 points (19G, 70A) in 312 games….Dalton Gally 32 points (3G, 29A) in 195 games….
