WHLers earn all three leadership positions with Team Canada
Proud to announce @HockeyCanada's 2021 #WorldJuniors captains:
Kirby Dach ©️
Bowen Byram ?️
Dylan Cozens ?️Learn how the captains’ signatures will be featured in Esso Medals and Certificates of Achievement program kits at https://t.co/9a7XDrpbSW pic.twitter.com/awOK4XYl71
— #WorldJuniors (@HC_WJC) December 18, 2020
With Kirby Dach leading the team and Bowen Byram and Dylan Cozens serving as assistants, Team Canada has gone with a full leadership compliment of WHLers. Dach played the entire 2019-20 season with the Chicago Blackhawks. Byram (Colorado Avalanche) and Cozens (Buffalo Sabres) will be using the opportunity to make an impression on their NHL clubs before the start of NHL Training Camps. Both are returnees to Team Canada’s U20 team.
10 positive tests among teams at 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship bubble
The IIHF would like to provide an update following the arrival and quarantine period of all 10 competing teams and tournament officials from the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship Bubble: https://t.co/6OjbG30DqL pic.twitter.com/JWq3aL9cmj
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) December 18, 2020
With eight German players and two staff from Sweden returning positive COVID-19 tests while in the bubble, the two teams will need to be quarantined. Team Germany will be in quarantine until December 24th and Team Sweden until December 21st. Changes will need to be made to the pre-tournament games but it is currently expected that the tournament will go on as scheduled.
Skapski joins BCHL’s Chilliwack Chiefs coaching staff
NEWS: Chiefs hire Mackenzie Skapski as new goaltending coach
“He is a very well respected young coach with a bright future and an eagerness to continue to improve. He has a clear vision for what he can bring to our goaltenders.”
? https://t.co/BKTHceA0Jd pic.twitter.com/L3PLhZ9VJI
— Chilliwack Chiefs (@Chiefs_Hockey) December 18, 2020
Mackenzie Skapski (141GP, 74-52-7, 2.81GAA, .909sv% with Kootenay ’10-’14) has been hired as the goaltending coach for the BCHL’s Chilliwack Chiefs. Skapski enjoyed five seasons of professional hockey, reaching hockey’s pinnacle for two games with the New York Rangers in 2014-15. His last season, 2018-19, was spent playing for HKM Zvolen of Slovakia’s top professional league. This is his first coaching position at any level.
Nathan Paetsch hangs up the skates
#Amerks defenseman & assistant captain @NpDefensemen has announced his retirement from professional hockey, ending a 17-year career with nearly 900 games in the @NHL, @TheAHL and the @DELoffiziell in Germany.
Read press release here ➡️ https://t.co/PUJGufXoe8#Thanks4Everything pic.twitter.com/pErh3oEdzC
— Rochester Americans (@AmerksHockey) December 18, 2020
Nathan Paetsch (258GP, 48G, 164A with Moose Jaw ’98-’03) has called it a career following a 17-year professional career. Paetsch played 167 NHL games and 651 AHL games as well as 52 games in one DEL season. Twice Paetsch won a silver medal at the IIHF World Junior Championships and he also won two Calder Cup Championships with the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Howden signs with Malmo Redwings
Kanadensisk center förstärker Redhawks
? "Jag ser verkligen fram emot att komma och bli en del av det här laget"➡️ https://t.co/1CMO84pg60
? https://t.co/qM3w0pEIOL#HjärtaKvalitetStolthet #VälkommenQuinton pic.twitter.com/BabFlco1RM— Malmö Redhawks (@Malmo_Redhawks) December 18, 2020
Quinton Howden (244GP, 111G, 128A with Moose Jaw ’07-’12) has signed with the Malmo Redwongs of the SHL. Last season the Winnipeg, MB product split between Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod and Vityaz Podolsk of the KHL, scoring 11 goals and adding nine assists in 55 games. The 28-year-old forward has 97 games of NHL experience, an Olympic games bronze medal, as well as a silver and bronze medal from the IIHF World Junior Championships.
Benson returns from loan with GCK Lions
Benson's Swiss club bids farewell after the #Oilers forward prospect led the GCK Lions with 19 points in 15 games.
See you soon, Tyler! ? https://t.co/CYdSjkSPJ6
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) December 18, 2020
Tyler Benson (190GP, 61G, 123A with Vancouver ’13-’18) has been returned to the Edmonton Oilers organization following a loan assignment with the GCK Lions of the Swiss League. In 15 games, Benson scored twice and added 17 assists. Benson will be heading to Oilers training camp in hopes of adding to his seven games on the team’s roster last season.
Shayne Harper signs with Brynas IF
? | Välkommen till Brynäs IF, Shane!
Shane Harper har skrivit på för resten av säsongen. Den 31-årige forwarden ansluter till laget i mellandagarna. Läs mer på https://t.co/MR7GswpDsO. pic.twitter.com/rMknWmhyn6
— Brynäs IF (@Brynas) December 18, 2020
Shane Harper (335GP, 100G, 114A with Everett ’05-’10) has signed with Brynas IF of the SHL. Harper has already played two seasons in the SHL, both with Orebro HK. Harper has also played 14 games in the NHL, 398 in the AHL and 63 in the ECHL.
Roman moves from Liiga to Czech League
Hlásíme novou posilu do útoku! Vítej v Dynamu, Ondro ???⚪ více informací ➡ https://t.co/VmGmSVH5dL pic.twitter.com/xv7G0qro7i
— HC DYNAMO PARDUBICE (@HCPCE) December 18, 2020
Ondrej Roman (174GP, 29G, 112A ith Spokane ’06-’09) has signed with HC Dynamo Pardubice after starting the season with Ilves of Liiga in Finland. The Ostrava, CZE native returns to the Czech league after just 12 games with Ilves. Last season with HC Vitkovice Roman scored 14 goals and added 19 assists in 45 games. Roman won a bronze medal at the 2005-06 U18 World Championships and the Ed Chynoweth Cup and Memorial Cup with the Chiefs in 2007-08.
Three former WHLers make Birmingham Bulls Training Camp roster
Welcome to the 2020-21 Birmingham Bulls Training Camp!
View Training Camp Roster and Schedule at https://t.co/Y0fkSiVsvT pic.twitter.com/BwrLb7FB69
— Birmingham Bulls (@BullsBirmingham) December 18, 2020
Alec Baer (342GP, 86G, 101A with Vancouver, Lethbridge, and Kootenay ’12-’18), Logan Nelson (179GP, 60G, 99A with Victoria ’11-’14), and Mackenzie Dwyer (35GP, 1G, 3A with Saskatoon and Everett ’13-17) have been added to the Birmingham Bulls (SPHL) training camp roster. Nelson has spent the last six seasons playing in the ECHL with eight different teams. Baer has spent the last four seasons split between the ECHL and SPHL. Dwyer spent last season with the Steinbach Huskies of the Carillon Senior Hockey League.
Bethune on Macon Mayhem Training Camp roster
BREAKING: The Macon Mayhem announce their training camp roster for the 2020-21 season.
?: https://t.co/tu1bSQdDFP#MiddleGeorgiaProud pic.twitter.com/M6thVeOzJ5
— Macon Mayhem (@MaconMayhem) December 18, 2020
Jared Bethune (276GP, 65G, 110A with Prince George ’14-’18) has been added to the training camp roster of the SPHL’s Macon Mayhem. Bethune spent the last two seasons with Queen’s University, scoring 12 times and adding 21 assists in 52 games.