Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the Dub: Youngsters recalled; Legien lands in Vancouver; Pachal leads Raiders to OT win

Written by Brandon Rivers on

ICE recall 16-year-old forward

-The Kootenay ICE recalled two players on Thursday. The first was 2002-born forward Owen Pederson.

Kootenay has been rotating 16-year-olds Pederson and James Form and 15-year-old Skyler Bruce. Form and Pederson have each played in eight games and the younger Bruce has played in one. Pederson has two goals in his time so far with the ICE.

Kootenay also called up the second overall pick in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft Carson Lambos. He has played in one game so far this season.

Kootenay has 13 forwards on the roster, eight defensemen and two goalies.

Tiger call up 16-year-old goalie for first time

-With Mads Sogaard away at the World Juniors, Medicine Hat has called up 16-year-old netminder Garin Bjorklund. The 21st overall pick in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft, Bjorklund is up with the Tigers for the first time. It is likely 19-year-old Jordan Hollett will get the majority of starts, but Bjorklund is likely to make his WHL debut at some point over the next two weeks with Sogaard away.

Bjorklund has a 2.33 GAA and 0.919 save percentage in 13 games this season with the Calgary Buffaloes of the AMHL. He also played for Canada Black at the U17 Hockey Challenge posting a 2.42 GAA and 0.919 save percentage.

Giants bring in forward with Memorial Cup experience

-With overage defenseman Matt Berberis out with an ailment, the Vancouver Giants got creative. They brought in 1998-born forward Jared Legien as a free agent.

Legien was taken with the ninth overall pick in the 2013 Bantam Draft. He played some with Kootenay, the team who picked him but finally found his legs in his 19-year-old season with the Victoria Royals. He posted 33 points in 36 games with the Royals until he was dealt to the Memorial Cup host Regina Pats for fellow 1998-born forward Braydon Buziak and a conditional seventh-round pick.

With Regina, he had 10 goals and seven assists for 17 points in 25 games and then one goal in the playoffs.

In the Memorial Cup, Legien had a goal in five games.

He did not return to Regina and instead played in the SJHL with the Yorkton Terriers. He has 52 points in 32 games with them so far this season.

He gives the Giants a creative forward who can certainly give them some scoring and play in their top-six.

Silvertips call up 15-year-old blue liner

-Everett has brought in their top pick in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft, second rounder Olen Zellweger. The d-man has seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points in 24 games with OHA Edmonton Prep of the cSSHL this season.

He could very well be making his WHL debut this weekend. He is the eighth defenseman on the roster for Everett.

Chiefs call up Arnold

-16-year-old goalie Campbell Arnold is reportedly back with the Spokane Chiefs. He has been playing in the KIJHL (Junior B) with the Spokane Braves this season, posting a 4.33 GAA and 0.893 save percentage in 17 games.

He has played just one WHL game and it was last season.

He was a second-round pick in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft. His being called up likely means either Bailey Brkin or Dawson Weatherill is either injured or being traded when the roster freeze expires.

 

Three stars of the night:

  1. Brayden Pachal (Prince Albert) -The Raiders captain drove the net and hammered home the rebound to tie the game in the third period and then followed up a Cole Fosntad chance to win the game in OT. P.A. netted their 33rd win, 4-3 in OT over the Saskatoon Blades.
  2. Sergei Alkhimov (Regina) – Two goals for the Russian import and the Pats edged the Brandon Wheat Kings 3-2.
  3. Alex Moar (Swift Current) – The 17-year-old defenseman who was acquired from Everett earlier this season had his first WHL goal and it was a big one. He netted the OT winner and Swift Current squeaked by Moose Jaw 4-3.

Troubling moments: