F Ondrej Fiala (Everett, Saskatoon, 2005-08) signed a one-year contract with Orli Znojmo (Czech Republic, Austria Erste Bank Liga). He had two goals and two assists in 18 games with Chomutov (Czech Republic, 1.Liga) and 13 goals and 10 assists in 23 games on loan to Kadan (Czech Republic, 1.Liga) this season. . . .
F Ondrej Roman (Spokane, 2006-09) signed a one-year contract with Vitkovice Ostrava (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He had two goals and five assists in 40 games split between the Texas Stars (AHL) and San Antonio Rampage (AHL) and three goals and five assists in nine games with the Idaho Steelheads (ECHL) and Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL) this season.
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F Miles Koules announced via Twitter on Saturday that he will play next season in the WHL: “Made my decision to play for the Medicine Hat Tigers next season.”
The Tigers acquired his rights from the Everett Silvertips on Jan. 10. The Tigers gave up F Reid Petryk, who is heading into his 19-year-old season, and a conditional fourth-round draft pick in the exchange, so presumably that pick will move to Everett.
Koules, who will turn 18 on June 25, had given a verbal commitment in June 2010 to attend the U of North Dakota for the 2012-13 season.
According to Brad Elliott Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald: “A source close to the forward from California told the Herald that he left in order to get more ice time and games.”
Koules is the son of Oren Koules, a former WHL player who also is a former Tampa Bay Lightning co-owner. For more on Oren, check out imdb.com.
Miles has played the last two season in the U.S. National Team Development Program. Prior to that, he played at Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Faribault, Minn.
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North Dakota also is hoping to land D Seth Jones, 17, whose WHL rights were moved last week from Everett to the Portland Winterhawks.
It is generally believed that Jones now is trying to choose between UND and the Winterhawks.
Jones, the son of former NBA player Popeye Jones who now is an assistant coach with the New Jersey Nets, revealed via Twitter on Saturday that he is visiting Portland this weekend.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Barry Wolff is the new general manager and head coach of the junior B Fernie Ghostriders of the Kootenay International junior league. Wolff takes over from Will Verner, who stepped down after five seasons with the Ghostriders. Wolff actually is returning to Fernie, where he spent three seasons (2001-04) as GM and head coach of the Ghostriders in the AWHL and NAHL. Wolff also has extensive experience in the BCHL.
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Here are the dates for the WHL’s championship final (all times local):
Thursday, May 3: at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Friday, May 4: at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 6: at Portland (Rose Garden), 6 p.m.
Tuesday, May 8: at Portland (Rose Garden), 7 p.m.
x-Thursday, May 10: at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
x-Saturday, May 12: at Portland (Rose Garden), 6 p.m.
x-Sunday, May 13: at Edmonton,6 p.m.
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