F Jeremy Reich (Seattle, Swift Current, 1995-2000) signed a one-year contract with Ingolstadt (Germany DEL). He had 14 goals and nine assists in 72 games for the Providence Bruins (AHL) this season. Reich also was captain of the Bruins. Ingolstadt GM Jim Boni: "Jeremy has great character, is a very hard working player with leadership qualities. He is also a good skater, which makes him even more dangerous on the larger ice surfaces in Europe. He has put up good numbers, although he has rarely played on the power play. We are delighted to have Jeremy in the Panther family."
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The WHL’s bantam draft is set for Thursday in Calgary.
With the help of Tyler Neisz of Western Elite Hockey Prospects, we are providing a bit of advance coverage in the form of some of Western Elite Hockey Prospects’ rankings.
Today, here’s a look at WEHP’s top 15 defencemen:
1. Ryan Pilon, Warman SK, 6-1.5, 170
2. Brycen Martin, Calgary Bisons, 6-0, 155
3. Jordan Thomson, Southwest Cougars MB (midget AAA), 6-0, 167
4. Zach Gonek, St. Alberta AB, 6-1, 185
5. Aaron Irving, Southside Athletic Club, Edmonton, 6-0, 165
6. Joe Hicketts, Kamloops, 5-6, 169
7. Haydn Fleury, Notre Dame, 6-1, 175
8. Jordan Harris, Prince Albert, 6-1, 170
9. Riley Stadel, Cloverdale BC, 5-10, 158
10. Zach Patterson, Southside Athletic Club, Edmonton, 5-9.5, 153
11. Josh Thrower, Pursuit of Excellence, 5-11, 172
12. Brandon Hickey, Leduc AB, 5-11, 150
13. Griffin Mumby, Calgary Bronks, 5-11, 166
14. Shaun Dosanjh, Richmond (Seafair) BC, 6-0, 165
15. Kord Pankewicz (D/F), Leduc AB, 5-10, 155
(SOURCE: Western Elite Hockey Prospects — westernelitehockeyprospects.blogspot.com)
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In Victoria, the Anchorage Aces scored six straight goals and beat the Salmon Kings 6-2 on Saturday night to take a 3-0 lead in the ECHL’s best-of-seven Western
Conference final. . . . The Aces get their first shot at wrapping it up on Monday in Victoria. . . . The Salmon Kings, who are being replaced in the B.C. capital by the WHL franchise formerly known as the Chilliwack Bruins, scored the games first goal but then gave up six in a row. . . . Attendance was 3,614. . . . The Aces won the first two games at home, scoring with nine seconds left in the third period take the opener 2-1 and then winning Game 2, 4-3, in OT. By the way, the winner in Game 2, originally credited to former Salmon Kings captain Wes Goldie, later was changed to F Chris Langkow (Spokane, Saskatoon, Everett, 2005-2010). Langkow added two more goals in Game 3.Cleve Dheensaw of the Victoria Times Colonist was at Game 3, and his story is right here.
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ON THE WHL ICE SATURDAY:
In Portland, F Sven Bartschi scored one goal and added two assists to help the Winterhawks to a 3-2 victory over the Spokane Chiefs. . . . The Winterhawks lead the best-of-seven Western Conference final 3-2 with Game 6 in Spokane on Monday. A seventh game, if needed, would be played in Portland on Tuesday. . . . Spokane F Tyler Johnson opened the scoring just 59 seconds into the first period. . . . Portland G Mac Carruth all but shut the door after that. He was beaten by F Mitch Holmberg at 12:48 of the third but finished with 39 saves. . . . Bartschi tied the score at 19:27 of the second and drew assists on goals by F Ty Rattie, at 5:22 of the third, and F Craig Cunningham, at 11:47. . . . Spokane G James Reid stopped 40 shots. . . . Spokane was 0-for-1 on the PP; Portland was 0-for-2. . . . Attendance was 9,486. . . . Four of the five games have been decided by one goal — 2-1, 2-1, 3-2 and 3-2. . . . Spokane won Game 4, 8-3. . . . The Chiefs were without F Collin Valcourt, who drew a one-game suspension under supplemental discipline for an unpenalized hit on Portland D Tyler Wotherspoon during the third period of Game 4. Valcourt had a career-high four points in that game. He will be back for Game 6. . . . A couple of notes from the Chiefs after Game 4: F Matt Marantz scored 10 seconds into that game, setting a franchise record for fastest goal to start a game. The previous record was set by F Brad Schell in Portland on March 17, 2002. . . . As well, F Levko Koper played in his 60th playoff game, the most in Spokane franchise history. That is one more than F Derek Schutz (1995-2000). Including Game 5, Koper has appeared in 392 regular-season and playoff games for the Chiefs and only Schutz (411) appeared in more.Paul Danzer of The Columbian covered Game 5 and his story is right here.
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SATURDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
None.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
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