CHL Weekend Review: Signing season and cancer awareness
A closer look at league news and social media highlights from across the Canadian Hockey League including more entry-level contracts being signed and some cancer awareness campaigns in our communities.
Trio of top picks sign
We’re now two weeks past the NHL Draft and the entry-level contract count is up to seven among 2020 picks after the latest first round trio put pen to paper. Second overall pick Quinton Byfield of the Sudbury Wolves made things official with the Los Angeles Kings, as did Jake Neighbours of the Edmonton Oil Kings with the St. Louis Blues and his good friend Ozzy Wiesblatt of the Prince Albert Raiders with the San Jose Sharks.
LA better stock up on bow ties! ✒️ @Byfield55 will wear #55 with the LA Kings.
https://t.co/8CTz3ABPCU— LA Kings (@LAKings) October 16, 2020
Jake Neighbours, the Blues' first-round 2020 #NHLDraft pick, has agreed to terms on a three-year entry-level deal. https://t.co/msEP98sbzm #stlblues
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) October 17, 2020
MAKING 👏 IT 👏 OFFICIAL
We have signed @ozzywiesblatt to a standard, entry-level contract!
🦈: https://t.co/tRGtTpmyDG@SAPSports | #SJSharks pic.twitter.com/gU8hU0xajx
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) October 16, 2020
Golod signs with Ducks
It isn’t just signing season for 2020 NHL Draft picks as free agent Maxim Golod received an entry-level contract from Anaheim. The 20-year-old overage candidate for the Erie Otters went unselected the past two years but showed enough in his 2019-20 play recording 78 points in 63 games to impress the Ducks who surely saw plenty of the Concord, Ontario, native while scouting first round pick Jamie Drysdale.
Signed and sealed.
Maxim Golod is a part of the #NHLDucks family!https://t.co/0lie64KAtw— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) October 14, 2020
Marcotty honoured for top performing Titan
The Acadie-Bathurst Titan are the league’s first team to five wins achieving the feat in only six games thanks in part to the recent play of Felix-Antoine Marcotty. The overage forward scored once with five assists for six points over two games.
Veteran forward @felixantoine17 helped the @ABTitan to two wins last weekend thanks to his two straight three-point outings! 🔥 #QMJHL
DETAILS | https://t.co/YRKXnOoj8l
— QMJHL (@QMJHL) October 19, 2020
QMJHL postpones East and West Division games
The only action being played in the QMJHL right now is in the Maritimes Division as the league’s Quebec based East and West Division games have been postponed until October 28 as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. This past week saw just four games played on Friday and Saturday while six games are on next weekend’s schedule.
The #QMJHL announced today that both East and West Division teams will postpone their games until October 28th.
— QMJHL (@QMJHL) October 14, 2020
QMJHL applauds Government support
The province of Quebec’s financial contribution to support sports federations, associations and leagues, is benefitting the QMJHL. The funding is helping the twelve Quebec-based teams in the league’s East and West Division operate during the 2020-21 season while providing student-athletes with the necessary tools to develop themselves on the ice and at school.
The #QMJHL applauds the Government's financial contribution. The funding will help the 12 Quebec-based teams to operate in 20-21 while providing our student-athletes with the necessary tools to develop themselves on the ice and at school.
READ MORE 💁🏼♂️: https://t.co/SXw5mOR6iZ pic.twitter.com/YnYOOWHASr
— QMJHL (@QMJHL) October 17, 2020
WHL plans to return January 8
The WHL Board of Governors recently confirmed plans to begin the league’s season on Friday January 8, 2021. Working with Governments and Health Authorities in the Provinces and States in Western Canada and the U.S. Pacific Northwest, all regular season games will be played exclusively within the boundaries of each of the four Divisions with the East Division consisting of the seven Saskatchewan and Manitoba-based teams; the Central Division consisting of the five Alberta-based teams; the B.C. Division consisting of the five B.C.-based teams; and the U.S. Division consisting of the five teams located in Washington and Oregon.
Mark your calendars! The WHL has an opening date for the 2020-21 regular season!
DETAILS 📰 | https://t.co/E4L4tDtf7Q pic.twitter.com/lbzHQMBppR
— The WHL (@TheWHL) October 14, 2020
Bedard skating in Sweden
First overall WHL pick Connor Bedard, the league’s first ever player to be granted exceptional status, is preparing for his first season with the Regina Pats in Sweden. Since the second week of September the North Vancouver native has been in Jonkoping, Sweden, training at the HV71 facility with the SHL club’s junior players and will return in plenty of time for his first WHL camp.
Connor Bedard is working hard in Sweden, getting ready for January 8!!
🎥 – @HV71
🎵 – https://t.co/rnAqJWBVkl #JoinTheRegiment pic.twitter.com/wdpjyF7clZ— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) October 19, 2020
#RealMenWearPink
Wes Wolfe is taking part in a unique campaign through the American Cancer Society raising awareness for breast cancer. The Otters assistant coach has committed to wearing pink every day of October to help raise funds that will help support initiatives that include research, patient services, and education around screenings and risk reduction.
We have 12 days left in October to help @weswolfe91 reach his #RealMenWearPink campaign goal! He's currently sitting at $2,808 and we're hoping to raise $5000 for @AmericanCancer. Check out this story about Wes and support his page in the link below!
🔗https://t.co/yDHaZxlxJR https://t.co/INOkkYEnVz— Erie Otters 🦦 (@ErieOtters) October 19, 2020
https://twitter.com/weswolfe91/status/1302702056625631233
New look for les Tigres
Victoriaville Tigres players and coaches have gone bald by taking part in the Shaved Head Challenge in support of Leucan, the association for children with cancer. The initiative was spearheaded by team forward Nicolas Daigle, inspired by his younger brother Nathan, and raised an impressive $14,086.
Nicolas Daigle n'a pas besoin de chercher bien loin afin de trouver de la motivation pour les projets qu'il entreprend au quotidien. Son petit frère Nathan se veut pour lui une véritable source d'inspiration ! 💛
Voyez en quelques images l'événement du Défi têtes rasées. pic.twitter.com/itQS5Q0GSP
— Tigres de Victoriaville (@TigresVicto) October 18, 2020
Le Défi têtes rasées de Leucan réalisé mercredi après-midi a été un succès.
Au terme de l'événement, un montant de 14 086 $ a été remis à l'organisme ! 🙌
Détails: https://t.co/9KsFhgO8UA pic.twitter.com/EFPo0OM5Qt
— Tigres de Victoriaville (@TigresVicto) October 15, 2020
Greyhounds unveil improvements to Gardens
The Soo Greyhounds and the City of Sault Ste. Marie are proud to unveil the fruits of some off-season labours inside Memorial Gardens. Over one million dollars worth of enhancements were made to the facility to improve fan experience and users safety with the installation of a new video board topping the list.
'Greyhounds, City of SSM unveil Gardens improvements'https://t.co/f9hBB009nP pic.twitter.com/ccwiQtqZd6
— Soo Greyhounds (@OHLHoundPower) October 19, 2020
#NHL21 now available
The popular EA Sports NHL 21 is now available to gamers worldwide and continues to include CHL players and teams for the 11th straight season. Carve your path to superstardom in an expanded Be A Pro mode and go down as one of the league’s greatest. On the ice, change up your attack with all new moves, dekes, dangles and evasive maneuvers, inspired by the league’s most groundbreaking innovators.
Recognize Greatness in #NHL21 🏒🎮
Available now worldwide 🔥Play now 👉 https://t.co/XBuCh5BSeJ pic.twitter.com/QiL8WCNbwO
— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) October 16, 2020
#TeamRogers Community Draft
The CHL is proud to support the #TeamRogers Community Draft. Register your kids for a chance to get $150 toward league fees and access to pro athlete mentors like CHL alumnus Bo Horvat. Apply now: Rogers.com/GetDrafted.
The #TeamRogers Community Draft is teaming up with the @NHL to help more kids get back to the game they love. Register your kids for a chance to get $150 towards league fees, be drafted by @cmcdavid97 & Alexis Lafrenière and more!
— Rogers (@Rogers) October 15, 2020
World Juniors begins Christmas Day
For the first time since 2005, the IIHF World Junior Championship, a holiday hockey tradition, will get underway on Christmas Day. Three games highlight the opening-day schedule before Canada’s National Junior Team begins defence of its gold medal against Germany on Boxing Day. Hockey Canada and the host committee, on behalf of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), unveiled the full tournament schedule Monday. All 28 games will be played at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alta., from Dec. 25, 2020 to Jan. 5, 2021.
The schedule is out! Team Canada will defend its #WorldJuniors gold medal beginning Boxing Day against Germany. @HC_WJC
PRESS RELEASE: https://t.co/FUHoJvAjqd
SCHEDULE: https://t.co/iiV8vJd4ng pic.twitter.com/9Mu9nA9t62— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) October 19, 2020