CHL Weekend Review: Back on ice to end the year
The second half of the Canadian Hockey League season is officially underway!
Here’s a look at some of the action on and off the ice since the end of the holiday break and before the change of the calendar year.
Welcome Back
The puck dropped on Friday night with a full slate of WHL games. Fans flocked through the turnstiles across the league including Everett where the first place Silvertips welcomed the night’s largest crowd at 7,563.
Last night:
7,563
Thank you #SilvertipCountry pic.twitter.com/Bvi06MNkY4
— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) December 28, 2019
Teddy Bear Toss Continues
The league’s most popular holiday tradition continued after Christmas in Drummondville where Xavier Simoneau’s goal launched 4,400 furry critters from the Voltigeurs faithful that will benefit families and children in need.
Ce sont 4400 toutous qui ont été récoltés cet après-midi grâce à nos 3054 partisans. Ils seront remis à la Fondation Sainte-Croix/Heriot. Merci! pic.twitter.com/pipcLdV4b2
— Voltigeurs de Drummondville (@VoltigeursDRU) December 29, 2019
Always an Oceanic
The Rimouski Oceanic held a touching tribute in honour of Vincent Boily prior to Sunday’s game. After signing with the QMJHL club, Boily was involved in a tragic snowmobiling accident in December, 2017, that left him with partial paralysis. While Boily’s never officially played a game in Rimouski, he will always be an Oceanic.
Avant le match, nous avons rendu hommage à l’un des nôtres : Vincent Boily!
Tu es et seras toujours un Océanic de Rimouski 💙 #Oceanic25 #VincentBoily pic.twitter.com/rF42EeBQoo
— L'Océanic de Rimouski (@oceanicrimouski) December 30, 2019
Hurley Cup Champions
The 2019 Hurley Cup was awarded Sunday night in Sydney to the Cape Breton Eagles following their second straight victory over the Halifax Mooseheads. The Nova Scotia holiday prize was introduced in 2016 for the winner of a two-game provincial home-and-home series based on aggregate score. Both clubs wore Nova Scotia inspired sweaters and raised money for local causes.
2019 HURLEY CUP CHAMPIONS!
Thanks to all our fans for filling the NEST and bringing the excitement!
With your support we also raised nearly $3000 for @feednovascotia!#GoEaglesGo🦅 #HurleyCup🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/jG9aTKpFdF
— Cape Breton Eagles (@CBEHockey) December 30, 2019
We’re going powder blue for the Hurley Cup #GoMooseGo pic.twitter.com/2q1UZpkkkg
— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) December 28, 2019
Star Wars Sightings
The force was strong in Charlottetown and Erie as the Islanders and Otters returned from the holidays to partake in Star Wars themed games and picked up two points each in the process.
https://twitter.com/IslandersHKY/status/1211362538224533505
RECAP: Force is strong with Erie as the Otters come from behind to top IceDogs 5-4 on Star Wars Night. Download the @livesource app to bid on our game worn Star Wars themed jerseys. Auction proceeds benefit @UnitedWayErie's Imagination Library.
— Erie Otters 🦦 (@ErieOtters) December 29, 2019
Sunday Funday
Holidays are best spent with family and friends and the Flint Firebirds extended their circle to celebrate with their fans following Sunday afternoon’s game.
Our extended family 🥰 Thanks to everyone that came out for our Family 'FUN'day and post-game skate!
📸 Full Gallery: https://t.co/cV74HWELn3 pic.twitter.com/OgRNk5hHC9
— Flint Firebirds (@FlintFirebirds) December 29, 2019
Stanley comes to Saginaw
A short drive up Michigan’s interstate 75 the Stanley Cup was touring Saginaw. Accompanied by recently retired St. Louis Blues forward Chris Thorburn, Lord Stanley visited local attractions, minor hockey teams, and stayed for the Spirit’s Saturday night victory. Thorburn was a member of the Spirit’s inaugural 2002-03 campaign.
Welcome to Saginaw Chris Thorburn! pic.twitter.com/BvpBK3wieY
— Saginaw Spirit (@SpiritHockey) December 28, 2019
Frontenacs Bolster Future
The Kingston Frontenacs made a couple of announcements on Saturday including the appointment of 15-year-old Shane Wright as an alternate captain, and the commitment of second overall CHL Import Draft pick Martin Chromiak. Wright leads all OHL rookies in scoring, while Chromiak is a top prospect for the 2020 NHL Draft.
NEWS // Frontenacs add @shane_wright51 and @NICK_KING9 to leadership group
READ: https://t.co/CaR8T1jyom#WeRiseTogether
PS…We may have some more news coming later today…😏 pic.twitter.com/G0ZLJSvSdw
— Kingston Frontenacs (@KingstonFronts) December 28, 2019
Remember when we said we may have some more news….
NEWS // Frontenacs receive commitment from 1st round @CHLHockey Import Selection @MatoChromiak8! Welcome to Kingston, Martin!#WeRiseTogether
READ: https://t.co/0t55fYac8A pic.twitter.com/46Nkay6WIM
— Kingston Frontenacs (@KingstonFronts) December 28, 2019
Captain Gagnon
Anthony Gagnon has been appointed the 24th captain in Quebec Remparts history. The club made the leadership announcement soon after the transaction involving fellow overage forward Felix Bibeau to the Chicoutimi Sagueneens.
🚨ANTHONY GAGNON EST NOMMÉ CAPITAINE DES REMPARTS🚨
PLUS DE DÉTAILS➡️ https://t.co/fBEyS1ILpi#NotreÉquipe🔴⚫️ pic.twitter.com/Ac9BgAYtWM
— 🏆 – Remparts de Québec (@quebec_remparts) December 27, 2019
New Coach in Moncton
Daniel Lacroix becomes the CHL’s first new head coach appointed midway through the 2019-20 season. A former Wildcats assistant from 2002-06 including the club’s championship season, Lacroix returns following professional roles with the New York Islanders, Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Montreal Canadiens.
The Wildcats are pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel Lacroix as the team's new Head Coach.
Welcome back to Moncton Dan!
Press release here: https://t.co/AA3uZxlPvp pic.twitter.com/59dXMhb08s
— Moncton Wildcats (@monctonwildcats) December 23, 2019
Merry Christmas Dudas and Okhotyuk
Christmas couldn’t get much better for Aidan Dudas of the Owen Sound Attack and Nikita Okhotyuk of the Ottawa 67’s who both signed NHL entry-level contracts over the holidays.
Dudas, currently with Canada’s National Junior Team, was a fourth round pick by the Los Angeles Kings in 2018, while Okhotyuk was a second round pick of the New Jersey Devils in 2019. He becomes the league’s 26th player from June’s draft to put pen to paper.
✒️ Pen to paper!
The LA Kings have signed forward @AidanDudas to a three-year entry-level contract.https://t.co/56nNWM6GI0
— LA Kings (@LAKings) December 28, 2019
https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/1211746312884039680
Rogers Hometown Hockey
Whitby, Ontario, was the final 2019 stop on the Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour and featured an inspirational story about Owen Brady. The Oshawa Generals prospect was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in his OHL Draft year and is on the road to recovery.
https://twitter.com/hometownhockey_/status/1211466591969402880
Remembering Four Broncos
December 30 marks 33 years since the fatal 1986 bus crash that claimed the lives of Swift Current Broncos Trent Kresse, Scott Kruger, Chris Mantyka and Brent Ruff.
The Broncos still remember the tragedy and how it has molded the team and community into what it is to this day. In 2016 a memorial was unveiled at the crash site and is visited by thousands every year, including most WHL teams when they pass through Swift Current.
“What we keep in memory is ours…unchanged forever.”
Remembering Scott, Trent, Chris and Brent. pic.twitter.com/AS89KsNZmL
— Swift Current Broncos (@SCBroncos) December 30, 2019
