CHL Weekend Review: New sweaters and leaders on and off the ice
We’re only midway through June but it’s hard not to get excited about next season as COVID-19 conditions continue to improve from coast-to-coast and we see so many new sweaters on future Canadian Hockey League talents.
Here’s a look at at everything that’s been going on:
CHL supports Tackle Hunger
Our partners at Purolator helped surprise top NHL Draft prospect Alexis Lafreniere by delivering the CHL’s David Branch Player of the Year trophy to his home in Saint-Eustache. On behalf of the Rimouski Oceanic captain, the CHL made a $5,000 donation to Purolator’s Tackle Hunger program which helps Food Banks Canada serve communities in need.
The #CHL on behalf of our Player of the Year Alexis Lafreniere are proud to support our partners @PurolatorInc with a $5,000 donation to their #TackleHunger program for @foodbankscanada to continue serving communities in need.
Help us make a difference at https://t.co/Xvipusq8dn pic.twitter.com/7pZoBEyufh
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) June 11, 2020
Hockey Canada recognizes U18 invites
43 CHL players and committed prospects were among the 46 under-18 talents recognized by Hockey Canada last week. The players would have competed in a Selection Camp to represent Canada at the summer’s 2020 Hlinka Gretzky Cup which was unfortunately cancelled due to the pandemic.
NEWS | 46 players received invites to the since-cancelled U18 selection camp, where they would have looked to earn a spot to represent @HC_Men at the #HlinkaGretzkyCup later this summer.
ROSTER: https://t.co/geUn7tNLPu pic.twitter.com/FMbUtDt5P3
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) June 11, 2020
Poulin to join Penguins
The season may not be over yet for Sherbrooke Phoenix captain Samuel Poulin. The first round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2019 NHL Draft has been named to the club’s extended playoff roster and will practice with the team when full training camp reopens.
Notre collègue @LouisJeanTVAS l'a rencontré: https://t.co/TQJSwEKSvp #Penguins #LNH #LHJMQ
— TVA Sports (@TVASports) June 12, 2020
Foreurs name Pelletier captain
The Val-d’Or Foreurs are already looking ahead to next season with excitement by announcing a leadership group for 2020-21 which includes the newly acquired Jakob Pelletier as captain. The first round pick of the Calgary Flames in the 2019 NHL Draft spent the first three seasons of his QMJHL career as a member of the Moncton Wildcats and served as team captain last season.
Les Foreurs dévoilent les joueurs qui porteront une lettre sur leur chandail lors de la prochaine saison!
Félicitations à Jakob, Maxence, Jacob et Justin!
Les détails: https://t.co/zpKJRYbeLQ pic.twitter.com/jfrLYhtXch
— Foreurs VD officiel (@ForeursVD) June 11, 2020
Raiders to celebrate 50
The Prince Albert Raiders are also excited for 2020-21 when they’ll celebrate the franchise’s 50th season and recently unveiled a logo for the upcoming campaign. The club began operations in 1971 as a member of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League before joining the WHL as an expansion team in 1982. Since that time they’ve been WHL champions twice in 1985 and 2019 winning the Memorial Cup in their first trip to the national stage.
Celebrating the 50th Season of Raider Hockey!
The Raiders have unveiled their logo for the upcoming 50th season of play.
📲Get the info on the Raiders App, or online here: https://t.co/CXukFt3kqy#GoRaidersGo pic.twitter.com/2k3gKNbCmb
— Prince Albert Raiders (@PARaidersHockey) June 10, 2020
Sending new sweaters
In the week that followed the 2020 QMJHL Entry Draft teams from around the league have been sending their new prospects their new sweaters. It’s a new practice for the league given their first ever virtual draft was held June 5-6 instead of the traditional live event that offers the opportunity for interaction between players and teams. As shown in the thread below, prospects from the Moncton Wildcats, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, Acadie-Bathurst Titan, Chicoutimi Sagueneens, Cape Breton Eagles, Rimouski Oceanic, and Halifax Mooseheads are among those with new sweaters to help celebrate the next step in their hockey careers.
Ready to deliver Draft Day jerseys to all the newest members of the Wildcats family — can't wait to see them on the ice!#DefendTheDen pic.twitter.com/rxuJ9MRFIp
— Moncton Wildcats (@monctonwildcats) June 11, 2020
Jonathan Fauchon et Charles-Édward Gravel ont reçu leurs chandails et casquettes de l’Armada!
Le noir et blanc vous va bien!😍#LHJMQ pic.twitter.com/sy5U8dfY1V
— ArmadaBLB (@ArmadaBLB) June 9, 2020
First round pick Lane Hinkley is the first draftee to receive his hat and jersey!
Notre choix de première ronde, Lane Hinkley, est le premier à recevoir son chapeau et son chandail!#GoTitanGo⚔️ pic.twitter.com/gGHRKSsDde
— Titan Acadie-Bathurst (@ABTitan) June 15, 2020
Un colis que nos joueurs repêchés attendent avec impatience!
Le bleu vous va comme un gant messieurs!#FierDetreSags pic.twitter.com/vvVe68zCNY— Saguenéens (@SagueneensLHJMQ) June 15, 2020
Another 🦅 has landed!! Lucas Canning got to pull on the ⚫️⚪️🟡 today! #welcometothenest pic.twitter.com/sk1P8TN2iu
— Cape Breton Eagles (@CBEHockey) June 11, 2020
Ils ont reçu et enfilé leur chandail et casquette du repêchage 2020 pour la première fois cette semaine ✅.
Dans cette première partie de photos, vous retrouvez la sélection :
Jacob Mathieu – @Chevaliersaaa.@LHJMQ pic.twitter.com/rC7KGrM3tU
— L'Océanic de Rimouski (@oceanicrimouski) June 13, 2020
Recently drafted defenceman Alex Carr is all smiles in his new Mooseheads jersey 💯 #GoMooseGo pic.twitter.com/Zv1yOlz8nu
— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) June 14, 2020
Nause commits to Remparts
One of the top defensive prospects for the 2021 NHL Draft will play in the QMJHL next season. Evan Nause, chosen fifth overall in the league’s entry draft last week, has officially committed to the Quebec Remparts. The 17-year-old from Riverview, NB, was a first round pick by the Foreurs a year ago but spent his 2018-19 season in the USHL.
📣 ANNONCE | Notre premier choix au dernier repêchage, Evan Nause, se joint officiellement à #NotreÉquipe 🔴⚫️
Plus de détails : https://t.co/aR36dguCNI pic.twitter.com/syaAU6xc2p
— 🏆 – Remparts de Québec (@quebec_remparts) June 11, 2020
Rockets tour with top pick
Andrew Cristall, the eighth overall pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft, recently visited what could be his future home with the Kelowna Rockets. The 15-year-old from Vancouver, BC, joined his family for a tour in lieu of a traditional orientation camp.
Rockets 2020 first-round pick Andrew Cristall (@AndrewCristall) and his family stopped by the arena today to check out our digs. pic.twitter.com/FWdnjzddOn
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) June 15, 2020
Online orientation
The Kingston Frontenacs are another example of a team using technology to navigate through these unprecedented times. Instead of hosting their prospects and their families in person, the club organized an orientation via Zoom with captain Jakob Brahaney, plus rookies Braden Hache and Shane Wright.
https://twitter.com/KingstonFronts/status/1271079547384012800
#HockeyAtHome
A search through social media to see CHL stars staying active at home finds a day in the life of Medicine Hat Tigers rookie Cole Sillinger, newly acquired North Bay Battalion forward Matvey Guskov working out, and Egor Sokolov of the Cape Breton Eagles doing some rollerblading drills.
Today we wanted to share what a day in the life of Cole Sillinger looks like in photos.
Photo 1: Cole starts his day off with a workout 🏋️♂️#medhat pic.twitter.com/dofx5RhJuB
— Medicine Hat Tigers (@tigershockey) June 10, 2020
The closer the season is, the more varied the workouts are💪🏻 pic.twitter.com/ig6K1j0pND
— Matvey Guskov (@MGuskov70) June 9, 2020
Pandemic improvisation. Join us tomorrow at 11:30AM as we take it back to the “streets” on Facebook Live with @sokol2926 as he straps on the roller blades. He’ll go through some drills you can do on YOUR blades in the driveway 👏 pic.twitter.com/8Kqb5iWfsC
— Cape Breton Eagles (@CBEHockey) June 11, 2020
Soul On Ice The Podcast
Episode 12 of the Soul On Ice Podcast recently dropped and features Givani Smith who split time between the Detroit Red Wings and Grand Rapids Griffins this season. It was his second full pro campaign after graduating from four OHL seasons spent with the Guelph Storm and Kitchener Rangers. The podcast is a relatively new project started in part by recent OHL grads Elijah Roberts and Akil Thomas.
Episode 12 out now !!!! https://t.co/ep4KwVIdJA pic.twitter.com/wnp8R6JefG
— Soul On Ice: The Podcast (@SOIThePodcast) June 10, 2020
National Blood Donor Week continued
CHL stars continued to inspire others to become blood donors as part of a week-long national campaign in support of Canadian Blood Services. Cole McLaren of the Halifax Mooseheads, Jacob Ingham of the Kitchener Rangers, and Carson Focht of the Calgary Hitmen were just a few who stepped up to help strengthen Canada’s Lifeline.
.@mclaren_cole , goaltender for the @HFXMooseheads celebrated #NationalBloodDonorWeek in style; becoming a first-time blood donor. Well done Cole! #PlayerAmbassador @QMJHL @CHLHockey @CanadasLifeline pic.twitter.com/T8IgSkamuh
— Hockey Gives Blood (@hkygivesblood) June 13, 2020
A car crash victim can use up to 50 units of blood to save their life. My grandparents accident helped open my eyes for the continual need for blood in Canada. Please join me in making the save of your life. @OHLRangers @CanadasLifeline @hkygivesblood #PlayerAmbassador #NBDW2020 pic.twitter.com/aYvl9ZkcLm
— Jacob Ingham (@JacobIngham_) June 13, 2020
Another first-time donor. @cfocht20 continues to give back away from the rink. His genuine nature & commitment to blood donation reflects why he wears an ‘A’ for the @WHLHitmen . #Leadership@TheWHL @CHLHockey @CanadasLifeline @Canucks #NationalBloodDonorWeek #PlayerAmbassador pic.twitter.com/uOPn8FqKsd
— Hockey Gives Blood (@hkygivesblood) June 9, 2020
New Player Ambassadors
Hockey Gives Blood, a non-profit society that partners with Canadian Blood Services to engage and educate the hockey community about the importance of blood and stem cell donation, is naming new Player Ambassadors throughout the week. While there were 14 Player Ambassadors from the CHL during the 2019-20 season, added to the group so far is Tristen Robins of the Saskatoon Blades and Cole Schwindt of the Mississauga Steelheads.
Excited to announce @tristenrobins1 as a #HGB Player Ambassador. Tristen, already a first-time donor donated blood to support of a family friend when their child was diagnosed w/ leukemia.❤️
Welcome to our team Tristen! @BladesHockey @TheWHL @CHLHockey @CanadasLifeline pic.twitter.com/RDL7aihUYo— Hockey Gives Blood (@hkygivesblood) June 15, 2020
I am proud to become a @hkygivesblood Player Ambassador. Each year @CanadasLifeline needs 112,000 new donors & in Canada every 60 seconds someone needs blood. Book today or learn more at https://t.co/IWRZX8nxjL. @OHLSteelheads @OHLHockey @CHLHockey pic.twitter.com/YvkjjvA1Rz
— Cole Schwindt (@C_Schwinny10) June 15, 2020
Heavy hearts
It is with sadness that the Victoriaville Tigres shared news of the passing of former Equipment Manager Andre Pare following a battle with colon cancer. He was 59 years old.
La grande famille des Tigres est en deuil à la suite du décès de son ancien préposé à l’équipement, M. André Paré, à l’âge de 59 ans.
Bon voyage Par… tu vas nous manquer. 💛🖤
Détails| https://t.co/4WlM01ImVU pic.twitter.com/0hHWoiZO99
— Tigres de Victoriaville (@TigresVicto) June 12, 2020
Trivieri earns CATA Merit Award
Chris Trivieri, the Head Athletic Therapist for the Niagara IceDogs, has been recognized by the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association with the prestigious Merit Award. The quick work by he and his fellow staff and colleagues helped save the life of goaltender Tucker Tynan who suffered a deep laceration to his quad in a home game on December 12.
Merit Award🎖
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This award recognizes members that have, through their actions, saved a life, prevented a serious accident or performed an outstanding emergency service.
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Click the link in the bio to learn more… https://t.co/BA6It9qsc5— CATA (@CATA_Canada) June 9, 2020
McKenzie remains Rangers coach
The Kitchener Rangers have announced that General Manager Mike McKenzie will drop his “Interim Head Coach” tag adding the role of Head Coach to his GM duties. In his 42 games behind-the-bench since November the Rangers went 33-6-0-3 and finished third in the OHL’s Western Conference standings.
We're pleased to announce that Mike McKenzie will add the role of Head Coach to his General Manager duties.
📰 https://t.co/Fz49m05FWg#RTown | #Kitchener | #OHL pic.twitter.com/3nFZqY833K
— Kitchener Rangers (@OHLRangers) June 10, 2020
Julien named Phoenix GM
Following a season as the CHL’s top ranked team, the Sherbrooke Phoenix will have a new General Manager moving forward. Stephane Julien, who was named QMJHL Coach of the Year, will add the title to his duties taking over for Jocelyn Thibault who will remain with the club as a member of the ownership group.
Le Phœnix remercie @tibs41 pour tout le travail accompli comme DG. Le temps passé et les efforts investient ont permis à l'équipe d'atteindre de hauts standards. Maintenant, @juls1122 a toute notre confiance dans ce nouveau défi.
Les détails : https://t.co/PtWXvtpEY3 pic.twitter.com/JVq5wHF1SX
— Phœnix de Sherbrooke (@PhoenixSherbroo) June 10, 2020
U SPORTS Commitments
Four members of the CHL’s 2020 class of overage graduates will continue their hockey and education at various U SPORTS institutions while taking advantage of the league’s scholarship program. The most recent commits include Christian Propp of the Kingston Fronteancs who joins the Laurier Golden Hawks, Will Warm of the Victoria Royals is headed to McGill, Windsor Spitfires captain Luke Boka will play for the Queen’s Gaels, and Shaun Miller of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies is the newest Dalhousie Tiger.
M🏒has added 11 recruits to 2020-21 roster‼️ Join us in welcoming them to the 💜&💛#SoarAbove
STORY👉https://t.co/h5ZajRraNs pic.twitter.com/j5Pvf7SDQR
— Laurier Golden Hawks (@WLUAthletics) June 15, 2020
Welcome Will Warm🔴⚪️
D-Man from West Vancouver BC, represented the @edmoilkings and @victoriaroyals for a career total of 207 games played in the @TheWHL https://t.co/yqUu9PUWc3
— McGill Men's Hockey (@McGillHockey) June 15, 2020
M 🏒 @lboka12 is #GAELSCOMMITTED⠀
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A right winger for the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL, Boka won a Memorial Cup with the Spits in 2017 and has captained his team for the past 2 seasons.
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“I chose Queen’s to get the best of both worlds on and off the ice.”
—⠀#LeadTheWay pic.twitter.com/SFeWKhsPNs— Queen's Gaels (@queensgaels) June 10, 2020
❗New Tiger Alert ❗
Tigers men’s hockey head coach Chris Donnelly is pleased to announce the commitment of Shaun Miller for the 2020-21 season.
Click the link to read more on Shaun! https://t.co/2xDkQOuJXu#DalBound
— Dal Tigers (@DalTigers) June 11, 2020
Wolf crowned #CHLShowdown Champion
Dustin Wolf of the Everett Silvertips has emerged as champion of the #CHLShowdown Playoffs earning Play of the Year honours as chosen by the fans. The Calgary Flames prospect was first victorious in one of 24 weekly head-to-head-to-head contests featuring top plays from across the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL. He would go on to win his Quarter-Final matchup, Semi-Final, and last week’s final vote against Dalton Duhart of the Saginaw Spirit and Brett Budgell of the Charlottetown Islanders receiving over 20,000 votes.
#CHLShowdown Playoffs Champion 🏆
It’s Wolf’s crazy cross-crease save!
Nearly 50,000 votes were cast for our finalists with 41% going to @dwolf2332 of @TheWHL’s @WHLsilvertips who earns Play of the Year honours as chosen by the fans.
🎥 https://t.co/fI3X1c1mse pic.twitter.com/UBhnbQmRxb
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) June 15, 2020