Post by hollywood on Aug 20, 2022 10:07:27 GMT -6
August 20: (Almost) No News Is ... Good News?
The pace of off-season announcements usually picks up as August rolls on. We are just two weeks away from exhibition games. This year, the Bisons have had just two official announcements, a recruiting announcement (on May 3rd) and a belated schedule release without non-conference games on (on July 29th). There hasn't been a lot of news elsewhere, either. MacEwan and Trinity Western had a lot of recruiting news (posted here on June 20th), and then nothing conference-wide. In the links, MacEwan's announcement of a new coach and Sask's hockey camp are the only stories from around the CW.
The unofficial sources (Elite Prospects, USports Letters of Intent Registry, and 49 Sports) have had some announcements. However, it seems there is more news across the country about departures to pro leagues. It would seem teams are waiting to make mass recruiting announcements, just before they update roster pages.
So, here's a summary of the Bison roster, with links to each player's Elite Prospects page. The large question is always just how many of those eligible to return will actually do so.
Goaltenders:
Eligible to return:
1 Jeremy Link (South Blues MJHL)
30 Zach Bennett (West Kelowna BCHL)
35 Brett Murphy (Dryden SIJHL)
Recruits:
Ross Hawryluk (Western Michigan NCAA)
Simon Harkness (Steinbach MJHL)
The Bisons always keep three goaltenders, so I have my doubts that all eligible returnees will be back. Link was the #3 goaltender in 2020, 2021 was cancelled, and he was the #2 goaltender in 2022 until Liam Hughes turned pro during the season. (He's in the EIHL now.) Link has managed to have stats comparable to those ahead on the depth chart. Last year his numbers were 3-8-1, 3.60 GAA, .893 S%, while Hughes was 3-4-0, 3.73 GAA, .891 S%. Murphy played just once, a 3-2 win over Sask where he played quite well. Bennett came in after Hughes' departure and did not see game action. Whatever happens, it looks like there will be a battle for the #1 spot. Oddly, the Bisons' best success with goaltenders has been from the Junior A ranks. For example, Steve Christie and Byron Spriggs.
Defence:
Eligible to return:
2 Samuel Stewart (Tri-City/Edmonton WHL)
5 Liam Schioler (Regina WHL)
6 Mitchell Dyck (Winkler MJHL)
16 Chase Hartje (Moose Jaw/ICE WHL)
25 Garrett Sambrook (Swift Current WHL)
Graduated:
4 Tyler Anderson (St. Cloud State NCAA)
27 Carter Doerksen (Nipawin Hawks SJHL)
Recruits:
Ryan Gottfried (Seattle WHL)
Zac Patrick (Steinbach MJHL)
Parker Malchuk (Dauphin MJHL)
Evan Toth (Vancouver WHL)
Last year rookie Reece Harsch left late in the season to join the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL. He also played some in the ECHL and is now signed to play in the EIHL. The departing Anderson and Doerksen were usually 3rd pair or scratches. Of the returnees, Dyck is the only "veteran", in his 3rd year last year. I thought he may be graduated now. The rest of the possible returnees were either 1st or 2nd year players last year. On paper, this should be the strength of the team.
Forwards:
Eligible to return:
9 Dylan Thiessen (Mercyhurst NCAA)
10 Devon Skoleski (Prince Albert WHL/South Blues MJHL)
14 Geordie Keane (South Blues MJHL)
15 Ben Dalke (Virden MJHL)
17 Colton Veloso (Kootenay WHL/Jacksonville ECHL)
19 Nathan Halvorsen (Selkirk MJHL)
20 Tony Apetagon (OCN/Blues MJHL)
21 Noah Basarab (Johnstown NAHL)
22 Hayden Ostir (Swift Current WHL)
23 Brett Davis (Manitoba AHL)
24 Duncan Pierce (Regina/Brandon WHL)
26 Linden McCorrister (Brandon WHL)
28 Codey Behun (Steinbach MJHL)
29 Michael King (Spokane WHL)
Graduated:
11 Ryan Carlson (Wisconsin-Superior NCAA)
12 Keaton Jameson (Swan Valley MJHL)
Recruits:
Jonny Hooker (Prince George WHL)
Jackson Arpin (Winkler MJHL)
Carlson and Jameson were both off to the ECHL after the season. Keane and Veloso may also be graduated. Last year the Bisons had two point-per-game+ players - Skoleski and Davis. Jameson and Veloso were close. The lack of snipers hurt the team in many games. The recruits are mostly known for their size, although Hooker scored 17 goals in the WHL. They also have a handful of 1st/2nd year returnees with WHL backgrounds who never really broke out a year ago. There were a lot of games lost up front due to Covid. Overall scoring seemed to be up in the CW last year. The Bisons scored 2.9 goals per game yet were 7th in the conference.
Links:
➤ MacEwan: Dailey named interim head coach as Ringrose takes parental leave
➤ Saskatchewan: Huskie Hockey Camps Ready to Hit the Ice on August 15
The pace of off-season announcements usually picks up as August rolls on. We are just two weeks away from exhibition games. This year, the Bisons have had just two official announcements, a recruiting announcement (on May 3rd) and a belated schedule release without non-conference games on (on July 29th). There hasn't been a lot of news elsewhere, either. MacEwan and Trinity Western had a lot of recruiting news (posted here on June 20th), and then nothing conference-wide. In the links, MacEwan's announcement of a new coach and Sask's hockey camp are the only stories from around the CW.
The unofficial sources (Elite Prospects, USports Letters of Intent Registry, and 49 Sports) have had some announcements. However, it seems there is more news across the country about departures to pro leagues. It would seem teams are waiting to make mass recruiting announcements, just before they update roster pages.
So, here's a summary of the Bison roster, with links to each player's Elite Prospects page. The large question is always just how many of those eligible to return will actually do so.
Goaltenders:
Eligible to return:
1 Jeremy Link (South Blues MJHL)
30 Zach Bennett (West Kelowna BCHL)
35 Brett Murphy (Dryden SIJHL)
Recruits:
Ross Hawryluk (Western Michigan NCAA)
Simon Harkness (Steinbach MJHL)
The Bisons always keep three goaltenders, so I have my doubts that all eligible returnees will be back. Link was the #3 goaltender in 2020, 2021 was cancelled, and he was the #2 goaltender in 2022 until Liam Hughes turned pro during the season. (He's in the EIHL now.) Link has managed to have stats comparable to those ahead on the depth chart. Last year his numbers were 3-8-1, 3.60 GAA, .893 S%, while Hughes was 3-4-0, 3.73 GAA, .891 S%. Murphy played just once, a 3-2 win over Sask where he played quite well. Bennett came in after Hughes' departure and did not see game action. Whatever happens, it looks like there will be a battle for the #1 spot. Oddly, the Bisons' best success with goaltenders has been from the Junior A ranks. For example, Steve Christie and Byron Spriggs.
Defence:
Eligible to return:
2 Samuel Stewart (Tri-City/Edmonton WHL)
5 Liam Schioler (Regina WHL)
6 Mitchell Dyck (Winkler MJHL)
16 Chase Hartje (Moose Jaw/ICE WHL)
25 Garrett Sambrook (Swift Current WHL)
Graduated:
4 Tyler Anderson (St. Cloud State NCAA)
27 Carter Doerksen (Nipawin Hawks SJHL)
Recruits:
Ryan Gottfried (Seattle WHL)
Zac Patrick (Steinbach MJHL)
Parker Malchuk (Dauphin MJHL)
Evan Toth (Vancouver WHL)
Last year rookie Reece Harsch left late in the season to join the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL. He also played some in the ECHL and is now signed to play in the EIHL. The departing Anderson and Doerksen were usually 3rd pair or scratches. Of the returnees, Dyck is the only "veteran", in his 3rd year last year. I thought he may be graduated now. The rest of the possible returnees were either 1st or 2nd year players last year. On paper, this should be the strength of the team.
Forwards:
Eligible to return:
9 Dylan Thiessen (Mercyhurst NCAA)
10 Devon Skoleski (Prince Albert WHL/South Blues MJHL)
14 Geordie Keane (South Blues MJHL)
15 Ben Dalke (Virden MJHL)
17 Colton Veloso (Kootenay WHL/Jacksonville ECHL)
19 Nathan Halvorsen (Selkirk MJHL)
20 Tony Apetagon (OCN/Blues MJHL)
21 Noah Basarab (Johnstown NAHL)
22 Hayden Ostir (Swift Current WHL)
23 Brett Davis (Manitoba AHL)
24 Duncan Pierce (Regina/Brandon WHL)
26 Linden McCorrister (Brandon WHL)
28 Codey Behun (Steinbach MJHL)
29 Michael King (Spokane WHL)
Graduated:
11 Ryan Carlson (Wisconsin-Superior NCAA)
12 Keaton Jameson (Swan Valley MJHL)
Recruits:
Jonny Hooker (Prince George WHL)
Jackson Arpin (Winkler MJHL)
Carlson and Jameson were both off to the ECHL after the season. Keane and Veloso may also be graduated. Last year the Bisons had two point-per-game+ players - Skoleski and Davis. Jameson and Veloso were close. The lack of snipers hurt the team in many games. The recruits are mostly known for their size, although Hooker scored 17 goals in the WHL. They also have a handful of 1st/2nd year returnees with WHL backgrounds who never really broke out a year ago. There were a lot of games lost up front due to Covid. Overall scoring seemed to be up in the CW last year. The Bisons scored 2.9 goals per game yet were 7th in the conference.
Links:
➤ MacEwan: Dailey named interim head coach as Ringrose takes parental leave
➤ Saskatchewan: Huskie Hockey Camps Ready to Hit the Ice on August 15