Also: Kraken ECHL Team Playing For Title; THN's Kennedy Praises Bylsma Hire
The Seattle Kraken's ECHL affiliate is attempting to do the same thing as the Edmonton Oilers will be in this year's Stanley Cup Final: keep a Florida team from winning a hockey championship.
Saturday, the Flordia Panthers will host Game 1 of the NHL Final.
At the same time a two hour drive west, the Florida Everblades will be hosting the Kansas City Mavericks in Game 5 of the Kelly Cup Final.
The ECHL championship series is currently tied 1-1, as the teams split the first two games in K.C. The next three games will be held on south Florida's gulf coast, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Three Kraken Center Prospects Earn Honors
Jagger Firkus scored 126 points for Moose Jaw in 65 regular season Western Hockey League games.Kraken prospect Jagger Firkus, who collected 61 goals in the regular season for the Moose Jaw Warriors and 15 more in the playoffs, has added another collectible.
Firkus captured the CHL David Branch Player of the Year Award, which recognizes the most outstanding player in Canadian Major Junior hockey.
“It was special, it really was,” said Firkus, drafted in 2022's 2nd round by Seattle. “It was the most fun year of hockey I’ve ever had. It was the best group of guys I’ve ever been a part of."
Firkus led Moose Jaw to the Western Hockey League title, and the Warriors' first ever appearance in the Memorial Cup. He was also named a CHL first team All-Star.
Two other Kraken prospects, also centers, won CHL honors.
David Goyette of the Sudbury Wolves, like Firkus a 2nd round choice in 2022, was named to the 2nd All-Star team. Goyette scored 40 goals and 77 assists; his 117 points led the Ontario Hockey League.
Carson Rehkopf of the Kitchener Rangers, a 2nd-rounder in 2023, was named a 3rd-team CHL All-Star. Rehkopf scored 52 goals, second-best in the OHL, adding 43 assists.
THN EIC RK Gives OK To DB
Translation: The Hockey News editor-in-chief Ryan Kennedy gives a thumbs-up to the hiring of Dan Bylsma as new Kraken coach.
"I really like the Dan Byslma hiring in Seattle," Kennedy writes, "because you're getting a Stanley Cup champion who already knows your organization.
"While the (AHL Coachella Valley) Firebirds have a lot of veterans, they also have key Kraken prospects such as Shane Wright and Ryker Evans making solid contributions again."
Kennedy also mentions "other kids such as Jacob Melanson, Ryan Winterton and Jani Nyman getting reps."