• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Other Leagues
CHL

Junior Hockey News & Rumors: Rychel Fired, Kaluski Captains Broncos & More

By Andrew Forbes January 22nd, 2020

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Another edition of our junior hockey hook-up, today we discuss a new commit to the North Bay Battalion, the Barrie Colts parting ways with their head coach and the new leadership group in Swift Current.

Christian Stevens Commits to Battalion

’Tis the season for players committing to their new junior clubs. In the same week that Jan Mysak committed to the Hamilton Bulldogs, which we discussed previously, the North Bay Battalion received word of their own player commitment.

Related: Junior Hockey News & Rumors – Jan Mysak & Raising Kane, Little to the Rafters

On Friday, 17-year-old Christian Stevens committed to the Battalion after the team acquired his rights from the Niagara IceDogs just a week prior. Stevens, who was originally drafted in the sixth round – 110th overall – by the Windsor Spitfires in 2018, was playing with the Whitby Fury of the OJHL where he had 26 points in 32 games so far in 2019-20. On top of that, he had a whopping 87 penalty minutes prior to the move to the Battalion.

Stevens was in his second season with the Fury, having tallied a total of 43 points in 80 regular season games. Following his commitment, Stevens has appeared in two games with the Battalion, with two penalty minutes to show for it.

Scott Wray of the North Bay Battalion. Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images
The North Bay Battalion are struggling this year to get anything going. (Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images)

While he joins a team that is at the bottom of the OHL’s Eastern Conference – with a record of 10-30-2-0 in 42 games – the move should give him a good opportunity to get some playing time at the OHL level heading into next season.

Rychel, Colts Part Ways

The Barrie Colts are in the news again, this time for parting ways with head coach Warren Rychel. Rychel, a former NHLer, took over for Dale Hawerchuk prior to the season after the latter was diagnosed with stomach cancer in August and was forced to take a leave of absence.

#BREAKING

The Barrie Colts have fired Head Coach Warren Rychel.

Will promote someone from within while they wait for the hopeful return of Dale Hawerchuk in due time.#OHL

— OHLInsiders (@OHLinsiders) January 20, 2020

The Colts, who sit eighth in the OHL’s Eastern Conference, have a 16-21-2-2 record and are on the brink of missing out on the postseason. That said, the Colts became sellers at the OHL trade deadline and moved some of its key players prior to firing Rychel.

As for what the Colts will do behind the bench, assistant coach Todd Miller will be taking over the reigns on an interim basis.

“He’s been with Dale for 10 years and we’re going to give him a chance to finish up,” said Colts’ owner and president Howie Campbell. “We’re fighting like hell for a playoff spot and that’s our goal. If we figure we can get into the playoffs, we can do some damage.”

The Colts sit six points up on the Kingston Frontenacs for the final playoff spot in the conference with just over 20 games left in the season. Campbell is right, if the Colts are going to make the playoffs, they’re going to have to fight for their lives game in and game out.

Broncos Name Kaluski Captain

Jumping over to the WHL, the Swift Current Broncos have named Jaxan Kaluski as their 33rd captain in franchise history. The 20-year-old takes over for Ethan Regnier, who was moved to the Everett Silvertips.

The @SCBroncos have announced their new leadership group, w/ @jaxan_kaluski_8 named the 33rd captain in franchise history!

DETAILS 📰 | https://t.co/GMxVkJwlhz pic.twitter.com/a1vZWQUmB5

— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 20, 2020

As for Kaluski, he’s in his first season with the Broncos after stints with the Seattle Thunderbirds and the AJHL’s Lloydminster Bobcats earlier in the season. He has 13 goals and 20 points in 27 games for the Broncos since coming over from Seattle earlier this year.

As for his alternate captains, Hayden Ostir, Eric Houk, Aiden Bulych and Hendrik De Klerk will take on those duties as they will each wear an ‘A’ for the remainder of the season.

Some of the notable players who’ve worn the ‘C’ for the Broncos over their existence include current NHLers Adam Lowry, Cody Eakin and Zach Smith and former NHLer Sheldon Kennedy.

Skubel’s 100th Point

Finally, we jump to the QMJHL for a milestone night. Drummondville Voltigeurs’ forward Brandon Skubel tallied his 100th career point for the Voltigeurs with two assists in a game against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada on Jan. 19.

The two assists gave the Voltigeurs alternate captain 20 points on the season in 30 games for his club and he finished the game with exactly 100 points for his QMJHL career – all of which has been spent with the Voltigeurs.

Skubel is currently eighth on the team in scoring this season and sits 89th in franchise history in points. Assuming these aren’t the last points for the 20-year-old this season, he will surely see himself climb this list before the end of his QMJHL career.

  • Tags
  • Brandon Skubel
  • Christian Stevens
  • Jaxan Kaluski
  • Warren Rychel
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 18th 3:35 PM
Florida Panthers

Newest Panthers Make Their Mark in the Season Opener

Jan 18th 3:25 PM
Montreal Canadiens

Prospects News & Rumors: Robertson, Caufield, Clarke & Harrison

Jan 18th 3:10 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Oilers News & Rumors: Yamamoto, Kahun, Bear, Goalie News, More

Jan 18th 3:00 PM
Column

Flyers Who’s Hot & Who’s Not: Konecny, Hart, Voracek & More

Jan 18th 2:50 PM
Ottawa Senators

From the Senators’ Chambers: White Will Get His Chances

Jan 18th 2:40 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs Weekly: Goalie Controversy, Injuries, Waivers and More

Jan 18th 2:30 PM
Column

Oilers Weekly: Inconsistent Play, Goalie Carousel & COVID-19

Jan 18th 1:35 PM
Column

NHL Players of the Week: McDavid, Stamkos & More

Jan 18th 1:20 PM
Archives

Mark Messier – NHL Legend and 6 Time Stanley Cup Winner

Jan 18th 12:50 PM
College Hockey

College Hockey Report: Recapping the Weekend Action (Jan. 16-17)

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information