Chiefs Stars Get Nhl Deals
Hugh Hamilton, who captained the Spokane Chiefs last season, has signed with the National Hockey League club that was the Hartford Whalers.
The Whalers - who are relocating to Raleigh-Durham, N.C., where they’ll play as the Hurricanes - will give the 20-year-old defenseman a shot at making the club in September, Hamilton’s agent, Mel Bridgman, said Thursday.
The more likely scenario is that Hamilton will play in the American Hockey League, or possibly return to Spokane.
Either option is attractive, Bridgman said.
“It would be a home run if Hugh made the big club,” the agent said. “If he goes to the A (AHL) and gets ice time there, that would be good for his development. If he doesn’t get (playing) time, he’s more than willing to return to Spokane and be part of the Chiefs’ Memorial Cup season.”
The Chiefs are in next May’s Memorial Cup tournament as the host team.
Neither Hamilton nor his agent revealed contract terms but Hamilton said “It’s good. It’s what I wanted. I’m excited about it.”
“He has a legitimate shot at the NHL sometime in the near future,” Bridgman said.
Hamilton, who is spending the off-season working out in a Spokane gym, says he’s up to “almost 185.” Size and strength have always been issues in his hockey future.
Another Chiefs veteran, left wing Joe Cardarelli, signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Cardarelli, who turns 20 next month, agreed to a two-way contract that assures that he’ll play in the East Coast Hockey League if he doesn’t make it with the Lightning’s affiliate in the AHL, Chiefs coach Mike Babcock said.
“He won’t be back,” the coach said.
Cardarelli will work on skating and conditioning this summer in structured programs in Kelowna and Calgary, said Bridgman, who is also Cardarelli’s agent.
“He has terrific stick skills,” Bridgman said. “When he shows up at camp I think they’ll be surprised at the quality of player they have here. The door has opened. Now it’s up to Joe to develop and stress the work ethic.”
The Chiefs’ prized 20-year-old, Trent Whitfield, also appears headed for pro hockey. Although Whitfield has yet to sign with the Boston Bruins, both Babcock and Hamilton say they expect Whitfield will come to terms over the summer, or at training camp.
“I’m not schooled in this stuff but Whitter’s not coming back,” Hamilton said. “He’s ready. He could make Boston’s team (this fall).”
Shockey is Regina bound
Former Chiefs assistant Parry Shockey has agreed to coach the Regina Pats, a source close to Shockey says.
Shockey was offered head coaching jobs at Kamloops and Regina after guiding the Lethbridge Hurricanes to this season’s Western Hockey League championship. He was playing golf Thursday, family members said, and was not available for comment.
Notes
There’s a new face in the Chiefs family. Babcock’s wife, Rene, gave birth to a 6-pound, 3-ounce girl - Taylor Jennifer - on June 2. … Kelowna Rockets fans hope the latest group that wants to develop a new arena in the lake city can get the project moving before the team does. R.G. Properties of Vancouver, B.C., has been able to guarantee its loan, a source close to the Rockets said. The bad news is that no dirt is moving. The earliest a building could be in place is a year from December.
, DataTimes