It appears as if Todd Fiddler’s time in the Western Hockey League has come to an abrupt end.
Fiddler, who led the Spokane Chiefs with 42 goals last season, was cut loose by the Moose Jaw Warriors on Monday.
“There was a meeting when the team got back from Cranbrook to discuss his status with the hockey club and ultimately he’s no longer here,” Warriors general manager Alan Millar told Matthew Gourlie of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald.
The Chiefs traded the 20-year-old left winger to Moose Jaw last May for a third-round draft pick in 2014. Fiddler had two goals and 10 points in 14 games for the Warriors, but both goals and half of his points came in one game.
Fiddler played for Medicine Hat and Prince Albert before coming to Spokane and putting together his best season. His inconsistent play during a second-round playoff series against Portland led to his benching for the final game.
Making matters worse, the Warriors have contacted the WHL about possible tampering by a Junior A team involving Fiddler.
“He just didn’t seem to engage in the opportunity here in Moose Jaw,” Millar said. “It seemed like his foot was halfway out the door for some time.”
Meanwhile, Moose Jaw traded a fourth-round pick in 2015 and a third-round pick in 2016 to the Vancouver Giants on Monday for 17-year-old defenseman Reid Zalitach.
Not for sale
Kris Versteeg of the NHL’s Florida Panthers contacted the Lethbridge Herald to let fans and shareholders know that he’s interested in being the face of a group of investors hoping to buy the hometown Hurricanes.
In a letter to the newspaper, Versteeg, 27, said he wants to recapture the magic of 1996-97, when the Hurricanes played for the Memorial Cup.
The Hurricanes’ board of directors said the team isn’t for sale.
“We believe that the board is committed to running the hockey team and keeping the hockey team in Lethbridge and we believe that’s the most viable option,” board president Brian McNaughton told Dylan Purcell of the Lethbridge Herald.
The struggling Hurricanes (2-11-1-2) traded forwards Sam McKechnie and Jaimen Yakubowski to the Seattle Thunderbirds for 17-year-old forward Carter Folk, 19-year-old Ryley Sheen and a third-round pick in 2015. McKechnie and Yakubowski were sent home last week after requesting trades.
Around the league
Spokane Chiefs draft picks Jeffrey Faith and Taylor Ross will play for Team Saskatchewan at the Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup, which begins Thursday in Calgary, Alberta. … Every team in the Spokane Chiefs’ U.S. Division is playing .500 or better after the Tri-City Americans (8-8-0-1) completed a 4-1 homestand with a 4-1 victory over Brandon last Saturday. … Aspen Sterzer set a Kamloops record by scoring 6 seconds into Sunday’s game against visiting Vancouver. The Blazers didn’t score again and Vancouver won 4-1. … Red Deer general manager/head coach Brent Sutter brought the team together Sunday for a tough practice, minus sticks, after the Rebels’ fourth consecutive setback. Red Deer has dropped eight of 11. … Everett Silvertips forward Josh Winquist was named WHL Player of the Week for the week ending Sunday. Winquist had one goal and six assists as Everett won twice last week.
