Hrdina Considers Returning To Chiefs

The Spokane Chiefs may have forward Jan Hrdina for another year, Hrdina’s agent said Monday.

Hrdina, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ fifth-round draft choice a year ago, is waiting to resume negotiations with the NHL club through his agent, Rich Winters.

Hrdina is ineligible to go back through this month’s draft, Winters said, leaving him with two options - sign or return to Spokane.

By returning to junior hockey, Hrdina could go into the ‘97 NHL draft.

Hrdina, from Krolove, Czech Republic was the Chiefs’ fourth-leading scorer in the Western Hockey League playoffs with 19 points in 18 postseason games. He has made no secret of his desire to turn pro.

But should he fail to come to terms with Pittsburgh, the Chiefs would regain a talented and versatile over-age player - and a bigger logjam of 20-year-olds than they already appear to have.

WHL clubs can keep only three 1976-born players. The Chiefs stand to lose one in this month’s over-age draft to the new Edmonton Ice.

Assuming one does go to the Ice, the Chiefs still could have as many as six over-ages on their roster when training camp opens Aug. 23, prompting the likelihood of a trade.

Elsewhere in the WHL, Doug Mosher landed on his feet after his recent departure as general manager of the Swift Current Broncos.

Mosher, executive of the year in the WHL East and Central divisions, was announced Monday as the new GM of the Medicine Hat Tigers. Mosher is expected to hire a head coach by week’s end.

, DataTimes