Chiefs Expect To Lose Goalie Lemanowicz Will Most Likely Land In Florida Organization
The Spokane Chiefs don’t expect all-star goaltender David Lemanowicz to return to junior hockey, the club’s general manager said Friday.
Recently signed by the NHL Florida Panthers, Lemanowicz is expected to land somewhere in that team’s organization, Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz said.
Lemanowicz’ Calgary agent, Art Breeze, said the 20-year-old goalie from Vancouver signed a multi-year deal “with an upside value of $1.6 million (Canadian).”
Lemanowicz is still eligible to return as an over-age player, but since he’s expected to turn pro, he’s not on the Chiefs’ protected list.
Protected lists were forwarded Friday to the WHL’s expansion team, the Edmonton Ice. Each WHL team can lose no more than one 20-year-old to Edmonton in the over-age draft.
Although Speltz declined to get into naming his protected list, he said, “We’re not going to protect guys who are signed and not coming back (read that to mean Lemanowicz). Florida has told us David fits in. David himself thinks he’s ready. He had a great year last year, so we have to assume that he’s staying with Florida.”
Still, the Ice might take a chance on picking the WHL goaltender of the year in hopes he bombs at training camp and is sent back to juniors.
Another Spokane veteran, defenseman John Shockey, has told the Chiefs he plans to leave the game, at least temporarily. Shockey is the son of former Chiefs assistant Parry Shockey, who is the new head coach of the WHL Lethbridge Hurricanes.
Parry Shockey said his son plans to go on a mission with the Mormon church.
Speltz said that’s how John Shockey felt three weeks ago, adding that “sometimes guys, after a long season, need a little time.
“We left it at that. He’s told us one thing and I’m not surprised that that’s what he wants to do. But guys change their minds. It’ll be interesting to see what he’s thinking in mid-July.”
The status of yet another veteran of last season’s WHL West Division championship team, Jan Hrdina, is unclear. Hrdina is unsigned but still negotiating with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“Pittsburgh tells us they hope to get him signed,” Speltz said.
Hrdina is also eligible for another season of juniors.
, DataTimes