WHL notebook: Honka won’t play for Swift Current

Published 9:11 pm Monday, October 6, 2014

Julius Honka isn’t returning to the Swift Current Broncos. And the controversial nature of his departure may have a long-term effect on the WHL and its import players.

A loophole in the agreements between the NHL, the Canadian Hockey League and the European leagues means that Honka will be playing in the American Hockey League this season, despite being in his 19-year-old season and drafted out of the WHL.

Honka, a defenseman from Finland, was selected in the 2013 CHL import draft by Swift Current. He played his 18-year-old season with the Broncos and starred, notching 16 goals and 40 assists in 62 games. After the season he was selected in the first round (14th overall) of the NHL draft by the Dallas Stars.

The collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and the CHL states that players drafted out of the CHL cannot play professionally in the minor leagues until their 20-year-old seasons. Therefore, Honka should have had just two possible destinations this season, Dallas or Swift Current.

However, there was disagreement on Honka’s status, whether he was Broncos property or just on loan from his Finnish team, JYP, with whom he signed a professional contract prior to being drafted by Swift Current. According to the Dallas Morning News, Honka had to either return to play in Finland or play in the AHL, because the loan to Swift Current was for just one season.

“It was a decision that we talked about, and he wanted to play in the AHL, so we feel good about this,” Stars general manager Jim Nill told the Morning News. “In seeing him in Traverse City and in training camp, he’s a very mature player who is more than ready for this.”

Therefore, Honka will spend the season with the AHL’s Texas Stars — a year earlier than the existing rules suggested he should. This could lead to more cases like Honka’s. If the loophole isn’t closed, more top-end European talents may be loaned to their CHL teams with the intention of getting the players into the AHL earlier than they usually would be eligible.

Meanwhile, Swift Current is left out in the cold. The Broncos had Honka penciled in as the anchor of its defense this season. Now Swift Current must unexpectedly proceed without arguably its best player.

Around the WHL

Brandon benefitted from player unrest in Lethbridge, acquiring 18-year-old forward Reid Duke, 19-year-old defenseman Macoy Erkamps and prospect forward Tak Anholt from the Hurricanes in exchange for 18-year-old defenseman Kord Pankewicz and 18-year-old forwards Brett Kitt and Ryley Lindgren. Duke and Erkamps were two of Lethbridge’s top players last season, but both failed to report to training camp, though Duke eventually reported. It is the third time in the past 18 months that Brandon has acquired elite talent from Lethbridge in exchange for role players. … Two of the league’s premier performers are headed back to the league as the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets returned 19-year-old forward Nicolas Petan to Portland and 19-year-old defenseman Josh Morrissey to Prince Albert. … Spokane returned 19-year-old goaltender Alex Moodie to Saskatoon. The Chiefs acquired Moodie in May in exchange for a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2016 bantam draft. By returning Moodie to Saskatoon, Spokane gets the draft pick back. … Kelowna’s Madison Bowey was named the WHL Player of the Week. The 19-year-old defenseman had two goals and six assists as the Rockets went 3-0.

Leaders

Points — Cole Sanford (Medicine Hat) 15; goals — Tyson Baillie (Kelowna) 8; assists — Nick Merkley (Kelowna) 11; penalty minutes — Braden Christoffer (Regina), Joshua Smith (Portland) 30; wins — Jackson Whistle (Kelowna) 6; goals against average — Nick Schneider (Medicine Hat) 1.33; save percentage — Zach Sawchenko (Moose Jaw) .950.

Check out Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog, and follow him on Twitter at @NickHPatterson.