Bucks add Sookro for 2022-23
The Cranbrook Bucks announced on Tuesday that 2004-born defender Bryce Sookro has committed to the squad for the 2022-23 BC Hockey League season.
In 2021-22, Sookro, who’s from Nelson, BC, had seven goals and 29 points in 41 games with his hometown Leafs of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.
He also played two games with Cranbrook as an affiliate player but didn’t register any points.
Hurricanes bring up LaFontaine from AHL Chicago
The Carolina Hurricanes have recalled 24-year-old goaltender Jack LaFontaine (30-13-3, 2.19 goals-against average, .923 save percentage, and three shutouts with Penticton in 2018-19) from the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League.
LaFontaine, from Mississauga, ON, split the 2021-22 season between the University of Minnesota, Norfolk Admirals of the ECHL, Chicago, and Carolina. He was 0-1 with a 7.20 goals-against average and a .780 save percentage in two National Hockey League appearances with the Hurricanes.
Kraken send Cholowski down to Charlotte
Defender Dennis Cholowski (16 goals, 51 assists in 106 games with Chilliwack from 2014-16) was assigned by the NHL’s Seattle Kraken to the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers on Tuesday.
Cholowski, 24, had three assists in 11 NHL games split between the Kraken and Washington Capitals this season. The Langley, BC product added three goals and 18 points in 31 AHL games with the Checkers.
Bondra retires from hockey at age 29
29-year-old forward David Bondra (22 goals, 41 assists in 59 games with Chilliwack in 2011-12) retired from professional hockey on Tuesday after a six-year career.
Bondra, who is from Poprad, SVK, had 17 points in 32 games with his hometown team in Slovakia’s Tipos Extraliga this season. He also notched five points in 13 games with Bratislava of the ICE Hockey League.
