Prokop Leaves Vipers:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Prokop leaves Vipers

Morning Star Staff

Friday, September 28, 2018

Head coach/GM Mark Ferner heard rumours that Josh Prokop might leave the Vernon Vipers for the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League.

Losing the ultra-talented forward became reality Wednesday when Prokop headed to Alberta. The 18-year-old posted 21 goals and 37 points in 48 games last season before a season-ending injury. The Edmonton product had one goal and five points this year.

Ferner said Prokop gave him the news with a heavy heart.

"He was physically upset at having to make a decision," said Ferner. "It's a huge hole to fill for us but everything aligned for Josh with his brother (Luke) there."

Ferner had only an earlier traded F Nick Wildgoose to the Coquitlam Express for 6-foot-t D Landon Fuller.

Prokop, a 5-foot-10, 175-pounder, and team-mate Brett Stapley played in the Canadian Junior A Hockey League Prospects Game in Mississauga, Ont. in front of 200 NHL scouts.

"Josh is a highly skilled right-winger who sees the ice very well," said Hitmen GM Jeff Chynoweth, on the team's website. "He is both a shooter and a playermaker who gives us another forward that can play in our top-six."

The Hitmen acquired the rights to Prokop last season in a trade with the Swift Current Broncos. The Vipers entertain the defending champion Wenatchee Wild tonight at Kal Tire Place with a depleted lineup.

Captain Jagger Williamson and second-year forward Alex Swetlikoff are both questionable with injuries, rookie F Logan Cash is ill and veteran Jesse Lansdell is suspended.

"We've got seven healthy forwards," said Ferner, who was taking a look at 17-year-old left winger Kjell Kjemhus of Grande Prairie.

"He played in Prince George (WHL Cougars) last year, was a fourth-round (Bantam draft) pick of Regina and he is pretty familiar with our players," said Ferner.