Calgary wranglers logo with caption player signing with hockey net closeup background with red overlay

Calgary’s AHL affiliate has inked Chechelev, Lavigne, Rhinehart, McLain, and Sutter.

The Calgary Wranglers announced today that they have signed goaltender Daniil Chechelev, defencemen Simon Lavigne and Rhett Rhinehart, and forward Brett Sutter to one-year AHL contracts. Forward Mitchell McLain has been signed to a two-year AHL contract.

DANIIL CHECHELEV – GOALTENDER

Chechelev, a native of Khabarovsk, Russia, is coming off his first professional season in North America where he logged one game with the Stockton Heat (AHL) and 30 games with the Kansas City Mavericks (ECHL). In his 30 appearances with the Mavericks in 2021-22, Chechelev recorded a .894 Sv% and a 3.64 GAA with a 12-12-5 record. Chechelev was drafted by the Flames in the fourth round (96th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft.

BORN: Khabarovsk, Russia DATE: Feb. 23, 2001

HEIGHT: 6’3″ WEIGHT: 190 lbs.

CATCHES: Right

DRAFTED: CGY – 4th round (96th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft

SIMON LAVIGNE – DEFENCE

Lavigne, a left-shot defenceman from Blainville, Quebec, recently attended Flames development camp after coming off a season where he logged six goals and 30 assists for 36 points as a member of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL). The 21-year-old finished his junior career with 15 goals and 52 assists for 67 points in 194 QMJHL games.

BORN: Blainville, QC DATE: May 26, 2001

HEIGHT: 6’3″  WEIGHT: 187 lbs.

SHOOTS: Left

MITCH MCLAIN – CENTRE

McLain, a native of Baxter, Minnesota, was a member of the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) last season logging 17 goals and six assists for 23 points in 76 games. Prior to last season, McLain spent four seasons with the Iowa Wild (AHL) totaling 194 games of AHL action over his career.

BORN: Baxter, MN DATE: Dec. 9, 1993

HEIGHT: 6’1″ WEIGHT: 210 lbs.

SHOOTS: Left

RHETT RHINEHART – DEFENCE

Rhinehart, from Lloydminster, Alberta, also attended Flames development camp in July after spending the 2021-22 season with the Saskatoon Blades (WHL). The 20-year-old notched seven goals and 20 assists for 27 points in 53 games. Rhinehart played 261 games over his WHL career scoring 23 goals and 67 assists for 90 points.

BORN: Lloydminster, AB DATE: Nov. 27, 2001

HEIGHT: 6’4″ WEIGHT: 225 lbs.

SHOOTS: Right

BRETT SUTTER – CENTRE

Sutter, a native of Viking, Alberta, spent his 2021-22 season with the Ontario Reign (AHL) scoring eight goals and notching 11 assists for 19 points in 65 games. The 35-year-old has spent the last seven seasons with the Reign, five seasons as their captain, has totaled 974 games in the American Hockey League over his career and recently surpassed the 1000 professional games milestone, including 60 NHL games, on January 27, 2022. Sutter was originally drafted by the Calgary Flames in the sixth round (179th overall) in the 2005 NHL Draft.

BORN: Viking, AB DATE: Jun. 2, 1987

HEIGHT: 6’0″ WEIGHT: 200 lbs.

SHOOTS: Left

DRAFTED: CGY – 6th round (179th overall) in the 2005 NHL Draft