The Canadian Hockey League announced Thursday that it will donate $50,000-plus proceeds from the 50/50 raffle of the first three Memorial Cup games in Red Deer, with a minimum donation of $150,000, to the Red Cross.
Bleackley, who was selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round (No. 23) of the 2014 NHL Draft, had 46 points (13 goals, 33 assists) in 55 games with Red Deer this season. His rights were traded to the Coyotes on Feb. 29, along with Alex Tanguay and Kyle Wood, for Mikkel Boedker.
If he does not sign an entry-level contract with the Coyotes by June 1, Bleackley will re-enter the draft, and the Coyotes will receive a supplemental second-round pick for the 2016 draft, which takes place June 24-25 at First Niagara Center in Buffalo.
"My agent has a close relationship with [Arizona general manager John Chayka], and they still have time to sign me," Bleackley told the Red Deer website Monday. "I'm not expecting anything."
First, Bleackley must overcome a wrist injury he sustained in March. His wrist tendons were cut by a skate blade during a win against the Edmonton Oil Kings, and he was expected to miss the remainder of the season. He began practicing last week and could be available for the Memorial Cup opener Friday between his Rebels and London of the Ontario Hockey League.
But even with Bleackley's return to the rink, Red Deer coach Brent Sutter does not believe his forward will return this weekend.
"He's been practicing the last two days, so we'll see how it goes, but it's not something I'm optimistic about," Sutter said Monday. "I'm still going off what the surgeon said who performed the operation."
Bleackley called himself "kind of doubtful" for the tournament, that is his focus, and the draft stuff will handle itself.
"My job, whether I get signed or go back into the draft or whatever happens, hasn't changed and won't change," Bleackley said. "I'll work hard every day and first and foremost get back from this injury, then train in the summer."
