Friday's happenings

As expected, the Swift Current Broncos have signed Tim Kehler as their assistant coach, replacing Drew Hunchak, who now is the head coach of the Moose Jaw Warriors. Kehler spent the last three seasons as the general manager/head coach of the BCHL’s Trail Smoke Eaters, going 88-61-21 in the process.

The Kamloops Blazers have signed F Brendan Ranford, their first pick, 15th overall, in the 2007 bantam draft. A nephew of former WHL/NHL G Bill Ranford, Brendan had 108 points, including 58 goals, with the bantam AAA Edmonton CAC Canadians last season.

There is another coaching vacancy in the WHL with word that Sean Crowther has left the Vancouver Giants “to pursue other opportunities,” according to the team. He had been with the Giants for two seasons. . . . The Giants also have announced the hiring of Grant Ferguson as equipment manager. He had been with the ECHL’s Victoria Salmon Kings. Earlier, Ferguson spent seven seasons as trainer/equipment manager with the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

There is an opening in the OHL with Mike Stothers, the Owen Sound Attack’s head coach since 2002-03, having been named head coach of the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins earlier this week. And there continue to be rumblings that Medicine Hat Tigers GM/head coach Willie Desjardins is close to a deal with the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes to take over as head coach of their AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage. Should that happen, the Tigers are expected to name Brad McEwen as general manager, with associate coach Shaun Clouston becoming head coach. . . . McEwen once was the Tigers’ head coach, signing on Aug. 8, 1995 -- he replaced Perry Pearn -- and lasting five months before GM Dennis Polonich fired him and assistants Brian Varga and Ryan Switzer. The Tigers were 12-24-4 at the time. Joe Canale, who had been fired Dec. 26, 1995, by the QMJHL’s Beauport Harfangs, replaced McEwen behind the bench.

No news out of Portland concerning a head coach; at least, not yet. Mike Williamson, whose contract as head coach wasn’t renewed earlier this week, has yet to comment publicly, at least not in print. Also interesting is that the two assistant coaches, Brian Pellerin and Kyle Gustafson, are under contract for the 2007-08 season.

The Brandon Wheat Kings Alumni Association, along with the Wheat Kings, have scheduled a barbecue for Aug. 14 with all proceeds going to help Rob Stouffer, the WHL team’s trainer. The Bud, Spud and Steak Barbecue goes Aug, 14, 5 to 9 p.m., in the Great Western Road House Bar and Grill at Canad Inns Brandon. Tickets are $15 a pop. Stouffer, who has been with the Wheat Kings since 2000, was diagnosed with liver cancer in February. He is in Winnipeg undergoing treatment. Call the Wheat Kings’ office -- 204-726-3535 -- for tickets or more info, like how to make a donation if you can’t get there.

Former WHL D Ross Lupaschuk (Prince Albert/Red Deer) has signed to play for Avangard Omsk in the Russian Superliga. He played in Finland’s top league last season, helping his club win the Finnish championship. Former WHL G Alexander Fomitchev (Calgary/Seattle) also plays for Avangard, a club that is owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. Among Abramovich‘s holdings is the Chelsea soccer club. . . . By the way, our Russian correspondent reports that F Zigmund Palffy has ended his retirement and will join former Regina D Filip Novak with HK 36 Skalica in Slovakia. That is Palffy’s hometown team.

With Jim Hammett leaving as Hockey Canada’s head scout to join the New York Rangers (watch for that announcement next week), you have to wonder if Sheldon Ferguson won’t go back to Hockey Canada. Ferguson, who once was HC’s head scout, left the Carolina Hurricanes to sign on as GM of the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit earlier this month. But he vacated that position five days later citing personal reasons.