More from Tuesday

Brad Lauer resigned from the Kootenay Ice's coaching staff, he told me today, without a firm job to which to go. Lauer, who had been with the Ice through five seasons, said he has accepted an opportunity but that nothing has been finalized. He is hoping by making himself available it perhaps will speed up the process. More on this later.

More later, too, on the situation in Brandon where Kelly McCrimmon, the team's owner, governor and GM, announced today that he will be back behind the bench for a fourth season. Assistant coach Dwayne Gylywochuk will be back, too, but with added responsibility. McCrimmon and long-time part-time assistant coach Brad Wells obviously had a difference of opinion and Wells won't be returning. He has been replaced by former Wheat Kings sniper Darren Ritchie.

All of this adds Kootenay to the mix of teams looking for at least one coach.

As for the Kelowna Rockets, the wheels may be in motion for them to name Ryan Huska as head coach and former Portland Winter Hawks D Jeff Finley as assistant coach. Finley, 40, played for the Winter Hawks from 1983-87 and played last season in Germany.