From The Daily News of Saturday, Sept. 1, 2007 . . .
Knowing that you haven't yet had enough of Michael Vick . . . Here's Mike
Lupica, in the New York Daily News: "The idea that (Michael) Vick should be
awarded some kind of instant clemency because what he did isn't as bad as
what others from his sport, from all sports, have done, is dumber than Paris
and Lindsay and Britney combined." . . . John Ryan, in the San Jose Mercury
News: "Knicks guard Stephon Marbury tells the New York Post, 'I never said
dogfighting was a sport. I said, 'From what I hear, dogfighting was a
sport.' They're editing me on TV.' Which changes his initial meaning . . .
not at all, actually. But we like the crossover dribble, that should help
his game." . . . If you heard Vick's public apology the other day, you heard
him say that he has found Jesus. Steve Rosenbloom of ChicagoSports.com
received an e-mail from reader Kevin Conerton asking: "Wonder if he'll
rename his operation Good Newz Kennels?"
In an attempt to help troubled Chicago Bears quarterback Rex Grossman rid
himself of the problem he has handling snaps, the Chicago Sun-Times went
looking for some expert help. "It's very easy to take snaps," Jimmy Smolik
told the newspaper. "Just open your hands and wait for the ball, and then
you close your hands." Jimmy, 10, is in Grade 5 and plays quarterback for
the St. Linus Hawks in Oak Lawn, Ill. . . . David Thomas of the Fort Worth
Star-Telegram describes a true Texas Rangers fan: "You heard the Rangers
scored 30 runs in a game, then asked, 'Did they win?' " . . . A
couple of questions for Hockey Canada: Is it a Super Series if only one team
is super? And how much did you pay for those hotel rooms in Moscow? . . .
Oh, and please stop mentioning this series and 1972 in the same breath.
After all, the country against which Canada played in 1972 doesn't even
exist any more.
Greg Norman, the golfer, is dating former tennis star Chris Evert, who is
the ex-wife of U.S. skier Andy Mill. "Greg Norman at one time was my best
friend, and a year and a half ago I would have taken a bullet for this guy,"
Mill told Australia's News Ltd. newspapers. "But I didn't realize he was the
one that was going to pull the trigger." . . . Hey, Andy, maybe there's a
reason the man's nickname is the Shark. . . . Twenty years ago, there were
17 players in the NFL who weighed more than 300 pounds. This year, there
were more than 500 players in NFL camps who weighed more than that. . . . It
would seem that CBS-TV analyst Phil Simms is tired of being mistaken for
Boomer Esiason. "Everybody's calling me Boomer," Simms is quoted as saying
at sportsbybrooks.com. "What is this? Do I really look big, fat and
mediocre?''
The Kamloops Blazers will experiment during their home exhibition games by
switching ends, meaning they will defend the end closest to their bench for
two periods. This is a move the WHL has wanted the team to make for a few
years now and you wonder if the league won't demand it of the franchise's
new owners. . . . Pamela Reynolds stopped by the other day and found a
suitcase belonging to the girlfriend of her husband, former Washington State
footballer Ricky Reynolds. So Mrs. Reynolds, who was estranged from her
husband and now really is a stranger to him, torched his laptop, some
pictures and the girlfriend's clothes in the driveway of the home in Lake
Jovita, Fla. As Brooks Melchior of sportsbybrooks.com noted: "Reynolds
played cornerback for the (Tampa Bay) Bucs from 1987-93, so if anyone can
handle getting burned, it's him." . . . So what was more predictable,
Michael Vick finding Jesus or the big oil companies raising the price of gas
a couple of days before summer's last long weekend? . . . "My favourite part
of the telecast," CBS's David Letterman says of the Little League World
Series, "is when they put the cameras on the players' wives."
With the U.S. college football season about to start, USA Today's Mike
Lopresti decided to see how things looked. He checked the Associated Press
wire and found that over a two-day period players from Alabama, Hawaii,
Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State and West Virginia all were in
the court news. "Not hard to understand why the NFL has so many problems, is
it?" Lopresti wrote. . . . After the New York Yankees and the Tigers played
a rain-delayed Friday night game in Detroit that ended Saturday at 3:30
a.m., Seattle Times reader Torben Rolfsen noted: "To give you an idea how
late it was, Pacman Jones had already called it a night." . . . St. Louis
Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols is certain to hit .300 with 30 homers
and 100 RBI again this season. That will make him the first player in major
league history to reach those numbers in each of his first seven seasons.
The Miami Herald's Greg Cote is ready to place a bet on the women's singles
in the U.S. Open: "You've heard of an over-under bet? I'll take the Ova. . .
. Maria Sharapova, Nicole Vaidisova, Nadia Petrova, Svetlana Kuznetsova or
Daniela Hantukova." . . . The Boston Red Sox outscored the Chicago White Sox
46-7 in a four-game sweep last weekend, after which the Chicago Tribune's
Rick Morrissey wrote that he had learned a lesson: "It is possible to beat a
dead horse." . . . Was it only two years ago that the White Sox were on the
verge of winning the World Series? . . . Robyn Norwood, in the Los Angeles
Times: "Since Joe Paterno became coach at Penn State in 1966, there have
been 798 coaching changes in Division I-A football programs, with multiple
changes at every school except one. His."
Hey, what's with Pierre McGuire? The TSN hockey analyst usually sounds as
though he's a 78 rpm record -- hey, kids, ask Grandma about 78s -- but in Game
1 of the Canada-Russia series, he was about a 33 1/3 (Mom or Dad should be
able to explain that one). By Game 2, he was a 45. . . . Cote, one more
time: "Latrell Sprewell's 70-foot, $1.5-million yacht was taken from him
after he failed to make payments. Not sure what the ship was named, but now
let's re-christen it Sprepossessed." . . . Last season, cornerback Asante
Samuel was paid $460,000 by the NFL's New England Patriots. Now he has a
US$7.79 million contract and will get $458,235 per week. . . . Which is how
much less than you pull in every week?
Friday, August 31, 2007
More Friday notes . . .
Some people, make that a lot of people, do wonderful things and don’t get a whole lot of credit for it, especially in a society that is enamoured with the lives of Britney, LiLo and Paris et al. But how about some props for Brent Parker, the general manager of the Regina Pats? Walter Strueby, the father of part-time assistant coach Todd Strueby of the Pats, passed away on Thursday afternoon. Todd’s son, Matt, who is working to crack the Pats’ roster, is in Edmonton with his teammates at the Oil Kings’ preseason tournament. The decision, to go or not to go, was left up to Matt, with Parker telling the family that Matt had the full support of the organization and that whatever he decided was fine. Later, after learning that Matt would go to Edmonton with his teammates, Parker told the Struebys that he would fly Matt home on Sunday so that he would be there in time for his grandfather’s funeral. . . . As someone who spent a few seasons around Parker and the Pats, I can tell you this isn’t the first time he has done something like this. When he does, he doesn’t seek publicity and word oftentimes doesn’t get out. This time it did. And it’s nice to be able to show a different side of Parker, who is perhaps better known for his intensity.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Prince Albert 3 at Moose Jaw 2 -- The Raiders improved to 2-0 with their second victory over the Warriors in three nights. Cole Penner, Justin Palazzo and Bryce Lamb scored for the winners, with Quinton Howden, the first overall pick in the 2007 bantam draft, and Keith Voytechek replying for Moose Jaw. P.A. goaltender Steve Sanford made 21 saves. Sanford, 17, from Calgary, is one of two goaltenders on the roster, the other being sophomore David Aime.
Everett Tournament
Seattle 5, Chilliwack 4 -- Finnish G Riku Helenius’s WHL debut was terrific as he started for the Thunderbirds and stoned the Bruins with 11 first-period saves and stopped 17 of 18 before leaving at 10:15 of the second period. Prab Rai, Andre Herman and Sterling Bear scored Seattle goals in a span of 2:54 late in the first period. The Bruins tied things in the second on goals from Oscar Moller, Mike Proudley and Ryan Howse, and took the lead early in the third on another Moller goal. Charles Wells tied it for Seattle at 12:21 of the third period and Brendan Silvester won it about a minute later. In the Chilliwack net, Lucas Gore replaced Mark Friesen, who had stopped five of eights shots, in the second period, while Calvin Picard took over from Helenius, a first-round pick, 15th overall, by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2006 NHL draft. Chilliwack outshot Seattle 31-18. Seattle was 2-for-6 on the power play; Chilliwack was 1-for-8.
Spokane 5, Portland 2 -- The Chiefs outshot the Winter Hawks 20-7 in the first period and got off to a 4-0 lead. Cody Esposito, Chris Bruton, Dustin Donaghy and Brett Bartman had the early goals, with Pat Kozyra adding an empty-netter late in the third. Veteran Colton Sceviour and Bradley Ross, a first-rounder from the 2007 bantam draft, scored for Portland. Darcy Kuemper, 17, a third-round 2005 draft pick, stopped 18 shots in the Chiefs’ net. Keith Hamilton, 15, started for Portland and stopped 13 of 17 shots in a period. Jordan White, 19, was 14-for-14 in the second, and Mark Guggenberger, 18, was 8-for-8 in the third. Spokane was 0-for-3 with the man advantage; Portland was 0-for-2.
Vancouver 3, Everett 1 -- Chris Cloud, acquired over the offseason from the Saskatoon Blades, had two goals for the Giants, with the other coming from Mitch Czibere. Jeff Regier counted for the Silvertips. Kraymer Barnstable stopped 16 in Vancouver’s goal. At the other end, 15-year-old Kent Simpson turned turned aside 16 of 19 shots and 20-year-old David Reekie came on to stop 18. Each team was 1-for-10 on the PP.
Simpson, Everett’s first pick in the 2007 bantam draft, signed a WHL contract earlier Friday. He was taken 22nd overall. Simpson, from Edmonton, has had a strong camp, stopping 37 of 39 shots in scrimmages. . . . The Silvertips also signed F Markus McCrea, a sixth-round pick this year, and F Tyler Parker, 15, who wasn’t drafted but had a good camp. . . .
On the subject of signings, C Riley Holzapfel has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Atlanta Thrashers, who took him with the 43rd pick of the 2006 NHL draft. Holzapfel, from Regina, led the Moose Jaw Warriors in scoring last season, which must have been worth bragging rights somewhere in his hometown. He had 82 points, including 39 goals, and finished eighth in the WHL scoring race. Unless he cracks the Thrashers’ roster, Holzapfel, 19, will be back with the Warriors for a fourth season. . . .
Sophomore D Mitch Versteeg, who turns 19 on Nov. 3, showed up for the Lethbridge Hurricanes’ camp with a broken wrist. He was injured while running during his offseason training program. . . .
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Prince Albert 3 at Moose Jaw 2 -- The Raiders improved to 2-0 with their second victory over the Warriors in three nights. Cole Penner, Justin Palazzo and Bryce Lamb scored for the winners, with Quinton Howden, the first overall pick in the 2007 bantam draft, and Keith Voytechek replying for Moose Jaw. P.A. goaltender Steve Sanford made 21 saves. Sanford, 17, from Calgary, is one of two goaltenders on the roster, the other being sophomore David Aime.
Everett Tournament
Seattle 5, Chilliwack 4 -- Finnish G Riku Helenius’s WHL debut was terrific as he started for the Thunderbirds and stoned the Bruins with 11 first-period saves and stopped 17 of 18 before leaving at 10:15 of the second period. Prab Rai, Andre Herman and Sterling Bear scored Seattle goals in a span of 2:54 late in the first period. The Bruins tied things in the second on goals from Oscar Moller, Mike Proudley and Ryan Howse, and took the lead early in the third on another Moller goal. Charles Wells tied it for Seattle at 12:21 of the third period and Brendan Silvester won it about a minute later. In the Chilliwack net, Lucas Gore replaced Mark Friesen, who had stopped five of eights shots, in the second period, while Calvin Picard took over from Helenius, a first-round pick, 15th overall, by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2006 NHL draft. Chilliwack outshot Seattle 31-18. Seattle was 2-for-6 on the power play; Chilliwack was 1-for-8.
Spokane 5, Portland 2 -- The Chiefs outshot the Winter Hawks 20-7 in the first period and got off to a 4-0 lead. Cody Esposito, Chris Bruton, Dustin Donaghy and Brett Bartman had the early goals, with Pat Kozyra adding an empty-netter late in the third. Veteran Colton Sceviour and Bradley Ross, a first-rounder from the 2007 bantam draft, scored for Portland. Darcy Kuemper, 17, a third-round 2005 draft pick, stopped 18 shots in the Chiefs’ net. Keith Hamilton, 15, started for Portland and stopped 13 of 17 shots in a period. Jordan White, 19, was 14-for-14 in the second, and Mark Guggenberger, 18, was 8-for-8 in the third. Spokane was 0-for-3 with the man advantage; Portland was 0-for-2.
Vancouver 3, Everett 1 -- Chris Cloud, acquired over the offseason from the Saskatoon Blades, had two goals for the Giants, with the other coming from Mitch Czibere. Jeff Regier counted for the Silvertips. Kraymer Barnstable stopped 16 in Vancouver’s goal. At the other end, 15-year-old Kent Simpson turned turned aside 16 of 19 shots and 20-year-old David Reekie came on to stop 18. Each team was 1-for-10 on the PP.
Simpson, Everett’s first pick in the 2007 bantam draft, signed a WHL contract earlier Friday. He was taken 22nd overall. Simpson, from Edmonton, has had a strong camp, stopping 37 of 39 shots in scrimmages. . . . The Silvertips also signed F Markus McCrea, a sixth-round pick this year, and F Tyler Parker, 15, who wasn’t drafted but had a good camp. . . .
On the subject of signings, C Riley Holzapfel has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Atlanta Thrashers, who took him with the 43rd pick of the 2006 NHL draft. Holzapfel, from Regina, led the Moose Jaw Warriors in scoring last season, which must have been worth bragging rights somewhere in his hometown. He had 82 points, including 39 goals, and finished eighth in the WHL scoring race. Unless he cracks the Thrashers’ roster, Holzapfel, 19, will be back with the Warriors for a fourth season. . . .
Sophomore D Mitch Versteeg, who turns 19 on Nov. 3, showed up for the Lethbridge Hurricanes’ camp with a broken wrist. He was injured while running during his offseason training program. . . .
Friday . . .
Someone asked earlier about C Paul Van de Velde, whom the Kamloops Blazers selected with the 46th pick of the 2005 bantam draft. Van de Velde, 17, from Mariapolis, Man., no longer is with the Blazers. He left the team after asking for guarantees that the team wasn’t prepared to grant him. A talented offensive player, Van de Velde is coming off a terrific season with the midget AAA Pembina Valley Hawks, who play out of Morden, Man. But he had a poor training camp this week and was invisible in Wednesday’s intrasquad game. He missed a glorious opportunity to play in some exhibition games and earn the third-line centre spot with a team that could use his imagination and creativity on offence. His MJHL rights are held by the Waywayseecappo Wolverines. . . .
The Brandon Sun’s Rob Henderson notes that the Wheat Kings had five players in their rookie camp who are trying to follow in big brother’s skates and play in the WHL. Jordan DePape (brother Ryan, Prince Albert Raiders), Dallas Ehrhardt (Travis, Moose Jaw Warriors), Scott Glennie (Donnie, Chilliwack Bruins), Brayden Schenn (Luke, Kelowna Rockets) and Mark Stone (Michael, Calgary Hitmen) have brothers who were in the WHL last season. Meanwhile, brothers Wheaton and Sanfred King both were in Brandon’s camp, while Brandon Regier is with the Wheat Kings and his brother Jeff is in camp with the Everett Silvertips. Of the Brandon prospects, DePape, Ehrhardt, Regier, Stone and Wheaton King all are 15 years of age so will have to wait a year until they are allowed to play a full season. . . . C Rylan Schwartz, 17, is in Brandon’s camp even though he has committed to attend Colorado College in a year or two. He told the Brandon Sun that while he is committed to the NCAA route, he is “still thinking a little bit about it.” He was second in the Saskatchewan midget AAA league scoring race last season, notching 83 points in 41 games with the Notre Dame Hounds of Wilcox, Sask. He will return to the Hounds if he doesn’t change his mind and stay with Brandon. . . .
After the mention here yesterday of the Portland Winter Hawks signing F Aaron McGill and his being the third player from the Portland area to make the team’s roster, I received an e-mail adding a player to that list. That would be RW Grant Sasser, who played with the Winter Hawks from 1982-84. . . . As an aside, it was pointed out that Dwight Boss, another Portland product, played for the Seattle Breakers and New Westminster Bruins (1982-84). His mother, Jann, ran the Winter Hawks for a number of years. What? You thought Ken Hodge was running the franchise? Sorry. . . .
Former NHLer Jim Sandlak, who did a tour of duty with the Vancouver Canucks, has signed on as an assistant coach with the OHL's Sarnia Sting. . . .
The Brandon Sun’s Rob Henderson notes that the Wheat Kings had five players in their rookie camp who are trying to follow in big brother’s skates and play in the WHL. Jordan DePape (brother Ryan, Prince Albert Raiders), Dallas Ehrhardt (Travis, Moose Jaw Warriors), Scott Glennie (Donnie, Chilliwack Bruins), Brayden Schenn (Luke, Kelowna Rockets) and Mark Stone (Michael, Calgary Hitmen) have brothers who were in the WHL last season. Meanwhile, brothers Wheaton and Sanfred King both were in Brandon’s camp, while Brandon Regier is with the Wheat Kings and his brother Jeff is in camp with the Everett Silvertips. Of the Brandon prospects, DePape, Ehrhardt, Regier, Stone and Wheaton King all are 15 years of age so will have to wait a year until they are allowed to play a full season. . . . C Rylan Schwartz, 17, is in Brandon’s camp even though he has committed to attend Colorado College in a year or two. He told the Brandon Sun that while he is committed to the NCAA route, he is “still thinking a little bit about it.” He was second in the Saskatchewan midget AAA league scoring race last season, notching 83 points in 41 games with the Notre Dame Hounds of Wilcox, Sask. He will return to the Hounds if he doesn’t change his mind and stay with Brandon. . . .
After the mention here yesterday of the Portland Winter Hawks signing F Aaron McGill and his being the third player from the Portland area to make the team’s roster, I received an e-mail adding a player to that list. That would be RW Grant Sasser, who played with the Winter Hawks from 1982-84. . . . As an aside, it was pointed out that Dwight Boss, another Portland product, played for the Seattle Breakers and New Westminster Bruins (1982-84). His mother, Jann, ran the Winter Hawks for a number of years. What? You thought Ken Hodge was running the franchise? Sorry. . . .
Former NHLer Jim Sandlak, who did a tour of duty with the Vancouver Canucks, has signed on as an assistant coach with the OHL's Sarnia Sting. . . .
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Blazers notes . . .
From The Daily News of Friday, Aug. 31, 2007 . . .
Ryan White can hardly wait for this weekend to arrive.
No, it isn’t Christmas. Rather, the Kamloops Blazers defenceman is going to
get to play at home over the weekend as the WHL team journeys to Edmonton
for three exhibition games.
“I’m pretty excited about playing at home in front of the home crowd and
some of my friends,” White, 20, said. “They haven’t seen me play before so
it’s going to be a good experience.”
White stopped, smiled and added: “I’ve never been this excited about
preseason games or regular-season games before.”
The Blazers will leave today for Edmonton. They will be one of six teams in
the three-day round-robin tournament that is being played host to by the
expansion Oil Kings. All games will be played at Servus Credit Union Place
in St. Albert.
The Blazers will play the Regina Pats on Saturday, 10 a.m. (PDT), the Oil
Kings on Sunday (6 p.m.), and the Swift Current Broncos on Monday (2 p.m.).
The Kelowna Rockets and Prince George Cougars also will take part.
White joined the Blazers in the middle of the 2005-06 season from the AJHL’s
Fort McMurray Oil Barons. While he isn’t spectacular, he is the epitomy of a
steady, no-nonsense defenceman. That was very much in evidence last season
when he may have been the Blazers’ most-consistent defenceman while paired
for the most part with then-freshmen Kevin Kraus and Jordan Rowley.
“I thought I had a weak start last season,” said White, who was the best
defenceman — and maybe the best player on the ice — in Wednesday’s
intrasquad game, “but I feel that I came back after Christams and was really
strong. I thought I stood out quite a bit.”
As for playing a lot of minutes with two newcomers, he said: “As the season
went on we learned how to play together and tried to help each other as much
as we could. We just kept it simple.”
And now White finds himself as one of four 20-year-olds on the roster,
knowing the team can only keep three of them.
“I can’t control that,” he said. “All I can do is take what I’ve done this
summer and do the best that I can and hopefully everything works out.”
But how does he deal with the uncertainty of it all?
“I just don’t think about it,” he said. “I haven’t thought about it at all.
I just come to the rink smiling every day.”
He did admit, however, that “I really want to be here. I worked hard all
summer and I just want to finish my last season in Kamloops and have a
successful season.”
From what he witnessed last season and what he has seen in training camp the
last few days, he feels this team is onto something good.
“Guys like (C.J.) Stretch, (Travis) Dunstall and (Tyler) Shattock worked
hard all summer,” White said, “and have come back and have really shown what
they’ve done. I think we’re going to have a really amazing season and I want
to be a part of it.”
least for this weekend’s Edmonton tournament.
The 6-foot-2 1/2, 212-pound Wray, who will turn 18 on Nov. 22, had been in
camp with the Prince George Cougars. He had two points and 88 penalty
minutes in 46 games with the BCHL’s Powell River Paper Kings last season.
2007 bantam draft, is the only 1992-born player left on the roster. He is
from Edmonton and will get to play at home this weekend, too. . . . D Joel
Woznikoski, who suffered a left knee injury in the intrasquad game, will be
re-examined Tuesday. He was quite stiff and sore yesterday. . . . Others not
making the trip to Edmonton are LW Alex Rodgers (shoulder), D Mark Schneider
(wrist), D Victory Bartley, RW Juuso Puustinen and D Keaton Ellerby (Team
Canada). Bartley (Detroit Red Wings) and Puustinen (Calgary Flames) leave
for NHL camps next week. . . . D Daniel Medland-Marchen, who came out of
Wednesday’s game with a broken collarbone, likely won’t play again until
November. He is 15 and will play for the major midget Okanagan Rockets. . .
. The Blazers officially have released C Brady Mason, 20. He has cleared WHL
waivers so is free to join the BCHL’s Westside Warriors.
Ryan White can hardly wait for this weekend to arrive.
No, it isn’t Christmas. Rather, the Kamloops Blazers defenceman is going to
get to play at home over the weekend as the WHL team journeys to Edmonton
for three exhibition games.
“I’m pretty excited about playing at home in front of the home crowd and
some of my friends,” White, 20, said. “They haven’t seen me play before so
it’s going to be a good experience.”
White stopped, smiled and added: “I’ve never been this excited about
preseason games or regular-season games before.”
The Blazers will leave today for Edmonton. They will be one of six teams in
the three-day round-robin tournament that is being played host to by the
expansion Oil Kings. All games will be played at Servus Credit Union Place
in St. Albert.
The Blazers will play the Regina Pats on Saturday, 10 a.m. (PDT), the Oil
Kings on Sunday (6 p.m.), and the Swift Current Broncos on Monday (2 p.m.).
The Kelowna Rockets and Prince George Cougars also will take part.
White joined the Blazers in the middle of the 2005-06 season from the AJHL’s
Fort McMurray Oil Barons. While he isn’t spectacular, he is the epitomy of a
steady, no-nonsense defenceman. That was very much in evidence last season
when he may have been the Blazers’ most-consistent defenceman while paired
for the most part with then-freshmen Kevin Kraus and Jordan Rowley.
“I thought I had a weak start last season,” said White, who was the best
defenceman — and maybe the best player on the ice — in Wednesday’s
intrasquad game, “but I feel that I came back after Christams and was really
strong. I thought I stood out quite a bit.”
As for playing a lot of minutes with two newcomers, he said: “As the season
went on we learned how to play together and tried to help each other as much
as we could. We just kept it simple.”
And now White finds himself as one of four 20-year-olds on the roster,
knowing the team can only keep three of them.
“I can’t control that,” he said. “All I can do is take what I’ve done this
summer and do the best that I can and hopefully everything works out.”
But how does he deal with the uncertainty of it all?
“I just don’t think about it,” he said. “I haven’t thought about it at all.
I just come to the rink smiling every day.”
He did admit, however, that “I really want to be here. I worked hard all
summer and I just want to finish my last season in Kamloops and have a
successful season.”
From what he witnessed last season and what he has seen in training camp the
last few days, he feels this team is onto something good.
“Guys like (C.J.) Stretch, (Travis) Dunstall and (Tyler) Shattock worked
hard all summer,” White said, “and have come back and have really shown what
they’ve done. I think we’re going to have a really amazing season and I want
to be a part of it.”
l l l
The Blazers have added LW Matt Wray of Qualicum Beach to their roster, atleast for this weekend’s Edmonton tournament.
The 6-foot-2 1/2, 212-pound Wray, who will turn 18 on Nov. 22, had been in
camp with the Prince George Cougars. He had two points and 88 penalty
minutes in 46 games with the BCHL’s Powell River Paper Kings last season.
l l l
JUST NOTES: C Brendan Ranford, the Blazers’ top pick, 15th overall, in the2007 bantam draft, is the only 1992-born player left on the roster. He is
from Edmonton and will get to play at home this weekend, too. . . . D Joel
Woznikoski, who suffered a left knee injury in the intrasquad game, will be
re-examined Tuesday. He was quite stiff and sore yesterday. . . . Others not
making the trip to Edmonton are LW Alex Rodgers (shoulder), D Mark Schneider
(wrist), D Victory Bartley, RW Juuso Puustinen and D Keaton Ellerby (Team
Canada). Bartley (Detroit Red Wings) and Puustinen (Calgary Flames) leave
for NHL camps next week. . . . D Daniel Medland-Marchen, who came out of
Wednesday’s game with a broken collarbone, likely won’t play again until
November. He is 15 and will play for the major midget Okanagan Rockets. . .
. The Blazers officially have released C Brady Mason, 20. He has cleared WHL
waivers so is free to join the BCHL’s Westside Warriors.
Blazers signings
From The Daily News of Friday, Aug. 31, 2007 . . .
The Kamloops Blazers struck another blow for their future Thursday by
announcing the signings of seven players to WHL contracts.
Six of the signees are 15 or 16 years of age, meaning they were born in 1991
or 1992. Those born in 1992 are eligible to play only five games in 2007-08
before their regular teams have their seasons end.
“We hadn’t signed a lot of 1991s other than (centre) Jimmy Bubnick and
(goaltender) James Priestner,” Dean Clark, the Blazers’ general manager and
head coach, said, referring to the club’s top two picks in the 2006 bantam
draft. “We wanted to see the kids in camp and see who worked hard and who
deserved a contract.”
The results are in and the players who signed are:
l D Josh Caron, 16, of Campbell River, the 52nd pick in the 2006 bantam
draft;
l RW Matt Riley, 16, of Coquitlam, the 67th pick in the 2006 draft;
l C Jake Trask of Saskatoon, who turns 16 today and was the 61st pick in the
2006 draft;
l C Richard Vanderhoek, 16, the 122nd pick in the 2006 draft;
l D Daniel Medland-Marchen, 15, of Kelowna, the 37th pick in the 2007 draft
who will play for the major midget Okanagan Rockets once a broken collarbone
heals;
l G Jon Groenheyde, 16, of Surrey, a list player who wasn’t drafted; and,
l D Darcy Huisman, 18, of Smithers, who spent last season with the BCHL’s
Prince George Spruce Kings, the host team for the Royal Bank Cup.
Clark said Groenheyde has been the “most consistent” goaltender in camp and
“he has earned” a chance to make the roster. The 6-foot-3, 170-pound
Groenheyde is pushing Priestner for the backup spot behind either Dustin
Butler, 20, or Justin Leclerc, 18.
Huisman, a cousin to former Prince George Cougars star Dan Hamhuis, was
listed by the Blazers last winter. He hasn’t disappointed in training camp.
In fact, Clark said, Huisman “is going to play here this season.”
Of the seven, only Medland-Marchen isn’t on the roster for this weekend’s
exhibition tournament in Edmonton.
It’s worth noting that 31 of the 33 players selected by the Blazers in the
2004, ’05 and ’06 drafts have attended at least one training camp and 21
signed WHL contracts.
All 10 of the players taken in the 2007 draft were in this year’s camp and
two of those — centre Brendan Ranford, the 15th pick, and Medland-Marchen —
have signed.
“People like to say we are having a hard time getting commitments,” Clark
said, “but we are not having a hard time convincing people to play for us.
They like our education policy and what we do with post-secondary education.
They like our whole package.
“It is inviting not only to the kids but to the parents.”
Of the 43 players selected in the last four drafts, only two — Minnesotan
Jim O’Brien and defenceman Alex McKinnon of Deloraine, Man., both 2004
selections — have never attended a Blazers’ training camp.
O’Brien, who is coming off shoulder surgery, joined the U.S. National Team
Development Program, then spent last season at the U of Minnesota and was
dropped by the Blazers. He was listed by the Seattle Thunderbirds and
selected by the Ottawa Senators in the first round of June’s NHL draft. He
is expected to play for Seattle when he is healthy, likely by November.
McKinnon, who no longer is on the Blazers’ list, is in camp with the MJHL’s
Dauphin Kings.
The only other Blazers’ draft pick to choose the NCAA route is Kamloops
native Colin Lidster. Taken with the 94th pick in 2004, Lidster was in camp
that fall but chose to go the NCAA route after moving to Michigan with his
family. His father, Doug, who played in the NHL, attended Colorado College.
The Kamloops Blazers struck another blow for their future Thursday by
announcing the signings of seven players to WHL contracts.
Six of the signees are 15 or 16 years of age, meaning they were born in 1991
or 1992. Those born in 1992 are eligible to play only five games in 2007-08
before their regular teams have their seasons end.
“We hadn’t signed a lot of 1991s other than (centre) Jimmy Bubnick and
(goaltender) James Priestner,” Dean Clark, the Blazers’ general manager and
head coach, said, referring to the club’s top two picks in the 2006 bantam
draft. “We wanted to see the kids in camp and see who worked hard and who
deserved a contract.”
The results are in and the players who signed are:
l D Josh Caron, 16, of Campbell River, the 52nd pick in the 2006 bantam
draft;
l RW Matt Riley, 16, of Coquitlam, the 67th pick in the 2006 draft;
l C Jake Trask of Saskatoon, who turns 16 today and was the 61st pick in the
2006 draft;
l C Richard Vanderhoek, 16, the 122nd pick in the 2006 draft;
l D Daniel Medland-Marchen, 15, of Kelowna, the 37th pick in the 2007 draft
who will play for the major midget Okanagan Rockets once a broken collarbone
heals;
l G Jon Groenheyde, 16, of Surrey, a list player who wasn’t drafted; and,
l D Darcy Huisman, 18, of Smithers, who spent last season with the BCHL’s
Prince George Spruce Kings, the host team for the Royal Bank Cup.
Clark said Groenheyde has been the “most consistent” goaltender in camp and
“he has earned” a chance to make the roster. The 6-foot-3, 170-pound
Groenheyde is pushing Priestner for the backup spot behind either Dustin
Butler, 20, or Justin Leclerc, 18.
Huisman, a cousin to former Prince George Cougars star Dan Hamhuis, was
listed by the Blazers last winter. He hasn’t disappointed in training camp.
In fact, Clark said, Huisman “is going to play here this season.”
Of the seven, only Medland-Marchen isn’t on the roster for this weekend’s
exhibition tournament in Edmonton.
It’s worth noting that 31 of the 33 players selected by the Blazers in the
2004, ’05 and ’06 drafts have attended at least one training camp and 21
signed WHL contracts.
All 10 of the players taken in the 2007 draft were in this year’s camp and
two of those — centre Brendan Ranford, the 15th pick, and Medland-Marchen —
have signed.
“People like to say we are having a hard time getting commitments,” Clark
said, “but we are not having a hard time convincing people to play for us.
They like our education policy and what we do with post-secondary education.
They like our whole package.
“It is inviting not only to the kids but to the parents.”
Of the 43 players selected in the last four drafts, only two — Minnesotan
Jim O’Brien and defenceman Alex McKinnon of Deloraine, Man., both 2004
selections — have never attended a Blazers’ training camp.
O’Brien, who is coming off shoulder surgery, joined the U.S. National Team
Development Program, then spent last season at the U of Minnesota and was
dropped by the Blazers. He was listed by the Seattle Thunderbirds and
selected by the Ottawa Senators in the first round of June’s NHL draft. He
is expected to play for Seattle when he is healthy, likely by November.
McKinnon, who no longer is on the Blazers’ list, is in camp with the MJHL’s
Dauphin Kings.
The only other Blazers’ draft pick to choose the NCAA route is Kamloops
native Colin Lidster. Taken with the 94th pick in 2004, Lidster was in camp
that fall but chose to go the NCAA route after moving to Michigan with his
family. His father, Doug, who played in the NHL, attended Colorado College.
Thursday . . .
As was reported here a while back, the two games between WHL all-stars and a touring Russian side will be played in Cranbrook (Nov. 28) and Medicine Hat (Nov. 29). . . . Gotta wonder how many players off the Russian team that is playing Canada this week will be on that team? . . .
The quote of the week comes from a story by the Saskatoon StarPhoenix’s Cory Wolfe. Travis Toomey, a defenceman who is in camp with the Blades, went to a power-skating school in Regina over the summer and lived with Saskatoon GM/head coach Lorne Molleken. “He made me do the dishes,” a smiling Toomey, 17, told Wolfe. “I hope he doesn’t tell my mom that I know how to do them.” . . .
C T.J. Galiardi, 19, is expected to be with the Calgary Hitmen on Friday when training camp opens. The Hitmen have acquired his rights from the Portland Winter Hawks for a 2008 third-round bantam draft pick. Galiardi, who is from Calgary, had 31 points in 30 games at Dartmouth College last season. In 2005-06, he had 56 points in 56 games with the AJHL's Calgary Royals. He was selected 55th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL‚s 2007 draft. . . . I was told tonight that other teams tried to get involved in some trade talk on Galiardi but were told he would only play in Calgary. I also was told that he may have signed a contract with a European team. So we'll have to see if he reports to the Hitmen. . . . The trade puts Portland back in the third round of the 2008 draft after the Winter Hawks gave up a third-round pick a day earlier to get D Brock Cornish, 18, from the Tri-City Americans. . . .
The Saskatoon Blades have added two names to their coaching staff. John Stevenson has come on board as a goaltender consultant, and former NHL defenceman Rich Pilon is working as an assistant coach. Also on GM/head coach Lorne Molleken's staff are full-time assistant David Struch and part-timers Jerome Engele and Dave Chartier. . . .
Portland has signed F Aaron McGill, 18, to a WHL contract. What’s the big deal? McGill is a native of Salem, the state capital, and was in camp as a non-drafted, non-listed invitee. He is a product of Portland’s minor hockey system; in fact, he becomes the third player from the Portland metro area to make the team’s roster. The others? Paul Gaustad, who is from Gresham, Ore., and Chip Petrino, a native of Vancouver, Wash., who now is in camp with the Chilliwack Bruins. . . .
The Kamloops Blazers made it official Thursday — they have released C Brady Mason, 20, who played with them for the last two seasons. Mason, who is from Westbank, B.C., is expected to join the BCHL’s Westside Warriors. . . . The move leaves Kamloops with four 20-year-olds — G Dustin Butler, D Ryan Bender, D Ryan White and C Brock Nixon. . . .
Kamloops also announced the signings of seven players to WHL contracts — D Josh Caron, 16, of Campbell River, B.C.; G Jon Groenheyde, 16, of Surrey, B.C.; D Darcy Huisman, 18, of Smithers, B.C.; D Daniel Medland-Marchand, 15, Kelowna; F Matt Riley, 16, Coquitlam, B.C.; F Jake Trask, 16, Saskatoon; and F Richard Vanderhoek, 16, Langley, B.C. . . . With the earlier signings of C Brendan Ranford, 15, C Jimmy Bubnick, 16, and G James Priestner, 16, the Blazers have nine players ages 15 and 16 under contract. . . . Of those nine players, all but two were bantam draft picks. The exceptions? Huisman, who spent last season with the BCHL’s Prince George Spruce Kings and will play with the Blazers this season, and Groenheyde, who has been the most consistent of the four goaltenders in camp. . . .
The Blazers are taking a look at LW Matt Wray, who will turn 18 on Nov. 22. He’s from Qualicum Beach, B.C., and spent last season with the BCHL’s Powell River Paper Kings. According to Kamloops GM/head coach, Wray goes 6-2 1/2 and weighs 212 pounds. He had two points and 88 penalty minutes in 46 games with Powell River last season. The Blazers will have Wray, who had been in camp with the Prince George Cougars, on their roster for this weekend’s tournament in Edmonton. . . .
Meant to scalp — that’s newspaperish for steal — this from Alan Caldwell’s blog yesterday and it slipped through a crack somewhere. D Austin Madaisky, Calgary’s first pick in the 2007 bantam draft, won’t be in camp thanks to a broken arm. . . . As well, veteran D Dan Mercer fell while skating Monday and broke his right wrist. He is out indefinitely. . . . And if you’re wondering who’s where in the WHL right now, check out the rosters at Small Thoughts At Large. The link is at the left of this page.
The WHL has adopted a handful of rule changes to keep its game consistent with the NHL:
1. The home team will have the choice of shooting first in shootouts;
2. No more gross misconducts. Anything that was worthy of a gross misconduct now will result in a game misconduct;
3. A penalty shot now may be awared if a player is fouled on a clear breakaway anywhere between his defensive zone and the offensive zone. Previously, a fouled player had to be on the attacking side of the centre ice red line before a penalty shot could be awarded;
4. Referees now are able to hand out a major and game misconduct if an injury results from an act of interference. Previously only a minor penalty could be handed out for interference;
5. All faceoffs now must be conducted at one of the ice surface’s nine faceoff dots. Previously, faceoffs could be held anywhere on unmarked ice; and,
6. There won’t be any more stick measurements.
The only one here that is worth a raised eyebrow may be the last one. But the NHL went to a 3/4-inch curve maximum, so the WHL did the same last season and there was only one stick measure called all season. So rather than order all new stick-measuring devices, the decision was made to do away with the rule. Which means snipers no longer have to have two sticks — the illegal one for use in the first 50 minutes and the legal one for the last 10 minutes, overtime and shootout.
The quote of the week comes from a story by the Saskatoon StarPhoenix’s Cory Wolfe. Travis Toomey, a defenceman who is in camp with the Blades, went to a power-skating school in Regina over the summer and lived with Saskatoon GM/head coach Lorne Molleken. “He made me do the dishes,” a smiling Toomey, 17, told Wolfe. “I hope he doesn’t tell my mom that I know how to do them.” . . .
C T.J. Galiardi, 19, is expected to be with the Calgary Hitmen on Friday when training camp opens. The Hitmen have acquired his rights from the Portland Winter Hawks for a 2008 third-round bantam draft pick. Galiardi, who is from Calgary, had 31 points in 30 games at Dartmouth College last season. In 2005-06, he had 56 points in 56 games with the AJHL's Calgary Royals. He was selected 55th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL‚s 2007 draft. . . . I was told tonight that other teams tried to get involved in some trade talk on Galiardi but were told he would only play in Calgary. I also was told that he may have signed a contract with a European team. So we'll have to see if he reports to the Hitmen. . . . The trade puts Portland back in the third round of the 2008 draft after the Winter Hawks gave up a third-round pick a day earlier to get D Brock Cornish, 18, from the Tri-City Americans. . . .
The Saskatoon Blades have added two names to their coaching staff. John Stevenson has come on board as a goaltender consultant, and former NHL defenceman Rich Pilon is working as an assistant coach. Also on GM/head coach Lorne Molleken's staff are full-time assistant David Struch and part-timers Jerome Engele and Dave Chartier. . . .
Portland has signed F Aaron McGill, 18, to a WHL contract. What’s the big deal? McGill is a native of Salem, the state capital, and was in camp as a non-drafted, non-listed invitee. He is a product of Portland’s minor hockey system; in fact, he becomes the third player from the Portland metro area to make the team’s roster. The others? Paul Gaustad, who is from Gresham, Ore., and Chip Petrino, a native of Vancouver, Wash., who now is in camp with the Chilliwack Bruins. . . .
The Kamloops Blazers made it official Thursday — they have released C Brady Mason, 20, who played with them for the last two seasons. Mason, who is from Westbank, B.C., is expected to join the BCHL’s Westside Warriors. . . . The move leaves Kamloops with four 20-year-olds — G Dustin Butler, D Ryan Bender, D Ryan White and C Brock Nixon. . . .
Kamloops also announced the signings of seven players to WHL contracts — D Josh Caron, 16, of Campbell River, B.C.; G Jon Groenheyde, 16, of Surrey, B.C.; D Darcy Huisman, 18, of Smithers, B.C.; D Daniel Medland-Marchand, 15, Kelowna; F Matt Riley, 16, Coquitlam, B.C.; F Jake Trask, 16, Saskatoon; and F Richard Vanderhoek, 16, Langley, B.C. . . . With the earlier signings of C Brendan Ranford, 15, C Jimmy Bubnick, 16, and G James Priestner, 16, the Blazers have nine players ages 15 and 16 under contract. . . . Of those nine players, all but two were bantam draft picks. The exceptions? Huisman, who spent last season with the BCHL’s Prince George Spruce Kings and will play with the Blazers this season, and Groenheyde, who has been the most consistent of the four goaltenders in camp. . . .
The Blazers are taking a look at LW Matt Wray, who will turn 18 on Nov. 22. He’s from Qualicum Beach, B.C., and spent last season with the BCHL’s Powell River Paper Kings. According to Kamloops GM/head coach, Wray goes 6-2 1/2 and weighs 212 pounds. He had two points and 88 penalty minutes in 46 games with Powell River last season. The Blazers will have Wray, who had been in camp with the Prince George Cougars, on their roster for this weekend’s tournament in Edmonton. . . .
Meant to scalp — that’s newspaperish for steal — this from Alan Caldwell’s blog yesterday and it slipped through a crack somewhere. D Austin Madaisky, Calgary’s first pick in the 2007 bantam draft, won’t be in camp thanks to a broken arm. . . . As well, veteran D Dan Mercer fell while skating Monday and broke his right wrist. He is out indefinitely. . . . And if you’re wondering who’s where in the WHL right now, check out the rosters at Small Thoughts At Large. The link is at the left of this page.
The WHL has adopted a handful of rule changes to keep its game consistent with the NHL:
1. The home team will have the choice of shooting first in shootouts;
2. No more gross misconducts. Anything that was worthy of a gross misconduct now will result in a game misconduct;
3. A penalty shot now may be awared if a player is fouled on a clear breakaway anywhere between his defensive zone and the offensive zone. Previously, a fouled player had to be on the attacking side of the centre ice red line before a penalty shot could be awarded;
4. Referees now are able to hand out a major and game misconduct if an injury results from an act of interference. Previously only a minor penalty could be handed out for interference;
5. All faceoffs now must be conducted at one of the ice surface’s nine faceoff dots. Previously, faceoffs could be held anywhere on unmarked ice; and,
6. There won’t be any more stick measurements.
The only one here that is worth a raised eyebrow may be the last one. But the NHL went to a 3/4-inch curve maximum, so the WHL did the same last season and there was only one stick measure called all season. So rather than order all new stick-measuring devices, the decision was made to do away with the rule. Which means snipers no longer have to have two sticks — the illegal one for use in the first 50 minutes and the legal one for the last 10 minutes, overtime and shootout.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
More Wednesday notes . . .
The WHL exhbition schedule opened Wednesday with the host Prince Albert Raiders scoring a 6-5 shootout victory over the Moose Jaw Warriors. Brad Reige, with two, Quinton Howden, Martin Filo and Neal Prokop scored for Moose Jaw. . . . Wasn’t able to find out who scored for the Raiders, but after the game they did release forwards Sean Aschim, 15, Ryan Harrison, 15, Kyle Golz, 16, Taylor Wasden, 16, Matt Bailey, 16, Travis Statchuk, 17, and defenceman David Dotan, 16.
It really is too bad that the WHL doesn’t seem to realize the interest fans have in preseason games. With all the technology available in terms of e-mail and Internet, it’s too bad the WHL can’t get its act together and get game scores, scorers and highlights posted on its website immediately after exhibition games. . . .
The Tri-City Americans have reassigned 10 players — G Mark Kotylak, Spruce Grove (AJHL); G Kyle Jahraus, La Ronge (SJHL); D Richard Ursulak, Leduc (Alberta midget AAA); D Jordan Krankowsky, Fort Saskatchewan (Alberta midget AAA); D Brad Senner, Tri-City Titans (Nor-Pac Jr. B); F Brock Zimak, Winnipeg South Blues (MJHL); F Jesse Wiebe, Tri-City Titans (Nor-Pac Jr. B); F Pat Bartoshyk, Drumheller (AJHL); F Adam Wihak, Regina (Saskatchewan midget AAA); F Des Ritari, Tri-City Titans (Nor-Pac Jr. B). . . .
G Andrew Hayes, 17, arrived for the Brandon Wheat Kings’ camp with a broken finger and is out indefinitely. Hayes, the 57th pick in the 2005 bantam draft, was the starter for the AJHL’s Bonnyville Pontiacs last season. When he is healthy, Hayes is likely to be the back up to Joe Caligiuri, 18, in Brandon. . . . RW Lukas Mikkelsen, the 94th pick in the 2005 draft, has mononucleosis so isn’t in Brandon’s camp. . . . Russian D Nikolai Lukyanchikov, 18, whom the Wheat Kings took in the 2007 import draft, isn’t in camp. Neither is RW Aaron Lewadniuk, 18, the MJHL’s rookie of the year last season. He is with the USHL’s Omaha Lancers. . . .
The expansion Edmonton Oil Kings have released G Tommy Tartaglione, 19, leaving them with three goaltenders with WHL experience — Alex Archibald, 20, Dalyn Flette, 17, and Chris Ward, 17. . . . The Oil Kings also cut forwards Tyler Halliday, Brayden Nargang and Ryan Sawka, all of whom have WHL experience. . . .
Regina Pats C Kirt Hill (shoulder) won’t play in this weekend’s tournament in Edmonton. LW Myles Stoesz may also be doubtful after needing some dental work after taking a stick to the face. . . .
Alan Caldwell reports on his blog, courtesy of Seattle fan Jon Whiting, that C Jim O’Brien, an NHL first-round pick who has signed with the Ottawa Senators, has yet to receive medical clearance and may not play until November. . . . O’Brien, a Minnesotan, was an eighth-round pick by the Kamloops Blazers in the 2004 bantam draft. He went into the U.S. National Team Development Program before spending last season at the U of Minnesota. Seattle added him to its list after Kamloops dropped him.
It really is too bad that the WHL doesn’t seem to realize the interest fans have in preseason games. With all the technology available in terms of e-mail and Internet, it’s too bad the WHL can’t get its act together and get game scores, scorers and highlights posted on its website immediately after exhibition games. . . .
The Tri-City Americans have reassigned 10 players — G Mark Kotylak, Spruce Grove (AJHL); G Kyle Jahraus, La Ronge (SJHL); D Richard Ursulak, Leduc (Alberta midget AAA); D Jordan Krankowsky, Fort Saskatchewan (Alberta midget AAA); D Brad Senner, Tri-City Titans (Nor-Pac Jr. B); F Brock Zimak, Winnipeg South Blues (MJHL); F Jesse Wiebe, Tri-City Titans (Nor-Pac Jr. B); F Pat Bartoshyk, Drumheller (AJHL); F Adam Wihak, Regina (Saskatchewan midget AAA); F Des Ritari, Tri-City Titans (Nor-Pac Jr. B). . . .
G Andrew Hayes, 17, arrived for the Brandon Wheat Kings’ camp with a broken finger and is out indefinitely. Hayes, the 57th pick in the 2005 bantam draft, was the starter for the AJHL’s Bonnyville Pontiacs last season. When he is healthy, Hayes is likely to be the back up to Joe Caligiuri, 18, in Brandon. . . . RW Lukas Mikkelsen, the 94th pick in the 2005 draft, has mononucleosis so isn’t in Brandon’s camp. . . . Russian D Nikolai Lukyanchikov, 18, whom the Wheat Kings took in the 2007 import draft, isn’t in camp. Neither is RW Aaron Lewadniuk, 18, the MJHL’s rookie of the year last season. He is with the USHL’s Omaha Lancers. . . .
The expansion Edmonton Oil Kings have released G Tommy Tartaglione, 19, leaving them with three goaltenders with WHL experience — Alex Archibald, 20, Dalyn Flette, 17, and Chris Ward, 17. . . . The Oil Kings also cut forwards Tyler Halliday, Brayden Nargang and Ryan Sawka, all of whom have WHL experience. . . .
Regina Pats C Kirt Hill (shoulder) won’t play in this weekend’s tournament in Edmonton. LW Myles Stoesz may also be doubtful after needing some dental work after taking a stick to the face. . . .
Alan Caldwell reports on his blog, courtesy of Seattle fan Jon Whiting, that C Jim O’Brien, an NHL first-round pick who has signed with the Ottawa Senators, has yet to receive medical clearance and may not play until November. . . . O’Brien, a Minnesotan, was an eighth-round pick by the Kamloops Blazers in the 2004 bantam draft. He went into the U.S. National Team Development Program before spending last season at the U of Minnesota. Seattle added him to its list after Kamloops dropped him.
Blazers intrasquad game . . .
From The Daily News of Thursday, Aug. 30, 2007 . . .
While a lot of fresh faces played their first game in a Kamloops Blazers
jersey on Wednesday night, centre Brady Mason took his off for the last
time.
Mason, 20, has cleared WHL waivers and the Westbank native is expected to
join the BCHL’s Westside Warriors.
Mason played 128 games with the Blazers over the last two seasons, totaling
33 points, including 13 goals, and 44 penalty minutes.
Last night, as he always did, Mason punched in, turned in a workmanlike
effort, punched out and went home, his Team White having lost 2-1 to Team
Blue in the annual intrasquad game before 969 fans at Interior Savings
Centre.
“He’s done everything we’ve asked of him,” Dean Clark, the Blazers’ general
manager and head coach, said. “We just don’t have room for him now.”
Mason was one of five 20-year-olds in camp; the team has until Oct. 11 to
declare which three it will keep. Goaltender Dustin Butler, defencemen Ryan
Bender and Ryan White and centre Brock Nixon are the others.
“It’s a little bit tough,” Mason said. “I wouldn’t mind playing here. I’ve
had two good years here and had a lot of fun. I’m going to miss it but I
will always be a Blazer.”
Mason is trying to look at the positives, though.
“I get to play at home and I’ll get a lot more playing time,” he said. “It’s
not as good a level but it’s still good hockey.”
Still, getting released at least in part because of your age is a bitter
pill to swallow.
“That’s the hardest part,” Mason said. “Two guys here had to leave and,
unfortunately, it was me.”
At the other end of the spectrum skates centre Brendan Ranford, a
15-year-old Edmontonian who was the Blazers’ first pick in the 2007 bantam
draft.
Ranford played on perhaps the game’s top line with sophomore right-winger
Tyler Shattock and freshman left-winger Shayne Wiebe.
Ranford scored the game’s first goal last night, taking a terrific Shattock
pass from along the right boards and going in alone to beat Butler.
“(Tyler Shattock) gave me a great pass,” Ranford said. “He took a hit to
make a play. I went in, faked it and slid it past (Butler).
“Hopefully, I’ll get a couple of those through the years.”
Team Blue took a 2-0 lead on another first-period goal, this one from
right-winger Kenton Dulle, who was one of the better players on the ice.
Team White’s best chance in the first period came off the stick of sophomore
Juuso Puustinen, who was robbed on a come-across move by goaltender Justin
Leclerc.
Team White got on the board at 14:05 of the second period when Puustinen
beat James Priestner, who had replaced Leclerc at 10:48 of the second
period. Team Blue wasn’t able to beat Jon Groenheyde, who took over from
Butler at the same time.
Both teams skated pretty well, but it was, as these games often are, pretty
much a no-hitter.
However, Team Blue defenceman Joel Woznikoski, who played four games with
the Blazers last season, went down with a knee injury at 2:30 of the first
period after Team White centre Mark Hall initiated a knee-on-knee hit. The
6-foot-3 Woznikoski, who played most of last season with Westside in the
BCHL, needed help getting off the ice and didn’t return.
JUST NOTES: Team White D Daniel Medland-Marchen, a 15-year-old from
Saskatoon, suffered a fractured collarbone in the first period. . . . After the game, the Blazers reassigned 12 players — D Logan Devlin, 16, Revelstoke Grizzlies (KIJHL); RW Joel Paiement, 16, UFA Bisons (Alberta midget AAA); C Ryan Hanes, 15, Thompson Blazers (B.C. major midget); LW Nathan Tomac, 16, Moose Jaw Warriors (Saskatchewan midget AAA); D Colin Fay, 16, Pembina Valley Hawks (Manitoba midget AAA); D Nick Buchanan, 16, South Island Thunderbirds (B.C. major midget); D Kyle Beaulieu, 16, B.C. major midget team to be determined; D Stefan Gonzales, 15, B.C. major midget team to be determined; RW Trevor Torbohm, 19, Chase Chiefs (KIJHL); RW Kyle Wells, 17, Winkler Flyers (MJHL); LW Andrew Wheeler, 18, Kamloops Storm (KIJHL); and, Medland-Marchen, 15, Okanagan Rockets (B.C. major midget). . . . The Blazers may have further roster moves today before setting their roster for the weekend exhibition tournament in Edmonton. . . . Bob Smillie has resigned from the Kamloops Blazers Sports Society’s board of directors for whom he was chairman of the governance committee. Upon resigning, he was hired by the society to oversee the paperwork involved in the transfer of ownership involved in the sale of the franchise.
While a lot of fresh faces played their first game in a Kamloops Blazers
jersey on Wednesday night, centre Brady Mason took his off for the last
time.
Mason, 20, has cleared WHL waivers and the Westbank native is expected to
join the BCHL’s Westside Warriors.
Mason played 128 games with the Blazers over the last two seasons, totaling
33 points, including 13 goals, and 44 penalty minutes.
Last night, as he always did, Mason punched in, turned in a workmanlike
effort, punched out and went home, his Team White having lost 2-1 to Team
Blue in the annual intrasquad game before 969 fans at Interior Savings
Centre.
“He’s done everything we’ve asked of him,” Dean Clark, the Blazers’ general
manager and head coach, said. “We just don’t have room for him now.”
Mason was one of five 20-year-olds in camp; the team has until Oct. 11 to
declare which three it will keep. Goaltender Dustin Butler, defencemen Ryan
Bender and Ryan White and centre Brock Nixon are the others.
“It’s a little bit tough,” Mason said. “I wouldn’t mind playing here. I’ve
had two good years here and had a lot of fun. I’m going to miss it but I
will always be a Blazer.”
Mason is trying to look at the positives, though.
“I get to play at home and I’ll get a lot more playing time,” he said. “It’s
not as good a level but it’s still good hockey.”
Still, getting released at least in part because of your age is a bitter
pill to swallow.
“That’s the hardest part,” Mason said. “Two guys here had to leave and,
unfortunately, it was me.”
At the other end of the spectrum skates centre Brendan Ranford, a
15-year-old Edmontonian who was the Blazers’ first pick in the 2007 bantam
draft.
Ranford played on perhaps the game’s top line with sophomore right-winger
Tyler Shattock and freshman left-winger Shayne Wiebe.
Ranford scored the game’s first goal last night, taking a terrific Shattock
pass from along the right boards and going in alone to beat Butler.
“(Tyler Shattock) gave me a great pass,” Ranford said. “He took a hit to
make a play. I went in, faked it and slid it past (Butler).
“Hopefully, I’ll get a couple of those through the years.”
Team Blue took a 2-0 lead on another first-period goal, this one from
right-winger Kenton Dulle, who was one of the better players on the ice.
Team White’s best chance in the first period came off the stick of sophomore
Juuso Puustinen, who was robbed on a come-across move by goaltender Justin
Leclerc.
Team White got on the board at 14:05 of the second period when Puustinen
beat James Priestner, who had replaced Leclerc at 10:48 of the second
period. Team Blue wasn’t able to beat Jon Groenheyde, who took over from
Butler at the same time.
Both teams skated pretty well, but it was, as these games often are, pretty
much a no-hitter.
However, Team Blue defenceman Joel Woznikoski, who played four games with
the Blazers last season, went down with a knee injury at 2:30 of the first
period after Team White centre Mark Hall initiated a knee-on-knee hit. The
6-foot-3 Woznikoski, who played most of last season with Westside in the
BCHL, needed help getting off the ice and didn’t return.
JUST NOTES: Team White D Daniel Medland-Marchen, a 15-year-old from
Saskatoon, suffered a fractured collarbone in the first period. . . . After the game, the Blazers reassigned 12 players — D Logan Devlin, 16, Revelstoke Grizzlies (KIJHL); RW Joel Paiement, 16, UFA Bisons (Alberta midget AAA); C Ryan Hanes, 15, Thompson Blazers (B.C. major midget); LW Nathan Tomac, 16, Moose Jaw Warriors (Saskatchewan midget AAA); D Colin Fay, 16, Pembina Valley Hawks (Manitoba midget AAA); D Nick Buchanan, 16, South Island Thunderbirds (B.C. major midget); D Kyle Beaulieu, 16, B.C. major midget team to be determined; D Stefan Gonzales, 15, B.C. major midget team to be determined; RW Trevor Torbohm, 19, Chase Chiefs (KIJHL); RW Kyle Wells, 17, Winkler Flyers (MJHL); LW Andrew Wheeler, 18, Kamloops Storm (KIJHL); and, Medland-Marchen, 15, Okanagan Rockets (B.C. major midget). . . . The Blazers may have further roster moves today before setting their roster for the weekend exhibition tournament in Edmonton. . . . Bob Smillie has resigned from the Kamloops Blazers Sports Society’s board of directors for whom he was chairman of the governance committee. Upon resigning, he was hired by the society to oversee the paperwork involved in the transfer of ownership involved in the sale of the franchise.
Some Wednesday notes . . .
Here's a start on Wednesday, meaning there will be more later . . .
The Portland Winter Hawks have picked up D Brock Cornish, 18, from the Tri-City Americans for a third-round pick in the 2008 bantam draft. Cornish met with Tri-City GM earlier in the week and went home to Mission, B.C., to await a trade. He had 10 points and 44 penalty minutes in 31 games with the Americans last season.
EUROPEAN REPORT: Former Red Deer F Brad Leeb has signed with Ingolstadt in the German DEL. He’ll be teammates with the likes of G Jimmy Waite, D Scott Ferguson (Kamloops), F Brad Tutschek (Edmonton/Kootenay/Seattle), F Yannic Seidenberg (Medicine Hat) and C Glen Goodall (Seattle). Tutscheck and Goodall hold German passports. Ingolstadt is coached by Ron Kennedy, a native of Estevan who has coached in Medicine Hat. . . . F Chris Bright (Moose Jaw) has signed with Jesenice, Slovenia, which plays in Austria’s top league. Bright, who holds dual Canadian and Japanese citizenship, played for Basel in the Swiss National League A last season. He joins F Paul Healey (Prince Albert) with Jesenice. . . .
Vancouver Giants F Jonathan Milhouse, 18, will be the shelf for a few days with a sprained left medial collateral ligament. Milhouse, who played 34 games with the Everett Silvertips over two seasons, was injured during a training camp collision. Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province reports that Milhouse’s father, Dr. Craig Milhouse, has been in Ladner watching training camp and helped trainer Cory Cameron evaluate the injury. Dr. Milhouse works with the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Angels. His son finished last season with the NAHL’s Santa Fe RoadRunners. . . .
The Super Series, so far, has been anything but super. Of course, it can’t be super if there only is one super team playing in it. . . . The best part of the series may be the blog being done by Jason Botchford who, in his real life, covers the Canucks for the Vancouver Province. . . . His entry on shopping in a supermarket in Ufa is hilarious. . . . Earlier, he filed this: “I'm already in hot water with Hockey Canada for reporting on their luxurious digs in Moscow (here is where Hockey Canada wants me to tell you they did not spend $700 a night for the $700-a-night rooms they lived in for five days. They received a discount and a group rate). And here is where I tell you that hotel where Team Canada stayed in was the sweetest house of comfort I've seen in a while. The Canucks can only dream of ever staying in the bathrooms at this hotel.” . . . You can check it out at http://communities.canada.com/theprovince/blogs/icehole/default.aspx . . . or simply Google for The Ice Hole. . . . Enjoy!
The Portland Winter Hawks announced today that “after a 13-year absence, high-quality, full-color video replay screens will return to the Memorial Coliseum prior to the Winter Hawks’ opening night” on Sept. 21. . . . The LED screens will provide a venue for live video and replay video, full animations and crisp graphics at all Winter Hawks games and other events in the Memorial Coliseum, according to the press release. According to the agreement between the City and the team, the City will install the four screens and lease them from the team for a one-year demsonstration period. If they are deemed acceptable, the City will purchase them outright. . . . There has been some acrimony between the two parties of late and hopefully this is the start of a long and beautiful relationship.
The Portland Winter Hawks have picked up D Brock Cornish, 18, from the Tri-City Americans for a third-round pick in the 2008 bantam draft. Cornish met with Tri-City GM earlier in the week and went home to Mission, B.C., to await a trade. He had 10 points and 44 penalty minutes in 31 games with the Americans last season.
EUROPEAN REPORT: Former Red Deer F Brad Leeb has signed with Ingolstadt in the German DEL. He’ll be teammates with the likes of G Jimmy Waite, D Scott Ferguson (Kamloops), F Brad Tutschek (Edmonton/Kootenay/Seattle), F Yannic Seidenberg (Medicine Hat) and C Glen Goodall (Seattle). Tutscheck and Goodall hold German passports. Ingolstadt is coached by Ron Kennedy, a native of Estevan who has coached in Medicine Hat. . . . F Chris Bright (Moose Jaw) has signed with Jesenice, Slovenia, which plays in Austria’s top league. Bright, who holds dual Canadian and Japanese citizenship, played for Basel in the Swiss National League A last season. He joins F Paul Healey (Prince Albert) with Jesenice. . . .
Vancouver Giants F Jonathan Milhouse, 18, will be the shelf for a few days with a sprained left medial collateral ligament. Milhouse, who played 34 games with the Everett Silvertips over two seasons, was injured during a training camp collision. Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province reports that Milhouse’s father, Dr. Craig Milhouse, has been in Ladner watching training camp and helped trainer Cory Cameron evaluate the injury. Dr. Milhouse works with the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Angels. His son finished last season with the NAHL’s Santa Fe RoadRunners. . . .
The Super Series, so far, has been anything but super. Of course, it can’t be super if there only is one super team playing in it. . . . The best part of the series may be the blog being done by Jason Botchford who, in his real life, covers the Canucks for the Vancouver Province. . . . His entry on shopping in a supermarket in Ufa is hilarious. . . . Earlier, he filed this: “I'm already in hot water with Hockey Canada for reporting on their luxurious digs in Moscow (here is where Hockey Canada wants me to tell you they did not spend $700 a night for the $700-a-night rooms they lived in for five days. They received a discount and a group rate). And here is where I tell you that hotel where Team Canada stayed in was the sweetest house of comfort I've seen in a while. The Canucks can only dream of ever staying in the bathrooms at this hotel.” . . . You can check it out at http://communities.canada.com/theprovince/blogs/icehole/default.aspx . . . or simply Google for The Ice Hole. . . . Enjoy!
The Portland Winter Hawks announced today that “after a 13-year absence, high-quality, full-color video replay screens will return to the Memorial Coliseum prior to the Winter Hawks’ opening night” on Sept. 21. . . . The LED screens will provide a venue for live video and replay video, full animations and crisp graphics at all Winter Hawks games and other events in the Memorial Coliseum, according to the press release. According to the agreement between the City and the team, the City will install the four screens and lease them from the team for a one-year demsonstration period. If they are deemed acceptable, the City will purchase them outright. . . . There has been some acrimony between the two parties of late and hopefully this is the start of a long and beautiful relationship.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Tuesday's notes . . .
The WHL exhibition season gets started tonight with the Moose Jaw Warriors meeting the Raiders in Prince Albert. . . .
The most interesting battle in the Chilliwack Bruins’ camp may be for the backup goaltending position. Starter Matt Esposito is coming off a knee injury but is expected to be ready to be the go-to guy. Right now, Mark Friesen and Lucas Gore all in the scrap to be the No. 2 guy. Friesen, 17, is from Winkler, Man., and played for the midget Pembina Valley Hawks who are based out of Morden. He also played for Manitoba at the Canada Winter Games. Gore, who turns 17 in October, was with the major midget Thompson Blazers, who play out of Kamloops. . . .
The Red Deer Rebels are down to 28 players, including three players who will attend pro camps — LW J.D. Watt (Calgary Flames), C Brett Sutter (Calgary) and G James Reimer (Toronto Maple Leafs), as well as 15-year-olds Alex Petrovic and Connor Redmond. The latter two will leave after playing in an exhibition game or two. . . . Red Deer has assigned G Adam Gingras, 18, to the AJHL’s Bonnyville Pontiacs. . . . In camp, along with Reimer, are goaltenders Morgan Clark, 17, who played last season, and Travis Rolheiser, 18. . . .
F Jan Fadrny (Brandon/Kelowna) has signed with Zilina in the top Slovakian league. He was with Vsetin of the Czech Extraliga (the top league) last season. . . .
The Brandon Sun’s James Shewaga reports that the hockey community in the Wheat City raised $9,535 at a recent barbecue to benefit Wheat Kings trainer Rob Stouffer, who is fighting liver cancer. "I'm speechless. I honestly don't know what to say," Stouffer told Shewaga. Stouffer is preparing for a ninth round of chemo in Winnipeg next week. "You always know that Brandon is a great community, they back everybody and
everything ... but to see that kind of support, it makes you feel humble." . . . The Wheat Kings have created an alumni association and this was one of that group’s first official functions. "I would say it was an overwhelming success," said former Wheat King captain Ken Schneider, who is on the association’s executive. . . .
No announcement appears to have been made but there is an interesting sight on the Kootenay Ice website where the name of Carter Sears now appears as a scouting consultant. Sears was the head scout who was credited by many hockey people for shaping the 2001 Memorial Cup-winning Red Deer Rebels. He parted company with the Rebels a while later. . . .
Former Kamloops Blazers head coach Mark Ferner made his debut Tuesday as GM/head coach of the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers, who beat the host Westside Warriors, 3-2. “It was a good game by both sides,” Ferner told the Kelowna Daily Courier’s Doyle Potenteau. “Obviously, this being
preseason, we have to work on some areas because we were sloppy in some areas. But we’ve been going pretty hard, as I’m sure Westside has, too. The guys were a little tired and some of our younger guys were pretty
nervous, not knowing what to expect. But as the game went on, we got
better.” . . .
Alan Caldwell, over at Small Thoughts At Large, has been compiling and posting training camp rosters. Take a look through his link to the left.
The most interesting battle in the Chilliwack Bruins’ camp may be for the backup goaltending position. Starter Matt Esposito is coming off a knee injury but is expected to be ready to be the go-to guy. Right now, Mark Friesen and Lucas Gore all in the scrap to be the No. 2 guy. Friesen, 17, is from Winkler, Man., and played for the midget Pembina Valley Hawks who are based out of Morden. He also played for Manitoba at the Canada Winter Games. Gore, who turns 17 in October, was with the major midget Thompson Blazers, who play out of Kamloops. . . .
The Red Deer Rebels are down to 28 players, including three players who will attend pro camps — LW J.D. Watt (Calgary Flames), C Brett Sutter (Calgary) and G James Reimer (Toronto Maple Leafs), as well as 15-year-olds Alex Petrovic and Connor Redmond. The latter two will leave after playing in an exhibition game or two. . . . Red Deer has assigned G Adam Gingras, 18, to the AJHL’s Bonnyville Pontiacs. . . . In camp, along with Reimer, are goaltenders Morgan Clark, 17, who played last season, and Travis Rolheiser, 18. . . .
F Jan Fadrny (Brandon/Kelowna) has signed with Zilina in the top Slovakian league. He was with Vsetin of the Czech Extraliga (the top league) last season. . . .
The Brandon Sun’s James Shewaga reports that the hockey community in the Wheat City raised $9,535 at a recent barbecue to benefit Wheat Kings trainer Rob Stouffer, who is fighting liver cancer. "I'm speechless. I honestly don't know what to say," Stouffer told Shewaga. Stouffer is preparing for a ninth round of chemo in Winnipeg next week. "You always know that Brandon is a great community, they back everybody and
everything ... but to see that kind of support, it makes you feel humble." . . . The Wheat Kings have created an alumni association and this was one of that group’s first official functions. "I would say it was an overwhelming success," said former Wheat King captain Ken Schneider, who is on the association’s executive. . . .
No announcement appears to have been made but there is an interesting sight on the Kootenay Ice website where the name of Carter Sears now appears as a scouting consultant. Sears was the head scout who was credited by many hockey people for shaping the 2001 Memorial Cup-winning Red Deer Rebels. He parted company with the Rebels a while later. . . .
Former Kamloops Blazers head coach Mark Ferner made his debut Tuesday as GM/head coach of the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers, who beat the host Westside Warriors, 3-2. “It was a good game by both sides,” Ferner told the Kelowna Daily Courier’s Doyle Potenteau. “Obviously, this being
preseason, we have to work on some areas because we were sloppy in some areas. But we’ve been going pretty hard, as I’m sure Westside has, too. The guys were a little tired and some of our younger guys were pretty
nervous, not knowing what to expect. But as the game went on, we got
better.” . . .
Alan Caldwell, over at Small Thoughts At Large, has been compiling and posting training camp rosters. Take a look through his link to the left.
What to do with the money?
From The Daily News of Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2007 . . .
The Kamloops Blazers Sports Society is going to find itself with a whack of cash in the not-too-distant future.
Now it has to decide what to do with all that dough.
“It’s kind of a funny thing to be wondering about,” society president Murray Owen said. “It’s a pretty interesting scenario, to be wondering about what you’re going to do with $6 million or $7 million.”
The society’s membership voted Thursday to sell its WHL franchise, the Kamloops Blazers, to River City Hockey Inc. (RCH).
Led by Vancouver businessman Tom Gaglardi, RCH made an offer to purchase the franchise July 18 and then amended that offer Aug. 22. That amended offer has a “total value to the society of over $7 million.”
Unlike the first offer, the second one hasn’t been posted on RCH’s website, nor was it made available to members at Thursday’s meeting.
The members voted 151-43 in favour of selling the franchise to RCH.
“With that kind of response, there’s no coming back,” Owen said. “We are very appreciative that no matter what happened, it was the membership who decided it and that was their right. Whether we agree with it or not, it is what it is.”
The original offer was valued at $6,100,176 and, as Gaglardi told the meeting, would have netted the society $5,403,000.
Gaglardi also told the meeting the amended offer would provide the society with $6.4 million after closing.
The amended offer “gave it a pretty good bump,” Owen said. “After a review of the amended offer, a lot of the things we felt (would keep us from signing off on it) . . . they removed all of those things.
“It was pretty clear to us how much was added to it.”
Soon will begin the task of deciding how to handle that money, assuming the sale is cleared by the WHL’s board of governors, something that could happen as soon as Oct. 11.
“The society,” Owen said, expaining one possible option, “could become a charitable organization and its intent could be to administrate funds from investments.”
Before any of that happens, however, the society will hold its annual meeting, likely sometime next month.
“Membership will be required to make some decisions,” Owen said, adding that “I’m hoping there will be some dialogue” on what to do with the proceeds of the sale.
“We definitely will go back to our membership and have discussions.”
Owen said there have been preliminary discussions with the Kamloops Blazers Sports Foundation and city officials, but they are nowhere close to making any decisions.
“Some people in town may have some options,” he said. “At this point, nothing has been decided.”
The foundation was set up independent of the society and the hockey team and received a $1.5 million endowment. It has used the earnings from that investment to put more than $1 million back into the community through grants to various organizations.
The Kamloops Blazers Sports Society is going to find itself with a whack of cash in the not-too-distant future.
Now it has to decide what to do with all that dough.
“It’s kind of a funny thing to be wondering about,” society president Murray Owen said. “It’s a pretty interesting scenario, to be wondering about what you’re going to do with $6 million or $7 million.”
The society’s membership voted Thursday to sell its WHL franchise, the Kamloops Blazers, to River City Hockey Inc. (RCH).
Led by Vancouver businessman Tom Gaglardi, RCH made an offer to purchase the franchise July 18 and then amended that offer Aug. 22. That amended offer has a “total value to the society of over $7 million.”
Unlike the first offer, the second one hasn’t been posted on RCH’s website, nor was it made available to members at Thursday’s meeting.
The members voted 151-43 in favour of selling the franchise to RCH.
“With that kind of response, there’s no coming back,” Owen said. “We are very appreciative that no matter what happened, it was the membership who decided it and that was their right. Whether we agree with it or not, it is what it is.”
The original offer was valued at $6,100,176 and, as Gaglardi told the meeting, would have netted the society $5,403,000.
Gaglardi also told the meeting the amended offer would provide the society with $6.4 million after closing.
The amended offer “gave it a pretty good bump,” Owen said. “After a review of the amended offer, a lot of the things we felt (would keep us from signing off on it) . . . they removed all of those things.
“It was pretty clear to us how much was added to it.”
Soon will begin the task of deciding how to handle that money, assuming the sale is cleared by the WHL’s board of governors, something that could happen as soon as Oct. 11.
“The society,” Owen said, expaining one possible option, “could become a charitable organization and its intent could be to administrate funds from investments.”
Before any of that happens, however, the society will hold its annual meeting, likely sometime next month.
“Membership will be required to make some decisions,” Owen said, adding that “I’m hoping there will be some dialogue” on what to do with the proceeds of the sale.
“We definitely will go back to our membership and have discussions.”
Owen said there have been preliminary discussions with the Kamloops Blazers Sports Foundation and city officials, but they are nowhere close to making any decisions.
“Some people in town may have some options,” he said. “At this point, nothing has been decided.”
The foundation was set up independent of the society and the hockey team and received a $1.5 million endowment. It has used the earnings from that investment to put more than $1 million back into the community through grants to various organizations.
Blazers camp . . .
From The Daily News of Wednedsay, Aug. 29, 2007 . . .
Dustin Butler doesn’t want to go anywhere.
But he has been around the WHL long enough that he has seen other players
get caught up in the annual 20-year-old game.
And now that he’s 20, well, guess what? Yes, the High River, Alta., native
is one of five 20-year-olds in camp with the Kamloops Blazers, who are
allowed to keep three of them.
“It’s a little nerve-wracking thinking about it . . . thinking I could be
with a different team in a couple of weeks,” Butler said prior to Tuesday
evening’s training camp scrimmage at Memorial Arena. “You never know with
the situation in the league anymore. Twenty-year-old goalies are starting to
be overtaken a little more by younger guys.“
Dean Clark, the team’s general manager and head coach, went shopping
Thursday and came back with goaltender Justin Leclerc, 18, who had been with
the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Leclerc had a terrific season as a 16-year-old
but was so-so last season.
It is, Clark said, all about competition.
“Getting Justin should be a push for guys to compete that much harder . . .
we want everybody pushing for spots,” Clark said.
Which is fine with Butler.
“As long as I play my best and I’m honest with myself,” Butler said, “it’s
up to the coaches to make a decision at the end of the day.
“It’s one of those things you can’t worry about . . . you just have to go
out and play hard. You can’t get caught up in it. You’ve just got to go out
and play your best.”
Butler was at his best shortly after being acquired early last season from
the Portland Winter Hawks. In fact, by mid-January he had set the Blazers’
single-season record for shutouts, with seven.
However, he never put up another blank job as his play and that of the team
tailed off down the stretch.
Having had a summer to think about what happened, Butler theorized: “I
didn’t feel I wore down at all. I just got off my game. When our team was
going through that rough stretch, that’s when any player starts to do too
much, and when you’re doing too much you’re not doing your own job too well.
“I’ve just got to get back to the way I was, playing simple and worrying
about my game.”
Clark agreed.
“Dustin has to regain the form he had in November,” Clark said. “He came in
and at his best was giving up one or two goals a game. But we saw that
balloon a little down the stretch and in the playoffs.”
Butler got into 54 games with the Blazers, going 33-19-2-0, with a 2.81 GAA
and a .879 save percentage. It is that final number that is going to have to
improve.
“I’m playing well right now,” Butler said. “I’m getting better every ice
time.
“And I don’t want to go. I want to finish up here obviously. I don’t really
want to be going anywhere else.”
The Blazers have until Oct. 11 to decide on their 20-year-olds. They opened
camp with five but are likely to be down to four Thursday with veteran C
Brady Mason having been placed on waivers yesterday.
That will leave Butler, defencemen Ryan Bender and Ryan White, and centre
Brock Nixon in the hunt for the three spots.
Clark said it isn’t a given that Butler won’t be here.
“He did a lot of good things for us last season,” Clark said. “His play
allowed us to play some kids last season and that will make us better this
season.”
Butler just hopes he’s around to be part of it.
draft, feels, after two years of midget AAA, he’s ready to make the jump to
the WHL.
“I think I’m ready now,” he said. “Last year, physically, I wasn’t ready.”
After Blazers’ camp, he returned to the Pembina Valley Hawks, who play out
of Morden, Man., and put up 70 points, including 32 goals, in 33 games. He
also missed a handful of games with a twice-sprained knee, a knee he said is
a bit sore after being tweaked the other day.
“Camp has been pretty good,” he said, “although it could be better. My
skating has to be better but my knee has been a bit sore.”
The native of Mariapolis, Man., feels he can bring some offensive
imagination to the Blazers if he is able to make the team.
“I like to make plays,” he said. “That’s what I’m about.”
He’ll get a chance to show his stuff in tonight’s intrasquad game. After
that, if he’s still around, the coaching staff will get a look at him in
weekend exhibition games in Edmonton.
“He’s had an OK camp so far,” Clark said of Van de Velde. “I’d just like to
see him compete all the time for loose pucks. Sometimes he only competes if
he thinks he can win the battle.”
Clark, who talked about this with Van de Velde yesterday, said there isn’t
any questioning Van de Velde’s skill level, but . . .
“If he competes, he’s good enough,” Clark said. “He can skate, he sees the
ice really well like good skill guys do.”
(concussion, out); LW Danny Stevens (concussion, out); RW Kenton Dulle
(foot, day-to-day).
and 14 defencemen, by releasing six players last night — G Andrew Walsh, D
Kyle Weber, D Ian Wilson, F Mike Tebbutt, D Ryne Bodger and D Warren Lees.
Bodger, the son of Blazer Legend Doug Bodger, is off to the camp of the
BCHL’s Cowichan Valley Capitals. . . .The roster total doesn’t include
injured players, or D Keaton Ellerby, who is in Russia with Team Canada. As
well, Kevin Kraus, a defenceman through most of last seaon, has been playing
on the left wing. . . . The annual intrasquad game goes tonight, 7 o’clock,
at Interior Savings Centre. . . . Dulle, who was acquired from the Edmonton
Oil Kings over the summer, blocked a shot with a foot and is day-to-day. . .
. In the morning scrimmage, Team Blue blew a 6-1 lead as Team White came
back to win 7-6 in a shootout. C Jimmy Bubnick, who missed a couple of days
with flu/fatigue and actually tested positive for strep throat so has been
on antibiotics, scored twice for the blue guys.
Dustin Butler doesn’t want to go anywhere.
But he has been around the WHL long enough that he has seen other players
get caught up in the annual 20-year-old game.
And now that he’s 20, well, guess what? Yes, the High River, Alta., native
is one of five 20-year-olds in camp with the Kamloops Blazers, who are
allowed to keep three of them.
“It’s a little nerve-wracking thinking about it . . . thinking I could be
with a different team in a couple of weeks,” Butler said prior to Tuesday
evening’s training camp scrimmage at Memorial Arena. “You never know with
the situation in the league anymore. Twenty-year-old goalies are starting to
be overtaken a little more by younger guys.“
Dean Clark, the team’s general manager and head coach, went shopping
Thursday and came back with goaltender Justin Leclerc, 18, who had been with
the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Leclerc had a terrific season as a 16-year-old
but was so-so last season.
It is, Clark said, all about competition.
“Getting Justin should be a push for guys to compete that much harder . . .
we want everybody pushing for spots,” Clark said.
Which is fine with Butler.
“As long as I play my best and I’m honest with myself,” Butler said, “it’s
up to the coaches to make a decision at the end of the day.
“It’s one of those things you can’t worry about . . . you just have to go
out and play hard. You can’t get caught up in it. You’ve just got to go out
and play your best.”
Butler was at his best shortly after being acquired early last season from
the Portland Winter Hawks. In fact, by mid-January he had set the Blazers’
single-season record for shutouts, with seven.
However, he never put up another blank job as his play and that of the team
tailed off down the stretch.
Having had a summer to think about what happened, Butler theorized: “I
didn’t feel I wore down at all. I just got off my game. When our team was
going through that rough stretch, that’s when any player starts to do too
much, and when you’re doing too much you’re not doing your own job too well.
“I’ve just got to get back to the way I was, playing simple and worrying
about my game.”
Clark agreed.
“Dustin has to regain the form he had in November,” Clark said. “He came in
and at his best was giving up one or two goals a game. But we saw that
balloon a little down the stretch and in the playoffs.”
Butler got into 54 games with the Blazers, going 33-19-2-0, with a 2.81 GAA
and a .879 save percentage. It is that final number that is going to have to
improve.
“I’m playing well right now,” Butler said. “I’m getting better every ice
time.
“And I don’t want to go. I want to finish up here obviously. I don’t really
want to be going anywhere else.”
The Blazers have until Oct. 11 to decide on their 20-year-olds. They opened
camp with five but are likely to be down to four Thursday with veteran C
Brady Mason having been placed on waivers yesterday.
That will leave Butler, defencemen Ryan Bender and Ryan White, and centre
Brock Nixon in the hunt for the three spots.
Clark said it isn’t a given that Butler won’t be here.
“He did a lot of good things for us last season,” Clark said. “His play
allowed us to play some kids last season and that will make us better this
season.”
Butler just hopes he’s around to be part of it.
l l l
C Paul Van de Velde, a third-round pick by the Blazers in the 2005 bantamdraft, feels, after two years of midget AAA, he’s ready to make the jump to
the WHL.
“I think I’m ready now,” he said. “Last year, physically, I wasn’t ready.”
After Blazers’ camp, he returned to the Pembina Valley Hawks, who play out
of Morden, Man., and put up 70 points, including 32 goals, in 33 games. He
also missed a handful of games with a twice-sprained knee, a knee he said is
a bit sore after being tweaked the other day.
“Camp has been pretty good,” he said, “although it could be better. My
skating has to be better but my knee has been a bit sore.”
The native of Mariapolis, Man., feels he can bring some offensive
imagination to the Blazers if he is able to make the team.
“I like to make plays,” he said. “That’s what I’m about.”
He’ll get a chance to show his stuff in tonight’s intrasquad game. After
that, if he’s still around, the coaching staff will get a look at him in
weekend exhibition games in Edmonton.
“He’s had an OK camp so far,” Clark said of Van de Velde. “I’d just like to
see him compete all the time for loose pucks. Sometimes he only competes if
he thinks he can win the battle.”
Clark, who talked about this with Van de Velde yesterday, said there isn’t
any questioning Van de Velde’s skill level, but . . .
“If he competes, he’s good enough,” Clark said. “He can skate, he sees the
ice really well like good skill guys do.”
l l l
THE WALKING WOUNDED: D Mark Schneider (wrist, out); D Matt Johnston(concussion, out); LW Danny Stevens (concussion, out); RW Kenton Dulle
(foot, day-to-day).
l l l
JUST NOTES: The Blazers got down to 42 bodies, including four goaltendersand 14 defencemen, by releasing six players last night — G Andrew Walsh, D
Kyle Weber, D Ian Wilson, F Mike Tebbutt, D Ryne Bodger and D Warren Lees.
Bodger, the son of Blazer Legend Doug Bodger, is off to the camp of the
BCHL’s Cowichan Valley Capitals. . . .The roster total doesn’t include
injured players, or D Keaton Ellerby, who is in Russia with Team Canada. As
well, Kevin Kraus, a defenceman through most of last seaon, has been playing
on the left wing. . . . The annual intrasquad game goes tonight, 7 o’clock,
at Interior Savings Centre. . . . Dulle, who was acquired from the Edmonton
Oil Kings over the summer, blocked a shot with a foot and is day-to-day. . .
. In the morning scrimmage, Team Blue blew a 6-1 lead as Team White came
back to win 7-6 in a shootout. C Jimmy Bubnick, who missed a couple of days
with flu/fatigue and actually tested positive for strep throat so has been
on antibiotics, scored twice for the blue guys.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Some Monday notes . . .
The Tri-City Americans have only eight returning forwards, but one of them is sniper Colton Yellow Horn, who had 40 goals last season. “There are a lot of young kids,” Yellow Horn told the Tri-City Herald’s Annie Fowler. “”The older you get, the more mature you are and the younger players look to you to guide them. You can’t worry about who’s out here, you just worry about making the team and going with the flow.” . . . At the same time, the Americans have four veterans back on defence. . . . One player not in camp is D Brock Cornish, who turnes 18 on Dec. 30. A sophomore, he met with GM Bob Tory on Saturday and now is at home in Mission, B.C., awaiting a trade. . . . Also missing is D Jarrett Toll, 18, who is preparing for his third season. He suffered a broken ankle while playing with the New Westminster Salmonbellies in lacrosse’s Minto Cup, the national championship tournament that is ongoing in New Westminster. . . .
You have to wonder how long it will be before the Edmonton Oil Kings are active on the trade front. The expansion Oil Kings have three goaltenders in camp with WHL experience — Alex Archibald, 20, Tommy Tartaglione, 19, and Dalyn Flette, 17. Two of those are expected to stick, meaning someone will be on the move. . . . The Oil Kings also have assets on defence, namely three veteran 20-year-olds — Bretton Stamler, Matt Swaby and Michael Hengen. . . . You can bet that Edmonton GM Bob Green’s phone is ringing these days, and he is sorting through all kinds of good offers. . . .
Due to expansion work being done to the Centennial Civic Centre, the Swift Current Broncos will play their first eight games on the road. The Broncos have been told the building will be ready for them around Oct. 1. “We have been assured . . . by the City that we are going to have a building to play in on Oct. 12,” assistant GM Elden Moberg told the Prairie Post newspaper. “We know that we are not going to have all the amenities that we would like to have for opening night on Oct. 12. There are certain things that we already know that we are not going to have. The east-end seating will not be ready for our home-opener, the new concessions and the washrooms in the east end are not going to be ready for Oct. 12. (The City has) told us that.” The City also has told the Broncos that the building will be completely enclosed by Oct. 12. “We are going to have an indoor facility,” Moberg said. “We are going to have an ice surface.” . . . An indoor facility and an ice surface? Hey, can’t ask for more than that. Drop the damn puck already. . . .
Vancouver Giants sophomore LW Craig Cunningham spent much of the summer living with former NHLer Ray Ferraro and his family in Vancouver. That allowed him to work out on and off the ice with Ferraro’s son, Landon, who will play this season for the Red Deer Rebels. The connection? Cunningham and Ray Ferraro both are from Trail, B.C. Cunningham also spent some time on the ice with the elder Ferraro. The Giants are hoping something rubbed off, too. Ferraro holds the WHL’s single-season record, having scored 104 goals with the Brandon Wheat Kings in 1983-84. Cunningham didn’t score a goal in 48 games last season. . . .
The Moose Jaw Warriors have an interesting situation in goal, where their camp includes two 20-year-olds — veterans Joey Perricone, who is from San Juan Capistrano, Calif., and has played four seasons in Moose Jaw, and Kurt Jory, a Brandon native. . . . GM Chad Lang and head coach Dave Hunchak will have to get started with an interesting decision there.
You have to wonder how long it will be before the Edmonton Oil Kings are active on the trade front. The expansion Oil Kings have three goaltenders in camp with WHL experience — Alex Archibald, 20, Tommy Tartaglione, 19, and Dalyn Flette, 17. Two of those are expected to stick, meaning someone will be on the move. . . . The Oil Kings also have assets on defence, namely three veteran 20-year-olds — Bretton Stamler, Matt Swaby and Michael Hengen. . . . You can bet that Edmonton GM Bob Green’s phone is ringing these days, and he is sorting through all kinds of good offers. . . .
Due to expansion work being done to the Centennial Civic Centre, the Swift Current Broncos will play their first eight games on the road. The Broncos have been told the building will be ready for them around Oct. 1. “We have been assured . . . by the City that we are going to have a building to play in on Oct. 12,” assistant GM Elden Moberg told the Prairie Post newspaper. “We know that we are not going to have all the amenities that we would like to have for opening night on Oct. 12. There are certain things that we already know that we are not going to have. The east-end seating will not be ready for our home-opener, the new concessions and the washrooms in the east end are not going to be ready for Oct. 12. (The City has) told us that.” The City also has told the Broncos that the building will be completely enclosed by Oct. 12. “We are going to have an indoor facility,” Moberg said. “We are going to have an ice surface.” . . . An indoor facility and an ice surface? Hey, can’t ask for more than that. Drop the damn puck already. . . .
Vancouver Giants sophomore LW Craig Cunningham spent much of the summer living with former NHLer Ray Ferraro and his family in Vancouver. That allowed him to work out on and off the ice with Ferraro’s son, Landon, who will play this season for the Red Deer Rebels. The connection? Cunningham and Ray Ferraro both are from Trail, B.C. Cunningham also spent some time on the ice with the elder Ferraro. The Giants are hoping something rubbed off, too. Ferraro holds the WHL’s single-season record, having scored 104 goals with the Brandon Wheat Kings in 1983-84. Cunningham didn’t score a goal in 48 games last season. . . .
The Moose Jaw Warriors have an interesting situation in goal, where their camp includes two 20-year-olds — veterans Joey Perricone, who is from San Juan Capistrano, Calif., and has played four seasons in Moose Jaw, and Kurt Jory, a Brandon native. . . . GM Chad Lang and head coach Dave Hunchak will have to get started with an interesting decision there.
Blazers sale could be finalized in October
From The Daily News of Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007 . . .
River City Hockey Inc. (RCH), the proposed new owner of the Kamloops
Blazers, could take possession of the WHL franchise as early as Oct. 11.
That’s the day following the next scheduled WHL board of governors meeting
in Calgary. Vancouver businessman Tom Gaglardi, the majority partner in RCH,
is expected to appear before the governors at that meeting.
After 23 years of ownership, the Kamloops Blazers Sports Society’s
membership voted Thursday night to sell its WHL franchise to Gaglardi and
partners Shane Doan, Jarome Iginla, Mark Recchi and Darryl Sydor.
The process that leads to the transfer of ownership has started.
“We have a due diligence process that we go through in all of these cases,”
WHL commissioner Ron Robison said Monday from the WHL’s Calgary office. “Any
time there is a sale that occurs . . . as soon as we get the formal
documents from the club — the purchase and sale agreement — then we commence
with the steps in the due diligence process.
“That largely involves the submission of a comprehensive business plan to
see how the club will operate for the next five years. That’s what we will
be looking for.”
Robison said he expects Gaglardi to make an “in-person presentation” to the
board of governors at that Oct. 10 meeting.
“Obviously, this group comes with a lot of credibility in a lot of areas,”
Robison said. “But we need to see their plan and to evaluate it. There is a
series of documents they have to submit, but the business plan is done on an
in-person basis.”
Robinson said that the whole package will hinge on that business plan.
“he key concern,” he reiterated, “for us in this whole process will be to
ensure that we have a new ownership group that will not only continue to
operate based on the tradition of the Blazers but, more importantly from our
standpoint, be in sync with the type of operating philosophies we have
traditionally had.”
Before all is said and done, RCH also will have to enter into an ownership
agreement with the WHL.
“It provides us with the assurances that they will comply with the bylaws
and various standards of the league,” Robison explained.
The last private sale of a WHL franchise involved the Portland Winter Hawks.
In that instance, Robison said, the transfer of ownership took “probably
close to six months.”
The commissioner doesn’t anticipate that happening with the Blazers.
If all goes well with the submission of a business plan and the execution of
the transfer of ownership agreement, Robison said he could “be in position
to present a recommendation for approval” to the board of governors on Oct.
10.
And, Robison said, “Once the league approves it, it becomes effective.”
“(RCH) would not be in a position to formally start operations until after
the board of governors’ approval,” Robison said. “The earliest would be Oct.
11.”
In the meantime, it will be business as usual with the Blazers.
“The staff in place will continue to operate the franchise,” Robison said,
“and the board (of directors) will continue to oversee the operation until
the formal transition takes place upon the approval of the governors.”
p p p
Mike Priestner, owner of the Edmonton-based Mike Priestner Automotive Group,
also made an offer on the Blazers. He proposed to buy 51 per cent of the
franchise, leaving 49 per cent in the hands of society members.
His proposal, which valued the franchise at $7,110,000, was never given any
consideration by members.
Asked Monday how he felt about the way things went down, Priestner said: “No
comment.”
River City Hockey Inc. (RCH), the proposed new owner of the Kamloops
Blazers, could take possession of the WHL franchise as early as Oct. 11.
That’s the day following the next scheduled WHL board of governors meeting
in Calgary. Vancouver businessman Tom Gaglardi, the majority partner in RCH,
is expected to appear before the governors at that meeting.
After 23 years of ownership, the Kamloops Blazers Sports Society’s
membership voted Thursday night to sell its WHL franchise to Gaglardi and
partners Shane Doan, Jarome Iginla, Mark Recchi and Darryl Sydor.
The process that leads to the transfer of ownership has started.
“We have a due diligence process that we go through in all of these cases,”
WHL commissioner Ron Robison said Monday from the WHL’s Calgary office. “Any
time there is a sale that occurs . . . as soon as we get the formal
documents from the club — the purchase and sale agreement — then we commence
with the steps in the due diligence process.
“That largely involves the submission of a comprehensive business plan to
see how the club will operate for the next five years. That’s what we will
be looking for.”
Robison said he expects Gaglardi to make an “in-person presentation” to the
board of governors at that Oct. 10 meeting.
“Obviously, this group comes with a lot of credibility in a lot of areas,”
Robison said. “But we need to see their plan and to evaluate it. There is a
series of documents they have to submit, but the business plan is done on an
in-person basis.”
Robinson said that the whole package will hinge on that business plan.
“he key concern,” he reiterated, “for us in this whole process will be to
ensure that we have a new ownership group that will not only continue to
operate based on the tradition of the Blazers but, more importantly from our
standpoint, be in sync with the type of operating philosophies we have
traditionally had.”
Before all is said and done, RCH also will have to enter into an ownership
agreement with the WHL.
“It provides us with the assurances that they will comply with the bylaws
and various standards of the league,” Robison explained.
The last private sale of a WHL franchise involved the Portland Winter Hawks.
In that instance, Robison said, the transfer of ownership took “probably
close to six months.”
The commissioner doesn’t anticipate that happening with the Blazers.
If all goes well with the submission of a business plan and the execution of
the transfer of ownership agreement, Robison said he could “be in position
to present a recommendation for approval” to the board of governors on Oct.
10.
And, Robison said, “Once the league approves it, it becomes effective.”
“(RCH) would not be in a position to formally start operations until after
the board of governors’ approval,” Robison said. “The earliest would be Oct.
11.”
In the meantime, it will be business as usual with the Blazers.
“The staff in place will continue to operate the franchise,” Robison said,
“and the board (of directors) will continue to oversee the operation until
the formal transition takes place upon the approval of the governors.”
p p p
Mike Priestner, owner of the Edmonton-based Mike Priestner Automotive Group,
also made an offer on the Blazers. He proposed to buy 51 per cent of the
franchise, leaving 49 per cent in the hands of society members.
His proposal, which valued the franchise at $7,110,000, was never given any
consideration by members.
Asked Monday how he felt about the way things went down, Priestner said: “No
comment.”
Blazers camp . . .
From The Daily News of Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007 . . .
Alex Rodgers says he’s ready for his sophomore WHL season.
Well, almost ready.
“Everything except the shoulder,” Rodgers, an 18-year-old left-winger from
Salmon Arm, said Monday prior to a session at the Kamloops Blazers’ training
camp at Memorial Arena.
“My mind, fitness . . . everything is there except the shoulder,” he added.
Rodgers, suffered a severe shoulder injury Feb. 9 during a line brawl in a
5-1 loss to the Giants in Vancouver.
It was the first fight of his hockey career.
“Yes, it was my first real go at it,” Rodgers said of the incident in which
he was grabbed by Vancouver left-winger Mike Wuchterl, who was then 19 and
is built like a fire hydrant.
“I had never been in that much pain before,” Rodgers said of the moments
after he was hurt. "(Trainer Colin Robinson) tried to calm me down but I
just could not calm down. There was just too much pain.”
The end result was reconstructive surgery March 23, with Dr. Ross
Outerbridge doing the rebuilding. What followed was some intensive rehab
work, under the watchful eye of Kevin Brechin of Excelerate Sports Therapy,
who works with the club.
“I worked with him until the end of June . . . five days a week,” Rodgers
said. “There was a lot of manual work, just pounding away. I’m so thankful
for him . . . I wouldn’t be where I am without him.”
Just where is Rodgers?
“He’s getting close,” Robinson said. “I’d look for him about the time of the
last couple of exhibition games.”
That would be Sept. 11, against the host Chilliwack Bruins, and Sept. 14,
when the Kelowna Rockets are in town.
Rodgers, who was injured in Game 54, picked up 17 points, including six
goals, in 41 games. That included a stretch where he totalled 12 points in
14 games and became a key part of the special teams.
Now he said he has been out of action long enough.
“It was basically the whole second half of the season,” said Rodgers, whose
nickname is — yes! — A-Rod. “Even now I’m having trouble watching main camp.
I want to get out there.”
All that remains is for the medical staff to clear him for contact,
something that is expected in September.
For now, though, Rodgers is the guy listed on Team Blue but wearing a yellow
jersey.
p p p
THE WALKING WOUNDED: C Jimmy Bubnick (flu, day-to-day); D Matt Johnston
(concussion, indefinite); D Mark Schneider (wrist, four to six weeks); LW
Danny Stevens (concussion, indefinite).
p p p
JUST NOTES: Johnston, who is out with a concussion, was injured in camp with
the AJHL’s Brooks Bandits. . . . Stevens, who is from Chase, is 6-foot-6 1/2
and showed up weighing 315 pounds. He was checked by D Kevin Kraus in a
Sunday night scrimmage and ended up with a lump over one eye and a
concussion. . . . Bubnick, who took part in the first two days of rookie
camp, may be back on the ice today. But if he isn’t feeling well, he won’t
be rushed back. . . . With INXS playing Interior Savings Centre tonight,
Robinson said the Blazers will be able to move back into the big rink after
11:30. So he, Dev Mitra, Pete Friedel, Dave Japp, Spike Wallace and Brechin
will work into the wee hours to get everything from Memorial Arena back to
the team’s regular dressing room. . . . The Blazers released five 1992-born
players last night — RW Kyle Bodnaruk (Winnipeg), C Grayson Downing
(Abbotsford), D Nolan Kaiser (Calgary), C Neil Landry (Saskatoon) and G Josh
Thorimbert (Saskatoon). All five were 2007 bantam draft selections. “They
got their taste,” GM/head coach Dean Clark said, “and now it’s time for them
to go home and get settled in.” . . . Clark, by the way, has really liked
holding main camp on the smaller ice surface at Memorial Arena. “It’s been a
good thing,” he said. “Guys can’t hide out there. We may do it again next
year.” . . . The last two pros to skate with the Blazers — Erik Christensen
and Tyler Redenbach — left Monday. . . . There will be two scrimmages today
— 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. — at Memorial Arena. The intrasquad game goes
Wednesday, 7 p.m., at Interior Savings Centre.
Alex Rodgers says he’s ready for his sophomore WHL season.
Well, almost ready.
“Everything except the shoulder,” Rodgers, an 18-year-old left-winger from
Salmon Arm, said Monday prior to a session at the Kamloops Blazers’ training
camp at Memorial Arena.
“My mind, fitness . . . everything is there except the shoulder,” he added.
Rodgers, suffered a severe shoulder injury Feb. 9 during a line brawl in a
5-1 loss to the Giants in Vancouver.
It was the first fight of his hockey career.
“Yes, it was my first real go at it,” Rodgers said of the incident in which
he was grabbed by Vancouver left-winger Mike Wuchterl, who was then 19 and
is built like a fire hydrant.
“I had never been in that much pain before,” Rodgers said of the moments
after he was hurt. "(Trainer Colin Robinson) tried to calm me down but I
just could not calm down. There was just too much pain.”
The end result was reconstructive surgery March 23, with Dr. Ross
Outerbridge doing the rebuilding. What followed was some intensive rehab
work, under the watchful eye of Kevin Brechin of Excelerate Sports Therapy,
who works with the club.
“I worked with him until the end of June . . . five days a week,” Rodgers
said. “There was a lot of manual work, just pounding away. I’m so thankful
for him . . . I wouldn’t be where I am without him.”
Just where is Rodgers?
“He’s getting close,” Robinson said. “I’d look for him about the time of the
last couple of exhibition games.”
That would be Sept. 11, against the host Chilliwack Bruins, and Sept. 14,
when the Kelowna Rockets are in town.
Rodgers, who was injured in Game 54, picked up 17 points, including six
goals, in 41 games. That included a stretch where he totalled 12 points in
14 games and became a key part of the special teams.
Now he said he has been out of action long enough.
“It was basically the whole second half of the season,” said Rodgers, whose
nickname is — yes! — A-Rod. “Even now I’m having trouble watching main camp.
I want to get out there.”
All that remains is for the medical staff to clear him for contact,
something that is expected in September.
For now, though, Rodgers is the guy listed on Team Blue but wearing a yellow
jersey.
p p p
THE WALKING WOUNDED: C Jimmy Bubnick (flu, day-to-day); D Matt Johnston
(concussion, indefinite); D Mark Schneider (wrist, four to six weeks); LW
Danny Stevens (concussion, indefinite).
p p p
JUST NOTES: Johnston, who is out with a concussion, was injured in camp with
the AJHL’s Brooks Bandits. . . . Stevens, who is from Chase, is 6-foot-6 1/2
and showed up weighing 315 pounds. He was checked by D Kevin Kraus in a
Sunday night scrimmage and ended up with a lump over one eye and a
concussion. . . . Bubnick, who took part in the first two days of rookie
camp, may be back on the ice today. But if he isn’t feeling well, he won’t
be rushed back. . . . With INXS playing Interior Savings Centre tonight,
Robinson said the Blazers will be able to move back into the big rink after
11:30. So he, Dev Mitra, Pete Friedel, Dave Japp, Spike Wallace and Brechin
will work into the wee hours to get everything from Memorial Arena back to
the team’s regular dressing room. . . . The Blazers released five 1992-born
players last night — RW Kyle Bodnaruk (Winnipeg), C Grayson Downing
(Abbotsford), D Nolan Kaiser (Calgary), C Neil Landry (Saskatoon) and G Josh
Thorimbert (Saskatoon). All five were 2007 bantam draft selections. “They
got their taste,” GM/head coach Dean Clark said, “and now it’s time for them
to go home and get settled in.” . . . Clark, by the way, has really liked
holding main camp on the smaller ice surface at Memorial Arena. “It’s been a
good thing,” he said. “Guys can’t hide out there. We may do it again next
year.” . . . The last two pros to skate with the Blazers — Erik Christensen
and Tyler Redenbach — left Monday. . . . There will be two scrimmages today
— 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. — at Memorial Arena. The intrasquad game goes
Wednesday, 7 p.m., at Interior Savings Centre.
Meanwhile, in Europe . . .
Our European correspondent is back from vacation and has filed some more signings from across the waters . . .
F Zdenek Bahensky (Saskatoon) has signed a one-year deal with Litvinov in the Czech Extraliga. He played midget for Litvinov before playing for the Blades. Litvinov also has former NHLer Robert Reichel on its roster. . . .
F Dan Baum (Prince George) has signed with Heilbronn in Germany’s 2.Bundesliga. Baum’s brother Patrick, a defenceman who once played a game with the Swift Current Broncos, also is with Heilbronn. In fact, both have dual German-Canadian citizenship. Dan played in the ECHL and the LNAH (that rough-and-rugged Quebec senior league) last season, while Patrick was at the U of Regina. . . .
Former NHL G Ed Belfour has signed a six-month deal with Leksand of Sweden’s Allsvenskan (the No. 2 league). He will join his new team Oct. 12. Also on the roster are F Roman Vopat (Moose Jaw/Prince Albert), former Dallas F Juha Lind, and former NHLer Robert Petrovicky. Leksand’s head coach is former New York Islanders D Tomas Jonsson. . . .
F Justin Cox (Prince George) had a tryout with Duisburg of the German DEL and came out of it with a contract. He played for Storhamar in the Norwegian Elitserien last season. Former Saskatoon F Jade Galbraith also plays for Duisburg.
F Jake Riddle (Seattle/Tri-City/Saskatoon/Lethbridge) has signed with Hull of the British Elite League. He was with Utah (ECHL) last season.
D Richard Seeley (Lethbridge/Prince Albert) has signed with the Vienna Capitals of the top Austrian league. He played for Iserlohn of the DEL last season. D Darcy Werenka (Lethbridge/Brandon) is into his fifth season with Vienna.
D Trevor Sherban (Saskatoon/Portland) has signed with HC Appiano, which also is known as HC Eppan as it is in a German-speaking part of Italy. It plays in Italy’s Serie B. He played for Bad Tölz of the German Oberliga last season and played for Appiano in 2005-2006.
D Tim Wedderburn (Prince George) now is with Cortina of Italy’s Serie A. Wedderburn split time last season between AHL teams in Hershey and Chicago, and Rockford of the UHL. C Brandin Cote (Spokane) is on Cortina’s roster and the head coach is Winnipeg native Rich Gosselin, who played for the Flin Flon Bombers in the early 1970s.
F Zdenek Bahensky (Saskatoon) has signed a one-year deal with Litvinov in the Czech Extraliga. He played midget for Litvinov before playing for the Blades. Litvinov also has former NHLer Robert Reichel on its roster. . . .
F Dan Baum (Prince George) has signed with Heilbronn in Germany’s 2.Bundesliga. Baum’s brother Patrick, a defenceman who once played a game with the Swift Current Broncos, also is with Heilbronn. In fact, both have dual German-Canadian citizenship. Dan played in the ECHL and the LNAH (that rough-and-rugged Quebec senior league) last season, while Patrick was at the U of Regina. . . .
Former NHL G Ed Belfour has signed a six-month deal with Leksand of Sweden’s Allsvenskan (the No. 2 league). He will join his new team Oct. 12. Also on the roster are F Roman Vopat (Moose Jaw/Prince Albert), former Dallas F Juha Lind, and former NHLer Robert Petrovicky. Leksand’s head coach is former New York Islanders D Tomas Jonsson. . . .
F Justin Cox (Prince George) had a tryout with Duisburg of the German DEL and came out of it with a contract. He played for Storhamar in the Norwegian Elitserien last season. Former Saskatoon F Jade Galbraith also plays for Duisburg.
F Jake Riddle (Seattle/Tri-City/Saskatoon/Lethbridge) has signed with Hull of the British Elite League. He was with Utah (ECHL) last season.
D Richard Seeley (Lethbridge/Prince Albert) has signed with the Vienna Capitals of the top Austrian league. He played for Iserlohn of the DEL last season. D Darcy Werenka (Lethbridge/Brandon) is into his fifth season with Vienna.
D Trevor Sherban (Saskatoon/Portland) has signed with HC Appiano, which also is known as HC Eppan as it is in a German-speaking part of Italy. It plays in Italy’s Serie B. He played for Bad Tölz of the German Oberliga last season and played for Appiano in 2005-2006.
D Tim Wedderburn (Prince George) now is with Cortina of Italy’s Serie A. Wedderburn split time last season between AHL teams in Hershey and Chicago, and Rockford of the UHL. C Brandin Cote (Spokane) is on Cortina’s roster and the head coach is Winnipeg native Rich Gosselin, who played for the Flin Flon Bombers in the early 1970s.
Sunday notes . . .
There continue to be rumours that former Kamloops Blazers/Kelowna Rockets head coach Marc Habscheid will end up on the coaching staff of the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes. Wayne Gretzky, the head coach in Phoenix, apparently isn’t hoping to have Rick Tocchet back on his staff, but the NHL hasn’t yet ruled on Tocchet’s immediate future after his recent gambling-related conviction. Habscheid spent last season as the associate head coach of the Boston Bruins. He and head coach Dave Lewis were fired earlier this summer. Lewis also is believed to be talking with an NHL team about a coaching position.
LW Judd Blackwater, 20, had two goals and two assists Sunday to lead Team Red to a 10-5 victory over Team White in the Spokane Chiefs’ camp-ending intrasquad game. D Jared Cowen, the first overall pick in the 2006 bantam draft, had two assists for Team Red. . . . Earlier in camp, Austrian D Stefan Ulmer, a pick in the 2007 import draft, lost seven teeth after taking a hit of some sort. He had just changed from a full facemask to a visor.
The Medicine Hat Tigers concluded their rookie camp and held over 11 players for main camp which will open Friday. In the meantime, the Tigers took 38 players into the Cypress Hills for a retreat. Assuming they find their way back out of the woods, they’ll return to the Gas City for light scrimmages Wednesday and Thursday and fitness testing before getting into main camp.
In Prince George, Team White beat Team Black 4-1 in the Cougars’ intrasquad game. Matthew Frydrysek, Jacob Verheyden, who had two scraps, Brad Rihela and veteran Curtis Patterson, into an empty net, scored for Team White. Colin Haas, a Texan from the midget Dallas Stars, counted for Team Black. After the game, the Cougars cut to 31 players, including three 1992s who aren’t eligible to play full-time this season. . . . Jim Swanson, the Prince George Citizen’s sports editor, reports that 17-year-old Joel Danyluk, 17, will back up veteran G Real Cyr, 20, as they are the only two goaltenders left in camp. Danyluk is from the midget AAA Yorkton, Sask., Harvest. Prior to Sunday’s intrasquad game, the Cougars released three goaltenders — Wade Loewen, 18, from Winnipeg; Wade Salmon, 15, from Red Deer, and Taylor Nielsen, 17, from Abbotsford. . . . The Cougars already have lost two players to concussions. LW Cameron McWilliam, 17, went home to Vancouver after absorbing a hit on Saturday, while sophomore LW Jordie Deagle also is out with a concussion.
The Vancouver Province’s Steve Ewen reports that Vancouver Giants LW Garet Hunt spent Saturday night competing in an International Natural Bodybuilding Association of Canada event. All Hunt did was win the junior men’s division. Hunt, 20, suffered a badly broken leg in February and now you know how hard he has worked in an attempt to get back into action.
The Regina Leader-Post’s Greg Harder reports that the Regina Pats are on the verge of signing their first four selections from the 2007 bantam draft — C Dominick Favreau (13th overall), LW Graham Hood (23rd), D Justin Slobozian (49th) and C Jordan Weal (79th). The quartet was in Regina’s rookie camp and the four were among the 20 players held over for main camp.
In Red Deer, the Rebels’ intrasquad game was decided in a shootout, with Team White beating Team Black, 5-4. The game also featured three scraps. F Connor Redmond, Red Deer’s first pick in the 2007 bantam draft, had the Gordie Howe hat trick (goal, assist, fight) for Team Black, which also got goals from Adam Kambeitz, Keyler Bruce and Dallas Jackson. Willie Coetzee, Joel Lowry, Justin Moir and Josh Cowen counted for Team White, which got the shootout winner from Coetzee.
Team Black beat Team Gold 7-4 in the Chilliwack Bruins’ intrasquad game Sunday. RW Oscar Moller led the winners with two goals and two assists, while linemate C Mark Santorelli had a goal and two helpers. David Robinson, Brayden Metz, Dylen McKinley and Cole Gelley also scored for the winners. Matt Meropoulis, who had three goals last season, scored twice for the gold guys, with Ryan Howse and Jadon Potter getting the others. . . . The Bruins kept veteran defencemen Kevin Boutilier, Dylan Chapman, Nick Holden and Matthew McCue, along with winger Ken Petkau, out of the game. . . . Chilliwack D Cam Stevens (broken leg) is out at least eight weeks. He was injured in offseason training.
The Everett Silvertips will have more than 40 players in main camp when it takes to the ice today. That includes Russian C Vitali Karamnov, who is in Everett although he will attend the Edmonton Oilers camp on a free-agent tryout deal. Included in that total are 14 players held over from rookie camp.
LW Judd Blackwater, 20, had two goals and two assists Sunday to lead Team Red to a 10-5 victory over Team White in the Spokane Chiefs’ camp-ending intrasquad game. D Jared Cowen, the first overall pick in the 2006 bantam draft, had two assists for Team Red. . . . Earlier in camp, Austrian D Stefan Ulmer, a pick in the 2007 import draft, lost seven teeth after taking a hit of some sort. He had just changed from a full facemask to a visor.
The Medicine Hat Tigers concluded their rookie camp and held over 11 players for main camp which will open Friday. In the meantime, the Tigers took 38 players into the Cypress Hills for a retreat. Assuming they find their way back out of the woods, they’ll return to the Gas City for light scrimmages Wednesday and Thursday and fitness testing before getting into main camp.
In Prince George, Team White beat Team Black 4-1 in the Cougars’ intrasquad game. Matthew Frydrysek, Jacob Verheyden, who had two scraps, Brad Rihela and veteran Curtis Patterson, into an empty net, scored for Team White. Colin Haas, a Texan from the midget Dallas Stars, counted for Team Black. After the game, the Cougars cut to 31 players, including three 1992s who aren’t eligible to play full-time this season. . . . Jim Swanson, the Prince George Citizen’s sports editor, reports that 17-year-old Joel Danyluk, 17, will back up veteran G Real Cyr, 20, as they are the only two goaltenders left in camp. Danyluk is from the midget AAA Yorkton, Sask., Harvest. Prior to Sunday’s intrasquad game, the Cougars released three goaltenders — Wade Loewen, 18, from Winnipeg; Wade Salmon, 15, from Red Deer, and Taylor Nielsen, 17, from Abbotsford. . . . The Cougars already have lost two players to concussions. LW Cameron McWilliam, 17, went home to Vancouver after absorbing a hit on Saturday, while sophomore LW Jordie Deagle also is out with a concussion.
The Vancouver Province’s Steve Ewen reports that Vancouver Giants LW Garet Hunt spent Saturday night competing in an International Natural Bodybuilding Association of Canada event. All Hunt did was win the junior men’s division. Hunt, 20, suffered a badly broken leg in February and now you know how hard he has worked in an attempt to get back into action.
The Regina Leader-Post’s Greg Harder reports that the Regina Pats are on the verge of signing their first four selections from the 2007 bantam draft — C Dominick Favreau (13th overall), LW Graham Hood (23rd), D Justin Slobozian (49th) and C Jordan Weal (79th). The quartet was in Regina’s rookie camp and the four were among the 20 players held over for main camp.
In Red Deer, the Rebels’ intrasquad game was decided in a shootout, with Team White beating Team Black, 5-4. The game also featured three scraps. F Connor Redmond, Red Deer’s first pick in the 2007 bantam draft, had the Gordie Howe hat trick (goal, assist, fight) for Team Black, which also got goals from Adam Kambeitz, Keyler Bruce and Dallas Jackson. Willie Coetzee, Joel Lowry, Justin Moir and Josh Cowen counted for Team White, which got the shootout winner from Coetzee.
Team Black beat Team Gold 7-4 in the Chilliwack Bruins’ intrasquad game Sunday. RW Oscar Moller led the winners with two goals and two assists, while linemate C Mark Santorelli had a goal and two helpers. David Robinson, Brayden Metz, Dylen McKinley and Cole Gelley also scored for the winners. Matt Meropoulis, who had three goals last season, scored twice for the gold guys, with Ryan Howse and Jadon Potter getting the others. . . . The Bruins kept veteran defencemen Kevin Boutilier, Dylan Chapman, Nick Holden and Matthew McCue, along with winger Ken Petkau, out of the game. . . . Chilliwack D Cam Stevens (broken leg) is out at least eight weeks. He was injured in offseason training.
The Everett Silvertips will have more than 40 players in main camp when it takes to the ice today. That includes Russian C Vitali Karamnov, who is in Everett although he will attend the Edmonton Oilers camp on a free-agent tryout deal. Included in that total are 14 players held over from rookie camp.
Column
From The Daily News of Monday, Aug. 27, 2007 . . .
With apologies to the late, great Jimmy Cannon, nobody asked me but . . .
x Well, Kamloops, how does it feel?
The local WHL franchise no longer can be referred to as “your” Blazers. Does
it feel as though an albatross has been removed from around your neck? Or is
there an empty feeling in the pit of your stomach?
What used to be “your” Blazers now are Gaglardi’s Blazers and Doan’s and
Iginla’s and Sydor’s and Recchi’s Blazers. The team still is the Blazers; it
just isn’t “your” Blazers.
Vancouver businessman Tom Gaglardi is the majority partner in River City
Hockey Inc. (RCH), which now owns the Blazers. The team also belongs to
ex-Blazers players Shane Doan, Jarome Iginla, Darryl Sydor and Mark Recchi,
all of them superb NHL players and minority owners in RCH. And good for them
for once again becoming Blazers.
The team never was owned by the community — it was owned by members of the
Kamloops Blazers Sports Society — but the perception in the hockey world and
beyond was that the franchise was community-owned.
Now it’s privately owned, meaning that no matter how you shake it, the team
no longer belongs to you and you and you.
x While no one is talking, at least not publicly, you have to think there’s
an empty feeling in the pits of the stomachs of at least some of the people
who were there on Day 1 some 23 years ago.
Somehow you have to figure that when this all started they didn’t see it
ending in this fashion, at least not with the board of directors getting
sliced and diced in front of fellow members and no one coming to their
defence.
It says here that most of the directors deserved better.
x Buried deep in the information package prepared by RCH and distributed at
Thursday’s meeting was one truly interesting nugget.
Gaglardi hired Donald M. Spence of Spencevaluation, a firm that has a
Kelowna office, to prepare an evaluation of the Kamloops WHL franchise.
One of the things Spence did was to list the recent selling price of 13
major junior franchises. He also noted:
“In addition to the above transactions reviewed by us, we have been advised
that the owner of the Kelowna Rockets . . . received an unsolicited offer
for an estimated $10 million. Similarly, we understand the owner of the
Prince George Cougars received an unsolicited offer of $5 million.”
No, Gaglardi never mentioned a $10-million offer for the Rockets during his
presentation. None of the members seemed to pick up on it either.
But if Bruce Hamilton, the Rockets’ president and general manager, received
a $10-million offer — and he says he did — what might have happened had the
Blazers been placed on the open market?
x RCH had been trying for 14 months to meet with the society’s board. The
board’s position, however, was that the society’s members hadn’t put the
franchise up for sale, therefore the board hadn’t been empowered to accept
offers or to negotiate.
(In the end, in what may have been the most bizarre sale of a team in
sporting history, the franchise never was put up for sale and there weren’t
any negotiations. The members voted on July 11, 2006, that the society’s
assets weren’t for sale; they never did vote to put them up for sale.)
Anyway . . . RCH finally got an opportunity to meet with the board Aug. 13.
Shortly after that meeting, Gaglardi told The Daily News: “I think it was a
productive meeting and we were able to do what we set out to accomplish. It
was a long-time coming and it was a pretty good meeting.”
On Thursday night, Gaglardi told society members: “We were disappointed the
board at that (Aug. 13) meeting took the position that they were only there
to listen and not comment. It was therefore a rather unsuccessful meeting.”
x It’s no secret that the new owners aren’t sold on the job Dean Clark, the
club’s general manager and head coach, has done. It also didn’t help Clark’s
cause that his name appeared quite prominently — as managing partner — in
the first proposal made to the society by Mike Priestner of the
Edmonton-based Mike Priestner Automotive Group.
It was often mentioned over the last month that the Blazers have trouble
getting players to commit to their program, never mind that only two of the
players selected in the 2004, 2005 and 2006 drafts — Jim O’Brien, an
American, and Colin Lidster, a Kamloops lad who now lives in the U.S. — have
chosen not to play here. All 10 of the players taken in the 2007 draft, all
of whom are too young to play in the WHL this season, were in the rookie
camp that finished Saturday night.
It often has been mentioned that things need to be rebuilt. And while that
may be the case in some areas of the organization, someone should get credit
for a team that won 40 games last season and is poised to make a run this
season.
But it’s doubtful if Clark has ever operated under the pressure he is going
to feel this season.
He knows he has to win to impress new owners.
And he knows he has to win in order to attract the attentions of other
owners, perhaps even in other leagues.
x During the transition period that might run into January as the WHL does
its due diligence on RCH and its offer, it will be business as usual in the
hockey department.
Should Clark choose to make a trade, that’s what will happen. As was the
case Friday when he acquired goaltender Justin Leclerc, Clark won’t have to
consult with anyone, not society president Murray Owen, not Gaglardi, not
WHL commissioner Ron Robison.
x While Doan went to great lengths during his impassioned plea Thursday to
state that RCH has no plans to increase ticket prices, you have to wonder
what the expiry date is on that promise. One WHL official said Friday that
the WHL is “two or three years away” having a $20 ticket “across the
league.”
This season, a regular adult ticket to a Blazers game goes for $16.
x Just wondering . . . but do you suppose the new owners might rename the
team the River City Blazers?
Ahh, just kidding!
Gregg Drinnan is sports editor of The Daily News. He is at
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca.
With apologies to the late, great Jimmy Cannon, nobody asked me but . . .
x Well, Kamloops, how does it feel?
The local WHL franchise no longer can be referred to as “your” Blazers. Does
it feel as though an albatross has been removed from around your neck? Or is
there an empty feeling in the pit of your stomach?
What used to be “your” Blazers now are Gaglardi’s Blazers and Doan’s and
Iginla’s and Sydor’s and Recchi’s Blazers. The team still is the Blazers; it
just isn’t “your” Blazers.
Vancouver businessman Tom Gaglardi is the majority partner in River City
Hockey Inc. (RCH), which now owns the Blazers. The team also belongs to
ex-Blazers players Shane Doan, Jarome Iginla, Darryl Sydor and Mark Recchi,
all of them superb NHL players and minority owners in RCH. And good for them
for once again becoming Blazers.
The team never was owned by the community — it was owned by members of the
Kamloops Blazers Sports Society — but the perception in the hockey world and
beyond was that the franchise was community-owned.
Now it’s privately owned, meaning that no matter how you shake it, the team
no longer belongs to you and you and you.
x While no one is talking, at least not publicly, you have to think there’s
an empty feeling in the pits of the stomachs of at least some of the people
who were there on Day 1 some 23 years ago.
Somehow you have to figure that when this all started they didn’t see it
ending in this fashion, at least not with the board of directors getting
sliced and diced in front of fellow members and no one coming to their
defence.
It says here that most of the directors deserved better.
x Buried deep in the information package prepared by RCH and distributed at
Thursday’s meeting was one truly interesting nugget.
Gaglardi hired Donald M. Spence of Spencevaluation, a firm that has a
Kelowna office, to prepare an evaluation of the Kamloops WHL franchise.
One of the things Spence did was to list the recent selling price of 13
major junior franchises. He also noted:
“In addition to the above transactions reviewed by us, we have been advised
that the owner of the Kelowna Rockets . . . received an unsolicited offer
for an estimated $10 million. Similarly, we understand the owner of the
Prince George Cougars received an unsolicited offer of $5 million.”
No, Gaglardi never mentioned a $10-million offer for the Rockets during his
presentation. None of the members seemed to pick up on it either.
But if Bruce Hamilton, the Rockets’ president and general manager, received
a $10-million offer — and he says he did — what might have happened had the
Blazers been placed on the open market?
x RCH had been trying for 14 months to meet with the society’s board. The
board’s position, however, was that the society’s members hadn’t put the
franchise up for sale, therefore the board hadn’t been empowered to accept
offers or to negotiate.
(In the end, in what may have been the most bizarre sale of a team in
sporting history, the franchise never was put up for sale and there weren’t
any negotiations. The members voted on July 11, 2006, that the society’s
assets weren’t for sale; they never did vote to put them up for sale.)
Anyway . . . RCH finally got an opportunity to meet with the board Aug. 13.
Shortly after that meeting, Gaglardi told The Daily News: “I think it was a
productive meeting and we were able to do what we set out to accomplish. It
was a long-time coming and it was a pretty good meeting.”
On Thursday night, Gaglardi told society members: “We were disappointed the
board at that (Aug. 13) meeting took the position that they were only there
to listen and not comment. It was therefore a rather unsuccessful meeting.”
x It’s no secret that the new owners aren’t sold on the job Dean Clark, the
club’s general manager and head coach, has done. It also didn’t help Clark’s
cause that his name appeared quite prominently — as managing partner — in
the first proposal made to the society by Mike Priestner of the
Edmonton-based Mike Priestner Automotive Group.
It was often mentioned over the last month that the Blazers have trouble
getting players to commit to their program, never mind that only two of the
players selected in the 2004, 2005 and 2006 drafts — Jim O’Brien, an
American, and Colin Lidster, a Kamloops lad who now lives in the U.S. — have
chosen not to play here. All 10 of the players taken in the 2007 draft, all
of whom are too young to play in the WHL this season, were in the rookie
camp that finished Saturday night.
It often has been mentioned that things need to be rebuilt. And while that
may be the case in some areas of the organization, someone should get credit
for a team that won 40 games last season and is poised to make a run this
season.
But it’s doubtful if Clark has ever operated under the pressure he is going
to feel this season.
He knows he has to win to impress new owners.
And he knows he has to win in order to attract the attentions of other
owners, perhaps even in other leagues.
x During the transition period that might run into January as the WHL does
its due diligence on RCH and its offer, it will be business as usual in the
hockey department.
Should Clark choose to make a trade, that’s what will happen. As was the
case Friday when he acquired goaltender Justin Leclerc, Clark won’t have to
consult with anyone, not society president Murray Owen, not Gaglardi, not
WHL commissioner Ron Robison.
x While Doan went to great lengths during his impassioned plea Thursday to
state that RCH has no plans to increase ticket prices, you have to wonder
what the expiry date is on that promise. One WHL official said Friday that
the WHL is “two or three years away” having a $20 ticket “across the
league.”
This season, a regular adult ticket to a Blazers game goes for $16.
x Just wondering . . . but do you suppose the new owners might rename the
team the River City Blazers?
Ahh, just kidding!
Gregg Drinnan is sports editor of The Daily News. He is at
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Leclerc gets fresh start
From The Daily News of Monday, Aug. 27, 2007 . . .
Justin Leclerc wanted a fresh start.
The Kamloops Blazers were more than willing to give it to him.
Leclerc, an 18-year-old goaltender, was acquired from the Lethbridge
Hurricanes for a second-round 2008 WHL bantam draft pick Thursday.
“We talked about me moving forward,” Leclerc — that’s with two small c’s and
it’s pronounced leclare — said Saturday while watching the final scrimmage
of the Blazers’ rookie camp at Interior Savings Centre. “It just seemed like
a good time for a fresh start. The Hurricanes really respected my wishes and
went ahead with it.”
Leclerc was Lethbridge’s third-round pick in the 2004 draft. He put together
a strong rookie season (2005-06), going 10-12-6 with a 3.32 GAA and a .896
save percentage for a team that went 27-42-3.
He then was named to Canada’s under-18 team for the annual August tournament
in Europe. He saw only 80 minutes of action, though, as the team’s other
goaltender, Trevor Cann of the OHL’s Peterborough Petes, got “real hot.”
Last season, however, Leclerc struggled, going 15-19-1 with a 3.62 GAA and
.872 save percentage as he split time with Mike Maniago, who had been
acquired from Kamloops on Oct. 24. Perhaps it was fitting, then, that
mononucleosis ended Leclerc’s season with 10 games remaining.
Today, he’s healthy. And the fresh start he so badly wanted began Sunday
with fitness testing at The ATM and an evening skate at Memorial Arena.
He had been at home in Saskatoon — he was born in Hamilton, but his family
moved to ŒToontown when he was about 18 months of age — when he got word of
the trade. He had told the Hurricanes that he would report to their camp no
matter his status and was to leave Monday. Instead, he found himself on his
way to Kamloops. He wasn’t surprised; it just happened a bit sooner than
expected.
“I didn’t expect to be traded before camp,” he said. “But I knew it was a
possibility. When the call came, I wasn’t disappointed. I wanted a fresh
start and a good situation, and I feel I’ve gotten that.”
Hurricanes general manager Roy Stasiuk told the Lethbridge Herald: “We knew
we had two really good goaltenders with Justin and Michael Maniago, but
Justin wasn’t sure he wanted to commit to our goaltending rotation again
this season.”
While Leclerc said Kamloops would have been on a list of desirable places in
which to play, he added that “of all the teams in the league this is the one
on which I know the fewest players. I’m sure I know two or three players on
most of the other teams.”
The only Kamloops player with whom he is familiar is centre Jimmy Bubnick,
who also is from Saskatoon. In fact, the two worked out together this
summer. (Leclerc also worked as an instructor at a goaltending school; one
of the clients was Josh Thorimbert, one of the Blazers‚ 2007 draft picks and
a rookie camp attendee.)
“I heard this is a hockey city,” Leclerc said with a straight face, “but
I’ve only played here once.”
Actually, Leclerc was on the bench as the Hurricanes, with Kevin Opsahl in
goal, dropped a 2-1 decision to the Blazers here on Oct. 14, 2005.
“I know the team was good last season, and everything seems to be in place
now,” Leclerc added.
Time will tell whether he is one of the final pieces in the puzzle, but his
arrival certainly provides general manager and head coach Dean Clark with a
few more options.
Prior to Thursday, Dustin Butler, 20, was the unquestioned No. 1 goaltender.
While Butler still is atop the depth chart today, his hold is a little
shakier. The Blazers are allowed to play three 20-year-olds and Butler is
one of five in camp. Before the acquisition of Leclerc it was pretty much a
given that one of those spots would go to Butler. That isn’t the case now.
Justin Leclerc wanted a fresh start.
The Kamloops Blazers were more than willing to give it to him.
Leclerc, an 18-year-old goaltender, was acquired from the Lethbridge
Hurricanes for a second-round 2008 WHL bantam draft pick Thursday.
“We talked about me moving forward,” Leclerc — that’s with two small c’s and
it’s pronounced leclare — said Saturday while watching the final scrimmage
of the Blazers’ rookie camp at Interior Savings Centre. “It just seemed like
a good time for a fresh start. The Hurricanes really respected my wishes and
went ahead with it.”
Leclerc was Lethbridge’s third-round pick in the 2004 draft. He put together
a strong rookie season (2005-06), going 10-12-6 with a 3.32 GAA and a .896
save percentage for a team that went 27-42-3.
He then was named to Canada’s under-18 team for the annual August tournament
in Europe. He saw only 80 minutes of action, though, as the team’s other
goaltender, Trevor Cann of the OHL’s Peterborough Petes, got “real hot.”
Last season, however, Leclerc struggled, going 15-19-1 with a 3.62 GAA and
.872 save percentage as he split time with Mike Maniago, who had been
acquired from Kamloops on Oct. 24. Perhaps it was fitting, then, that
mononucleosis ended Leclerc’s season with 10 games remaining.
Today, he’s healthy. And the fresh start he so badly wanted began Sunday
with fitness testing at The ATM and an evening skate at Memorial Arena.
He had been at home in Saskatoon — he was born in Hamilton, but his family
moved to ŒToontown when he was about 18 months of age — when he got word of
the trade. He had told the Hurricanes that he would report to their camp no
matter his status and was to leave Monday. Instead, he found himself on his
way to Kamloops. He wasn’t surprised; it just happened a bit sooner than
expected.
“I didn’t expect to be traded before camp,” he said. “But I knew it was a
possibility. When the call came, I wasn’t disappointed. I wanted a fresh
start and a good situation, and I feel I’ve gotten that.”
Hurricanes general manager Roy Stasiuk told the Lethbridge Herald: “We knew
we had two really good goaltenders with Justin and Michael Maniago, but
Justin wasn’t sure he wanted to commit to our goaltending rotation again
this season.”
While Leclerc said Kamloops would have been on a list of desirable places in
which to play, he added that “of all the teams in the league this is the one
on which I know the fewest players. I’m sure I know two or three players on
most of the other teams.”
The only Kamloops player with whom he is familiar is centre Jimmy Bubnick,
who also is from Saskatoon. In fact, the two worked out together this
summer. (Leclerc also worked as an instructor at a goaltending school; one
of the clients was Josh Thorimbert, one of the Blazers‚ 2007 draft picks and
a rookie camp attendee.)
“I heard this is a hockey city,” Leclerc said with a straight face, “but
I’ve only played here once.”
Actually, Leclerc was on the bench as the Hurricanes, with Kevin Opsahl in
goal, dropped a 2-1 decision to the Blazers here on Oct. 14, 2005.
“I know the team was good last season, and everything seems to be in place
now,” Leclerc added.
Time will tell whether he is one of the final pieces in the puzzle, but his
arrival certainly provides general manager and head coach Dean Clark with a
few more options.
Prior to Thursday, Dustin Butler, 20, was the unquestioned No. 1 goaltender.
While Butler still is atop the depth chart today, his hold is a little
shakier. The Blazers are allowed to play three 20-year-olds and Butler is
one of five in camp. Before the acquisition of Leclerc it was pretty much a
given that one of those spots would go to Butler. That isn’t the case now.
Blazers camp notes . . .
From The Daily News of Monday, Aug. 27 . . .
It was a sunny Friday afternoon and Ken Schneider was on his way to Kamloops
when his leisurely drive across the Prairies was interrupted by the ringing
of his cell phone.
“I was 10 miles east of Swift Current,” Schneider said Sunday evening while
watching the opening session of the Kamloops Blazers’ main camp at Memorial
Arena.
It was Blazers trainer Colin (Toledo) Robinson calling.
“Toledo said, ‘I think you should pull over in case this puts you in the
ditch,’ ” Schneider recalled. “My immediate thought was, ‘OK, what’s t he
damage?’ ”
The damage was to his son Mark’s left wrist, which turned out to be
dislocated and included a fracture to the growth plate.
Mark, a defenceman who spent last season with the midget AAA Brandon Wheat
Kings, was injured going one-on-one with veteran defenceman Ryan Bender at
Interior Savings Centre.
“I jammed it into Bender,” Mark said. “It was a freaky thing.
“My arm went numb and then it felt like it was on fire. It felt like someone
had hit my funny bone 100 times with a hammer.”
Schneider ended up at Royal Inland Hospital where the wrist eventually was
re-aligned — while sedated, he was asked what his mother’s name is and,
while he was pondering that, doctors popped it back into place. He was
released about 11 p.m.
“I will go for X-rays next week,” said Schneider, who turns 17 in November.
“If it stays as is, that’ll be fine. If it shifts, I’ll need surgery.
“Other than that, it’s just time and rehab.”
Robinson said he doesn’t expect Schneider to get into a game “until the
eighth week,” which would take the Blazers well into October.
Schneider, whose 2006-07 season was ended by a separated shoulder during a
midget AAA regional playoff game, will stay here, and bide his time until
he’s healthy again. He played five WHL games last season and looked quite
comfortable by the last one.
“I definitely know I can play here,” he said. “It’s just a matter of waiting
to get back on the ice.”
As for his father, a former captain of the WHL’s Wheat Kings, he’ll hang
around this week until Mark gets settled and then think about heading for
home.
Bubnick (flu, day-to-day); D Matt Johnston (concussion, day-to-day).
Memorial Arena because of Tuesday’s INXS show at Interior Savings Centre. .
. . Today’s scrimmages go at 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., with practice sessions at
11 a.m. and 4 p.m. . . . Team Orange won the rookie camp championship,
beating Team White 4-1 in the final and proudly accepting the trophy in a
rousing presentation at centre ice. C Neil Landry, a Saskatoon product who
won’t turn 15 until Nov. 24, had two goals in a strong effort. The Blazers
got him with the 94th pick of the 2007 draft and, despite his youth, he
already skates at a WHL level. RW Tyler Fairall and C Josh Hansen also
scored for the winners, who started Andrew Lines in goal and finished up
with James Priestner. LW James Friedel scored the game’s first goal for Team
White, which had Michael Matyas in goal. . . . D Isaac McLeod, the 75th pick
in the 2007 bantam draft, tried to gut it out but left camp early and headed
home to Nelson because of a wonky back. . . . C Jimmy Bubnick sat out
Saturday with the flu. The feeling is that Bubnick, who was the only
16-year-old forward at a selection camp for Canada’s under-18 team earlier
this month, is a bit fatigued.
The Blazers have added Terry Reich of Craik, Sask., to their scouting staff.
He is the father of Boston Bruins F Jeremy Reich, a former WHLer, and an
uncle to C Mike Reich of the Regina Pats. . . . The Sept. 11 exhibition game
between the Blazers and Chilliwack Bruins will be played at the MSA Arena in
Abbotsford and played host to by the junior B Abbotsford Pilots. Game time
is 7 p.m.
It was a sunny Friday afternoon and Ken Schneider was on his way to Kamloops
when his leisurely drive across the Prairies was interrupted by the ringing
of his cell phone.
“I was 10 miles east of Swift Current,” Schneider said Sunday evening while
watching the opening session of the Kamloops Blazers’ main camp at Memorial
Arena.
It was Blazers trainer Colin (Toledo) Robinson calling.
“Toledo said, ‘I think you should pull over in case this puts you in the
ditch,’ ” Schneider recalled. “My immediate thought was, ‘OK, what’s t he
damage?’ ”
The damage was to his son Mark’s left wrist, which turned out to be
dislocated and included a fracture to the growth plate.
Mark, a defenceman who spent last season with the midget AAA Brandon Wheat
Kings, was injured going one-on-one with veteran defenceman Ryan Bender at
Interior Savings Centre.
“I jammed it into Bender,” Mark said. “It was a freaky thing.
“My arm went numb and then it felt like it was on fire. It felt like someone
had hit my funny bone 100 times with a hammer.”
Schneider ended up at Royal Inland Hospital where the wrist eventually was
re-aligned — while sedated, he was asked what his mother’s name is and,
while he was pondering that, doctors popped it back into place. He was
released about 11 p.m.
“I will go for X-rays next week,” said Schneider, who turns 17 in November.
“If it stays as is, that’ll be fine. If it shifts, I’ll need surgery.
“Other than that, it’s just time and rehab.”
Robinson said he doesn’t expect Schneider to get into a game “until the
eighth week,” which would take the Blazers well into October.
Schneider, whose 2006-07 season was ended by a separated shoulder during a
midget AAA regional playoff game, will stay here, and bide his time until
he’s healthy again. He played five WHL games last season and looked quite
comfortable by the last one.
“I definitely know I can play here,” he said. “It’s just a matter of waiting
to get back on the ice.”
As for his father, a former captain of the WHL’s Wheat Kings, he’ll hang
around this week until Mark gets settled and then think about heading for
home.
l l l
THE WALKING WOUNDED: D Mark Schneider (wrist, six to eight weeks); C JimmyBubnick (flu, day-to-day); D Matt Johnston (concussion, day-to-day).
l l l
JUST NOTES: Main camp opened Sunday and will continue today and Tuesday atMemorial Arena because of Tuesday’s INXS show at Interior Savings Centre. .
. . Today’s scrimmages go at 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., with practice sessions at
11 a.m. and 4 p.m. . . . Team Orange won the rookie camp championship,
beating Team White 4-1 in the final and proudly accepting the trophy in a
rousing presentation at centre ice. C Neil Landry, a Saskatoon product who
won’t turn 15 until Nov. 24, had two goals in a strong effort. The Blazers
got him with the 94th pick of the 2007 draft and, despite his youth, he
already skates at a WHL level. RW Tyler Fairall and C Josh Hansen also
scored for the winners, who started Andrew Lines in goal and finished up
with James Priestner. LW James Friedel scored the game’s first goal for Team
White, which had Michael Matyas in goal. . . . D Isaac McLeod, the 75th pick
in the 2007 bantam draft, tried to gut it out but left camp early and headed
home to Nelson because of a wonky back. . . . C Jimmy Bubnick sat out
Saturday with the flu. The feeling is that Bubnick, who was the only
16-year-old forward at a selection camp for Canada’s under-18 team earlier
this month, is a bit fatigued.
The Blazers have added Terry Reich of Craik, Sask., to their scouting staff.
He is the father of Boston Bruins F Jeremy Reich, a former WHLer, and an
uncle to C Mike Reich of the Regina Pats. . . . The Sept. 11 exhibition game
between the Blazers and Chilliwack Bruins will be played at the MSA Arena in
Abbotsford and played host to by the junior B Abbotsford Pilots. Game time
is 7 p.m.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Saturday notes . . .
LW Garrett Robinson, 19, may never play another game of hockey, but he will spend this season with the Moose Jaw Warriors. Robinson suffered multiple injuries, including a severe head injury, in a car crash on Oct. 22. He ended up in a coma and at one point was given 48 hours to live. So the fact that he is even on the ice with his Warriors teammates at camp is something of a miracle. “The skating came naturally and that was the easiest part,” Robinson said Friday at a press conference after skating in his first practice. “My hands felt awkward. I still need to work on my stickhandling and shooting. I was just happy to be out there.” While Robinson will skate with the Warriors and shoot on goaltenders, he doesn’t have medical clearance to take part in any contact drills or scrimmages. . . .
D Myles Rumsey, a Winnipeg native who played with the Swift Current Broncos, has used up his WHL eligibility and will play at the U of Manitoba this season. . . .
On Thursday, the Victoria Times-Colonist reported: “Victoria Grizzlies general manager Jackson Penney said there was no truth to the rumour that Grizzlies head coach Rick Lanz had been hired as a scout by the National Hockey League's Colorado Avalanche.” . . . By that evening, Lanz was gone. The veteran BCHL coach has joined the Avalanche; Penney will serve as GM/head coach of the Grizzlies. . . .
Has there ever been a season in which there was so much coaching movement in the month of August? . . .
Vancouver Giants F Evander Kane, 16, is expected to miss at least the first week of camp with mononucleosis. . . . Also missing from Vancouver’s camp is G Blaine Neufeld, 20. The Vancouver Province reports that he is expected to play junior A in Manitoba. . . . F Ben Otto, 15, is too young to play for the Giants this season -- he was an 11th-round pick in the 2007 bantam draft -- but he’s getting a look-see in camp. He is the son of former Calgary Flames centre Joel Otto, who told The Province that his son hasn’t ruled out going the college route. . . .
The expansion Edmonton Oil Kings are allowed five 20-year-olds in their first season. When camp breaks, D Lyon Messier hopes that he is one of them. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder is the son of, yes, Mark Messier, who won five Stanley Cups in Edmonton. Lyon played last season with the NAHL’s Texas Tornado. . . .
F Ryan White, 16, didn’t show up in the Everett Silvertips’ camp; instead, he’ll play midget AAA in Colorado. That means there won’t be three players with that name in the WHL this season. The other two Ryan Whites play in Kamloops and Calgary. . . .
D Mark Schneider isn’t expected to play a game for perhaps eight weeks after suffering a dislocated wrist while skating with Kamloops Blazers veterans and some pros on Friday. Schneider had his left wrist popped back into place -- it was a little more painful than that, I’m thinking -- and was released from hospital late Friday night. Schneider, the son of former Brandon Wheat Kings captain Ken Schneider, turns 17 in November and was expected to challenge for a spot on the blue line. . . . G Justin Leclerc, 18, who was acquired by the Blazers from the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Thursday, arrived in Kamloops on Saturday evening and will be on the ice Sunday when main camp opens.
D Myles Rumsey, a Winnipeg native who played with the Swift Current Broncos, has used up his WHL eligibility and will play at the U of Manitoba this season. . . .
On Thursday, the Victoria Times-Colonist reported: “Victoria Grizzlies general manager Jackson Penney said there was no truth to the rumour that Grizzlies head coach Rick Lanz had been hired as a scout by the National Hockey League's Colorado Avalanche.” . . . By that evening, Lanz was gone. The veteran BCHL coach has joined the Avalanche; Penney will serve as GM/head coach of the Grizzlies. . . .
Has there ever been a season in which there was so much coaching movement in the month of August? . . .
Vancouver Giants F Evander Kane, 16, is expected to miss at least the first week of camp with mononucleosis. . . . Also missing from Vancouver’s camp is G Blaine Neufeld, 20. The Vancouver Province reports that he is expected to play junior A in Manitoba. . . . F Ben Otto, 15, is too young to play for the Giants this season -- he was an 11th-round pick in the 2007 bantam draft -- but he’s getting a look-see in camp. He is the son of former Calgary Flames centre Joel Otto, who told The Province that his son hasn’t ruled out going the college route. . . .
The expansion Edmonton Oil Kings are allowed five 20-year-olds in their first season. When camp breaks, D Lyon Messier hopes that he is one of them. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder is the son of, yes, Mark Messier, who won five Stanley Cups in Edmonton. Lyon played last season with the NAHL’s Texas Tornado. . . .
F Ryan White, 16, didn’t show up in the Everett Silvertips’ camp; instead, he’ll play midget AAA in Colorado. That means there won’t be three players with that name in the WHL this season. The other two Ryan Whites play in Kamloops and Calgary. . . .
D Mark Schneider isn’t expected to play a game for perhaps eight weeks after suffering a dislocated wrist while skating with Kamloops Blazers veterans and some pros on Friday. Schneider had his left wrist popped back into place -- it was a little more painful than that, I’m thinking -- and was released from hospital late Friday night. Schneider, the son of former Brandon Wheat Kings captain Ken Schneider, turns 17 in November and was expected to challenge for a spot on the blue line. . . . G Justin Leclerc, 18, who was acquired by the Blazers from the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Thursday, arrived in Kamloops on Saturday evening and will be on the ice Sunday when main camp opens.
Rockets owner speaks
There always is a lot of talk in Kamloops about the glory days, and, no, that wasn't the day Bruce Springsteen came to town. Rather, it was the period in the '90s when the Blazers won three Memorial Cups in four years. If you live in Kamloops, you quite often hear about Brownie and Hayzer and Hitch. Although the Blazers didn't win a Memorial Cup under Ken Hitchcock, that really was when the foundation for the Cup teams was put in place.
Anyway . . . hockey insiders know that no team will ever again win three MC's in four seasons. Why not? Because the playing field has been leveled by the creation of draft systems that now feed the major junior clubs. No one knows that better than Bruce Hamilton, the majority owner, governor, president and general manager of the Kelowna Rockets, who had a terrific run of success for four seasons prior to 2005-06.
If you flip over to Regan Bartel's blog (the address is over there, to the left), you will find the radio voice of the Rockets expounding regularly on his team. Today, he had a couple of interesting quotes from Hamilton on the sale of the Blazers that went down Thursday night.
"The common line out of there is getting it back to its glory days," Hamilton told Bartel on Friday. "but nobody is going to get back to its glory days simply because the rules today don't allow what they did, and the player pool is monitored by the draft and not by the list system anymore. They can say that all they want, but they ahve to get out there and work hard and find players. The key in Kamloops is getting the hockey operations running properly, and I think they have done a real good job there."
As for the Blazers selling for around $7 million -- if you're wondering the Kamloops Blazers Sports Society should net about $6.4 million once the sale closes -- and increasing the value of other WHL franchises, Hamilton said: "The big mix up on this is, teams are worth what someone will pay for them in your community. Is ours worth more than that? Probably. Is Red Deer worth more than that? Probably. Is Medicine Hat worth that? Probably not, but it's whoever will pay that. "
And, Bartel wondered, what of the other so-called community-owned teams -- like the Swift Current Broncos, Moose Jaw Warriors, Prince Albert Raiders and Lethbridge Hurricanes? Might we see them privatized?
"Centres like that are probably concerned," Hamilton said, "but Kamloops and Lethbridge are the only two that are/were in a position where someone would be interested in owning them. I don't think that in Moose Jaw, Swift Current or Prince Albert there is interest in anyone owning those teams and taking on the challenge. Those teams raise a lot of money away from the rink to keep them in business, and the cost of doing business is nothing but going up. In Swift Current, you have a small population base (and you) need to grind every cent out of the community you can (just) to be there, and I think Prince Albert and Moose Jaw are both similar, just their population base is higher."
One WHL owner with whom I was in contact early Thursday was following the Kamloops situation as close as everyone else in the hockey community. Jokingly, I asked if he would be getting an offer in on the Blazers. He replied that he would like to talk to the runner-up and could do a deal at $6 million. I don't know if he was joking.
Anyway . . . hockey insiders know that no team will ever again win three MC's in four seasons. Why not? Because the playing field has been leveled by the creation of draft systems that now feed the major junior clubs. No one knows that better than Bruce Hamilton, the majority owner, governor, president and general manager of the Kelowna Rockets, who had a terrific run of success for four seasons prior to 2005-06.
If you flip over to Regan Bartel's blog (the address is over there, to the left), you will find the radio voice of the Rockets expounding regularly on his team. Today, he had a couple of interesting quotes from Hamilton on the sale of the Blazers that went down Thursday night.
"The common line out of there is getting it back to its glory days," Hamilton told Bartel on Friday. "but nobody is going to get back to its glory days simply because the rules today don't allow what they did, and the player pool is monitored by the draft and not by the list system anymore. They can say that all they want, but they ahve to get out there and work hard and find players. The key in Kamloops is getting the hockey operations running properly, and I think they have done a real good job there."
As for the Blazers selling for around $7 million -- if you're wondering the Kamloops Blazers Sports Society should net about $6.4 million once the sale closes -- and increasing the value of other WHL franchises, Hamilton said: "The big mix up on this is, teams are worth what someone will pay for them in your community. Is ours worth more than that? Probably. Is Red Deer worth more than that? Probably. Is Medicine Hat worth that? Probably not, but it's whoever will pay that. "
And, Bartel wondered, what of the other so-called community-owned teams -- like the Swift Current Broncos, Moose Jaw Warriors, Prince Albert Raiders and Lethbridge Hurricanes? Might we see them privatized?
"Centres like that are probably concerned," Hamilton said, "but Kamloops and Lethbridge are the only two that are/were in a position where someone would be interested in owning them. I don't think that in Moose Jaw, Swift Current or Prince Albert there is interest in anyone owning those teams and taking on the challenge. Those teams raise a lot of money away from the rink to keep them in business, and the cost of doing business is nothing but going up. In Swift Current, you have a small population base (and you) need to grind every cent out of the community you can (just) to be there, and I think Prince Albert and Moose Jaw are both similar, just their population base is higher."
One WHL owner with whom I was in contact early Thursday was following the Kamloops situation as close as everyone else in the hockey community. Jokingly, I asked if he would be getting an offer in on the Blazers. He replied that he would like to talk to the runner-up and could do a deal at $6 million. I don't know if he was joking.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Friday notes . . .
Rumour has it that the two ADT Challenge games that will be played in WHL arenas will go in Medicine Hat and Cranbrook. Those games are tentatively scheduled for Nov. 28 and 29 . . .
The Spokane Chiefs have released C David Linsley, 20, meaning they already are down to three 20-year-olds — LW Judd Blackwater, C Chris Bruton and LW David Rutherford . . .
The Everett Events Center has a new name, thanks to a deal for naming rights with Comcast Corp. The deal is worth US$7.4 million over 10 years in cash and advertising. For the first year of the contract, the facility will be known as Comcast Arena at Everett Events Center. After that, it‚s Comcast Arena. According to the Everett Herald, “Under the deal, Comcast's payments to the Events Center will average $340,000 a year. It will also provide about $400,000 annually in advertising to promote the 10,000-seat arena, which is home to the Western Hockey League's Everett Silvertips hockey team.” . . .
D Daryl Boyle, 20, of the Brandon Wheat Kings has signed a free-agent tryout deal with the NHL’s Boston Bruins. Other Wheat Kings going to NHL camps are D Keith Aulie, a 2007 draft pick of the Calgary Flames, and C Andrew Clark, 19, who has a free-agent deal with the St. Louis Blues. . . . Brandon is working to trade C Matt Hallick, 18, who had eight points in 50 games last season. Hallick, the 36th pick in the 2004 bantam draft, is at home in Medicine Hat awaiting a deal and won’t take part in Brandon’s training camp . . .
Chilliwack D David Hoda, a 2007 import draft selection, is on the shelf with what the team calls a “minor illness.” He hopes to play in the team’s intrasquad game on Sunday afternoon. If he can’t go then, he should play in the Everett tournament over the Labour Day weekend . . .
Regina Pats head coach Curtis Hunt is displaying a whole new look as training camp opens. The Regina Leader-Post reports that Hunt has lost 28 pounds. “I feel great,” Hunt told The Leader-Post’s Rob Vanstone. “I get up in the morning and I feel energized. It’s all about discipline in the end. You break those habits and it empowers you. Eating is such an easy thing to fall back on. You can go ‘Ahhh, we’re osing games,’ and eat a bag of chips or whatever. What it does is it brings back the feeling that, ‘I’m in control here.’ It’s just about discipline.’ ” . . . At the same time, Pats GM Brent Parker has dropped 10 pounds . . .
Not much doubt about who is the tough-luck guy in the Red Deer Rebels’ camp. F Jordan Draper, 18, had his throat cut by an errant skateblade Friday and needed a few stitches to close the gash. Draper, who last season went through a knee injury and a broken jaw, is expected back on the ice Saturday. . . . D Zach Stebner, a 17-year-old from Saskatoon, isn’t in Red Deer’s camp. He’s at home with mononucleosis . . .
The Spokane Chiefs have released C David Linsley, 20, meaning they already are down to three 20-year-olds — LW Judd Blackwater, C Chris Bruton and LW David Rutherford . . .
The Everett Events Center has a new name, thanks to a deal for naming rights with Comcast Corp. The deal is worth US$7.4 million over 10 years in cash and advertising. For the first year of the contract, the facility will be known as Comcast Arena at Everett Events Center. After that, it‚s Comcast Arena. According to the Everett Herald, “Under the deal, Comcast's payments to the Events Center will average $340,000 a year. It will also provide about $400,000 annually in advertising to promote the 10,000-seat arena, which is home to the Western Hockey League's Everett Silvertips hockey team.” . . .
D Daryl Boyle, 20, of the Brandon Wheat Kings has signed a free-agent tryout deal with the NHL’s Boston Bruins. Other Wheat Kings going to NHL camps are D Keith Aulie, a 2007 draft pick of the Calgary Flames, and C Andrew Clark, 19, who has a free-agent deal with the St. Louis Blues. . . . Brandon is working to trade C Matt Hallick, 18, who had eight points in 50 games last season. Hallick, the 36th pick in the 2004 bantam draft, is at home in Medicine Hat awaiting a deal and won’t take part in Brandon’s training camp . . .
Chilliwack D David Hoda, a 2007 import draft selection, is on the shelf with what the team calls a “minor illness.” He hopes to play in the team’s intrasquad game on Sunday afternoon. If he can’t go then, he should play in the Everett tournament over the Labour Day weekend . . .
Regina Pats head coach Curtis Hunt is displaying a whole new look as training camp opens. The Regina Leader-Post reports that Hunt has lost 28 pounds. “I feel great,” Hunt told The Leader-Post’s Rob Vanstone. “I get up in the morning and I feel energized. It’s all about discipline in the end. You break those habits and it empowers you. Eating is such an easy thing to fall back on. You can go ‘Ahhh, we’re osing games,’ and eat a bag of chips or whatever. What it does is it brings back the feeling that, ‘I’m in control here.’ It’s just about discipline.’ ” . . . At the same time, Pats GM Brent Parker has dropped 10 pounds . . .
Not much doubt about who is the tough-luck guy in the Red Deer Rebels’ camp. F Jordan Draper, 18, had his throat cut by an errant skateblade Friday and needed a few stitches to close the gash. Draper, who last season went through a knee injury and a broken jaw, is expected back on the ice Saturday. . . . D Zach Stebner, a 17-year-old from Saskatoon, isn’t in Red Deer’s camp. He’s at home with mononucleosis . . .
Ex-Blazers new owners
From The Daily News of Saturday, Aug. 25, 2007 . . .
Jarome Iginla looked exhausted, like he had just gone seven games with the
Edmonton Oilers.
It was late Thursday night, moments after the Kamloops Blazers Sports
Society membership had voted resoundingly (151-43) to sell its WHL franchise
to River City Hockey Inc. (RCH), a group that includes Iginla.
“It was pretty intense,” Iginla, the Calgary Flames’ captain, said as he
displayed that trademark smile. “It really does (weaken the knees). There’s
so many emotions but that’s the way it should be.
“That shows what a great hockey city Kamloops is, what a great junior hockey
city Kamloops is.”
Iginla was the final member of the ownership group to speak, as he, Darryl
Sydor and Shane Doan got up late in the proceedings.
Mark Recchi had led off the meeting some two hours earlier. It was Recchi’s
job to hammer home the point that RCH felt it had been shown a lack of
respect over the previous 14 months, since it first attempted to purchase
the club last summer.
Recchi was especially critical of the society’s board of directors for not
meeting with RCH earlier than it had.
“They refused to meet with us,” Recchi said. “They refused to put the offer
to the membership. They refused to allow us to appear at the members’
meeting. The reason was that we were not members at the time.
“They went ahead and called a members’ meeting without proper legal notice.
They only gave 11 days (notice) instead of 14. The summary of our offer
which was laid out for the members at the meeting was concealed from the
members. As those of you know who were at the meeting (of July 11, 2006)
basically the meeting got overwhelmed.”
Had things been handled differently, Recchi said, what ended in Thursday’s
decision may not have transpired.
“We probably wouldn’t be here if we felt the agenda was run properly last
year,” he said. “We would probably have walked away if things had been
addressed a little bit better last year.”
It remained late in the meeting, then, for the other three ex-Blazers to do
their bit.
All three reminisced about how much it meant to them to have played in
Kamloops and the role the city and its citizens played in shaping them as
responsible adults.
“Coming here at the age of 16 and under the guidance of Bob Brown and (Ken)
Hitchcock . . . these are the years when I really learned what it takes to
be a man,” Sydor said.
When it was Doan’s turn, he offered: “I’ve moved here . . . this is my home
now. My wife’s family lives here . . . Kamloops is a huge part of my life.”
Doan made reference to a truck on the outskirts of Kamloops that sports a
sign that reads This is Blazer Country.
“That’s the Blazer pride,” Doan said, his voice rising. “That’s why we’re
involved. That’s why we want to buy the team . . . that’s what we want. We
want that to be able to pass it on. . . . We just want an opportunity.
“Our offer is just an offer. It’s not a power play. It’s not a hostile
takeover. We’re members just like you now. We have the right to vote. We’re
not trying to be hostile. . . . we’re not trying to do anything that is
sleight of hand. . . . We’re not trying to steal anything away.”
Doan also made a promise.
“We have no plans of raising ticket prices,” he said. “No way. There’s no
plans of that. It says that on our website. This is not so much about profit
as it is about pride; this is about pride for us.”
Iginla drew a rousing ovation when he opened by pointing out that the four
ex-Blazers have “won five Memorial Cups, three world junior championships,
five world championships, an Olympic gold medal and four Stanley Cups.”
He added: “We came in here as young men and we looked for guidance. . . . In
our era, when we played here we had it. The best coaching . . . we had the
best billets, we had the best management. It was always about helping us . .
. developing a work ethic and being appreciative of our opportunities.”
Iginla, who wasn’t part of RCH last summer, admitted to enjoying the outcome
a lot more than the process.
“Through the whole process it’s been hard for us because it’s such a
passionate issue and we know it’s very important to all of you,” he told the
crowd. “As eveyrone has said, it’s very important to us, too. We want to
have an impact. You guys had a huge impact on us.”
When it was all over and the impact of what had happened was beginning to
set in, Iginla said it felt “pretty overwhleming.”
“It’s a huge honour,” he said. “To see the support and the passion. I’ve
never been to a meeting like this . . . a townhall meeting. There was a lot
of passion.”
It was, he said, what hockey in Canada is all about.
“Exactly,” he said. “It was pretty intense . . . and the support that was
shown was very special.”
Iginla also admitted that getting up and speaking in front of the members
was one of the tougher things with which he has been faced.
“You get up there and you’ve thought about what you want to say before and
you have a plan, but it goes out the window,” he said. “It’s gone.
“And it’s tough because we don’t have a lot of experience at that part.”
The post-meeting feeling, Doan said, was “definitely something like (after a
game).”
“It’s a great experience to be a part of something like that to see how it
goes and how it works,” he said.
As for the resounding victory scored by RCH, Doan said: “I think that was
really important for all of us who were involved to realize . . . we wanted
the people to realize that we are an extension of what they have taught us,
what the community has taught us, what the society and the foundation have
all taught us.”
Jarome Iginla looked exhausted, like he had just gone seven games with the
Edmonton Oilers.
It was late Thursday night, moments after the Kamloops Blazers Sports
Society membership had voted resoundingly (151-43) to sell its WHL franchise
to River City Hockey Inc. (RCH), a group that includes Iginla.
“It was pretty intense,” Iginla, the Calgary Flames’ captain, said as he
displayed that trademark smile. “It really does (weaken the knees). There’s
so many emotions but that’s the way it should be.
“That shows what a great hockey city Kamloops is, what a great junior hockey
city Kamloops is.”
Iginla was the final member of the ownership group to speak, as he, Darryl
Sydor and Shane Doan got up late in the proceedings.
Mark Recchi had led off the meeting some two hours earlier. It was Recchi’s
job to hammer home the point that RCH felt it had been shown a lack of
respect over the previous 14 months, since it first attempted to purchase
the club last summer.
Recchi was especially critical of the society’s board of directors for not
meeting with RCH earlier than it had.
“They refused to meet with us,” Recchi said. “They refused to put the offer
to the membership. They refused to allow us to appear at the members’
meeting. The reason was that we were not members at the time.
“They went ahead and called a members’ meeting without proper legal notice.
They only gave 11 days (notice) instead of 14. The summary of our offer
which was laid out for the members at the meeting was concealed from the
members. As those of you know who were at the meeting (of July 11, 2006)
basically the meeting got overwhelmed.”
Had things been handled differently, Recchi said, what ended in Thursday’s
decision may not have transpired.
“We probably wouldn’t be here if we felt the agenda was run properly last
year,” he said. “We would probably have walked away if things had been
addressed a little bit better last year.”
It remained late in the meeting, then, for the other three ex-Blazers to do
their bit.
All three reminisced about how much it meant to them to have played in
Kamloops and the role the city and its citizens played in shaping them as
responsible adults.
“Coming here at the age of 16 and under the guidance of Bob Brown and (Ken)
Hitchcock . . . these are the years when I really learned what it takes to
be a man,” Sydor said.
When it was Doan’s turn, he offered: “I’ve moved here . . . this is my home
now. My wife’s family lives here . . . Kamloops is a huge part of my life.”
Doan made reference to a truck on the outskirts of Kamloops that sports a
sign that reads This is Blazer Country.
“That’s the Blazer pride,” Doan said, his voice rising. “That’s why we’re
involved. That’s why we want to buy the team . . . that’s what we want. We
want that to be able to pass it on. . . . We just want an opportunity.
“Our offer is just an offer. It’s not a power play. It’s not a hostile
takeover. We’re members just like you now. We have the right to vote. We’re
not trying to be hostile. . . . we’re not trying to do anything that is
sleight of hand. . . . We’re not trying to steal anything away.”
Doan also made a promise.
“We have no plans of raising ticket prices,” he said. “No way. There’s no
plans of that. It says that on our website. This is not so much about profit
as it is about pride; this is about pride for us.”
Iginla drew a rousing ovation when he opened by pointing out that the four
ex-Blazers have “won five Memorial Cups, three world junior championships,
five world championships, an Olympic gold medal and four Stanley Cups.”
He added: “We came in here as young men and we looked for guidance. . . . In
our era, when we played here we had it. The best coaching . . . we had the
best billets, we had the best management. It was always about helping us . .
. developing a work ethic and being appreciative of our opportunities.”
Iginla, who wasn’t part of RCH last summer, admitted to enjoying the outcome
a lot more than the process.
“Through the whole process it’s been hard for us because it’s such a
passionate issue and we know it’s very important to all of you,” he told the
crowd. “As eveyrone has said, it’s very important to us, too. We want to
have an impact. You guys had a huge impact on us.”
When it was all over and the impact of what had happened was beginning to
set in, Iginla said it felt “pretty overwhleming.”
“It’s a huge honour,” he said. “To see the support and the passion. I’ve
never been to a meeting like this . . . a townhall meeting. There was a lot
of passion.”
It was, he said, what hockey in Canada is all about.
“Exactly,” he said. “It was pretty intense . . . and the support that was
shown was very special.”
Iginla also admitted that getting up and speaking in front of the members
was one of the tougher things with which he has been faced.
“You get up there and you’ve thought about what you want to say before and
you have a plan, but it goes out the window,” he said. “It’s gone.
“And it’s tough because we don’t have a lot of experience at that part.”
The post-meeting feeling, Doan said, was “definitely something like (after a
game).”
“It’s a great experience to be a part of something like that to see how it
goes and how it works,” he said.
As for the resounding victory scored by RCH, Doan said: “I think that was
really important for all of us who were involved to realize . . . we wanted
the people to realize that we are an extension of what they have taught us,
what the community has taught us, what the society and the foundation have
all taught us.”
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