Sunday's serving

1. OK, Kootenay Ice fans, you can take it to the bank. Mark Holick will be introduced Tuesday in Cranbrook as the new head coach of the Kootenay Ice. Holick, who turns 39 on Sept. 5, will replace Cory Clouston, who left after five seasons as the Ice’s head coach and now is head coach of the AHL’s Binghamton Senators. . . . Holick signed a three-year deal as GM/head coach of the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers on May 11. He coached the Vipers to the league final last season, then added the GM’s duties to his job description when Troy Mick resigned to sell real estate in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. . . . Just last week, Holick was named to the coaching staff of the Canada West team that will play in the World Junior A Challenge in Trail and Nelson, B.C., Nov. 5-11. He replaced Tim Kehler, who stepped down as GM/head coach of the BCHL’s Trail Smoke Eaters to join the Swift Current Broncos as an assistant coach. . . . The Smokies may name Darren Rommerdahl, the head coach of the midget AAA Calgary Buffaloes, as their new GM/head coach. . . . Boris Rybalka of the AJHL’s Camrose Kodiaks is the head coach of Canada West, with Dwight McMillan, the longtime head coach of the SJHL’s Weyburn Red Wings, the other assistant.

2. As mentioned here last week, Kelly Buchberger is the new head coach of the Springfield Falcons, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers. Buchberger, who has ample playing experience, spent one season (2004-05) as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Edmonton Roadrunners and was the Oilers’ development coach last season. His assistant in Springfield is Jeff Truitt, who resigned as head coach of the Kelowna Rockets to join the Falcons. Except that he thought he would be working under Geoff Ward, who left to sign on as an assistant coach with the Boston Bruins. So why wouldn’t the Oilers name Truitt the head coach and have Buchberger learn the ropes under him?

3. When the next alien lands on earth -- hello, Mork Jr. -- he will wonder what disease causes so many earthlings to walk around with one hand stuck to the side of their heads?

4. There is nothing more enjoyable in all of sports than tuning into a Los Angeles Dodgers game and listening to Vin Scully call the play -- even if you aren’t a Dodgers fan. He is the greatest. Period.

5. Barry Bonds has been chasing Hank Aaron and, unless you live in the San Francisco area, the excitement level is zero. It certainly wasn’t that way when Aaron was closing on the Babe.

6. If you’re looking for some good radio, give CBC Radio One a listen on Saturday evenings. Two hours of Randy Bachman, a master storyteller, on Randy’s Vinyl Tap, followed by an hour of Lisa Brokop playing host to Twang, followed by the terrific Saturday Night Blues, a two-hour show with Holger Petersen.

7. Gotta think that Tom Gaglardi and his River City Hockey boys, who are trying for the second time to buy the Kamloops Blazers, might have an easier time purchasing the once-proud Portland Winter Hawks.

8. There apparently is no truth to the rumour that the Winter Hawks are about to add the play-by-play duties to general manager Ken Hodge’s job description, and the coaching duties to trainer Innes Mackie’s responsibilities.

9. The Spice Girls are preparing to return to the entertainment stage. Quick, name one of their hit songs.

10. Will David Beckham ever play an entire game for the Los Angeles Galaxy? Quick, name two of his L.A. teammates. One?

11. The Boston Bruins signed LW Milan Lucic to a three-year contract last week. The Boston Globe reports that Lucic, the 50th overall selection in the 2007 NHL draft, got a US$255,000 signing bonus and that his deal, at the NHL level, averages $533,000 a season. Lucic, 19, is expected back with the Vancouver Giants this season.

12. So, who still needs a coach? Kootenay has an opening for an assistant, while Portland still needs a head coach. In the pro ranks, the Phoenix Coyotes would seem to have an opening for an assistant, while their AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, has yet to name a head coach or an assistant. In the BCHL, the Vernon Vipers need a GM/head coach and have begun the search. As of Monday, however, they don't know in which direction they will go.