Tuesday notes . . .

After signing GM/head coach Kelly Kisio to a multi-year contract extension earlier, the Calgary Hitmen have promoted assistant coach Dave Lowry to associate head coach. Lowry, who played 19 seasons in the NHL, is going into his third season with the Hitmen. . . . The Hitmen also announced that assistant coach Joel Otto will return for a second season. And what centre wouldn’t want to learn how to take draws from a master? . . . Darcy Wakaluk is back for a fourth season as Calgary’s goaltending coach . . . Brent Kisio, Kelly’s son, has been added to the staff as an assistant coach in charge of video. Brent is a graduate in criminology from U of Nebraska-Omaha. So when the Hitmen feel they are getting the short end of the stick from the official will Brent be sent to investigate?

The Regina Leader-Post is reporting that former Regina Pats D Jamie Heward is skating away from the NHL for a one-year contract with St. Petersburg of Russia’s top league. Heward, 36, is believed to have signed for about Cdn$1 million. An unrestricted free agent, Heward played last season with the Washington Capitals and Los Angeles Kings. Barry Smith, a veteran NHL assistant coach, is St. Petersburg’s head coach.

As you learned here Saturday, Greg Ireland is the new head coach of the San Antonio Rampage, the NHL affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes. That announcement was made today . . . Still no word on an assistant coach for the Coyotes. Rick Tocchet is to be sentenced Friday for his part in that betting scandal and it is generally believed that Wayne Gretzky is waiting for the outcome of that before finalizing his coaching staff.