Tuesday . . .

As expected, the Kootenay Ice announced today that Mark Holick is their new head coach. He replaces Cory Clouston, who left after five years as head coach to become head coach of the AHL’s Binghamton Senators.
Holick, who had been GM/head coach of the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers, signed a two-year deal with the Ice holding an option on a third season.

The Portland Winter Hawks, who may announce the signing of their coach this week, revealed today that their games are returning to radio this season. They have cut a deal with Pamplin Broadcasting to air the games on “Sunny 1550” KKAD. That includes all regular-season and playoff games, along with a 20-minute pregame show and a 15-minute postgame show. The Pamplin Media Group owns KKAD, 860 KPAM and the Portland Tribune and Community Newspapers, so the Winter Hawks are hoping to undertake various promotions with those media outlets. The Winter Hawks had 30 of their games televised on Comcast CNW-14 last season; today’s press release said only that they have had “discussions about continuing a high level of television exposure in 2007-08.” The announcement didn’t say anything about a play-by-play voice, what with 25-year man Dean (Scooter) Vrooman having left the organization last week. Andy Kemper, the analyst on broadcasts last season, has written on his blog that he expects to handle the bulk of the play-by-play duties . . . As for a new coach to replace Mike Williamson, whose contract wasn’t renewed, well, the Winter Hawks have done a great job of keeping things under wraps. What is known is that they have spoken with Marc Habscheid. I was told Monday night that Habscheid, who had such a terrific run as head coach of the Kamloops Blazers and Kelowna Rockets, wants complete control, meaning, one would think, GM and head-coaching titles, with control over assistant coach and player selections. Time will tell whether the Winter Hawks’ ownership group would go that far to hire a coach?