Tuesday's notes . . .

Notes from a busy Tuesday . . .

1. Former WHLer Oren Koules, who now is an L.A.-based television producer, is part of Absolute Hockey Enterprises, the group that is purchasing the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning. "This isn't a toy for us. This is our jobs. This is going to be what we do," Koules told reporters Tuesday. "We're going to take this really, really seriously." Koules played in the WHL (1979-82) with the Portland Winter Hawks, Great Falls Americans, Medicine Hat Tigers, Spokane Flyers and Brandon Wheat Kings. He may be the only player to have been with two teams that folded (Great Falls and Spokane). Koules, from Chicago, is owner of the NAHL’s Helena Bighorns. From his bio on the Bighorns’ website: “Upon his retirement from pro hockey, Koules entered the world of finance as a top floor trader on the Chicago Mercantile exchange. It was this experience that drew him into the film business. Koules currently owns Evolution Entertainment, which represents several successful actors. Evolution also produces feature films. Koules has produced several successful Hollywood films such as ‘Set It Off’, ‘Dumb & Dumberer’ and ‘SAW.’ Koules also appears in the film along with Bighorns president Mike Butters.” . . . You can check out Koules’s Hollywood career stats at www.imdb.com.

2. According to The Scouting News, C Luke Moffatt, the No. 2 selection in the WHL’s 2007 bantam draft, has signed with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program starting with the 2008-09 season. The Kelowna Rockets used the No. 2 pick on Moffatt, who is from the Phoenix area and will play in the Detroit Compuware program this season.

3. The Portland Winter Hawks will name Rich Kromm, 43, their new head coach today, as first reported by Portland Tribune writer Jason Vondersmith. Kromm, a former Winter Hawks captain, has been the head coach of the junior B Summerland Sting. His coaching career includes a stint (2001-04) as head coach of the Calgary Hitmen during which he was 94-93-20-9 and had three first-round playoff exits. . . . Kromm replaces Mike Williamson, whose contract wasn’t renewed last month. . . . What isn’t known is whether assistant coaches Kyle Gustafson and Brian Pellerin will be retained. Each has one year left on his contract. . . . GM Ken Hodge is expected to remain in place. . . . The Winter Hawks have yet to sign a director of player personnel to replace Gord Loiselle, who resigned and has since signed with the Kamloops Blazers.

4. The Florida Panthers are expected to name former St. Louis Blues head coach Mike Kitchen as an assistant coach. . . . Other NHL teams believed to be looking for assistant coaches include the Ottawa Senators and Phoenix Coyotes. There has been speculation, mostly in the Ottawa Sun, that Vancouver Giants head coach Don Hay was on Ottawa's shortlist. . . . The Phoenix Coyotes are believed to be looking for at least one assistant coach, and also need a head coach and an assistant for their AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage.

5. The Kootenay Ice has named Mark Holick its head coach, replacing Cory Clouston, who now is head coach of the AHL’s Binghamton Senators. The Ice, however, still is looking for an assistant coach, a position that could end up going to NHL defenceman Jon Klemm, who is from Cranbrook. Klemm, an unrestricted free agent, played last season with the Dallas Stars.

6. The BCHL’s Alberni Valley Bulldogs have added Bryant Perrier to their coaching staff. Perrier, who was head coach of the junior B Kamloops Storm, will work under GM/head coach Alan Kerr. Perrier, 42, has BCHL coaching experience with the Penticton Panthers, Merritt Centennials and Cowichan Valley Capitals.

7. Hockey Canada will name its 22-player under-18 team Wednesday in Calgary. The team will represent Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament that runs Tuesday through Aug. 18 in Hodonin, Czech Republic, and Piestany, Slovakia.