Blazers, Clark settle; Kamloops adds goaltender

From The Daily News of Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008 . . .

Dean Clark’s association with the Kamloops Blazers is over.
Clark, who was fired Nov. 7 as the WHL team’s general manager and head
coach, has reached a financial settlement on his contract.
The Daily News learned Monday night that Clark reached agreement and signed
off on the deal on Friday.
Tom Gaglardi, the team’s majority owner, confirmed the settlement last
night.
“The Blazers wish Dean and his family every success with their future,”
Gaglardi wrote in an e-mail, “and thank him for his contribution to our
community.”
“I’m free and clear,” said Clark, who was signed through 2008-09. He chose
not to comment further.
Clark, the 10th winningest coach in WHL history, was in his fifth season
with the Blazers when he was fired the day after the Blazers dropped a 2-1
shootout decision to the visiting Red Deer Rebels. The Blazers’ record at
that time was 6-9-1-1.
Assistant coach Andrew Milne, whose also was signed through 2008-09, left
the club in December and later reached a financial settlement. He now is
coaching the AJHL’s Canmore Eagles.
Greg Hawgood was named the Blazers’ interim head coach on Nov. 8. The team
is 20-21-1-1 under him.
Kamloops holds down eighth place in the Western Conference as it leaves
tonight on a six-game swing through the East Division. The Blazers, who have
just four home games remaining in the regular season, will open the trip
Friday in Brandon against the Wheat Kings.
Goaltender Jon Groenheyde of the KIJHL’s Columbia Valley Rockies is to join
the Blazers on their road trip. They will pick him up tonight in Golden.
Groenheyde, who beat the visiting Tri-City Americans 3-2 on Jan. 4 in his
first and only WHL start to date, will replace backup James Priestner, who
will miss up to 10 days with a pulled hamstring. The hamstring was bothering
Priestner last week and he tweaked it further in the pregame skate prior to
Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the visiting Vancouver Giants.
The Blazers also may use centre Jake Trask of the midget AAA Saskatoon
Blazers during the swing. Trask, the 61st pick in the 2006 bantam draft, has
62 points, including 30 goals, in 40 games with the Blazers.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca