OK. I realize the NHL draft was held Friday night, but . . . it wasn’t the most-watchable occurrence in the sporting world. . . . If you have ever wondered, or even if you haven’t, what happens when an ambidextrous pitcher meets a switch-hitter, well, check this out. . . .
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JUNIOR JOTTINGS: Hockey Canada has named the coaching staffs for the national junior and under-18 teams. Benoit Groulx of the QMJHL’s Gatineau Olympiques is head coach of the national junior team that will go for its fifth straight gold medal at the 2009 World Junior Championship in Ottawa. Assistant coaches are Dave Cameron of the OHL’s Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors and Willie Desjardins of the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . Meanwhile, Bill Peters of the Memorial Cup-champion Spokane Chiefs is head coach of the under-18 team that will play in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament, Aug. 12-16, in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Assistant coaches are Steve Spott of the OHL-champion Kitchener Rangers and Andre Tourigny of the QMJHL’s Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. . . . D Ryan White and D Scott Jackson, both of whom played out their WHL eligibility last season, are said to be headed to the U of Alberta if they aren’t able to land AHL deals. White played with the Kamloops Blazers and Prince Albert Raiders; Jackson spent five seasons with the Seattle Thunderbirds.
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THE MacBETH REPORT: F Jeff Smith (Red Deer) signed with Nijmegen Devils (Netherlands). He was with Phoenix Roadrunners (ECHL) last season. . . . D Stuart Kerr (Spokane/Red Deer/Moose Jaw) signed with Hull (UK Elite Hockey League). He was with Austin (Central Hockey League) last season. Hull is coached by Rich Strachan, who played three seasons with the Winnipeg Warriors in the early 1980s.