A couple of interesting things out of the Medicine Hat News. . . . For starters, Tigers GM/head coach Willie Desjardins is on Hockey Canada’s radar as it strives to find six coaches for the national junior and national under-18 teams. . . . Look for Desjardins to be involved with one of those teams when Hockey Canada gets around to making its announcements.
Meanwhile, News writer Lee Anne Tripp reports that Tigers LW Travis Dunstall has pleaded guilty in provincial court to resisting a police officer and that a further charge of causing a disturbance was withdrawn. . . . Dunstall, who turns 19 on Aug. 21, was granted a discharge but must make a $350 donation to the Medicine Hat Food Bank. . . . According to Tripp’s story: “Court heard that on Feb. 18, a member of the Medicine Hat Police Service parked his police cruiser in front of a convenience store and was inside standing in line to make a purchase when he heard yelling and fighting outside. He gave up his place in the queue to attend to the noise and found two young men in a physical altercation.” After repeatedly asking the fighters to stop, the policeman used pepper spray on them. “When pepper spray was employed a second time, Dunstall told the officer to “(bleep) off,” Tripp wrote. “A third civilian arrived on the scene and joined in the struggle against the policeman. At one point, Dunstall’s helpers each had a grip on the officer’s arms. Soon, however, the policeman was able to overcome the three men and radio for help. All three men were observed to be highly intoxicated by alcohol.” . . . Dunstall, it seems, apologized to the officer about a week after the incident, which may have helped him avoid being left with a criminal record. His two helpers ended up pleading guilty to resisting a peace officer, were each fined $300 and now have criminal records. . . . Dunstall was the 16th pick in the WHL’s 2004 bantam draft, taken by the Kamloops Blazers. They dealt him to the Tigers last season. . . . Gotta think the next time Dunstall’s phone rings he must might find WHL commissioner Ron Robison on the other end. . . . If you’re wondering, Dunstall was involved in five fights last season. The website dropyourgloves.com scored each one a no decision. . . .
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On May 12, the AJHL’s Brooks Bandits told the world that they had signed GM/head coach Kevin Higo to a three-year contract that would “keep Kevin with the Bandits through the 2010-11 season.” . . . Today, the Bandits are looking for a GM/head coach because Higo has signed on with the Moose Jaw Warriors as an assistant coach. . . . Higo, the AJHL’s coach of the year in 2004-05, will replace Rene Lemire on head coach Dave Hunchak’s staff. . . . Lemire, who had been associate coach, remains with the Warriors as director of junior development. Lemire, who has been with the Warriors since December 2004, has had quite a ride with the Warriors since June 9, 2005, when he signed a three-year deal as an assistant coach. He resigned on June 7, 2006, and then re-signed a month later. And, on Feb. 7, 2007, he was named interim head coach when Steve Young was fired. Lemire was in the running for the fulltime position that eventually went to Hunchak. On June 14, 2007, Lemire was named associate coach. According to the Warriors, Lemire no longer is able to commit the time necessary to be the associate coach. . . . At the same time, the Warriors signed Rob MacLachlan, their director of scouting and player development, to a multi-year contract (likely two years plus a club option). MacLachlan, who has been with the Warriors since Aug. 18, 2004, had signed a two-year deal on Aug. 25, 2006. . . . The Warriors also are bringing goaltending coach Tim Cheveldae back for an eighth season.
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The Tri-City Americans have signed G Brett Martyniuk, 17, to a contract. Martyniuk, from Winnipeg, is coming off a season in which he went 19-0 with a 0.960 GAA and a .943 save percentage with the midget AAA Winnipeg Thrashers. He is a second cousin to Ray Martyniuk, who starred with the Flin Flon Bombers (1967-70). Ray, who backed up Chris Worthy that first season and then was the starter, was selected by the Montreal Canadiens with the fifth pick of the 1970 NHL draft. Who went ahead of him? C Gilbert Perreault to the Buffalo Sabres, D Dale Tallon to the Vancouver Canucks, RW Reggie Leach to the Boston Bruins and LW Rick MacLeish, also to Boston. The next goaltender to be selected? Dan Bouchard by the Bruins, with the 27th pick.
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Dave Manson will remain on the coaching staff of the Prince Albert Raiders, but won’t be a full-time assistant. Instead, he’ll be on board as a defensive consultant. . . . Manson has been on the Raiders’ staff since 2002-03.
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