Lil Bartel, the mother of Kelowna Rockets radio voice Regan Bartel, passed away Sunday in Kelowna six weeks after being diagnosed with brain cancer. She was 68. The funeral is Thursday in Kelowna. . . . Regan, one of hockey’s good guys, should know that he isn’t walking alone as he struggles to get through the next few days. . . .
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THE COACHING GAME: The OHL’s Guelph Storm have lost their GM and head coach with the news that Dave Barr has signed on as an assistant coach with the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche. Barr, a former NHL player and long-time coach, is making his first move into the NHL coaching ranks. He has spent the last five seasons with the Storm. . . . In Red Deer, the Rebels have shuffled the role of long-time assistant coach Dallas Gaume. According to a Rebels’ press release, Gaume “will also take on the role of Special Assignment Scout. He will assist Randy Peterson, the team’s Vice President of Hockey Operations, in scouting players for the bantam draft, watching the team’s prospects, and scouting the Western Hockey League as the team’s schedule allows.” . . .
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THE MacBETH REPORT: G Michael Garnett (Red Deer/Saskatoon) signed a two-year contract with HC MVD (Continental Hockey League). HC MVD is based in Balashikha, in the Greater Moscow region. He had a 2.44 GAA with Nizhnekamsk last season in the Russian Superliga. . . . D Richard Seeley (Lethbridge/Prince Albert) signed with Linz (Austria Erste Bank Liga). He had two goals and 21 assists with the Vienna Capitals in the same league last season.
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JUNIOR JOTTINGS: An interesting situation has developed in Everett where the Herald reports that “an Edmonds man is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from Silvertips fans who bought tickets for the popular 50/50 raffle that supports junior hockey players around Snohomish County. Sean Michael Tindall, 37, for years was a volunteer with the Seattle Junior Hockey Association in Mountlake Terrace. He pocketed at least $14,000 from the association's raffles at Silvertips games, Snohomish County prosecutors alleged Monday. They've charged him with first-degree theft, a felony.” The story is here.