Friday, October 31, 2008
Bad news for Bruins
The Los Angeles Kings have decided to hang on to Oscar Moller, at least for a while longer. Rich Hammond on his blog (www.insidesocal.com/kings/) reports that Moller, who will play his 10th NHL game on Saturday, will be hangin' around L.A. He has four points in nine games. . . . Here's what Kings GM Dean Lombardi told Hammond: ""With the way he has played, he deserves to be here. As with all our young players, we will continue to monitor his progress. It doesn't mean he can't go back, if he hits a lull or slacks off, but with Oscar, I don't think that's going to be the case."
Cougars, 'Tips cut a deal
The Dale Hunt watch is over. . . . The Prince George Cougars have dealt Hunt, an 18-year-old right winger, to the Everett Silvertips for D Jeff Regier, 17. Hunt, the third pick, in the 2005 bantam draft, had been sent home to await a trade. Regier was the 34th selection in the 2006 draft.
Portland and Brian Shaw . . . Part 4
The winds of change are blowing through the Portland Winter Hawks’ organization. . . . Dean (Scooter) Vrooman, who left the Winter Hawks more than a year ago after a lengthy stint as the team’s much-loved play-by-play voice, remembers the legendary Brian Shaw in a story that was prepared a couple of years ago as part of a book project that never got off the ground . . .
PART 4:
As a youth, Brian Shaw was a goaltender for the Nordegg Cougars and Nordegg Panthers hockey clubs, competed in horse races, was a member of the Military Cadets, sang in the United Church Choir, and loved theatrical productions.
That he loved the theatre would be no surprise to anyone in the hockey media who ever interviewed Shaw, shared time with him in the pressroom before games, or attended one of his press conferences in Edmonton, Moose Jaw or Portland. He definitely had a flair for the dramatic.
Shaw had a passion for baseball almost as much as he did for hockey. In fact, he pitched for the Nordegg Athletics baseball club. His practice regimen included throwing briquettes from the one tipple (where briquettes were made from coal) through the windows of adjacent tipples at the mine. He became a pretty good semi-pro pitcher at one point, earning a spot on a fairly high profile team in Grande Coulee, Wash., in 1954. After his baseball career, he moved to Jasper Place, Alta., to live with an aunt and uncle. The mine closed in 1955 and all of the residents were forced to relocate.
Shaw became an entrepreneur at the tender age of 14. He formed Shaw Agencies and sold watches and jewelry, handled costume rentals, delivered fresh flowers for Mother’s Day and other special occasions, and bought and sold horses, among other things. Later, he worked for Ashdown’s Hardware selling paint (he didn’t paint), selling Black Cat cigarettes (he didn’t smoke), and working for Labatt’s Brewery (he didn’t drink). Eventually, he landed a job selling something he did use and thoroughly enjoyed – he sold televisions and other appliances for Philco. It was no accident that the first hockey team he coached was the Philco Predictas in Jasper Place, the precursor to the Mohawks. Shaw sold Philco a sponsorship for the team name. He was one of the first operators of a hockey team to create a program and sell advertising in it as a way to generate revenue.
Since the Predictas were not an Edmonton-based team, they were not allowed to play in the City of Edmonton’s elite league. So, since they couldn’t play in the city league and realizing he had a group of high-calibre hockey players, Shaw set up the Philcos in exhibition juvenile games wherever he could. They played in the Alberta communities of Stettler, Ponoka, Westlock, Hobbema and Lacombe and even ventured to Uranium City, Sask., in 1960. Those towns eventually made up a highly competitive league that gave the Philo Predicatas accreditation to compete in the provincial juvenile final.
Shaw created the Jasper Place Mohawks from the Predictas and won provincial juvenile A championships in 1962 and 1963. In those days, juvenile hockey was anything but juvenile – it was high level and Shaw used the team’s success and the high quality players that played for him to negotiate an affiliation with the Chicago Blackhawks, thus the name change. The Mohawks traveled to several cities in the United States, including Spokane, Portland, Stockton, Calif., and Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah, in 1963-64.
“To play against increasingly better competition, Brian took his teams to the outlying towns and cities and eventually to the United States,” said his cousin Fred Shaw, who played for Brian on the Mohawks. “We had a lot of the very best talent in the area. I remember the games in Uranium City were against teams with very good senior hockey players. The games were close and well attended.
“There is no doubt that during the trips to the U.S. with the Mohawks, Brian began to realize the potential for hockey in northwestern American cities. That was particularly true in Portland where I remember a very well attended game in 1964 when an-out-of shape coach Brian Shaw decided to put on the pads and play goal. One Portland defenceman had a big slap shot. Brian got very frustrated at his teammates because they weren’t checking, leaving him alone to face the terror. By the end of the first period, his shoulders and chest were badly bruised. Between periods, the goalie-turned-coach chewed us all out and in no uncertain terms ordered us to stand in front of, hook, trip, hold, and (use) any other measure to keep this gunman from firing the puck at him.”
Once he put the pads aside for good, Shaw definitely earned the reputation for letting nothing stand in the way of what he perceived to be a good trade. In fact, anyone who didn’t believe it would only have to be reminded that during his first season of running the Moose Jaw Canucks, Shaw traded his cousin Fred to the Flin Flon Bombers.
And, if it was right for the team, Shaw would reacquire the same player in a later trade. In fact, in his second season in Moose Jaw, he brought back cousin Fred.
One of Shaw’s favorite phrases was: “Never make a trade out of fear, but never fear to make a trade.” Cousin Fred’s hockey journey under Brian was a prime example.
After the Mohawks, Brian invested in a plumbing company in Castro Valley, Calif. Above all else, in hockey and out of hockey, Shaw was a salesman. Although he was anything but a handyman, Shaw successfully sold plumbing supplies and gadgets. He recruited his uncle, now a certified plumber, and his aunt, getting them to move from Jasper Place to Castro Valley to join the business.
But Shaw desperately missed hockey and soon found his way back to the game with the Moose Jaw Canucks, St. Catharine’s Blackhawks, the Oilers, the Oil Kings ... and eventually he wound up in Portland where the Winter Hawks lost their first seven games in 1976-77.
Shaw wheeled and dealed, and sold and sold, overcoming the 0-7 start on the way to seven straight winning seasons. But of all the coal, briquettes, paint, cigarettes, beer, hockey teams and hockey sponsorships he sold during his career, bringing the 1983 Memorial Cup to Portland’s Memorial Coliseum was, without question, his biggest sale ever.
(Part 4 of 7)
Today is the day for Oscar
The Los Angeles Kings say they will decide today (Friday) on whether to keep F Oscar Moller or return him to the WHL's Chilliwack Bruins. The Los Angeles Times story is right here.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Torbohm enjoying role with Blazers
By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
A year ago, Kurt Torbohm had trouble getting into the Kamloops Blazers’
lineup.
Today, the WHL team employs him as one of its shut-down defencemen and one
of the key defenders on its penalty-killing unit.
“I’m getting an opportunity,” Torbohm, an 18-year-old sophomore, said after
practice at Interior Savings Centre on Thursday. “That’s a role I thought I
could have played last season, maybe not as well . . . but there were a lot
of other guys on the team and I just had to wait my turn, I guess. Now that
I’m in there, it feels good.”
Last season, Torbohm got into just 35 games as he more frequently than not
suffered the ignominy of being a healthy scratch.
“You kind of expect that going in,” he said, “but it wasn’t easy sitting out
that many games. It’s good that it’s behind me now.”
This season, you are far more likely to find Torbohm playing against the
opposing team’s top forward unit than renewing acquaintances in the press
box. And he is loving every minute of it.
“I love it,” he said. “I love nothing more than shutting those kinds of guys
down. It’s good to be leaned on a little bit.”
Tonight, Torbohm and his partner, Nick Ross, will have their hands full with
the defending Eastern Conference-champion Lethbridge Hurricanes, who come to
town fresh off a 7-2 thrashing of the Bruins in Chilliwack on Wednesday.
Colton Sceviour had a goal and three assists in that one, while Zach
Boychuk, a recent returnee from the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, had two of
each. Game time at Interior Savings Centre is 7 p.m. (See the Scouting
Report on A12.)
Torbohm goes into the game with his confidence level as high as it ever has
been.
“I’m just getting more opportunities this season to show what I can do,” the
6-foot-3, 200-pound Torbohm said. “Confidence is a huge thing and I had a
really good offseason . . . coming in this season and expecting to play and
then getting the opportunity to play, things got rolling for me.”
And now that things are rolling, the coaching staff has confidence in him.
“He’s buying into what we’re doing,” head coach Barry Smith said after a
recent game. “He’s a good solid guy with a good stick and he’ll battle and
he’s a competitor. When you compete you can do a lot of things and he
competes hard.
“When he competes he becomes a real valuable player to us back there to play
against top players.”
It helps, too, that Scott Ferguson and Geoff Smith, the Blazers’ two
first-year assistant coaches, both have NHL experience.
“It’s really helping, especially having two of them,” Torbohm said. “When
those guys speak you really listen because they are proven players and they
have played in the NHL so you know what they are talking about is going to
help you.”
At the end of the day, though, Torbohm knows his role. He also knows that
he’s going to play every game and you can’t put a value on the peace of mind
that provides.
“I don’t think I knew once last season if I was playing before 4 (p.m.) on
game days,” he said. “It’s a lot easier this way . . . being prepared. I
still prepare the same but it’s a lot easier to prepare knowing I’m playing
and knowing what my role is going to be and what I need to do out there.”
When you don’t know if you’re going to be playing, he said, “a lot of mental
energy gets expended. It’s definitely easier knowing I’m going to be in the
lineup.”
It’s easier on his folks, Jane and Harry, too. They live in Chase and are
able to get in for most of the Blazers’ games.
“It’s awesome,” Torbohm said of playing in such close proximity to home. “My
parents are here just about every single game. My uncles love it. They come
here a lot. It’s great having that kind of support. It’s fun, a lot of fun.”
And, no, he doesn’t feel the heat of being under the watchful eyes of
friends and family.
“There’s no pressure at all,” he said, before adding, with a laugh: “They’re
easy on me.”
Of course, Torbohm isn’t under any pressure to help out on offence. He
finished last season with one assist in 35 games, a total he equaled in his
15th game this time around.
“I think I’ve got more in the bank,” he said with a chuckle and a flash of
that 1,000-watt smile. “I got this one early and we’ve still got 50-odd
games left for me to get a couple more and maybe a goal or two. We’ll see
how it goes.”
Never mind that he can’t remember when he scored his last goal.
“Not counting rec hockey? Sometime in junior B when I was 16,” he said. “I
know my role on this team and if they come that’s fine, but I’m just trying
to keep the puck out of our net.”
JUST NOTES: Blazers general manager Craig Bonner has been on the road. He
took in the host Everett Silvertips’ 7-6 shootout victory over the Tri-City
Americans on Tuesday and then watched the Vancouver Giants edge the visiting
Americans 4-3 on Wednesday. . . . No Blazers were selected to the WHL team
that will play a touring Russian side in the ADT Challenge games in Swift
Current and Prince Albert on Nov. 26 and 27. A WHL roster is in Scoreboard.
. . . The NHL’s New York Rangers have returned D Tysen Dowzak, 20, to the
Kelowna Rockets. Dowzak, who is heading into his fourth season with the
Rockets, signed with the Rangers during training camp. He played one game
with the AHL’s Hartford Wolfpack and four with the ECHL’s Charlotte Checkers
before heading for Kelowna. He is expected to play Saturday against visiting
Lethbridge.
gdrinnan@telus.net
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Daily News Sports Editor
A year ago, Kurt Torbohm had trouble getting into the Kamloops Blazers’
lineup.
Today, the WHL team employs him as one of its shut-down defencemen and one
of the key defenders on its penalty-killing unit.
“I’m getting an opportunity,” Torbohm, an 18-year-old sophomore, said after
practice at Interior Savings Centre on Thursday. “That’s a role I thought I
could have played last season, maybe not as well . . . but there were a lot
of other guys on the team and I just had to wait my turn, I guess. Now that
I’m in there, it feels good.”
Last season, Torbohm got into just 35 games as he more frequently than not
suffered the ignominy of being a healthy scratch.
“You kind of expect that going in,” he said, “but it wasn’t easy sitting out
that many games. It’s good that it’s behind me now.”
This season, you are far more likely to find Torbohm playing against the
opposing team’s top forward unit than renewing acquaintances in the press
box. And he is loving every minute of it.
“I love it,” he said. “I love nothing more than shutting those kinds of guys
down. It’s good to be leaned on a little bit.”
Tonight, Torbohm and his partner, Nick Ross, will have their hands full with
the defending Eastern Conference-champion Lethbridge Hurricanes, who come to
town fresh off a 7-2 thrashing of the Bruins in Chilliwack on Wednesday.
Colton Sceviour had a goal and three assists in that one, while Zach
Boychuk, a recent returnee from the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, had two of
each. Game time at Interior Savings Centre is 7 p.m. (See the Scouting
Report on A12.)
Torbohm goes into the game with his confidence level as high as it ever has
been.
“I’m just getting more opportunities this season to show what I can do,” the
6-foot-3, 200-pound Torbohm said. “Confidence is a huge thing and I had a
really good offseason . . . coming in this season and expecting to play and
then getting the opportunity to play, things got rolling for me.”
And now that things are rolling, the coaching staff has confidence in him.
“He’s buying into what we’re doing,” head coach Barry Smith said after a
recent game. “He’s a good solid guy with a good stick and he’ll battle and
he’s a competitor. When you compete you can do a lot of things and he
competes hard.
“When he competes he becomes a real valuable player to us back there to play
against top players.”
It helps, too, that Scott Ferguson and Geoff Smith, the Blazers’ two
first-year assistant coaches, both have NHL experience.
“It’s really helping, especially having two of them,” Torbohm said. “When
those guys speak you really listen because they are proven players and they
have played in the NHL so you know what they are talking about is going to
help you.”
At the end of the day, though, Torbohm knows his role. He also knows that
he’s going to play every game and you can’t put a value on the peace of mind
that provides.
“I don’t think I knew once last season if I was playing before 4 (p.m.) on
game days,” he said. “It’s a lot easier this way . . . being prepared. I
still prepare the same but it’s a lot easier to prepare knowing I’m playing
and knowing what my role is going to be and what I need to do out there.”
When you don’t know if you’re going to be playing, he said, “a lot of mental
energy gets expended. It’s definitely easier knowing I’m going to be in the
lineup.”
It’s easier on his folks, Jane and Harry, too. They live in Chase and are
able to get in for most of the Blazers’ games.
“It’s awesome,” Torbohm said of playing in such close proximity to home. “My
parents are here just about every single game. My uncles love it. They come
here a lot. It’s great having that kind of support. It’s fun, a lot of fun.”
And, no, he doesn’t feel the heat of being under the watchful eyes of
friends and family.
“There’s no pressure at all,” he said, before adding, with a laugh: “They’re
easy on me.”
Of course, Torbohm isn’t under any pressure to help out on offence. He
finished last season with one assist in 35 games, a total he equaled in his
15th game this time around.
“I think I’ve got more in the bank,” he said with a chuckle and a flash of
that 1,000-watt smile. “I got this one early and we’ve still got 50-odd
games left for me to get a couple more and maybe a goal or two. We’ll see
how it goes.”
Never mind that he can’t remember when he scored his last goal.
“Not counting rec hockey? Sometime in junior B when I was 16,” he said. “I
know my role on this team and if they come that’s fine, but I’m just trying
to keep the puck out of our net.”
JUST NOTES: Blazers general manager Craig Bonner has been on the road. He
took in the host Everett Silvertips’ 7-6 shootout victory over the Tri-City
Americans on Tuesday and then watched the Vancouver Giants edge the visiting
Americans 4-3 on Wednesday. . . . No Blazers were selected to the WHL team
that will play a touring Russian side in the ADT Challenge games in Swift
Current and Prince Albert on Nov. 26 and 27. A WHL roster is in Scoreboard.
. . . The NHL’s New York Rangers have returned D Tysen Dowzak, 20, to the
Kelowna Rockets. Dowzak, who is heading into his fourth season with the
Rockets, signed with the Rangers during training camp. He played one game
with the AHL’s Hartford Wolfpack and four with the ECHL’s Charlotte Checkers
before heading for Kelowna. He is expected to play Saturday against visiting
Lethbridge.
gdrinnan@telus.net
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Blazers scouting report
LETHBRIDGE HURRICANES at KAMLOOPS BLAZERS
Today, 5 p.m., Interior Savings Centre (Radio NL 610)
LETHBRIDGE (9-6-0-0): The Hurricanes opened a three-game swing into B.C.
with a 7-2 romp over the Bruins in Chilliwack on Wednesday. . . . Lethbridge
meets the Rockets in Kelowna on Saturday. . . . The Hurricanes will have
played seven straight road games by the time they next play at home, Nov. 16
against the Edmonton Oil Kings. . . . C Colton Sceviour, who was acquired
from the Portland Winter Hawks last season, leads the Hurricanes in goals
(7), assists (12) and points (19). . . . F Zach Boychuk, who was returned by
the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes last week, has five points in four games. He
also is plus-5. . . . The Hurricanes learned this week that Swiss D Luca
Sbisa, a WHL freshman last season, won’t be retunring from the NHL’s
Philadelphia Flyers. . . . F Mitch Fadden, a Salmon Arm native, has four
points in seven games so obviously hasn’t hit midseason form yet. The
20-year-old had 89 points in 72 games last season. . . . G Juha Metsola
(7-6-0-0, 2.98, .916) is expected to start. The backup is Michael Tadjdeh17,
from Calgary. He is 2-0, 1.00, .923 but has only played in two games. . . .
Injuries: LW Garrett Taylor (wrist, out), LW Dan Iwanski (knee, out).
————————
KAMLOOPS (7-8-0-2): The Blazers have won three in a row, the latest a 3-1
victory over the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings on Sunday night. . . . The
Blazers are fifth in the 10-team Western Conference. . . . Kamloops has won
its last two home games after a 1-4-0-1 stretch at The ATM. . . . G Justin
Leclerc, who is 6-6-0-1 on the season, is 6-2-0-1 when asked to make fewer
than 30 saves and 0-4-0-0 when that number is higher. Leclerc will make his
fourth straight start. . . . RW Tyler Shattock, showing signs of being the
power forward that was envisioned when he was the sixth pick in the 2005
bantam draft, has eight points in his last eight games. . . . D Giffen Nyren
has five points, two of them goals, over his last four games. . . . LW
Shayne Wiebe, who had nine goals in 66 games last season, has 10 in 17 games
this time around. He has scored three times over the last two games. . . .
Freshman C Jake Trask has two WHL goals — both coming over his last three
games. . . . Kamloops has to start showing better discipline — it has
surrendered seven PP goals on 37 opportunities over its last five games. . .
. LW Alex Rodgers, who has yet to score this season, has one assist in six
separate games. The Blazers are 5-0-0-1 in those games. . . . Injuries: C
Mark Hall (knee, out), D Linden Saip (concussion, questionable).
— GREGG DRINNAN
Today, 5 p.m., Interior Savings Centre (Radio NL 610)
LETHBRIDGE (9-6-0-0): The Hurricanes opened a three-game swing into B.C.
with a 7-2 romp over the Bruins in Chilliwack on Wednesday. . . . Lethbridge
meets the Rockets in Kelowna on Saturday. . . . The Hurricanes will have
played seven straight road games by the time they next play at home, Nov. 16
against the Edmonton Oil Kings. . . . C Colton Sceviour, who was acquired
from the Portland Winter Hawks last season, leads the Hurricanes in goals
(7), assists (12) and points (19). . . . F Zach Boychuk, who was returned by
the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes last week, has five points in four games. He
also is plus-5. . . . The Hurricanes learned this week that Swiss D Luca
Sbisa, a WHL freshman last season, won’t be retunring from the NHL’s
Philadelphia Flyers. . . . F Mitch Fadden, a Salmon Arm native, has four
points in seven games so obviously hasn’t hit midseason form yet. The
20-year-old had 89 points in 72 games last season. . . . G Juha Metsola
(7-6-0-0, 2.98, .916) is expected to start. The backup is Michael Tadjdeh17,
from Calgary. He is 2-0, 1.00, .923 but has only played in two games. . . .
Injuries: LW Garrett Taylor (wrist, out), LW Dan Iwanski (knee, out).
————————
KAMLOOPS (7-8-0-2): The Blazers have won three in a row, the latest a 3-1
victory over the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings on Sunday night. . . . The
Blazers are fifth in the 10-team Western Conference. . . . Kamloops has won
its last two home games after a 1-4-0-1 stretch at The ATM. . . . G Justin
Leclerc, who is 6-6-0-1 on the season, is 6-2-0-1 when asked to make fewer
than 30 saves and 0-4-0-0 when that number is higher. Leclerc will make his
fourth straight start. . . . RW Tyler Shattock, showing signs of being the
power forward that was envisioned when he was the sixth pick in the 2005
bantam draft, has eight points in his last eight games. . . . D Giffen Nyren
has five points, two of them goals, over his last four games. . . . LW
Shayne Wiebe, who had nine goals in 66 games last season, has 10 in 17 games
this time around. He has scored three times over the last two games. . . .
Freshman C Jake Trask has two WHL goals — both coming over his last three
games. . . . Kamloops has to start showing better discipline — it has
surrendered seven PP goals on 37 opportunities over its last five games. . .
. LW Alex Rodgers, who has yet to score this season, has one assist in six
separate games. The Blazers are 5-0-0-1 in those games. . . . Injuries: C
Mark Hall (knee, out), D Linden Saip (concussion, questionable).
— GREGG DRINNAN
Ius leaves
RW Matt Ius, 18, has left the Everett Silvertips. Ius, in his second season with the Silvertips, was the 30th pick in the 2005 bantam draft. He told Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald that he was unhappy with his role. "I just felt I wanted to be more of a go-to guy," Ius told Patterson. "Everett has such good young talent that I think the team is headed in the right direction, and the right decision for me was to move forward on my own. I wish the Silvertips nothing but the best." . . . Ius said he will go home to Pitt Meadows, B.C., and talk things over with his folks. . . . In the meantime, he has been placed on Everett’s suspended list while GM Doug Soetaert explores trade possibilities.
Thursday notes . . .
THE MacBETH REPORT: F Kirby Law (Saskatoon/Lethbridge/Brandon) has been released by Nizhnekamsk (Kontinental Hockey League). The release was by mutual agreement as he had appeared in only 10 out of 21 games this season. He had one goal and two assists in those 10 games. . . . F Konstantin Pushkarev (Calgary) signed with Metallurg Magnitogorsk (Kontinental Hockey League). . . . F Colin Forbes (Portland) signed a one-year contract extension with Adler Mannheim (Germany DEL). This carries him through the 2009-10 season with Mannheim. He has three goals and three assists in 13 games with the club this season.
———
The Kelowna Rockets have received some help from the NHL’s New York Rangers, who have returned D Tysen Dowzak, 20, to the WHL team. Dowzak, a native of Fergus Falls, Minn., will start his fourth WHL season on Saturday when the Rockets entertain the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Dowzak actually has signed with the Rangers, and played one game with the AHL’s Hartford Wolfpack and four with the ECHL’s Charlotte Checkers. . . . The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Dowzak joins 6-foot-7 Tyler Myers on the Rockets’ back end.
———
Former WHL D Lucas Alexiuk, who played with the Portland Winter Hawks and Lethbridge Hurricanes, has landed with the MJHL’s Selkirk Steelers. They acquired his rights from the Winkler Flyers in a multi-player deal. The rights to F Jesse Paradis, 17, who is with the Kelowna Rockets, were included in the package that moved to Winkler. Alexiuk, 19, joins former Seattle Thunderbirds F Josh Schappert with the Steelers. Both players are from Winnipeg.
———
JUST NOTES: The Medicine Hat Tigers, preparing to play 13 games in 23 days, might have C Bretton Cameron, 19, and freshman D Tomas Kundratek, who turns 19 on Dec. 26, back in their lineup this weekend. Both have recovered from fractured hands. . . . Vancouver Giants head coach Don Hay goes for victory No. 400 on Saturday against the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings. The Giants might have D Curtis Kulchar, 18, back in the lineup. Kulchar, who has yet to play this season because of knee woes, practised Thursday for the second day in a row. . . . Saskatoon C Travis Toomey won’t play again until sometime in January after suffering a broken collarbone Wednesday. Calgary Hitmen D Keith Seabrook picked up an interference major on the play and is under suspension pending an investigation by Richard Doerksen, the WHL’s vice-president hockey, who handles discipline.
———
The Kelowna Rockets have received some help from the NHL’s New York Rangers, who have returned D Tysen Dowzak, 20, to the WHL team. Dowzak, a native of Fergus Falls, Minn., will start his fourth WHL season on Saturday when the Rockets entertain the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Dowzak actually has signed with the Rangers, and played one game with the AHL’s Hartford Wolfpack and four with the ECHL’s Charlotte Checkers. . . . The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Dowzak joins 6-foot-7 Tyler Myers on the Rockets’ back end.
———
Former WHL D Lucas Alexiuk, who played with the Portland Winter Hawks and Lethbridge Hurricanes, has landed with the MJHL’s Selkirk Steelers. They acquired his rights from the Winkler Flyers in a multi-player deal. The rights to F Jesse Paradis, 17, who is with the Kelowna Rockets, were included in the package that moved to Winkler. Alexiuk, 19, joins former Seattle Thunderbirds F Josh Schappert with the Steelers. Both players are from Winnipeg.
———
JUST NOTES: The Medicine Hat Tigers, preparing to play 13 games in 23 days, might have C Bretton Cameron, 19, and freshman D Tomas Kundratek, who turns 19 on Dec. 26, back in their lineup this weekend. Both have recovered from fractured hands. . . . Vancouver Giants head coach Don Hay goes for victory No. 400 on Saturday against the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings. The Giants might have D Curtis Kulchar, 18, back in the lineup. Kulchar, who has yet to play this season because of knee woes, practised Thursday for the second day in a row. . . . Saskatoon C Travis Toomey won’t play again until sometime in January after suffering a broken collarbone Wednesday. Calgary Hitmen D Keith Seabrook picked up an interference major on the play and is under suspension pending an investigation by Richard Doerksen, the WHL’s vice-president hockey, who handles discipline.
Portland and Brian Shaw . . . Part 3
The winds of change are blowing through the Portland Winter Hawks’ organization. . . . Dean (Scooter) Vrooman, who left the Winter Hawks more than a year ago after a lengthy stint as the team’s much-loved play-by-play voice, remembers the legendary Brian Shaw in a story that was prepared a couple of years ago as part of a book project that never got off the ground . . .
PART 3:
The WHL as a whole, and the Portland Winter Hawks in particular, were Brian Shaw’s family. He never married and, although he kept in touch with a sister, Sonia, and other members of his family, he still considered his co-workers and Winter Hawks’ players to be his extended family and Portland to be his home.
His nephew, Brian, nicknamed Bunny, had a terrific career with the Winter Hawks in the early 1980s before playing several years of minor pro hockey. When Bunny retired as a player, he became very involved in the Winter Hawks’ scouting staff and spent quite a bit of time with his uncle, thus, Brian Shaw’s famous nickname, Unkie.
Brian was very social and especially enjoyed being around hockey people. He loved all of the relationships he built through the league and other teams. Some of my favorite memories are the times in Brian’s office, and on the road, when he would have a large group of people around and start telling stories.
He told many stories about McLean, such as when he threw a garbage can onto the ice from the Bruins’ bench to protest a referee’s non-call in New Westminster’s legendary Queen’s Park Arena.
Shaw always laughed when he recalled Seattle governor/general manager Ephraim Steinke actually going on the ice during play to have a very public, extremely hazardous discussion with the referee.
But most of Shaw’s favourite stories were about Brian Shaw, and one of his most lovable characteristics was his ability to laugh at himself. He didn’t let everyone see that side of him, but it was probably my favourite side.
My personal favourite was the one about the cellphone. Brian was always fascinated with new gadgets and when cellphones hit the market, he was among the first to own one. He told the story of taking his new phone to a WHL league meeting to show it off. Brian was an important person in hockey, without question, but perhaps, at times, he wanted his peers to think he was a little more important than he actually was. So, he arranged, in advance, for long-time office manager Jann Boss to call him at just the right time so all the other GMs at the meeting would know that he was important enough to be called on his new phone.
Boss called and the phone rang ... and rang … and rang … and rang … because no one had shown Brian how to answer it!
When he told that story, he would laugh so hard he would cry.
“Another one he told a lot was his pep talk one day at a practice at the old Silver Skate ice arena in Portland,” remembers long-time trainer Innes Mackie. “Hodgie had asked Brian to have a word with the team about their recent poor play. He was into a pretty intense speech in front of the whole team when Wayne Babych started to laugh. That made Unkie even madder and so he wheeled around and asked him what was so funny. Babych told him he was wearing one green shoe and one blue shoe. They were patent leather shoes, too. One green, one blue.”
There was only one thing Brian Shaw enjoyed more than holding court in his office, an arena press room, or a hotel lobby. That was the game of hockey itself. He absolutely loved watching hockey games. He rarely missed a Winter Hawks’ game, but he also realized the importance of traveling to other league and NHL games. He hated days off. I can remember countless times he would pace around the Winter Hawks’ business office grumbling that there was no game that day.
Brian Shaw grew up in humble surroundings in the tiny mining community of Nordegg, Alta. His mother passed away when he was five years old and his father left the coal business to move back to England. As a child, Shaw lived with his grandmother and demonstrated early in his life that he could overcome obstacles. In spite of his mother’s death, he skipped two grades in school because he was very bright. His grandmother passed away when he was 15, so Brian moved in with an aunt and uncle. He was unable to continue school and had to support himself by working in the local coal mine at the Brazeau Collieries briquette plant.
“As a 16-year-old, Brian, who hated driving and was very nervous around firecrackers, was hired to haul dynamite from mine to mine on bumpy, gravel forestry roads,” Ken Hodge says with a laugh. “But he always said he absolutely loved it.”
(Part 3 of 7)
Portland and Brian Shaw . . . Part 2
The winds of change are blowing through the Portland Winter Hawks’ organization. . . . Dean (Scooter) Vrooman, who left the Winter Hawks more than a year ago after a lengthy stint as the team’s much-loved play-by-play voice, remembers the legendary Brian Shaw in a story that was prepared a couple of years ago as part of a book project that never got off the ground . . .
PART 2:
Besides starting a franchise in Portland, Brian Shaw had a lot to do behind the scenes when it came to garnering support for Ed Chynoweth as the league’s president in the mid-1970s. Shaw saw Chynoweth as a man who was strong enough to keep a volatile group of WHL owners in line, something that was necessary in order to solidify the financial stability of existing franchises while, at the same time, exploring expansion. The league had gone through some tough times under some ill-prepared owners in the late 1960s and early ‘70s, but, under Chynoweth, the WHL started to stabilize into a solid 12-team league.
Shaw’s move to Portland opened up Seattle the next year, but that franchise would go through rocky times for years, often kept in business, at least in part, by investments from Shaw and other league owners. There were unsuccessful ventures in other American markets, including Spokane in 1981-82, as well as the Montana cities of Billings and Great Falls in other seasons.
But the current successful legacy of the U.S. Division of the WHL, with five franchises, may never have happened if not for Shaw’s bold move to try it first in Portland. And, it was no accident that the Hawks started their history with seven straight winning seasons.
“Brian was a skilled negotiator and as part of the move to Portland, he was able to secure a territorial area around Edmonton where we had first shot at recruiting hockey players,” Ken Hodge says. “The Edmonton area was one of the best for producing quality hockey players in Western Canada. We also had the only full-time scout in the league and we did make some very significant trades as well. Bringing in players like Larry Playfair, Perry Turnbull, Jim Dobson, Florent Robidoux, Mike Toal and Alfie Turcotte made a big impact in Portland and helped establish junior hockey in a city where we had to compete with a professional franchise in the NBA Portland Trailblazers.”
Shaw was elected chairman of the WHL’s executive board in 1978 and served in that capacity until 1987. He was Chynoweth’s right-hand man during an era in which the WHL expanded and also worked hard at enhancing its reputation. The two worked together to develop the current WHL education plan and to force all teams to toe the line in providing secondary education assistance for all WHL players, should they choose not to sign professional contracts. They also spearheaded an effort to clean up the league’s reputation. Up to that point, the WHL was reputed to feature brawl-filled games -- it was seen as the wild west of hockey, if you will. Under Chynoweth and Shaw, the WHL worked hard at emphasizing speed, skill and scoring.
“With Ed as league president and Brian as chairman of the board, the league enjoyed its most pronounced growth period,” Hodge says. “Brian was asked to carry the mail on numerous occasions when there were new ideas to be brought up and sold to the board of governors as a whole, and to teams individually. He was a very skilled politician and he made sure he had the votes and the support for his position before the topic ever came to the table. They made some great changes in the league and built the foundation that is still in place today.”
Shaw became involved with and concerned about each and every franchise in the league. He knew their problem areas and made suggestions on what needed to be done to solve them. He regularly made recommendations on personnel on behalf of other teams. He spent a lot of his day in consultation with other franchises.
“He kept saying the better they are, the better we are,” Hodge says. “Sometimes I did not feel as comfortable about that as he did. When you are coaching, as I was, my only concern was winning the next hockey game for the Portland Winter Hawks. Brian was very generous with his time and his thoughts with our competition.”
“When Kamloops was in trouble, he got involved financially,” Hodge adds. “When Spokane was in trouble, he got involved financially. When Seattle was in trouble, he helped them financially. When we were in trouble in the early years, Ernie McLean (the controversial general manager/coach of a hated rival, the New Westminster Bruins) was very generous with the Portland Winter Hawks.
“It was a special time in our league back then. Many of these gestures were substantial financial commitments. They were often zero interest loans with no promise of return.”
(Part 2 of 7)
Wednesday's over . . .
When the Tri-City Americans were in Kamloops on Oct. 21, GM Bob Tory was concerned about his team's depth, or lack of same, on defence — they were carrying only six defencemen. Tory moved Wednesday to solve that problem by acquiring D Scott Maetche, 19, from the Calgary Hitmen for a 2009 conditional seventh-round bantam draft pick. Maetche, the 58th pick in the 2004 bantam draft when he was taken by the Moose Jaw Warriors, played with the Chilliwack Bruins in 2006-07 and split last season between the Bruins and the AJHL's Grande Prairie Storm. He is from Lacombe, Alta. “With only six defencemen on our roster and, a shortage of experienced D-men in the league, it was important that we make a deal,” Tory said in a statement. . . . And you can watch for "a shortage of D-men in the league" to become a recurring theme. Everyone, it seems, is looking for experienced defencemen and such players are going to carry a high price tag.
———
LW Ondrej Roman, 19, has been removed from the Spokane Chiefs' roster. He is playing in his native Czech Republic while apparently awaiting his release so that he can return to the Chiefs for whom he played the previous two seasons. "We have an import spot available for Ondrej if he returns to Spokane," Chiefs GM Tim Speltz said in a release. "There is no immediate timeline for his return so we're going to remove him from the roster." Roman has five points in 16 games with Viktovice HC. In 142 games over two seasons with the Chiefs, he had 109 points. He led the Chiefs in playoff scoring, with 21 points, in their Memorial Cup run last spring.
———
JUST NOTES: The Lethbridge Hurricanes have been told by the Philadelphia Flyers that Luca Sbisa, an 18-year-old Swiss defenceman, won’t be coming back to the WHL. Last season, as a freshman, he had 33 points in 62 games with the Hurricanes and then was the 19th selection in the NHL's 2008 draft. Sbisa joins D Luke Schenn of the Kelowna Rockets, who turns 19 on Nov. 2, and F Oscar Moller, 19, of the Chilliwack Bruins as ‘underage’ players in the NHL. Schenn, the fifth pick in the NHL’s 2008 draft, is with the Toronto Maple Leafs, while Moller, the 52nd pick in 2007, is with the Los Angeles Kings. . . . LW Jamie Benn of the Kelowna Rockets is the Boston Pizza CHL player of the week after picking up nine points, including five goals, in three games. Benn, 19, was selected by the Dallas Stars in the fifth round of the 2007 NHL draft. . . . The sinking economy has taken a bite out of the NHL’s Florida Panthers, who have laid off 10 employees. . . . Three players who had quit the Portland Winter Hawks over the last while were back at practice on Wednesday. That would be D Brock Cornish, F Chris Francis and F Tayler Jordan. . . . For lots more on the Portland situation, check out Jason Vondersmith’s stories on the Portland Tribune’s website right here.
———
The CHL Mosaik MasterCard Top 10 for this week, as selected by an anonymous panel of NHL scouts (team, last week, number of weeks in rankings):
1. Windsor Spitfires (15-1-0-0) 1 7
2. Moncton Wildcats (14-0-2-0) 3 6
3. Calgary Hitmen (13-3-0-0) 6 2
4. Vancouver Giants (10-0-0-3) 7 5
5. Quebec Remparts (12-2-0-1) 2 4
6. London Knights (10-3-0-1) 8 4
7. Shawinigan Cataractes (13-4-0-0) 9 4
8. Spokane Chiefs (9-2-0-3) 4 7
9. Guelph Storm (10-5-0-1) 10 5
10. Drummondville Voltigeurs (12-3-0-2) — 5
———
WEDNESDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:
In Vancouver, F Gary Nunn broke a 3-3 tie at 10:37 of the third period to give the Giants a 4-3 victory over the Tri-City Americans. . . . The Giants (11-0-0-3) are the only team in the CHL not to have lost in regulation time to this point in the season. They have won four straight. . . . The Americans (10-4-0-1) had won five of six. . . . The victory was the 399th of Vancouver head coach Don Hay’s WHL coaching career. . . . Vancouver had a 40-22 edge in shots but trailed 2-1 and 3-2 at the intermissions. . . . F Andrej Kudrna pulled Vancouver into a 3-3 tie with his seventh goal at 8:07 of the third. . . . Giants C Evander Kane picked up one assist to run his points streak to 14 games.
————
In Saskatoon, F Chris Langkow scored the winner in the third period as the Blades got past the Calgary Hitmen, 3-2. . . . .The Blades (12-5-1-0) were playing their second game in an 11-game homestand. . . . The Hitmen (13-4-1-0) had won six of seven. . . . Langkow gave the Blades a 3-1 lead at 10:34 of the third. Calgary answered that less than a minute later when F Kyle Bortis struck on the PP. . . . G Martin Jones stopped 29 shots for Calgary. . . . Saskatoon’s Braden Holtby made 22 saves. . . . D Stefan Elliott had a goal, his seventh, and an assist for Saskatoon. . . . The game was twice delayed by shattered panes of glass, something that now has happened four times this month in Credit Union Centre. . . . Saskatoon C Travis Toomey (left arm) left in the second period. Calgary D Keith Seabrook was given a major penalty for interference and a game misconduct on the play. He also scrapped with Saskatoon LW Adam Chorneyko after the hit.
———
In Regina, F Colton Teubert and F Rudolf Cerveny had two goals apiece to led the Pats to a 7-3 victory over the Moose Jaw Warriors. . . . The Pats (9-5-1-2) have won three in a row, scoring 20 goals in the process. They are 6-1-1-2 at home. . . . The Warriors have lost four in a row. . . . The Warriors actually scored the game’s first goal, with F Jason Bast getting his sixth at 17:32 of the first, only to have Regina come back with five in a row. . . . F Jordan Eberle got his 11th goal for the Pats — he has a seven-game point streak going — and teammate Matt Strueby notched his 13th. . . . Regina G Linden Rowat stopped 31 shots to improve his record to 4-0-1-1. . . . F Brett Leffler had three assists for Regina. . . . Moose Jaw was without D Travis Hamonic (undisclosed injury). . . . Regina has twice beaten Moose Jaw 7-3 this season, with both games played in the Queen City. Going back to last season, the Pats have taken five in a row from the Warriors. . . . According to Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post: “The Warriors . . . weren’t immediately available for comment after Wednesday’s game.” According to WHL rules, teams are to make coaches and players available to the media no later than 15 minutes after a game's conclusion.
———
In Red Deer, F Matt Fraser scored twice, the second one coming with 39 seconds left in the third period, to give the Kootenay Ice a 3-2 victory over the Rebels. . . . The Rebels (5-8-0-5) have won five times at home but not this time. . . . The Ice (9-6-2-3) had lost its last two games. . . . The Ice, which trailed 2-1 after two, was 0-for-5 on the PP and now is 4-for-47 on the PP on the road this season. . . . D Hayden Rintoul tied it for the Ice midway in the third. . . . Fraser’s unassisted winner was his fourth goal of the season. He just happens to be from Red Deer and was dealt by the Rebels to the Ice a year ago. . . . D Ian Barteux was plus-3 for the Ice.
———
In Prince George, D Darren Bestland scored his first two goals to help the Brandon Wheat Kings to a 6-5 shootout victory over the Cougars. . . . The Cougars (7-9-0-1) were playing at home for the first time since returning from a 1-8 road swing. They now are 5-0-0-1 at home. . . . The Wheat Kings (9-5-1-0) have won four of their last five games. . . . The Cougars led this one 3-0 in the first period and 5-1 in the second. . . . Cougars captain Dana Tyrell had two goals and an assist but finished minus-3. . . . Brayden Schenn scored the only goal of the circus to give Brandon the victory. . . . Attendance was announced at 2,288, the lowest crowd to attend a WHL game in the CN Centre. The previous low (2,302) was on Jan. 17, 2008, with Portland visiting. . . . G Joe Caligiuri, acquired by the Cougars from Brandon earlier this month, stopped 32 shots, two fewer than Brandon’s Andrew Hayes. . . . Brandon was without forward Matt Calvert (back) for a second straight game.
———
In Kelowna, C Colin Long and LW Jamie Benn each had a goal and three assists to spark the Rockets to a 7-3 victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . The Rockets (10-7-0-0) have won four of five. . . . The Thunderbirds (4-10-0-1) had won their last two. . . . Benn has 20 points, including 11 goals, in his last eight games. . . . Benn also now leads the WHL in goals (14) and points (27). . . . Long and Vancouver C Evander Kane are tied for second, with 26 points. . . . F Lucas Bloodoff had two goals for the Rockets. . . . Kelowna led 2-0 after one period but the Thunderbirds tied it early in the second. The Rockets then scored five of the next six goals. . . . Kelowna G Kris Lazaruk was lifted after Seattle’s second goal. Freshman Adam Brown came on to make 15 saves and run his record to 5-0-0-0.
———
In Chilliwack, F Zach Boychuk and F Carter Ashton had two goals each as the Lethbridge Hurricanes opened a road swing with a 7-2 whipping of the Bruins. . . . The Hurricanes (9-6-0-0) had lost two in a row and three of four. . . . The Bruins (5-9-1-1) have lost seven in a row. . . . F Colton Sceviour had a goal and three assists for Lethbridge. . . . Lethbridge F Dwight King scored 1:41 into the game and the Hurricanes went on to lead 5-0 before the Bruins got on the board. . . . D Alexander Grill Donovan, acquired this week from Brandon, was in the Bruins’ lineup. . . . Chilliwack F Partik Bhungal picked up 12 minutes in penalties to become the franchise’s career penalty leader, with 186 minutes. D Matt McCue, now with the Medicine Hat Tigers, held the record, at 181.
———
LW Ondrej Roman, 19, has been removed from the Spokane Chiefs' roster. He is playing in his native Czech Republic while apparently awaiting his release so that he can return to the Chiefs for whom he played the previous two seasons. "We have an import spot available for Ondrej if he returns to Spokane," Chiefs GM Tim Speltz said in a release. "There is no immediate timeline for his return so we're going to remove him from the roster." Roman has five points in 16 games with Viktovice HC. In 142 games over two seasons with the Chiefs, he had 109 points. He led the Chiefs in playoff scoring, with 21 points, in their Memorial Cup run last spring.
———
JUST NOTES: The Lethbridge Hurricanes have been told by the Philadelphia Flyers that Luca Sbisa, an 18-year-old Swiss defenceman, won’t be coming back to the WHL. Last season, as a freshman, he had 33 points in 62 games with the Hurricanes and then was the 19th selection in the NHL's 2008 draft. Sbisa joins D Luke Schenn of the Kelowna Rockets, who turns 19 on Nov. 2, and F Oscar Moller, 19, of the Chilliwack Bruins as ‘underage’ players in the NHL. Schenn, the fifth pick in the NHL’s 2008 draft, is with the Toronto Maple Leafs, while Moller, the 52nd pick in 2007, is with the Los Angeles Kings. . . . LW Jamie Benn of the Kelowna Rockets is the Boston Pizza CHL player of the week after picking up nine points, including five goals, in three games. Benn, 19, was selected by the Dallas Stars in the fifth round of the 2007 NHL draft. . . . The sinking economy has taken a bite out of the NHL’s Florida Panthers, who have laid off 10 employees. . . . Three players who had quit the Portland Winter Hawks over the last while were back at practice on Wednesday. That would be D Brock Cornish, F Chris Francis and F Tayler Jordan. . . . For lots more on the Portland situation, check out Jason Vondersmith’s stories on the Portland Tribune’s website right here.
———
The CHL Mosaik MasterCard Top 10 for this week, as selected by an anonymous panel of NHL scouts (team, last week, number of weeks in rankings):
1. Windsor Spitfires (15-1-0-0) 1 7
2. Moncton Wildcats (14-0-2-0) 3 6
3. Calgary Hitmen (13-3-0-0) 6 2
4. Vancouver Giants (10-0-0-3) 7 5
5. Quebec Remparts (12-2-0-1) 2 4
6. London Knights (10-3-0-1) 8 4
7. Shawinigan Cataractes (13-4-0-0) 9 4
8. Spokane Chiefs (9-2-0-3) 4 7
9. Guelph Storm (10-5-0-1) 10 5
10. Drummondville Voltigeurs (12-3-0-2) — 5
———
WEDNESDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:
In Vancouver, F Gary Nunn broke a 3-3 tie at 10:37 of the third period to give the Giants a 4-3 victory over the Tri-City Americans. . . . The Giants (11-0-0-3) are the only team in the CHL not to have lost in regulation time to this point in the season. They have won four straight. . . . The Americans (10-4-0-1) had won five of six. . . . The victory was the 399th of Vancouver head coach Don Hay’s WHL coaching career. . . . Vancouver had a 40-22 edge in shots but trailed 2-1 and 3-2 at the intermissions. . . . F Andrej Kudrna pulled Vancouver into a 3-3 tie with his seventh goal at 8:07 of the third. . . . Giants C Evander Kane picked up one assist to run his points streak to 14 games.
————
In Saskatoon, F Chris Langkow scored the winner in the third period as the Blades got past the Calgary Hitmen, 3-2. . . . .The Blades (12-5-1-0) were playing their second game in an 11-game homestand. . . . The Hitmen (13-4-1-0) had won six of seven. . . . Langkow gave the Blades a 3-1 lead at 10:34 of the third. Calgary answered that less than a minute later when F Kyle Bortis struck on the PP. . . . G Martin Jones stopped 29 shots for Calgary. . . . Saskatoon’s Braden Holtby made 22 saves. . . . D Stefan Elliott had a goal, his seventh, and an assist for Saskatoon. . . . The game was twice delayed by shattered panes of glass, something that now has happened four times this month in Credit Union Centre. . . . Saskatoon C Travis Toomey (left arm) left in the second period. Calgary D Keith Seabrook was given a major penalty for interference and a game misconduct on the play. He also scrapped with Saskatoon LW Adam Chorneyko after the hit.
———
In Regina, F Colton Teubert and F Rudolf Cerveny had two goals apiece to led the Pats to a 7-3 victory over the Moose Jaw Warriors. . . . The Pats (9-5-1-2) have won three in a row, scoring 20 goals in the process. They are 6-1-1-2 at home. . . . The Warriors have lost four in a row. . . . The Warriors actually scored the game’s first goal, with F Jason Bast getting his sixth at 17:32 of the first, only to have Regina come back with five in a row. . . . F Jordan Eberle got his 11th goal for the Pats — he has a seven-game point streak going — and teammate Matt Strueby notched his 13th. . . . Regina G Linden Rowat stopped 31 shots to improve his record to 4-0-1-1. . . . F Brett Leffler had three assists for Regina. . . . Moose Jaw was without D Travis Hamonic (undisclosed injury). . . . Regina has twice beaten Moose Jaw 7-3 this season, with both games played in the Queen City. Going back to last season, the Pats have taken five in a row from the Warriors. . . . According to Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post: “The Warriors . . . weren’t immediately available for comment after Wednesday’s game.” According to WHL rules, teams are to make coaches and players available to the media no later than 15 minutes after a game's conclusion.
———
In Red Deer, F Matt Fraser scored twice, the second one coming with 39 seconds left in the third period, to give the Kootenay Ice a 3-2 victory over the Rebels. . . . The Rebels (5-8-0-5) have won five times at home but not this time. . . . The Ice (9-6-2-3) had lost its last two games. . . . The Ice, which trailed 2-1 after two, was 0-for-5 on the PP and now is 4-for-47 on the PP on the road this season. . . . D Hayden Rintoul tied it for the Ice midway in the third. . . . Fraser’s unassisted winner was his fourth goal of the season. He just happens to be from Red Deer and was dealt by the Rebels to the Ice a year ago. . . . D Ian Barteux was plus-3 for the Ice.
———
In Prince George, D Darren Bestland scored his first two goals to help the Brandon Wheat Kings to a 6-5 shootout victory over the Cougars. . . . The Cougars (7-9-0-1) were playing at home for the first time since returning from a 1-8 road swing. They now are 5-0-0-1 at home. . . . The Wheat Kings (9-5-1-0) have won four of their last five games. . . . The Cougars led this one 3-0 in the first period and 5-1 in the second. . . . Cougars captain Dana Tyrell had two goals and an assist but finished minus-3. . . . Brayden Schenn scored the only goal of the circus to give Brandon the victory. . . . Attendance was announced at 2,288, the lowest crowd to attend a WHL game in the CN Centre. The previous low (2,302) was on Jan. 17, 2008, with Portland visiting. . . . G Joe Caligiuri, acquired by the Cougars from Brandon earlier this month, stopped 32 shots, two fewer than Brandon’s Andrew Hayes. . . . Brandon was without forward Matt Calvert (back) for a second straight game.
———
In Kelowna, C Colin Long and LW Jamie Benn each had a goal and three assists to spark the Rockets to a 7-3 victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . The Rockets (10-7-0-0) have won four of five. . . . The Thunderbirds (4-10-0-1) had won their last two. . . . Benn has 20 points, including 11 goals, in his last eight games. . . . Benn also now leads the WHL in goals (14) and points (27). . . . Long and Vancouver C Evander Kane are tied for second, with 26 points. . . . F Lucas Bloodoff had two goals for the Rockets. . . . Kelowna led 2-0 after one period but the Thunderbirds tied it early in the second. The Rockets then scored five of the next six goals. . . . Kelowna G Kris Lazaruk was lifted after Seattle’s second goal. Freshman Adam Brown came on to make 15 saves and run his record to 5-0-0-0.
———
In Chilliwack, F Zach Boychuk and F Carter Ashton had two goals each as the Lethbridge Hurricanes opened a road swing with a 7-2 whipping of the Bruins. . . . The Hurricanes (9-6-0-0) had lost two in a row and three of four. . . . The Bruins (5-9-1-1) have lost seven in a row. . . . F Colton Sceviour had a goal and three assists for Lethbridge. . . . Lethbridge F Dwight King scored 1:41 into the game and the Hurricanes went on to lead 5-0 before the Bruins got on the board. . . . D Alexander Grill Donovan, acquired this week from Brandon, was in the Bruins’ lineup. . . . Chilliwack F Partik Bhungal picked up 12 minutes in penalties to become the franchise’s career penalty leader, with 186 minutes. D Matt McCue, now with the Medicine Hat Tigers, held the record, at 181.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Portland coach on the air
Mike Johnston, the new GM/head coach of the Portland Winter Hawks, will appear on SportsTalk with host Dan Russell tonight at 11:10 Pacific time. . . . Hunt up CKNW on the Internet and listen in, if you are so inclined.
Portland and Brian Shaw . . . Part 1
The winds of change are blowing through the Portland Winter Hawks’ organization. . . . Dean (Scooter) Vrooman, who left the Winter Hawks more than a year ago after a lengthy stint as the team’s much-loved play-by-play voice, remembers the legendary Brian Shaw in a story that was prepared a couple of years ago as part of a book project that never got off the ground . . .
PART 1:
Brian Shaw ruled with an iron hand and a tender heart
For 10 years, I sat behind Portland Winter Hawks’ founder Brian Shaw on the team bus, until he became too ill to travel during his team’s run to the WHL championship series in 1992-93.
Shaw finally lost his long battle with lymphoma, a cancerous brain tumour, on July 27, 1993 at the age of 62. He left a mark on all levels of hockey, but perhaps his greatest legacy is being one of the people responsible for forming the WHL as we know it today.
I will never forget the day I met Brian Shaw. I was shaking, probably the same way many hockey players shook when they were called into his office.
It was September of 1982 and the Winter Hawks’ office was tucked into a small corner of Memorial Coliseum. Recently informed that I had passed my audition to be the next ‘Voice of the Winter Hawks‘, which turned out to be a radio broadcast of a baseball game, I went to the Hawks’ office to gather as much information about the team and the league as I could get my hands on. My predecessor, original Hawks’ broadcaster Cliff Zauner, at 6-foot-6, had decided extended travel on the team bus was just too much. At 5-foot-7, I did not have the courage to ask if my height was the main reason I was hired.
Shaw’s desk was elevated. It always was. He thought it gave him an edge in negotiations or, at the very least, an added element of intimidation, should he choose to use it. It certainly worked on me. I did not have to ask twice who ran the Winter Hawks. He immediately lit one of his patented cigars and started to grill me.
I don’t remember all of his questions or my answers. I only remember thinking by the end of my meeting that I liked the guy.
“Some of what Brian did was show,” says Ken Hodge, the long-time general manager and head coach. “Brian liked impressive cars, nice clothes, great food and enormous cigars, but he never smoked them. And, even though they were big, most of the time the cigars were cheap. Since he didn’t smoke them, he didn’t care how they tasted. He dressed for success and had a distinguished look about him. The cigars needed to be big to fit his image.”
Hodge should know. Their relationship went all the way back to Hodge’s childhood when he was a defenceman on Shaw’s famous Jasper Place Mohawks midget team. The Mohawks were a team like no other in the Edmonton area, or maybe anywhere else in Canada at the midget level. They dressed well off the ice and they looked very good on the ice. Shaw always was a showman and how his teams looked was important to him.
Shaw started to gain a reputation with the Mohawks and eventually was hired to coach the Moose Jaw Canucks in the WHL’s inaugural season, 1966-67. Hodge was the Canucks’ best defenceman. Moose Jaw surprised the powerful Edmonton Oil Kings in the playoffs and went on to win the league’s first championship in a five-game final over Regina.
Hodge’s playing days ended during that 1966-67 season in Moose Jaw when he took a high stick to an eye. He left to coach the major junior team in Sorel, Que., and then moved on and got a taste of coaching pro hockey in the International league in Flint, Mich. At the tender age of 23, Hodge was one of the youngest coaches ever in the IHL; sheesh, most of his players were older than he was.
Meanwhile, Shaw was hired to coach the OHL’s St. Catharine’s Blackhawks, where his best player was Marcel Dionne, who went on to have a legendary career with the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings.
But, through it all, Shaw always wanted to be involved in big-time hockey in the Edmonton area, where he had been raised. He eventually got his chance when was hired to coach the Edmonton Oilers of the World Hockey Association in 1973-74.
Bill Hunter, one of the WHL’s founding fathers, owned the Oilers and the Oil Kings. When asked by Hunter for his opinion, Shaw recommended Hodge to coach the Oil Kings. Hunter eventually fired both Shaw and Hodge, so they put together a group and bought the Oil Kings from Hunter in 1974-75. Shaw used his $50,000 buyout money from his Oilers’ contract when Hunter fired him to become the majority owner of the Oil Kings.
Edmonton was fascinated by the Oilers and the pro game, so it wasn’t long before Shaw and Hodge knew they had to take the Oil Kings elsewhere in order to survive financially.
Few people thought junior hockey could make it in the United States. Shaw, however, didn’t share that belief. After leaning towards moving the Oil Kings to Spokane, he decided instead that Portland would be their destination. And so it was that the Oil Kings moved to Portland over the summer of 1976.
On one of the flights between Portland and Edmonton, Shaw saw a little known movie title ‘Winter Hawk‘. It had a nice tie to Blackhawks. Shaw and Hodge were long-time friends with Tommy Ivan, who just happened to be the vice-president, assistant to the president, and the highest-ranking person without the last name of Wirtz in the entire Chicago Blackhawks organization.
For the first three Winter Hawks’ seasons, Shaw would cut his uniform costs by using recycled sweaters and pants from the Blackhawks. In fact, to keep things afloat, Shaw even flew in an aunt from California to mend the uniforms in order to help get the franchise through another season.
Yes, Shaw was very adept at making the right decisions to save money in order the keep the Winter Hawks afloat while also making good decisions to spend where necessary to market the team.
(Part 1 of 7)
Tuesday's stuff . . .
Jason Vondersmith of the Portland Tribune has more on the Winter Hawks’ transfer of ownership and the resulting shakeup in personnel right here.
———
The Moose Jaw Warriors and Chilliwack may have to rework a recent trade after C Evan Fuller, 20, left the Bruins. Fuller and D Brett Ward, 20, were acquired from Moose Jaw on Oct. 7 for C Brayden Metz, 18, and two draft picks — a sixth-rounder in 2009 and a fifth-round in 2010. . . . Fuller, however, has a bad groin and chose to leave the Bruins. Chilliwack GM Darrell May told the Vancouver Province that Fuller told him he was retiring. May also said: “From the day he got here, we had to tape him up.”
———
Over the summer, thieves broke into the Vancouver home of former Giants captain Milan Lucic’s parents. Among the items that disappeared was Lucic’s championship ring from the 2007 Memorial Cup. With the Boston Bruins in Vancouver to meet the Canucks on Tuesday, the Giants presented Lucic with a new ring. . . . The Giants attended the NHL game at GM Place and watched as the Bruins, with Lucic getting eight hits, beat the Canucks, 1-0. . . . The Giants are at home to the Tri-City Americans on Wednesday night. Vancouver head coach Don Hay goes into the game with 398 victories, five more than Tri-City’s Don Nachbaur.
———
TUESDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:
In Saskatoon, the Swift Current Broncos scored the game’s last four goals and beat the Blades, 4-1. . . . The Broncos (11-5-0-0) closed to within a point of the East Division-leading Blades. . . . The Blades (11-5-1-0) had won two in a row and 10 of 11. . . . F Taylor Vause had a goal, his second, and an assist for the Broncos. . . . Saskatoon was 0-for-8 on the PP; the Broncos were 1-for-5. . . . Broncos G Mark Guggenburger stopped 24 shots, while Saskatoon’s Braden Holtby turned aside 21. . . . Attendance was 5,026.
———
In Prince Albert, F Ryan Harrison scored 1:28 into OT to give the Raiders a 3-2 victory over the Calgary Hitmen. . . . The Raiders (10-8-0-0) also got goals from F Justin Bernhardt and F Brandon Herrod. . . . The Hitmen (13-3-1-0) had won six straight. . . . Calgary F Brandon Kozun forced OT with a PP goal at 9:35 of the third. It was his 13th score of the season.
———
In Edmonton, G Torrie Jung stopped 29 shots to lead the Oil Kings to a 4-0 victory over the Kootenay Ice. . . . The Oil Kings (7-9-1-1) have picked up five a possible six points over their last three games. . . . The Ice (8-6-2-3) had won five of six. . . . Jung actually began the season with the Kelowna Rockets, before being dealt to the Lethbridge Hurricanes. He didn’t get into a game with the Hurricanes before they traded him to Edmonton. . . . He has made three starts for Edmonton and has two victories and a shootout loss. . . . This was his first shutout of the season and second of his career. . . . F Tomas Vincour and F Brent Raedeke each scored his seventh goal for Edmonton. . . . Referee Adam Byblow tossed Kootenay head coach Mark Holick and Edmonton assistant coach Rocky Thompson at 19:52 of the third period. The teams engaged in a multi-fight situation at that time. According to the Oil Kings’ website: “Tempers really flared and calling cards were left as the teams erupted for a flurry of penalties with just eight seconds left in the game when Jesse Ismond, Kevin King and Ian Barteaux from the Ice tangled with Mark Pysyk, Shayne Neigum and Jesse Pearson for the Oil Kings. Ice head coach Mark Holick and Oil Kings assistant coach Rocky Thompson were both given game misconducts for an animated shouting match between the benches.” . . . The Ice and Oil Kings are scheduled to next meet on Nov. 15 in Cranbrook.
———
In Everett, F Kellan Tochkin scored the lone goal of the shootout as the Silvertips dumped the Tri-City Americans, 7-6. . . . Everett (7-6-1-0) had lost its previous two games. . . . The Americans (10-3-0-1) had a five-game winning streak end. . . . Everett F Daniel Bartek forced OT with a PP goal at 17:40 of the third period. That was his eighth goal of the season. . . . Tri-City got a goal and two assists from each of F Johnny Lazo, F Jason Reese and F Adam Hughesman. . . . Everett three times had a two-goal lead. . . . Everett LW Kyle Beach (back spasms) sat this one out. . . . Tri-City D Brett Plouffe left early with an undisclosed injury. . . . On Friday, in Kennewick, Wash., the Americans beat the Silvertips, 1-0. . . . In Everett’s last five home games, teams have combined to score 50 goals. The Silvertips have won all five games — 5-2 over Kamloops, 8-6 over Kelowna, 5-2 over Seattle, 7-3 over Seattle.
———
The Moose Jaw Warriors and Chilliwack may have to rework a recent trade after C Evan Fuller, 20, left the Bruins. Fuller and D Brett Ward, 20, were acquired from Moose Jaw on Oct. 7 for C Brayden Metz, 18, and two draft picks — a sixth-rounder in 2009 and a fifth-round in 2010. . . . Fuller, however, has a bad groin and chose to leave the Bruins. Chilliwack GM Darrell May told the Vancouver Province that Fuller told him he was retiring. May also said: “From the day he got here, we had to tape him up.”
———
Over the summer, thieves broke into the Vancouver home of former Giants captain Milan Lucic’s parents. Among the items that disappeared was Lucic’s championship ring from the 2007 Memorial Cup. With the Boston Bruins in Vancouver to meet the Canucks on Tuesday, the Giants presented Lucic with a new ring. . . . The Giants attended the NHL game at GM Place and watched as the Bruins, with Lucic getting eight hits, beat the Canucks, 1-0. . . . The Giants are at home to the Tri-City Americans on Wednesday night. Vancouver head coach Don Hay goes into the game with 398 victories, five more than Tri-City’s Don Nachbaur.
———
TUESDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:
In Saskatoon, the Swift Current Broncos scored the game’s last four goals and beat the Blades, 4-1. . . . The Broncos (11-5-0-0) closed to within a point of the East Division-leading Blades. . . . The Blades (11-5-1-0) had won two in a row and 10 of 11. . . . F Taylor Vause had a goal, his second, and an assist for the Broncos. . . . Saskatoon was 0-for-8 on the PP; the Broncos were 1-for-5. . . . Broncos G Mark Guggenburger stopped 24 shots, while Saskatoon’s Braden Holtby turned aside 21. . . . Attendance was 5,026.
———
In Prince Albert, F Ryan Harrison scored 1:28 into OT to give the Raiders a 3-2 victory over the Calgary Hitmen. . . . The Raiders (10-8-0-0) also got goals from F Justin Bernhardt and F Brandon Herrod. . . . The Hitmen (13-3-1-0) had won six straight. . . . Calgary F Brandon Kozun forced OT with a PP goal at 9:35 of the third. It was his 13th score of the season.
———
In Edmonton, G Torrie Jung stopped 29 shots to lead the Oil Kings to a 4-0 victory over the Kootenay Ice. . . . The Oil Kings (7-9-1-1) have picked up five a possible six points over their last three games. . . . The Ice (8-6-2-3) had won five of six. . . . Jung actually began the season with the Kelowna Rockets, before being dealt to the Lethbridge Hurricanes. He didn’t get into a game with the Hurricanes before they traded him to Edmonton. . . . He has made three starts for Edmonton and has two victories and a shootout loss. . . . This was his first shutout of the season and second of his career. . . . F Tomas Vincour and F Brent Raedeke each scored his seventh goal for Edmonton. . . . Referee Adam Byblow tossed Kootenay head coach Mark Holick and Edmonton assistant coach Rocky Thompson at 19:52 of the third period. The teams engaged in a multi-fight situation at that time. According to the Oil Kings’ website: “Tempers really flared and calling cards were left as the teams erupted for a flurry of penalties with just eight seconds left in the game when Jesse Ismond, Kevin King and Ian Barteaux from the Ice tangled with Mark Pysyk, Shayne Neigum and Jesse Pearson for the Oil Kings. Ice head coach Mark Holick and Oil Kings assistant coach Rocky Thompson were both given game misconducts for an animated shouting match between the benches.” . . . The Ice and Oil Kings are scheduled to next meet on Nov. 15 in Cranbrook.
———
In Everett, F Kellan Tochkin scored the lone goal of the shootout as the Silvertips dumped the Tri-City Americans, 7-6. . . . Everett (7-6-1-0) had lost its previous two games. . . . The Americans (10-3-0-1) had a five-game winning streak end. . . . Everett F Daniel Bartek forced OT with a PP goal at 17:40 of the third period. That was his eighth goal of the season. . . . Tri-City got a goal and two assists from each of F Johnny Lazo, F Jason Reese and F Adam Hughesman. . . . Everett three times had a two-goal lead. . . . Everett LW Kyle Beach (back spasms) sat this one out. . . . Tri-City D Brett Plouffe left early with an undisclosed injury. . . . On Friday, in Kennewick, Wash., the Americans beat the Silvertips, 1-0. . . . In Everett’s last five home games, teams have combined to score 50 goals. The Silvertips have won all five games — 5-2 over Kamloops, 8-6 over Kelowna, 5-2 over Seattle, 7-3 over Seattle.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Winds of change blowing in Portland
By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
The WHL’s Portland Winter Hawks officially changed hands Tuesday and owner Bill Gallacher immediately got down to business.
Gallacher, the president and CEO of Calgary-based Avenir Capital Corporation, received the WHL board of governors’ approval to purchase the franchise on Oct. 15. And with the transfer of ownership from Jim Goldsmith, Jack Donovan and John Bryant complete, the winds of change began blowing.
Gallacher, also a co-owner of the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers, started rebuilding the Winter Hawks by making official what was first reported in The Daily News and at gdrinnan.blogspot.com on Aug. 15 — Mike Johnston is the team’s new general manager and head coach, with Travis Green as the assistant general manager and lead assistant coach.
Johnston , 51, is a veteran of nine NHL seasons, having split them between the coaching staffs of the Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings. He also has extensive experience with Hockey Canada and has coached at nine world championships, two world juniors and an Olympics.
Johnston takes over from general manager Ken Hodge, who is being kept on as a consultant, and head coach Rich Kromm, who has been offered an unspecified position elsewhere in the organization.
"I've been a career coach," Johnston told Jason Vondersmith of the Portland Tribune. "I've held a variety of roles and responsibilities; with this age group, 16 to 20, I've mainly dealt with 19 and above (on world junior teams). It's a little bit younger. But I'm excited. It'll be a great challenge.
"They're good kids. They all want to be pros. . . . We'll focus these kids on hockey and schooling."
Johnston played at Acadia and Brandon universities and got into the coaching game at the age of 23.
Green, who played in the WHL with the Medicine Hat Tigers and Spokane Chiefs (1986-90) retired in 2007 after a 14-season NHL career. Assistant coach Kyle Gustafson has been retained, while Brian Pellerin, the other assistant under Kromm, was terminated.
Johnston and Green participated in their first Portland practice Tuesday.
Rich Campbell, who was the head athletic trainer for the 2008 U.S. team that competed at the Olympic Summer Games in Beijing, is the Winter Hawks‚ new athletic trainer and conditioning coach. He was the head trainer for the NHL’s New York Islanders from 1997-2006. Campbell replaces Innes Mackie who was told Monday that he was being let go. Mackie and Hodge had been with the Winter Hawks since they arrived in Portland from Edmonton in the summer of 1976.
"We haven't come to define roles and responsibilities," Johnston said. "He (Hodge) has a lot of knowledge, and he's well-respected in the league; at times he's been the sole reason the franchise survived in certain years and had great years."
Matt Bardsley, who had been director of player personnel, now will scout WHL teams. His previous position is to be filled next week, Johnston said, at which time a scouting staff also will be unveiled.
It is expected that Garry Davidson, who has vast junior A experience including as owner, general manager and head coach of the BCHL’s Salmon Arm SilverBacks, will be the Winter Hawks’ director of player personnel, with his son, Ty, on the scouting staff.
As well, Ken Stickney, a veteran executive from Mandalay Sports Entertainment in Las Vegas, will be stepping in as the Winter Hawks‚ president.
The Winter Hawks, who have had the WHL’s poorest record each of the last two seasons, are 2-12-0-0. Just back from a 1-5 East Division swing, they are 10th in the 10-team Western Conference, eight points out of a playoff spot. Portland next plays Friday when it visits the Tri-City Americans in Kennewick, Wash.
The Winter Hawks’ first home game under new ownership is Nov. 5 against the Edmonton Oil Kings. That is somehow fitting because it was the original Oil Kings franchise that was relocated to Portland by Hodge, Mackie and the late Brian Shaw over the summer of 1976.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Daily News Sports Editor
The WHL’s Portland Winter Hawks officially changed hands Tuesday and owner Bill Gallacher immediately got down to business.
Gallacher, the president and CEO of Calgary-based Avenir Capital Corporation, received the WHL board of governors’ approval to purchase the franchise on Oct. 15. And with the transfer of ownership from Jim Goldsmith, Jack Donovan and John Bryant complete, the winds of change began blowing.
Gallacher, also a co-owner of the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers, started rebuilding the Winter Hawks by making official what was first reported in The Daily News and at gdrinnan.blogspot.com on Aug. 15 — Mike Johnston is the team’s new general manager and head coach, with Travis Green as the assistant general manager and lead assistant coach.
Johnston , 51, is a veteran of nine NHL seasons, having split them between the coaching staffs of the Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings. He also has extensive experience with Hockey Canada and has coached at nine world championships, two world juniors and an Olympics.
Johnston takes over from general manager Ken Hodge, who is being kept on as a consultant, and head coach Rich Kromm, who has been offered an unspecified position elsewhere in the organization.
"I've been a career coach," Johnston told Jason Vondersmith of the Portland Tribune. "I've held a variety of roles and responsibilities; with this age group, 16 to 20, I've mainly dealt with 19 and above (on world junior teams). It's a little bit younger. But I'm excited. It'll be a great challenge.
"They're good kids. They all want to be pros. . . . We'll focus these kids on hockey and schooling."
Johnston played at Acadia and Brandon universities and got into the coaching game at the age of 23.
Green, who played in the WHL with the Medicine Hat Tigers and Spokane Chiefs (1986-90) retired in 2007 after a 14-season NHL career. Assistant coach Kyle Gustafson has been retained, while Brian Pellerin, the other assistant under Kromm, was terminated.
Johnston and Green participated in their first Portland practice Tuesday.
Rich Campbell, who was the head athletic trainer for the 2008 U.S. team that competed at the Olympic Summer Games in Beijing, is the Winter Hawks‚ new athletic trainer and conditioning coach. He was the head trainer for the NHL’s New York Islanders from 1997-2006. Campbell replaces Innes Mackie who was told Monday that he was being let go. Mackie and Hodge had been with the Winter Hawks since they arrived in Portland from Edmonton in the summer of 1976.
"We haven't come to define roles and responsibilities," Johnston said. "He (Hodge) has a lot of knowledge, and he's well-respected in the league; at times he's been the sole reason the franchise survived in certain years and had great years."
Matt Bardsley, who had been director of player personnel, now will scout WHL teams. His previous position is to be filled next week, Johnston said, at which time a scouting staff also will be unveiled.
It is expected that Garry Davidson, who has vast junior A experience including as owner, general manager and head coach of the BCHL’s Salmon Arm SilverBacks, will be the Winter Hawks’ director of player personnel, with his son, Ty, on the scouting staff.
As well, Ken Stickney, a veteran executive from Mandalay Sports Entertainment in Las Vegas, will be stepping in as the Winter Hawks‚ president.
The Winter Hawks, who have had the WHL’s poorest record each of the last two seasons, are 2-12-0-0. Just back from a 1-5 East Division swing, they are 10th in the 10-team Western Conference, eight points out of a playoff spot. Portland next plays Friday when it visits the Tri-City Americans in Kennewick, Wash.
The Winter Hawks’ first home game under new ownership is Nov. 5 against the Edmonton Oil Kings. That is somehow fitting because it was the original Oil Kings franchise that was relocated to Portland by Hodge, Mackie and the late Brian Shaw over the summer of 1976.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
More from Portland
Here is the goods on Portland, via a press release from the Winter Hawks . . .
The Western Hockey League (WHL) today confirmed the sale of
the Portland Winter Hawks has concluded, and control of the franchise has
been transferred to its new owner, William M. (Bill) Gallacher of Avenir
Capital Corporation.
“I’m honored to have this opportunity to be a part of the continued
Portland Winter Hawks tradition,” said Gallacher. “I’m grateful to the
fans, sponsors, staff and players for their commitment to the Winter
Hawks, and I look forward to working together to create a hockey
experience here in Portland that is second to none.”
Mr. Gallacher today announced the appointment of several new staff members
including Mike Johnston as General Manager and Head Coach of the Portland
Winter Hawks. Johnston joins the Winter Hawks having spent the past nine
years in the National Hockey League as an Associate Coach with the
Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings. Johnston has had extensive
international coaching experience having coached in nine World Senior
Championships, two World Junior Championships and the Olympic Games for
Canada.
Mr. Gallacher and Mr. Johnston announced the appointment of Travis Green
to the position of Assistant General Manager and Assistant Coach with the
Winter Hawks. A graduate of the WHL, Travis Green played 14 seasons in
the National Hockey League retiring in 2007.
Rich Campbell has been appointed Athletic Trainer and Strength and
Conditioning Coach of the Winter Hawks. Campbell joins the Winter Hawks
after serving as the Head Athletic Trainer of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team
that competed in Beijing. Campbell has extensive experience in
professional hockey having been the Head Athletic Trainer of the NHL’s New
York Islanders from 1997 – 2006.
Mr. Gallacher and Mr. Johnston also announced that long-time Winter Hawks
General Manager, Ken Hodge, has been retained as a consultant to the
organization.
The Winter Hawks also announced that current assistant coach Kyle
Gustafson will remain with the Club in his same capacity.
Richard Kromm, who has been replaced as Head Coach of the Portland Winter
Hawks, has been offered reassignment within the organization. The
services of Assistant Coach Brian Pellerin and Trainer Innes Mackie have
not been retained by the Club.
The 2008-2009 season marks the 33rd year the Winter Hawks have operated in
Portland. One of Portland’s premiere sport franchises, the Winter Hawks
moved from Edmonton to Portland in 1976 and in doing so became the first
U.S. based franchise in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). Today, the
Winter Hawks are one of the most decorated franchises in the history of
the Canadian Hockey League with four Memorial Cup appearances; two
Memorial Cup National Championships (1983, 1998); two Western Hockey
League titles (1982, 1998) and a combined 22 championship banners. A
total of 98 players have graduated from the Winter Hawks to the NHL
including current and former NHL Stars Braydon Coburn, Adam Deadmarsh,
Brandon Dubinsky, Paul Gaustad, Marian Hossa, Brenden Morrow, Cam Neely,
and Glen Wesley.
The Western Hockey League (WHL) today confirmed the sale of
the Portland Winter Hawks has concluded, and control of the franchise has
been transferred to its new owner, William M. (Bill) Gallacher of Avenir
Capital Corporation.
“I’m honored to have this opportunity to be a part of the continued
Portland Winter Hawks tradition,” said Gallacher. “I’m grateful to the
fans, sponsors, staff and players for their commitment to the Winter
Hawks, and I look forward to working together to create a hockey
experience here in Portland that is second to none.”
Mr. Gallacher today announced the appointment of several new staff members
including Mike Johnston as General Manager and Head Coach of the Portland
Winter Hawks. Johnston joins the Winter Hawks having spent the past nine
years in the National Hockey League as an Associate Coach with the
Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings. Johnston has had extensive
international coaching experience having coached in nine World Senior
Championships, two World Junior Championships and the Olympic Games for
Canada.
Mr. Gallacher and Mr. Johnston announced the appointment of Travis Green
to the position of Assistant General Manager and Assistant Coach with the
Winter Hawks. A graduate of the WHL, Travis Green played 14 seasons in
the National Hockey League retiring in 2007.
Rich Campbell has been appointed Athletic Trainer and Strength and
Conditioning Coach of the Winter Hawks. Campbell joins the Winter Hawks
after serving as the Head Athletic Trainer of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team
that competed in Beijing. Campbell has extensive experience in
professional hockey having been the Head Athletic Trainer of the NHL’s New
York Islanders from 1997 – 2006.
Mr. Gallacher and Mr. Johnston also announced that long-time Winter Hawks
General Manager, Ken Hodge, has been retained as a consultant to the
organization.
The Winter Hawks also announced that current assistant coach Kyle
Gustafson will remain with the Club in his same capacity.
Richard Kromm, who has been replaced as Head Coach of the Portland Winter
Hawks, has been offered reassignment within the organization. The
services of Assistant Coach Brian Pellerin and Trainer Innes Mackie have
not been retained by the Club.
The 2008-2009 season marks the 33rd year the Winter Hawks have operated in
Portland. One of Portland’s premiere sport franchises, the Winter Hawks
moved from Edmonton to Portland in 1976 and in doing so became the first
U.S. based franchise in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). Today, the
Winter Hawks are one of the most decorated franchises in the history of
the Canadian Hockey League with four Memorial Cup appearances; two
Memorial Cup National Championships (1983, 1998); two Western Hockey
League titles (1982, 1998) and a combined 22 championship banners. A
total of 98 players have graduated from the Winter Hawks to the NHL
including current and former NHL Stars Braydon Coburn, Adam Deadmarsh,
Brandon Dubinsky, Paul Gaustad, Marian Hossa, Brenden Morrow, Cam Neely,
and Glen Wesley.
Wheaties, Bruins cut deal
The Brandon Wheat Kings have traded D Alexander Grill-Donovan, 18, to the Chilliwack Bruins for a conditional 2010 sixth-round bantam draft pick. He was the 113th pick in the 2005 draft, but was designated for assignment by the Wheat Kings last week. Grill-Donovan is expected to be in the Bruins’ lineup Wednesday when they meet the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes. . . . The Bruins have been hurting on the back end with Matt Strong (shoulder) and Jesse Craige (jaw) having suffered long-term injuries.
---
The Calgary Hitmen have announced that F Kyle Bortis, 20, and F Carson McMillan, 20, will serve as co-captains this season, while D Alex Plante, 19, and F Brett Sonne, 19, will be the alternates.
---
The Calgary Hitmen have announced that F Kyle Bortis, 20, and F Carson McMillan, 20, will serve as co-captains this season, while D Alex Plante, 19, and F Brett Sonne, 19, will be the alternates.
From a slow Monday . . .
Would someone please tell Bud Selig that baseball is meant to be played on green grass under blue skies as opposed to mud and pouring rain. What happened Monday night in Philly was an embarrassment. Isn't it time that Selig and the pooh-bahs started treating the game with the respect it deserves? . . . Oh well, at least Game 5 didn't end at 1:47 in the morning. . . . Oh, wait, it's not over yet!
---
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS: Vancouver Canucks D Jon Blum already is a WHL-leading plus-19. Dave Sheldon, the radio voice of the Giants, points out that only 50 players were plus-19 or better at the end of last season. Sheldon also has done some math – assuming Blum misses 10 WHL games while with Team USA at the World Junior Championship, he is on pace to finish at plus-125 this season. . . . By the way, the Giants have scored 25 PP goals this season, a 138-goal pace over 72 games. Last season, they led the league with 85 PPG. . . . Vancouver head coach Don Hay has 398 regular-season victories under his belt. Up next for the Giants, who have yet to lose in regulation time: At home to the Tri-City Americans on Wednesday and the Brandon Wheat Kings on Saturday. Tri-City head coach Don Nachbaur is at 393 victories. . . . Kootenay Ice captain Andrew Bailey has played in 243 consecutive games.
---
JUST NOTES: The Saskatoon Blades, who are 10-0-1-0 in their last 11 games, have assigned D Tanner Sohn, 17, to the AJHL’s Lloydminster Bobcats. Sohn, the 246th pick in the 2006 bantam draft, was pointless in three games with the Blades, who now are down to seven defencemen. . . . Regina Pats RW Jordan Eberle has 10 points, including six goals, on a seven-game point streak. He reached the 80-goal plateau for his career on Sunday but has a ways to go to reach the Pats’ franchise record of 222. That record belongs to Pats head coach Dale Derkatch. . . . Wasn’t it Brandon Sutter who drilled Alexei Cherepanov during that Canada-Russia series in the late summer of 2007? Cherepanov, the Russian player who died earlier this month, missed three months after that hit. And will hits like that – and the one by Doug Weight of the N.Y. Islanders on Sutter, now of the Carolina Hurricanes – be part of the game until something is done to soften the equipment worn by players? . . . If you were building a home, could you use a hockey player’s elbow pads to hammer in the nails?
---
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS: Vancouver Canucks D Jon Blum already is a WHL-leading plus-19. Dave Sheldon, the radio voice of the Giants, points out that only 50 players were plus-19 or better at the end of last season. Sheldon also has done some math – assuming Blum misses 10 WHL games while with Team USA at the World Junior Championship, he is on pace to finish at plus-125 this season. . . . By the way, the Giants have scored 25 PP goals this season, a 138-goal pace over 72 games. Last season, they led the league with 85 PPG. . . . Vancouver head coach Don Hay has 398 regular-season victories under his belt. Up next for the Giants, who have yet to lose in regulation time: At home to the Tri-City Americans on Wednesday and the Brandon Wheat Kings on Saturday. Tri-City head coach Don Nachbaur is at 393 victories. . . . Kootenay Ice captain Andrew Bailey has played in 243 consecutive games.
---
JUST NOTES: The Saskatoon Blades, who are 10-0-1-0 in their last 11 games, have assigned D Tanner Sohn, 17, to the AJHL’s Lloydminster Bobcats. Sohn, the 246th pick in the 2006 bantam draft, was pointless in three games with the Blades, who now are down to seven defencemen. . . . Regina Pats RW Jordan Eberle has 10 points, including six goals, on a seven-game point streak. He reached the 80-goal plateau for his career on Sunday but has a ways to go to reach the Pats’ franchise record of 222. That record belongs to Pats head coach Dale Derkatch. . . . Wasn’t it Brandon Sutter who drilled Alexei Cherepanov during that Canada-Russia series in the late summer of 2007? Cherepanov, the Russian player who died earlier this month, missed three months after that hit. And will hits like that – and the one by Doug Weight of the N.Y. Islanders on Sutter, now of the Carolina Hurricanes – be part of the game until something is done to soften the equipment worn by players? . . . If you were building a home, could you use a hockey player’s elbow pads to hammer in the nails?
Monday, October 27, 2008
More on Portland
The changes have begun. . . . A source has informed me that Innes Mackie, the Winter Hawks' long-time trainer, was told Monday that his services no longer are required, effective immediately. . . . Mackie was one of the original Three Amigos -- the others being Ken Hodge and Brian Shaw -- who were most responsible for moving the original Edmonton Oil Kings franchise to Portland over the summer of 1976.
Portland . . .
Jason Vondersmith of the Portland Tribune reports that a news conference is scheduled for Wednesday. . . . The details are right here.
Monday . . . early
The Toronto Maple Leafs have informed D Luke Schenn and the Kelowna Rockets that the Saskatoon native’s WHL career is over. To this point in the season, it seems that Schenn, who turns 19 on Nov. 2, has been the Maple Leafs’ best defenceman, so they are going to keep him. This, of course, means that he won’t get an opportunity to play for Canada at the World Junior Championship. And, as Toronto head coach Ron Wilson pointed out: "This may sound arrogant on my part but I truly believe he can get better coaching at this level (than in junior)." Which, of course, is true. Having recently lost Brent Sutter, Craig Hartsburg and Peter DeBoer to NHL teams, the major junior leagues now are full of unqualified coaches who do a pathetic job of preparing players for the NHL. . . . Sheesh, rather than slagging other coaches, why couldn’t Wilson have pointed out that someone must have done something right in order to help Schenn get to this point in his career? . . . Earth to Ron Wilson: You don’t need to tell us that you are arrogant. We can read. We can see. We can hear. So we are well aware.
---
The Prince George Citizen reported Monday that the Cougars are expected to bring in D Scott Brkich, 18, from the AJHL’s Drayton Valley Thunder. Brkich, 6-foot-4 and 202 pounds, played a couple of games with the Medicine Hat Tigers early in the season.
---
The Kelowna Rockets may have lost D Luke Schenn to the league with superior coaching, but they did sweep the player-of-the-week awards. . . . LW Jamie Benn is the Boston Pizza player of the week after picking up nine points, including five goals, in three games. . . . Adam Brown is the WHL’s nominee as the ADT CHL goaltender of the week about going 2-0 with two shutouts. Brown, a 17-year-old from Yorba Linda., Calif., is the son of Anaheim Ducks assistant coach Newell Brown.
---
USA Hockey has revealed that Buffalo will be the host city for the 2011 World Junior Championship. It will open Dec. 26, 2010, and run through Jan. 6, 2011. Grand Forks and Minneapolis-St. Paul also were in the running.
---
The Prince George Citizen reported Monday that the Cougars are expected to bring in D Scott Brkich, 18, from the AJHL’s Drayton Valley Thunder. Brkich, 6-foot-4 and 202 pounds, played a couple of games with the Medicine Hat Tigers early in the season.
---
The Kelowna Rockets may have lost D Luke Schenn to the league with superior coaching, but they did sweep the player-of-the-week awards. . . . LW Jamie Benn is the Boston Pizza player of the week after picking up nine points, including five goals, in three games. . . . Adam Brown is the WHL’s nominee as the ADT CHL goaltender of the week about going 2-0 with two shutouts. Brown, a 17-year-old from Yorba Linda., Calif., is the son of Anaheim Ducks assistant coach Newell Brown.
---
USA Hockey has revealed that Buffalo will be the host city for the 2011 World Junior Championship. It will open Dec. 26, 2010, and run through Jan. 6, 2011. Grand Forks and Minneapolis-St. Paul also were in the running.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Former KIBIHT president sees challenges for new group
From The Daily News of Monday, Oct. 27, 2008 . . .
By TRACY WATSON
Daily News Sports Reporter
Fred Cavanagh isn’t all that bothered that a new event has been created to replace the Kamloops International Bantam Ice Hockey Tournament.
What does bug him, though, is that the new event, set for April 8-12, 2009, has chosen to adopt the same name as KIBIHT, the event with which Cavanagh was associated for most of the former tourney’s 40 years before it moved to Langley last month.
Cavanagh can’t help but feel the new KIBIHT is riding on the coattails of the old one.
“Part of it does (bug me), yeah, because if you’re going to do it, good luck. You’re gonna need it,” said Cavanagh, the KIBIHT Society president. “But do it on your own (reputation). Don’t do it on ours.”
The new KIBIHT executive is led by chairman Willy Saari and includes Gerard Hayes, Jason Rende, Rob Fryer and Shawn McCaskill. All are local referees at various levels of hockey, from minor to the WHL.
The referees announced the formation of the new KIBIHT at a Friday news conference at the McArthur Island Sports and Events Centre. (Cavanagh wasn’t invited, and chose not to attend after a public announcement was issued.)
Hayes said Friday that it was their legal advice that, while the old tournament logo was registered under the B.C. Society Act, the name was not and therefore available for anyone’s use.
Cavanagh disagrees.
“My feelings are they can do whatever they want, but they could be in a little bit of legal problems with using the same name. It’s been registered and incorporated, that name, since 1973,” said Cavanagh, who said he has the incorporation papers to prove it, added: “The incorporation sheet . . . does not even have a logo on it. But they are actually both registered.
“The name ‘Kamloops International Bantam Ice Hockey Tournament’ is registered by the Societies of British Columbia, and has been since 1973.”
That’s not the only battle the new KIBIHT may face, Cavanagh continued.
It opened for registration on Friday. By this time last year, Cavanagh’s executive already had a dozen teams signed on.
Then, along the way, it lost nearly that many Alberta teams when that province scheduled its all-star regional team tryouts for the same weekend.
That kind of conflict is what prompted the KIBIHT Society to attempt to move the tournament to a later date, away from Easter weekend, and to change the format to all-star hockey. When the City of Kamloops couldn’t provide the ice time the Society desired, the decision was made to sell the tourney to a group in Langley.
Cavanagh said that by returning to Easter weekend, the new KIBIHT might face the same kind of struggles as did his KIBIHT — the Western Championships are set for April 3-5 and will be played in Manitoba.
“It doesn’t mean anything at this time of year (to have teams register),” Cavanagh said. “But I don’t have a problem with them doing their thing. They’re going to have enough trouble as it is.”
Cavanagh may no longer be working on KIBIHT, but he still has a hand in it by helping out organizers in Langley.
“I’ve been funnelling teams down there that call me, which really doesn’t affect these (Kamloops) guys because it’s a different time of year and it’s a different type of hockey,” Cavanagh said. “But just to give them a hand to get it started and get it over the hump.”
Cavanagh said the Langley tournament will be held April 28 to May 2 (the same weekend the KIBIHT Society wanted here). It will have an all-star format, will be called the Langley International Bantam Ice Hockey Tournament — LIBIHT — and will retain the original tourney logo.
“Everything will be exactly the same,” he said. “Part of the deal with us was the tradition of KIBIHT would remain the same, no matter where it went. Either that or we would shut it down completely.
“We have it in writing that they will maintain the tradition, everything — that’s the banquet, the whole shooting match, right down to the letter, as much as they can. It’s a different location, so some things will change a wee bit. But all the rest of the awards, the whole works, will be the same.”
twatson@kamloopsnews.ca
By TRACY WATSON
Daily News Sports Reporter
Fred Cavanagh isn’t all that bothered that a new event has been created to replace the Kamloops International Bantam Ice Hockey Tournament.
What does bug him, though, is that the new event, set for April 8-12, 2009, has chosen to adopt the same name as KIBIHT, the event with which Cavanagh was associated for most of the former tourney’s 40 years before it moved to Langley last month.
Cavanagh can’t help but feel the new KIBIHT is riding on the coattails of the old one.
“Part of it does (bug me), yeah, because if you’re going to do it, good luck. You’re gonna need it,” said Cavanagh, the KIBIHT Society president. “But do it on your own (reputation). Don’t do it on ours.”
The new KIBIHT executive is led by chairman Willy Saari and includes Gerard Hayes, Jason Rende, Rob Fryer and Shawn McCaskill. All are local referees at various levels of hockey, from minor to the WHL.
The referees announced the formation of the new KIBIHT at a Friday news conference at the McArthur Island Sports and Events Centre. (Cavanagh wasn’t invited, and chose not to attend after a public announcement was issued.)
Hayes said Friday that it was their legal advice that, while the old tournament logo was registered under the B.C. Society Act, the name was not and therefore available for anyone’s use.
Cavanagh disagrees.
“My feelings are they can do whatever they want, but they could be in a little bit of legal problems with using the same name. It’s been registered and incorporated, that name, since 1973,” said Cavanagh, who said he has the incorporation papers to prove it, added: “The incorporation sheet . . . does not even have a logo on it. But they are actually both registered.
“The name ‘Kamloops International Bantam Ice Hockey Tournament’ is registered by the Societies of British Columbia, and has been since 1973.”
That’s not the only battle the new KIBIHT may face, Cavanagh continued.
It opened for registration on Friday. By this time last year, Cavanagh’s executive already had a dozen teams signed on.
Then, along the way, it lost nearly that many Alberta teams when that province scheduled its all-star regional team tryouts for the same weekend.
That kind of conflict is what prompted the KIBIHT Society to attempt to move the tournament to a later date, away from Easter weekend, and to change the format to all-star hockey. When the City of Kamloops couldn’t provide the ice time the Society desired, the decision was made to sell the tourney to a group in Langley.
Cavanagh said that by returning to Easter weekend, the new KIBIHT might face the same kind of struggles as did his KIBIHT — the Western Championships are set for April 3-5 and will be played in Manitoba.
“It doesn’t mean anything at this time of year (to have teams register),” Cavanagh said. “But I don’t have a problem with them doing their thing. They’re going to have enough trouble as it is.”
Cavanagh may no longer be working on KIBIHT, but he still has a hand in it by helping out organizers in Langley.
“I’ve been funnelling teams down there that call me, which really doesn’t affect these (Kamloops) guys because it’s a different time of year and it’s a different type of hockey,” Cavanagh said. “But just to give them a hand to get it started and get it over the hump.”
Cavanagh said the Langley tournament will be held April 28 to May 2 (the same weekend the KIBIHT Society wanted here). It will have an all-star format, will be called the Langley International Bantam Ice Hockey Tournament — LIBIHT — and will retain the original tourney logo.
“Everything will be exactly the same,” he said. “Part of the deal with us was the tradition of KIBIHT would remain the same, no matter where it went. Either that or we would shut it down completely.
“We have it in writing that they will maintain the tradition, everything — that’s the banquet, the whole shooting match, right down to the letter, as much as they can. It’s a different location, so some things will change a wee bit. But all the rest of the awards, the whole works, will be the same.”
twatson@kamloopsnews.ca
New KIBIHT to be lot like old KIBIHT
From The Daily News of Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008 . . .
By TRACY WATSON
Daily News Sports Reporter
Kamloops’ newest minor hockey tournament was announced Friday to a round of applause from some 100 people at the McArthur Island Sports and Events Centre — but not without a little bit of the old thrown in for good measure.
The tournament, scheduled for April 8-12, still will be called the Kamloops International Bantam Ice Hockey Tournament — the same moniker held by the old bantam AAA tournament that pulled up stakes last month for Langley after 40 years here.
And there still are some hard feelings surrounding that exit. Ted Erickson addressed the new KIBIHT executive, comprised of five local referees, wondering why it took a “crisis mode” for the recent outpouring of support for the tournament.
“Where was the help when we needed it?” asked Erickson, a former KIBIHT president (1979-80) who spent 38 years volunteering with the KIBIHT Society. “Where was all this help when KIBIHT was having trouble getting volunteers?”
Mayor Terry Lake took exception to Erickson’s questions.
“The support you see here today was always there for KIBIHT. Councillors and staff bent over backward to keep this tournament,” said Lake, adding that the tournament would have had no problem surviving in its traditional Easter weekend timeslot — the same weekend chosen for the new KIBIHT.
However, the KIBIHT Society wanted to push the tourney back to the end of April, so it could change to an all-star format.
“The crisis was created by the KIBIHT Society,” Lake said.
Erickson argued that it was increasingly difficult to attract quality teams for the Easter timeslot. That was why the society pushed for the date change.
“We worked our buns off to make sure we would have a quality tournament,” Erickson said. “Good luck to you.”
Gerard Hayes, one of the local referees on the new executive, wanted to put all the acrimony behind and push ahead.
However, he appreciated Erickson’s concerns.
“I like Ted because he’s such a volunteer. Volunteers, as you know, become passionate for the cause. Ted is one of the more passionate people I know in Kamloops. I can understand and share his frustration,” said Hayes, a WHL supervisor of officials. “We’ve offered help in the past year. But they wanted to move the tournament to a spring tournament. And, fair enough, maybe there’s room for a spring tournament somewhere. I don’t think that should impact the traditional tournament we’ve always had here, and I think that’s the big defining difference here.
“(An all-star format) leaves out the Kamloops team and the Vernon team and the Kelowna team. Where do they go? I’m proud to be part of the continuing tournament of KIBIHT.”
The KIBIHT committee also includes chairman Willy Saari and executive members Rob Fryer, Shawn McCaskill and Jason Rende — all local officials. They have garnered the support of the Kamloops Minor Hockey Association, as well as that of the City of Kamloops, the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers and the KIJHL’s Kamloops Storm.
The officials have decided to keep the KIBIHT name because their legal advice has indicated that while the old KIBIHT logo was registered through the B.C. Society Act, the name was not.
Saari said negotiations with a title sponsor are nearing completion. Registration officially opened Friday afternoon — the committee said it already has been in contact with teams from Kelowna, Abbotsford, the Burnaby Winter Club and Notre Dame.
The new KIBIHT will have two sides — a 24-team bantam boys division and an eight-team midget girls division. The reason for the age difference is that those are the age groups most scouted in hockey — the boys for the WHL bantam draft, and the girls for possible scholarships to CIS and NCAA schools.
Jordan Miller, a third-year defenceman with the defending provincial midget AAA champion Kamloops Mystixs, was thrilled that the girls have been included.
“I think it’s huge,” she said. “It’s going to be a great experience for the girls, having a huge tournament like this in our hometown. It’s going to be a good opportunity for us to get noticed by lots more scouts.
“Just another stepping stone for the female leagues. We want to have the same opportunities as the guys’ side.”
Craig Bonner, the Blazers’ general manager, was pleased to see KIBIHT’s return. The Edmonton native played in the tourney in the late 1980s — he recalls losing in a C final — and said the event is invaluable for WHL GMs and scouts.
“When they heard initially that KIBIHT was going to be cancelled, they were quite disappointed because it was always an event that was well attended by all the Western Hockey League teams,” he said. “I’m sure when they hear this news they’ll be excited that it’s back at that time of year.”
The players love it, too, said Austin Goode, a Kamloops Storm forward who played for the Jardine’s Blazers in KIBIHT five years ago.
“I grew up looking forward to playing in the tournament, watching the older guys when I was younger,” Goode said. “It was just something you looked forward to as a player . . . and it was a goal for me to get to it. It was an experience I’ll never forget.”
twatson@kamloopsnews.ca
By TRACY WATSON
Daily News Sports Reporter
Kamloops’ newest minor hockey tournament was announced Friday to a round of applause from some 100 people at the McArthur Island Sports and Events Centre — but not without a little bit of the old thrown in for good measure.
The tournament, scheduled for April 8-12, still will be called the Kamloops International Bantam Ice Hockey Tournament — the same moniker held by the old bantam AAA tournament that pulled up stakes last month for Langley after 40 years here.
And there still are some hard feelings surrounding that exit. Ted Erickson addressed the new KIBIHT executive, comprised of five local referees, wondering why it took a “crisis mode” for the recent outpouring of support for the tournament.
“Where was the help when we needed it?” asked Erickson, a former KIBIHT president (1979-80) who spent 38 years volunteering with the KIBIHT Society. “Where was all this help when KIBIHT was having trouble getting volunteers?”
Mayor Terry Lake took exception to Erickson’s questions.
“The support you see here today was always there for KIBIHT. Councillors and staff bent over backward to keep this tournament,” said Lake, adding that the tournament would have had no problem surviving in its traditional Easter weekend timeslot — the same weekend chosen for the new KIBIHT.
However, the KIBIHT Society wanted to push the tourney back to the end of April, so it could change to an all-star format.
“The crisis was created by the KIBIHT Society,” Lake said.
Erickson argued that it was increasingly difficult to attract quality teams for the Easter timeslot. That was why the society pushed for the date change.
“We worked our buns off to make sure we would have a quality tournament,” Erickson said. “Good luck to you.”
Gerard Hayes, one of the local referees on the new executive, wanted to put all the acrimony behind and push ahead.
However, he appreciated Erickson’s concerns.
“I like Ted because he’s such a volunteer. Volunteers, as you know, become passionate for the cause. Ted is one of the more passionate people I know in Kamloops. I can understand and share his frustration,” said Hayes, a WHL supervisor of officials. “We’ve offered help in the past year. But they wanted to move the tournament to a spring tournament. And, fair enough, maybe there’s room for a spring tournament somewhere. I don’t think that should impact the traditional tournament we’ve always had here, and I think that’s the big defining difference here.
“(An all-star format) leaves out the Kamloops team and the Vernon team and the Kelowna team. Where do they go? I’m proud to be part of the continuing tournament of KIBIHT.”
The KIBIHT committee also includes chairman Willy Saari and executive members Rob Fryer, Shawn McCaskill and Jason Rende — all local officials. They have garnered the support of the Kamloops Minor Hockey Association, as well as that of the City of Kamloops, the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers and the KIJHL’s Kamloops Storm.
The officials have decided to keep the KIBIHT name because their legal advice has indicated that while the old KIBIHT logo was registered through the B.C. Society Act, the name was not.
Saari said negotiations with a title sponsor are nearing completion. Registration officially opened Friday afternoon — the committee said it already has been in contact with teams from Kelowna, Abbotsford, the Burnaby Winter Club and Notre Dame.
The new KIBIHT will have two sides — a 24-team bantam boys division and an eight-team midget girls division. The reason for the age difference is that those are the age groups most scouted in hockey — the boys for the WHL bantam draft, and the girls for possible scholarships to CIS and NCAA schools.
Jordan Miller, a third-year defenceman with the defending provincial midget AAA champion Kamloops Mystixs, was thrilled that the girls have been included.
“I think it’s huge,” she said. “It’s going to be a great experience for the girls, having a huge tournament like this in our hometown. It’s going to be a good opportunity for us to get noticed by lots more scouts.
“Just another stepping stone for the female leagues. We want to have the same opportunities as the guys’ side.”
Craig Bonner, the Blazers’ general manager, was pleased to see KIBIHT’s return. The Edmonton native played in the tourney in the late 1980s — he recalls losing in a C final — and said the event is invaluable for WHL GMs and scouts.
“When they heard initially that KIBIHT was going to be cancelled, they were quite disappointed because it was always an event that was well attended by all the Western Hockey League teams,” he said. “I’m sure when they hear this news they’ll be excited that it’s back at that time of year.”
The players love it, too, said Austin Goode, a Kamloops Storm forward who played for the Jardine’s Blazers in KIBIHT five years ago.
“I grew up looking forward to playing in the tournament, watching the older guys when I was younger,” Goode said. “It was just something you looked forward to as a player . . . and it was a goal for me to get to it. It was an experience I’ll never forget.”
twatson@kamloopsnews.ca
Sunday's serving . . .
JUST NOTES: A tip of the cap to Kelly McCrimmon, the general manager and head coach of the Brandon Wheat Kings, for starting G James Priestner against the Blazers in Kamloops on Sunday. Not all head coaches would have made that decision, especially after Andrew Hayes, Brandon’s other goaltender, beat the Rockets 3-2 on Saturday night. But McCrimmon gave the start to Priestner, who had been traded by the Blazers to Brandon on Sept. 29. Which, of course, is what everyone — fans and players — wanted. McCrimmon was vindicated, too, because Priestner couldn’t be faulted on any of the three goals he surrendered in a 3-1 loss. This game belonged to Kamloops G Justin Leclerc, who stopped 27 shots. . . . Brandon broadcaster Bruce Luebke (CKLQ) apparently missed the first five minutes of Sunday’s game. Luebke discovered about an hour before the game that a vital piece of equipment wasn’t working. But with some help from Kirk Fraser, the radio voice of the Blazers (CHNL), and his wife, Kathy, who hauled a replacement piece from their home to the arena, Luebke finally got on the air. . . . D Justin Weller of the Red Deer Rebels broke a wrist in Friday’s 6-3 loss to the visiting Vancouver Giants. Red Deer D Colin Archer (arm) also didn’t play in Saturday’s 6-0 victory over the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors. . . . C Brandon Sutter, who captained the Rebels last season, spent Saturday night in a Long Island hospital after ending up with a concussion during the Carolina Hurricanes’ 4-3 victory over the New York Islanders. Sutter was discharged from hospital on Sunday and will be evaluated by Carolina’s medical staff Monday.
———
SUNDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:
In Kamloops, the Blazers got a big night from G Justin Leclerc and scored two PP goals to beat the Brandon Wheat Kings, 3-1. . . . Kamloops (7-8-0-2) has won three in a row after having lost five straight. . . . The Wheat Kings (8-5-1-0) had won three in a row and five of six (5-0-0-1) . . . . Kamloops LW Shayne Wiebe opened the game’s scoring late in the second period and D Giffen Nyren added a PP goal for the Blazers less than a minute later. . . . Brandon got its goal from C Brayden Schenn, who has seven points, including four goals, over his last four games.
———
In Lethbridge, Saskatoon C Chris Langkow and captain Derek Hulak broke a 1-1 tie in the third period as the Blades beat the Hurricanes, 3-2. . . . The Blades (11-4-1-0) have won 10 of 11. . . . The Hurricanes (8-6-0-0) have lost three of four. . . . G Braden Holtby, who has won nine straight starts, made 22 saves for Saskatoon. . . . G Juha Metsola stopped 30 shots for Lethbridge. . . . Langkow scored at 8:30 of the third, with Hulak adding a PP goal at 13:14. . . . LW Adam Chorneyko, 20, who was dealt from Lethbridge to the Blades at the 20-year-old deadline on Oct. 16, was pointless but went plus-1.
———
In Regina, F Matt Strueby and F Jordan Eberle each scored twice to lead the Pats to an 8-3 victory over the Prince Albert Raiders. . . . Regina
(8-5-1-2) got a goal and two assists from freshman C Jordan Weal, who scored 53 seconds into the game. He leads WHL freshmen with 21 points in 16 games. . . . Regina led 3-0 before the game was nine minutes old. . . . The Raiders (9-8-0-0) had their three-game win streak ended.
———
SUNDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:
In Kamloops, the Blazers got a big night from G Justin Leclerc and scored two PP goals to beat the Brandon Wheat Kings, 3-1. . . . Kamloops (7-8-0-2) has won three in a row after having lost five straight. . . . The Wheat Kings (8-5-1-0) had won three in a row and five of six (5-0-0-1) . . . . Kamloops LW Shayne Wiebe opened the game’s scoring late in the second period and D Giffen Nyren added a PP goal for the Blazers less than a minute later. . . . Brandon got its goal from C Brayden Schenn, who has seven points, including four goals, over his last four games.
———
In Lethbridge, Saskatoon C Chris Langkow and captain Derek Hulak broke a 1-1 tie in the third period as the Blades beat the Hurricanes, 3-2. . . . The Blades (11-4-1-0) have won 10 of 11. . . . The Hurricanes (8-6-0-0) have lost three of four. . . . G Braden Holtby, who has won nine straight starts, made 22 saves for Saskatoon. . . . G Juha Metsola stopped 30 shots for Lethbridge. . . . Langkow scored at 8:30 of the third, with Hulak adding a PP goal at 13:14. . . . LW Adam Chorneyko, 20, who was dealt from Lethbridge to the Blades at the 20-year-old deadline on Oct. 16, was pointless but went plus-1.
———
In Regina, F Matt Strueby and F Jordan Eberle each scored twice to lead the Pats to an 8-3 victory over the Prince Albert Raiders. . . . Regina
(8-5-1-2) got a goal and two assists from freshman C Jordan Weal, who scored 53 seconds into the game. He leads WHL freshmen with 21 points in 16 games. . . . Regina led 3-0 before the game was nine minutes old. . . . The Raiders (9-8-0-0) had their three-game win streak ended.
Masked man steals victory for Blazers
By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
Barry Smith, the head coach of the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers, has been waiting
for a goaltender to steal a game.
The wait ended Sunday evening.
Justin Leclerc stopped 27 shots and the Blazers struck for two power-play
goals as they beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 3-1 in front of 4,078 fans at
Interior Savings Centre.
“I thought Justin played great. He was outstanding,” Smith said. “That was
the best game he’s played all season. They had some good chances early . . .
he held us in there and kept it close.
“That’s the goaltending we need. He didn’t steal the whole thing but he was
a big portion of it.”
A week ago, the Blazers were on a five-game losing streak — although Smith
felt they had played well enough to win three off those games. Now Kamloops
(7-8-0-2) has won three in a row and moved from eighth to fifth in the
Western Conference.
And the Blazers have won all three games, including a 5-2 victory over the
Bruins in Chilliwack on Saturday, with Leclerc in goal.
“I’ve felt good for a few games now,” Leclerc, 19, said after evening his
record at 6-6-0-1. “I’m being square to shooters and not trying to do more
than my job . . . just taking the shots that I should stop and I think
that’s translating into more big saves.”
Leclerc’s biggest save in this one may have come 10 minutes in when he used
his left pad to stone Brandon speedster Scott Glennie, who tried to finish
off a shorthanded breakaway with a deke.
“We had lots of chances. He made some real good saves,” Brandon GM/head
coach Kelly McCrimmon said. “You go back to the first period . . . the
Glennie play. That was a key point in the game.”
Of course, this was more than your average October game to last night’s
goaltenders — Leclerc and Brandon’s James Priestner. After all, they had
been teammates for more than one season.
“It was a little bit more emotional than usual because you were playing
against a former teammate,” Leclerc said. “But I try not to get too
emotional.”
It was obvious early that the Blazers intended on renewing acquaintances
with Priestner, who was dealt to Brandon on Sept. 29. On the game’s first
two shifts, Kamloops centres C.J. Stretch and Scott Wasden crashed the
Brandon crease.
“That’s obviously what their game plan was,” said Priestner, 17, who
finished with 21 saves. “I don’t think it worked very well. In the first
period they were in the crease all the time. But I think I handled it pretty
well.”
Priestner added that he also heard a lot from his ex-teammates.
“From before warmup to during warmup to the game, after the game . . . I
guess that’s expected,” he said. “I knew that going in and told myself,
‘Don’t worry about it.’ ”
McCrimmon certainly wasn’t about to pin anything on his goaltender.
“In the first period they were a better team than us,” said McCrimmon, whose
Wheaties (8-5-1-0) had opened a five-game tour of B.C. with a 3-2 victory
over the Rockets in Kelowna on Saturday. “James kept the game scoreless for
half the game. It was a case where we needed some run support. We needed to
get on the offence a little bit better than we did tonight.”
Indeed, the game was scoreless until Kamloops left-winger Shayne Wiebe, who
just happens to be from Brandon, trailed the play and scored off a Kenton
Dulle pass at 18:11 of a second period that featured eight power plays, six
of them to the Blazers.
Just 49 seconds later, defenceman Giffen Nyren upped the lead to 2-0 on a
power play.
“Penalties certainly hurt us,” said McCrimmon, whose team faced eight power
plays after coming in averaging four a game. “We took a lot more penalties
tonight than what we ordinarily do and put too much pressure on our penalty
kill.”
Jake Trask, on another power play, gave Kamloops a 3-0 lead early in the
third period before Brayden Schenn, on yet another PP, got Brandon’s goal at
10:20 of the third period.
On Saturday, the Blazers got two goals from Wiebe, including one on a
penalty shot, as they beat the Bruins. Wiebe’s second goal, a shorthanded
effort at 16:06 of the second period, proved to be the winner.
Jimmy Bubnick, Nyren and Uriah Machuga, the latter with his third goal in
four games, also scored for Kamloops, with David Robinson and Liam Darragh
replying for the Bruins.
JUST NOTES: The Blazers were 2-for-8 on the PP last night; Brandon was
1-for-7. . . . D Jordan Rowley, who is in his third season with the Blazers,
was back in the lineup Sunday after being a healthy scratch Saturday. . . .
The Bruins are without two key defencemen — Matt Strong (shoulder) and Jesse
Craige (jaw). In fact, they are 0-6 since Craige went down with a broken
jaw. Recently acquired C Evan Fuller (groin) also is out.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Daily News Sports Editor
Barry Smith, the head coach of the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers, has been waiting
for a goaltender to steal a game.
The wait ended Sunday evening.
Justin Leclerc stopped 27 shots and the Blazers struck for two power-play
goals as they beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 3-1 in front of 4,078 fans at
Interior Savings Centre.
“I thought Justin played great. He was outstanding,” Smith said. “That was
the best game he’s played all season. They had some good chances early . . .
he held us in there and kept it close.
“That’s the goaltending we need. He didn’t steal the whole thing but he was
a big portion of it.”
A week ago, the Blazers were on a five-game losing streak — although Smith
felt they had played well enough to win three off those games. Now Kamloops
(7-8-0-2) has won three in a row and moved from eighth to fifth in the
Western Conference.
And the Blazers have won all three games, including a 5-2 victory over the
Bruins in Chilliwack on Saturday, with Leclerc in goal.
“I’ve felt good for a few games now,” Leclerc, 19, said after evening his
record at 6-6-0-1. “I’m being square to shooters and not trying to do more
than my job . . . just taking the shots that I should stop and I think
that’s translating into more big saves.”
Leclerc’s biggest save in this one may have come 10 minutes in when he used
his left pad to stone Brandon speedster Scott Glennie, who tried to finish
off a shorthanded breakaway with a deke.
“We had lots of chances. He made some real good saves,” Brandon GM/head
coach Kelly McCrimmon said. “You go back to the first period . . . the
Glennie play. That was a key point in the game.”
Of course, this was more than your average October game to last night’s
goaltenders — Leclerc and Brandon’s James Priestner. After all, they had
been teammates for more than one season.
“It was a little bit more emotional than usual because you were playing
against a former teammate,” Leclerc said. “But I try not to get too
emotional.”
It was obvious early that the Blazers intended on renewing acquaintances
with Priestner, who was dealt to Brandon on Sept. 29. On the game’s first
two shifts, Kamloops centres C.J. Stretch and Scott Wasden crashed the
Brandon crease.
“That’s obviously what their game plan was,” said Priestner, 17, who
finished with 21 saves. “I don’t think it worked very well. In the first
period they were in the crease all the time. But I think I handled it pretty
well.”
Priestner added that he also heard a lot from his ex-teammates.
“From before warmup to during warmup to the game, after the game . . . I
guess that’s expected,” he said. “I knew that going in and told myself,
‘Don’t worry about it.’ ”
McCrimmon certainly wasn’t about to pin anything on his goaltender.
“In the first period they were a better team than us,” said McCrimmon, whose
Wheaties (8-5-1-0) had opened a five-game tour of B.C. with a 3-2 victory
over the Rockets in Kelowna on Saturday. “James kept the game scoreless for
half the game. It was a case where we needed some run support. We needed to
get on the offence a little bit better than we did tonight.”
Indeed, the game was scoreless until Kamloops left-winger Shayne Wiebe, who
just happens to be from Brandon, trailed the play and scored off a Kenton
Dulle pass at 18:11 of a second period that featured eight power plays, six
of them to the Blazers.
Just 49 seconds later, defenceman Giffen Nyren upped the lead to 2-0 on a
power play.
“Penalties certainly hurt us,” said McCrimmon, whose team faced eight power
plays after coming in averaging four a game. “We took a lot more penalties
tonight than what we ordinarily do and put too much pressure on our penalty
kill.”
Jake Trask, on another power play, gave Kamloops a 3-0 lead early in the
third period before Brayden Schenn, on yet another PP, got Brandon’s goal at
10:20 of the third period.
On Saturday, the Blazers got two goals from Wiebe, including one on a
penalty shot, as they beat the Bruins. Wiebe’s second goal, a shorthanded
effort at 16:06 of the second period, proved to be the winner.
Jimmy Bubnick, Nyren and Uriah Machuga, the latter with his third goal in
four games, also scored for Kamloops, with David Robinson and Liam Darragh
replying for the Bruins.
JUST NOTES: The Blazers were 2-for-8 on the PP last night; Brandon was
1-for-7. . . . D Jordan Rowley, who is in his third season with the Blazers,
was back in the lineup Sunday after being a healthy scratch Saturday. . . .
The Bruins are without two key defencemen — Matt Strong (shoulder) and Jesse
Craige (jaw). In fact, they are 0-6 since Craige went down with a broken
jaw. Recently acquired C Evan Fuller (groin) also is out.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Blazers box
THE SCORE
Kamloops 3, Brandon 1
WHAT HAPPENED
The Blazers won this one with goaltending — Justin Leclerc was excellent —
and a power play that struck twice against a team that had allowed only nine
PP goals in 13 games.
THE STANDINGS
The Blazers (7-8-0-2), who were eighth in the Western Conference a few short
days ago, now are fifth, two points behind the Kelowna Rockets and two ahead of
the Prince George Cougars.
THE SNIPER
LW Shayne Wiebe, who is from Brandon and played for the midget AAA Wheat
Kings, scored the game’s first goal, his 10th this season. On Saturday, he
had two goals, including one on a penalty shot, as the Blazers beat the
Bruins 5-2 in Chilliwack.
THE DEFENCEMAN, Part 1
Kamloops D Giffen Nyren scored his first goal of the season in Saturday’s
victory. It went nicely with his 14 assists, which had him tied for fifth in
the WHL.
THE DEFENCEMAN, Part 2
Kamloops D Kurt Torbohm had a solid game in Chilliwack, picking up an
assist, his first point of the season and second in 55 career games, and
going plus-3.
THE DEFENCEMAN, Part 3
Kamloops D Linden Saip dropped the mitts Saturday for the third time in four
games. This time he needed an icebag for his face after dancing with
freshman F Dylen McKinlay, a callup from the KIJHL’s Princeton Posse who had
27 penalty minutes in 11 games in the junior B league. Saip was scratched
from Sunday’s game with a possible concussion.
THE SCOUTS
There were numerous NHL scouts in the building yesterday, including two
former Blazers employees — Stu MacGregor (Edmonton Oilers) and Bruce
Haralson (Detroit Red Wings) — and former Brandon players Vaughn Karpan
(Montreal Canadiens) and Rick Knickle (Nashville Predators).
THE DAILY NEWS THREE STARS
1. G Justin Leclerc, Kamloops. Best game of the season.
2. RW Tyler Shattock, Kamloops. Power game.
3. D Keith Aulie, Brandon. Long stick, reach give him an advantage.
NEXT UP
The Blazers are off until Friday when the Lethbridge Hurricanes visit
Interior Savings Centre. Game time is 7 p.m.
Kamloops 3, Brandon 1
WHAT HAPPENED
The Blazers won this one with goaltending — Justin Leclerc was excellent —
and a power play that struck twice against a team that had allowed only nine
PP goals in 13 games.
THE STANDINGS
The Blazers (7-8-0-2), who were eighth in the Western Conference a few short
days ago, now are fifth, two points behind the Kelowna Rockets and two ahead of
the Prince George Cougars.
THE SNIPER
LW Shayne Wiebe, who is from Brandon and played for the midget AAA Wheat
Kings, scored the game’s first goal, his 10th this season. On Saturday, he
had two goals, including one on a penalty shot, as the Blazers beat the
Bruins 5-2 in Chilliwack.
THE DEFENCEMAN, Part 1
Kamloops D Giffen Nyren scored his first goal of the season in Saturday’s
victory. It went nicely with his 14 assists, which had him tied for fifth in
the WHL.
THE DEFENCEMAN, Part 2
Kamloops D Kurt Torbohm had a solid game in Chilliwack, picking up an
assist, his first point of the season and second in 55 career games, and
going plus-3.
THE DEFENCEMAN, Part 3
Kamloops D Linden Saip dropped the mitts Saturday for the third time in four
games. This time he needed an icebag for his face after dancing with
freshman F Dylen McKinlay, a callup from the KIJHL’s Princeton Posse who had
27 penalty minutes in 11 games in the junior B league. Saip was scratched
from Sunday’s game with a possible concussion.
THE SCOUTS
There were numerous NHL scouts in the building yesterday, including two
former Blazers employees — Stu MacGregor (Edmonton Oilers) and Bruce
Haralson (Detroit Red Wings) — and former Brandon players Vaughn Karpan
(Montreal Canadiens) and Rick Knickle (Nashville Predators).
THE DAILY NEWS THREE STARS
1. G Justin Leclerc, Kamloops. Best game of the season.
2. RW Tyler Shattock, Kamloops. Power game.
3. D Keith Aulie, Brandon. Long stick, reach give him an advantage.
NEXT UP
The Blazers are off until Friday when the Lethbridge Hurricanes visit
Interior Savings Centre. Game time is 7 p.m.
Keeping Score
Why is the chatter always about the potential for two NHL teams in Toronto? Hey, what about Vancouver? The Canucks are a religion on the Lower Mainland. Vancouver-based businessmen Tom Gaglardi and Ryan Beedie, who at one time filed suit in an attempt to gain ownership of the Canucks, surely would be interested. And, hey, how about Brian Burke as GM? . . . Greg Cote, in the Miami Herald: “Lots of people think the Rays are a terrific underdog story, but most of those people live in Tampa or St. Pete. To the rest of the country, the Rays are sort of like the Kansas City Royals, only without the tradition.” . . . One more from Cote: “The New York Rangers finally lost after a 5-0 start. Out of habit, Mercury Morris and Nick Buoniconti celebrated.”
Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria was playing for the Class A Hudson Valley Renegades in Fishkill, N.Y., two years ago. Mind you, he played only eight games — he hit .424 — before movin’ on up. But the locals there knew he was something special. “He always signed for kids. Whether he had three punchouts or not, he still signed autographs,” Renegades P.A. announcer Rick Zolzer told the Middletown Times Herald-Record. “We’ve had knuckleheads who worked at Kmart within a year who didn’t do that.” . . . The Boston Red Sox voted Manny Ramirez a two-thirds playoff share. Yes, he also will get a chunk of change from the Los Angeles Dodgers’ share of the playoff pool. “The Boston Herald reported the vote was divided,” wrote Reggie Hayes of the Fort Wayne, Ind., News-Sentinel, “but ultimately the players decided it was a simple case of money being money.”
Dave Darling of the Orlando Sentinel feels that Tampa Bay’s involvement makes this an important World Series, meaning parents should allow their children to stay up and watch it. As Darling wrote: “Baseball can provide memories for a lifetime, and if they miss a historic moment they’ll regret it. Just ask Cubs fans who skipped the 1908 Series.” . . . Jose Canseco, profiled in a TV documentary — Jose Canseco: The Last Shot — that was shown earlier this week, is scared for his health, thanks to steroid use and abuse, and broke. Perhaps it’s because of the latter that an agent for Canseco has been in touch with organizers of the World Baseball Challenge, which is scheduled for Prince George, July 16-26. Canseco, 44, just may end up playing for the local entry in that tournament. . . . The WBC has seven teams confirmed with Bahamas the latest addition. The last spot will go to Cuba or Venezuela. . . . The Cubans were thought to be in but then some baseball players defected in Edmonton in August and Fidel’s baseballers now have cold feet. . . . Hey, Fidel, it’s one thing to defect in Edmonton, but P.G.?
In Toronto, the Maple Laffs are being run by interim (until Burkie arrives) GM Cliff Fletcher, the Argos brought back Don Matthews, the Blue Jays are trying to recapture the past with Cito Gaston and Paul Beeston. . . . Only in Toronto is everything old new again. . . . Steve Simmons, in the Toronto Sun: “If Jesse Lumsden was a package, the sticker would read: Fragile. Normie Kwong was the China Clipper. Lumsden is the China Doll.” . . . How hard has the injury bug bitten the Seattle Seahawks’ wide-receiving corps? “We not only lost our starters and our backups,” Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren told The Associated Press, “we also lost the guys we signed who worked at the Chevron station, you know?” . . . New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey is feeling much better since having surgery to repair a hernia. As he told the Biloxi, Miss., Sun Herald: “It’s the first time I can sneeze without feeling like I’m getting stabbed at a bar.”
So I flip over to the new TSN channel on Thursday night and find a rerun of an NHL game between the Boston Bruins and, yes, the Maple Laffs. The game had been over about an hour and already we could watch it again. Thank you, CRTC, thank you. . . . Ian Winwood of the Guardian, a London newspaper, visited our side of the pond recently and seems to have spent most of his time in Toronto. His report: “Toronto is probably the ice hockey capital of the world. The city is home to the Hockey Hall of Fame (which, frankly, isn’t all that great); it’s home to The Hockey News (which, frankly, isn’t all that great), and it’s home to Gretzky’s, a burger joint owned by The Great One, which, frankly, isn’t all that great. Toronto is also home to the Maple Leafs, one of the NHL’s ‘Original Six’ teams. And, frankly, they’re absolutely awful.” . . . Other than all that, Winwood had a great time. . . . In Florida high school football, Naples recently beat Estero High, 91-0, scoring 13 touchdowns along the way. Estero defensive line coach Pat Hayes noted: “I didn’t even know 91 was a multiple of seven.”
Pardon my confusion but if our city’s new bantam hockey tournament is going to be known as KIBIHT, what exactly did the old KIBIHT sell to the good folks of Langley? . . . And isn’t the new tournament’s keeping the same name something of a poke in the eye with a sharp stick to the previous event’s organizers? Doesn’t someone need to recognize that, even with all the acrimony of the last couple of years, somebody kept this thing alive for 40 years? . . . Sarah Palin was back on the NHL tour last night, taking part in a ceremonial faceoff in St. Louis prior to a game between the Blues and Los Angeles Kings. “The foreign policy novice says she’s especially excited,” wrote Pete McEntegart of SI.com, “because she hasn’t met any Kings before.”
Kevin Gleason, in the Middletown, N.Y., Times Herald-Record: “The NBA just laid off 80 employees and yet I haven’t heard a word about David Stern taking a slice from his reported $8 million annual salary. I’m sure it happened and we just missed it.” . . . You no doubt will be excited to know that John Wayne Bobbitt is in training for some kind of celebrity boxing match. Cam Hutchinson of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix points out: “It’s hard to believe that it has been 15 years since the Bobbitts severed their relationship.”
Bill Price of the New York Daily News, after discovering that some Philadelphia Phillies fans are using the slogan “Ya Gotta Believe,” which originated with the late Tug McGraw and the 1973 Mets: “Many of these same people booed Mike Schmidt, threw snowballs at Santa Claus and cheered when it appeared another human being (OK, it was Michael Irvin), had been seriously injured in a football game. Some of them even cheered for Sarah Palin . . . at a Flyers game. They erected a statue of a fictional boxer because he was able to run up some stairs without tripping. A Steak-umm and Cheez Whiz sandwich is their greatest contribution to the culinary arts. Their most famous landmark has a huge crack in it.”
Gregg Drinnan is sports editor of The Daily News. He is at gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca. Keeping Score appears Saturdays.
Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria was playing for the Class A Hudson Valley Renegades in Fishkill, N.Y., two years ago. Mind you, he played only eight games — he hit .424 — before movin’ on up. But the locals there knew he was something special. “He always signed for kids. Whether he had three punchouts or not, he still signed autographs,” Renegades P.A. announcer Rick Zolzer told the Middletown Times Herald-Record. “We’ve had knuckleheads who worked at Kmart within a year who didn’t do that.” . . . The Boston Red Sox voted Manny Ramirez a two-thirds playoff share. Yes, he also will get a chunk of change from the Los Angeles Dodgers’ share of the playoff pool. “The Boston Herald reported the vote was divided,” wrote Reggie Hayes of the Fort Wayne, Ind., News-Sentinel, “but ultimately the players decided it was a simple case of money being money.”
Dave Darling of the Orlando Sentinel feels that Tampa Bay’s involvement makes this an important World Series, meaning parents should allow their children to stay up and watch it. As Darling wrote: “Baseball can provide memories for a lifetime, and if they miss a historic moment they’ll regret it. Just ask Cubs fans who skipped the 1908 Series.” . . . Jose Canseco, profiled in a TV documentary — Jose Canseco: The Last Shot — that was shown earlier this week, is scared for his health, thanks to steroid use and abuse, and broke. Perhaps it’s because of the latter that an agent for Canseco has been in touch with organizers of the World Baseball Challenge, which is scheduled for Prince George, July 16-26. Canseco, 44, just may end up playing for the local entry in that tournament. . . . The WBC has seven teams confirmed with Bahamas the latest addition. The last spot will go to Cuba or Venezuela. . . . The Cubans were thought to be in but then some baseball players defected in Edmonton in August and Fidel’s baseballers now have cold feet. . . . Hey, Fidel, it’s one thing to defect in Edmonton, but P.G.?
In Toronto, the Maple Laffs are being run by interim (until Burkie arrives) GM Cliff Fletcher, the Argos brought back Don Matthews, the Blue Jays are trying to recapture the past with Cito Gaston and Paul Beeston. . . . Only in Toronto is everything old new again. . . . Steve Simmons, in the Toronto Sun: “If Jesse Lumsden was a package, the sticker would read: Fragile. Normie Kwong was the China Clipper. Lumsden is the China Doll.” . . . How hard has the injury bug bitten the Seattle Seahawks’ wide-receiving corps? “We not only lost our starters and our backups,” Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren told The Associated Press, “we also lost the guys we signed who worked at the Chevron station, you know?” . . . New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey is feeling much better since having surgery to repair a hernia. As he told the Biloxi, Miss., Sun Herald: “It’s the first time I can sneeze without feeling like I’m getting stabbed at a bar.”
So I flip over to the new TSN channel on Thursday night and find a rerun of an NHL game between the Boston Bruins and, yes, the Maple Laffs. The game had been over about an hour and already we could watch it again. Thank you, CRTC, thank you. . . . Ian Winwood of the Guardian, a London newspaper, visited our side of the pond recently and seems to have spent most of his time in Toronto. His report: “Toronto is probably the ice hockey capital of the world. The city is home to the Hockey Hall of Fame (which, frankly, isn’t all that great); it’s home to The Hockey News (which, frankly, isn’t all that great), and it’s home to Gretzky’s, a burger joint owned by The Great One, which, frankly, isn’t all that great. Toronto is also home to the Maple Leafs, one of the NHL’s ‘Original Six’ teams. And, frankly, they’re absolutely awful.” . . . Other than all that, Winwood had a great time. . . . In Florida high school football, Naples recently beat Estero High, 91-0, scoring 13 touchdowns along the way. Estero defensive line coach Pat Hayes noted: “I didn’t even know 91 was a multiple of seven.”
Pardon my confusion but if our city’s new bantam hockey tournament is going to be known as KIBIHT, what exactly did the old KIBIHT sell to the good folks of Langley? . . . And isn’t the new tournament’s keeping the same name something of a poke in the eye with a sharp stick to the previous event’s organizers? Doesn’t someone need to recognize that, even with all the acrimony of the last couple of years, somebody kept this thing alive for 40 years? . . . Sarah Palin was back on the NHL tour last night, taking part in a ceremonial faceoff in St. Louis prior to a game between the Blues and Los Angeles Kings. “The foreign policy novice says she’s especially excited,” wrote Pete McEntegart of SI.com, “because she hasn’t met any Kings before.”
Kevin Gleason, in the Middletown, N.Y., Times Herald-Record: “The NBA just laid off 80 employees and yet I haven’t heard a word about David Stern taking a slice from his reported $8 million annual salary. I’m sure it happened and we just missed it.” . . . You no doubt will be excited to know that John Wayne Bobbitt is in training for some kind of celebrity boxing match. Cam Hutchinson of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix points out: “It’s hard to believe that it has been 15 years since the Bobbitts severed their relationship.”
Bill Price of the New York Daily News, after discovering that some Philadelphia Phillies fans are using the slogan “Ya Gotta Believe,” which originated with the late Tug McGraw and the 1973 Mets: “Many of these same people booed Mike Schmidt, threw snowballs at Santa Claus and cheered when it appeared another human being (OK, it was Michael Irvin), had been seriously injured in a football game. Some of them even cheered for Sarah Palin . . . at a Flyers game. They erected a statue of a fictional boxer because he was able to run up some stairs without tripping. A Steak-umm and Cheez Whiz sandwich is their greatest contribution to the culinary arts. Their most famous landmark has a huge crack in it.”
Gregg Drinnan is sports editor of The Daily News. He is at gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca. Keeping Score appears Saturdays.
Saturday . . .
THE MacBETH REPORT: Our man with both eyes on the European scene never sleeps, not even on Saturdays. . . . D Michael Hengen (Swift Current/ Saskatoon/Calgary/Moose Jaw/Edmonton) signed with Deggendorf (Germany Oberliga) after starting the season with Bremerhaven (Germany 2.Bundesliga), where he had no points in five games. Hengen has a German passport according to the Deggendorf press release. . . . F Mike Maneluk (Brandon) signed a one-year-plus-option contract with Langenthal (Swiss NL B) after his release by Dynamo Minsk (Kontinental Hockey League). He had no points in seven games with Dinamo Minsk. . . . G Rob McVicar (Brandon) signed with Totempo HvIK Hvidovre (Denmark Elitserien) He played with Arizona Sundogs (Central Hockey League) last season.
---
SATURDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:
In Lethbridge, D Jon Blum had a goal and two assists and D Brett Regner set up two goals to help the Vancouver Giants to a 4-1 victory over the Hurricanes. . . . The Giants (10-0-0-3) ran the table on their three-game Alberta swing. . . . The Hurricanes (8-5-0-0) had won seven of eight at home. . . . Vancouver C Evander Kane drew one assist to keep his point streak alive. He has at least one point in each of the Giants’ 13 games this season. However, C Casey Pierro-Zabotel had his streak halted at a dozen games. . . . Kane leads the WHL, with 25 points, one more than Pierro-Zabotel. . . . Vancouver was 2-for-7 on the PP as it opened up a 3-0 lead. . . . Freshman G Jamie Tucker stopped 16 shots to run his record to 4-0-0-1. . . . The Giants had a 39-17 edge in shots, including 17-2 in the second period. . . . Some nights they are just Like a Rolling Stone.
---
In Kelowna, D Colby Robak’s two goals, the first just 21 seconds into the game, propelled the Brandon Wheat Kings to a 3-2 victory over the Rockets. . . . Brandon (8-4-1-0) was opening a five-game western swing after not playing for a week. . . . The Rockets (9-7-0-0) were coming off back-to-back shutout victories over the Chilliwack Bruins. . . . Robak’s second goal, on a PP at 15:55 of the second period, gave the Wheaties a 3-1 lead. . . . LW Jamie Benn scored his WHL-leading 13th goal for Kelowna. . . . The Rockets, after going 3-0 with freshman Adam Brown in goal, went back to veteran Kris Lazaruk, who stopped 27 shots. . . . G Andrew Hayes made 17 saves for Brandon. . . . Brandon F Brayden Schenn was ejected with an elbowing major and game misconduct at 16:37 of the third period after a big hit on Kelowna F Dylan Hood – who was left singing Freight Train Blues -- behind the Wheat Kings’ net. . . . The Rockets were without RW Kyle St. Denis, who suffered a broken right scaphoid (a bone in the wrist) in Friday’s 6-0 victory over visiting Chilliwack. He is expected to be out at least a month. . . . D Chad Erb was back in Brandon’s lineup. He had missed eight games with a jaw injury.
---
In Cranbrook, freshman F Burke Gallimore scored the game’s last two goals to give the Saskatoon Blades a 5-4 OT victory over the Kootenay Ice. . . . The Blades (10-4-0-1) have won seven straight on the road. . . . The Ice (8-5-2-3) had a five-game winning streak end. They had won four in a row at home. . . . Gallimore, 16, has 10 goals this season, tops among WHL freshmen. . . . The Ice lost freshman F Drew Czerwonka after he took a hit from Saskatoon F Walker Wintoneak. . . . Gallimore tied the game with eight seconds left in the third period and won it at 3:01 of OT. . . . The Ice actually led this one 4-2 with two minutes left in the third period before it got away from them, which perhaps is why head coach Mark Holick, who felt like he was living on Desolation Row, met with his captain and alternates after the game. . . . F Darian Dziurinzynski also scored twice for Saskatoon, his first two of the season. . . . Veteran F Derek Hulak pulled Saskatoon to within one, at 4-3, at 18:10 of the third.
---
In Medicine Hat, the Calgary Hitmen scored the game’s last three goals and beat the Tigers, 5-2. . . . The Hitmen (13-3-0-0) sit atop the WHL’s overall standings and have won six in a row. . . . The Tigers (7-4-2-2) had won three in a row. They now are 6-1-0-1 at home. . . . F Brandon Kozun broke a 2-2 tie with his 12th goal of the season at 5:26 of the third period. D Matt Mackenzie (8:06) and D Michael Stone (13:44), with his fifth of the season on a PP, put it away. . . . F Kyle Bortis set up three goals for Calgary. . . . G Martin Jones stopped 25 shots for Calgary to improve his record to 7-1. . . . When Jones is in goal, It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue.
---
In Prince Albert, F Dustin Cameron and F Matt Robertson had shootout goals to give the Raiders a 4-3 victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings. . . . The Raiders (9-7-0-0) have won three in a row since returning from the other side of the Rockies. . . . The Oil Kings (6-10-1-0) are 3-2-1-1 on the road. . . . Prince Albert G Steven Sanford, who stopped 29 shots, foiled Edmonton F Jeff Lee on a second-period penalty shot. . . . G Torrie Jung, who didn’t quite stop Every Grain of Sand, made 34 saves for the Oil Kings. . . . Edmonton forced OT with third-period goals by Rhett Rachinski (13:28) and Brenden Dowd (18:23), the latter on the PP.
---
In Red Deer, G Darcy Kuemper stopped 35 shots as the Rebels dumped the Moose Jaw Warriors, 6-0. . . . The Rebels (5-7-0-5) had lost four in a row and nine of 10. . . . The Warriors (5-8-0-1) have dropped three straight. . . . LW Brett Ferguson had a goal and two helpers for Red Deer. . . . Kuemper, an 18-year-old from Saskatoon, posted his first career shutout, telling his mates Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right. . . . Red Deer F Cass Mappin, the 12th overall pick in the 2005 bantam draft, scored his ninth goal of the season. He had five in 64 games last season.
---
In Seattle, F Prab Rai had a goal and two assists to lead the Thunderbirds to a 5-2 victory over the Everett Silvertips. . . . The Thunderbirds (4-9-0-1) have won two in a row. This was only their third home game of the season as they prepared to move into a new building in Kent, Wash., late in December. . . . The Silvertips (6-6-1-0) are 1-5-1-0 on the road. . . . Rai has nine goals this season. . . . Seattle led 3-0 before Everett got two second-period PP goals. . . . This was Everett’s last visit to KeyArena. The Thunderbirds own them there -- 19-4-0-1 with three ties. The Silvertips must have felt like it was Stone Walls and Steel Bars. . . . Seattle outshot the visitors 38-21. . . . Everett was without D Shayne Brown (hip) and D Mike Alexander (ankle).
---
In Spokane, G Dustin Tokarski stopped 32 shots to lead the Chiefs to a 4-1 victory over the Prince George Cougars. . . . The Chiefs (9-2-0-3) have surrendered only 25 goals in their 14 games. . . . The Cougars (7-9-0-0) have lost five in a row. They finished 1-8 on a nine-game road swing. When the Cougars left on their trip, they may have thought things would be tough, but I don’t think they knew A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall. . . . Prince George G Kevin Armstrong played for the Chiefs last season and was presented with his Memorial Cup ring prior to the season. He was dealt to the Cougars over the summer. . . . Armstrong stopped 24 shots. . . . The Chiefs, with 21 points, moved past the idle Tri-City Americans and into first place in the U.S. Division. . . . The game was 1-1 with less than seven minutes left in the third period when the Chiefs got goals from forwards Tyler Johnson (13:18), Levko Koper (18:58, empty-netter) and Dustin Donaghy (19:29).
---
In Swift Current, F Justin Dowling and F Geordie Wudrick had two goals each to lead the Broncos to a 6-2 victory over the Portland Winter Hawks. . . . The Broncos (10-5-0-0) had lost their last two games. They are 4-5 after starting the season 6-0. . . . The Winter Hawks (2-12-0-0) went 1-5 on their Eastern Division swing. . . . The Winter Hawks, who must feel like it’s Highway 61 Revisited, are expected to undergo wholesale changes upon their arrival home, what with the franchise in the midst of being sold. . . . The Broncos held a 47-24 edge in shots, including 16-4 in the third period.
---
In Chilliwack, the Kamloops Blazers broke a 2-2 tie with three goals and beat the Bruins, 5-2. . . . The Blazers (6-8-0-2) have won two in a row after having lost five straight. . . . The Bruins (5-8-1-1) have lost six in a row, all of them since D Jesse Craige went down with a broken jaw. . . . RW Jimmy Bubnick, who had nine goals last season as a freshman, scored his 11th of the season for Kamloops. . . . LW Shayne Wiebe scored on a first-period penalty shot for the Blazers. . . . Wiebe’s second goal of the game, late in the second period, snapped a 2-2 tie. It was his ninth of the season, equaling his total from all of last season. . . . F David Robinson scored the Bruins’ first goal, snapping a club goalless streak of 150 minutes 37 seconds. They were coming off back-to-back shutouts at the hands of the Kelowna Rockets. . . . The Bruins are banged up, especially on the back end, where Matt Strong (shoulder), also is out. It all has made head coach Jim Hiller a Man of Constant Sorrow.
---
Yes, Bob Dylan was in Kamloops on Saturday night. And I’m still trying to figure out why so many people pay big dollars to attend such a show and then all they do is walk around and around and around, and get drunk. . . . For the cost of one ticket, a person could drink a lot of beer and eat a lot of pizza while sitting at home listening to Live at the Gaslight 1962 or Blonde on Blonde.
---
SATURDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:
In Lethbridge, D Jon Blum had a goal and two assists and D Brett Regner set up two goals to help the Vancouver Giants to a 4-1 victory over the Hurricanes. . . . The Giants (10-0-0-3) ran the table on their three-game Alberta swing. . . . The Hurricanes (8-5-0-0) had won seven of eight at home. . . . Vancouver C Evander Kane drew one assist to keep his point streak alive. He has at least one point in each of the Giants’ 13 games this season. However, C Casey Pierro-Zabotel had his streak halted at a dozen games. . . . Kane leads the WHL, with 25 points, one more than Pierro-Zabotel. . . . Vancouver was 2-for-7 on the PP as it opened up a 3-0 lead. . . . Freshman G Jamie Tucker stopped 16 shots to run his record to 4-0-0-1. . . . The Giants had a 39-17 edge in shots, including 17-2 in the second period. . . . Some nights they are just Like a Rolling Stone.
---
In Kelowna, D Colby Robak’s two goals, the first just 21 seconds into the game, propelled the Brandon Wheat Kings to a 3-2 victory over the Rockets. . . . Brandon (8-4-1-0) was opening a five-game western swing after not playing for a week. . . . The Rockets (9-7-0-0) were coming off back-to-back shutout victories over the Chilliwack Bruins. . . . Robak’s second goal, on a PP at 15:55 of the second period, gave the Wheaties a 3-1 lead. . . . LW Jamie Benn scored his WHL-leading 13th goal for Kelowna. . . . The Rockets, after going 3-0 with freshman Adam Brown in goal, went back to veteran Kris Lazaruk, who stopped 27 shots. . . . G Andrew Hayes made 17 saves for Brandon. . . . Brandon F Brayden Schenn was ejected with an elbowing major and game misconduct at 16:37 of the third period after a big hit on Kelowna F Dylan Hood – who was left singing Freight Train Blues -- behind the Wheat Kings’ net. . . . The Rockets were without RW Kyle St. Denis, who suffered a broken right scaphoid (a bone in the wrist) in Friday’s 6-0 victory over visiting Chilliwack. He is expected to be out at least a month. . . . D Chad Erb was back in Brandon’s lineup. He had missed eight games with a jaw injury.
---
In Cranbrook, freshman F Burke Gallimore scored the game’s last two goals to give the Saskatoon Blades a 5-4 OT victory over the Kootenay Ice. . . . The Blades (10-4-0-1) have won seven straight on the road. . . . The Ice (8-5-2-3) had a five-game winning streak end. They had won four in a row at home. . . . Gallimore, 16, has 10 goals this season, tops among WHL freshmen. . . . The Ice lost freshman F Drew Czerwonka after he took a hit from Saskatoon F Walker Wintoneak. . . . Gallimore tied the game with eight seconds left in the third period and won it at 3:01 of OT. . . . The Ice actually led this one 4-2 with two minutes left in the third period before it got away from them, which perhaps is why head coach Mark Holick, who felt like he was living on Desolation Row, met with his captain and alternates after the game. . . . F Darian Dziurinzynski also scored twice for Saskatoon, his first two of the season. . . . Veteran F Derek Hulak pulled Saskatoon to within one, at 4-3, at 18:10 of the third.
---
In Medicine Hat, the Calgary Hitmen scored the game’s last three goals and beat the Tigers, 5-2. . . . The Hitmen (13-3-0-0) sit atop the WHL’s overall standings and have won six in a row. . . . The Tigers (7-4-2-2) had won three in a row. They now are 6-1-0-1 at home. . . . F Brandon Kozun broke a 2-2 tie with his 12th goal of the season at 5:26 of the third period. D Matt Mackenzie (8:06) and D Michael Stone (13:44), with his fifth of the season on a PP, put it away. . . . F Kyle Bortis set up three goals for Calgary. . . . G Martin Jones stopped 25 shots for Calgary to improve his record to 7-1. . . . When Jones is in goal, It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue.
---
In Prince Albert, F Dustin Cameron and F Matt Robertson had shootout goals to give the Raiders a 4-3 victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings. . . . The Raiders (9-7-0-0) have won three in a row since returning from the other side of the Rockies. . . . The Oil Kings (6-10-1-0) are 3-2-1-1 on the road. . . . Prince Albert G Steven Sanford, who stopped 29 shots, foiled Edmonton F Jeff Lee on a second-period penalty shot. . . . G Torrie Jung, who didn’t quite stop Every Grain of Sand, made 34 saves for the Oil Kings. . . . Edmonton forced OT with third-period goals by Rhett Rachinski (13:28) and Brenden Dowd (18:23), the latter on the PP.
---
In Red Deer, G Darcy Kuemper stopped 35 shots as the Rebels dumped the Moose Jaw Warriors, 6-0. . . . The Rebels (5-7-0-5) had lost four in a row and nine of 10. . . . The Warriors (5-8-0-1) have dropped three straight. . . . LW Brett Ferguson had a goal and two helpers for Red Deer. . . . Kuemper, an 18-year-old from Saskatoon, posted his first career shutout, telling his mates Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right. . . . Red Deer F Cass Mappin, the 12th overall pick in the 2005 bantam draft, scored his ninth goal of the season. He had five in 64 games last season.
---
In Seattle, F Prab Rai had a goal and two assists to lead the Thunderbirds to a 5-2 victory over the Everett Silvertips. . . . The Thunderbirds (4-9-0-1) have won two in a row. This was only their third home game of the season as they prepared to move into a new building in Kent, Wash., late in December. . . . The Silvertips (6-6-1-0) are 1-5-1-0 on the road. . . . Rai has nine goals this season. . . . Seattle led 3-0 before Everett got two second-period PP goals. . . . This was Everett’s last visit to KeyArena. The Thunderbirds own them there -- 19-4-0-1 with three ties. The Silvertips must have felt like it was Stone Walls and Steel Bars. . . . Seattle outshot the visitors 38-21. . . . Everett was without D Shayne Brown (hip) and D Mike Alexander (ankle).
---
In Spokane, G Dustin Tokarski stopped 32 shots to lead the Chiefs to a 4-1 victory over the Prince George Cougars. . . . The Chiefs (9-2-0-3) have surrendered only 25 goals in their 14 games. . . . The Cougars (7-9-0-0) have lost five in a row. They finished 1-8 on a nine-game road swing. When the Cougars left on their trip, they may have thought things would be tough, but I don’t think they knew A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall. . . . Prince George G Kevin Armstrong played for the Chiefs last season and was presented with his Memorial Cup ring prior to the season. He was dealt to the Cougars over the summer. . . . Armstrong stopped 24 shots. . . . The Chiefs, with 21 points, moved past the idle Tri-City Americans and into first place in the U.S. Division. . . . The game was 1-1 with less than seven minutes left in the third period when the Chiefs got goals from forwards Tyler Johnson (13:18), Levko Koper (18:58, empty-netter) and Dustin Donaghy (19:29).
---
In Swift Current, F Justin Dowling and F Geordie Wudrick had two goals each to lead the Broncos to a 6-2 victory over the Portland Winter Hawks. . . . The Broncos (10-5-0-0) had lost their last two games. They are 4-5 after starting the season 6-0. . . . The Winter Hawks (2-12-0-0) went 1-5 on their Eastern Division swing. . . . The Winter Hawks, who must feel like it’s Highway 61 Revisited, are expected to undergo wholesale changes upon their arrival home, what with the franchise in the midst of being sold. . . . The Broncos held a 47-24 edge in shots, including 16-4 in the third period.
---
In Chilliwack, the Kamloops Blazers broke a 2-2 tie with three goals and beat the Bruins, 5-2. . . . The Blazers (6-8-0-2) have won two in a row after having lost five straight. . . . The Bruins (5-8-1-1) have lost six in a row, all of them since D Jesse Craige went down with a broken jaw. . . . RW Jimmy Bubnick, who had nine goals last season as a freshman, scored his 11th of the season for Kamloops. . . . LW Shayne Wiebe scored on a first-period penalty shot for the Blazers. . . . Wiebe’s second goal of the game, late in the second period, snapped a 2-2 tie. It was his ninth of the season, equaling his total from all of last season. . . . F David Robinson scored the Bruins’ first goal, snapping a club goalless streak of 150 minutes 37 seconds. They were coming off back-to-back shutouts at the hands of the Kelowna Rockets. . . . The Bruins are banged up, especially on the back end, where Matt Strong (shoulder), also is out. It all has made head coach Jim Hiller a Man of Constant Sorrow.
---
Yes, Bob Dylan was in Kamloops on Saturday night. And I’m still trying to figure out why so many people pay big dollars to attend such a show and then all they do is walk around and around and around, and get drunk. . . . For the cost of one ticket, a person could drink a lot of beer and eat a lot of pizza while sitting at home listening to Live at the Gaslight 1962 or Blonde on Blonde.
Posts
