Thursday . . .

THE MacBETH REPORT: D Josef Melichar (Tri-City) signed a one-year contract with Cˇeske Budejovice (Czech Extraliga). He started the season with Carolina and finished it with Tampa Bay. The contract has an exit clause that allows Melichar to leave for a more lucrative offer “abroad.” The clause expires Nov. 15.
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Former WHL coach Ron Kennedy died Thursday after a battle with cancer. He was 56. Kennedy began last season coaching with Innsbruck of the Austrian league but a brain tumour forced his resignation in December. A native of North Battleford, Sask., Kennedy coached the Medicine Hat Tigers for two seasons (1988-90). He also had stints as head coach of the Austrian national team (1996-2002), coaching it in world championships as well as the 1998 and 2002 Olympic Winter Games. . . . I don’t know that there has been a head coach in the history of the WHL who smiled as much as Ron Kennedy. . . .
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And to think some folks said it would never get done!
The politicians — and Moose Jaw Warriors captain Jason Bast — had shovels in hand Thursday as the official sod turning took place for the new multi-use facility that will be built in Moose Jaw.
With construction now having started, the Warriors’ new home — the Uncrushed Can? — is expected to be ready for the start of the 2011-12 season.
There’s more right here.
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Rob Vanstone of the Regina Leader-Post reports that “a Sept. 21 NHL preseason game between the (Ottawa) Senators . . . and the Tampa Bay Lightning is virtually sold out. As of Monday, approximately 100 single seats remained available at the Brandt Centre box office and via Ticketmaster.” . . . That game is to be played in the Brandt Centre, home of the WHL’s Regina Pats. . . . The game, which was announced less than two weeks ago, is almost sold out despite ticket prices ranging from $79.50 to $109.50, plus applicable service charges. One hour after tickets went on sale to the general public only single seats remained. “The ticket-buying public didn't seem to bat an eye (at the prices),” Reid Pedersen, the vice-president of sports and recreation for Evraz Place, told Vanstone. “There were a lot of comments to and fro (about the price structure), but they didn't seem to deter people. People seemed to treat it like a concert or a one-off event — something that they wanted to spend their money on.”
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The OHL’s Brampton Battalion has signed Stan Butler, its director of hockey operations and head coach, to a four-year deal. Butler is preparing for his 12th season behind the team’s bench. Butler spent one season (1996-97) has head coach of the WHL’s Prince George Cougars. . . .
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As the Selkirk Steelers’ board of directors anticipated, Keith Cassidy has signed on as head coach of the MJHL’s Winnipeg Saints. Cassidy spent the last three seasons as the Steelers’ head coach, but quit a couple of months ago when he wasn’t able to negotiate a new deal. One member of the Steelers’ board told me then that they fully expected Cassidy to end up with the Saints, a team whose home arena is much closer to his home than Selkirk is. Cassidy replaces Doug Stokes, who stepped aside for health reasons.
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The Boston Globe reports that the Boston Bruins aren’t expected to sign F Brock Bradford, who was selected in the seventh round of the 2005 NHL draft. Bradford, who was picked by the Kamloops Blazers in the third round of the 2002 bantam draft, had 42 points, including 25 goals, in his senior season at Boston College. If he doesn’t sign, he becomes an unrestricted free agent Aug. 15.
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Outfielder Jamie McOwen of the High Desert Mavericks didn’t play in a 3-1 Class A California League loss at San Jose on Thursday night. So his 45-game hitting streak remains intact.
For your reading pleasure, check out this piece on McOwen.
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It should be pointed out that there is a WHL connection — actually, there are a couple of them — with High Desert. . . . For starters, the franchise is owned by Bobby and George Brett, who own the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs. (They purchased the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes earlier this year and are looking to sell the Mavericks.)
As well, Jon Rosen, the Everett Silvertips’ director of public relations and broadcasting, was once the radio voice of the Mavericks.
In fact, I asked Rosen what it was like in High Desert. His response:
“Adelanto is in between L.A. and Vegas, about 7-8 miles to the west of Interstate 15 in San Bernardino County. Along with Victorville, Apple Valley, Hesperia and Barstow it makes up the Victor Valley.
“The stadium, at an altitude of almost 3,000 feet, features wind gusts of anywhere from 10-40 mph at the start of the game. That, coupled with the 315/320 distances to the foul poles and just 400 feet to straightaway centre, makes the ballpark amongst the top two hitters’ havens in Minor League Baseball (Lancaster, CA’s Clear Channel Stadium, 40 miles to the west, is just as much of a hitters’ paradise).
The stadium was known as one of the most beautiful facilities in the minor leagues when it opened in 1991; the Mavericks, coached by Bruce Bochy, won the Cal League championship that year and became the first Class-A team to draw more than 200,000 fans, which now is the desired attendance bar of success at that level.
“Since then, the ballpark has drifted towards obscurity with the beautiful and almost palacial stadiums built in Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino (Inland Empire), and Lake Elsinore.
“The most prominent Mavericks alumni, aside from Bochy, would be Don Wakamatsu, Jack Cust, Brad Penny, Junior Spivey, Rod Barajas, Robby Hammock (who caught Randy Johnson’s perfect game), J.P. Howell and Billy Butler.
“Within a couple years you’ll be able to add Victoria, B.C., native Mike Saunders to that list, along with Carlos Triunfel and Chris Tillman, who was sent to Baltimore in the Erik Bedard trade.
“More importantly, several excellent broadcasters started out in High Desert, including MLB-TV/Milwaukee Brewers/San Diego Padres voice Matt Vasgergian, Sacramento River Cats/Oakland A’s announcer Johnny Dostow, and Florida Marlins announcer Roxy Bernstein.
“Not bad company for a team that started in 1991.”