THE MacBETH REPORT: D Reagan Rome (Moose Jaw/Saskatoon 1998-2000) re-signed with Weisswasser (Germany 2.Bundesliga). He had four goals and 15 assists in 39 games last season. The contract is for one year.
---
The Everett Silvertips are in the market for an assistant coach with the news that Mark LeRose, who has been on staff for two seasons, has resigned. According to Everett GM Doug Soetaert, LeRose has signed with the AHL affiliate of an NHL team. LeRose, 39, joined the Silvertips after working with the U of Wisconsin Badgers and the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede. . . . Soetaert signed long-time pro and junior coach Craig Hartsburg as the Silvertips’ head coach earlier this summer. . . .
---
The Canadian national junior team’s summer camp opens Wednesday and runs through Aug. 10 at Credit Union Central in Saskatoon. . . . F Steffan Della Rovere, who played on last year’s team, has a shoulder injury so won’t be on the ice; his spot will be taken by F Cody Eakin of the Swift Current Broncos. . . .
---
The Portland Winter Hawks have signed RW Taylor Leier and LW Nino Niederreiter. . . . Leier, from Saskatoon, was the 24th pick in the 2009 bantam draft. He had 137 points in 62 games with the Saskatoon Outlaws last season. His father, Tim, was a hockey and football player of note back in the day at the U of Saskatchewan. His WHL career consisted of one game with the Medicine Hat Tigers (1979-80)in which he had a goal and an assist . . . Niederreiter was the second overall pick in the 2009 CHL import draft. According to a Winter Hawks’ press release: “A native of Switzerland, Niederreiter amassed 12 points in six games with the Davos U18 team in the Swiss Elite Novizen league last season, before moving up to the Davos U20 team in the Elite Jr. A league, where he totaled 20 goals and 14 assists for 34 points in 30 games. In 2007-08, he had six points in five games for the U20 squad after registering 39 goals and 26 assists for 65 points in 32 games with the U18 team. Niederreiter played for the Swiss team at this year’s Under-18 World Championship, where he amassed three goals and three assists for six points in six games.”
Friday, July 31, 2009
Ranford ready for U-18 camp
By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
It may be a touch warm outside but summer is over for Brendan
Ranford.
The end came this morning when he boarded a plane in Edmonton and headed for Calgary. By tonight, he will be on the ice with Team Red as Canada’s
Under-18 team begins a selection camp.
”I feel ready,” Ranford, a 17-year-old forward with the WHL's Kamloops
Blazers, said late Thursday night from his home in Edmonton.
”Obviously, everybody is hoping to make the team and it would be a great
honour. But I feel ready for this camp and I'm hoping my readiness will help
me make the team.”
Hockey Canada has invited 40 players to the camp. Head coach Bob Boughner of the OHL's Windsor Spitfires and assistants Mark Holick (Kootenay Ice) and
Chris DiPiero (OHL's Oshawa Generals), along with head scout Al Murray, will
name a 22-play roster on Tuesday evening and the team will leave for Europe
the next morning.
Canada will play two exhibition games, against Slovakia on Friday and the
U.S. on Aug. 9, in Piestany, Slovakia, before beginning play in the Ivan
Hlinka Memorial tournament that runs through Aug. 15 in Piestany and
Breclav, Czech Republic.
Canada is in the A Pool with the U.S., Sweden and Switzerland, and will play
its round-robin games in Breclav.
Ranford has a number of friends and acquaintances on the camp roster, like
defenceman Gregg Sutch of the OHL's Sarnia Sting and forwards Ryan Spooner
of the OHL's Peterborough Petes and John McFarland of the OHL's Sudbury
Wolves, all of whom he knows from having lived in Ontario.
”Going down the roster,” Ranford said, “it's like 'oh, I know that guy,
don't know him, know him, know him.' . . . Spooner was good friend of mine.
We played against each other a lot.”
Two of his best friends -- defencemen Mark Pysyk of the Edmonton Oil Kings
and Alex Petrovic of the Red Deer Rebels -- also are to be in camp.
”Mark Pysyk . . . we talk a lot and text every day,” Ranford said, “and Alex
is one of my good buddies from school.”
Ranford doesn't anticipate having any problems competing with and against
friends.
”If you're focused on you making the team, you should be fine,” he reasoned.
”Right?”
When Ranford skates onto the ice tonight at the Father David Bauer Olympic
Arena, it also will signal the beginning of his draft season. He is eligible
for the NHL's 2010 draft.
”I feel good about it,” he said. “Everybody is pretty nervous about if
they're going to get drafted . . . or if not. If I get drafted, I'll be
happy; if not, I'll just work harder.”
What he won't do is let the draft dominate his thought process.
”That's what gets the worst of you sometimes,” he stated.
The Blazers' first selection, 15th overall in the 2007 bantam draft, Ranford
has spent much of this summer getting ready.
”I've been skating a lot,” Ranford said, allowing that he has been on the
ice a lot more than he was last summer. “I felt that was one of the weaker
parts of my game. I felt getting a skating coach would actually improve my
skating and it has.”
He spent the last month living with a grandfather in Red Deer and working
with skating coach Val Norrie.
”I feel I've improved a lot,” said the 5-foot-10, 180-pound Ranford, who has
grown an inch and gained 20 pounds over the last year. “I feel bigger and
better. I feel good.”
Last season, as a WHL rookie, Ranford totaled 27 points, including 13 goals,
in 66 games. He took time out over Christmas to play for Team Pacific in the
U-17 World Hockey Challenge in Port Alberni, putting up seven points in six
games.
However, he may have played his best hockey in the playoffs, showing some
grit and earning three assists as the Blazers were swept by the Kelowna
Rockets. That may have been a sign that he has found his comfort zone.
”Every rookie probably goes through that,” he said. “You feel really
nervous, don't know the speed and stuff like that. The next season, I think
everybody gets used to it and you feel a lot more confident going into the
season and it feels a lot better.”
JUST NOTES: Hockey Canada added Medicine Hat Tigers G Tyler Bunz to the
selection camp roster, replacing the injured J.P. Anderson of the OHL's
Mississauga IceWolves. . . . Fourteen of the players scheduled to take part
in the selection camp played in the WHL last season.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Daily News Sports Editor
It may be a touch warm outside but summer is over for Brendan
Ranford.
The end came this morning when he boarded a plane in Edmonton and headed for Calgary. By tonight, he will be on the ice with Team Red as Canada’s
Under-18 team begins a selection camp.
”I feel ready,” Ranford, a 17-year-old forward with the WHL's Kamloops
Blazers, said late Thursday night from his home in Edmonton.
”Obviously, everybody is hoping to make the team and it would be a great
honour. But I feel ready for this camp and I'm hoping my readiness will help
me make the team.”
Hockey Canada has invited 40 players to the camp. Head coach Bob Boughner of the OHL's Windsor Spitfires and assistants Mark Holick (Kootenay Ice) and
Chris DiPiero (OHL's Oshawa Generals), along with head scout Al Murray, will
name a 22-play roster on Tuesday evening and the team will leave for Europe
the next morning.
Canada will play two exhibition games, against Slovakia on Friday and the
U.S. on Aug. 9, in Piestany, Slovakia, before beginning play in the Ivan
Hlinka Memorial tournament that runs through Aug. 15 in Piestany and
Breclav, Czech Republic.
Canada is in the A Pool with the U.S., Sweden and Switzerland, and will play
its round-robin games in Breclav.
Ranford has a number of friends and acquaintances on the camp roster, like
defenceman Gregg Sutch of the OHL's Sarnia Sting and forwards Ryan Spooner
of the OHL's Peterborough Petes and John McFarland of the OHL's Sudbury
Wolves, all of whom he knows from having lived in Ontario.
”Going down the roster,” Ranford said, “it's like 'oh, I know that guy,
don't know him, know him, know him.' . . . Spooner was good friend of mine.
We played against each other a lot.”
Two of his best friends -- defencemen Mark Pysyk of the Edmonton Oil Kings
and Alex Petrovic of the Red Deer Rebels -- also are to be in camp.
”Mark Pysyk . . . we talk a lot and text every day,” Ranford said, “and Alex
is one of my good buddies from school.”
Ranford doesn't anticipate having any problems competing with and against
friends.
”If you're focused on you making the team, you should be fine,” he reasoned.
”Right?”
When Ranford skates onto the ice tonight at the Father David Bauer Olympic
Arena, it also will signal the beginning of his draft season. He is eligible
for the NHL's 2010 draft.
”I feel good about it,” he said. “Everybody is pretty nervous about if
they're going to get drafted . . . or if not. If I get drafted, I'll be
happy; if not, I'll just work harder.”
What he won't do is let the draft dominate his thought process.
”That's what gets the worst of you sometimes,” he stated.
The Blazers' first selection, 15th overall in the 2007 bantam draft, Ranford
has spent much of this summer getting ready.
”I've been skating a lot,” Ranford said, allowing that he has been on the
ice a lot more than he was last summer. “I felt that was one of the weaker
parts of my game. I felt getting a skating coach would actually improve my
skating and it has.”
He spent the last month living with a grandfather in Red Deer and working
with skating coach Val Norrie.
”I feel I've improved a lot,” said the 5-foot-10, 180-pound Ranford, who has
grown an inch and gained 20 pounds over the last year. “I feel bigger and
better. I feel good.”
Last season, as a WHL rookie, Ranford totaled 27 points, including 13 goals,
in 66 games. He took time out over Christmas to play for Team Pacific in the
U-17 World Hockey Challenge in Port Alberni, putting up seven points in six
games.
However, he may have played his best hockey in the playoffs, showing some
grit and earning three assists as the Blazers were swept by the Kelowna
Rockets. That may have been a sign that he has found his comfort zone.
”Every rookie probably goes through that,” he said. “You feel really
nervous, don't know the speed and stuff like that. The next season, I think
everybody gets used to it and you feel a lot more confident going into the
season and it feels a lot better.”
JUST NOTES: Hockey Canada added Medicine Hat Tigers G Tyler Bunz to the
selection camp roster, replacing the injured J.P. Anderson of the OHL's
Mississauga IceWolves. . . . Fourteen of the players scheduled to take part
in the selection camp played in the WHL last season.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Thursday . . .
THE MacBETH REPORT: F Bostjan Golicic (Calgary) signed a contract with Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia, plays in Austria Erste Bank League). He had 26 goals and 30 assists in 67 games for the Hitmen last season. . . . Re-signing with Olimpija were D Greg Kuznik (Seattle) and F Frank Banham (Saskatoon). Kuznik, who holds dual Canadian and Slovenian citizenship, had four goals and seven assists in 61 games with Olimpija last season. Banham had 30 goals and 29 assists in 52 games for Olimpija and two goals and three assists in six games with Biel (Swiss NL A) last season.
———
Finally, fans, the WHL has provided a date for the release of its OFFICIAL schedule. The release date is Aug. 10. Plan the party!
———
D Kyle Deck (Kamloops, Regina, 2002-06) has signed with the Central league’s Texas Brahmas. He played last season with the IHL’s Flint Generals, recording 38 points in 45 games before leaving to play for Jesenice, a Slovenian team in the Austrian Erste Bank league. . . .
———
Condolences to B.C. Hockey Hall of Famer and former NHL defenceman Bert Marshall on the death of his father, Paddy, at the age of 92. Paddy passed away Sunday at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops.
———
The ECHL’s Victoria Salmon Kings have signed two former WHLers, D Gary Gladue and F Brady Leavold. . . . Gladue (Prince George, Calgary, Spokane, 2000-05) is going into his third season with Victoria. Gladue, 25, had 20 assists and 12 penalty minutes in 55 games last season. . . . Leavold (Swift Current, Kelowna, 2003-08) returns to Victoria for a second season. The 21-year-old had 14 points and 49 penalty minutes in 31 games last season after starting with the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals. . . .
———
If you are one of those people with a dislike for Red Sox Nation, this right here is for you. Enjoy!
———
Finally, fans, the WHL has provided a date for the release of its OFFICIAL schedule. The release date is Aug. 10. Plan the party!
———
D Kyle Deck (Kamloops, Regina, 2002-06) has signed with the Central league’s Texas Brahmas. He played last season with the IHL’s Flint Generals, recording 38 points in 45 games before leaving to play for Jesenice, a Slovenian team in the Austrian Erste Bank league. . . .
———
Condolences to B.C. Hockey Hall of Famer and former NHL defenceman Bert Marshall on the death of his father, Paddy, at the age of 92. Paddy passed away Sunday at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops.
———
The ECHL’s Victoria Salmon Kings have signed two former WHLers, D Gary Gladue and F Brady Leavold. . . . Gladue (Prince George, Calgary, Spokane, 2000-05) is going into his third season with Victoria. Gladue, 25, had 20 assists and 12 penalty minutes in 55 games last season. . . . Leavold (Swift Current, Kelowna, 2003-08) returns to Victoria for a second season. The 21-year-old had 14 points and 49 penalty minutes in 31 games last season after starting with the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals. . . .
———
If you are one of those people with a dislike for Red Sox Nation, this right here is for you. Enjoy!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
More from Wednesday . . .
THE MacBETH REPORT: Tonight (Wednesday) marked the first exhibition game of the upcoming season in Finland, where Sport Vaasa (Mestis) beat Kärpät Oulu (SM-Liiga) 4-2 in front of 1,681 people (the rink in Vaasa seats 4,300). Lou Dickenson (from the first season of Making the Cut) had two assists for Sport, the defending Mestis champions. . . .
Here are the starting and ending dates and number of games in the regular season for the major leagues in Europe . . .
FINLAND (SM-Liiga) — 58 games. Starts Sept. 10; ends March 20.
SWEDEN (Elitserien) — 55 games. Starts Sept. 21; ends March 13.
RUSSIA (KHL) — 56 games. Starts Sept. 10; ends March 7.
CZECH REPUBLIC (Extraliga) — 52 games. Starts Sept. 9; ends
March 5.
SLOVAKIA (Extraliga) — 51 games. Starts Sept. 11; ends March 9.
GERMANY (DEL) — 60 games. Starts Sept. 3; ends March 21.
SWITZERLAND (NL A) — 50 games. Starts Sept. 11; ends March 6.
AUSTRIA (Erste Bank Liga) - 54 games. Starts Sept. 10; ends
Feb. 19.
ITALY (Serie A1) — 45 games. Starts Sept. 26; ends March 2.
DENMARK (AL-Bank Ligaen) — 40 games. Starts Sept. 25; ends
March 2.
NORWAY (GET-Liga) — 45 games. Starts Sept. 12; ends March 2.
———
Garth MacBeth had hoped to include the UK Elite League and the Asia Hockey League but, like the WHL, they apparently have yet to release their 2009-10 schedules.
———
MacBeth adds that the temperature reached “an all-time record high in Seattle today (103F, 39.5C), breaking the old record of 100 set in 1941 and tied in 1994. . . . At 8 p.m., it was 101F in Seattle. . . . Somebody noted that it was 84F in Hell, Mich., so “we can truly say that Seattle is hotter than Hell.”
———
On that note, I think it hit 38C in Kamloops, where the city will set records for most July days over 30C and most days over 35C. . . . Hockey season, and the coolness of the arenas, can’t get here soon enough.
———
D Nolan Toigo of the Vancouver Giants has accepted a free-agent invite to the Vancouver Canucks’ rookie camp. Toigo, 20, left the Giants in October 2007, joined the BCHL’s Surrey Eagles and then returned to the Giants for last season’s playoffs. It’s anticipated that Toigo will be one of Vancouver’s three 20-year-olds this season. . . . Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province also reports that Giants G Jamie Tucker, 18, is going to camp as a free agent with the Columbus Blue Jackets, while F Craig Cunningham, 18, will skate with the New York Rangers. Cunningham recently attended a Rangers’ prospects camp. . . .
———
As expected, the Vancouver Giants have signed D Kevin Connauton, 19, who played last season at the U of Western Michigan. He had 18 points in 40 games with the Broncos. Connauton was a third-round pick by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2009 NHL draft. . . .
———
Former WHL GM/head coach Rick Wilson, an NHL assistant coach for 20 years, has signed on as associate coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Wilson will work with the Lightning’s defencemen. He spent the last 16 seasons with the Dallas Stars but was swept out the door when Joe Nieuwendyk took over as GM and redid the coaching staff.
Here are the starting and ending dates and number of games in the regular season for the major leagues in Europe . . .
FINLAND (SM-Liiga) — 58 games. Starts Sept. 10; ends March 20.
SWEDEN (Elitserien) — 55 games. Starts Sept. 21; ends March 13.
RUSSIA (KHL) — 56 games. Starts Sept. 10; ends March 7.
CZECH REPUBLIC (Extraliga) — 52 games. Starts Sept. 9; ends
March 5.
SLOVAKIA (Extraliga) — 51 games. Starts Sept. 11; ends March 9.
GERMANY (DEL) — 60 games. Starts Sept. 3; ends March 21.
SWITZERLAND (NL A) — 50 games. Starts Sept. 11; ends March 6.
AUSTRIA (Erste Bank Liga) - 54 games. Starts Sept. 10; ends
Feb. 19.
ITALY (Serie A1) — 45 games. Starts Sept. 26; ends March 2.
DENMARK (AL-Bank Ligaen) — 40 games. Starts Sept. 25; ends
March 2.
NORWAY (GET-Liga) — 45 games. Starts Sept. 12; ends March 2.
———
Garth MacBeth had hoped to include the UK Elite League and the Asia Hockey League but, like the WHL, they apparently have yet to release their 2009-10 schedules.
———
MacBeth adds that the temperature reached “an all-time record high in Seattle today (103F, 39.5C), breaking the old record of 100 set in 1941 and tied in 1994. . . . At 8 p.m., it was 101F in Seattle. . . . Somebody noted that it was 84F in Hell, Mich., so “we can truly say that Seattle is hotter than Hell.”
———
On that note, I think it hit 38C in Kamloops, where the city will set records for most July days over 30C and most days over 35C. . . . Hockey season, and the coolness of the arenas, can’t get here soon enough.
———
D Nolan Toigo of the Vancouver Giants has accepted a free-agent invite to the Vancouver Canucks’ rookie camp. Toigo, 20, left the Giants in October 2007, joined the BCHL’s Surrey Eagles and then returned to the Giants for last season’s playoffs. It’s anticipated that Toigo will be one of Vancouver’s three 20-year-olds this season. . . . Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province also reports that Giants G Jamie Tucker, 18, is going to camp as a free agent with the Columbus Blue Jackets, while F Craig Cunningham, 18, will skate with the New York Rangers. Cunningham recently attended a Rangers’ prospects camp. . . .
———
As expected, the Vancouver Giants have signed D Kevin Connauton, 19, who played last season at the U of Western Michigan. He had 18 points in 40 games with the Broncos. Connauton was a third-round pick by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2009 NHL draft. . . .
———
Former WHL GM/head coach Rick Wilson, an NHL assistant coach for 20 years, has signed on as associate coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Wilson will work with the Lightning’s defencemen. He spent the last 16 seasons with the Dallas Stars but was swept out the door when Joe Nieuwendyk took over as GM and redid the coaching staff.
Blazers big on weekend home dates
By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily New Sports Editor
Craig Bonner, the general manager of the Kamloops Blazers, couldn’t stop
smiling as he headed home from Kelowna on Wednesday afternoon.
That’s because he was able to finagle 26 weekend home dates out of the WHL’s
Western Conference scheduling meeting. With each team playing 36
regular-season home games, it leaves the Blazers with only 10 mid-week home
assignments.
Officials from the conference’s 10 teams gathered in Kelowna on Tuesday
evening and then spent all of yesterday putting together a tentative
regular-season schedule under the watchful eye of Richard Doerksen, the
WHL’s vice-president hockey.
The schedule remains tentative until the league is able to put it under the
microscope and finalize it.
When it was all over, Bonner said he had scraped together 23 Friday or
Saturday games — “I believe we had 15 last season,” he said — and three
Sunday dates.
“That is something that was a priority for us,” Bonner said, adding that the
Blazers are “leaning towards” starting Sunday games at 6 p.m. “We’re kind of
going back and forth.”
The Blazers will open the regular season by going home-and-home with the
Chilliwack Bruins. They’ll play in Chilliwack on Sept. 18 and the next night
at Interior Savings Centre.
The following weekend, the Blazers will do the same with the Kelowna
Rockets, with the opener in Kamloops on Sept. 25. And the Blazers will play
two against the Vancouver Giants the very next weekend (Oct. 2-3), playing
here Friday and there Saturday.
“That’s kind of neat the way it worked out,” Bonner said of the early
home-and-home series with B.C. Division rivals.
Bonner felt that this season’s scheduling, the second time he has done it as
the club’s GM, “was way, way better than last season.”
He said there was a good selection of available dates at ISC and that “made
scheduling a lot easier for us. There were a lot of open dates and it worked
out well.”
———
The Blazers will open training camp with players registering on Aug. 20.
“The actual on-ice starts on Aug. 21,” Bonner said, adding that rookie and
main camp start that day.
“There will be games for the rookies and the older players will practise the
first two days. Then we’ll go all into the main camp on Aug. 23.
———
The Blazers have dropped D Daniel Medland-Marchen, 17, from their protected
list.
Medland-Marchen, from Kelowna, was a second-round pick, 37th overall, in the
2007 bantam draft. He played last season with the junior B Kamloops Storm,
totaling 14 points and 91 penalty minutes in 41 games.
“In fairness to him,” Bonner said, “this allows him to find a place without
being handcuffed by waiting for us to (try and trade him). He has free rein
to go where he wants.
“He realized we had a lot of guys coming back and wasn’t quite sure where he
fit in.”
———
JUST NOTES: Blazers F Brendan Ranford is one of 40 players who are to attend
the Canadian men’s U-18 selection camp in Calgary from Saturday to Tuesday.
Ranford, from Edmonton, is trying to earn one of 22 spots on the team, which
will take part in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament in the Czech Republic
and Slovakia from Aug. 11-15. The team will be announced Tuesday, and will
leave for Europe the following morning. . . . This season, the Blazers will
visit East Division teams, with those teams not coming this way. The Blazers
will begin their East Division swing on Oct. 16 against the Pats in Regina.
They’ll play the Brandon Wheat Kings (Oct. 17), Moose Jaw Warriors (Oct.
20), Swift Current Broncos (Oct. 21), Prince Albert Raiders (Oct. 23) and
Saskatoon Blades (Oct. 24). . . . The Blazers will hold their alumni weekend
Aug. 7 and 8 at Sun Peaks. Bonner said “upwards of 50 former players” are
expected to be on hand.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Daily New Sports Editor
Craig Bonner, the general manager of the Kamloops Blazers, couldn’t stop
smiling as he headed home from Kelowna on Wednesday afternoon.
That’s because he was able to finagle 26 weekend home dates out of the WHL’s
Western Conference scheduling meeting. With each team playing 36
regular-season home games, it leaves the Blazers with only 10 mid-week home
assignments.
Officials from the conference’s 10 teams gathered in Kelowna on Tuesday
evening and then spent all of yesterday putting together a tentative
regular-season schedule under the watchful eye of Richard Doerksen, the
WHL’s vice-president hockey.
The schedule remains tentative until the league is able to put it under the
microscope and finalize it.
When it was all over, Bonner said he had scraped together 23 Friday or
Saturday games — “I believe we had 15 last season,” he said — and three
Sunday dates.
“That is something that was a priority for us,” Bonner said, adding that the
Blazers are “leaning towards” starting Sunday games at 6 p.m. “We’re kind of
going back and forth.”
The Blazers will open the regular season by going home-and-home with the
Chilliwack Bruins. They’ll play in Chilliwack on Sept. 18 and the next night
at Interior Savings Centre.
The following weekend, the Blazers will do the same with the Kelowna
Rockets, with the opener in Kamloops on Sept. 25. And the Blazers will play
two against the Vancouver Giants the very next weekend (Oct. 2-3), playing
here Friday and there Saturday.
“That’s kind of neat the way it worked out,” Bonner said of the early
home-and-home series with B.C. Division rivals.
Bonner felt that this season’s scheduling, the second time he has done it as
the club’s GM, “was way, way better than last season.”
He said there was a good selection of available dates at ISC and that “made
scheduling a lot easier for us. There were a lot of open dates and it worked
out well.”
———
The Blazers will open training camp with players registering on Aug. 20.
“The actual on-ice starts on Aug. 21,” Bonner said, adding that rookie and
main camp start that day.
“There will be games for the rookies and the older players will practise the
first two days. Then we’ll go all into the main camp on Aug. 23.
———
The Blazers have dropped D Daniel Medland-Marchen, 17, from their protected
list.
Medland-Marchen, from Kelowna, was a second-round pick, 37th overall, in the
2007 bantam draft. He played last season with the junior B Kamloops Storm,
totaling 14 points and 91 penalty minutes in 41 games.
“In fairness to him,” Bonner said, “this allows him to find a place without
being handcuffed by waiting for us to (try and trade him). He has free rein
to go where he wants.
“He realized we had a lot of guys coming back and wasn’t quite sure where he
fit in.”
———
JUST NOTES: Blazers F Brendan Ranford is one of 40 players who are to attend
the Canadian men’s U-18 selection camp in Calgary from Saturday to Tuesday.
Ranford, from Edmonton, is trying to earn one of 22 spots on the team, which
will take part in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament in the Czech Republic
and Slovakia from Aug. 11-15. The team will be announced Tuesday, and will
leave for Europe the following morning. . . . This season, the Blazers will
visit East Division teams, with those teams not coming this way. The Blazers
will begin their East Division swing on Oct. 16 against the Pats in Regina.
They’ll play the Brandon Wheat Kings (Oct. 17), Moose Jaw Warriors (Oct.
20), Swift Current Broncos (Oct. 21), Prince Albert Raiders (Oct. 23) and
Saskatoon Blades (Oct. 24). . . . The Blazers will hold their alumni weekend
Aug. 7 and 8 at Sun Peaks. Bonner said “upwards of 50 former players” are
expected to be on hand.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Wednesday . . .
THE MacBETH REPORT: D Doug Lynch (Red Deer/Spokane) signed a try-out contract with Salzburg (Austria Erste Bank Liga). He had 13 goals and 16 assists in 52 games for Vienna Capitals (Austria Erste Bank Liga) last season. According to Salzburg's head coach Pierre Page, the contract is only a try-out deal in case Lynch gets an NHL offer. "He will either play in the NHL or return to Salzburg," Page said.
---
Former WHL G Dustin Slade, who hasn’t played since 2006-07, has signed with the Central league’s Laredo Bucks. Slade played for seven different teams during a junior career that included stops in the WHL, BCHL and the Maritimes. In the WHL, he played for Kamloops, Regina, Brandon and Vancouver over four seasons. . . . Former WHL player and coach Terry Ruskowski is the president, GM and head coach of the Bucks.
---
It was mentioned here yesterday that G Travis Yonkman, who played as a 20-year-old last season with the Swift Current Broncos, has committed to play for the U of Alberta Golden Bears. . . . It turns out that Alberta head coach Eric Thurston, a former WHL defenceman, has added five former WHLers to his roster. . . . Also headed to the Edmonton school are D Colin Joe (Kelowna, Saskatoon), D Ian Barteaux (Kootenay), F Sean Ringrose (Medicine Hat) and F Michael MacAngus (Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert). . . . The Golden Bears need a goaltender as former WHLer Aaron Sorochan has graduated. He played four seasons there. Yonkman and Real Cyr, another former WHLer, will scrap for the starting job. . . .
---
Former Kamloops D Bryce Lampman, 26, has signed with the St. Louis Blues. Lampman played nine games last season with Amur Khabarovsk of the Continental league. Originally, he signed with the New York Rangers, leaving the Blazers in the middle of his only WHL season (2002-03) to turn pro. He has played in 10 NHL games and 327 in the AHL, most of them with the Hartford Wolf Pack. . . .
---
F Keegan Dansereau, who played out his eligibility with the Swift Current Broncos last season, has signed as an undrafted free agent with the NHL’s Ottawa Senators. Dansereau had 81 points, including 37 goals, last season.
---
Former WHL G Dustin Slade, who hasn’t played since 2006-07, has signed with the Central league’s Laredo Bucks. Slade played for seven different teams during a junior career that included stops in the WHL, BCHL and the Maritimes. In the WHL, he played for Kamloops, Regina, Brandon and Vancouver over four seasons. . . . Former WHL player and coach Terry Ruskowski is the president, GM and head coach of the Bucks.
---
It was mentioned here yesterday that G Travis Yonkman, who played as a 20-year-old last season with the Swift Current Broncos, has committed to play for the U of Alberta Golden Bears. . . . It turns out that Alberta head coach Eric Thurston, a former WHL defenceman, has added five former WHLers to his roster. . . . Also headed to the Edmonton school are D Colin Joe (Kelowna, Saskatoon), D Ian Barteaux (Kootenay), F Sean Ringrose (Medicine Hat) and F Michael MacAngus (Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert). . . . The Golden Bears need a goaltender as former WHLer Aaron Sorochan has graduated. He played four seasons there. Yonkman and Real Cyr, another former WHLer, will scrap for the starting job. . . .
---
Former Kamloops D Bryce Lampman, 26, has signed with the St. Louis Blues. Lampman played nine games last season with Amur Khabarovsk of the Continental league. Originally, he signed with the New York Rangers, leaving the Blazers in the middle of his only WHL season (2002-03) to turn pro. He has played in 10 NHL games and 327 in the AHL, most of them with the Hartford Wolf Pack. . . .
---
F Keegan Dansereau, who played out his eligibility with the Swift Current Broncos last season, has signed as an undrafted free agent with the NHL’s Ottawa Senators. Dansereau had 81 points, including 37 goals, last season.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Tuesday . . .
THE MacBETH REPORT: Cortina (Italy Serie A1) has re-signed F Jordan Krestanovich (Calgary) to a one-year contract. He had 18 goals and 35 assists in 46 games last season. . . . D Ryan Gaucher (Saskatoon) signed a one-year contract with Schwenningen (Germany 2.Bundesliga). He had five goals and 10 assists in 49 games for Kassel (Germany DEL) last season.
———
D Cody Hobbs has told the Prince George Cougars that he won’t be returning for his 20-year-old season. Jim Swanson, the sports editor at the Prince George Citizen, reports that Hobbs, who is from Prince Albert, has registered at the U of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon and will play for the Huskies. . . . With Hobbs gone, the Cougars are looking at choosing their three 20-year-olds from among F Alex Rodgers, who was picked up on waivers from the Vancouver Giants earlier this month, D Dallas Jackson, F Tyler Halliday and G Joe Caligiuri. . . . The Cougars open training camp on Aug. 28. . . .
———
D Mitch Love (Moose Jaw, Swift Current, Everett, 1999-2005) has signed with the AHL’s Peoria Rivermen. Love, 25, was the AHL’s busiest pugilist last season, picking up 34 fighting majors in 63 games. He finished with two goals, four assists and 214 penalty minutes. . . . The Rivermen will be Love’s fifth AHL team. He played last season with the Houston Aeros and before that with the Lowell Lock Monsters, Albany River Rats and Lake Erie Monsters. . . .
———
G Travis Yonkman, who played out his WHL eligibility with the Swift Current Broncos last season, will attend the U of Alberta in Edmonton and play for the Golden Bears this season. Yonkman spent four seasons with the Broncos. . . . D Spencer McAvoy, who also was with the Broncos, has committed to the St. Francis Xavier X-Men in Antigonish, N.S. . . . F Brennen Wray (Moose Jaw, Red Deer, 2003-08) and G Joey Perricone (Moose Jaw, 2003-08) are also headed to the X-Men. . . .
———
The AHL’s Adirondack Phantoms (formerly the Philadelphia Phantoms) have signed Greg Gilbert as their head coach. Gilbert, 47, coached the AHL’s Toronto Marlies the last three seasons. The Marlies were 123-89-10-18 under Gilbert but his contract wasn’t renewed after last season. . . .
———
One more note on the Phantoms. . . . They play out of the Glens Falls Civic Center and officials there have ordered a passenger seat for the facility’s Zamboni. The plan is to have passenger’s along for the ride during intermissions. . . .
———
F Scott Burt (Seattle, Swift Current, Edmonton, Red Deer, 1994-98) has re-signed a one-year deal with the ECHL’s Alaska Aces. Burt, 32, was the Aces captain last season as they reached the Kelly Cup final, losing Game 7 to South Carolina. . . .
———
F Mark Derlago has signed a one-year deal with the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads. Derlago (Brandon Wheat Kings, 2003-06) is a nephew to former Brandon sniper Bill Derlago. Mark, 23, had 77 points in 49 games with the Bakersfield Condors last season. He also saw some time with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose. . . . The Idaho head coach is former Brandon LW Derek Laxdal.
———
According to Dean Millard at The Pipeline Show, the WHL will be adding a prospects game to its schedule in 2009-10. You can find preliminary details right here.
———
D Cody Hobbs has told the Prince George Cougars that he won’t be returning for his 20-year-old season. Jim Swanson, the sports editor at the Prince George Citizen, reports that Hobbs, who is from Prince Albert, has registered at the U of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon and will play for the Huskies. . . . With Hobbs gone, the Cougars are looking at choosing their three 20-year-olds from among F Alex Rodgers, who was picked up on waivers from the Vancouver Giants earlier this month, D Dallas Jackson, F Tyler Halliday and G Joe Caligiuri. . . . The Cougars open training camp on Aug. 28. . . .
———
D Mitch Love (Moose Jaw, Swift Current, Everett, 1999-2005) has signed with the AHL’s Peoria Rivermen. Love, 25, was the AHL’s busiest pugilist last season, picking up 34 fighting majors in 63 games. He finished with two goals, four assists and 214 penalty minutes. . . . The Rivermen will be Love’s fifth AHL team. He played last season with the Houston Aeros and before that with the Lowell Lock Monsters, Albany River Rats and Lake Erie Monsters. . . .
———
G Travis Yonkman, who played out his WHL eligibility with the Swift Current Broncos last season, will attend the U of Alberta in Edmonton and play for the Golden Bears this season. Yonkman spent four seasons with the Broncos. . . . D Spencer McAvoy, who also was with the Broncos, has committed to the St. Francis Xavier X-Men in Antigonish, N.S. . . . F Brennen Wray (Moose Jaw, Red Deer, 2003-08) and G Joey Perricone (Moose Jaw, 2003-08) are also headed to the X-Men. . . .
———
The AHL’s Adirondack Phantoms (formerly the Philadelphia Phantoms) have signed Greg Gilbert as their head coach. Gilbert, 47, coached the AHL’s Toronto Marlies the last three seasons. The Marlies were 123-89-10-18 under Gilbert but his contract wasn’t renewed after last season. . . .
———
One more note on the Phantoms. . . . They play out of the Glens Falls Civic Center and officials there have ordered a passenger seat for the facility’s Zamboni. The plan is to have passenger’s along for the ride during intermissions. . . .
———
F Scott Burt (Seattle, Swift Current, Edmonton, Red Deer, 1994-98) has re-signed a one-year deal with the ECHL’s Alaska Aces. Burt, 32, was the Aces captain last season as they reached the Kelly Cup final, losing Game 7 to South Carolina. . . .
———
F Mark Derlago has signed a one-year deal with the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads. Derlago (Brandon Wheat Kings, 2003-06) is a nephew to former Brandon sniper Bill Derlago. Mark, 23, had 77 points in 49 games with the Bakersfield Condors last season. He also saw some time with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose. . . . The Idaho head coach is former Brandon LW Derek Laxdal.
———
According to Dean Millard at The Pipeline Show, the WHL will be adding a prospects game to its schedule in 2009-10. You can find preliminary details right here.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Monday . . .
THE MacBETH REPORT: D Paul Albers (Calgary/Regina/Vancouver) signed a one-year contract with Nuremberg (Germany DEL). He had four goals and seven assists in 73 games for Houston (AHL) last season.
———
The Vancouver Canucks made official what has been kicking around the Internet for a few days now. They have signed F Kellan Tochkin of the Everett Silvertips to a three-year NHL contract. Tochkin, 18, had 74 points last season but wasn’t selected in the NHL draft. He attended the Canucks’ prospects camp and showed well enough that he ended up with an NHL deal. . . . With numbers like that, why wasn’t he drafted? Two things — he isn’t an excellent skater for someone his size (5-foot-9 and 160 pounds). . . . But he certainly knows his way around the offensive zone. . . . And the Canucks have shown a recent penchant for giving opportunities to smaller players, witness the likes of Jordan Schroeder and Kyle Wellwood . . . .
———
Former WHL/NHL goaltender Pete Peeters has signed on as the Anaheim Ducks’ goaltending coach. He had been with the Edmonton Oilers for eight years before being dumped after last season. With Anaheim, he replaces Francois Allaire, who now is with the Toronto Maple Leafs. . . .
———
D Sam Klassen of the Saskatoon Blades, who like Tochkin went undrafted, has signed a three-year deal with the New York Rangers. Klassen, 20, likely is ticketed for the Rangers’ AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, after playing 182 regular-season games with the Blades. Klassen earned the deal with a good showing at the Rangers’ prospects camp. . . . Not only did Klassen go undrafted by NHL teams, he never was selected in the WHL’s bantam draft. . . . Without Klassen on their roster, the Blades right now are looking at F Derek Hulak, F Chris Langkow and F Walker Wintoneak as their 20-year-olds. They also have F Milan Kytnar on their roster, but as an import he would be a two-spotter. . . .
———
I was at the Winnipeg Tribune in the summer of 1978 and was assigned to write the story when Terry Ruskowski moved from the Houston Aeros to the Winnipeg Jets of the WHA. And I was at the Regina Leader-Post when he was the head coach of the Saskatoon Blades (1989-91). He is one of my favourites because he was/is a terrific conversationalist and story-teller. . . . Which is why I wish I had been at the Latrobe Country Club in Latrobe, Penn., last week when Ruskowski, who now runs the Central league’s Laredo Bucks, got to play a round of golf with the legendary Arnold Palmer. Ruskowski’s wife, Carol, won the 18-hole prize through her employer. “To be on the course at the same time as Arnold Palmer was an absolute thrill for me,” Ruskowski said in a press release. "I have always admired Arnold and what he has done, not only for the game of golf, but for charities, the military, and school kids. He's truly one of a kind, and I'm honored to have had this experience.”
———
Mike Chambers of the Denver Post reports that RW Nick Shore, who is from Cherry Hills, Colo., has “committed to the University of Denver . . . ending an intense recruiting battle with reigning NCAA champion Boston University and the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League.” . . . The Rockets selected Shore in the seventh round of the 2007 bantam draft. . . . Shore will play for the U.S. National Team Development Program this season and join the Pioneers for the 2010-11 season. . . . Shore’s brother, Drew, will be a freshman at Denver this season. Drew’s WHL rights are held by the Chilliwack Bruins, who selected him in the second round (22nd overall) of their first bantam draft, in 2006. The Florida Panthers took him in the second round of the NHL’s 2009 draft.
———
Someone out there is wondering why the CHL hasn’t made any noise about the David Musil draft. You may check that out right here.
———
The Vancouver Canucks made official what has been kicking around the Internet for a few days now. They have signed F Kellan Tochkin of the Everett Silvertips to a three-year NHL contract. Tochkin, 18, had 74 points last season but wasn’t selected in the NHL draft. He attended the Canucks’ prospects camp and showed well enough that he ended up with an NHL deal. . . . With numbers like that, why wasn’t he drafted? Two things — he isn’t an excellent skater for someone his size (5-foot-9 and 160 pounds). . . . But he certainly knows his way around the offensive zone. . . . And the Canucks have shown a recent penchant for giving opportunities to smaller players, witness the likes of Jordan Schroeder and Kyle Wellwood . . . .
———
Former WHL/NHL goaltender Pete Peeters has signed on as the Anaheim Ducks’ goaltending coach. He had been with the Edmonton Oilers for eight years before being dumped after last season. With Anaheim, he replaces Francois Allaire, who now is with the Toronto Maple Leafs. . . .
———
D Sam Klassen of the Saskatoon Blades, who like Tochkin went undrafted, has signed a three-year deal with the New York Rangers. Klassen, 20, likely is ticketed for the Rangers’ AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, after playing 182 regular-season games with the Blades. Klassen earned the deal with a good showing at the Rangers’ prospects camp. . . . Not only did Klassen go undrafted by NHL teams, he never was selected in the WHL’s bantam draft. . . . Without Klassen on their roster, the Blades right now are looking at F Derek Hulak, F Chris Langkow and F Walker Wintoneak as their 20-year-olds. They also have F Milan Kytnar on their roster, but as an import he would be a two-spotter. . . .
———
I was at the Winnipeg Tribune in the summer of 1978 and was assigned to write the story when Terry Ruskowski moved from the Houston Aeros to the Winnipeg Jets of the WHA. And I was at the Regina Leader-Post when he was the head coach of the Saskatoon Blades (1989-91). He is one of my favourites because he was/is a terrific conversationalist and story-teller. . . . Which is why I wish I had been at the Latrobe Country Club in Latrobe, Penn., last week when Ruskowski, who now runs the Central league’s Laredo Bucks, got to play a round of golf with the legendary Arnold Palmer. Ruskowski’s wife, Carol, won the 18-hole prize through her employer. “To be on the course at the same time as Arnold Palmer was an absolute thrill for me,” Ruskowski said in a press release. "I have always admired Arnold and what he has done, not only for the game of golf, but for charities, the military, and school kids. He's truly one of a kind, and I'm honored to have had this experience.”
———
Mike Chambers of the Denver Post reports that RW Nick Shore, who is from Cherry Hills, Colo., has “committed to the University of Denver . . . ending an intense recruiting battle with reigning NCAA champion Boston University and the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League.” . . . The Rockets selected Shore in the seventh round of the 2007 bantam draft. . . . Shore will play for the U.S. National Team Development Program this season and join the Pioneers for the 2010-11 season. . . . Shore’s brother, Drew, will be a freshman at Denver this season. Drew’s WHL rights are held by the Chilliwack Bruins, who selected him in the second round (22nd overall) of their first bantam draft, in 2006. The Florida Panthers took him in the second round of the NHL’s 2009 draft.
———
Someone out there is wondering why the CHL hasn’t made any noise about the David Musil draft. You may check that out right here.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Brown goes into B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame
By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
Ken Holland is the general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, arguably the NHL’s model franchise these days.
Twenty-odd years ago, when Holland was an NHL scout based in western Canada, he says he paid particular attention to the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers.
“They were the model,” Holland, who is from Vernon, told George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press. “They were the model franchise in junior hockey. They scouted, they drafted, they moved in veteran players, they had people waiting in the wings. They had a machine.
“The rink sold out every night. Jarome Iginla came through there . . . Darryl Sydor, Scott Niedermayer and other NHL players. There was this wave of people.”
Bob Brown was the architect of the Blazers’ franchise in those days, the man behind perhaps the most dominant run — and the last true dynasty — in major junior hockey history.
The work he did on behalf of the Blazers was recognized Friday when Brown, the Blazers’ general manager for nine seasons (1986-95), was inducted into the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame in Penticton.
“It was very humbling,” Brown said Sunday, moments after returning to his Surrey home from where he has scouted for the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers since 2002. “I was very humbled.”
Former Blazers head coach Tom Renney, now an assistant coach with the Oilers, introduced Brown.
“He had some nice things to say,” Brown said.
Renney also is a member of the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame, as is Don Hay, another former Blazers coach who worked here with Brown.
Also in attendance were Brown’s wife, Janet, and their son, Sam, who will be four in October, along with Brown’s sons Rob and Scott. Ken Hitchcock, another former Blazers coach, was there, as were Bruce Hamilton, the president and general manager of the Kelowna Rockets, and Blazers general manager Craig Bonner.
Brown, who was born in Scarborough, Ont., played senior hockey in Kingston, Ont., and had a brief professional career, before settling in Edmonton from where he first scouted for the Blazers. By the summer of 1986, Brown was the team’s general manager and began putting together the organization that won three Memorial Cup titles in the span of four years (1992, 1994, 1995). The 1992 Blazers also are in the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame.
During his stint as the Blazers’ GM, they posted a 435-184-29 regular-season record, which is an amazing .694 winning percentage. Over that time, the Blazers won seven divisional pennants and five WHL championships.
In nine playoff appearances, they put up a 94-52 (.644) record.
On June 5, 1995, just 22 days after the Blazers had won their third Memorial Cup in four years, Brown was fired. He had one year left on his contract when then-president Colin Day and lawyer Barry Carter entered his office that morning and told him he was done.
Since then, the Blazers are 27-57 in the playoffs.
After being dismissed here, Brown went on to work for the Tri-City Americans and Vancouver Giants before joining the Oilers’ scouting staff.
Also inducted into the hall of fame Friday were former WHL and NHL defencemen Dave Babych and Bob Rouse, journalist/minor hockey coach Grant Kerr and the late Father David Bauer.
“It is humbling,” Brown said. “When you’re a kid you want to be in the NHL playing hockey . . . of course, I never made it. But to even think to be in some kind of hall of fame . . . you don’t even think about stuff like that.
“It was unbelievable. . . . It’s unbelievable the job they do. It was a remarkable two days. They do a tremendous job.”
This was the second time in four months that Brown has been in the spotlight. On March 24, the WHL presented Brown with its Governors Award, which goes to individuals who, through their outstanding service as builders of the league and achievements in the game, have contributed to the growth and development of the WHL.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Daily News Sports Editor
Ken Holland is the general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, arguably the NHL’s model franchise these days.
Twenty-odd years ago, when Holland was an NHL scout based in western Canada, he says he paid particular attention to the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers.
“They were the model,” Holland, who is from Vernon, told George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press. “They were the model franchise in junior hockey. They scouted, they drafted, they moved in veteran players, they had people waiting in the wings. They had a machine.
“The rink sold out every night. Jarome Iginla came through there . . . Darryl Sydor, Scott Niedermayer and other NHL players. There was this wave of people.”
Bob Brown was the architect of the Blazers’ franchise in those days, the man behind perhaps the most dominant run — and the last true dynasty — in major junior hockey history.
The work he did on behalf of the Blazers was recognized Friday when Brown, the Blazers’ general manager for nine seasons (1986-95), was inducted into the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame in Penticton.
“It was very humbling,” Brown said Sunday, moments after returning to his Surrey home from where he has scouted for the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers since 2002. “I was very humbled.”
Former Blazers head coach Tom Renney, now an assistant coach with the Oilers, introduced Brown.
“He had some nice things to say,” Brown said.
Renney also is a member of the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame, as is Don Hay, another former Blazers coach who worked here with Brown.
Also in attendance were Brown’s wife, Janet, and their son, Sam, who will be four in October, along with Brown’s sons Rob and Scott. Ken Hitchcock, another former Blazers coach, was there, as were Bruce Hamilton, the president and general manager of the Kelowna Rockets, and Blazers general manager Craig Bonner.
Brown, who was born in Scarborough, Ont., played senior hockey in Kingston, Ont., and had a brief professional career, before settling in Edmonton from where he first scouted for the Blazers. By the summer of 1986, Brown was the team’s general manager and began putting together the organization that won three Memorial Cup titles in the span of four years (1992, 1994, 1995). The 1992 Blazers also are in the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame.
During his stint as the Blazers’ GM, they posted a 435-184-29 regular-season record, which is an amazing .694 winning percentage. Over that time, the Blazers won seven divisional pennants and five WHL championships.
In nine playoff appearances, they put up a 94-52 (.644) record.
On June 5, 1995, just 22 days after the Blazers had won their third Memorial Cup in four years, Brown was fired. He had one year left on his contract when then-president Colin Day and lawyer Barry Carter entered his office that morning and told him he was done.
Since then, the Blazers are 27-57 in the playoffs.
After being dismissed here, Brown went on to work for the Tri-City Americans and Vancouver Giants before joining the Oilers’ scouting staff.
Also inducted into the hall of fame Friday were former WHL and NHL defencemen Dave Babych and Bob Rouse, journalist/minor hockey coach Grant Kerr and the late Father David Bauer.
“It is humbling,” Brown said. “When you’re a kid you want to be in the NHL playing hockey . . . of course, I never made it. But to even think to be in some kind of hall of fame . . . you don’t even think about stuff like that.
“It was unbelievable. . . . It’s unbelievable the job they do. It was a remarkable two days. They do a tremendous job.”
This was the second time in four months that Brown has been in the spotlight. On March 24, the WHL presented Brown with its Governors Award, which goes to individuals who, through their outstanding service as builders of the league and achievements in the game, have contributed to the growth and development of the WHL.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Tri-City update
And then there was one . . .
The Tri-City Americans are the only one of the WHL’s 22 teams without a head coach at the present time.
And it seems that Bob Tory, although he has started the interview process, isn’t anywhere near panic mode as he searches for one.
Tory has been looking for a head coach since Don Nachbaur resigned after six seasons to step in as head coach of the Binghamton Senators, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators.
Tory said Sunday that he has “done five intense interviews and may re-interview the top candidates.” He added that he may “add one or two more to the pool.”
Tory said he doesn’t expect to make an announcement before Aug. 1, which just happens to be Saturday, and that it could take “until Aug. 15.”
There isn’t likely to be an announcement this week as Tory will spend Wednesday in Kelowna attending the Western Conference’s scheduling meeting.
Once the Americans have a new head coach under contract, it will mean that eight teams will have changed coaches, for one reason or another, since last season ended.
Four teams also have replaced their general managers.
And then there was one . . .
The Tri-City Americans are the only one of the WHL’s 22 teams without a head coach at the present time.
And it seems that Bob Tory, although he has started the interview process, isn’t anywhere near panic mode as he searches for one.
Tory has been looking for a head coach since Don Nachbaur resigned after six seasons to step in as head coach of the Binghamton Senators, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators.
Tory said Sunday that he has “done five intense interviews and may re-interview the top candidates.” He added that he may “add one or two more to the pool.”
Tory said he doesn’t expect to make an announcement before Aug. 1, which just happens to be Saturday, and that it could take “until Aug. 15.”
There isn’t likely to be an announcement this week as Tory will spend Wednesday in Kelowna attending the Western Conference’s scheduling meeting.
Once the Americans have a new head coach under contract, it will mean that eight teams will have changed coaches, for one reason or another, since last season ended.
Four teams also have replaced their general managers.
The Tri-City Americans are the only one of the WHL’s 22 teams without a head coach at the present time.
And it seems that Bob Tory, although he has started the interview process, isn’t anywhere near panic mode as he searches for one.
Tory has been looking for a head coach since Don Nachbaur resigned after six seasons to step in as head coach of the Binghamton Senators, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators.
Tory said Sunday that he has “done five intense interviews and may re-interview the top candidates.” He added that he may “add one or two more to the pool.”
Tory said he doesn’t expect to make an announcement before Aug. 1, which just happens to be Saturday, and that it could take “until Aug. 15.”
There isn’t likely to be an announcement this week as Tory will spend Wednesday in Kelowna attending the Western Conference’s scheduling meeting.
Once the Americans have a new head coach under contract, it will mean that eight teams will have changed coaches, for one reason or another, since last season ended.
Four teams also have replaced their general managers.
And then there was one . . .
The Tri-City Americans are the only one of the WHL’s 22 teams without a head coach at the present time.
And it seems that Bob Tory, although he has started the interview process, isn’t anywhere near panic mode as he searches for one.
Tory has been looking for a head coach since Don Nachbaur resigned after six seasons to step in as head coach of the Binghamton Senators, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators.
Tory said Sunday that he has “done five intense interviews and may re-interview the top candidates.” He added that he may “add one or two more to the pool.”
Tory said he doesn’t expect to make an announcement before Aug. 1, which just happens to be Saturday, and that it could take “until Aug. 15.”
There isn’t likely to be an announcement this week as Tory will spend Wednesday in Kelowna attending the Western Conference’s scheduling meeting.
Once the Americans have a new head coach under contract, it will mean that eight teams will have changed coaches, for one reason or another, since last season ended.
Four teams also have replaced their general managers.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Friday . . .
THE MacBETH REPORT: D Mike Card (Kelowna) signed a try-out contract through the end of August with Ingolstadt (Germany DEL). He had one assist in 19 games with Portland (AHL) last season.
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C Jared Aulin, a former captain with the Kamloops Blazers, will go to camp with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets in September. Aulin, a second-round selection by the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL’s 2000 draft, had his pro career cut short by a shoulder injury. He played for the U of Calgary Dinos in 2007-08, sat out last season and now is apparently healthy. Aulin, 27, was dealt by Colorado to the Los Angeles Kings and had 44 points in 44 games with the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs in 2002-03. "Basically it's a tryout to see where he's at," Columbus assistant GM Chris MacFarland told Lindsay Kramer of the Syracuse Post-Standard. "He hasn't played competitive hockey in a few years, to my knowledge. He's a skilled player." . . .
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F Alex Rodgers has been reunited with Dean Clark. Rodgers was a 13th-round selection by Kamloops in the 2004 bantam draft when the Blazers were being run by Clark, who now is preparing for his first season as head coach of the Prince George Cougars. . . . The Cougars, it seems, quietly claimed Rodgers, 20, off waivers from the Vancouver Giants a couple of weeks ago. . . . The Giants acquired Rodgers from the Blazers during last season. He had 30 points in 77 games split between the two teams and is an excellent penalty killer. . . . The Cougars now are likely to choose three 20-year-olds from among Rodgers, G Joe Caligiuri, F Tyler Halliday, D Cody Hobbs and D Dallas Jackson.
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The Portland Winter Hawks have claimed F Adam Basford, 20, on waivers from the Vancouver Giants. Basford had 28 points in 55 games with the Giants last season. . . . Other possible 20-year-olds in Portland include F Chris Francis, G Kurtis Mucha, F Stefan Schneider, D Brock Cornish and F Radim Valchar, who, as an import, would be a two-spotter. . . . The Giants, having lost Rodgers and Basford, now are looking at D Ryan Funk, F Garry Nunn and D Nolan Toigo as their 20-year-old options.
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F Ryan McDonald, who played out his eligibility with the Prince Albert Raiders last season, has signed with the ECHL’s Elmira Jackals. He had 37 goals for the Raiders last season.
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C Jared Aulin, a former captain with the Kamloops Blazers, will go to camp with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets in September. Aulin, a second-round selection by the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL’s 2000 draft, had his pro career cut short by a shoulder injury. He played for the U of Calgary Dinos in 2007-08, sat out last season and now is apparently healthy. Aulin, 27, was dealt by Colorado to the Los Angeles Kings and had 44 points in 44 games with the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs in 2002-03. "Basically it's a tryout to see where he's at," Columbus assistant GM Chris MacFarland told Lindsay Kramer of the Syracuse Post-Standard. "He hasn't played competitive hockey in a few years, to my knowledge. He's a skilled player." . . .
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F Alex Rodgers has been reunited with Dean Clark. Rodgers was a 13th-round selection by Kamloops in the 2004 bantam draft when the Blazers were being run by Clark, who now is preparing for his first season as head coach of the Prince George Cougars. . . . The Cougars, it seems, quietly claimed Rodgers, 20, off waivers from the Vancouver Giants a couple of weeks ago. . . . The Giants acquired Rodgers from the Blazers during last season. He had 30 points in 77 games split between the two teams and is an excellent penalty killer. . . . The Cougars now are likely to choose three 20-year-olds from among Rodgers, G Joe Caligiuri, F Tyler Halliday, D Cody Hobbs and D Dallas Jackson.
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The Portland Winter Hawks have claimed F Adam Basford, 20, on waivers from the Vancouver Giants. Basford had 28 points in 55 games with the Giants last season. . . . Other possible 20-year-olds in Portland include F Chris Francis, G Kurtis Mucha, F Stefan Schneider, D Brock Cornish and F Radim Valchar, who, as an import, would be a two-spotter. . . . The Giants, having lost Rodgers and Basford, now are looking at D Ryan Funk, F Garry Nunn and D Nolan Toigo as their 20-year-old options.
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F Ryan McDonald, who played out his eligibility with the Prince Albert Raiders last season, has signed with the ECHL’s Elmira Jackals. He had 37 goals for the Raiders last season.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Thursday . . .
THE MacBETH REPORT: D Matt Kinch (Calgary) signed a one-year contract with Ravensburg (Germany 2.Bundesliga). He had two assists in three games with Worcester (AHL) and three goals and four assists in 23 games with Wolfsburg (Germany DEL) last season.
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When last season ended, the Vancouver Giants were looking at a rather depleted defence before another season arrived. But, all of a sudden, the Giants’ blue-line brigade is looking rather stellar. Gone from the Giants’ season-ending roster are Mike Berube and Craig Schira, both of whom were 20-year-olds, Jonathan Blum, who will play in the Nashville Predators’ organization, Nick Ross, who is ticketed for the Phoenix Coyotes’ organization, and Brent Regner, who will be in the Columbus Blue Jackets’ organization. . . . But the season wasn’t long over before Vancouver GM Scott Bonner acquired a couple of WHL veterans, getting D Matt Strong, 19, from the Chilliwack Bruins for a 2010 eight-round bantam pick and D Ryan Funk, 20, from the Saskatoon Blades for a 2009 fifth-rounder. . . . Then the Giants landed David Musil, 16, in a swap with the Kootenay Ice, giving up first- and fifth-round picks in exchange. . . . And now D Kevin Connauton has told the Vancouver Province’s Steve Ewen that, yes, he is leaving Western Michigan U to play for the Giants. Connauton, 19, was a third-round pick by the Vancouver Canucks in the NHL’s 2009 draft. Ewen writes that Connauton “said that the Canucks agreed that he would progress better in the WHL than in college.” . . . Connauton is said to be a strong skater with terrific offensive skills. . . . And, just like that, the Giants’ defence looks like it may not miss a beat. . . .
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Brad Lauer has been reunited with Cory Clouston. They worked together with the Kootenay Ice, with Clouston as head coach and Lauer as the assistant coach. And now the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, who moved Clouston in as head coach during 2008-09, have added Lauer to their coaching staff. . . . Lauer was an assistant under Clouston for five seasons in Cranbrook. . . . Lauer has spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals. The Admirals’ head coach is Lane Lambert, who also is a former WHL coach. . . .
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F Matt Lowry, who played out his WHL eligibility with the Brandon Wheat Kings last season, has signed with the AHL’s Binghamton Senators. Lowry had 77 points in 71 games last season in Brandon. . . . Brandon F Jay Fehr, 20, has accepted a free-agent tryout deal with the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, while D Brodie Melnychuk, 18, will attend a San Jose Sharks’ prospects camp. . . .
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F Craig Valette (Saskatoon and Portland, 1999-2003) has signed a one-year contract to return to the ECHL’s Stockton Thunder. Valette played 43 games with the Thunder last season, but also saw time with the AHL’s Houston Aeros and Syracuse Crunch. . . .
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Former WHL D Brent Thompson (Medicine Hat, 1988-91) is the new head coach of the ECHL’s Alaska Aces. He replaces another former WHL defenceman, Keith McCambridge, who left to join the AHL’s Manitoba Moose as an assistant coach. Thompson, 38, is coming off four seasons as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Peoria Rivermen, who have an affiliation with the Aces. . . . Thompson was a draft pick of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings in 1989. He scored his first NHL goal off assists by Wayne Gretzky and Luc Robitaille. . . .
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Interesting times in the Lower Mainland of B.C.
The Chilliwack Progress reports that there is concern in the camp of the Chilliwack Bruins because of lagging ticket sales. That story is right here.
And to make matters even more interesting, Dave Sheldon has been named director of communications and broadcasting by the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat. Sheldon has spent the last six seasons with WHL teams, including two with the Bruins. Last season, he was with the Vancouver Giants, but his contract wasn’t renewed. . . .
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The Cranbrook Daily Townsman reports that thieves broke into the locker room of the junior B Kimberley Dynamiters over the weekend “and stole thousands of dollars worth of hockey equipment.” Something like this is a severe blow to the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League team. “The team is financially trying to get by," Dynamiters' president Rick Prasad told the newspaper. "We are here for the kids, we're here for the public and then for someone to do that is just horrible. It makes it difficult for us, because we run a very strict budget, a very tight budget. This year, we're starting out in the hole obviously, so we're going to have a really tough year financially. With the economy the way it is, it's (already) tough. It's been difficult getting sponsorship and we were hoping this year it would be easier. We came up with a better schedule that would save us some money, and then something like this happens; it's disgusting. The kind of person that would do this is -- I don't even know." Prasad also said that the team doesn’t have insurance to cover such a loss. "It just gets too expensive," he said. "There's no insurance for this. We're hoping the public will come up with something for us and contact the police and let them know that they know who did this or know where some of these goods are now. If that's the case, we can track these guys down. . . . If the public came up with something for us, there'd be a couple of season tickets in it for them."
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Former Kootenay Ice F Adam Cracknell, 24, has signed with the NHL’s St. Louis Blues. He played last season with the AHL’s Quad City Flames, who now are the Abbotsford Heat. He had 26 points in 79 games with the Flames.
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The Central league’s Texas Brahmas have re-signed F Jordan Cameron, who played in the WHL with the Vancouver Giants and Tri-City Americans (2000-03). He had 60 points in 55 games last season with the Brahmas and set a franchise record with seven shorthanded goals. . . .
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And now for something really funny . . .
Check out this piece by columnist Greg Douglas that appeared in Wednesday’s Vancouver Sun.
And there's more on that story right here, with Bruce Dowbiggin of The Globe and Mail.
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When last season ended, the Vancouver Giants were looking at a rather depleted defence before another season arrived. But, all of a sudden, the Giants’ blue-line brigade is looking rather stellar. Gone from the Giants’ season-ending roster are Mike Berube and Craig Schira, both of whom were 20-year-olds, Jonathan Blum, who will play in the Nashville Predators’ organization, Nick Ross, who is ticketed for the Phoenix Coyotes’ organization, and Brent Regner, who will be in the Columbus Blue Jackets’ organization. . . . But the season wasn’t long over before Vancouver GM Scott Bonner acquired a couple of WHL veterans, getting D Matt Strong, 19, from the Chilliwack Bruins for a 2010 eight-round bantam pick and D Ryan Funk, 20, from the Saskatoon Blades for a 2009 fifth-rounder. . . . Then the Giants landed David Musil, 16, in a swap with the Kootenay Ice, giving up first- and fifth-round picks in exchange. . . . And now D Kevin Connauton has told the Vancouver Province’s Steve Ewen that, yes, he is leaving Western Michigan U to play for the Giants. Connauton, 19, was a third-round pick by the Vancouver Canucks in the NHL’s 2009 draft. Ewen writes that Connauton “said that the Canucks agreed that he would progress better in the WHL than in college.” . . . Connauton is said to be a strong skater with terrific offensive skills. . . . And, just like that, the Giants’ defence looks like it may not miss a beat. . . .
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Brad Lauer has been reunited with Cory Clouston. They worked together with the Kootenay Ice, with Clouston as head coach and Lauer as the assistant coach. And now the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, who moved Clouston in as head coach during 2008-09, have added Lauer to their coaching staff. . . . Lauer was an assistant under Clouston for five seasons in Cranbrook. . . . Lauer has spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals. The Admirals’ head coach is Lane Lambert, who also is a former WHL coach. . . .
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F Matt Lowry, who played out his WHL eligibility with the Brandon Wheat Kings last season, has signed with the AHL’s Binghamton Senators. Lowry had 77 points in 71 games last season in Brandon. . . . Brandon F Jay Fehr, 20, has accepted a free-agent tryout deal with the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, while D Brodie Melnychuk, 18, will attend a San Jose Sharks’ prospects camp. . . .
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F Craig Valette (Saskatoon and Portland, 1999-2003) has signed a one-year contract to return to the ECHL’s Stockton Thunder. Valette played 43 games with the Thunder last season, but also saw time with the AHL’s Houston Aeros and Syracuse Crunch. . . .
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Former WHL D Brent Thompson (Medicine Hat, 1988-91) is the new head coach of the ECHL’s Alaska Aces. He replaces another former WHL defenceman, Keith McCambridge, who left to join the AHL’s Manitoba Moose as an assistant coach. Thompson, 38, is coming off four seasons as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Peoria Rivermen, who have an affiliation with the Aces. . . . Thompson was a draft pick of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings in 1989. He scored his first NHL goal off assists by Wayne Gretzky and Luc Robitaille. . . .
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Interesting times in the Lower Mainland of B.C.
The Chilliwack Progress reports that there is concern in the camp of the Chilliwack Bruins because of lagging ticket sales. That story is right here.
And to make matters even more interesting, Dave Sheldon has been named director of communications and broadcasting by the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat. Sheldon has spent the last six seasons with WHL teams, including two with the Bruins. Last season, he was with the Vancouver Giants, but his contract wasn’t renewed. . . .
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The Cranbrook Daily Townsman reports that thieves broke into the locker room of the junior B Kimberley Dynamiters over the weekend “and stole thousands of dollars worth of hockey equipment.” Something like this is a severe blow to the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League team. “The team is financially trying to get by," Dynamiters' president Rick Prasad told the newspaper. "We are here for the kids, we're here for the public and then for someone to do that is just horrible. It makes it difficult for us, because we run a very strict budget, a very tight budget. This year, we're starting out in the hole obviously, so we're going to have a really tough year financially. With the economy the way it is, it's (already) tough. It's been difficult getting sponsorship and we were hoping this year it would be easier. We came up with a better schedule that would save us some money, and then something like this happens; it's disgusting. The kind of person that would do this is -- I don't even know." Prasad also said that the team doesn’t have insurance to cover such a loss. "It just gets too expensive," he said. "There's no insurance for this. We're hoping the public will come up with something for us and contact the police and let them know that they know who did this or know where some of these goods are now. If that's the case, we can track these guys down. . . . If the public came up with something for us, there'd be a couple of season tickets in it for them."
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Former Kootenay Ice F Adam Cracknell, 24, has signed with the NHL’s St. Louis Blues. He played last season with the AHL’s Quad City Flames, who now are the Abbotsford Heat. He had 26 points in 79 games with the Flames.
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The Central league’s Texas Brahmas have re-signed F Jordan Cameron, who played in the WHL with the Vancouver Giants and Tri-City Americans (2000-03). He had 60 points in 55 games last season with the Brahmas and set a franchise record with seven shorthanded goals. . . .
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And now for something really funny . . .
Check out this piece by columnist Greg Douglas that appeared in Wednesday’s Vancouver Sun.
And there's more on that story right here, with Bruce Dowbiggin of The Globe and Mail.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Wednesday . . .
THE MacBETH REPORT: F Tomas Oravec (Kelowna) signed a one-year contract with Caen (France Division 1). He had no points in 13 games with Sosnowiec (Poland) last season.
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This is a big weekend for Bob Brown, who was the general manager of the Kamloops Blazers when they won three Memorial Cups in four years (1992, 1994, 1995).
Brown, who now lives in Vancouver and scouts for the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers, will be inducted into the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame in Penticton on Friday night.
Brown, the GM in Kamloops from 1986-95, was twice honoured as the WHL’s executive of the year – for the 1990-91 and 1993-94 seasons.
An argument can be made that no GM in major junior hockey history has had a better nine-year run than did Brown. Under his guidance, the Blazers went 435-184-29 (that would be 29 ties; remember them?). A quick calculation shows that as an incredible .694 winning percentage. That works out to an average of 100 points per season, and remember that there weren’t any loser points awarded in those days.
The Blazers won seven divisional pennants and five WHL titles with Brown as GM. They won three times in the five Memorial Cup appearances, the last one right in Kamloops in 1995.
Tom Renney and Don Hay, two of the Blazers’ coaches during Brown’s stay in Kamloops, already are in the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame. The 1992 Blazers also have been inducted in the team category.
After Brown was dismissed in June 1995 – the Blazers’ organization chose to go in a different direction two weeks after winning its third Memorial Cup in four years – he went on to work for the Tri-City Americans and Vancouver Giants before joining the Oilers’ scouting staff.
Also being inducted on Friday will be former WHLers Dave Babych and Bob Rouse, who had stellar careers as defencemen, journalist/coach Grant Kerr and the late Father David Bauer.
Late in the 2008-09 season, the WHL presented Brown with its WHL Governors Award, which is presented annually to individuals who, through their outstanding service as builders of the league and achievements in the game, have contributed to the growth and development of the WHL.
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The WHL hasn’t yet released its 2009-10 schedule. Why? Because the Western Conference has yet to hold its scheduling meeting. That will take place Wednesday (July 29) in Kelowna. . . .
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The Brandon Wheat Kings Alumni Association is holding its inaugural golf tournament on Aug. 6 at Oak Island Golf Resort. The tournament is open to the public and serves as the association’s major fund-raiser, with proceeds going to the Wheat Kings’ scholarship fund. The day will include breakfast, golf and a banquet. To register, or for more info, call the Wheat Kings at 250-726-3535. . . .
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The Calgary Hitmen introduced Mike Williamson as their head coach on Wednesday afternoon.
Williamson, 36, replaces Dave Lowry, who, in his only season as head coach, got the Hitmen into the WHL final, where they lost in six games to the Kelowna Rockets. Lowry left the Hitmen to join the parent Calgary Flames as an assistant coach.
Williamson, who signed a multi-year deal, played 204 games as a defenceman with the Portland Winterhawks (1991-94). He rejoined the Winterhawks as an assistant coach in 1995 and took over as head coach midway through the 1999-2000 season. His contract wasn’t renewed by the then-ownership group after the 2006-07 season. He hasn’t coached since then.
Calgary GM Kelly Kisio said that both assistant coaches, former NHLer Joel Otto and Brent Kisio, will return. Brent is Kelly’s son.
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The Hitmen are the seventh team to replace their head coach since the end of the 2008-09 season. And the Tri-City Americans will be the eighth when they find a replacement for Don Nachbaur, who left last week to take over as head coach of the AHL’s Binghamton Senators.
Tri-City GM Bob Tory interviewed at least one candidate on Tuesday, and plans to do more talking before leaving for Kelowna and Wednesday’s scheduling meeting.
“I plan to do five interviews and after that I will determine if we have a candidate or if I need to expand the pool,” Tory told Annie Fowler of the Tri-City Herald. “We want to make sure we get the right man for the job.”
Tory said he has received about 50 inquiries since Nachbaur’s departure.
You have to wonder if Jim Hiller, who was dismissed as head coach of the Chilliwack Bruins after last season, will be among the first five interviewees.
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This is a big weekend for Bob Brown, who was the general manager of the Kamloops Blazers when they won three Memorial Cups in four years (1992, 1994, 1995).
Brown, who now lives in Vancouver and scouts for the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers, will be inducted into the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame in Penticton on Friday night.
Brown, the GM in Kamloops from 1986-95, was twice honoured as the WHL’s executive of the year – for the 1990-91 and 1993-94 seasons.
An argument can be made that no GM in major junior hockey history has had a better nine-year run than did Brown. Under his guidance, the Blazers went 435-184-29 (that would be 29 ties; remember them?). A quick calculation shows that as an incredible .694 winning percentage. That works out to an average of 100 points per season, and remember that there weren’t any loser points awarded in those days.
The Blazers won seven divisional pennants and five WHL titles with Brown as GM. They won three times in the five Memorial Cup appearances, the last one right in Kamloops in 1995.
Tom Renney and Don Hay, two of the Blazers’ coaches during Brown’s stay in Kamloops, already are in the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame. The 1992 Blazers also have been inducted in the team category.
After Brown was dismissed in June 1995 – the Blazers’ organization chose to go in a different direction two weeks after winning its third Memorial Cup in four years – he went on to work for the Tri-City Americans and Vancouver Giants before joining the Oilers’ scouting staff.
Also being inducted on Friday will be former WHLers Dave Babych and Bob Rouse, who had stellar careers as defencemen, journalist/coach Grant Kerr and the late Father David Bauer.
Late in the 2008-09 season, the WHL presented Brown with its WHL Governors Award, which is presented annually to individuals who, through their outstanding service as builders of the league and achievements in the game, have contributed to the growth and development of the WHL.
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The WHL hasn’t yet released its 2009-10 schedule. Why? Because the Western Conference has yet to hold its scheduling meeting. That will take place Wednesday (July 29) in Kelowna. . . .
--------
The Brandon Wheat Kings Alumni Association is holding its inaugural golf tournament on Aug. 6 at Oak Island Golf Resort. The tournament is open to the public and serves as the association’s major fund-raiser, with proceeds going to the Wheat Kings’ scholarship fund. The day will include breakfast, golf and a banquet. To register, or for more info, call the Wheat Kings at 250-726-3535. . . .
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The Calgary Hitmen introduced Mike Williamson as their head coach on Wednesday afternoon.
Williamson, 36, replaces Dave Lowry, who, in his only season as head coach, got the Hitmen into the WHL final, where they lost in six games to the Kelowna Rockets. Lowry left the Hitmen to join the parent Calgary Flames as an assistant coach.
Williamson, who signed a multi-year deal, played 204 games as a defenceman with the Portland Winterhawks (1991-94). He rejoined the Winterhawks as an assistant coach in 1995 and took over as head coach midway through the 1999-2000 season. His contract wasn’t renewed by the then-ownership group after the 2006-07 season. He hasn’t coached since then.
Calgary GM Kelly Kisio said that both assistant coaches, former NHLer Joel Otto and Brent Kisio, will return. Brent is Kelly’s son.
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The Hitmen are the seventh team to replace their head coach since the end of the 2008-09 season. And the Tri-City Americans will be the eighth when they find a replacement for Don Nachbaur, who left last week to take over as head coach of the AHL’s Binghamton Senators.
Tri-City GM Bob Tory interviewed at least one candidate on Tuesday, and plans to do more talking before leaving for Kelowna and Wednesday’s scheduling meeting.
“I plan to do five interviews and after that I will determine if we have a candidate or if I need to expand the pool,” Tory told Annie Fowler of the Tri-City Herald. “We want to make sure we get the right man for the job.”
Tory said he has received about 50 inquiries since Nachbaur’s departure.
You have to wonder if Jim Hiller, who was dismissed as head coach of the Chilliwack Bruins after last season, will be among the first five interviewees.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Tuesday . . .
THE MacBETH REPORT: F Matt Davidson (Portland) signed a one-year contract with Tingsryd (Sweden Division 1). He had 21 goals and 24 assists in 44 games for Frederikshavn (Denmark Al-Bank Liga) last season.
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The Calgary Hitmen have called a news conference for Wednesday afternoon (July 22). As was reported here Monday night, they will be introducing Mike Williamson as their head coach.
Williamson, who hasn’t coached since 2006-07, will replace Dave Lowry, who was the Calgary head coach for one season and now is an assistant coach with the parent Calgary Flames.
Williamson was an assistant coach or the head coach of the Portland Winterhawks from 1995-2007. The then-ownership group chose not to renew his contract after the 2006-07 season.
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The Moose Jaw Warriors, who have been in Al Capone’s home away from home since 1984, are asking their fans for help. No, they aren’t going to give fans a chance to pick the game lineups; rather, the club is looking for photos and memorabilia, promising to make copies and return the originals.
Hmm, wonder if anyone has any memorabilia left over from Feb. 10, 1993? That was the night the Warriors played host to Bikini Night.
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The Calgary Hitmen have called a news conference for Wednesday afternoon (July 22). As was reported here Monday night, they will be introducing Mike Williamson as their head coach.
Williamson, who hasn’t coached since 2006-07, will replace Dave Lowry, who was the Calgary head coach for one season and now is an assistant coach with the parent Calgary Flames.
Williamson was an assistant coach or the head coach of the Portland Winterhawks from 1995-2007. The then-ownership group chose not to renew his contract after the 2006-07 season.
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The Moose Jaw Warriors, who have been in Al Capone’s home away from home since 1984, are asking their fans for help. No, they aren’t going to give fans a chance to pick the game lineups; rather, the club is looking for photos and memorabilia, promising to make copies and return the originals.
Hmm, wonder if anyone has any memorabilia left over from Feb. 10, 1993? That was the night the Warriors played host to Bikini Night.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Tuesday . . .
The Calgary Hitmen have a new head coach.
A source told me late Tuesday night that Mike Williamson “has agreed to go to the Calgary Hitmen as (head) coach.”
The source asked for anonymity because an official announcement hasn’t yet been made.
Williamson will take over from Dave Lowry, who guided the Hitmen to the WHL championship final in May in his only season as head coach. He now is an assistant coach with the parent Calgary Flames.
Williamson, 36, played three seasons (1991-94) as a defenceman with the Portland Winterhawks. He then spent four-plus seasons as an assistant coach before stepping up to replace Harold Snepsts as head coach on Feb. 3, 2000. Williamson was only 27 when he took over as head coach.
Williamson left the Winterhawks on July 18, 2007, when the then-ownership group announced that his contract wouldn’t be renewed.
Williamson later filed a civil lawsuit against the Winterhawks, claiming breach of contract.
Of late, Williamson had returned to the Winterhawks family as co-chair – along with former play-by-play man Dean (Scooter) Vrooman – of the team’s recently formed alumni association.
He has been working as the operations manager for Northwest Sleevewear, a screening and embroidery company in Portland.
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This leaves the Tri-City Americans as the only WHL team without a head coach.
They are looking to find a replacement for Don Nachbaur, who left last week after six years as head coach. He now is head coach of the AHL’s Binghamton Senators.
Had Williamson not gone to Calgary, you can bet that Tri-City GM Bob Tory would have been most interested.
As it is, Tory will only say that there are "lots of good candidates" out there.
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THE MacBETH REPORT: F Michal Lukac (Prince George) signed a one-year contract with Asplöven Haparanda (Sweden Division 1). He had 11 goals and 13 assists in 40 games for Poprad (Slovakia Extraliga) last season.
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F Evander Kane of the Vancouver Giants has signed a three-year contract with the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers. They selected him fourth overall in the NHL’s 2009 draft. Kane, 18, had 96 points, including 48 goals, in 61 games with the Giants last season. He added 15 points in 17 playoff games. . . . You can get that Giants GM Scott Bonner and head coach Don Hay are operating as though Kane won’t be back with them in the fall. . . .
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Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald reports that Silvertips G Thomas Heemskerk will go to camp with the NHL’s San Jose Sharks. The 19-year-old Heemskerk, who was acquired from the Kootenay Ice last season, accepted a free-agent tryout deal from the Sharks. . . .
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John MacNeil of the Prince Albert Herald reports that C Mark McNeill, the Raiders’ first pick, fifth overall, in the 2008 bantam draft, is back on skates. McNeill severed his left Achilles tendon on May 17. McNeill is a couple of weeks ahead of schedule but still may not to be able to participiate in the start of training camp on a complete basis. The Raiders open camp on Aug. 20. . . . "We'll see how it goes in the next couple of weeks, to see if I'm ready to go in camp,” McNeill told MacNeil. “But if I'm ready to go, I'm ready to go. We'll just see where I'm at, come that time." . . . F Brendan Hurley, whose skate cut through McNeill’s tendon, is recuperating from mononucleosis. Hurley was a first-round pick, 15th overall, by the Kootenay Ice in the 2008 draft. . . .
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F Dan DaSilva, a product of the Portland Winterhawks (2002-05) has re-signed with the AHL’s Worcester Sharks. The 24-year-old DaSilva, who had 13 points in 26 with the Sharks last season, signed a one-year deal. He also had 10 points in 12 AHL playoff games, after totaling 21 points in 36 games with the ECHL’s Phoenix RoadRunners. . . .
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The Central league’s Colorado Eagles have announced that Chris Hartsburg won’t be returning as assistant coach. Hartsburg had been with the Eagles for five seasons, four of them as a player. He is the son of Everett Silvertips head coach Craig Hartsburg. . . . The Eagles’ president and general manager is Chris Stewart, who once did a turn as head coach of the Prince Albert Raiders.
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The Swift Current Broncos held their Hall of Fame weekend and inducted the 1989 Memorial Cup-champion team. In fact, you may have seen the photo on the WHL website that features Sheldon Kennedy and Dan Lambert, both of whom played on that team, holding a plaque that salutes the champions. The plaque includes the names of almost everyone who played a prominent role with the team, including the governor (John Rittinger), assistant GM/assistant coach (Lorne Frey), athletic therapist (Grant Farquhar), public relations director (John Foster) and director of player personnel (Bruce Franklin). Missing from the plaque is the name of the team’s general manager and head coach. That would be Graham James, and we all know that story. Apparently, the Broncos and the WHL are hoping that by ignoring James, history will fade away. Unfortunately, some skeletons just never disappear from closets, no matter how much sweeping is done.
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The highlight of the Broncos’ Hall of Fame induction dinner, other than the 1989 team entering the Hall, likely was the appearance of Debbie and Joe Sakic. Sakic played for the Broncos (1985-88) but wasn’t on the Memorial Cup team. He had been drafted and was playing for the NHL’s Quebec Nordiques as an 18-year-old at the time. In typical Sakic fashion, he and his wife simply arrived unannounced at the Hall of Fame dinner. Yes, Joe spent a lot of time signing autographs, chatting up fans and posing for pictures. . . .
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G Joni Ortio has told Randy Sportak of the Calgary Sun that he plans on playing another season in his native Finland. That might be bad news for the Swift Current Broncos, who selected him in last month’s CHL import draft. Assuming Ortio stays at home, Morgan Clark would appear to be the Broncos’ top goaltender on their depth chart at this moment. . . . Sportak’s story is right here.
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Following the New York Islanders’ prospects camp, Greg Logan of Newsday offered up comments on three WHLers:
Travis Hamonic -- Second-rounder from 2008 heads back to Moose Jaw in the Western Hockey League for one more season. He must be signed by June 1 next year and certainly could join Bridgeport at the end of the season.
Jyri Niemi -- Third-rounder from 2008 missed minicamp with an injury but returns to Saskatoon in the WHL for his final season. Like Hamonic, he must be signed by June 1, 2010 and might join Bridgeport at end of season. Expected to play for Finland at World Juniors in Saskatoon.
Jared Spurgeon -- Sixth-rounder from 2008 missed minicamp after undergoing shoulder surgery but will play his final season with WHL Spokane. He's in the same situation as Hamonic and Niemi as a player who must be signed by June 1, 2010.
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C Scott Wasden, who captained the Kamloops Blazers last season, has committed to the UBC Thunderbirds for 2009-10. Wasden, from Westbank, B.C., played four WHL seasons – he was traded by the Medicine Hat Tigers to Kamloops during the 2007-08 season – and completed his eligibility last season. He had 53 points in 112 regular-season games with the Blazers.
A source told me late Tuesday night that Mike Williamson “has agreed to go to the Calgary Hitmen as (head) coach.”
The source asked for anonymity because an official announcement hasn’t yet been made.
Williamson will take over from Dave Lowry, who guided the Hitmen to the WHL championship final in May in his only season as head coach. He now is an assistant coach with the parent Calgary Flames.
Williamson, 36, played three seasons (1991-94) as a defenceman with the Portland Winterhawks. He then spent four-plus seasons as an assistant coach before stepping up to replace Harold Snepsts as head coach on Feb. 3, 2000. Williamson was only 27 when he took over as head coach.
Williamson left the Winterhawks on July 18, 2007, when the then-ownership group announced that his contract wouldn’t be renewed.
Williamson later filed a civil lawsuit against the Winterhawks, claiming breach of contract.
Of late, Williamson had returned to the Winterhawks family as co-chair – along with former play-by-play man Dean (Scooter) Vrooman – of the team’s recently formed alumni association.
He has been working as the operations manager for Northwest Sleevewear, a screening and embroidery company in Portland.
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This leaves the Tri-City Americans as the only WHL team without a head coach.
They are looking to find a replacement for Don Nachbaur, who left last week after six years as head coach. He now is head coach of the AHL’s Binghamton Senators.
Had Williamson not gone to Calgary, you can bet that Tri-City GM Bob Tory would have been most interested.
As it is, Tory will only say that there are "lots of good candidates" out there.
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THE MacBETH REPORT: F Michal Lukac (Prince George) signed a one-year contract with Asplöven Haparanda (Sweden Division 1). He had 11 goals and 13 assists in 40 games for Poprad (Slovakia Extraliga) last season.
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F Evander Kane of the Vancouver Giants has signed a three-year contract with the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers. They selected him fourth overall in the NHL’s 2009 draft. Kane, 18, had 96 points, including 48 goals, in 61 games with the Giants last season. He added 15 points in 17 playoff games. . . . You can get that Giants GM Scott Bonner and head coach Don Hay are operating as though Kane won’t be back with them in the fall. . . .
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Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald reports that Silvertips G Thomas Heemskerk will go to camp with the NHL’s San Jose Sharks. The 19-year-old Heemskerk, who was acquired from the Kootenay Ice last season, accepted a free-agent tryout deal from the Sharks. . . .
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John MacNeil of the Prince Albert Herald reports that C Mark McNeill, the Raiders’ first pick, fifth overall, in the 2008 bantam draft, is back on skates. McNeill severed his left Achilles tendon on May 17. McNeill is a couple of weeks ahead of schedule but still may not to be able to participiate in the start of training camp on a complete basis. The Raiders open camp on Aug. 20. . . . "We'll see how it goes in the next couple of weeks, to see if I'm ready to go in camp,” McNeill told MacNeil. “But if I'm ready to go, I'm ready to go. We'll just see where I'm at, come that time." . . . F Brendan Hurley, whose skate cut through McNeill’s tendon, is recuperating from mononucleosis. Hurley was a first-round pick, 15th overall, by the Kootenay Ice in the 2008 draft. . . .
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F Dan DaSilva, a product of the Portland Winterhawks (2002-05) has re-signed with the AHL’s Worcester Sharks. The 24-year-old DaSilva, who had 13 points in 26 with the Sharks last season, signed a one-year deal. He also had 10 points in 12 AHL playoff games, after totaling 21 points in 36 games with the ECHL’s Phoenix RoadRunners. . . .
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The Central league’s Colorado Eagles have announced that Chris Hartsburg won’t be returning as assistant coach. Hartsburg had been with the Eagles for five seasons, four of them as a player. He is the son of Everett Silvertips head coach Craig Hartsburg. . . . The Eagles’ president and general manager is Chris Stewart, who once did a turn as head coach of the Prince Albert Raiders.
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The Swift Current Broncos held their Hall of Fame weekend and inducted the 1989 Memorial Cup-champion team. In fact, you may have seen the photo on the WHL website that features Sheldon Kennedy and Dan Lambert, both of whom played on that team, holding a plaque that salutes the champions. The plaque includes the names of almost everyone who played a prominent role with the team, including the governor (John Rittinger), assistant GM/assistant coach (Lorne Frey), athletic therapist (Grant Farquhar), public relations director (John Foster) and director of player personnel (Bruce Franklin). Missing from the plaque is the name of the team’s general manager and head coach. That would be Graham James, and we all know that story. Apparently, the Broncos and the WHL are hoping that by ignoring James, history will fade away. Unfortunately, some skeletons just never disappear from closets, no matter how much sweeping is done.
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The highlight of the Broncos’ Hall of Fame induction dinner, other than the 1989 team entering the Hall, likely was the appearance of Debbie and Joe Sakic. Sakic played for the Broncos (1985-88) but wasn’t on the Memorial Cup team. He had been drafted and was playing for the NHL’s Quebec Nordiques as an 18-year-old at the time. In typical Sakic fashion, he and his wife simply arrived unannounced at the Hall of Fame dinner. Yes, Joe spent a lot of time signing autographs, chatting up fans and posing for pictures. . . .
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G Joni Ortio has told Randy Sportak of the Calgary Sun that he plans on playing another season in his native Finland. That might be bad news for the Swift Current Broncos, who selected him in last month’s CHL import draft. Assuming Ortio stays at home, Morgan Clark would appear to be the Broncos’ top goaltender on their depth chart at this moment. . . . Sportak’s story is right here.
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Following the New York Islanders’ prospects camp, Greg Logan of Newsday offered up comments on three WHLers:
Travis Hamonic -- Second-rounder from 2008 heads back to Moose Jaw in the Western Hockey League for one more season. He must be signed by June 1 next year and certainly could join Bridgeport at the end of the season.
Jyri Niemi -- Third-rounder from 2008 missed minicamp with an injury but returns to Saskatoon in the WHL for his final season. Like Hamonic, he must be signed by June 1, 2010 and might join Bridgeport at end of season. Expected to play for Finland at World Juniors in Saskatoon.
Jared Spurgeon -- Sixth-rounder from 2008 missed minicamp after undergoing shoulder surgery but will play his final season with WHL Spokane. He's in the same situation as Hamonic and Niemi as a player who must be signed by June 1, 2010.
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C Scott Wasden, who captained the Kamloops Blazers last season, has committed to the UBC Thunderbirds for 2009-10. Wasden, from Westbank, B.C., played four WHL seasons – he was traded by the Medicine Hat Tigers to Kamloops during the 2007-08 season – and completed his eligibility last season. He had 53 points in 112 regular-season games with the Blazers.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Friday . . .
A MILESTONE: The first post appeared on this blog on June 27, 2007. . . . Sometime on Friday, July 17, 2009, the blog went over one million page views. . . . As of 11:20 p.m. Pacific time, there had been 1,000,566 page views. . . . At the same time, there had been 789,994 visits. . . . Thanks for dropping by.
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THE MacBETH REPORT: F Garrett Bembridge (Saskatoon) signed a one-year contract with Riessersee (Germany 2.Bundesliga). He had no points in five games with Iowa (AHL) and 20 goals and 22 assists in 66 games with Idaho (ECHL) last season.
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The Binghamton Senators, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, named Don Nachbaur their head coach on Friday.
Nachbaur joins the Senators after six seasons as head coach of the WHL’s Tri-City Americans. He replaces Curtis Hunt, who left Binghamton to return as head coach of the Regina Pats.
Nachbaur, 50, leaves behind a rather enviable record. No, he didn’t win a WHL championship but he and GM Bob Tory lifted the Americans’ franchise to heights it had never before seen, including two U.S. Division titles and a spot in the Western Conference final.
“I’ve never given a resignation before,” Nachbaur told Annie Fowler of the Tri-City Herald. “I’m not sure how to do this. I want to thank the fans. This is a great hockey community and the fans have been absolutely tremendous in their support. I’d like to thank everyone from the billets to the doctors.
”I came here knowing I had a challenge and I stepped up to the challenge.
The banners are an excellent feat. My ultimate goal was to win a Memorial
Cup, but it’s a step in the right direction for the organization.”
Nachbaur becomes the fifth head coach in Binghamton franchise history, following John Paddock (2002-05), Dave Cameron (2005-07), Cory Clouston (2007-09) and Hunt (2009).
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The Nachbaur signing has been met with quite a positive reaction from Binghamton fans. Here’s what one fan wrote on a blog belonging to Michael Sharp, who covers the AHL Senators for the Binghamton Press-Connects:
“I'm not sure if folks remember back to the 85-86 season when Hershey and the Binghamton Whalers had a huge brawl at the buzzer down in Hersheypark Arena when the Bears were affiliated with the Flyers. Nachbaur literally pounded Bruce Shoebottom to pieces, Daryl Stanley and Ron Hextall join in on the fun too. (John) Paddock was Hershey's coach back then, miss that kind of hockey these days.”
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While we’re on the subject of the Americans, you can watch for an announcement one of these days that F Jason Reese has signed with the ECHL’s Florida Everblades. Reese, 21, is a native of Gresham, Ore., who played five seasons in the WHL. The Vancouver Giants selected him seventh overall in the 2003 bantam draft. He would play for them and the Moose Jaw Warriors before finding a home with the Americans. He had 82 points in 68 games after coming over from Moose Jaw early in 2007-08, then added 81 points in 69 games last season. . . .
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Some thoughts from the blog of former WHL G Daryl (Razor) Reaugh on Mark (Chopper) Lamb, the new GM and head coach of the Swift Current Broncos:
“Back in our days as teenagers playing in the WHL we were the commodities, not the brokers, and were actually traded for one another.
“I had yet to play in the league and he was just getting started. Massive tough guy named Glenn Kulka and myself were swapped for Mark in a deal between the Medicine Hat Tigers and the Nanaimo Islanders.
“Without question the Tigers got the best of the deal. Chopper challenged for the league scoring title with 136 pts in 72 games while Kulka brawled his way through the (WHL) and had a brief stint in the WWF following a post-hockey career in the CFL. Interesting guy. I never played for the Islanders, instead remaining in (junior A) until a deal to The Great Kamloops organization materialized.”
Razor is the analyst on Dallas Stars’ broadcasts. You will find his highly entertaining blog right here.
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Jeff Bromley, over at jeffbromley.blogspot.com (there is a link over there on the left), has put together a story on the David Musil situation and how his rights were traded from the Kootenay Ice to the Vancouver Giants. And if you don’t think that a family, a player and presumably an agent – and perhaps a team -- can manipulate the system, well, . . . you don't suppose that's what happened here, do you?
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THE MacBETH REPORT: F Garrett Bembridge (Saskatoon) signed a one-year contract with Riessersee (Germany 2.Bundesliga). He had no points in five games with Iowa (AHL) and 20 goals and 22 assists in 66 games with Idaho (ECHL) last season.
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The Binghamton Senators, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, named Don Nachbaur their head coach on Friday.
Nachbaur joins the Senators after six seasons as head coach of the WHL’s Tri-City Americans. He replaces Curtis Hunt, who left Binghamton to return as head coach of the Regina Pats.
Nachbaur, 50, leaves behind a rather enviable record. No, he didn’t win a WHL championship but he and GM Bob Tory lifted the Americans’ franchise to heights it had never before seen, including two U.S. Division titles and a spot in the Western Conference final.
“I’ve never given a resignation before,” Nachbaur told Annie Fowler of the Tri-City Herald. “I’m not sure how to do this. I want to thank the fans. This is a great hockey community and the fans have been absolutely tremendous in their support. I’d like to thank everyone from the billets to the doctors.
”I came here knowing I had a challenge and I stepped up to the challenge.
The banners are an excellent feat. My ultimate goal was to win a Memorial
Cup, but it’s a step in the right direction for the organization.”
Nachbaur becomes the fifth head coach in Binghamton franchise history, following John Paddock (2002-05), Dave Cameron (2005-07), Cory Clouston (2007-09) and Hunt (2009).
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The Nachbaur signing has been met with quite a positive reaction from Binghamton fans. Here’s what one fan wrote on a blog belonging to Michael Sharp, who covers the AHL Senators for the Binghamton Press-Connects:
“I'm not sure if folks remember back to the 85-86 season when Hershey and the Binghamton Whalers had a huge brawl at the buzzer down in Hersheypark Arena when the Bears were affiliated with the Flyers. Nachbaur literally pounded Bruce Shoebottom to pieces, Daryl Stanley and Ron Hextall join in on the fun too. (John) Paddock was Hershey's coach back then, miss that kind of hockey these days.”
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While we’re on the subject of the Americans, you can watch for an announcement one of these days that F Jason Reese has signed with the ECHL’s Florida Everblades. Reese, 21, is a native of Gresham, Ore., who played five seasons in the WHL. The Vancouver Giants selected him seventh overall in the 2003 bantam draft. He would play for them and the Moose Jaw Warriors before finding a home with the Americans. He had 82 points in 68 games after coming over from Moose Jaw early in 2007-08, then added 81 points in 69 games last season. . . .
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Some thoughts from the blog of former WHL G Daryl (Razor) Reaugh on Mark (Chopper) Lamb, the new GM and head coach of the Swift Current Broncos:
“Back in our days as teenagers playing in the WHL we were the commodities, not the brokers, and were actually traded for one another.
“I had yet to play in the league and he was just getting started. Massive tough guy named Glenn Kulka and myself were swapped for Mark in a deal between the Medicine Hat Tigers and the Nanaimo Islanders.
“Without question the Tigers got the best of the deal. Chopper challenged for the league scoring title with 136 pts in 72 games while Kulka brawled his way through the (WHL) and had a brief stint in the WWF following a post-hockey career in the CFL. Interesting guy. I never played for the Islanders, instead remaining in (junior A) until a deal to The Great Kamloops organization materialized.”
Razor is the analyst on Dallas Stars’ broadcasts. You will find his highly entertaining blog right here.
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Jeff Bromley, over at jeffbromley.blogspot.com (there is a link over there on the left), has put together a story on the David Musil situation and how his rights were traded from the Kootenay Ice to the Vancouver Giants. And if you don’t think that a family, a player and presumably an agent – and perhaps a team -- can manipulate the system, well, . . . you don't suppose that's what happened here, do you?
TAKING NOTE EXCLUSIVE!
Don Nachbaur is on the move.
Nachbaur, the head coach of the Tri-City Americans for the last six seasons, is to be introduced today (Friday) as head coach of the Binghamton Senators, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators.
A source familiar with the situation said that Nachbaur, 50, was in Ottawa on Thursday and got the deal done there. The source requested anonymity because the official announcement hadn’t yet been made.
Last season, Binghamton had two head coaches, both of them products of the WHL. When the season began, Cory Clouston, a former head coach of the Kootenay Ice, was Binghamton’s head coach. When Ottawa fired head coach Craig Hartsburg, Clouston was promoted to the NHL club. At the same time, Curtis Hunt, an assistant coach on Hartsburg’s staff, was reassigned as the head coach in Binghamton. Hunt left that job earlier this summer to return as head coach of the WHL’s Regina Pats. (To further the WHL connection . . . Hartsburg now is head coach of the Everett Silvertips.)
A native of Kitimat, Nachbaur almost left the Americans last summer to coach the Kamloops Blazers, who ultimately signed Barry Smith, a former assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks.
On Nov. 26, the Americans gave Nachbaur a one-year contract extension through 2009-10.
Nachbaur, who also has been head coach of the Seattle Thunderbirds, is the seventh-winningest coach in WHL history. His 432 victories were second among active coaches, behind only Don Hay of the Vancouver Giants, who has 445 victories.
The Americans have won 148 games – and the last two U.S. Division regular-season pennants – over the last three seasons.
Nachbaur, the head coach of the Tri-City Americans for the last six seasons, is to be introduced today (Friday) as head coach of the Binghamton Senators, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators.
A source familiar with the situation said that Nachbaur, 50, was in Ottawa on Thursday and got the deal done there. The source requested anonymity because the official announcement hadn’t yet been made.
Last season, Binghamton had two head coaches, both of them products of the WHL. When the season began, Cory Clouston, a former head coach of the Kootenay Ice, was Binghamton’s head coach. When Ottawa fired head coach Craig Hartsburg, Clouston was promoted to the NHL club. At the same time, Curtis Hunt, an assistant coach on Hartsburg’s staff, was reassigned as the head coach in Binghamton. Hunt left that job earlier this summer to return as head coach of the WHL’s Regina Pats. (To further the WHL connection . . . Hartsburg now is head coach of the Everett Silvertips.)
A native of Kitimat, Nachbaur almost left the Americans last summer to coach the Kamloops Blazers, who ultimately signed Barry Smith, a former assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks.
On Nov. 26, the Americans gave Nachbaur a one-year contract extension through 2009-10.
Nachbaur, who also has been head coach of the Seattle Thunderbirds, is the seventh-winningest coach in WHL history. His 432 victories were second among active coaches, behind only Don Hay of the Vancouver Giants, who has 445 victories.
The Americans have won 148 games – and the last two U.S. Division regular-season pennants – over the last three seasons.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Thursday . . .
THE MacBETH REPORT: D Rod Sarich (Calgary) signed a one-year contract extension with the Sheffield Steelers (UK Elite). He had 11 goals and 40 assists in 64 games with the Steelers last season. . . . F Aki Seitsonen (Prince Albert) signed a one-year contract with HPK Hämeenlinna (Finland SM-Liiga). He had four goals and two assists in 45 games with Quad City (AHL) last season. Seitsonen played midget hockey for HPK before coming to Prince Albert.
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As expected, the Swift Current Broncos have named Mark Lamb, 45, as their new general manager and head coach. According to a club press released, Lamb signed “a multi-year deal.”
Lamb spent the last seven years, one of them the NHL’s lockout season, as an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars. He replaces Dean Chynoweth, who left the Broncos to work as an assistant coach with the NHL’s New York Islanders.
A former WHL and NHL player, Lamb has been coaching since 2001 when he was an assistant with the Edmonton Oilers.
Lamb was born and raised in the Swift Current area and played junior A in the city in the early 1980s.
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Former WHL D Keith McCambridge has joined the AHL’s Manitoba Moose as an assistant coach under head coach Scott Arniel. McCambridge resigned as head coach of the ECHL’s Alaska Aces in order to join the Moose. McCambridge was the Aces’ head coach for the last two seasons. All told, he spent seven seasons with the Aces. With the Moose, McCambridge replaces Jay Wells. Former NHL G Rick St. Croix, the father of Edmonton Oil Kings prospect Michael St. Croix, also is on the Moose’s staff. . . .
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The Portland Winterhawks have announced that Todd Vrooman, the 20-year-old son of former play-by-play voice Dean (Scooter) Vrooman, is joining their broadcast team. Todd will work the club’s home games, alongside play-by-play man Andy Kemper. Vrooman takes over from Mark Ertle, now the executive director of the Winterhawks Amateur Hockey Association. . . . If Dad is Scooter, is Todd's nickname Tricycle? . . .
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F Partik Bhungal, who played the last three seasons with the Chilliwack Bruins, will attend the U of Regina and play for the Cougars. Bhungal, one of the original Bruins, played out his WHL eligibility as a 20-year-old last season. . . .
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The Edmonton Oilers have signed F Tony Rajala, a fourth-round pick in last month’s NHL draft, to a three-year contract. Rajala’s WHL rights belong to the Brandon Wheat Kings and all signs point to him playing there this season. But Wheat Kings GM/head coach Kelly McCrimmon says, despite various reports, that is far from a sure thing. “I don’t know at this point what impact that (signing) may have with respect to him playing in Brandon this year,” McCrimmon told the Brandon Sun’s James Shewaga. “I really don’t know much more . . . I think that any of the speculation that might be out there right now can’t be certain based on the fact that the process hasn’t moved ahead far enough for it to be known where Toni’s going to play next year.” The Wheat Kings have to get Rajala’s release from his Finnish team, Ilves Tampere, before he could play for them. “I’ve talked with the NHL club on a number of occasions and I’ve talked to his representatives and I think there’s lots of positives about Brandon and yet there’s a lot of things that have to be still answered in terms of his availability,” McCrimmon said.
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C Tristan King of the Medicine Hat Tigers has accepted a free-agent tryout deal from the NHL’s Dallas Stars. King, 19, will report Sept. 8 in Traverse City, Mich. King had 36 points in 47 games of an injury-plagued 2008-09 season. He wasn’t selected in last month’s NHL draft. . . .
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In the early days of my writing career, I got to cover the CFL and one of the players who commanded a lot of attention in those days was Ray Nettles. If ever there was a man who was born to be a linebacker, it was the mustachioed, Harley-riding Nettles. These days, he’s looking death square in the face; his story is right here.
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As expected, the Swift Current Broncos have named Mark Lamb, 45, as their new general manager and head coach. According to a club press released, Lamb signed “a multi-year deal.”
Lamb spent the last seven years, one of them the NHL’s lockout season, as an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars. He replaces Dean Chynoweth, who left the Broncos to work as an assistant coach with the NHL’s New York Islanders.
A former WHL and NHL player, Lamb has been coaching since 2001 when he was an assistant with the Edmonton Oilers.
Lamb was born and raised in the Swift Current area and played junior A in the city in the early 1980s.
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Former WHL D Keith McCambridge has joined the AHL’s Manitoba Moose as an assistant coach under head coach Scott Arniel. McCambridge resigned as head coach of the ECHL’s Alaska Aces in order to join the Moose. McCambridge was the Aces’ head coach for the last two seasons. All told, he spent seven seasons with the Aces. With the Moose, McCambridge replaces Jay Wells. Former NHL G Rick St. Croix, the father of Edmonton Oil Kings prospect Michael St. Croix, also is on the Moose’s staff. . . .
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The Portland Winterhawks have announced that Todd Vrooman, the 20-year-old son of former play-by-play voice Dean (Scooter) Vrooman, is joining their broadcast team. Todd will work the club’s home games, alongside play-by-play man Andy Kemper. Vrooman takes over from Mark Ertle, now the executive director of the Winterhawks Amateur Hockey Association. . . . If Dad is Scooter, is Todd's nickname Tricycle? . . .
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F Partik Bhungal, who played the last three seasons with the Chilliwack Bruins, will attend the U of Regina and play for the Cougars. Bhungal, one of the original Bruins, played out his WHL eligibility as a 20-year-old last season. . . .
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The Edmonton Oilers have signed F Tony Rajala, a fourth-round pick in last month’s NHL draft, to a three-year contract. Rajala’s WHL rights belong to the Brandon Wheat Kings and all signs point to him playing there this season. But Wheat Kings GM/head coach Kelly McCrimmon says, despite various reports, that is far from a sure thing. “I don’t know at this point what impact that (signing) may have with respect to him playing in Brandon this year,” McCrimmon told the Brandon Sun’s James Shewaga. “I really don’t know much more . . . I think that any of the speculation that might be out there right now can’t be certain based on the fact that the process hasn’t moved ahead far enough for it to be known where Toni’s going to play next year.” The Wheat Kings have to get Rajala’s release from his Finnish team, Ilves Tampere, before he could play for them. “I’ve talked with the NHL club on a number of occasions and I’ve talked to his representatives and I think there’s lots of positives about Brandon and yet there’s a lot of things that have to be still answered in terms of his availability,” McCrimmon said.
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C Tristan King of the Medicine Hat Tigers has accepted a free-agent tryout deal from the NHL’s Dallas Stars. King, 19, will report Sept. 8 in Traverse City, Mich. King had 36 points in 47 games of an injury-plagued 2008-09 season. He wasn’t selected in last month’s NHL draft. . . .
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In the early days of my writing career, I got to cover the CFL and one of the players who commanded a lot of attention in those days was Ray Nettles. If ever there was a man who was born to be a linebacker, it was the mustachioed, Harley-riding Nettles. These days, he’s looking death square in the face; his story is right here.
Thursday . . . early
Tim O’Donovan is the Kamloops Blazers’ new communications and media co-ordinator. He takes over those duties from Kirk Fraser, who remains the radio voice of the Blazers. O’Donovan also is the Blazers’ video coach. O’Donovan is the son of Bill O’Donovan, the former news anchor at CKCK-TV in Regina who now is the anchor at CFJC-TV in Kamloops. . . .
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The ECHL’s Alaska Aces are looking for a head coach following the resignation of former WHLer Keith McCambridge (Swift Current Broncos, Kamloops Blazers, 1991-95). McCambridge and the Aces reached the ECHL final last season, losing Game 7 at home to South Carolina. He was the head coach there for two seasons. . . . McCambridge apparently has accepted an assistant coaching position with a so-far undisclosed AHL team. . . .
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F Jared Jagow (Regina Pats, Prince Albert Raiders, 2006-08) has signed with the Central league’s Corpus Christi IceRays. Jagow, now 21, got caught up in the 20-year-old numbers game and was cut by the Seattle Thunderbirds. He ended up totaling 62 points in 44 games for the AJHL’s Lloydminster Bobcats.
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The ECHL’s Alaska Aces are looking for a head coach following the resignation of former WHLer Keith McCambridge (Swift Current Broncos, Kamloops Blazers, 1991-95). McCambridge and the Aces reached the ECHL final last season, losing Game 7 at home to South Carolina. He was the head coach there for two seasons. . . . McCambridge apparently has accepted an assistant coaching position with a so-far undisclosed AHL team. . . .
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F Jared Jagow (Regina Pats, Prince Albert Raiders, 2006-08) has signed with the Central league’s Corpus Christi IceRays. Jagow, now 21, got caught up in the 20-year-old numbers game and was cut by the Seattle Thunderbirds. He ended up totaling 62 points in 44 games for the AJHL’s Lloydminster Bobcats.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Wednesday . . .
THE MacBETH REPORT: F Pat Iannone (Kootenay/Tri-City/Regina) signed with Valpellice (Italy Serie A1). He had 25 goals and 25 assists in 42 games with Brunico (Italy Serie A1) and two goals and three assists in five games with the Italian national team at the World Division 1
Championship last season.
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And then there was one . . .
With the Swift Current Broncos soon to introduce Mark Lamb as GM and head coach, it leaves only the Calgary Hitmen without a head coach.
However, a source indicated Wednesday that the Hitmen are close to signing John Van Boxmeer as their head coach. He would replace Dave Lowry, who got the Hitmen into the WHL’s championship final in his first season and then joined the Calgary Flames as an assistant coach.
Van Boxmeer, 56, was first a head coach in 1984-85 when he stepped in and took over the AHL’s Rochester Americans in midseason. A former pro defenceman, he has coached in the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres and Los Angeles Kings. Most recently, he was the head coach of SC Bern, which plays in Switzerland’s Nationalliga A. He suffered a heart attack last summer, on Aug. 1, but recovered and was behind Bern’s bench for an exhibition game with the New York Rangers on Sept. 30. However, he was dismissed following the playoffs.
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The Swift Current Broncos are poised to introduce Lamb as their general manager and head coach. Born in Swift Current, Lamb’s hometown is Pontiex, which is located just south of Swift Current. He replaces Dean Chynoweth, who now is an assistant coach with the NHL’s New York Islanders. Lamb, 45, has spent the last seven years, including the lockout season, as an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars. He was swept out the door when Joe Nieuwendyk took over as GM and made changes. Lamb played in the WHL with the Billings Bighorns, Nanaimo Islanders and Medicine Hat Tigers (1980-84). . . .
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LW Jon (Nasty) Mirasty has signed with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch. The 27-year-old Mirasty, who played in the WHL with the Tri-City Americans and Moose Jaw Warriors (2000-02), had 227 penalty minutes in 58 games with the Crunch last season. In 113 games with the Crunch, he has one goal, two assists and 408 penalty minutes.
Championship last season.
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And then there was one . . .
With the Swift Current Broncos soon to introduce Mark Lamb as GM and head coach, it leaves only the Calgary Hitmen without a head coach.
However, a source indicated Wednesday that the Hitmen are close to signing John Van Boxmeer as their head coach. He would replace Dave Lowry, who got the Hitmen into the WHL’s championship final in his first season and then joined the Calgary Flames as an assistant coach.
Van Boxmeer, 56, was first a head coach in 1984-85 when he stepped in and took over the AHL’s Rochester Americans in midseason. A former pro defenceman, he has coached in the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres and Los Angeles Kings. Most recently, he was the head coach of SC Bern, which plays in Switzerland’s Nationalliga A. He suffered a heart attack last summer, on Aug. 1, but recovered and was behind Bern’s bench for an exhibition game with the New York Rangers on Sept. 30. However, he was dismissed following the playoffs.
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The Swift Current Broncos are poised to introduce Lamb as their general manager and head coach. Born in Swift Current, Lamb’s hometown is Pontiex, which is located just south of Swift Current. He replaces Dean Chynoweth, who now is an assistant coach with the NHL’s New York Islanders. Lamb, 45, has spent the last seven years, including the lockout season, as an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars. He was swept out the door when Joe Nieuwendyk took over as GM and made changes. Lamb played in the WHL with the Billings Bighorns, Nanaimo Islanders and Medicine Hat Tigers (1980-84). . . .
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LW Jon (Nasty) Mirasty has signed with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch. The 27-year-old Mirasty, who played in the WHL with the Tri-City Americans and Moose Jaw Warriors (2000-02), had 227 penalty minutes in 58 games with the Crunch last season. In 113 games with the Crunch, he has one goal, two assists and 408 penalty minutes.
Lamb to Broncos
From TSN.ca:
Former Dallas Stars assistant coach Mark Lamb has agreed to a two-year deal as coach and GM of the WHL's Swift Current Broncos.
A native of Swift Current, the 45-year-old was drafted by the Calgary Flames in 1982 and was well-traveled as a player, going on to spend time with Calgary, the Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens.
Former Dallas Stars assistant coach Mark Lamb has agreed to a two-year deal as coach and GM of the WHL's Swift Current Broncos.
A native of Swift Current, the 45-year-old was drafted by the Calgary Flames in 1982 and was well-traveled as a player, going on to spend time with Calgary, the Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens.
Tuesday . . .
The ECHL’s Ontario Reign has signed LW Brian Matte, who played last season with the Prince George Cougars after walking into his hometown team’s training camp as an unlisted 20-year-old. He had 30 points and 71 penalty minutes in 48 games with the Cougars. . . .
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The ECHL’s Victoria Salmon Kings have re-signed former Prince George Cougars D Tim Wedderburn. He had 19 points and 44 penalty minutes in 70 games with Victoria last season. . . .
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The Canadian Hockey League’s all-time leading scorer is getting into the coaching game. The QMJHL’s Val-d’Or Foreurs have added Patrice Lefebvre as an assistant coach under head coach Marc-André Dumont. Lefebvre put up 665 points in 312 games with the Shawinigan Cataractes (1984-88) before going on to a 20-year professional career. He played last season in Italy. . . .
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The Atlanta Thrashers have high hopes for WHL products Spencer Machacek and Riley Holzapfel. Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has that story right here.
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Visiting teams will be thrilled to know that the Portland Winterhawks are putting together a dance team that will entertain during WHL games. The team will be known as the Rosebuds, in honour of Portland’s original hockey team. Tryouts will be held Aug. 1 and 2 should any opposing teams want to get a scout into the area. . . . The Winterhawks also are auditioning national anthem singers that weekend, and also are looking for someone to serve as the team mascot, Tom-A-Hawk. No word on whether Scooter Vrooman is available to do both or either. . . .
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The Enmax Centre in Lethbridge is undergoing renovations. You can read all about it right here.
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F Mitchell (Dirty Harry) Callahan of the Kelowna Rockets is getting some positive pub from George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press. That story is right here.
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The ECHL’s Victoria Salmon Kings have re-signed former Prince George Cougars D Tim Wedderburn. He had 19 points and 44 penalty minutes in 70 games with Victoria last season. . . .
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The Canadian Hockey League’s all-time leading scorer is getting into the coaching game. The QMJHL’s Val-d’Or Foreurs have added Patrice Lefebvre as an assistant coach under head coach Marc-André Dumont. Lefebvre put up 665 points in 312 games with the Shawinigan Cataractes (1984-88) before going on to a 20-year professional career. He played last season in Italy. . . .
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The Atlanta Thrashers have high hopes for WHL products Spencer Machacek and Riley Holzapfel. Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has that story right here.
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Visiting teams will be thrilled to know that the Portland Winterhawks are putting together a dance team that will entertain during WHL games. The team will be known as the Rosebuds, in honour of Portland’s original hockey team. Tryouts will be held Aug. 1 and 2 should any opposing teams want to get a scout into the area. . . . The Winterhawks also are auditioning national anthem singers that weekend, and also are looking for someone to serve as the team mascot, Tom-A-Hawk. No word on whether Scooter Vrooman is available to do both or either. . . .
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The Enmax Centre in Lethbridge is undergoing renovations. You can read all about it right here.
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F Mitchell (Dirty Harry) Callahan of the Kelowna Rockets is getting some positive pub from George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press. That story is right here.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Early Tuesday . . .
THE MacBETH REPORT: F Mike Bayrack (Lethbridge/Medicine Hat/Prince George) signed a one-year contract with Ritten/Renon (Italy Serie A1). He had 21 goals and 39 assists in 60 games for Charlotte (ECHL) last season.
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Former WHL D Dean Arsene (Regina, Edmonton-Kootenay, 1996-2001) is leaving the Hershey Bears after playing there for five-plus seasons and winning two Calder Cups. He has signed a one-year, two-way contract with the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers and is likely to open the season with the AHL’s Springfield Falcons. . . .
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LW Jake Riddle, who played with the Seattle Thunderbirds, Tri-City Americans, Saskatoon Blades and Lethbridge Hurricanes (2000-04), is returning for a second season with the Central league’s Tulsa Oilers. A knee injury limited him to 52 games last season, during which he had 39 points and 162 penalty minutes. . . .
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G Joel Martin (Lethbridge, Tri-City, Vancouver, Calgary, 2001-04) is returning to the Central league’s Odessa Jackalopes. He played 10 games there in 2003-04. Last season, he was with the IHL’s Kalamazoo Wings. . . .
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And now for something complete different . . .
Steve Lopez, a columnist with the Los Angeles Times, provides a good read on the hoopla surrounding the death of Michael Jackson. It’s right here. (It’s worth noting that Lopez wrote the book The Soloist. If you haven’t read it, you should.)
Here’s another view of the Jackson situation, this one from Margaret Wente of The Globe and Mail. You can find it right here . . . and it’s a good one.
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Former WHL D Dean Arsene (Regina, Edmonton-Kootenay, 1996-2001) is leaving the Hershey Bears after playing there for five-plus seasons and winning two Calder Cups. He has signed a one-year, two-way contract with the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers and is likely to open the season with the AHL’s Springfield Falcons. . . .
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LW Jake Riddle, who played with the Seattle Thunderbirds, Tri-City Americans, Saskatoon Blades and Lethbridge Hurricanes (2000-04), is returning for a second season with the Central league’s Tulsa Oilers. A knee injury limited him to 52 games last season, during which he had 39 points and 162 penalty minutes. . . .
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G Joel Martin (Lethbridge, Tri-City, Vancouver, Calgary, 2001-04) is returning to the Central league’s Odessa Jackalopes. He played 10 games there in 2003-04. Last season, he was with the IHL’s Kalamazoo Wings. . . .
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And now for something complete different . . .
Steve Lopez, a columnist with the Los Angeles Times, provides a good read on the hoopla surrounding the death of Michael Jackson. It’s right here. (It’s worth noting that Lopez wrote the book The Soloist. If you haven’t read it, you should.)
Here’s another view of the Jackson situation, this one from Margaret Wente of The Globe and Mail. You can find it right here . . . and it’s a good one.
Monday . . .
THE MacBETH REPORT: D Tomas Mojzis (Moose Jaw/Seattle) signed a one-year contract with MoDo Örnsköldsvik (Sweden Elitserien). He had one assist in four games with the Minnesota Wild and seven goals and 15 assists in 46 games with Houston (AHL) last season. . . . D Clayton Barthel (Seattle/Kelowna) signed a one-year contract with Vipiteno (Italy Serie A2). He had 15 goals and 26 assists in 59 games with Landsberg (Germany Oberliga) last season. . . . D Trevor Johnson (Kootenay/Seattle) signed a one-year contract with Kassel (Germany DEL). He had eight goals and 26 assists in 44 games for Asiago (Italy Sewrie A1) last season, along with three goals and five assists in five games for the Italian national team at the World championship.
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Brad Robson is back with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Robson, who resigned June 19, has returned to the WHL team, this time as assistant general manager and director of player personnel. He was director of scouting and player personnel when he resigned after two seasons with the team. Robson had applied for the general manager’s job following the firing of Roy Stasiuk. . . . This is a very sensible hire by Preston, considering the he is new to the organization and Robson knows everyone and everything.
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The Calgary Hitmen have claimed F Cody Gross, 20, off waivers from the Red Deer Rebels. Gross also has played for the Prince Albert Raiders and Regina Pats. He is going into his fourth full WHL season. Last season, he had 20 points and 26 penalty minutes in 63 games. . . . The Hitmen acquired D Ryan Kerr, 20, from the Portland Winterhawks last week. F Jason MacDonald, 20, also is on Calgary’s roster, while it would seem that F Joel Broda and F Bostjan Golicic would be longshots to return. . . . The departure of Gross leaves the Rebels with four 20-year-olds on its roster – F Jordie Deagle, F Cody Esposito, F Nathan Green and D Cullen Morin.
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The Hartford Wolf Pack, the New York Rangers’ AHL affiliate, has signed D Trevor Glass, who played out his WHL eligibility last season with the Spokane Chiefs. The Chiefs actually acquired him from the Medicine Hat Tigers during the 2007-08 season, so he was part of Spokane’s 2008 Memorial Cup-winning team. He also was part of the Tigers’ WHL championship club the previous season. With the Tigers, he often played on defence with Michael Sauer, who also is with the Wolf Pack. . . .
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Former Seattle Thunderbirds C Aaron Gagnon, 23, is staying in the Dallas Stars’ organization, having signed a one-year, two-way deal with the NHL’s Dallas Stars. He had 19 points in 61 games with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins last season. . . . He was selected by the Phoenix Coyotes in the eighth round of the NHL’s 2004 draft and signed with Dallas as a free agent on Feb. 2, 2007. . . .
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F Brent Raedeke, 19, of the Edmonton Oil Kings is getting some positive reviews from the prospects camp of the Detroit Red Wings.
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Brad Robson is back with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Robson, who resigned June 19, has returned to the WHL team, this time as assistant general manager and director of player personnel. He was director of scouting and player personnel when he resigned after two seasons with the team. Robson had applied for the general manager’s job following the firing of Roy Stasiuk. . . . This is a very sensible hire by Preston, considering the he is new to the organization and Robson knows everyone and everything.
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The Calgary Hitmen have claimed F Cody Gross, 20, off waivers from the Red Deer Rebels. Gross also has played for the Prince Albert Raiders and Regina Pats. He is going into his fourth full WHL season. Last season, he had 20 points and 26 penalty minutes in 63 games. . . . The Hitmen acquired D Ryan Kerr, 20, from the Portland Winterhawks last week. F Jason MacDonald, 20, also is on Calgary’s roster, while it would seem that F Joel Broda and F Bostjan Golicic would be longshots to return. . . . The departure of Gross leaves the Rebels with four 20-year-olds on its roster – F Jordie Deagle, F Cody Esposito, F Nathan Green and D Cullen Morin.
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The Hartford Wolf Pack, the New York Rangers’ AHL affiliate, has signed D Trevor Glass, who played out his WHL eligibility last season with the Spokane Chiefs. The Chiefs actually acquired him from the Medicine Hat Tigers during the 2007-08 season, so he was part of Spokane’s 2008 Memorial Cup-winning team. He also was part of the Tigers’ WHL championship club the previous season. With the Tigers, he often played on defence with Michael Sauer, who also is with the Wolf Pack. . . .
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Former Seattle Thunderbirds C Aaron Gagnon, 23, is staying in the Dallas Stars’ organization, having signed a one-year, two-way deal with the NHL’s Dallas Stars. He had 19 points in 61 games with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins last season. . . . He was selected by the Phoenix Coyotes in the eighth round of the NHL’s 2004 draft and signed with Dallas as a free agent on Feb. 2, 2007. . . .
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F Brent Raedeke, 19, of the Edmonton Oil Kings is getting some positive reviews from the prospects camp of the Detroit Red Wings.
Monday, July 13, 2009
The Musil saga . . .
Finally, someone has issued a press release involving D David Musil. It isn't especially enlightening, but here is the Vancouver Giants' press release . . .
VANCOUVER BC - The Vancouver Giants are pleased to announce that David Musil, the 16 year old son of former NHL'er Frank Musil, will join the Club for the 2009/20 season. Musil, a 6'4 defenseman, participated in Fargo, ND at the recent U18 Championships as an underage player. Born in Edmonton, Musil and his family have recently moved back to the Vancouver area, which made David eligible to play in the WHL this season.
The WHL had a waiver draft in which Musil's rights were retained by Kootenay and later traded to Vancouver. David should arrive in Vancouver for training camp in mid-August.
VANCOUVER BC - The Vancouver Giants are pleased to announce that David Musil, the 16 year old son of former NHL'er Frank Musil, will join the Club for the 2009/20 season. Musil, a 6'4 defenseman, participated in Fargo, ND at the recent U18 Championships as an underage player. Born in Edmonton, Musil and his family have recently moved back to the Vancouver area, which made David eligible to play in the WHL this season.
The WHL had a waiver draft in which Musil's rights were retained by Kootenay and later traded to Vancouver. David should arrive in Vancouver for training camp in mid-August.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Sunday . . .
A velodrome inside Portland’s Memorial Coliseum,the home of the Winterhawks? Why not? That story is right here and right here.
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Congratulations to Ian Henry, the Seattle Thunderbirds media and public relations director, and his good wife. They welcomed Fiona Parker into the world on Friday, at 12:41 a.m., in Tacoma. Fiona weighed 7.4 lb., and was 19 inches long. She also has a good lot of black hair. Mom and daughter, Dad says, are doing great.
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The New York Rangers have signed F Dane Byers, who was a restricted free agency. Byers, 23, played for the Prince Albert Raiders (2002-06) and was a second-round pick by the Rangers in the 2004 NHL draft. He has played 165 regular-season games with the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers’ AHL affiliate. He missed the last 71 games of last season with an injury, but had four points in six playoff games.
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C Zach Hamill, who won the 2006-07 WHL scoring title with the Everett Silvertips, is spending some time in the Boston area. Read about it right here.
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From the rumour mill: The sister of D David Musil, whose WHL rights ended up with the Vancouver Giants after a trade with the Kootenay Ice that followed a clandestine draft of some sort, apparently will play volleyball at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C., in the fall. . . . The leading candidate to be the next head coach of the Swift Current Broncos? One source told me Sunday that would be Mark Lamb.
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Nancy McPhee of the Summerside, P.E.I., Journal Pioneer has an interesting story involving a coach who has been disciplined because one of his players got involved in something of an off-ice situation during the Royal Bank Cup in Victoria in May. That story is right here.
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D Victor Bartley, who captained the Regina Pats while using up his major junior eligibility last season, is taking part in the New York Islanders’ prospects camp.
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Tim Schmitt of the Niagara Gazette says D Tyler Myers, who has been in the Buffalo Sabres’ prospects camp, could very well start next season back with the Kelowna Rockets. That piece is right here.
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Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times has an interesting column on the Los Angeles Kings’ prospects camp. A lot of it wasn’t open to the public, which is rather interesting. Brayden Schenn, Thomas Hickey and Colten Teubert all come in for a mention right here.
———
Congratulations to Ian Henry, the Seattle Thunderbirds media and public relations director, and his good wife. They welcomed Fiona Parker into the world on Friday, at 12:41 a.m., in Tacoma. Fiona weighed 7.4 lb., and was 19 inches long. She also has a good lot of black hair. Mom and daughter, Dad says, are doing great.
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The New York Rangers have signed F Dane Byers, who was a restricted free agency. Byers, 23, played for the Prince Albert Raiders (2002-06) and was a second-round pick by the Rangers in the 2004 NHL draft. He has played 165 regular-season games with the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers’ AHL affiliate. He missed the last 71 games of last season with an injury, but had four points in six playoff games.
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C Zach Hamill, who won the 2006-07 WHL scoring title with the Everett Silvertips, is spending some time in the Boston area. Read about it right here.
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From the rumour mill: The sister of D David Musil, whose WHL rights ended up with the Vancouver Giants after a trade with the Kootenay Ice that followed a clandestine draft of some sort, apparently will play volleyball at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C., in the fall. . . . The leading candidate to be the next head coach of the Swift Current Broncos? One source told me Sunday that would be Mark Lamb.
———
Nancy McPhee of the Summerside, P.E.I., Journal Pioneer has an interesting story involving a coach who has been disciplined because one of his players got involved in something of an off-ice situation during the Royal Bank Cup in Victoria in May. That story is right here.
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D Victor Bartley, who captained the Regina Pats while using up his major junior eligibility last season, is taking part in the New York Islanders’ prospects camp.
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Tim Schmitt of the Niagara Gazette says D Tyler Myers, who has been in the Buffalo Sabres’ prospects camp, could very well start next season back with the Kelowna Rockets. That piece is right here.
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Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times has an interesting column on the Los Angeles Kings’ prospects camp. A lot of it wasn’t open to the public, which is rather interesting. Brayden Schenn, Thomas Hickey and Colten Teubert all come in for a mention right here.
Olynyk, Canada finish seventh
By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
Kelly Olynyk isn’t all that disappointed in the Canadian men’s under-19 basketball team’s performance at the FIBA world championship that wrapped up Sunday in Auckland, N.Z.
“We ended up being seventh in the world,” he wrote in his regular report to The Daily News, “and had our chances to improve that mark.
“Being in all the games made it a more enjoyable ride and we know that we’re not far separated from the rest of the pack. If we have a few more shots fall and get a couple more stops here and there we’re right there with the medal-round teams.”
Canada finished seventh by beating France 82-74 on Sunday. That left Canada with a 4-5 record.
The U.S. won the tournament, beating Greece 88-80 on Sunday to finish 9-0. Croatia beat Australia 87-81 in the third-place game.
“France is a big, physical team that has quick guards and good spot-up shooters,” Olynyk wrote. “We came out well in the first half playing them almost evenly and taking a three-point lead into half time.
“We continued to build on our lead as they came out with pressure in the full court to try and create some havoc and instant offence. We held off the pressure and took the game . . . securing seventh place in the tournament.”
The 6-foot-10 Olynyk, who graduated from South Kamloops Secondary last month, had eight points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
Canada ended up in that game after dropping a 67-65 decision to Puerto Rico in a qualifying match Saturday.
“It was a hard-fought battle the whole way through with the lead going back and forth a lot,” Olynyk wrote. “We had a two-point lead at halftime that disappeared fast as we found ourselves down by as many as 10 in the second half.
“We kept fighting and ended up taking the lead with just over a minute to go.”
Puerto Rico scored and Canada was down two with 20 seconds to play in the fourth quarter.
“The ball was inbounded to me where I got fouled,” Olynyk wrote. “I made both free throws tying the game up at 65. Puerto Rico then ran out the clock for the last shot which was a penetrating tough lay up by (guard Jiovanny) Fontan, putting them up by two with less then three seconds left.”
Canada was out of timeouts, so inbounded the ball and Mangisto Arop put up a half-court shot “that rimmed out.”
Olynyk finished with 12 points and six rebounds.
For the tournament’s nine games, Olynyk averaged 11.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. He was fifth in the tournament in rebounds.
Olynyk was scheduled to leave for home today at 9 p.m. (Auckland time).
With the time change — Auckland is 19 hours ahead of Kamloops — he wrote: “We get back the same day at night there . . . I’m pretty sure.”
Olynyk isn’t certain what is next for him — other than getting some rest.
“I think I’ll take a little time to rest for sure,” he wrote. “I may go down to Gonzaga for a week or so and get familiar down there.”
Olynyk has committed to attend the Spokane school and play basketball there for the Bulldogs.
Prior to traveling to Auckland, Olynyk and Canada won a prestigious tournament in France. Olynyk was named the tournament MVP.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Daily News Sports Editor
Kelly Olynyk isn’t all that disappointed in the Canadian men’s under-19 basketball team’s performance at the FIBA world championship that wrapped up Sunday in Auckland, N.Z.
“We ended up being seventh in the world,” he wrote in his regular report to The Daily News, “and had our chances to improve that mark.
“Being in all the games made it a more enjoyable ride and we know that we’re not far separated from the rest of the pack. If we have a few more shots fall and get a couple more stops here and there we’re right there with the medal-round teams.”
Canada finished seventh by beating France 82-74 on Sunday. That left Canada with a 4-5 record.
The U.S. won the tournament, beating Greece 88-80 on Sunday to finish 9-0. Croatia beat Australia 87-81 in the third-place game.
“France is a big, physical team that has quick guards and good spot-up shooters,” Olynyk wrote. “We came out well in the first half playing them almost evenly and taking a three-point lead into half time.
“We continued to build on our lead as they came out with pressure in the full court to try and create some havoc and instant offence. We held off the pressure and took the game . . . securing seventh place in the tournament.”
The 6-foot-10 Olynyk, who graduated from South Kamloops Secondary last month, had eight points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
Canada ended up in that game after dropping a 67-65 decision to Puerto Rico in a qualifying match Saturday.
“It was a hard-fought battle the whole way through with the lead going back and forth a lot,” Olynyk wrote. “We had a two-point lead at halftime that disappeared fast as we found ourselves down by as many as 10 in the second half.
“We kept fighting and ended up taking the lead with just over a minute to go.”
Puerto Rico scored and Canada was down two with 20 seconds to play in the fourth quarter.
“The ball was inbounded to me where I got fouled,” Olynyk wrote. “I made both free throws tying the game up at 65. Puerto Rico then ran out the clock for the last shot which was a penetrating tough lay up by (guard Jiovanny) Fontan, putting them up by two with less then three seconds left.”
Canada was out of timeouts, so inbounded the ball and Mangisto Arop put up a half-court shot “that rimmed out.”
Olynyk finished with 12 points and six rebounds.
For the tournament’s nine games, Olynyk averaged 11.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. He was fifth in the tournament in rebounds.
Olynyk was scheduled to leave for home today at 9 p.m. (Auckland time).
With the time change — Auckland is 19 hours ahead of Kamloops — he wrote: “We get back the same day at night there . . . I’m pretty sure.”
Olynyk isn’t certain what is next for him — other than getting some rest.
“I think I’ll take a little time to rest for sure,” he wrote. “I may go down to Gonzaga for a week or so and get familiar down there.”
Olynyk has committed to attend the Spokane school and play basketball there for the Bulldogs.
Prior to traveling to Auckland, Olynyk and Canada won a prestigious tournament in France. Olynyk was named the tournament MVP.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Some Saturday stuff . . .
THE MacBETH REPORT: F Tyler Beechey (Kootenay/Calgary) signed a one-year contract with Augsburg (Germany DEL). He had 12 goals and 24 assists in 41 games with Iserlohn (Germany DEL) last season. . . . F Josh Green (Medicine Hat/Swift Current/Portland) signed a one-year contract with MoDo Örnsköldsvik (Sweden Elitserien). He had 10 goals and 14 assists in 39 games for Iowa (AHL) last season.
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D Kiefer McNaughton, a fourth-round selection by the Kamloops Blazers in the 2008 bantam draft, has signed to play junior B with the Squamish Wolf Pack of the Pacific International junior league. . . .
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Darren Steinke of the Medicine Hat News has a piece right here on former Tigers head coach Ron Kennedy, who died earlier this week.
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Former Regina Pats LW Boyd Kane, 31, has signed with the AHL’s Hershey Bears, who won the Calder Cup last season. Kane played the last three seasons with the AHL’s Philadelphia Phantoms. He was the Bears’ captain when they won the 2006 Calder Cup. . . . He also captained the Phantoms when they won the 2006 title. The only other player in AHL history to captain different teams to the Calder Cup in consecutive seasons is Dave Fenyves (Hershey, 1987; Rochester Americans, 1988). . . .
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The Boston Bruins are excited about having selected D Ryan Button of the Prince Albert Raiders in last month’s NHL draft. Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe has that story right here.
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Chris Vivlamore takes a look at Thrashers’ top pick Evander Kane of the Vancouver Giants. That story is right here.
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Former Tri-City Americans G Tyler Weiman admits it’s “been an uphill battle,” but he has signed with the Colorado Avalanche and is preparing to give it another shot. That story is right here.
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The St. Louis Blues took a close look at Calgary Hitmen F Brett Sonne at their prospects camp. That story is right here.
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D Kiefer McNaughton, a fourth-round selection by the Kamloops Blazers in the 2008 bantam draft, has signed to play junior B with the Squamish Wolf Pack of the Pacific International junior league. . . .
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Darren Steinke of the Medicine Hat News has a piece right here on former Tigers head coach Ron Kennedy, who died earlier this week.
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Former Regina Pats LW Boyd Kane, 31, has signed with the AHL’s Hershey Bears, who won the Calder Cup last season. Kane played the last three seasons with the AHL’s Philadelphia Phantoms. He was the Bears’ captain when they won the 2006 Calder Cup. . . . He also captained the Phantoms when they won the 2006 title. The only other player in AHL history to captain different teams to the Calder Cup in consecutive seasons is Dave Fenyves (Hershey, 1987; Rochester Americans, 1988). . . .
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The Boston Bruins are excited about having selected D Ryan Button of the Prince Albert Raiders in last month’s NHL draft. Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe has that story right here.
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Chris Vivlamore takes a look at Thrashers’ top pick Evander Kane of the Vancouver Giants. That story is right here.
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Former Tri-City Americans G Tyler Weiman admits it’s “been an uphill battle,” but he has signed with the Colorado Avalanche and is preparing to give it another shot. That story is right here.
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The St. Louis Blues took a close look at Calgary Hitmen F Brett Sonne at their prospects camp. That story is right here.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Friday . . .
So . . . it would seem the WHL gathered its pooh-bahs in a closet and held a draft of some sort to decide for whom D David Musil, the 16-year-old son of former NHLer Frantisek Musil, should play.
Even though I’m thinking it already had been decided that he would play for the Vancouver Giants and only the Vancouver Giants.
Even with the decision having already been made, it would seem that there was more clandestine activity around this draft than in any of the Jason Bourne movies.
Anyway . . . the Kootenay Ice — as reported by radio voice Jeff Hollick — won the draft, which means, one supposes, that they got the short straw.
But wait . . . there’s more.
The Musil family, wanting their son playing major junior hockey, apparently has relocated from Czech Republic to the Lower Mainland area of B.C. Which, if you check a map, isn’t in close proximity to Cranbrook, which is in B.C., but isn’t quite what the Musils had in mind for David, who is said to be one of the top prospects for the NHL's 2011 draft.
So . . . enter the Giants.
The Giants apparently have traded a 2010 fifth-round bantam pick and a 2011 first-round bantam pick to the Ice for Musil’s rights.
David Musil, who grew up in Edmonton, stands 6-foot-5. He had one assist in 14 games with Dukla Jihlava in the Czech Elite League. Yes, he was the youngest player in the league. He also had six points in nine games with Dukla Jihlava’s junior side. He also had three points in four games with the Czech U-17 team and two in 13 games with the U-18 team.
But, as a 1993-born player, he wouldn’t have been eligible for the CHL import draft until 2011. Thus, one supposes, the need to hold this special draft, what with the family having relocated to North America.
Still . . . it appears that no one has yet issued a press release concerning this matter. As of Saturday, 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time, there was nothing on the WHL website, the Ice’s website or the Giants’ website.
So . . . with all the apparent secrecy around this entire matter, it would seem that maybe, just maybe, we haven’t heard the end of this yet.
Or maybe we haven’t even heard the start of it yet.
p p p
Congratulations a day late to old friend Craig Heisinger of the Manitoba Moose on his having been honoured as the recipient of the AHL’s James C. Hendy Memorial Award. This award goes annually to the league executive determined to have made the most outstanding contribution to the league. . . . At one time, Heisinger was the equipment manager for the Brandon Wheat Kings. . . . Heisinger’s Moose lost out to the Hershey Bears in the AHL’s Calder Cup final last month. . . .
———
There is a bit more on the death of former Medicine Hat Tigers head coach Ron Kennedy right here.
———
The Portland Winterhawks announced three interesting signings on Friday, including one player who chose them over a USHL team and another who was selected by the Calgary Flames in the 2009 NHL draft. . . . D Taylor Aronson, 6-foot-1 and 188 pounds, is from California and played last season with the midget AAA Los Angeles Jr. Kings. He had 25 points, including nine goals, in 45 games with the Kings. Aronson, 18, chose the Winterhawks over the Tri-City Storm, which picked him in the first round of the USHL draft. . . . LW Spencer Bennett, 19, was selected by the Flames in the fifth round, 141st overall, of last month’s NHL draft. The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder spent last season with the BCHL’s Surrey Eagles, scoring 20 goals and setting up 21 others in 60 games. He turned down a scholarship offer from the U of Alaska/Anchorage in order to join the Winterhawks. . . . RW Seth Swenson, 6-foot-0 and 187 pounds, was a 10th-round pick by Portland in the 2008 bantam draft. Swenson, 16, played last season for the midget AAA Colorado Thunderbirds, picking up 89 points, including 48 goals, in 72 games. According to the Winterhawks, he chose them after being offered a spot with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program.
———
Former Kootenay Ice D Steve McCarthy is getting another crack at the NHL. McCarthy, who spent last season with Ufa Salavat Yulayev of the Continental Hockey League, has signed a one-year deal with the Anaheim Ducks. . . .
———
Former Spokane Chiefs C Trent Whitfield is leaving Peoria after four seasons with the AHL’s Rivermen. He has signed a two-year, two-way contract with the NHL’s Boston Bruins. If he doesn’t stick with Boston, he’ll play for the AHL’s Providence Bruins. . . .
———
F Ryley Grantham, who played out his WHL eligibility with the Kelowna Rockets last season, has signed a three-year deal with the NHL’s Calgary Flames. The Rockets acquired the 6-foot-4 Grantham from the Moose Jaw Warriors in January and he helped them win the WHL title, scoring four times in 22 playoff games. The Flames drafted Grantham in the sixth round of the 2008 NHL draft. . . .
———
A couple of tidbits courtesy of Tim Wharnsby at The Globe and Mail: He reports that LW Jerome Flaake of Guben, Germany, was the biggest surprise of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ prospects camp that wrapped up Friday. “The 2008 fifth-round selection can skate and showed a pair of hands that weren’t reflective of his low five-goal production in 43 games with Cologne last season,” Wharnsby writes. “But Flaake is only 19 years old and playing with men. He was the youngest player on Cologne. . . . The Leafs would like to have him playing with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL this season, but he has one more season remaining on his contract with Cologne.” . . . Flaake’s WHL rights belong to the Prince George Cougars, who continue to hold out hope that he will end up with them. . . . Meanwhile, Wharnsby reports that Dallas Eakins, 42, is expected to be the Marlies’ head coach next season. Eakins has been in the Leafs’ organization for a while now, last season as director of player development.
———
The streak is over!
Outfielder Jamie McOwen of the Class A High Desert Mavericks went 0-for-3 with a walk on Friday night as his hitting streak was halted at 45 games.
The Mavericks lost 2-0 to the host Modesto Nuts, who snapped a five-game losing streak. McOwen struck out swinging in his final at-bat in the ninth inning.
In the first inning, McOwen bunted into a forceout. He walked into the fourth and grounded into a double play in the sixth.
McOwen’s streak is the eighth-longest in minor league baseball history. It was the longest in the minors since Roman Mejias of Waco hit in 55 straight in 1954. The minor league record (69) was set by Joe Wilhoit of Wichita in 1919.
Even though I’m thinking it already had been decided that he would play for the Vancouver Giants and only the Vancouver Giants.
Even with the decision having already been made, it would seem that there was more clandestine activity around this draft than in any of the Jason Bourne movies.
Anyway . . . the Kootenay Ice — as reported by radio voice Jeff Hollick — won the draft, which means, one supposes, that they got the short straw.
But wait . . . there’s more.
The Musil family, wanting their son playing major junior hockey, apparently has relocated from Czech Republic to the Lower Mainland area of B.C. Which, if you check a map, isn’t in close proximity to Cranbrook, which is in B.C., but isn’t quite what the Musils had in mind for David, who is said to be one of the top prospects for the NHL's 2011 draft.
So . . . enter the Giants.
The Giants apparently have traded a 2010 fifth-round bantam pick and a 2011 first-round bantam pick to the Ice for Musil’s rights.
David Musil, who grew up in Edmonton, stands 6-foot-5. He had one assist in 14 games with Dukla Jihlava in the Czech Elite League. Yes, he was the youngest player in the league. He also had six points in nine games with Dukla Jihlava’s junior side. He also had three points in four games with the Czech U-17 team and two in 13 games with the U-18 team.
But, as a 1993-born player, he wouldn’t have been eligible for the CHL import draft until 2011. Thus, one supposes, the need to hold this special draft, what with the family having relocated to North America.
Still . . . it appears that no one has yet issued a press release concerning this matter. As of Saturday, 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time, there was nothing on the WHL website, the Ice’s website or the Giants’ website.
So . . . with all the apparent secrecy around this entire matter, it would seem that maybe, just maybe, we haven’t heard the end of this yet.
Or maybe we haven’t even heard the start of it yet.
p p p
Congratulations a day late to old friend Craig Heisinger of the Manitoba Moose on his having been honoured as the recipient of the AHL’s James C. Hendy Memorial Award. This award goes annually to the league executive determined to have made the most outstanding contribution to the league. . . . At one time, Heisinger was the equipment manager for the Brandon Wheat Kings. . . . Heisinger’s Moose lost out to the Hershey Bears in the AHL’s Calder Cup final last month. . . .
———
There is a bit more on the death of former Medicine Hat Tigers head coach Ron Kennedy right here.
———
The Portland Winterhawks announced three interesting signings on Friday, including one player who chose them over a USHL team and another who was selected by the Calgary Flames in the 2009 NHL draft. . . . D Taylor Aronson, 6-foot-1 and 188 pounds, is from California and played last season with the midget AAA Los Angeles Jr. Kings. He had 25 points, including nine goals, in 45 games with the Kings. Aronson, 18, chose the Winterhawks over the Tri-City Storm, which picked him in the first round of the USHL draft. . . . LW Spencer Bennett, 19, was selected by the Flames in the fifth round, 141st overall, of last month’s NHL draft. The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder spent last season with the BCHL’s Surrey Eagles, scoring 20 goals and setting up 21 others in 60 games. He turned down a scholarship offer from the U of Alaska/Anchorage in order to join the Winterhawks. . . . RW Seth Swenson, 6-foot-0 and 187 pounds, was a 10th-round pick by Portland in the 2008 bantam draft. Swenson, 16, played last season for the midget AAA Colorado Thunderbirds, picking up 89 points, including 48 goals, in 72 games. According to the Winterhawks, he chose them after being offered a spot with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program.
———
Former Kootenay Ice D Steve McCarthy is getting another crack at the NHL. McCarthy, who spent last season with Ufa Salavat Yulayev of the Continental Hockey League, has signed a one-year deal with the Anaheim Ducks. . . .
———
Former Spokane Chiefs C Trent Whitfield is leaving Peoria after four seasons with the AHL’s Rivermen. He has signed a two-year, two-way contract with the NHL’s Boston Bruins. If he doesn’t stick with Boston, he’ll play for the AHL’s Providence Bruins. . . .
———
F Ryley Grantham, who played out his WHL eligibility with the Kelowna Rockets last season, has signed a three-year deal with the NHL’s Calgary Flames. The Rockets acquired the 6-foot-4 Grantham from the Moose Jaw Warriors in January and he helped them win the WHL title, scoring four times in 22 playoff games. The Flames drafted Grantham in the sixth round of the 2008 NHL draft. . . .
———
A couple of tidbits courtesy of Tim Wharnsby at The Globe and Mail: He reports that LW Jerome Flaake of Guben, Germany, was the biggest surprise of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ prospects camp that wrapped up Friday. “The 2008 fifth-round selection can skate and showed a pair of hands that weren’t reflective of his low five-goal production in 43 games with Cologne last season,” Wharnsby writes. “But Flaake is only 19 years old and playing with men. He was the youngest player on Cologne. . . . The Leafs would like to have him playing with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL this season, but he has one more season remaining on his contract with Cologne.” . . . Flaake’s WHL rights belong to the Prince George Cougars, who continue to hold out hope that he will end up with them. . . . Meanwhile, Wharnsby reports that Dallas Eakins, 42, is expected to be the Marlies’ head coach next season. Eakins has been in the Leafs’ organization for a while now, last season as director of player development.
———
The streak is over!
Outfielder Jamie McOwen of the Class A High Desert Mavericks went 0-for-3 with a walk on Friday night as his hitting streak was halted at 45 games.
The Mavericks lost 2-0 to the host Modesto Nuts, who snapped a five-game losing streak. McOwen struck out swinging in his final at-bat in the ninth inning.
In the first inning, McOwen bunted into a forceout. He walked into the fourth and grounded into a double play in the sixth.
McOwen’s streak is the eighth-longest in minor league baseball history. It was the longest in the minors since Roman Mejias of Waco hit in 55 straight in 1954. The minor league record (69) was set by Joe Wilhoit of Wichita in 1919.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
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.
———
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. . . .
———
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.
———
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.”
———
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. . . .
———
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.
———
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.
———
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.
———
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.”
———
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. . . .
———
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.
———
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.”
———
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. . . .
———
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.
———
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.
———
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.
———
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.”
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Wednesday . . .
The Edmonton Oil Kings have signed assistant coach Rocky Thompson to an extension that runs through 2010-11. Thompson has been an assistant under head coach Steve Pleau for both of the Oil Kings’ first two seasons. . . .
--------
Former Portland Winterhawks C Todd Robinson has signed for a ninth season with the IHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks. This will be his 11th season as a pro. Robinson, 31, is from Trail, B.C. He has 926 points in 669 professional games. He won the IHL scoring title last season, with 112 points in 67 games, and a second IHL MVP award. . . .
--------
The Kelowna Rockets have added former WHL all-star D Dan Lambert to their coaching staff. Lambert spent four seasons (1986-90) with the Swift Broncos and was part of their 1989 Memorial Cup-winning team, as was Lorne Frey, the Rockets’ assistant GM and director of player personnel. After a brief pro career here, Lambert went overseas and has played in Germany for the last 10 seasons. . . .
--------
And now for something completely different. . . . Jamie McOwen, an outfielder with the California League’s High Desert Mavericks, extended his hitting streak to 45 games with a first-inning hit on Wednesday against host San Jose. McOwen, a 23-year-old from Miami, is riding the longest such minor-league streak since Roman Mejias hit in 55 straight games for a team in Waco, Texas, in 1954. . . . The Mavericks are a Class A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. . . . Tyson Gillies, a Mariners prospect from Kamloops, plays in the outfield alongside McOwen. Gillies, who hits out of the leadoff spot, singled in each of his first two at-bats Wednesday, finished 2-for-4 with a walk, and is hitting .325. . . . McOwen will be featured at espn.com sometime Thursday. . . .
--------
Found this on the website of Kelowna radio station AM 1150:
Was former Westside Warriors head coach Mark Howell black listed in obtaining a possible coaching position in the Western Hockey League?
Howell took over the coaching duties with the Calgary Dinos after resigning from the BC Hockey League's Westside Warriors, yet Howell is no stranger to the W-H-L, having been an assistant coach with the Brandon Wheat Kings during the 2002-2003 season.
"I don't know if I want to go on record...but there is friction right now, players here going there and vice versa kind of thing. I think for me the logical step is somewhere out of there (WHL) to get back to there. Coaching CIS is hopefully a step towards the pros," Howell added.
The BC Hockey League and the W.H.L have a rocky relationship as they compete directly in recruiting players.
Regan Bartel/Matt Folkard - Kelowna
--------
Former Prince George Cougars captain Dana Tyrell played in a hockey game July 4 for the first time since mid-December when he tore up a knee while playing in an exhibition game with Canada’s national junior team. This time it was only a charity game played in Airdrie, Alta., but, still, Tyrell was on skates. “I’m feeling good,” Tyrell, who has signed with the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, told the Airdrie Echo. “I’m a little tired, but I worked pretty hard out there. I didn’t want to take it easy.”
--------
Former Portland Winterhawks C Todd Robinson has signed for a ninth season with the IHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks. This will be his 11th season as a pro. Robinson, 31, is from Trail, B.C. He has 926 points in 669 professional games. He won the IHL scoring title last season, with 112 points in 67 games, and a second IHL MVP award. . . .
--------
The Kelowna Rockets have added former WHL all-star D Dan Lambert to their coaching staff. Lambert spent four seasons (1986-90) with the Swift Broncos and was part of their 1989 Memorial Cup-winning team, as was Lorne Frey, the Rockets’ assistant GM and director of player personnel. After a brief pro career here, Lambert went overseas and has played in Germany for the last 10 seasons. . . .
--------
And now for something completely different. . . . Jamie McOwen, an outfielder with the California League’s High Desert Mavericks, extended his hitting streak to 45 games with a first-inning hit on Wednesday against host San Jose. McOwen, a 23-year-old from Miami, is riding the longest such minor-league streak since Roman Mejias hit in 55 straight games for a team in Waco, Texas, in 1954. . . . The Mavericks are a Class A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. . . . Tyson Gillies, a Mariners prospect from Kamloops, plays in the outfield alongside McOwen. Gillies, who hits out of the leadoff spot, singled in each of his first two at-bats Wednesday, finished 2-for-4 with a walk, and is hitting .325. . . . McOwen will be featured at espn.com sometime Thursday. . . .
--------
Found this on the website of Kelowna radio station AM 1150:
Was former Westside Warriors head coach Mark Howell black listed in obtaining a possible coaching position in the Western Hockey League?
Howell took over the coaching duties with the Calgary Dinos after resigning from the BC Hockey League's Westside Warriors, yet Howell is no stranger to the W-H-L, having been an assistant coach with the Brandon Wheat Kings during the 2002-2003 season.
"I don't know if I want to go on record...but there is friction right now, players here going there and vice versa kind of thing. I think for me the logical step is somewhere out of there (WHL) to get back to there. Coaching CIS is hopefully a step towards the pros," Howell added.
The BC Hockey League and the W.H.L have a rocky relationship as they compete directly in recruiting players.
Regan Bartel/Matt Folkard - Kelowna
--------
Former Prince George Cougars captain Dana Tyrell played in a hockey game July 4 for the first time since mid-December when he tore up a knee while playing in an exhibition game with Canada’s national junior team. This time it was only a charity game played in Airdrie, Alta., but, still, Tyrell was on skates. “I’m feeling good,” Tyrell, who has signed with the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, told the Airdrie Echo. “I’m a little tired, but I worked pretty hard out there. I didn’t want to take it easy.”
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