Friday . . .

As expected, Chad Lang is the new general manager of the Regina Pats. Brent Parker, who stepped aside as GM and now is the club’s governor and president, made the announcement Friday. Lang, a former Moose Jaw Warriors’ GM, signed a three-year contract that is effective immediately. . . . Lang started with the Warriors in 2003 as director of marketing and corporate sales and took over as GM during the 2004-05 season. . . . I get the feeling that Parker is looking for someone to contribute in all areas of the organization, including public relations, marketing and promotions, so Lang’s background is going to come in handy there.
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It was reported here on March 26 that F Tyler Pitlick was considering moving from Minnesota State-Mankato to the Medicine Hat Tigers. Pitlick, in Toronto for the NHL scouting combine, has confirmed that he will play for the Tigers next season. Neate Sager of Yahoo! Sports has more right here.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Mark Morrison has signed an extension as GM and head coach of the ECHL’s Victoria Salmon Kings. Morrison (Victoria, 1979-83) was signed through 2010-11 and this extension now takes him through 2011-12. He has been head coach for three full seasons and GM for two. . . . The OHL’s Niagara IceDogs are expected to name their GM and head coach on Monday. Speculation for the last 10 days or so has Marty Williamson, who has resigned as the Barrie Colts’ head coach, signing with the Ice Dogs, who did not retain GM Dave Brown or head coach Mike McCourt. Williamson’s contract in Barrie was to have expired this summer.
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Seth Frankel, who was part of the Seattle Thunderbirds’ off-ice crew at the ShoWare Arena in Kent, Wash., was found dead in his home in Auburn, Wash. Frankel’s body was discovered on May 21 and police have ruled the death a homicide. There is more right here.
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One man is more responsible than anyone for making Jarome Iginla into the person and the hockey player he is today. That man was Rick Schuchard, who was Iginla’s grandfather. Schuchard, 88, died earlier this week and was buried Friday. Iginla delivered the eulogy. There’s more on the relationship between Iginla and his beloved grandfather right here.
Larry Mitchell, a longtime friend of Schuchard’s, dropped me this note:
“Rick was very important to Jarome, having raised him from the time he was one-year-old until he played for Kamloops. Rick drove Jarome to almost every ball park and hockey arena in Northern Alberta and many, including myself, feel that is one of the main reasons’ Jarome made it to the NHL. Rick was also involved with St. Albert Minor baseball when Jarome played. Rick also wrote a weekly column for the St. Albert Gazette.”
Iginla, the captain and face of the Calgary Flames, played for the Kamloops Blazers (1993-96). He now is one of four ex-Blazers, all of whom are NHL players, who are involved with the Blazers at the ownership level.
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The Anaheim Ducks have signed F Brandon McMillan of the Kelowna Rockets to a three-year deal. McMillan was a third-round pick in the 2008 NHL draft.
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The MJHL’s Winnipeg Saints will play out of St. Adolphe, Man., in 2010-11. The move comes after the Saints were told by the board of directors of the Dakota Community Centre, the team’s home for 10 seasons, that ice would no longer be made available for them. Apparently, the board felt it needed all available ice time for its own programs. . . . The Saints reached the MJHL final this season, where they lost to the Dauphin Kings.