Friday . . . early

As he did at the MasterCard Memorial Cup in Brandon, WHL commissioner Ron Robison again has fired back at Paul Kelly and College Hockey Inc. This time, Robison has done it in an interview with Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post. That story is right here. . . . It was Robison who sat in front of the assembled media in Brandon and blasted away at Kelly, who runs College Hockey Inc., and, as such, has taken numerous shots at the CHL over its recruiting of young players. And now it’s Robison who again is blasting away. It is interesting that he seems to have become the CHL’s front man on what has become a rather large issue.
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Derek Laxdal is the new head coach of the Edmonton Oil Kings. Laxdal, 44, was named to the post on Friday. He has spent the last five years with the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads. Laxdal is a former WHL player (Portland, Brandon, New Westminster, 1982-86) whose pro career included 67 NHL games split between the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders. . . . He replaces Steve Pleau, who was fired following last season. . . . The Edmonton hiring leaves the Kootenay Ice and Spokane Chiefs as WHL teams without head coaches.
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Del Wilson, one of legends from the WHL’s past, will be inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday. Yes, you are free to ask why took so long! . . . If you want to gain a little insight into Wilson, check out this story right here.
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The AJHL’s Calgary Royals are no more. Now they are the Calgary Mustangs. The team’s board of directors apparently had it down to Cowboys, Mustangs and Spurs before making a final decision. Oh yes, there also is a three-year sponsorship in place with Maclin Ford in Calgary.