F Kris Beech (Calgary, 1996-2001) signed a one-year contract with Lukko Rauma (Finland, SM-Liiga). He had 14 goals and 17 assists in 48 games for HV71 Jönköping (Sweden, Elitserien) this season. Lukko director of player personnel Hannu Vanhatalo: "Beech is a large, strong, and skillful player who plays every night for the team. His strength is his overall game play, but he is also a very good player on the power play with a great shot. Beech is also a very popular guy with his teammates. He has shown himself to be a winner in many different categories and we are very pleased to have this level of player on our team next season."
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Here are the first three paragraphs to Bob Duff’s column in today’s Windsor Star:
In his third National Hockey League game, Windsor’s Barry Potomski, then with the Los Angeles Kings, dropped the gloves and fought with Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ken Baumgartner, who was among the league’s most feared tough guys.
“You have to have one of those in your first five games,” suggested former Detroit Red Wings tough guy Darren McCarty of Leamington at the time. “It’s your initiation to the club.”
The Essex County Enforcers Association.
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Potomski died Tuesday. Duff’s column, in its entirety, is right here.
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Wondering what it’s like when you’re 16 years of age and your hockey season is cut in half by a concussion? John MacNeil of the Brandon Sun has the story of Moose Jaw Warriors F Brayden Cuthbert right here.
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If you want more, or even if you don’t, MacNeil also has a piece on Brandon Wheat Kings G Liam Liston. He took a puck off the mask in practice during the playoffs and didn’t play again. That story is right here.
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| LOUIS DUMONT |
Dumont, 38, has been named general manager of the Southern Professional league’s Louisiana IceGators.
Dumont played the last five seasons of his pro career with the RiverKings, who were based out of Memphis in the first of those seasons. He also played three seasons (1996-99) with the IceGators, who were then in the ECHL.
After playing in the WHL (Regina, Kamloops, 1990-94), hockeydb.com shows that the native of Calgary, went on to play for the Wheeling Thunderbirds (ECHL), Tallahassee Tiger Sharks (ECHL), Syracuse Crunch (AHL), Louisiana IceGators (ECHL), Manitoba Moose (IHL), Ayr Scottish Eagles (BISL), Augusta Lynx (ECHL), Lowell Lock Monsters (AHL), Pensacola Ice Pilots (ECHL), Mississippi Sea Wolves (ECHL), Utah Grizzlies (ECHL) and Mississippi River Kings (Central).
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The tide may come rolling in this morning in Victoria where the WHL’s newest franchise — remember the Chilliwack Bruins? — is expected to reveal its nickname and introduce its general manager and head coach. Hello, there, Marc Habscheid.
Cleve Dheensaw of the Victoria Times Colonist has more right here.
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JUST NOTES: Multiple reports Wednesday night have Don Hay being named today as head coach of Canada’s national junior team. Hay, the head coach of the Vancouver Giants, was Canada’s head coach in 1995 when it won the World Junior Championship in Red Deer. The 2012 tournament is to be played in Calgary and Edmonton. . . . Team Canada will hold its summer camp in Edmonton, Aug. 3-6. . . . As well, reports indicate that Steve Spott, head coach of the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers, is to be named head coach of the Canadian under-18 team that will compete in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in Czech Republic and Slovakia in August. . . .
The Edmonton Capitals of baseballs North American league announced Wednesday that all residents of the fire-ravaged community of Slave Lake will be admitted free of charge to any home game in June. According to a press release: “Slave Lake residents who wish to capitalize on this offer can simply show valid identification at the Capitals Ticket Office at TELUS Field and may redeem up to six complimentary tickets for any game in the month of June.” . . . And when the Capitals play their home-opener on Tuesday, F T.J. Foster of the Edmonton Oil Kings, who is from Slave Lake, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Joanne Ireland of the Edmonton Journal has more right here on Foster and what he and his family have been through of late.
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THE COACHING GAME: The Central league’s Tulsa Oilers have signed head coach Bruce Ramsay to a two-year extension through 2012-13. He his heading into his third season with the Oilers.
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The host Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors scored a 3-1 victory over the OHL-champion Owen Sound Attack at the Memorial Cup on Wednesday. That puts the Attack into the third-place tiebreaker against the Kootenay Ice tonight. . . . The winner of that game advances to Friday’s semifinal against Mississauga. . . . The QMJHL-champion Saint John Sea Dogs have clinched a berth in Sunday’s final.One of the big stories at this Memorial Cup has been the officiating. Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun has more right here.
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Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal has written a good piece about the Morrow men — father Dave and sons Josh and Joe. That piece is right here.
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And now for something completely different . . .
Is America a great country, or what?
If you haven’t already, check out the American Shifter website and take a look at the latest shift knob. It’s called Osama bin Hidin’ Shift Knob, and you can take it all in right here.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
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