F Tomas Karpov (Moose Jaw, Calgary, 2007-09) has been loaned to Dukla Jihlava (Czech Republic 1.Liga) by Sparta Prague (Czech Republic, Extraliga) for the 2011-12 season. He had two goals and five assists in 41 games for Sparta and one goal in 10 games on loan to Berounsti Medevedi (Czech Republic, 1.Liga) this season. . . .
D Jame Pollock (Seattle, 1995-99) signed a one-year contract with the Nuremburg Ice Tigers (Germany, DEL). He had five goals and 10 assists in 44 games with Adler Mannheim (Germany, DEL) this season. . . .
F Dale Hunt (Prince George, Everett, 2005-10) signed a one-year contract with Red Bull Salzburg II (Austria, Nationalliga). He had 14 goals and five assists in 26 games for the Surrey Eagles (BCHL) this season. . . .
D Kevin Young (Medicine Hat, Portland, Kelowna, 1998-2002) signed a one-year contract with Strasbourg (France, Ligue Magnus). He had 17 goals and 48 assists in 40 games for Eindhoven Kemphanen (Netherlands, Eredivisie) and six assists in eight games with the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs (Central Hockey League) this season. Young was named Best Defenceman in the Netherlands this season. . . .
F Mario Bliznak (Vancouver, 2005-08) signed a two-year contract with Sparta Prague (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He had 11 goals and 16 assists in 74 games with the Manitoba Moose (AHL) and one goal in four games with the Vancouver Canucks (NHL) this season.
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Two former WHL coaches are unemployed after the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets opted not to renew their contracts. Don Boyd, the Blue Jackets’ assistant GM, had been
with Columbus since 1999, as had Bob Strumm, the director of pro scouting. "We believe it was time to make changes in key areas of our organization as we strive to build a championship-caliber team," said Scott Howson, the vice-president of hockey operations and general manager, in a news release. . . . .Strumm, once the WHL’s statistician, is a former GM and head coach of the Regina Pats and Spokane Chiefs. Boyd once was the Pats’ head coach, with Strumm as GM.Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch has that story right here.
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The Edmonton Oil Kings have signed D Aaron Irving, the ninth overall selection in the 2011 bantam draft. Irving, who is from Edmonton, played last season with the South Side Athletic Club's bantam AAA team, the Southgate Lions, who won the provincial championship. In regular-season play, he had 18 points in 33 games. . . . The Medicine Hat Tigers have signed F Blake Penner, who was the 18th overall selection in the 2011 bantam draft. A native of Medicine Hat, Penner had 68 points in 24 games with the Notre Dame Hounds last season. . . .
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The AHL season ended Tuesday in Houston as the Binghamton Senators beat the Aeros 3-2 to win the Calder Cup final in six games. . . . F Ryan Keller (Saskatoon, 2001-05) broke a 2-2 tie with a PP goal at 9:09 of the third period. It was his 10th goal of these playoffs. . . . Attendance was 10,125. . . . Binghamton is the AHL affiliate of the Ottawa Senators; the Aeros are hooked up with the Minnesota Wild. . . . Bingham G Robin Lehner was named playoff MVP.———
JUST NOTES: The QMJHL’s governors, owners and head coaches are holding their annual session and agreed Tuesday, according to a news release, “that certain measures must be taken in order to eliminate hits to the head and other dangerous hits.” While the league will up its emphasis on education, it also said in the news release that “the severity of suspensions in terms of number of games resulting from a hit to the head would be increased.” . . .
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THE COACHING GAME: The ECHL’s Stockton Thunder has exercised its option on head coach Matt Thomas and signed him to a two-year extension that runs through 2013-14. The Thunder was 37-23-12 this season. . . . Chad McLeod has signed on as assistant GM/assistant coach with the SJHL’s Nipawin Hawks. He will work under GM/head coach Doug Johnson. The two were together with the NAHL’s Billings Bulls.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
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