Taking Note

Buddy Bodman, who coached the ill-fated Spokane Flyers of the WHL for 26 games in 1980-81, died Wednesday morning at his home in Spokane. He was 75. . . . Bodman was best known in the Spokane area for his career as a player – he played for the senior Spokane Flyers, Comets and Jets. Aside from his stint as the WHL Flyers’ head coach – they were 4-21-1 under him – he coached the senior Jets and junor B Braves, Flames and Rockets. . . . Bodman resigned as the Flyers’ coach and the team went through two more coaches (Tom Gauthier, 3-8-0, and Wayne Coxworth, 10-25-0) before season’s end. The following season, the Flyers started 3-22-1 under Ron Harris before folding. . . . Bodman was a native of Saskatoon. He and his wife, Judy, had five children.
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Chris Hartsburg, an assistant coach with the Everett Silvertips, has been added to the coaching staff of the U.S. team that will play at the U-17 Five Nations tournament in Czech Republic next week. Hartsburg will be the team’’s video co-ordinator. Barry Smith, the former Kamloops Blazers head coach who will coach in Tilburg, Netherlands, this season, is Team USA’s head coach. . . . The Five Nations tournament runs Aug. 7-11 in Chomutov, Kadan and Klasterec, Czech Republic. Team USA, which flew to Europe on Wednesday, will play an exhibition game against Czech Republic on Sunday before opening tournament play Wednesday against Germany. . . .
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The MJHL’s Steinbach Pistons have signed David Anning as assistant general manager and assistant coach. Anning had been the GM/head coach of the Winnipeg Saints. However, he lost that position when the franchise was sold and relocated to Virden, with the Oil Capitals hiring Troy Leslie as GM/head coach. . . . In Steinbach, Anning will work alongside GM/head coach Paul Dyck.
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The MJHL’s Winkler Flyers have signed Blaine Neufeld as their goaltending coach. Neufeld played for the Flyers and was an all-star in 2004-05. In 2006-07, he was part of the Memorial Cup-champion Vancouver Giants. Neufeld also played in the WHL (2004-07) with the Medicine Hat Tigers and Saskatoon Blades. . . . Neufeld also is an assistant coach with the midget AAA Pembina Valley Hawks, who play out of Morden, Man.
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The New York Islanders have signed D Griffin Reinhart, who was the 20th overall selection in the NHL’s 2012 draft. Reinhart has 61 points in 105 games with the Edmonton Oil Kings over the last two seasons. . . . He had 36 points in 58 games last season as the Oil Kings won the WHL championship. . . . He is the son of former NHL D Paul Reinhart. . . . Griffin has two brothers who also play in the WHL. Max, a 20-year-old forward who has played four seasons with the Kootenay Ice, has signed with the NHL’s Calgary Flames and finished last season with their AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat. . . . Sam, who turns 17 on Nov. 6, also plays in Kootenay. He is projected as an early pick in the NHL’s 2014 draft. . . .
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A Thursday evening tweet from F Henrik Samuelsson of the Edmonton Oil Kings: “I would like to thank @Griffin Reinhart in advance for all the things he is going to buy me now that he’s a show guy #congrats.”

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