F Dylan Sylvester (Kootenay, 2004-10) signed a one-year contract with the Vienna Capitals (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). He had 11 goals and 12 assists in 62 games with the Abbotsford Heat (AHL) this season.
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Morris Dalla Costa writes in Thursday’s London Free Press that Hockey Canada’s decision to give the 2015 and 2017 world junior tournaments to Toronto and Montreal is “a big screw-you junior hockey fans.” You know what? He’s right. . . . His complete column is right here.
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Peter Travers, the excellent movie critic for Rolling Stone, remembers James Gandolfini right here.
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We also lost writer/reporter Michael Hastings this week, killed in a car accident in Los Angeles early Tuesday. He was 33. Matt Taibbi of Rolling Stone remembers Hastings right here.
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Kevin Mitchell of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix takes a look right here at Lorne Molleken and what all went into his decision to step aside as head coach of the Saskatoon Blades.
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The BCHL’s Surrey Eagles have hired Grant Ammann as their athletic therapist and equipment manager. Ammann had been with the Brandon Wheat Kings since 2010 as their athletic therapist. He is from Aldergrove, B.C.———
It appears that head coach Rob Daum, a former WHL coach, has firmed up his lineup with the Black Wings Linz of the Austrian Erste Bank Liga. . . . The last signing was F Jason Ulmer of Wilcox, Sask., who played the last two seasons with Red Bull München of the German DEL. This will be Ulmer’s 10th season in Europe.———
THE COACHING GAME:
Brent Belecki isn’t returning as the Red Deer Rebels’ goaltending coach. Belecki, who had been with the Rebels since 2010-11, worked with a pair of WHL goaltenders of the year in Darcy Kuemper (2010-11) and Patrik Bartosak (2012-13). . . . “We are going in a new direction with increasing the role of our goaltending coach,” Brent Sutter, the Rebels’ owner, general manager and head coach, said in a news release. “The increased role will involve working with prospects and our scouting staff. Unfortunately, Brent’s job as a firefighter in Calgary and with a young family, he was not able to commit to spending the time that is required for this expanded role.”———
Former NHLer Shean Donovan has joined the coaching staff of the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s as an assistant to head coach Chris Byrne, who also is the general manager. Donovan, a veteran of 15 NHL seasons, played three-plus seasons with the 67’s before going on to his pro career.
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The AJHL’s Sherwood Park Crusaders have hired Scott McNeill as their associate coach, to work alongside GM/head coach Tim Fragle. McNeill played three seasons with the AJHL’s Grande Prairie Storm before going on to Princeton U, only to have injuries end his career after a couple of seasons. He has spent three seasons coaching at Edmonton’s South Side Athletic Club.———
Former Everett Silvertips assistant coach Jay Varady was introduced Thursday as head coach of the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers. There’s more, including a video clip, right here. . . . When the Silvertips entered the WHL in 2003-04, Varady was an assistant coach under Kevin Constantine who, of course, returned to that position last week. . . . The other assistant coach was John Becanic, who now is a special consultant with the NAHL’s Topeka RoadRunners.———
From former Seattle Thunderbirds F Tyler Alos (@tyler_alos13): “Feels so good to skate. Especially with all the boys in spoke. Wish my head was healthy everyday. Appreciate it while it's there. #ifonly??”
Alos, who turned 20 on Jan. 27, is from Spokane. His 2012-13 season was ended by post-concussion syndrome that followed multiple brain injuries over two seasons. He announced his retirement on Dec. 3.
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