———
The Brandon Wheat Kings are in the market for a new head scout following the resignation of Al Macpherson,
who had been with the team for 27 years, most recently as director of player personnel. . . . There is no scout in Western Canada who is more respected than Macpherson. . . . “Well, it’s like losing your right arm,” Kelly McCrimmon, the Wheat Kings’ owner and GM, told James Shewaga of the Brandon Sun. . . . Macpherson, who has a farm near Saskatoon, told Shewaga he is looking forward to spending more time with his family. “I don’t see my grandsons play hockey often enough, all of those things that happen in the winter that you don’t have time to do. . . .,” he said. “But I enjoyed every minute of it and I have no complaints. I just thought it was time to see how the other half of the world lives.”———
“A recent NHL rule change designed to cut down on the number of concussions in the league hasn’t made a difference, a new study suggests,” writes Helen Branswell of The Canadian Press. “The research suggests the
rule, which outlawed bodychecks aimed at the head and checking from a player’s blind side, has not led to lower concussion rates among pro hockey players since it came into force in the 2010-11 season.”Her complete story is right here. . . . This is interesting stuff because it points out how important it is that rules be correctly worded, and that there isn’t much sense having rules if they aren’t going to be enforced.
This study was published in the journal Plos One on Wednesday. You are able to find it right here, in its entirety.
If you are so inclined, there are some interesting NHL-OHL comparisons in the study.
After reading Branswell’s story and looking at the study, it is rather obvious that hockey’s pooh-bahs, at least at an elite level, simply aren’t doing enough to get brain injuries out of the game.
———
Chris Peters, over at The United States of Hockey, takes a look at why “more NHL teams are going heavy on college-bound players in the draft.” . . . He also looks at the week that Western Michigan had, along with a few other odds and ends. . . . That’s all right here. . . . There also is a link to the U.S. of Hockey over there on the right.
———
Scott Cacciola of The New York Times writes right here about the rich baseball player who ended up visiting one of the poorest cities in the U.S. Yes, it involves A-Rod.
———
THE COACHING GAME:
The Everett Silvertips have filled out their coaching staff with the signings of Mark LeRose and Shane Clifford. . . . LeRose signed on as an assistant coach, while Clifford will be the goaltending coach. . . . Both previously held those same roles with the Silvertips before going on to other things. . . . They will work alongside head coach Kevin Constantine and assistant coach Mitch Love. . . . LeRose, 43, was an assistant in Everett under John Becanic (2007-09) before leaving to join Constantine with the AHL’s Houston Aeros. LeRose spent the past two seasons in Austria and Sweden. . . . Clifford, 42, spent five seasons as the Silvertips’ goaltending coach and also spent one season (2005-06) with the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins. He owns and operates the Shane Clifford Goalie School that has operated near Pittsburgh since 2000.———
The OHL’s Kitchener Rangers have promoted assistant coach Troy Smith to head coach and added Murray Hiebert as general manager. . . . Smith spent the past seven seasons as an assistant with the Rangers. . . . Hiebert, who began scouting for the Rangers in 2001, had been the team’s director of scouting. . . . Steve Spott, the previous GM/head coach, left earlier this month to become head coach of the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.
Posts
