D Darrell Hay (Tri-City, 1996-2000) and F Ned Lukacevic (Spokane, Swift Current, 2001-06) each signed one-year contracts with Tohoku Free Blades Hachinohe (Japan, Asia Hockey League). . . . Last season, Hay had four goals and 16 assists in 40 games with Cortina (Italy, Serie A), while Lukacevic had no points in two games with Eispiraten Crimmitschau (Germany, 2. Bundesliga) and three goals and eight assists in 15 games with Banska Bystrica (Slovakia, Extraliga). . . .
F Aaron Gagnon (Seattle, 2001-07) signed a two-year contract with HV71 Jönköping (Sweden, SEL). He had three goals in 10 games with the Winnipeg Jets (NHL) and 11 goals and 13 assists in 43 games with the St. John’s Ice Caps (AHL) last season. Gagnon is due in Jönköping next week as HV71 opens its exhibition season on Tuesday, Aug. 13 at JYP Jyväskylä (Finland, SM-Liiga) — their training camp started July 29.———
F Jujhar Khaira, 19, has chosen to leave the Michigan Tech Huskies and sign with the Edmonton Oilers, who selected him in the third round of the NHL’s 2012 draft. His WHL rights are held by the Everett Silvertips,
who acquired them from the Prince George Cougars. . . . Khaira, who is from Surrey, B.C., was drafted after playing for the BCHL’s Prince George Spruce Kings. He then went to Michigan Tech. I can’t find a clause in the NHL-NHLPA CBA that covers a player drafted from junior who goes to college and then leaves early. But it is speculated that Khaira is eligible to play in the AHL this season. Should the Oilers decide he isn’t quite ready for that avenue, he could end up in Everett. . . . The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Khaira had 25 points, including six goals, in 37 games with Michigan Tech last season. In two seasons with the Spruce Kings, he had 121 points, 39 of them goals, in 112 games.Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald has more on Khaira right here. Patterson also covers the Silvertips’ import situation, starting with the news that Russian F Ivan Nikolishin is expected to show up for training camp.
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The Portland Winterhawks are going to share their 2012-13 WHL championship with their season-ticket holders.
The team revealed Wednesday that every 2013-14 season-ticket holder will be presented with “a wearable
championship ring that will be an exact replica of the ring that will be given to the players and coaches for winning last season's title.” . . . The presentations to fans will made at a game during the upcoming season."Championships require commitment, and no one is more committed to the Portland Winterhawks than our season ticket holders. We can't think of a better way to honor them than with championship rings of their own," Winterhawks president Doug Piper said in a statement. "This will be an exclusive gift for all of our full season ticket holders, something we hope they treasure for years to come."
Any season-ticket holders who might be flying in for the ceremony will have to foot the bill themselves. Or see if a QMJHL team will help them out.
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In the world of junior hockey, where new revenue streams are getting harder and harder to find, the SJHL just may have happened upon something.
The SJHL, under president Bill Chow, has sold the naming rights to one of its division. Yes, the Central Division, as it was called earlier this year when realignment was announced, now is the Kramer Division.That’s because Kramer Ltd., a North Battleford-based outfit that specializes in selling farm equipment through auction, has cut a three-year deal for those naming rights.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Rick Emmett is the new head coach of the ECHL’s Gwinnett Gladiators. Emmett, an assistant coach with the Gladiators, was promoted after head coach John Wroblewski joined the AHL’s Rochester Americans as an assistant coach. . . . Emmett spent the past two seasons as an assistant under Wroblewski.———
Robbie Ftorek, who spent most of five seasons as head coach of the OHL’s Erie Otters, has been hired by the NHL’s Calgary Flames to work as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat. . . . Ftorek will work alongside head coach Troy Ward with the Heat. . . . George Johnson of the Calgary Herald has more right here.———
From Larry Stone (@StoneLarry) of the Seattle Times: “Just saw an usher in the elevator lugging a bunch of brooms left behind by Jays fans hoping for a sweep.”
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