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F Jakub Klepiš (Portland, 2001-02) has signed a one-year contract with Färjestad Karlstad (Sweden, SHL). Last season, with Lev Prague (Czech Republic, KHL), he had 17 points, eight of them goals, in 38 games. He also played in the KHL’s All-Star Game. . . .
F Roman Pšurný (Medicine Hat, 2004-06) has been assigned on loan for the entire season by Litvinov to Karlovy Vary (both Czech Republic, Extraliga). Last season, with Litvinov, he had a goal and an assist in 32 games. He also played on loan with two Czech Republic, 1. Liga teams. He had five points, including three goals, in three games with Most, and eight points, three of the goals, in 10 games with České Budějovice.
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Like a nagging cough or a bad joke, it keeps showing up.
Such is life in the age of the Internet.
Yes, I’m referring to the photograph that is at the top of this piece.
The picture showed up on Twitter on Thursday afternoon, tweeted by friend Kevin Shaw of Regina.
It also made an appearance on this blog on March 20, 2009. Here’s some of what I wrote then:
“It wasn't an ad campaign. It was a one-shot deal. A gal named Ruth -- it was 20 years ago; sorry, I can't remember her last name -- was in promotions at CKCK Radio in Regina which, at the time, was down the hall from The Leader-Post. “CKRM had had the rights to the Pats' broadcasts for a long time, but CKCK Radio had them now. And Ruth thought it would be a fine idea if Peter Loubardias, who was handling the play-by-play, and his colour analyst (uhh, that would be me) posed for an ad that could be used in print publications like the newspaper and game programs.
“I seem to recall telling her that it was a great idea and would certainly be an attention grabber. Peter? Not so much. (If memory serves, a guy named Roger Millions was whispering in Ruth's ear through all of this, telling her what a great idea it was.)
“Anyway, we did the shot in the shower off the Pats' dressing room. Some of the players helped out. The water was turned on nice and hot to create the steamy background. We donned towels and away we went.
“And, yes, I have to say it is effective even today, some 20 years later (even if my first name is spelled incorrectly).”
If you are wondering the players in the background are Terry Hollinger (left), Jamie Heward and, I think, Cory Paterson.
I must admit that I chuckle every time I see the picture, if only because of the look of exasperation on Peter’s face.
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1. Former NHL enforcer Gino Odjick has been diagnosed with a terrible heart disease and says he may have only months, or even weeks, to live. Ed Willes of the Vancouver Province visited Odjick and filed this column.
2. For the first time this week there doesn’t appear to be any news on the WHL coaching front.
3. Finally, a day without any World Cup soccer on TV. Might be time to mow some grass and pull some weeks.
4. If you’re looking for a good baseball read, you can’t go wrong with Wild Pitches: Rumblings, Grumblings, and Reflections on the Game I Love. It’s a compilation of columns from ESPN baseball writer Jayson Stark, and it’s one of those books you can put down, pick up again and open anywhere. Enjoy!
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A tweet from Benny Walchuk (@BennyGX94Sports) informs all that the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League team that had been the Yorkton Harvest now is the Yorkton Rawtec Maulers. . . . My first weekend with the Regina Leader-Post, in the spring of 1983, I handled a midget AAA rewrite in which I referred to the Yorkton Parkland Maulers, as opposed to the Yorkton Parkland Mallers. At the time, the team was sponsored by the Parkland Mall. . . .
Walchuk also tweeted that the Terriers, who won the RBC Cup as national junior A champions, “loss is around the $35,000 mark” for the 2013-14 season. It would seem the one-time junior A franchise owner was correct when he said the perfect season was to lose Game 7 of the championship final at home. . . . Terriers president Dave Baron told Walchuk: “Any time you’re successful, it’s going to cost you a little bit of money. You have staff around for extra weeks, a few more weeks of broken sticks. Your ultimate goal is obviously to win the title and we did, but it cost us a little money to do that."
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THE COACHING GAME:
Jeff Dubois is the new general manager and head coach of the junior B Creston Valley Thunder Cats of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. He had been the head coach of the Castlegar-based Selkirk College Saints, who won the last two B.C. Intercollegiate League championships. . . . Dubois took over at Selkirk College in April 2012, meaning he won the league title in each of his two seasons there. He also was named the BCIHL’s coach of the year for each season. . . . His combined regular-season and playoff record for the two seasons is 48-6-1. . . . With the Thunder Cats, he takes over from Joshua Hepditch, who resigned in order to take over the Amherst Rambers of the junior A Maritimes Hockey League.
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#Canucks president Trevor Linden spoke today to Doug Lidster about possibly joining coaching staff. Will talk more next week.
— Iain MacIntyre (@imacVanSun) June 27, 2014
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