F Michal Řepík (Vancouver, 2005-08) has signed a one-year contract with the Lahti Pelicans (Finland, Liiga). Last season, with Lev Prague (Czech Republic, KHL), he had 12 points, eight of them goals, in 51 games. . . .
F Vladimir Dolnik (Everett, 2011-12) has signed a tryout contract with Kitzbühel (Austria, Inter-National-League). Last season, with Banská Bystrica U20 (Slovakia, U20 Extraliga), he had 10 points, including five goals, in eight games. He also was pointless in 19 games with Banská Bystrica (Slovakia, Extraliga), and had three goals and three assists in 16 games with Detva (Slovakia, 1. Liga). . . .
D Kenton Smith (Calgary, 1995-2000) has signed a one-year contract with the Swindon Wildcats (England, Premier). Last season, with the Braehead Clan Glasgow (Scotland, UK Elite), he had 14 points, including five goals, in 41 games. Smith signed with Swindon to be closer to his family in Cardiff, Wales.
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The Spokane Chiefs have taken something of a roster hit with the news that D Reid Gow has decided not to return for his 20-year-old season.
Gow, who is from Killarney, Man., also was the team captain. The 16th overall selection in the 2009 bantam draft, he played four seasons with the Chiefs. Last season, he had 62 points, including 56 assists in 65 games. Only four defencemen finished with more points, while he was the Chiefs’ third-leading scorer, behind F Mitch Holmberg and F Mike Aviani, both of whom were 20 last season.
In 229 regular-season games, Gow had 146 points, including 129 assists.
“I have spoken with Reid numerous times over the summer and he has informed me that he does not want to play in the WHL for his overage year,” Tim Speltz, the Chiefs’ general manager, said in a news release. “Reid said he has lost his desire to compete and does not have the drive to play in this league. He has decided to stay home and be close to family and friends.
“As an organization, we hope Reid reconsiders, but at this time, it is important for us to be prepared to move forward without him. He was a huge part of our team last year, but we understand the commitment and dedication it takes for a player to play at this level of competition.
"Although I do not agree with Reid's decision, our organization must accept and respect it. I will continue to have communication with him, but I am not confident any change in his decision is imminent."
The Chiefs’ roster now is down to three 20-year-olds -- F Connor Chartier, F Marcus Messier and F Liam Stewart.
Not that long ago, the Chiefs had six 20s on their roster, but Gow now is out of the picture, while D Cole Wedman was dealt to the Moose Jaw Warriors and F Carter Proft has signed with the Kassel Huskies (Germany, DEL).
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You may be aware that there has been a huge hue and cry in the U.S., over comments made by talking head Stephen A. Smith on an ESPN yap fest last week. It all had to do with the two-game suspension issued by the NFL to Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice following an incident of domestic abuse.
Smith, who gives all of us a good reason not to watch those talk shows, spoke without thinking, as he is wont to do.
Anyway . . . Cathal Kelly of The Globe and Mail takes a good look at that situation right here.
Meanwhile, Sally Jenkins of the Washington Post makes sure that she’s not on Smith’s Christmas card list with this piece right here. When Jenkins got through with Smith, he was more done than a Christmas turkey.
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THE COACHING GAME:
The junior B Nelson Leafs, who play in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, have lost their head coach before they played even one game with him behind their bench. . . . Matt Hughes, who was hired in May, resigned on the weekend and now is with the Kelowna-based Pursuit of Excellence. . . . Bruce Fuhr of the Nelson Daily has more right here.
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Shayne Toporowski (Prince Albert, 1991-95) is the new head coach of the Worcester State Lancers. Toporowski, 38, takes over from John Guiney, who resigned after 22 seasons as head coach. . . . Jennifer Toland of the Worcester Telegram has more right here.
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Former NHL D Todd Gill has signed on with the Adirondack Flames as an assistant coach. The Flames are the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Calgary Flames. . . . Gill had been the head coach of the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs for three seasons. However, he was dumped after last season, when his side blew a 3-0 lead to the Peterborough Petes in a first-round playoff series. . . . In Adirondack, he’ll work alongside head coach Ryan Huska, formerly of the Kelowna Rockets.
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I'm more & more appreciative to have lived when Terry Fox was alive. As @Taggart7 said, his birthday – today – should be a Canadian holiday.
— Adam Proteau (@Proteautype) July 28, 2014
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