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The day’s most important hockey-related story appeared at Yahoo! Sports.
“For years I lived a life full of lies,” writes Brock McGillis, a former goaltender who played for the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires. “Growing up in a culture of hockey — minor hockey, the Ontario Hockey League, university hockey, and semi-pro in Europe — I felt I would never be accepted.
“For years I lived a life of denial, because I am gay.
“Hockey has always been very homophobic. I can’t count the amount of times I heard phrases like: That’s gay or what a homo in the dressing room over the course of my hockey career. Words like fag, p---y, and b---h are part of the daily banter. Those words are used to belittle players, to weaken and feminize them, because hockey is hyper-masculine, meant for the manliest of men.”
Why did he feel he had to write what he did?
“Cliches like ‘Boys being boys’ and ‘Locker room talk’ were never valid defences – this is why I’m telling my story,” he explains. “I’m telling my story to start a dialogue. If you are gay, lesbian or trans and playing hockey, know that you are not alone. Know that you are not the only one.
“Know that I am here for you, the way Brendan Burke was there for me, because it gives me an immense sense of pride carrying on his legacy by saying: ‘I can’t wait until the day that you’re out like I am.’ ” His story is right here.
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G Evan Sarthou, 19, is expected to return to the Tri-City Americans’ lineup this weekend for the first time this season. From Black Diamond, Wash., Sarthou is into his fourth WHL season. He suffered an undisclosed season while with the U.S.’s national junior team during the summer and hasn’t played in a game since then. Last season, he got into 60 games with Tri-City, going 26-28-2, 3.46, .888. . . . The Americans are at home to the Portland Winterhawks tonight (Friday) and then visit the Spokane Chiefs on Saturday. Sarthou is expected to start in Spokane. . . . His return will leave the Americans with three goaltenders on their roster, the others being Rylan Parenteau, 20, who was acquired last month from the Prince Albert Raiders, and freshman Beck Warm, 17. . . . The Americans are expected to keep three goaltenders for a while, if only because Sarthou still may be invited to Team USA’s selection camp.
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The WHL’s office handed out three suspensions on Thursday, two of them to members of the Prince George Cougars. . . . D Sam Ruopp of the Cougars drew a TBD suspension after being involved in what the WHL calls a “one-man fight” in a 6-4 loss to the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers on Wednesday night. F Kody McDonald of the Cougars also drew a TBD suspension after he took a slashing major and game misconduct against the Tigers. . . . Meanwhile, F Leif Mattson of the Kelowna Rockets will sit for four games after taking a checking-from-behind major and game misconduct during a 5-1 loss to the visiting Kamloops Blazers on Tuesday night. Mattson hit D Shaun Dosanjh, who didn’t dress for a 2-1 OT loss to the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes on Wednesday and may not play this weekend. The Blazers are at home to the Medicine Hat Tigers tonight (Friday) and then visit Dosanjh’s previous team, the Prince George Cougars, on Saturday.
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The Spokane Chiefs have dropped D Trent Huitema, 18, from their roster. Huitema, from Chilliwack, B.C., has been on the Chiefs’ protected list for three years and will stay there. He had one goal in six games with Spokane this season. Huitema is expected to end up playing in the BCHL.
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The Saskatoon Blades have released F Chasetan Braid, 19, who was pointless in eight games. He is expected to join the AJHL’s Lloydminster Bobcats. Braid also has played for the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers.
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The Kamloops Blazers have brought in F Brodi Stuart, 16, for the weekend. According to a news release, Stuart is to practice with the Blazers “and may suit up for the weekend.” . . . Stuart, from Langley, B.C., has 10 points, including five goals, in eight games with the major midget Fraser Valley Thunderbirds. . . . He was a fourth-round pick in the 2014 WHL bantam draft.
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The SJHL’s La Ronge Ice Wolves, who fired general manager/head coach Shawn Martin on Oct. 23, continued their reorganization on Thursday. No, they haven’t yet hired a new GM/head coach; assistant coach Eric Bell is the acting head coach. Rather, they have fired head scout Sean Phaneuf. They also added Patrick Lacelle as assistant general manager and head scout. Lacelle had been scouting for the Ice Wolves in eastern Canada and the U.S.
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It’s Friday. It’s been a trying week. You need a good laugh. Right? . . . That being the case, you should click right here. Christopher Spata of the Tampa Bay Times tracked down Florida Man — actually, 11 of them — and asked one question: Clinton or Trump? . . . Florida Man? As Spata writes: “Florida Man has made some bad decisions. He has punched swans in Orlando, woken up in garbage trucks in Tampa and called 911 from St. Augustine to brag about his muscles.” . . . It’s all right here and it’s hilarious.
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Got a tip or some information you feel could be useful to me, feel free to email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.
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THURSDAY’S GAMES:
No Games Scheduled.
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FRIDAY’S GAMES (all times local):
Seattle at Brandon, 7:30 p.m.
Medicine Hat at Kamloops, 7 p.m.
Edmonton at Moose Jaw, 7 p.m.
Kootenay at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
Saskatoon at Regina, 7 p.m.
Red Deer at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
Calgary at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
Portland vs. Tri-City, at Kennewick, Wash., 7:05 p.m.
Kelowna vs. Vancouver, at Langley, B.C., 7:30 p.m.
Lethbridge at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
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.
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