Hey folks @gdrinnan Taking Note is working just loading really slowly thanks to a new script from @blogger be patient. #SameGreatWriting— Terry Massey (@TerryMassey) July 6, 2017
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F Peter Quenneville (Brandon, 2013-15) has signed a one-year contract with Pardubice (Czech Republic, Extraliga). Last season, he had a leave-high 30 goals, along with 19 assists, in 45 games with Aalborg (Denmark, Metal Ligaen). He finished fourth in the league's scoring race. . . . Pardubice’s general manager is Dušan Salfický (Tri-City, 1990-91). . . .
F Riley Stadel (Kelowna, Edmonton, 2011-17) has signed a one-year contract with the Dundee Stars (Scotland, UK Elite). Last season, he had five goals and two assists in 29 games with the Kelowna Rockets (WHL), and two goals and eight assists in 16 games with the Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL). . . .
F Danis Zaripov (Swift Current, 1998-99) has signed a two-year contract with Ak Bars Kazan (Russia, KHL). Last season, as an alternate captain with Metallurg Magnitogorsk (Russia, KHL), he had 16 goals and 29 assists in 56 games. He added 15 goals and seven assists in 18 playoff games. He led the playoffs in goals. . . .
F Mike Aviani (Spokane, 2009-14) signed a one-year contract with Medveščak Zagreb (Croatia, Erste Bank Liga). He has dual Croatian-Canadian citizenship. Last season, as an alternate captain with the Florida Everblades (ECHL), he had five goals and 13 assists in 22 games. He also had two goals and three assists in 13 games with the Rochester Americans (AHL). . . .
D Tomáš Kudělka (Lethbridge, 2005-07) has signed a one-year contract with Medveščak Zagreb (Croatia, Erste Bank Liga). Last season, with Piráti Chomutov (Czech Republic, Extraliga), he had three goals and three assists in 37 games. . . .
F Evan Bloodoff (Kelowna, 2006-11) has signed a one-year contract with the Fife Flyers (Scotland, UK Elite). Last season, he had eight goals and eight assists in 36 games with the Florida Everblades (ECHL), and a goal and three assists in seven games with the Reading Royals (ECHL). . . .
F Pavel Karnaukhov (Calgary, 2014-16) has signed a three-year two-way extension with CSKA Moscow (Russia, KHL). Last season, he had one assist in 11 games. Karnaukov also played with CSKA farm club Zvezda Chekhov (Russia, Vysshaya Liga), scoring seven goals and adding 11 assists in 24 games. He also was pointless in two games with CSKA junior team Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (Russia, MHL).
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A tip of the cap to the good people of Swift Current.
As Cory Coleman of CBC News reports:
“Safe Places, a program launched in Swift Current early in 2016, has reached 1,000 certified members in just over a year.”
Safe Places is a program that was introduced to Swift Current by Respect Group Inc., an organization whose co-founder is Sheldon Kennedy, and Jerrod Schafer, a former mayor of Swift Current.
Kennedy, of course, was one of the players sexually abused by GM/head coach Graham James while both were with the Swift Current Broncos.
Safe Places aims to create
As Coleman reports:
“Safe Places trains and certifies people in the community who are interested in working with young people, such as coaches or instructors. . . . the program was created to ensure people working with youths are qualified, and to give parents peace of mind when their children participate in programs.”
Coleman’s report is right here, and here’s hoping more communities buy into Safe Places.
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As we all can imagine, I’m sure, there are so many things with which you have to concern yourself when you run a WHL team. Billets . . . trades . . . promotions . . . scheduling . . . signing players . . . and on and on.
These days, of course, you also have to be concerned with social media and the volcanoes that can erupt from any one of those outlets at any time of the day or night.
Sheesh, when you went to general managers’ school, there wasn’t any instruction on what to do if . . . a player soon to play in his first WHL season posted video on a social media site of the signing his first WHL contract, a video in which his pay scale is in evidence.
For the record, the player in question is to be paid $250 per month for each of his first two seasons, with an extra $300 a month should he be in the WHL as a 20-year-old.
Off the record, chances are he already has received a phone call from a general manager.
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Eight- and 12-game ticket pages now are available for the 2018 World Junior Championship that is scheduled to be held in Buffalo, Dec. 26 through Jan. 5.
The cheapest package, which features upper-level seats for eight games, including either the outdoor game between Canada and Team USA or the championship game, will set you back $400.
The same eight-game package in the lower level is going for $550.
The 12-game packs, which include the outdoor and championship games, are marked at $600 and $800.
All prices American, of course. No, single-game tickets aren’t yet available.
If you’re interested, you are able to order tickets by clicking right here.
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Ray Bennett, who has ties to the WHL, has joined the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche as an assistant coach. He will work alongside head coach Jared Bednar, assistant coach Nolan Pratt and goaltending coach Jussi Parkkila, who also was added on Friday. . . . Bennett, 55, spent the past 10 seasons as an assistant coach with the St. Louis Blues. He also spent seven seasons with the Los Angeles Kings. . . . In the WHL, he worked with the Spokane Chiefs and Moose Jaw Warriors.
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Jeff Bes is the new head coach of the SPHL’s Pensacola Ice Flyers. He spent the previous two seasons as the head coach of the SPHL’s Fayetteville FireAntz. . . . Prior to that, he was the head coach of the SPHL’s Mississippi Surge for three seasons. . . . With the Ice Flyers, he replaces Rod Aldoff, who left the club late in June.
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Schad Richea is the new athletic therapist at Brandon U, replacing Steve Dzubinski, who is retiring after 42 years. . . . Richea most recently worked with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, but also has spent time with the Calgary Flames, Calgary Vipers, the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Association and the U of Calgary. . . . He also has worked in the WHL with the Regina Pats (1997-2004). . . . Interestingly, the Okanagan Hockey Academy had named Richea its manager of athletic therapy and medical services on June 22.
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