Quiet Thursday rocked by two WHL trades; d-man, goalie on move ... Hey, Tri-City, Eli's coming!

Kelly Olynyk and Connor McDavid now make the same money. Take a drink. A big one.

— Kevin Paul Dupont (@GlobeKPD) July 7, 2017

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G Ville Kolppanen (Lethbridge, 2009-10) has signed a one-year contract with Rögle Ängelholm (Sweden, SHL). Last season, with Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk (Russia, KHL), he was 9-14-3, 2.80, .917 in 30 games. He also had two shutouts. . . .

D Alex Plante (Calgary, 2004-09) has signed a one-year extension with Anyang Halla (South Korea, Asia HL). Last season, he had 12 goals and 12 assists in 48 games. He led all Asia League defencemen in goals. Plante has dual South Korean-Canadian citizenship.

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The Saskatoon Blades have acquired D Seth Bafaro, 17, from the Tri-City Americans in exchange for a

SETH BAFARO

pair of WHL bantam draft picks — a third-rounder selection in 2019 and a fifth-round pick in 2020.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Bafaro, who is from Revelstoke, B.C., had one assist in 28 games with the Americans last season as a 16-year-old freshman. He battled injuries through the season, which limited his playing time.

Tri-City selected him in the third round of the 2015 bantam draft.

With the addition of Bafaro, the Blades could have seven defencemen in training camp with WHL experience. Only Bryton Sayers, who has used up his eligibility, won’t be back.

The Americans, with a surplus of young defencemen, were able to move Bafaro and get a decent return in a pair of draft picks.

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The Spokane Chiefs have acquired G Declan Hobbs from the Kootenay Ice for a seventh-round selection in the 2018 WHL bantam draft.

A third-round pick by the Ice in the 2013 draft, Hobbs, who is scheduled to turn 19 on Aug. 19, got into

DECLAN HOBBS

three games with Kootenay last season, going 0-3, 7.16, .800. He spent most of last season with the SJHL’s Nipawin Hawks (1.94, .929 in 13 games).

In 2015-16, Hobbs, who is from Saskatoon, made 24 appearances with the Ice, going 2-14-3, 4.66, .873.

With the acquisition of Hobbs, the Chiefs now have one goaltender from each of five age groups on their depth chart, the others being Dawson Weatherill, 18; Donovan Buskey, 17; Ross Hawryluk, 16; and Campbell Arnold, 15. Hawryluk, a fifth-round pick in the 2016 bantam draft, and Arnold, taken in the second round in 2017, aren’t signed to WHL contracts.

Weatherill was 11-14-6 in 36 games last season, while Buskey, in four games, went 0-2-1, 4.25, .866.

Hobbs is the younger brother of Regina Pats D Connor Hobbs, who has signed with the NHL’s Washington Capitals.

Barring more moves, the Ice is expected to go into camp with Mario Petit, 20, and Jakob Walter, 18, scrapping for the starting role. Petit was acquired from the Everett Silvertips in May for a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2018 draft.

In Everett, Petit backed up veteran workhorse Carter Hart. In 22 games, Petit was 11-5-4, 2.93, .896.

Walter, a second-round pick in the 2014 bantam draft, got into 30 games while backing up Payton Lee, then 20, last season. Walter finished 4-17-2, 5.02, .868.

Also on the Ice depth chart are the likes of Jesse Makaj and Carter Woodside, both 16. Makaj, from North Vancouver, was a second-round pick in the 2016 bantam draft, while Woodside, from Asquith, Sask., was a sixth-round selection in that same draft.

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“Former B.C. Lions’ defensive lineman Rick Klassen may have died of lymphoma in December, but an autopsy of his brain has shown extensive chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a neurological disease that has led to such suspected symptoms as erratic behaviour and dementia,” writes Allan Maki of The Globe and Mail. . . . This one hits close to home, because Klassen’s son, Chad, is an acquaintance as he is a reporter with CFJC-TV here in Kamloops. As well, Rick Klassen played in the CFL while I was involved in coverage for the Regina Leader-Post. . . . One really has to wonder how many more stories like this one will develop as players of Rick Klassen’s generation reach 60 years of age? . . . Maki’s story is right here.

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The Tri-City Americans have hired Eli Wilson as their goaltending coach. He replaces Rejean Beauchemin, who had been with the Americans for two seasons. . . . Wilson is a veteran goaltending coach who has worked with the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks and Ottawa Senators. He also has been on staff with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants. . . . Jerry Price, the father of G Carey Price of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens, remains with the Americans as a goaltending consultant. Carey spent four seasons (2003-07) with the Americans.

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Jason Christie, a former WHL player, is the new head coach of the ECHL’s Jacksonville IceMen, who are affiliated with the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets. Christie is a veteran ECHL coach, having put up a record of 547-349-111 in 14 seasons. He also has a history with the Jets, having worked with previous affiliates in Ontario and Tulsa. He spent the past two seasons as the Tulsa Oilers’ head coach. Prior to that, he was the Ontario Reign’s director of hockey operations and head coach for four seasons. . . . Christie, from Gibbons, Alta., played four seasons (1986-90) with the Saskatoon Blades. . . . The Jacksonville franchise has morphed from the Muskegon Fury (1992-2008) to the Muskegon Lumberjacks (2008-10) to the Evansville IceMen (2010-16). The franchise sat out the 2016-17 season.

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Floor is coming along now at the @InnovationCU #iplex. Heat lines in & final layer of sand going down @SCBroncos home opener in 13 weeks! pic.twitter.com/vs5enKNFjN

— Jamie LeBlanc (@Butter_29) July 6, 2017

Brand NEW rinkboards being installed today by the great staff @ProsperaPlace #NewSeason #NewBoards #PuckMarks #Gerry #Kelowna 🚀🐉🌞 pic.twitter.com/eENYQDz59n

— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) July 6, 2017

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Owners prepping plan for new Ice age ... Pats, T-Birds take control; series resume Sunday

When the host Ottawa Senators opened the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers on Thursday night, there were more than 2,000 empty seats in the Canadian Tire Centre.

The howls of outrage could be heard all the way to Kamloops. Where were the fans?

According to Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen, “Ticket prices jump for Round 1 playoff tickets and jump again for Round 2. Those $25-$30 cheap seats in the regular season become $100. Lower-level seats are about $300, rich by local standards even if most other NHL clubs charge more.”

It likely didn’t help, either, that a parking lot close to the arena jacked up its fee fro $20 to $30.

And did I mention that a double bacon cheeseburger and a tall boy beer would total $27.75?

At some point, and perhaps we’re there now, sporting fans are going to tire of paying high prices to watch athletes who pull down much higher salaries than they do. Those in the corporate seats may always be there, but the average folks, I think, have about run out of the funds necessary to watch a lot of professional sports.

I have always found it interesting when people, often media types who can’t remember the last time they had to pay for a ticket, question the loyalty of fans because they, for whatever reason, choose not to fork over their hard-earned dollars, not even for a playoff game.

Of course, then there’s Edmonton, where thousands show up at Rogers Place even when the Oilers are playing a playoff game away from home. Last night, the winner of the 50/50 draw went home with $51,522.

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Two recent headlines of note . . . 

At TheOnion.com: Clogged rain causes Orioles’ dugout to overflow with chewing-tobacco spit.

At The kicker.com: LeBron passes Popovich for most wins by active head coach.

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Saw a young lady today who was wearing those cut up jeans that seem so popular these days. Had a thought: How do you put those on without catching your toes in the holes and causing even more damage?

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I spent 17 years at the Regina Leader-Post, the last 12 as sports editor, and for a lot of that time the Saskatchewan Roughriders weren’t far removed from the youngster next door with the lemonade stand. They were far removed from the big business that they are today. How much have times changed? The organization swallowed another $36,500 in fines on Friday, something that ran the tab to $116,500 since Aug. 2. . . . As Rob Vanstone of The Leader-Post writes right here: “Six figures worth of sanctions do not take into account other questionable moves by the Roughriders.” . . . Ohh, how times have changed!

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Hey, Sportsnet, how about getting rid of the giant computer-generated logos that you love to put up on the hitters’ background on the camera shot from behind home plate? There is a reason why that background is big and blank.

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The Toronto Blue Jays jettisoned backup catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia on Friday, then went out and blew a 3-1 seventh-inning lead in losing 7-4 to the visiting Tampa Bay Rays, who hit three eighth-inning home runs. Can we assume, then, that the 6-17 start wasn’t Saltalamacchia’s fault, even if he was only 1-for-25? . . . The Toronto bullpen now has blown eight of 12 save opportunities.

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The NHL’s Calgary Flames have lost 29 straight games in Anaheim; Calgary last won there on April 25, 2006. The Edmonton Oilers just posted two victories there in three days.

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D Spencer Humphries (Tri-City, Calgary, 2008-13) has signed a one-year extension with the Stavanger Oilers (Norway, GET-Ligaen). This season, in 45 games, he had 14 goals and 19 assists. Humphries led the league’s defencemen in goals as the Oilers won the Norwegian championship. . . .

F David Vrbata (Calgary, 2000-01) has announced his retirement from hockey. This season, with Neumarkt/Egna (Italy, Alps HL), he had fige goals and six assists in 12 games. He had four assists in 12 games with Benátky and Jizerou (Czech Republic, 1. Liga). Vrbata has accepted an offer to work in the marketing department for Czech Extraliga team Mladá Boleslav. He is from Mladá Boleslav.

G Chet Pickard (Tri-City, 2005-09) has signed a two-year contract with Adler Mannheim (Germany, DEL). This season, with the Iserlohn Roosters (Germany, DEL), he was 6-14, 2.98, .920 in 26 games.

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Matt Cockell, the new president and general manager of the Kootenay Ice, says he and partner Greg Fettes will need help to get the WHL franchise back on track.

“We wouldn’t be getting into this if we weren’t confident that we could make it a success,” Cockell told Cranbrook radio station Summit 107 FM. “Of course, in order to do that, we are going to need the help of everybody — we’re going to need the help of the community, we’re going to need the help of the city,

MATT COCKELL

we’re going to need the help of the entire East Kootenay region.”

The WHL’s board of governors unanimously approved the transfer of the franchise from the Chynoweth family to Fettes and Cockell, both of whom have been headquartered in Winnipeg, on Thursday.

Earlier this month, Fettes and Cockell are said to have met with Lee Pratt, the mayor of Cranbrook, for about five hours. Mayor Pratt has told people that he felt “very positive” about the meeting.

"This really is the City of Cranbrook and the East Kootenay region's team,” Cockell said. “That's how my partner, Greg, and I are approaching this, and in order for that partnership to be something that's really exciting and allows everybody to participate, we need to first and foremost get the chance to hear what that means for everybody.

"The franchise in its current state needs some investment, and that's what we're going to do. We're going to come in and we're prepared to invest and engage all the stakeholders. Our sincere hope and commitment is to ensure the long term viability of the Kootenay Ice in Cranbrook.”

WHL commissioner Ron Robison told the Cranbrook Townsman that the new ownership’s plans will be “contingent, obviously, on the level of support from the community.”

Robison went one step further, in fact, and used the word “immediately.”

“The attendance levels are at a point where they need to improve immediately,” he said, “and (the new owners) are focused not only on being very engaged in the community but (also) on improving the fan experience in the building.”

The Ice plays in the 4,264-seat Western Financial Place, which also has room for 352 standees. This season, the Ice had the poorest average attendance (1,754) in the 22-team league. that was down from 1,957 in 2015-16 and 2,239 in 2014-15.

There was a time, in the early 2000s, when the Ice drew more than 3,000 fans per game.

Of course, on the other hand, had the taxpayers of Nanaimo voted to allow city council to borrow $80 million that would have gone towards a new arena, the moving vans would be in Cranbrook and the Ice would be moving to Vancouver Island in time for the 2017-18 season.

Nanaimo taxpayers voted 80 per cent not to allow city council to borrow the money, so the Ice now has new owners who are about to get to work in Cranbrook.

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Austria and Korea have advanced to the top division of the IIHF World Championship after finishing in the top two spots at the Division I Group A championship that concluded Friday in Kyiv, Ukraine. . . . Austria finished the tournament in top spot after beating Poland, 11-0, in the final game. The Austria roster includes F Brian Lebler, who was a seventh-round selection by the Kamloops Blazers in the WHL’s 2003 bantam draft. He had four goals and an assist in five games. . . . Korea finished second after scoring a 2-1 shootout victory over host Ukraine. D Alex Plante, a former WHLer, is on the Korean roster. He had two goals and an assist in three games. . . . Plante was named to the tournament all-star team, was was F Nigel Dawes, another former WHLer, who plays for Kazakhstan. Dawes led the tournament in goals (5) and was tied for the points lead (9), in five games. . . . Former NHLer Jim Paek is the Korean team’s head coach. He won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins. . . . The 2018 World Championship is scheduled to be played in Copenhagen and Herning, Denmark.

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In the OHL, the host Erie Otters scored a 4-2 victory over the Owen Sound Attack on Friday and now lead the Western Conference final, 3-2. Game 6 is scheduled for Sunday in Owen Sound. The winner of that series will meet the Mississauga Steelheads in the championship final.

In the QMJHL, the host Saint John Sea Dogs blanked the Chicoutimi Sagueneens, 4-0, to take a 3-2 lead in that semifinal. Game 6 is scheduled for Sunday in Chicoutimi. . . . The other semifinal, featuring the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and Charlottetown Islanders, resumes today. The Aramada holds a 3-1 lead as they go into Charlottetown for Game 5.

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Six years for the IceCaps, 20 years of @TheAHL hockey in St. John's. Thank you, thank you, thank you. pic.twitter.com/4Q7nxAwP2g

— St. John's IceCaps (@IceCapsAHL) April 29, 2017

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FRIDAY’S GAMES:

Thank you and congrats to K9 for 40 years. @keithhershphoto #yqr @BrandtCentre #amazing #40years #JoinTheRegiment pic.twitter.com/ANwyk9iEOC

— #JoinTheRegiment (@WHLPats) April 29, 2017

At Regina, F Adam Brooks drew four assists to lead the Pats to a 5-3 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. . . . Regina now leads the Eastern Conference, 3-2, with Game 6 scheduled for Lethbridge

ADAM BROOKS

on Sunday. . . . Brooks, the Pats’ captain, has seven points over the last two games. . . . Last night, Regina F Dawson Leedahl broke a 3-3 tie with his 11th goal of these playoffs, at 6:25 of the third period. Leedahl one-time a nifty backhand pass from Brooks, who was cruising behind the Lethbridge net. . . . Leedahl has goals in three straight games. . . . F Josh Tarzwell gave Lethbridge a 1-0 lead at 2:53 of the first period as he scored his first WHL playoff goal. He left shortly after that with an undisclosed injury and didn’t return. . . . The Pats tied it as D Josh Mahura (3) scored at 15:37. . . . Lethbridge went back in front when F Ryan Vandervlis, who had eight regular-season goals, scored his seventh of the playoffs, on a PP, at 3:04 of the second period. . . . The Pats took the lead on second-period goals from F Sam Steel (8), on a PP, at 5:10, and F Filip Ahl (3), at 11:29. That was Ahl’s first goal of the series. . . . Lethbridge pulled even at 13:54 as F Egor Babenko got his ninth goal. . . . That set the stage for Leedahl’s winner, with F Austin Wagner (13) adding an empty-netter at 19:57. . . . Shortly after Leedahl’s goal, the Hurricanes found themselves with a 5-on-3 PP for 1:30, but they weren’t able to score. . . . Wagner also had two assists, with Steel and Leedahl adding one each. . . . Vandervlis added an assist to his goal for Lethbridge. . . . G Tyler Brown earned the victory with 29 saves, three more than Lethbridge’s Stuart Skinner. . . . Regina was 1-2 on the PP; Lethbridge was 1-4. . . . The Pats had the speedy Wagner back in the lineup after he missed the previous game with an undisclosed injury. . . . The Hurricanes again scratched F Matt Alfaro, and they also took out F Ryan Bowen. . . . Announced attendance: 6,484, the 23rd sellout at the Brandt Centre this season.

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Watching Ethan Bear in pre-game skate. Attempts to shoot but his left hand, where injury occurred, can not stay on stick on follow through.

— Regan Bartel (@Reganrant) April 29, 2017

Based on warm-ups, I can't imagine Bear plays tonight. Not seeing anything on his wrist shot at all. Hasn't even wound up for a slapper.

— Tim Pigulski (@tpigulski) April 29, 2017

At Kent, Wash., the Seattle Thunderbirds broke a 2-2 tie with a pair of late second-period goals and went on to a 5-3 victory over the Kelowna Rockets. . . . The Thunderbirds hold a 3-2 lead in the Western

ALEXANDER TRUE

Conference final with Game 6 in Kelowna on Sunday. . . . In a game that featured 18 power-plays and six PP goals, Seattle took advantage of two Kelowna turnovers to grab a 2-0 first-period lead, F Scott Eansor (5) scoring while shorthanded at 3:15 and F Sami Moilanen (4) counting on a breakaway at 10:57. . . . Kelowna pulled even on PP goals from F Calvin Thurkauf (8), at 12:07 of the first period, and F Nick Merkley (6), at 9:23 of the second. . . . Seattle countered with a pair of PP goals in a span of 1:20 late in the period. F Alexander True (6) broke the 2-2 tie at 17:34 and F Ryan Gropp (4) added insurance at 18:54. . . . True added a second goal, on another PP, at 6:57 of the third period. . . . Kelowna F Dillon Dube (7) completed the scoring with, yes, another PP goal, at 19:25. . . . Seattle was 3-8 on the PP; Kelowna was 3-10. . . . Seattle F Mathew Barzal had three assists, with D Turner Ottenbreit adding two and Moilanen one. . . . The Rockets got two assists from D Cal Foote. . . . The Thunderbirds got 37 saves from G Carl Stankowski, while Kelowna’s Michael Herringer turned aside 19. . . . Seattle D Ethan Bear took the pregame warmup but it was apparent that he was having difficulty handling the puck and he was scratched. He suffered a hand injury — Taking Note has been told that there is a break — while blocking a shot late in Game 4. . . . Seattle G Rylan Toth was scratched again. He has yet to dress for a playoff game. . . . With Bear out, D Jake Lee, a 16-year-old who played four regular-season games, made his WHL playoff debut with Seattle. . . . Announced attendance: 5,001.

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SATURDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

No Games Scheduled.

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SUNDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Seattle at Kelowna, 5:05 p.m. (Seattle leads, 3-2)

Regina at Lethbridge, 6 p.m. (Regina leads, 3-2)

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Now that's a road trip! . . . WHLers get U.S. camp invitations. . . . Popcorn guy stays with 'Tips

D Alex Plante (Calgary, 2004-09) signed a one-year contract with Anyang Halla (South Korea, Asia HL). Last season, with Lørenskog (Norway, GET-Ligaen), he had six goals and nine assists in 43 games. He also led the league with 189 penalty minutes. . . .
F Brandon Kozun (Calgary, 2006-10) signed a one-year contract with Jokerit Helsinki (Finland, KHL). Last season, he had two goals and two assists with the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), and five goals and six assists in 23 games with the Toronto Marlies (AHL).
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Some note from The MacBeth Report on the KHL . . .
The KHL held its annual meeting on Wednesday and confirmed 28 teams for this season, the same number as last season. The only change is that Atlant Mytishchi, which is in the Moscow area, is out and Spartak Moscow returns. . . . Teams will play a 60-game regular-season schedule that will start on Monday, Aug. 24 and end on Thursday, Feb. 18. . . . The playoffs will end no later than April 19. . . . Each team will play every other team twice (home and away), and each team will play six additional games against geographically close teams. That means that Jokerit Helsinki will make one road trip to Khabarovsk and Vladivostok in the Russian Far East, 6,749 km away. Vancouver is closer to Vladivostok at 4,595 km. To put this into a North American perspective, Edmonton to London, England, is 6,811 km. The two NHL franchises separated by the most distance are probably the Vancouver Canucks and Florida Panthers, with Vancouver to Fort Lauderdale being a distance of 4,495 km. . . . Earlier reports stated that the Russian Ministry of Sport is responsible for drafting the schedule and it will be set up to accommodate all Russian National Team games and practices.  . . . Jokerit has said the schedule will be released by the end of June.
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Six players off WHL rosters have been invited by USA Hockey to attend its summer evaluation camp. . . . G Evan Sarthou and D Brandon Carlo of the Tri-City Americans, F Scott Eansor of the Seattle Thunderbirds, and F Dominic Turgeon, D Caleb Jones and F Paul Bittner of the Portland Winterhawks are expected to attend the evaluation camp in Lake Placid, N.Y., Aug. 1-8.
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James Stucky, the Everett Silvertips’ equipment manager since the birth of the franchise in 2003, has signed a contract extension. Stucky, 41, is preparing for his 13th season with the Silvertips. . . . The team didn’t announce the length of the extension. . . . He is scheduled to work his 1,500th regular-season game when the Brandon Wheat Kings visit Everett on Oct. 28. . . . It’s worth noting that he has been around the WHL for a long time, having worked as a stickboy with the Seattle Thunderbirds in the late 1980s. He also worked as a game-day assistant with the Tacoma Rockets. . . . Stucky also is one of the founders of the WHL Popcorn Poll, which tracks the quality of popcorn in arenas throughout the league.
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THE COACHING GAME:

Ron Rolston is the new head coach of the Springfield Falcons, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes. Rolston, 48, was the head coach of the Buffalo Sabres for 51 games (2012-14). He also spent two seasons (2011-13) as the head coach of Buffalo’s AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. . . . Last season, he worked as pro scout with the Coyotes. . . . Also in the AHL, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced that veteran coach Mike Sullivan has been signed as head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, while Terry Murray has left the Lehigh Valley Phantoms to work as an assistant coach with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. . . . John Hynes, who had been the head coach of the AHL’s Penguins, now is head coach of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils.
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Brent Gough is leaving the BCHL’s West Kelowna Warriors to join the Arizona Bobcats AAA program. . . . Gough, who had been with the Warriors for five seasons, had been the assistant general manager and associate head coach. He will continue as the Warriors’ assistant GM and director of player personnel. . . . According to a Warriors’ news release, he is joint the Bobcats “to help align him with his career goals of coaching in NCAA hockey.” . . . GM/head coach Rylan Ferster announced that Shae Naka is the Warriors’ new assistant coach. Naka worked with the Warriors a couple of seasons ago, before spending last season at the Pursuit of Excellence.
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Very proud of my two daughters tonight! @emmaaa_39 JV Athlete of the Year @Madietaylor99 Coaches Awards! pic.twitter.com/ZUSnLNII5Y

— Chewy (@millchew) June 19, 2015

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Oil Kings, Rockets draw first blood

F Tyler Redenbach (Prince George, Swift Current, Lethbridge, 2001-05) has signed a one-year extension with Pelicans Lahti (Finland, Liiga). This season, Redenbach had three goals and 33 assists in 47 games. He was fourth in the Liiga in assists. Next season will be his sixth in Liiga. Redenbach is a former WHL scoring champion (Swift Current, 2003-04, 105 points). . . .
HPK Hämeenlinna (Finland, Liiga) has exercised an option on D Craig Schira (Regina, Vancouver, 2003-09) for next season. This season with HPK, Schira had 25 points, including six goals, in 54 games. He wasn’t able to finish the season after suffering a shoulder injury in March. . . .
D Alex Plante (Calgary, 2004-09) signed a one-year deal with Lørenskog (Norway, GET-Ligaen), joining his brother Tyler. This season with Dornbirn (Austria, Erste Bank Liga), Alex had 13 points, including three goals, in 54 games. . . .
G Tyler Plante (Brandon, 2003-07) has signed a one-year extension with Lørenskog (Norway, GET-Ligaen). This season, in 17 games, he was 2.28 and .917, leaving him fifth in the league in both categories. His season was ended early by a knee injury.
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Spiros Anastas, an assistant coach with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, is the new head coach of the U of Lethbridge Pronghorns. Anastas, 28, will remain with the Griffins through the end of their season. From Mississauga, Ont., he is in his second season in Grand Rapids. . . . Anastas, who worked as the general manager of the BCHL’s Alberni Valley Bulldogs for part of 2012-13, replaces Greg Gatto, who was fired after the season. . . . The Griffins are the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings. Detroit head coach Mike Babcock was the head coach at the U of Lethbridge for one season (1993-94) and Detroit assistant coach Bill Peters filled the position from 2002-05).
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F Patrick Khodorenko, a second-round pick by the Everett Silvertips in the 2013 WHL bantam draft, has committed to the U.S. National Team Development Program’s U-17 team. A native of Walnut Creek, Calif., Khodorenko, who won’t turn 16 until Oct. 13, has played the last two seasons in the Detroit Honeybaked program.
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The QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts will be the host team for the 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup tournament. . . . The Chicoutimi Sagueneens were the only other team to bid on the event that is held each year in May. . . . The 2015 Memorial Cup is scheduled to be the last major event held in the Pepsi Colisee, which seats 15,000. A new arena is being built in Quebec City. . . . This year’s tournament is to be held in London, Ont.
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The BCHL’s Chilliwack Chiefs have hired Jason Tatarnic as general manager and head coach. He replaces Harvey Smyl, who has stepped aside after 21 years with the Chiefs. . . . Tararnic, 41, spent eight seasons with the Maritime junior league’s Woodstock Slammers, who reached the Royal Bank Cup final in the spring of 2012. He didn’t coach this season after the Slammers underwent an ownership change.
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The Calgary Hitmen will celebrate their 20th anniversary season in 2014-15 and, with that in mind, they have unveiled a special sweater, one that harkens back to that first season and also salutes nameskake Bret (Hitman) Hart, one of the franchise’s original owners. . . . According to a news release: “The limited edition retro jersey includes two shoulder patches; one that features Hart’s famous words, ‘The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be’, while the opposite shoulder is dressed with the historic Hitmen starburst logo.’
The photo at the top, from Hart's Instagram account, shows him wearing one of the limited edition sweaters while backstage at Wrestlemania in New Orleans.
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THE SECOND ROUND (best-of-seven; all times local):
(x - if necessary)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
EDMONTON (1) vs. BRANDON (7)
(Edmonton leads, 1-0)
Season series: Edmonton, 3-1-0; Brandon, 1-2-1.
Thursday: Brandon 0at Edmonton 5 (5,899)
Saturday: Brandon at Edmonton, noon
Tuesday: Edmonton at Brandon, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Edmonton at Brandon, 7 p.m.
x-Friday, April 11: Brandon at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
x-Monday, April 14: Edmonton at Brandon, 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 16: Brandon at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Edmonton: F Brandon Baddock, day-to-day; D Blake Orban, day-to-day.
Brandon: G Curtis Honey, day-to-day.
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MEDICINE HAT (4) vs. KOOTENAY (6)
Season series: Medicine Hat, 3-3-0; Kootenay, 3-3-0.
Saturday: Kootenay at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday: Kootenay at Medicine Hat, 6 p.m.
Wednesday: Medicine Hat at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
Thursday: Medicine Hat at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
x-Saturday, April 12: Kootenay at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.
x-Monday, April 14: Medicine Hat at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 16: Kootenay at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.
(NOTE: Kootenay plays home games in Cranbrook, B.C.)
INJURIES
Medicine Hat: F Anthony Ast, indefinite; F Gavin Broadhead, day-to-day; F Hunter Shinkaruk, indefinite.
Kootenay: F Tim Bozon, indefinite; F Ryan Chynoweth, indefinite; D Tyler King, day-to-day; D Tanner Faith, 3-5 months.
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WESTERN CONFERENCE
KELOWNA (1) vs. SEATTLE (4)
(Kelowna leads, 1-0)
Season series: Kelowna, 2-1-1; Seattle, 2-1-1.
Thursday: Seattle 2 at Kelowna 6 (4,581)
Saturday: Seattle at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
Tuesday: Kelowna at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday: Kelowna at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
x-Friday, April 11: Seattle at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
x-Sunday, April 13: Kelowna at Seattle, 5:05 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 15: Seattle at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
(NOTE: Seattle plays home games in Kent, Wash.)
INJURIES
Kelowna: F Myles Bell, day-to-day.
Seattle: F Connor Honey, indefinite.
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PORTLAND (2) vs. VICTORIA (3)
(Series televised by Shaw-TV)
Season series: Portland, 1-1-2; Victoria, 3-1-0.
Friday: Victoria at Portland (Veterans Memorial Coliseum), 7 p.m.
Saturday: Victoria at Portland (Moda Center), 7 p.m.
Monday: Portland at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
Tuesday: Portland at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
x-Thursday: Victoria at Portland (Moda Center), 7, p.m.
x-Saturday, April 12: Portland at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
x-Monday, April 14: Victoria at Portland (Veterans Memorial Coliseum), 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Portland: None.
Victoria: None.
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THURSDAY’S GAMES:

In Edmonton, G Tristan Jarry stopped 15 shots as the Oil Kings dumped the Brandon Wheat Kings, 5-0. . . . Edmonton leads the second-round series 1-0 with Game 2 scheduled for Saturday afternoon in Edmonton. . . . The shutout was Jarry’s first career playoff blank job. . . . Edmonton F Brett Pollock scored his fourth goal of these playoffs at 1:50 of the first period and the Oil Kings were off and running. . . . Brandon G Jordan Papirny stopped 40 shots. With Curtis Honey, their other goaltender scratched with an undisclosed injury, the Wheat Kings had Logan Thompson backing up Papirny. A sixth-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft, Thompson turned 17 on Feb. 25. From Calgary, he played for the midget AAA Calgary Buffaloes. . . . Pollock also had an assist, while F Edgars Kulda had a goal and an assist, and D Griffin Reinhart had two helpers. . . . Kulda has two goals in the playoffs. . . . F Mads Eller, D Ashton Sautner and F Henrik Samuelsson each scored his first goal. . . . Edmonton was 2-for-7 on the PP; Brandon was 0-for-2. . . .


In Kelowna, D Damon Severson scored twice and added two assists as the Rockets beat the Seattle Thunderbirds, 6-2. . . . Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday in Kelowna. . . . The Rockets scored in the final minute of each of the first two periods, giving them leads of 3-1 and 5-2. . . . F Cole Linaker and F Ryan Olsen each had a goal and an assist for Kelowna, while F Nick Merkley had two assists. . . . Seattle F Mathew Barzal scored at 7:44 of the first period to cut Kelowna’s lead to 2-1. . . . Severson scored on a PP at 19:42 for a 3-1 edge. . . . Seattle F Alexander Delnov made it 3-2 at 3:07 of the second, but Olsen upped that to 4-2 at 13:04, on a PP, and D Madison Bowey added another at 19:49. . . . Kelowna was 3-for-6 on the PP; Seattle was 0-for-3. . . . Kelowna G Jordon Cooke turned aside 23 shots, seven fewer than Seattle’s Taran Kozun.
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From Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey): “We’re happy to report @Mcally15 underwent successful surgery to repair a jaw fracture & are hopeful he'll be back sometime during the playoffs.”
That would be F Mitchell Callahan of the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins, whose selfie was posted here yesterday.


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Card to play in Germany

THE MacBETH REPORT:
G Brian Boucher (Tri-City, 1994-97) signed a one-year contract with Zug (Switzerland, NL A). He had a 2.50 GAA and a .891 save percentage in four games with the Philadelphia Flyers (NHL) and a 2.57 GAA and a .905 save percentage in 16 games with the Adirondack Phantoms (AHL) last season. . . .
D Alex Plante (Calgary, 2004-09) signed a one-year contract with Dornbirn (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). He had one goal and two assists in 49 games with the Oklahoma City Barons (AHL) last season. . . .
F Lance Monych (Brandon, 1999-2005) signed a one-year contract with Esbjerg (Denmark, AL-Bank Liga). He had 16 goals and 15 assists in 13 games with Löwen Frankfurt (Germany, Oberliga) last season. . . .
D Mike Card (Kelowna, 2002-06) signed a one-year contract with Heilbronner Falken (Germany, 2. Bundesliga). He had three goals and eight assists in 45 games with Tingsryd (Sweden, Allsvenskan) last season.
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More from The MacBeth Report . . .
There are a total of 18 players with WHL ties who have been selected to national junior teams participating in the USA Hockey National Junior evaluation camp tournament in Lake Placid, N.Y., Aug. 4-10. It is a four-team tournament with Canada, Finland and Sweden joining host USA.
Fourteen players from the WHL were selected by Canada: G Eric Comrie (Tri-City), D Ryan Pulock (Brandon), D Dillon Heatherington (Swift Current), D Damon Severson (Kelowna), D Josh Morrissey (Prince Albert), D Derrick Pouliot (Portland), D Mathew Dumba (Red Deer), F Hunter Shinkaruk (Medicine Hat), F Nic Petan (Portland), F Sam Reinhart (Kootenay), F Curtis Lazar (Edmonton), F Brendan Leipsic (Portland), D Griffin Reinhart (Edmonton, not travelling to Lake Placid), and D Morgan Rielly (Moose Jaw, not travelling to Lake Placid). The WHL also has four off-ice selections: head coach Brent Sutter (Red Deer), assistant coach Ryan McGill (Kootenay), equipment manager Steve Hildebrand (Saskatoon), and Bruce Hamilton (Kelowna, part of the team management group).
Finland selected two players for its roster who were chosen by WHL teams in the CHL import draft earlier this month – D Julius Honka (JYP Jyväskylä, chosen by Swift Current) and F Artturi Lehkonen (KalPa Kuopio, Kootenay).
USA Hockey has one WHL player on its roster – F Henrik Samuelsson (Edmonton).
Former Tri-City F Malte Strömwall, who signed a two-year contract with Växjö Lakers (Sweden, Elitserien) in April, was named to Sweden’s roster.
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The Calgary Hitmen have signed F Beck Malenstyn to a WHL contract. Malenstyn, the 18th overall selection in the 2013 bantam draft, is from Delta, B.C. He played last season for a bantam team at the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton, B.C. He put up 119 points, including 62 goals, in 57 games.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Luke Richardson has received a one-year extension from the Ottawa Senators as head coach of their AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Senators. . . . Ottawa also agreed to one-year extensions with assistant coaches Steve Stirling and Matt Meacham. . . . All three now are signed through 2014-15. . . . Binghamton was 44-24-1-7 last season, Richardson’s first as a head coach. . . . Stirling is preparing for his four season as an assistant in Binghamton, while Meacham has been moved up from video coach to assistant coach. He has been with Binghamton for five seasons.
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Rod Aldoff is the new head coach of the SPHL’s Pensacola Ice Flyers. He has spent the past three seasons as the general manager and head coach of the Superior International Junior League’s Wisconsin/Minnesota Wilderness. . . . Aldoff is a native of Lethbridge. He got the Wilderness into the RBC Cup tournament last season. . . . The Wilderness has been around for only three seasons and has a 145-15-8 record in that time.

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