Happy birthday to Wonder Woman! . . . Tigers writing quite a story . . . Stewart off Great Britain's roster

It is Wonder Woman’s birthday today (April 9). If you have been following her story over the past 18 months, you know that she really is our Wonder Woman. She’s not on Twitter or Facebook, but feel free to send her birthday greetings at ddrinnan52@gmail.com. . . . I know she’ll yell at me for doing this, but it’ll be worth it to see the look on her face when she checks her email.
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A week ago it was the @thewhl playoffs. Now I am selling these on the street. Tough one. pic.twitter.com/wVGUe5smQ3
— Steve Hamilton (@hamilton_steve) April 9, 2015

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The Medicine Hat Tigers aren’t much for bragging, but what they have accomplished of late is worth examining.
At the turn of the century, the Tigers were — let’s be honest — a mess.
In four straight seasons (1993-97), the Tigers won 29, 33, 38 and 30 games, enough to get them into the playoffs each season. But in those playoffs, they went 2-15 and were first-round losers each time.
But that was nothing compared to what awaited them.
You may recall that the Tigers missed the playoffs in each of the next five seasons (1997-2002), winning 16, 15, 21, 24 and 30 regular-season games.
Obviously, though, management used that time to settle on a plan, put it into action, and see it through. The right people were hired and put into place and allowed to do whatever it is that they do best.
The results have been terrific.
The Tigers are in the playoffs now for a 13th straight season. In those 13 springs, they have left in the first round on only one occasion — in 2008, after going 43-22-7, they were bounced in five games by the Kootenay Ice. That was hardly an upset, though, as the Central Division featured four teams with more than 90 regular-season points. The Calgary Hitmen finished first, with 47 victories and 99 points, followed by the Lethbridge Hurricane (45 and 96), Medicine Hat (43 and 93) and Kootenay (42 and 92).
Six times in those 13 seasons, the Tigers have gone out in the second round. They have lost the Eastern Conference final on three occasions. Twice, in 2004 and 2007, the Tigers won the WHL championship.
On Friday, they will be at home as they open a second-round series with the Hitmen.
Since shaking off the black cloud, the Tigers have come to be known as a team that plays the game the right way. They love to deploy a fleet of small, skilled forwards who love nothing more than to forecheck an opponent into submission. They employ defencemen with size who can move the puck. And for three seasons now their last line of defence has been Czech goaltender Marek Langhamer. If the CHL doesn’t come to its senses and drop the embargo, Langhamer is destined to be the answer to a trivia question — who was the last European goaltender to play in the WHL?
Still, no matter what happens over the rest of these WHL playoffs, it is obvious that Medicine Hat, which will vacate the Arena and move into the new Regional Event Centre in time for next season, has become one of the WHL’s model franchises.
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It isn’t as easy as one might think to get at least into the second round of the WHL playoffs with any kind of regularity. With the Medicine Hat Tigers in the playoffs for a 13th straight season and into the second round for a seventh straight spring, here’s a look at the 22 teams and their active streaks (consecutive seasons in playoffs, followed by consecutive seasons into at least the second round):
Brandon, 2 and 2.
Calgary, 4 and 1.
Edmonton, 5 and 0.
Everett, 12 and 1.
Kamloops, 0 and 0.
Kelowna, 8 and 3.
Kootenay, 17 and 0.
Lethbridge, 0 and 0.
Medicine Hat, 13 and 7.
Moose Jaw, 0 and 0.
Portland, 6 and 6.
Prince Albert, 0 and 0.
Prince George, 1 and 0.
Red Deer, 1 and 0.
Regina, 2 and 1.
Saskatoon, 0 and 0.
Seattle, 3 and 0.
Spokane, 9 and 0.
Swift Current, 3 and 0.
Tri-City, 12 and 0.
Vancouver, 0 and 0.
Victoria, 6 and 2.
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F Liam Stewart of the Spokane Chiefs has a shoulder injury so won’t play for Great Britain in the IIHF Division I Group B World champoinship in Eindhoven, Netherlands. That tournament runs from April 13-19. . . . Great Britain has added F Craig Peacock of the Belfast Giants to fill the spot meant for Stewart, 20. “Liam is so disappointed not to be coming but he has picked up a shoulder injury,” Pete Russell, Great Britain’s head coach, is quoted as saying at icehockeyuk.co.uk. “He has just had a really intense playoff series, including (Tuesday) night’s game which went to triple overtime, and his injury means he will not be able to travel. It is a shame for the lad but I am sure his time will come again in the future.”
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Three players from the Kootenay Ice were reassigned by NHL teams on Tuesday, two days after the team’s season ended. . . . F Sam Reinhart is off to the Rochester Americans, the AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. Reinhart, the second overall pick in the NHL’s 2014 draft, opened the season by playing nine games with Buffalo. He went on to help Canada win the 2015 World Junior Championship. In 47 regular-season games with the Ice, he had 65 points, including 19 goals. . . . F Tim Bozon was sent by the Montreal Canadiens to their AHL affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs. Bozon, who has used up his junior eligibility, was a third-round pick by the Canadiens in the 2012 NHL draft and he has signed with Montreal. This season, Bozon had 63 points, including 35 goals, in 57 regular-season games. . . .  D Rinat Valiev will join the Toronto Marlies, the AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Valiet, who turns 20 on May 11, was selected by the Maple Leafs in the third round of the NHL’s 2014 draft. He had 46 points, nine of them goals, in 52 regular-season games with the Ice this season. He also played for Russia at the 2015 World Junior Championship. . . . F Jaedon Descheneau of the Ice, who was fifth-round pick by the St. Louis Blues in the NHL’s 2014 draft, is joining the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. He has yet to sign with the Blues. This season he had 81 points, 34 of them goals, in 70 games this season.
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A CHL team filed for bankruptcy on Wednesday. Yes, it was the team for which the highly touted Connor McDavid plays.
“The Erie Otters filed for bankruptcy on Wednesday, a move owner Sherry Bassin insisted would not affect the Ontario Hockey League team's immediate future,” wrote Stephen Whyno of The Canadian Press. “Bassin said Erie Hockey Club Limited filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a way to prevent Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz's Ontario Major Junior Hockey Corporation from holding its own private sale of the Otters and their assets. Bassin still plans to sell the team and pay off creditors, including Katz, but said filing was necessary to protect the organization.”
Whyno’s story is right here.
The Otters open a second-round series tonight against the London Knights. That series features McDavid against the Knights’ Max Domi. Should be a good one.———




D Kyle Burroughs of the Medicine Hat Tigers has signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the NHL’s New York Islanders. Burroughs, 19, was a seventh-round pick by the Islanders in the NHL’s 2013 draft. The Tigers acquired him from the Regina Pats in January. He finished the regular-season with 39 points, including seven goals, in 66 games. . . .
F Brandon Baddock of the Edmonton Oil Kings has signed an ATO with the Albany Devils, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. Baddock, who turned 20 on March 29, had 40 points, 19 of them goals, in 71 games with the Oil Kings this season. He was a sixth-round pick by the Devils in the 2014 NHL draft, but has yet to sign with them. . . .
The AJHL’s Canmore Eagles have hired Barry Sawchuk as their head scout. Andrew Milne, the Eagle’s general manager, made the announcement earlier this week. Sawchuk, who spent the past two seasons has the head scout for the AJHL’s Lloydminster Bobcats, takes over from Jason Rycroft. Rycroft has been named the Eagles’ executive assistant responsible for player development. . . .
The Red Deer Rebels are poised to announce the signing of F Austin Pratt, who was a fourth-round pick in the 2014 bantam draft. Troy Gillard (@Troy_Gillard) tweeted Wednesday that Pratt “will be here Friday from Minnesota to sign with the club.” . . . The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Pratt is from Lakeville, Minn. The Rebels drafted him after he played for the bantam Tier 1 at Shattuck St. Mary’s in Faribault, Minn. This season, he put up 52 points, including 20 goals, in 55 games with Shattuck St. Mary’s U-16 midget team.
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@sunayas Kevin Constantine's full-page diving rant: $0
— Scott Sepich (@SSepich) April 8, 2015

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Cam Lanigan, here in a game against the Seattle Thunderbirds on Friday in
Everett, is one of five goaltenders still in camp with the Portland Winterhawks.
Lanigan was claimed off waivers from the — you guessed it — Kamloops
Blazers over the summer.
(Christopher Mast / Mastimages.com)

THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Craig Weller (Kootenay, 2000-02) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Ingolstadt (Germany, DEL) after a successful tryout. Weller was with Villach (Austria, Erste Bank Liga) last season, getting five goals and six assists in 45 games.
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Best wishes to Rob Morphy, a veteran hockey scout, who is in a Vancouver hospital after having received a visit from a scalpel-wielding surgeon or two. . . . Rumour has it the NHL season is on hold and won’t start until you’re up and around, big guy.
Morphy, who is from Kamloops, signed on in June to work as the director of scouting and head scout for the BCHL’s Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
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The biggest hockey story of Wednesday had nothing to do with the NHL’s impending lockout. No, it had everything to do with a report out of Boston on the Boston University Terriers’ hockey team.
The report came out of an internal investigation and showed, according to an Associated Press report, that “a culture of ‘sexual entitlement’ exists among some BU men’s hockey players.
The university’s president commissioned a task force after two alleged sexual assaults occurred last season.
The AP report is right here, and there’s a bit more right here from boston.com.
Anyone involved in the management of any team at a level where players are idolized in their community needs to take a good look at this report for obvious reasons.
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The Prince George Cougars have signed F Aaron Boyd, a Winnipegger who was a second-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft. He had 35 points in 30 games with the bantam AAA Winnipeg Hawks last season. Boyd played in two victories at the Edmonton Oil Kings’ tournament in St. Albert, Alta., last weekend. In other words, the Cougars are 2-0 with him in the lineup. . . . Boyd will play midget AAA this season, for either the Winnipeg Hawks or Winnipeg Thrashers.
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Jason Peters of the Prince George Citizen reports that the Cougars are down to two goaltenders — Devon Fordyce, 18, and Brett Zarowny, 17. . . . Ty Edmonds, 16, was released from camp after the Cougars finished play in St. Albert. . . . Fordyce backed up starter Drew Owsley last season, going 2-8-1, 4.30, .875. Owsley played out his eligibility last season. . . . Zarowny played for the midget AAA Leduc Oil Kings. . . . "It will be a good battle between the two of them to see who can earn the right to start most of the games," Cougars head coach Dean Clark told Peters. . . . Fordyce was a sixth-round pick in the 2009 draft; Zarowny was taken in 2010’s third round.
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The Victoria Royals have dealt F Justin Spagrud, 17, and a conditional second-round bantam draft pick to the Swift Current Broncos for F Evan Richardson, 18. . . . Spagrud, a third-round pick by the Tri-City Americans in the 2010 bantam draft, is from Gull Lake, Sask., which is just a stone’s throw from Swift Current. In fact, I can’t mention Gull Lake without pointing out that it is the hometown of Roger Aldag, the Hall of Fame offensive lineman who had such a great career with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. . . . Last season, Spagrud had 36 points and 48 penalty minutes in 31 games with the midget AAA Swift Current Legionnaires. . . . A year ago, Victoria acquired Spagrud and a second-round pick in the 2013 bantam draft from Tri-City for D Mitch Topping. . . . The Broncos selected Richardson, who is from Nanaimo, with the 15th overall pick in the 2009 bantam draft, but he has yet to play in the WHL. Last season, he had 55 points in 48 games with the BCHL’s Powell River Kings. He also has played for the BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies and Alberni Valley Bulldogs. . . . The 5-foot-8, 170-pound Richardson has committed to Boston College. The conditional draft pick the Broncos received pays off only if Richardson plays in Victoria.
“Evan is not expected to report to our camp, but if he has a change of heart, we’d welcome him,” Cam, Hope, the Royals’ GM, told Ron Rauch of the Victoria Times Colonist. “Everybody’s plans do change and he is just the type of player that is worth having on your list.”
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The Calgary Hitmen have dealt D Keaton Lubin, 18, to the Regina Pats for a conditional sixth round pick in the 2014 bantam draft. Lubin, from Okotoks, Alta., was a third-round selection in the 2009 bantam draft. He had one goal in 36 games with the Hitmen in 2010-11 and one assist in 14 games with Calgary last season.
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Former NHL F Jeremy Reich is into the coaching game. He has signed on as assistant GM/assistant coach with the AJHL’s Canmore Eagles. Reich, 33, is from Craik, Sask. He played in the WHL with the Seattle Thunderbirds and Swift Current Broncos (1995-2000). While in Swift Current, he was teammates with Andrew Milne, who is the Eagles’ GM/head coach. . . . “I’ve known Jeremy for the past 15 years and he will be a huge addition for the Canmore Eagles hockey club this year,” Milne said in a press release. “He’s played at the highest level possible and knows what it takes to be successful in hockey. His professional experience will be a great asset on the practice rink, in the dressing room and on the bench.” . . . Reich last played in the NHL in 2007-08 when he was in 58 games with the Boston Bruins. Last season, he played in Germany. . . . Kurtis Jones, a four-year assistant, remains with the Eagles. However, Jones also works as an electrician so hasn’t been able to give the Eagles as much as he would have liked.
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The Portland Winterhawks are down to four 20-year-olds after having released F Jason Trott. . . . Trott, from Anmore, B.C., had five points in 36 games with Portland last season, after getting three pints in 32 games in 2010-11. . . . His departure leaves the Winterhawks with G Mac Carruth, G Cam Lanigan, D Troy Rutkowski and F Taylor Peters as the four 20-year-olds in camp. . . . Carruth, however, has signed with the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks and may well start the season in their organization. . . . The Winterhawks still have three other goaltenders in camp, as Carruth and Lanigan are joined by holdover Brendan Burke, 17, Brendan Jensen, 19, and Jarrod Schamerhorn, 17. . . . G Adin Hill, 16, was the sixth netminder in camp but has returned home to Calgary where he is expected to play for a midget AAA team.
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F Jesse Mychan, 20, of the Tri-City Americans is expected to play his first game of the exhibition season on Friday against the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds. Mychan, who joined Tri-City in a trade from the Everett Silvertips last season, suffered a severed Achilles tendon during the first round of last spring’s playoffs and subsequently underwent surgery.
“He is back and healed up,” Tri-City head coach Jim Hiller told Annie Fowler of the Tri-City Herald. “You can see the work he has put in in the meantime. He’s dropped 23 pounds and that ties into his frame of mind. He’s into it fully.”
Mychan is one of five 20-year-olds on the Americans’ roster, the others being D Drydn Dow, F Justin Feser, F Jordan Messier and D Derek Ryckman.
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Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province reports that the Vancouver Giants will salute Joe Sakic on Feb. 1 when the Kelowna Rockets visit Pacific Coliseum. . . . Sakic, 43, is a native of Burnaby, B.C., who won two Stanley Cups with the Colorado Avalanche. He will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto on Nov. 12. . . . Sakic played two seasons (1986-88) with the Swift Current Broncos. He survived the Dec. 30, 1986 bus crash that claimed the lives of four teammates.
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Here is the start of an Associated Press report that was filed on Wednesday:
“A study of former NFL players finds they were unusually prone to dying from degenerative brain disease, the latest indication that repeated blows to the head may cause serious trouble later on.
“The death rate from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Lou Gehrig's disease combined was about three times what one would predict from the general population, researchers reported.”
That story is right here, and it includes a comment from Dr. Robert Cantu, the co-director of the center at Boston University that studies CTE.


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The Moose Jaw Civic Centre goes into today with a 3-0 lead over the demolition crew.
The Crushed Can was to have been down by now but it just hasn’t happened.
The latest delay comes about after workers discovered a lot more rebar in the concrete than they had anticipated.
There’s more right here.
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The Victoria Royals have signed D Jack Walker, 16, to a WHL contract. Walker, from Edina, Minn., is the younger brother of Royals F Ben Walker, who is preparing for his second WHL season. . . . Jack played for the gold medal-winning U.S. team at the U-17 Five Nations tournament earlier this month in Chomutov, Czech Republic, earning one assist in four games. Barry Smith, a former head coach with the Kamloops Blazers, was the head coach of the U.S. team.
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JUST NOTES: G Luke Lee-Knight, 19, who played last season with the Prince Albert Raiders and Spokane Chiefs, is in camp with the Tri-City Americans. . . .  The AJHL’s Canmore Eagles – former WHLer Andrew Milne is their GM and head coach – have dealt G Michael Salmon (Seattle, Prince George, 2008-12) to the SJHL’s Notre Dame Hounds. Salmon, 20, is a native of Red Deer. . . . The Spokane Chiefs are keeping G Mac Engel (high ankle sprain) and F Marek Kalus (upper body) off the ice for now. . . . Jess Brown of the Spokane Spokesman-Review also reported that F Tanner MacMaster, the Chiefs’ first-round selection, 19th overall, in the 2011 bantam draft, didn’t report to camp. Neither did F Rhett Gardner, the Chiefs’ second-round selection in 2011. . . . The Red Deer Rebels have lost two players as F Marc Mackenzie, who will be 19 in November, and F Mason Burr, 18, have chosen to move on. Greg Meachem of the Red Deer Advocate reports that MacKenzie has returned to Kelowna-Okanagan College, while Burr has decided to leave hockey. Burr was a second-round selection in the 2009 bantam draft. Mackenzie, who is from Kelowna, started last season with the now-defunct Okanagan College Coyotes, joining the Rebels in time to play 31 games. . . . Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald reports that the Silvertips are without a couple of veterans early in camp. F Ryan Harrison, 20, is out with mononucleosis and may miss the start of the regular season. Of course, he also has four games left over from a suspension that he has yet to serve. F Kohl Bauml, meanwhile, is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. . . . The Silvertips also held G Austin Lotz (hamstring) out on Thursday.
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THE COACHING GAME:
The Regina Pats have signed assistant coaches Malcolm Cameron and Josh Dixon to one-year contract extensions that will take them through 2013-14. The contracts of general manager Chad Lang and head coach Pat Conacher also run through 2013-14. . . . All three coaches are heading into their second seasons in Regina. . . .
Former NHL D Jamie Heward has joined the Swift Current Broncos as an assistant coach and director of player development. Heward, who is from Regina and played four seasons with the Pats (1987-91), will work alongside GM/head coach Mark Lamb and assistant coach Darren Evjen in Swift Current. Heward, 41, retired after the 2008-09 season. . . . With Heward now under contract to Swift Current, perhaps his name no longer will surface in rumours every time the Pats are about to be sold. Then again, maybe not. . . .
The Red Deer Rebels chose not to renew the contract of assistant coach Chris Neiszner, leaving GM/head coach Jesse Wallin and assistant coach Bryce Thoma to run the club. Neiszner, who played four seasons (2001-05) with the Rebels, was on the coaching staff for two seasons. . . . The decision was made because owner Brent Sutter is back in the neighbourhood. “With Brent being back full-time we just felt that he's going to be able to be a lot more involved," Wallin told Red Deer media. "He'll be able to help me out with a lot of the GM duties and alleviate a lot of that, which will allow me to focus a lot more on the coaching side of things." . . . Troy Gillard at bigdrivesports.blogspot.ca reports that Neiszner now is working with Hockey Alberta. . . .
The Spokane Chiefs announced Thursday that Kevin Sawyer will serve as an interim assitant coach when head coach Don Nachbaur leaves for the World Junior Championship where he is to work as an assistant coach with Team Canada. With Nachbaur away, veteran assistant Jon Klemm will run the Chiefs. . . . Nachbaur, who is scheduled to leave the Chiefs on Dec. 8, might miss as many as 11 games. . . . The WJC will be held in Ufa, Russia, from Dec. 26 to Jan. 6. . . . Sawyer, who played three seasons with the Chiefs and was the team captain in 1993-94, is a familiar face around the Chiefs. He has been a guest coach in training camp for the past few seasons and will work with the club a lot between now and December. . . . Steve Spott (Kitchener Rangers) is Team Canada’s head coach, while the other assistants are Mario Duhamel (Drummondville Voltigeurs) and André Tourigny (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies).
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Gregg Doyel, a national columnist with CBSSports.com, has today’s good read. He chats with Scott Collie, a former football player whose son Austin is a receiver with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. On Sunday, Austin suffered his fourth concussion since November 2010. Read this to find out how a father feels when he sees his son go down again.
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By now, you are aware that David Branch, who heads up the OHL and the CHL, issued a statement on Wednesday regarding the upstart CHLPA. As expected, there weren’t any surprises in what was a brief and emotionless statement.
Later in the day, QMJHL commissioner Gilles Courteau, who is a CHL vice-president, issued a statement that just about knocked me off my chair. It didn’t appear to get much play, so in case you missed it, here it is, unedited and in its entirety:
“The Commissioner of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Gilles Courteau, wanted to correct the allegations made on various forums in the past several days. The QMJHL protests the lies and half-truths expressed on the treatment of our players, especially regarding the health, wellness and support. The great family of the QMJHL is outraged by these gratuitous and unfounded statements.
“We are always on the forefront of new initiatives and new trends in order to develop the sport of hockey. In recent years, we have been proactive in order to improve our support by the creation of numerous programs such as players support program, education programs, anti-doping programs and programs to fight against discrimination. In addition, we have added resources to ensure the implementation and enforcement of these programs within our teams.
“The QMJHL is a SCHOOL OF LIFE. For years we have worked tirelessly to adequately supervise athletes, particularly in terms of continuous academic achievement.
“Our role is to provide guidance to young people enabling them to pursue their passion and their sport while studying and developing as a citizen.
This is why there are mechanisms to expose and correct any inappropriate behaviour. In addition, the League has put in place a player support program to enable players to better manage the challenges they face and solve their personal problems before they become serious. This program provides personalized support in a timely manner or on a regular basis and this, in complete confidentiality.
“With respect to nutrition: All players benefit from the services of highly qualified personnel to educate them about the importance of a healthy and balanced diet. The teams provide the players with the services of a nutritionist to help them make the right choices in terms of nutrition.
“With respect to health: Teams hire certified individuals, such as physicians, athletic therapists, neuropsychologists and fitness coaches to ensure the players' health. In addition, the protection of our players continues to be a priority. For this reason, the League has put in place a concussion safety program to educate players as to the consequences of hits to the head.
“With respect to violence: The League has taken a series of measures aimed at preventing and countering violence occurring during games and has a zero tolerance policy with respect to gratuitous violence. These measures were developed based on the report of an Advisory Committee on Violence created in 2008 by the League Commissioner. On the other hand, the League adopted a widely publicized charter on the prevention of violence which now serves as a reference and awareness tool.
“With respect to education: While QMJHL student-athletes face a number of challenges, success in academics is no longer an exception but the norm among the 18 teams of the League. The motivation, the discipline and the efforts of the players, combined with the support extended by their teachers, the school advisors of their CEGEP, as well as the academic advisor of their team, can certainly explain the success witnessed these past years.
“With respect to grants: If the League supports its hockey players in pursuing their academic endeavours throughout their junior career, it also offers a generous scholarship program to those who wish to pursue professional or university education immediately following their hockey career.
“This program is recognized as one of the best among Canada's sports leagues. Each year, the League invests several hundred thousand dollars. Since the inception of the scholarship program, more than $8 million have been distributed.
For the 2010-11 season only, the League awarded close to half a million dollars in scholarships to some 129 former hockey players. With respect to the amounts granted to players: The teams cover the full amount of sport and education related costs, which represents amounts that reach several thousand dollars per player. For this reason they receive allocations and not wages during the season.
“With regard to the control of illicit substances: As part of the anti-doping policy, the League implemented a series of informational and educational programs in order to persuade players to avoid using illegal substances and methods. It also encourages the management staff to keep a watchful eye on its players and to protect their health and promote clean sport.
“With respect to traveling: We realize that sometimes during the season long trips are necessary, but they are infrequent. Our owners and managers often discuss this issue in order to find solutions to minimize the hardships for the players.
“The League is: A true school of life. It offers a real opportunity for young players to attain their dream of achieving the professional ranks, but first and foremost, it provides them with the support and the necessary academic tools so they can live fulfilling lives and contribute to the development of our society. Our role is to provide a living environment favourable to their development as an athlete and as a citizen.”
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As for the CHLPA, I have felt for some time now — likely since the CHL adopted its anti-doping policy — that something like this would show up sooner or later. Major junior players definitely need someone or an association to advocate on their behalf.
It’s just that when it happened I thought it would be a little more professional than what we have witnessed to this point.
In fact, what we have seen from the CHLPA to date hasn’t been much. Plain and simple, the ducks don’t seem to be in a row and they really needed to be before this production got to this stage.
I won’t argue with anyone who claims that major junior players should be better paid and that the education policy could have another year or two added to the option-to-use after a career ends.
As well, the anti-doping program got dropped on the players without their having any say.
There are all kinds of things like those that could be dealt with in one form or another, from working conditions (is it fair for players to have to play three games in less than 48 hours on occasion?) to the lack of an appeal process on matters of discipline.
And it’s great that all of these things and more are having some light shed on them these days.
But let me ask you this: If you had a son playing in the CHL, based on what you have seen and heard this week, would you want the CHLPA representing him?

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Tragedy struck the hockey world Wednesday with the death of Patrick Steel, an 18-year-old forward from Sherwood Park, Alta., who was in his freshman season with the AJHL’s Canmore Eagles.
According to the AJHL, Steel died of unexplained causes. An autopsy is scheduled; the RCMP has said it doesn’t consider the death as suspicious, but it is investigating.
Steel, who played last season for the midget AAA Canadian Athletic Club in Edmonton, was pointless in 13 games with the Steel.
Andrew Milne (Spokane, Swift Current, Medicine Hat, 1995-99), a former assistant coach in Swift Current and Kamloops, is the Eagles’ general manager and head coach.
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In Regina, the Moose Jaw Warriors ran their winning streak to six games by beating the Pats, 3-1. . . . Moose Jaw D Dallas Ehrhardt drew two assists. . . . Warriors G Luke Siemens stopped 37 shots. . . . Moose Jaw F Tanner Eberle, who is from Regina, scored the eventual game-winner, giving his side a 2-0 lead at 19:38 of the first period. . . . The Warriors had D Joel Edmundson (ankle) back in the lineup, but D Dylan McIlrath (undisclosed) sat out again. They also were without D Morgan Rielly (knee) and F Cody Beach (coach’s decision). . . . Moose Jaw F Sebastian Svendsen (knee) played for the first time since Oct. 10. . . . The Pats visit Moose Jaw tonight.
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Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News reports that “if everything works out” a news conference will be held in Dallas on Nov. 21 to introduce Tom Gaglardi as the new owner of the NHL’s Dallas Stars.
Gaglardi, the majority owner of the Kamloops Blazers, has been working for months to purchase the NHL franchise out of bankruptcy.
The bankruptcy hearing that was to have been held in Delaware on Nov. 23, now is scheduled for Nov. 18.
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Today’s good read is right here. It’s a column by Lisa Olson, a columnist with AOL FanHouse, and it’s on the scandal at Penn State. You won’t want to miss it.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
     
Taking Note on Twitter

Silvertips land their man

Doug Soetaert (left), the general manager of the Everett Silvertips,
introduces Mark Ferner as the WHL team's new head coach.
(Photo courtesy Frank Deines III/Everett Silvertips)

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Taggart Desmet (Calgary, 2000-01) signed a one-year contract with Valpellice (Italy, Serie A). He had 16 goals and 42 assists in 40 games for Brunico (Italy, Serie A) last season.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Mark Ferner is the new head coach of the WHL’s Everett Silvertips. Ferner, who spent four years as GM/head coach of the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers, was introduced to Everett at a news conference there on Wednesday afternoon. . . . Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald has the story right here. . . .
Guy Carbonneau is out and Marc-Etienne Hubert is in with the QMJHL’s Chicoutimi Sagueneens. Carbonneau, the former NHL player and coach, remains as the club’s president. Hubert is the new head coach after having served as an assistant since 2005. . . . Marc Fortier, a former NHL forward, is the club’s new general manager. . . . Carbonneau had been head coach since February when Richard Martel was fired. . . . Carbonneau’s decision prompted immediate speculation that he would be the next head coach of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils or would be signing on as an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings. He has denied all of that speculation. . . .
Former WHL/NHL D Robert Dirk is the new head coach of the junior B Penticton Lakers. The franchise, which is operated by the Okanagan Hockey Academy, plays in the Kootenay International junior league. Dirk has coaching experience in the United league, as well as the West Coast league and the ECHL. He has been part of the Okanagan Hockey Academy since 2007. . . . Should he so desire, you’ve got to think he will surface in the WHL one of these years. . . .
As was mentioned here on June 14, Sean Gillam (Spokane, 1992-96) is the new head coach of the Southern Professional league’s Fayetteville FireAntz. Gillam was introduced at a Wednesday news conference and Thomas Pope of the Fayetteville Observer was there. His story is right here.
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A Wednesday news release from the ECHL’s Trenton Devils begins:
“Newark, NJ — The ECHL’s Trenton Devils will suspend play beginning with the 2011-12 season. The New Jersey Devils are restructuring the organization’s player development system to be more in line with other NHL franchises. In fact, Trenton was the only ECHL team that was completely owned by an NHL club.
“The Devils purchased a majority interest in the Trenton Titans on Sept. 21, 2006. The team continued to be affiliated with the Philadelphia Flyers for the 2006-07 season before the Devils took it over as their ECHL – or Class AA – affiliate and changed the name to Trenton Devils.
“Since then, the team has been plagued by steadily declining attendance at Sun National Bank Center. The Trenton Devils finished last in the 19-team ECHL in 2010-11 with an average attendance of just 2,390 in a building that holds 7,605 for hockey. A source said the team has lost money every season since the Devils took over ownership.”
It is somewhat interesting that a press release from a team includes a paraphrased quote from an anonymous source. You don’t see that every day.
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Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald reports that the Silvertips have released F Markus McCrea, 19. A native of Canyon Lake, Calif., McCrea had 24 points, including 13 goals, in 175 games over three seasons. . . .
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D Joe Hicketts of Kamloops, who was selected by the Victoria Royals with their first pick in the WHL’s 2011 bantam draft, is the winner of the Hockey Now/B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame Minor Hockey Player Achievement Award. . . . Cleve Dheensaw of the Victoria Times Colonist has the story right here.
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The Prince Albert Raiders report that they have five players scheduled to attend NHL camps. . . . F Mark McNeill, the 18th pick in the NHL’s 2011 draft, will be in the Chicago Blackhawks’ development camp that runs today through Monday. . . . D Harrison Ruopp, a third-round selection by the Phoenix Coyotes, is in camp in Peoria, Ariz., from today through Sunday. . . . F Jonathan Parker, 20, is spending this week as an invitee to the Buffalo Sabres’ development camp. He also has signed an ATO with the ECHL’s Bakersfield Condors. . . . F Brandon Herrod, 20, has been invited to the Coyotes’ camp that opens Sept. 9. . . . D Antoine Corbin has been invited to the San Jose Sharks’ camp that begins Sept. 8.
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Joe Paisley of the Colorado Springs Gazette has the latest on what’s been happening involving U.S. college hockey, including all the rumours of a super league. That piece is right here.
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The AJHL’s Canmore Eagles, under general manager and head coach Andrew Milne, have secured enough capitalization to secure its short-term future.
Daniel Austin of the Canmore Leader has the story right here.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
     
Taking Note on Twitter

Saturday . . .

Jerome Dupont, the head coach of the QMJHL’s Gatineau Olympiques, unexpectedly resigned Saturday. Assistant coach Guy Lalonde has taken over as head coach until a replacement is found. Dupont, a former NHL defenceman, was in his second season with the Olympiques. He joined them in November 2008. The Olympiques were 26-29-1-4 with the 18-team league’s 12th-best winning percentage (.433) when Dupont resigned. He is expected to remain with the organization as a consultant, at least for now. Dupont signed a three-year contract on April 16, 2009.
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The 2010 Memorial Cup will be part of Manitoba Homecoming 2010, which is part of the province’s 140th birthday celebrations. As part of that, the Memorial Cup host committee has scheduled two Saturday Night Socials, one on May 15 and the other on May 22. . . . Randy Bachman, the legendary guitarist, song writer, performer and producter, kicks off the May 15 social, with seven-time Juno Award-winner Tom Cochrane performing May 22. . . . If you haven’t taken a couple of hours out of your Saturday evening schedule to listen to Randy’s Vinyl Tap on CBC Radio, well, you’re cheating yourself. . . . By the way, Cochrane is from, yes, Lynn Lake, Man. . . . Tickets for both shows go on sale Monday morning (March 1) at the Keystone Centre box office. They also may be purchased by calling 204-726-3555 or by visiting ticketmaster.ca. . . . Yet to be announced are details of the Opening banquet (May 13), a golf tournament at Clear Lake (May 20) and the CHL awards ceremony (May 22).
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Bruce Luebke, the radio voice of the Brandon Wheat Kings, has published his annual Best of the East poll. You’ll find it right here. . . . Two things of interest: The Saskatoon Blades had three of their players show up as the three most irritating players to play against. And the Portland Winterhawks and their fans will be thrilled to know that Andy Thiessen was selected as best referee.
http://luberslounge.blogspot.com/2010/02/third-annual-best-of-east-poll.html
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Two former WHLers are on the coaching staff for Team Canada West that will play in the 2010 World Junior A Challenge at a site yet to be determined. Larry Wintoneak of the SJHL’s Kindersley Klippers will be the head coach, with Jomar Cruz of the MJHL’s OCN Blizzard and Andrew Milne of the AJHL’s Canmore Eagles on his staff. Cruz was a goaltender during his WHL career, while Milne was a hard-nosed forward. Milne also spent some time as an assistant coach with the Kamloops Blazers. . . . Wintoneak’s other assistant coach will be Kevin Hasselberg of the AJHL’s Olds Grizzlies.
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THE PLAYOFF CHASE
Teams in the running for playoff spots, showing games remaining (d — denotes division leaders, who are seeded one-two):
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(top eight advance)
dx-Calgary (7) 45-17-1-2-93
dx-Saskatoon (7) 43-15-3-4-93
x-Brandon (6) 44-18-1-3-92
x-Kootenay (6) 39-22-3-2-83
Red Deer (7) 38-23-0-4-80
Medicine Hat (6) 35-23-3-5-78
Moose Jaw (8) 31-24-4-5-71
Swift Current (6) 33-29-0-4-70
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Prince Albert (7) 30-30-3-2-65
Regina (6) 27-32-3-4-61
x — clinched playoff spot.
Saturday: Prince Albert 3 at Brandon 5; Kelowna 1 at Calgary 2; Red Deer 4 at Edmonton 3 (SO); Lethbridge 4 at Kootenay 1; Kamloops 6 at Medicine Hat 3; Chilliwack 2 at Moose Jaw 3; Regina 3 at Saskatoon 0; Vancouver 3 at Swift Current 5.
Sunday: No games scheduled.
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WESTERN CONFERENCE
(top eight advance)
dx-Tri-City (8) 43-18-1-2-89
dx-Vancouver (6) 39-22-2-3-83
x-Everett (7) 41-19-3-2-87
x-Spokane (7) 40-21-3-1-84
x-Portland (7) 39-23-2-1-81
x-Kelowna (6) 30-30-2-4-66
x-Kamloops (5) 30-31-2-4-66
x-Chilliwack (6) 29-31-1-5-64
x — clinched playoff spot.
Saturday: Kelowna 1 at Calgary 2; Prince George 0 at Everett 5; Kamloops 6 at Medicine Hat 3; Chilliwack 2 at Moose Jaw 3; Portland 3 at Seattle 2 (SO); Tri-City 2 at Spokane 5; Vancouver 3 at Swift Current 5.
Sunday: Tri-City at Seattle; Prince George at Portland.
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SATURDAY:
In Brandon, the Wheat Kings jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead en route to a 5-3 victory over the Prince Albert Raiders. . . . F Jay Fehr, with his 25th, and F Matt Calvert, with his 40th, at 1:04 and 3:32 of the first period got the home side off to a hot start. . . . The Raiders played from behind the rest of the night, three times closing the gap to one but never catching up. . . . Brandon F Scott Glennie scored twice, giving him 28. His second goal, the game’s last score, came on a penalty shot at 6:41 of the third. . . . F Justin Maylan scored twice for the Raiders, giving him 16. . . . Brandon holds a 4-3 edge in the season series. . . . Attendance was 4,953. . . . Brandon F Toni Rajala, who went into the game with 17 points in 11 February games, was blanked. . . . Brandon G Jacob De Serres stopped 30 shots, while P.A.’s Garrett Zemlak stopped 28. . . . If you believe in the plus/minus stat, it’s worth noting that Brandon D Travis Hamonic was pointless but finished plus-3.
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In Calgary, the Hitmen scored two third-period goals and beat the Kelowna Rockets, 2-1. . . . F Joel Broda got his 33rd at 53 seconds on the PP and F Riley Bugart added his third at 5:18. . . . F Brandon McMillan, with his 17th, scored for Kelowna at 14:22 of the third. . . . Attendance was 9,408.
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In Edmonton, F Landon Ferraro’s shootout goal gave the Red Deer Rebels a 4-3 victory over the Oil Kings. . . . Ferraro also had a goal, his 15th, in regulation time. . . . Red Deer took a 3-1 lead into the third period. . . . The Oil Kings forced OT on goals by F Michael Burns, at 9:19, and Sebastian Svendsen, at 19:07. Burns has seven goals; Svendsen has 11. . . . Edmonton was 1-for-3 on the PP; Red Deer was 0-for-1. . . . Attendance was 5,128. . . . Red Deer G Kraymer Barnstable stopped 27 shots through OT and three more in the shootout. . . . Edmonton G Cam Lanigan turned aside 39 shots.
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In Everett, F Kellan Tochkin had two goals and G Kent Simpson earned the shutout as the Silvertips dropped the Prince George Cougars, 5-0. . . . The shutout was the first of the season for Simpson and the second of his career. He stopped 24 shots. . . . Tochkin has 25 goals. His first goal, 37 seconds into the first, stood up as the winner. . . . He also had an assist. . . . F Shane Harper added his 38th goal of the season to tie the franchise’s single-season record that was held by F John Lammers (2005-06). . . . Attendance was 7,581. . . . The Cougars, who lost D Jesse Forsberg (shoulder) in a 5-1 loss in Spokane on Friday, have lost nine in a row. . . . The Silvertips are adding F Tyler Giebel, 16, to their roster for the remainder of the season. He had been with the midget AAA Regina Pats Canadians, earning 55 points in 41 games -- and is eligible to join Everett as their season has ended. Giebel was the 27th overall pick in the 2008 bantam draft.
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In Cranbrook, the Lethbridge Hurricanes got two assists from each of F Austin Fyten and F Graham Hood as they beat the host Kootenay Ice, 4-1. . . . The Ice now has lost three in a row; the Hurricanes had lost seven of eight. . . . Lethbridge G Brandon Anderson stopped 20 shots through two periods; the third period shots weren’t up on the WHL website. . . . Anderson stopped Ice F Matt Fraser on a first-period penalty shot to preserve a 1-0 lead. . . . Lethbridge F Ryon Moser broke a 1-1 tie with his sixth goal at 3:27 of the third period. . . . Lethbridge F Mitch Maxwell scored his 27th goal at 4:25 of the third. . . . Attendance was 4,241. . . . In what may be one of the most amazing statistics of this WHL season, Pat Siedlecki, the radio voice of the Hurricanes, points out that Lethbridge has played in 30 one-goal games this season. The Hurricanes are 10-20 in those games.
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In Medicine Hat, F Chase Schaber scored three times to lead the Kamloops Blazers to a 6-3 victory over the Tigers. . . . Schaber, who has 16 goals, scored once in each period, the last one on the PP and into an empty net. . . . Kamloops F C.J. Stretch broke a 3-3 tie with a PP goal at 18:08 of the third period. . . . F Jordan DePape, who scored the OT winner Saturday in a 4-3 victory over the Hurricanes in Lethbridge, had a goal, also an empty-netter, and two assists for Kamloops. . . . Attendance was 4,006. . . . Kamloops G Jon Groenheyde made his second straight start and has won back-to-back games for the first time since late September. . . . Groenheyde stopped 26 shots. . . . Medicine Hat G Tyler Bunz turned aside 22 shots. . . . Kamloops was 2-for-5 on the PP; the Tigers were 0-for-4.
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In Moose Jaw, the Warriors rode three first-period goals to a 3-2 victory over the Chilliwack Bruins. . . . D Ryan Stanton scored the game’s first two goals, the first at 1:24 and the second at 6:56 on the PP. He has 10 goals. . . . F Dylan Hood, with his 20th, scored at 16:18. . . . The Bruins got close on second-period goals from F Jamie Crooks and F Roman Horak. Both have 19. . . . Attendance was 2,307. . . . Moose Jaw G Jeff Bosch stopped 33 shots, six more than Chilliwack G Lucas Gore. . . . The Bruins went 3-3-0-0 on their swing through the East Division.
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In Saskatoon, G Dawson Guhle stopped 19 shots for his first WHL shutout as the Regina Pats dumped the Blades, 3-0. . . . Not only was it Guhle’s first shutout, it was the first time this season that the Pats have blanked the opposition. . . . Regina F Jordan Eberle scored twice, giving him 45. His first goal, at 2:08 of the second, stood up as the winner. . . . F Matt Strueby had a goal, his 34th, and an assist, while F Brett Leffler drew two helpers. . . . Eberle’s second goal was into an empty net. . . . Attendance was 5,236. . . . Saskatoon G Adam Morrison stopped 26 shots. . . . The Blades have been blanked twice this season. . . . The Pats, fighting to get back into position to grab the Eastern Conference’s last playoff spot, had lost three in a row. . . . The Blades had won their last two games. . . . Following a scoring change made earlier Saturday, Eberle went into the game with the WHL points lead. He had 93, one ahead of teammate Jordan Weal and F Craig Cunningham of the Vancouver Giants. . . . Eberle and Weal are attempting to become the first members of the Pats to reach 100 points since F Ronald Petrovicky did it in 1997-98 when he finished at 113. (F Blake Evans had 102 points in 2000-01, but got 59 of those with the Tri-City Americans). . . . As well, Eberle and Weal are trying to become the first Regina player to win the WHL scoring title since F Dale Derkatch had 179 points in 1982-83.
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In Kent, Wash., the Portland Winterhawks made it 11 straight victories over the Seattle Thunderbirds, with a 3-2 shootout triumph. . . . Portland F Luke Walker, the sixth shooter, gave his side a 2-1 edge in the shootout. . . . The Winterhawks tied a franchise record for longest winning streak against the Thunderbirds. . . . The Winterhawks led 2-0 on goals by D Troy Rutkowski and F Taylor Peters. . . . The Thunderbirds got goals from F Brandon Troock and F Tyler Aloos, the latter tying the score at 5:35 of thet hird period. . . . Seattle G Calvin Pickard stopped 43 shots, including nine in OT. . . . Portland G Ian Curtis stopped 39 shots as he won his 20th game of the season. . . . The Thunderbirds were 0-for-5 on the PP; the Winterhawks were 0-for-0. . . . Andy Thiessen was working the game in Medicine Hat.
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In Spokane, the Chiefs scored three PP goals and beat the Tri-City Americans, 5-2. . . . F Tyler Johnson, who had three goals in Friday’s 5-1 victory over the visiting Prince George Cougars, had three assists for the Chiefs, as did D Jared Spurgeon. . . . The Chiefs have won the last five games with the Americans. . . . F Kyle Beach scored his WHL-leading 48th goal for Spokane. . . . The Chiefs, who have won nine of 10, were 3-for-7 on the PP; the Americans were 1-for-2. . . . Attendance was 10,529. . . . The Chiefs were without F Dominik Uher, who served a one-game suspension for a boarding major he incurred in Friday’s 5-1 victory over the visiting Prince George Cougars. . . . Tri-City F Todd Kennedy sat out his second game. He remains under indefinite suspension for a hit on Portland D Eric Doyle on Tuesday night.
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In Swift Current, the Broncos struck four times in the third period and beat the Vancouver Giants, 5-3. . . . The teams were tied 1-1 going to the third, with F James Henry having scored his 20th, shorthanded, for the Giants and D Joel Rogers having gotten his first, on the PP, for the Broncos. . . . F Tomas Vincour gave the Giants the lead at 1:09 of the third. . . . The Broncos then got goals from D Kyle Verdino, his first, and F Brad Hoban at 4:34 and 7:29. . . . The Giants took the lead 30 seconds later on F JT Barnett’s 19th. . . . F Jordan Peddle broke the tie with his second of the season at 14:59 and F Cody Eakin added the empty-netter, his 43rd, at 19:24. . . . Talk about getting goals from unexpected sources! Rogers’ goal was his first in 56 games this season and his third in 159 career games. Verdino, in his third WHL season, scored his first goal in his 144th game. He was goalless in 122 games with Kelowna and has played 22 games with the Broncos. Peddle got his second goal in 63 games this season after scoring 11 in 55 games last season. . . . Broncos G Morgan Clark stopped 37 shots, 15 more than Vancouver’s Mark Segal. . . . Attendance was 2,172.