Paddock takes control of Pats . . . Raiders sign defenceman

F Jordan Knackstedt (Red Deer, Moose Jaw, 2004-08) signed a one-year contract with Rubin Tyumen (Russia, Vysshaya Liga). Last season, with the Bakersfield Condors (ECHL), he had 41 points, 19 of them goals, in 69 games. He also was pointless in one game with the Abbotsford Heat (AHL).
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Two weeks before opening training camp, the Regina Pats have unveiled their new structure. As Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post reported in Wednesday’s paper, John Paddock, who signed what the team calls a “multi-year contract,” is the new head coach and will have complete control of hockey operations as he also is the senior vice-president of hockey operations. . . . Chad Lang no longer is the general manager; instead, he is senior vice-president. . . . Lang, with one year left on his contract, told Harder: “I want the organization to have success. I want to surround myself with good people and ultimately it’s about the team. I’m born and raised in Regina. I grew up watching this team. It’s a big part of my family, it’s a big part of me. I’ve taken tremendous pride in what we’ve been able to accomplish in the short term that I’ve been here. I take great pride in the tradition of this organization and being a part of it. I’ve enjoyed every minute. That won’t change.” . . . In Thursday’s paper, Harder explains how the hiring process worked and explains how the new structure is supposed to work. . . . Once The Leader-Post updates its site, you’ll find two Harder stories right here.
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Last week, I put up a poll asking when you thought the Pats would announce a new head coach. The eight of you who picked Aug. 5 can take a bow, as you were the closest, missing it by only one day. But it was kind of neat that Oct. 1 was the leading selection. It’s good that some of you have a sense of humour.
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The Kootenay Ice has hired Chris Wahl as its director of sales and public relations. Wahl takes over from Kaytee Wheaton, who left to join Royal LePage East Kootenay Realty. . . . Wahl spent the past three seasons in the BCHL, with the Trail Smoke Eaters (2011-13) and Surrey Eagles (2013-14). According to an Ice news release, Wahl “will be responsible for executing corporate sales agreements as well as building on the club’s foundation of communication strategies, both through traditional and new media.” . . . At the same time, Don MacMillan, who was with the Ice from 1998-2008, has returned as a part-time sales consultant. MacMillan is a bylaws officer with the City of Cranbrook.
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The Prince Albert Raiders have signed D Hunter Warner, who played last season with the USHL’s Fargo Force. Warner, who turns 19 on Sept. 21, had 12 points, two of them goals, and 125 penalty minutes in 43 games with the Force last season. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder is from Eden Prairie, Minn., and was listed by the Raiders in 2012. . . . Andrew Schopp of the Prince Albert Daily Herald has more right here.
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It’s doubtful that any NFL owner, or perhaps any owner in pro sports today, is under as much fire as Dan Snyder of the Washington Redskins. Dan McKenna of Deadspin has a great piece right here that is headlined: How Dan Snyder Bought Off The D.C. Media. This is great stuff.
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Well it's official, heading back to school this year #UofC #dinos #newcolors
— cain franson (@frannyy12) August 6, 2014

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Reinhart, Valk put streaks on line tonight

THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Stefan Warg (Seattle, Prince Albert, 2008-10) signed a two-year deal with Skellefteå (Sweden, SEL) and is to join the team immediately. This season, he had one assist in 21 games with the Norfolk Admirals (AHL) and two assist in three games with the Utah Grizzlies (ECHL). . . .
F Eric Schneider (Tri-City, 1995-96) has signed for the rest of this season with Adler Mannheim (Germany, DEL). This season, with the Bentley, Alta., Generals (Chinook Sr.), he had five points, including three goals, in two games. Last season with the Hamburg Freezers (Germany, DEL), he had nine points, three of them goals, in 13 games. He started last season with Bentley, putting up 13 points, including three goals, in 10 games and then signed with Hamburg to finish season.
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Everett is off to Kent, Wash., for a game against the Seattle Thunderbirds (of Kent) tonight. Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald reports that the Silvertips were short five forwards at practice on Monday, with Logan Aasman (finger), Manraj Hayer (undisclosed), Jujhar Khaira (undisclosed), Zane Jones (undisclosed) and Tyler Sandhu (undisclosed) all sitting out. All are likely to sit out again tonight. . . . Patterson also notes that D Ben Betker (undisclosed) practised Monday and may play tonight.
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D Dylan Busenius of the Saskatoon Blades is scheduled to play in his 300th regular-season game later this week. Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix has more right here.
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TUESDAY’S WHL GAMES (all times local):
Swift Current at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
Medicine Hat at Regina, 7 p.m.
Saskatoon at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
Red Deer at Vancouver, 7 p.m.
Everett at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
Calgary at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
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The Prince Albert Raiders have lost eight of their last 10 games and find themselves eight points out of the Eastern Conference’s last playoff spot as they play host to the Swift Current Broncos tonight. The Broncos lead the season series 4-1-1. . . . Andrew Schopp of the Prince Albert Daily Herald looks at the Raiders’ recent struggles right here. . . . The Eastern Conference is going to be rather interesting down the stretch and the three-point games are likely to have a huge impact. Going into tonight’s play, the Edmonton Oil Kings have 75 points and the Calgary Hitmen have 70. After that, it’s the Medicine Hat Tigers (61), Brandon Wheat Kings and Swift Current (60), Regina Pats (59), Kootenay Ice (58) and Red Deer Rebels (57). They all have played 51, 52 or 53 games. . . . While the Raiders are bordering on next-year country, the Moose Jaw Warriors, Saskatoon Blades and Lethbridge Hurricanes already are there. In the Western Conference, the Kamloops Blazers won’t make the playoffs, while the Prince George Cougars, who are six points out with 17 games remaining, have a tough task ahead of them. . . . All told, 16 of the WHL’s 22 teams have winning percentages above .500. That number was 17 before Prince Albert’s tailspin took them to 23-25-3. . . . F Nikita Scherbak, the WHL’s leading freshman scorer, remains out of Saskatoon’s lineup as the Blades are in Cranbrook to meet the Kootenay Ice tonight. . . . F Sam Reinhart of the Ice takes a 10-game point streak into that game while, in Regina, F Curtis Valk of the Medicine Hat Tigers goes into tonight’s game with the Pats on a 10-game run. Reinhart has 18 points, including eight goals, in those 10 games, while Valk has 15 points, 10 of them goals. It’s the second time this season that Valk has put together a 10-game streak. . . . The longest point streak this season, 18 games, belongs to Everett F Josh Winquist.

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