The Everett Silvertips have acquired F Luke Gordon, 18, from the Calgary Hitmen for D Darian Henry, 17. . . . Gordon, from Terrace. B.C., had 33 points and 24 penalty minutes in 49 games with the BCHL's Nanaimo Clippers last season. Over the last two seasons, Gordon has plaed three games with the Hitmen. . . . Henry, from Strathmore, Alta., was a seventh-round pick by Everett in the 2009 bantam draft. He played 16 games with Everett last season, picking up an assist and 28 penalty minutes. He had three points and 62 penalty minutes in 16 games with the AJHL's Drumheller Dragons.
———
Andy Schneider has left his role as an assistant coach with the Swift Current Broncos to join the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets as a scout. Schneider, 40, a former Broncos player, joined GM/head coach Mark Lamb's staff prior to last season. Schneider played four seasons (1989-93) with the Broncos, putting up 367 points in 309 games. While with the Broncos, one of his teammates was Tyler Wright, who now is the Blue Jackets’ director of amateur scouting and development coach.
———
A reader of this blog mentioned having seen a story in the Moose Jaw Times-Herald about the impending demolition of the Crushed Can (aka Civic Centre).
Yes, it’s true.
According to the Times-Herald, fences will go up around the Crushed Can in the next few days. Equipment to be used in the demolition will show up next week.
And, if all goes according to plan, the 53-year-old Crushed Can will begin to tumble on July 30.
———
Leesa Culp, one of the co-authors of the book Sudden Death: The Incredible Saga of the 1986 Swift Current Broncos, the cover for which is over there on the right, did up a trailer for our work and posted it on the Internet. . . . The good folks at 49thshelf.com saw it and listed it under the headline ‘The Best Book Trailers We’ve Seen Lately.’ . . . If you haven’t seen it, click right here. Our trailer is the fifth one down. . . . And don’t forget that you are able to order the book from either of the two links shown with the cover. If you are waiting for it to appear in stores, it is scheduled to hit shelves on Nov. 10.
———
Adam Proteau of The Hockey News takes a look at the Shea Weber situation right here and hits the nail squarely on the head as he explains why the likes of Ed Snider and Craig Leipold, owners of the Philadelphia Flyers and Minnesota Wild, respectively, are “such monstrous hypocrites when it comes to collective bargaining negotiations.”
———
Nick Deschenes is the new general manager and head coach of the junior B Grand Forks, B.C., Border Bruins, who play in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. Deschenes spent six seasons playing in Europe, before returning to North Americans. Last season, he was team captain and assistant coach with the Federal league’s Danbury Whalers. . . . Deschenes signed a two-year contract with the Border Bruins. . . . He will take over from assistant Matt Zamec, who coached the team following the the dismissal of head coach Brent Batten in November. The Border Bruins were 1-49-0-2 last season, with the 0 being ties.
———
The NHL’s Minnesota Wild have signed D Mathew Dumba, the seventh overall pick in the NHL’s 2012 draft, to a three-year entry-level contract. Dumba, who turns 18 on Wednesday, played the last two seasons with the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels. He had 57 points, including 20 goals, in 69 games with the Rebels last season. He led all WHL defenceman in goals. . . . Because of his age, Dumba, who is from Calgary, will have to returned to the Rebels unless he earns a spot on the Wild’s roster.
———
David Michaud, who is no stranger to arenas in the B.C. Interior, has joined the Portland Winterhawks’ scouting staff. Michaud also is the general manager of the B.C. Major Midget League’s Kelowna-based Okanagan Rockets.

There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.

THE COACHING GAME:
The Swift Current Broncos have added Andy Schneider to their coaching staff as an assistant. He’ll work with GM/head coach Mark Lamb and assistant coach Darren Evjen. Schneider, 39, played 15 seasons in Europe and is a member of the Broncos Hall of Fame. He played four seasons with the Broncos (1989-93), finishing with 367 points in 300 games. . . . The only other time in franchise history when the Broncos employed two assistant coaches was 1998-2001 when Andrew Milne was in the role as the second assistant. . . . The Southwest Booster has more on Schneider's role right here. . . .
Vladimir Vujtek, 64, is the new head coach of the Slovakian national hockey team. He replaces Glen Hanlon, who was released after the 2011 world championship. Vujtek is the first Czech to coach the Slovakian team, which means this is a big, big story in the world of international hockey. . . . Hanlon now is an assistant coach with the Vancouver Giants. . . .
Hockey Canada has hired Ron Tugnutt as its goaltender coach. Tugnutt will work with the national men’s teams on a full-time basis. Tugnutt, 43, is no stranger to Hockey Canada, having been a part-timer for two years. . . . According to a Hockey Canada news release, “Tugnutt will be scouting for Canada’s national men’s teams as well as working with Hockey Canada’s development department to develop and improve resources for goaltenders and goaltending coaches. Tugnutt will continue to work closely with Canada’s National Junior Team and National Men’s Under-18 Team, scouting and assisting goaltenders for Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence.” . . .
Brian Kilrea, the winningest coach in major junior hockey history, has decided to step aside as general manager of the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s. Kilrea, 76, spent 37 years with the franchise and will continue to do some scouting for them. Chris Byrne, 37, will add the GM’s duties to his role has head coach. He is preparing for his third season as head coach after taking over behind the bench from Kilrea, who won 1,193 games during his coaching career. . . .
The Victoria Royals have rounded out their coaching staff with the hiring of Craig Didmon, who will work home practices and home games. Last season, he was the head coach of the major midget South Island Thunderbirds. . . . He joins GM/head coach Marc Habscheid, assistant coach Enio Sacilotto, who was with the club last season when it was the Chilliwack Bruins, and Ben Cooper, who has worked in video with Hockey Canada and also as an assistant coach with the SAIT Trojans in Calgary. . . .
Bob Dever has signed on as an assistant coach with the BCHL’s Trail Smoke Eaters. Dever spent the last three seasons coaching in Hungary. . . . He has previous BCHL experience with the Vernon Vipers and Merritt Centennials. Dever and Bill Birks, Trail’s general manager and head coach, played together with Merritt back in the day.
———
JUST NOTES: Ben Calkins is the new equipment manager with the Seattle Thunderbirds. He spent last season with the ECHL’s Stockton Thunder. Calkins, 24, replaces Jason Berger, who now is with the ECHL’s Florida Everblades. . . . The Victoria Royals have named Jeff Harris the director of hockey operations and communications, with Parry Shockey coming on board as director of WHL and junior A scouting. Harris, 39, spent the last four seasons as assistant GM and director of media and community relations with the now-defunct Victoria Salmon Kings of the ECHL. Shockey, 57, is well known across the WHL. He will work out of Calgary. Last season he was head coach of the midget AAA UFA Bisons. He has WHL coaching experience with the Spokane Chiefs, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Regina Pats and Moose Jaw Warriors. . . . The Royals also hired Andy Neal and Matt Human as managers of communications and hockey operations co-ordinators. Neal spent the last two seasons in Prince George doing media relations; last season, he also was the team’s play-by-play voice. Human worked in the media relations and communications department with Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

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