Showing posts with label Bob Lowes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bob Lowes. Show all posts

Friday, September 30, 2016

Lethbridge d-man quits hockey . . . Chiefs move out goaltender . . . Cougars win fifth straight




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D Nick Watson of the Lethbridge Hurricanes has left the team and has decided to “stop playing hockey,” according to a news release. . . . “I’ve been struggling with this for the past three or four
weeks,” Watson said in the news release, “ but I tried to tough it out because hockey has been my life the whole way through. But, at the end of the day, I had to make a decision that makes me happy. Hockey is hockey, it’s a sport, but if you’re not happy playing it then there no reason to play it.” . . . From Delta, B.C., Watson was a second-round selection in the 2014 bantam draft. Last season, as a freshman, he had one assist in 33 games. He was pointless in one game this season. . . . “First of all,” said Peter Anholt, the Hurricanes’ general manager, “this is bigger than the game of hockey, it’s a life decision for Nick, not anything to do with hockey other than he’s lost his passion to play the game. It puts it in perspective of how hard this game is to play for the guys that do stick it out. It’s not easy to lose a quality 17-year-old defenceman, but we will have to do our best to back fill in any way we possibly can.” . . . Watson agreed that he has lost his passion for the game. “I don’t think it’s fair to my team or to my coaches that if I go out there and I’m not enjoying it and giving it half effort, I just don’t think it’s fair to the team,” he said. “My plan is to go back to school back home and improve my marks and hopefully get into post-secondary and pursue my dream of entering into the sports medicine field. I need to set myself up for the future and see what happens.”
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Former WHL player and coach Bob Lowes, 53, has left the Ottawa Senators for the NHL’s Las Vegas franchise, where he will be the assistant director of player personnel. . . . Lowes, who played for the Prince Albert Raiders and Regina Pats (1982-84) and was head coach of the Brandon Wheat Kings (1992-2001) and Pats (2001-04) and Brandon Wheat Kings, had been with the Senators since 2006-07. He had been Ottawa’s chief amateur scout for the past two seasons. . . . As the coach in Brandon, he worked under Kelly McCrimmon, who now is the assistant GM in Las Vegas.
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The three-year entry-level contract that D Ondrej Vala of the Kamloops Blazers signed with the NHL’s Dallas Stars has a maximum value of US$2,040,000, according to generalfanager.com. . . . The contract carries NHL-level salaries of $630,000 in 2016-17, $705,000, and $705,000, with an AHL salary of $60,000 each season. . . . There is a $165,000 signing bonus payable in three instalments. . . . Vala, 18, is from Czech Republic. He signed with the Stars as a free agent. He is into his second season with the Blazers.
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The Spokane Chiefs are down to 26 players, including two goaltenders, after dropping G Matt Berlin, 18, from their roster on Friday. Berlin is expected to join the AJHL’s Drayton Valley Thunder. . . . Berlin, from Edmonton, got into six games with the Chiefs last season, going 1-1-2, 4.38, .851. . . . The move leaves the Chiefs with two goaltenders — Jayden Sittler, 20, and Dawson Weatherill, 17 — both of whom are from Red Deer. Sittler was acquired over the summer from the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Weatherill came over from the Red Deer Rebels earlier this week. . . . The Chiefs also are carrying nine defencemen and 15 forwards.
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Fred Marsh died Wednesday in Kamloops at the age of 81. You may never have heard of him but his handiwork is in evidence almost every time a hockey game is played on a regulation or Olympic-size ice surface. Marsh invented the Marsh Flexible Goal Peg system. . . . Adam Williams of Kamloops This Week has more on Marsh right here.
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JUST NOTES:

The Lethbridge Hurricanes have signed F Hayden Clayton, 16, to a WHL contract. From Red Deer, Clayton is an undrafted list player who earned a contract with his performance in this season’s training camp. Last sason, with the minor midget Red Deer Northstar Chiefs, he had 24 points, including 16 goals, in 34 games. . . . The 6-foot-2, 170-pounder is expected to play this season with the midget AAA Red Deer Optimist Chiefs. . . .
The Seattle Thunderbirds have dropped F Garan Magnes, 19, from their roster. He is expected to join the AJHL’s Spruce Grove Saints. He had two assists in 12 games with Seattle last season after being acquired from the Edmonton Oil Kings. In 61 games with Edmonton over three seasons, he had two goals and five assists. . . . Seattle gave up a seventh-round pick in the 2017 bantam draft for Magnes. . . . 
F Nolan Patrick, 18, who is into his third WHL season, has been named the 59th captain in the Brandon Wheat Kings’ franchise history. . . . F Tyler Sandhu, 20, has been named captain of the Tri-City Americans. He is into his fifth WHL season, having also played with the Everett Silvertips and Red Deer Rebels. He played his 100th regular-season game with the Americans on Sunday. . . . F Keegan Iverson, 20, is the 19th captain in the history of the Portland Winterhawks. The native of St. Louis Park, Minn., was given the ‘C’ on Friday as he prepared to start his fifth WHL season.
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Got a tip or some information you feel could be useful to me, feel free to email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.
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FRIDAY’S GAMES:

At Lethbridge, F Ryley Lindgren broke a 4-4 tie at 18:47 of the third period as the Hurricanes got past the Kootenay Ice, 5-4. . . . The Hurricanes (2-1-0) actually led this one 3-0 when F Jesse Zaharichuk, an off-season acquisition from the Ice, scored at 17:13 of the first period. . . . However, the Ice scored three times in the second period, tying it on a goal by F Zak Zborosky at 5:54. The three goals came in a span of 1:26, with F Kaeden Taphorn and F Barrett Sheen, who went the other way in the Zaharichuk deal, scoring the other two. . . . D Brennen Menell put the home side out front again at 6:43 of the third period, but Sheen tied it again at 12:16. . . . Zaharichuk added three assists to his goal, while Lindgren, F Colton Kroeker and F Brayden Burke had two assists apiece, and F Egor Babenko had a goal and an assist. . . . Lethbridge G Stuart Skinner made 25 saves, while Payton Lee stopped 41 shots for the Ice (1-1-2). . . . The Hurricanes were 1-4 on the PP; the Ice was 0-1. . . . Announced attendance: 2,986.
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At Medicine Hat, the Tigers unleashed a 45-shot attack en route to a 5-1 victory over the Saskatoon Blades. . . . Medicine Hat F Ryan Chyzowski broke a 1-1 tie with his first WHL goal at 9:50 of the second period. . . . F Matt Bradley and F Ryan Jevne each had a goal and an assist for the Tigers (2-1-0), while F Caleb Fantillo had two assists. . . . Medicine Hat G Nick Schneider stopped 23 shots. The Blades (1-2-0) got 40 saves from Logan Flodell. . . . Medicine Hat was 0-1 on the PP; Saskatoon was 0-3. . . . Announced attendance: 4,014.
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At Moose Jaw, F Evan Polei’s goal at 1:09 of OT gave the Red Deer Rebels a 4-3 victory over the Warriors. . . . It was the third time in as many games that the Rebels (1-0-2) couldn't settle things in regulation time. . . . After F Jeff de Wit gave Red Deer a 1-0 lead at 8:12 of the first period, the Warriors (1-1-0) scored three straight goals. F Noah Gregor tied it at 19:49, with F Brett Howden making it 2-1 at 4:19 of the second period and D Jett Woo upping the lead to two at 7:09. . . . Red Deer D Josh Mahura scored a PP goal at 5:06 of the third period and F D-Jay Jerome tied it, at 12:30, with his third goal of the season. . . . Red Deer G Riley Lamb stopped 33 shots, while Moose Jaw’s Zach Sawchenko turned aside 17. . . . Moose Jaw held a 31-12 edge in shots through two periods. . . . The Rebels were 1-2 on the PP; the Warriors were 0-4. . . . Announced attendance: 3,087.
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At Prince George, F Brad Morrison’s two goals led the Cougars to their fifth straight victory, 4-1 over the Kelowna Rockets. . . . The Cougars are 5-0-0 for the first time in franchise history. . . . Their first four victories came on the road, so this one was their home-opener. . . . F Colby McAuley and F Brogan O’Brien each had two assists for the home boys, with F Yan Khomenko scoring once and adding an assist. . . . Khomenko, an 18-year-old Russian, had five goals and three assists in 46 games with Everett last season. He’s got two goals and two assists in five games with the Cougars. . . . F Jake Kryski gave the Rockets (1-3-0) a 1-0 lead at 2:45 of the first period, marking the first time the Cougars have trailed this season. . . . Morrison tied it at 17:21 and got the eventual winner, on a PP, at 2:34 of the second period. . . . G Ty Edmonds stopped 15 shots for the victory, while Kelowna’s Michael Herringer made 40 saves. . . . The Cougars were 3-10 on the PP; the Rockets were 0-3. . . . Announced attendance: 5,282.
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At Portland, F Graham Millar’s goal with 13.2 seconds left in the second period broke a 1-1 tie and sent the Everett Silvertips on to a 3-1 victory over the Winterhawks. . . . F Patrick Bajkov gave Everett a 1-0 lead at 11:48 of the first period. . . . Portland F Alex Overhardt tied it, shorthanded, four minutes later. . . . F Matt Fonteyne provided the visitors with insurance at 3:09 of the third period. . . . Everett G Carter Hart blocked 31 shots, one more than Michael Bullion of Portland. . . . Everett (3-0-0) was 1-5 on the PP; Portland (2-1-0) was 0-3. . . . D Mackenzie Dwyer, 19, was in Everett’s lineup for the first time since Jan. 18. . . . Announced attendance: 4,151.
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At Prince Albert, F Glenn Gawdin broke a 2-2 at 17:33 of the second period and the Swift Current Broncos went on to beat the Prince Albert Raiders, 5-2. . . . The game marked the return of Emanuel Viveiros, the Broncos’ first-year head coach, to the Art Hauser Memorial Centre. Viveiros starred with the Raiders for four seasons (1982-86) and was an integral part of the team that won the 1985 Memorial Cup. He played for three seasons with Raiders associate coach Dave Manson and two seasons with Curtis Hunt, now Prince Albert’s general manager. . . . Broncos F Arthur Miller added insurance at 16:22 of the third period and F Lane Pederson, who had two assists, got the empty-netter, at 19:59. . . . Gawdin also had an assist. . . . G Austin Glover and F Simon Stransky each had a goal and an assist for the Raiders (1-2-0). . . . G Travis Child stopped 21 shots for the Broncos (2-1-0), while Ian Scott turned aside 30 at the other end. . . . The Broncos were 0-4 on the PP; the Raiders were 0-3. . . . Raiders D Cody Paivarinta, an 18-year-old from Abbotsford, B.C., played only his second game since Jan. 5. An undisclosed injury limited him to one game after Jan. 5 last season. . . . Announced attendance: 2,173. . . . The Broncos are at home to the Medicine Hat Tigers tonight (Saturday). Jamie LeBlanc, the Broncos’ trainer, will work his 1,000th CHL game.
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At Regina, F Sam Steel, in his first game after returning from the camp of the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, scored twice to help the Pats to a 6-3 victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings. . . . Steel’s first goal, just 14 seconds into the second period, gave the Pats (2-0-1) a 3-1 lead. . . . The Oil Kings tied it on goals from F Trey Fix-Wolansky, at 1:12, and F Lane Bauer, shorthanded, at 9:43. . . . Regina F Filip Ahl broke the tie at 11:18 and F Luc Smith added insurance at 12:08 of the third period. . . . Steel got his second goal at 15:22. . . . F Riley Woods and Ahl each had a goal and an assist for Regina, with F Nick Henry and F Rykr Cole each earning two assists. . . . F Tyler Robertson had two assists for Edmonton (2-1-0). . . . G Jordan Hollett stopped 34 shots for Regina, two fewer than Edmonton’s Patrick Dea. . . . Hollett stopped Edmonton F Davis Koch on a second-period penalty shot. The Pats were leading 3-2 at the time. . . . Regina was 2-for-5 on the PP; Edmonton was 1-for-3. . . . Announced attendance: 3,749.
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At Langley, B.C., F Matthew Wedman scored two goals to help the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 4-2 victory over the Vancouver Giants. . . . F Radovan Bondra, who scored both Vancouver goals, opened the scoring at 4:56 of the first period. . . . Wedman tied it at 12:58 and F Alexander True gave the visitors the lead at 1:09 of the second period. . . . Wedman got what turned out to be the winner at 13:50. . . . D Anthony Bishop had two assists for Seattle. . . . The Thunderbirds improved to 1-1-0, while the Giants fell to 0-4-0. . . . Seattle G Carl Stankowski stopped 15 shots as he won in his WHL debut. . . . Vancouver G David Tendeck turned aside 17 shots. . . . The Thunderbirds were 0-3 on the PP; the Giants were 0-1. . . . The Giants had F Thomas Foster and F Alex Baer back from injuries, while F Ty Ronning, who had been in camp with the NHL’s New York Rangers, also played. . . . Announced attendance: 3,483.
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At Victoria, F Matt Phillips scored the game’s only goal as the Royals beat the Kamloops Blazers, 1-0. . . . Phillips, freshly returned from the camp of the NHL’s Calgary Flames, struck on a breakaway, at 10:20 of the third period. . . . G Griffen Outhouse of the Royals (1-2-0) stopped 34 shots for his first shutout this season and the fifth of his career, which is into its second season. . . . G Connor Ingram, in his first start since returning from the camp of the Tampa Bay Lightning, blocked 23 shots for the Blazers (1-2-0). . . . Each team was 0-6 on the PP. . . . Announced attendance: 3,980.
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SATURDAY GAMES (all times local):

Red Deer at Brandon, 7:30 p.m.
Saskatoon vs. Kootenay, at Cranbrook, B.C., 7 p.m.
Calgary at Lethbridge, 7 p.m.
Edmonton at Moose Jaw, 7 p.m.
Kelowna at Prince George, 7 p.m.
Portland vs. Seattle, at Kent, Wash., 7:05 p.m.
Tri-City at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
Medicine Hat at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
Kamloops at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.

SUNDAY GAMES (all times local):

Swift Current at Brandon, 4 p.m.
Edmonton at Prince Albert, 4 p.m.
Red Deer at Regina, 4 p.m.
Everett vs. Tri-City, at Kennewick, Wash., 5:05 p.m.

Kamloops vs. Vancouver, at Langley, B.C., 4 p.m.

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Posted by Gregg Drinnan at 10:19 PM
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Friday, August 1, 2014

Hockey loses another friend . . . Pats sign, uhh, an assistant trainer










F David Stieler (Swift Current, 2006-08) has signed a one-year contract with Regensburg (Germany, Oberliga). Last season, with Skalica (Slovakia, Extraliga), he had 28 points, including 13 goals, in 54 games. . . .
F Dan DaSilva (Portland, 2002-05) has signed a one-year contract with the Augsburger Panther (Germany, DEL). Last season, with the Ontario Reign (ECHL), he had 26 points, seven of them goals in 14 games. In 61 games with the Worcester Sharks (AHL), he had 37 points, including 17 goals. . . .
F Matt Keith (Spokane, Red Deer, 1998-2003) has signed a two-year contract with the Braehead Clan Glasgow (Scotland, UK Elite). Last season, with Red Bull Salzburg (Austria, Erste Bank Liga), he had seven goals and eight assists in 53 games. . . .
F Luke Walker (Portland, 2007-10) has signed a one-year contract with the Graz 99ers (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). Last season, with Medveščak Zagreb (Croatia, KHL), he had a goal and two assists in 36 games. The general manager and head coach of Graz is Todd Bjorkstrand, the father of F Oliver Bjorkstrand of the Portland Winterhawks.
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Adam and Dale Hughesman, enjoying a father-son day.
(Photo: Tri-City Americans)
 Hockey lost another friend when Dale Hughesman died Thursday night after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Hughesman, who was 51, was the father of former Tri-City Americans F Adam Hughesman. Among so many other things, Dale also was heavily involved with the MJHL’s Selkirk Steelers, and had served as the franchise’s governor in recent years.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
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John Fisher is the corporate secretary with the Portland Winterhawks’ Booster Club. I would suggest he also is the de facto director of communications because no one does more to keep the club’s members informed than he does.
On Friday, after I had written here about mental health awareness as an issue, he responded with this:
This is a subject very near and dear to me for almost 30 years in helping those teenagers who "manifest" mental health issues usually around 15 years of age ... As I have specialized in teenagers with Bipolar and/or Schizophrenia as well as all the related issues of these illnesses ...
Thank you Gregg Drinnan for posting and bringing to the forefront this most important issue as well as other "health matters" for children and teens in our favorite sport, including "concussion injuries."
I, too, have always taken the stance that "the stronger person” is the one who seeks out medical intervention and counseling ... Even if someone else "intervenes" on your behalf."
The stigma of Mental Health should never be a sign of any sort of weakness! In fact, most of "my kids" have "tested academically in the 90th percentile in most all subjects." They just have issues and frustrations applying their "God Given Smarts" in meaningful ways ...
So, being extremely "smart" does not make you immune to illnesses, including Mental Health issues ...
I say to those afflicted, BE STRONG AND SEEK OUT help and do not let any preconception of weakness stop you ... You are stronger than the illness by having a "support team!"
... And YOU MATTER ... YES YOU MATTER to so many ... Tomorrow will be a better day!
Mental Health assistance and crisis lines are available 24 Hours a Day Seven Days a Week (24/7) all across North America. A call to ANY Emergency Room can help you with immediate assistance and crisis line telephone numbers.
... YOU ARE NOT ALONE ... People are there to Help and Not to there to judge ... Just "pick up the phone."
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Back in the day, I quite enjoyed watching Mike Toth when he appeared on TSN and later on Sportsnet. It was the dry sense of humour and the fact that he didn’t make sports more than they are -- a game.
But . . . one day Toth was there, and the next day he wasn’t. That was four years ago.
What happened?
Toth answers that question, at least partially, right here. He also writes about having “struggled with depression my entire life.”
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The Lethbridge Hurricanes and former assistant coach Brad Lukowich have settled a lawsuit that was launched by Lukowich after he had been fired by the organization on Feb. 8. . . . A source told Taking Note a few weeks ago that the claim had been settled, with Lukowich getting paid out and also getting all fees and costs and an apology.
Carmela Gentile of Global News reports that “Lukowich was seeking $108,000 plus damages at the time the court documents were filed.”
Here is the complete news release that was issued Friday morning by the Hurricanes:
The Lethbridge Hurricanes Hockey Club and Mr. Brad Lukowich have settled Mr. Lukowich’s claim arising from his departure from the Lethbridge Hurricanes Hockey Club in February, to their mutual satisfaction.
Lukowich stated: “I appreciate the Hurricanes willingness to resolve these matters constructively. My wife Cara, our daughters and I have grown very fond of the city of Lethbridge and all it has to offer. My goal is still to teach and coach at the highest level possible the game that gave me so much so that I can give back. I look forward to the next opportunity to pursue that goal.”
Brad Robson, General Manager, stated: “Although we initially announced Brad was terminated for cause, it has subsequently been determined by the Lethbridge Hurricanes Hockey Club that his departure was not for cause. The Club extends their sincere appreciation for his services and wish him success. Brad's strength is his focus on player development. I expect to see him involved in hockey operations next season."
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Taking Note also has been told that Doug Soetaert and the Everett Silvertips have settled a breach of contract lawsuit that he filed March 14, 2012. . . . Soetaert, who was fired as Everett’s general manager on Feb. 2, 2012, and the Silvertips actually made it into the courtroom for a three-day trial last month. Apparently, the two parties got together and resolved things before Judge Bruce I. Weiss issued a decision.
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The NHL’s Ottawa Senators have promoted former WHL player/coach Bob Lowes to chief amateur scout. . . . Lowes joined the Senators as a part-time amateur scout in 2006. He has been a full-time scout since 2008. . . . According to a news release, “As chief amateur scout, he will provide direction to the entire amateur scouting staff as the group prepares for each year’s NHL draft.” . . . Lowes spent nine seasons as a head coach with the Brandon Wheat Kings and three with the Regina Pats. . . . The Senators also announced that they have hired Don Boyd, another former WHL coach (Regina, 1982-83), as a full-time amateur scout. He had been working for the Senators as a scouting consultant.
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The Regina Pats are rumoured to be close to signing a head coach; of course, they also are rumoured to be close to adding Lorne Molleken to their front office, too.
One thing they do have is an assistant trainer. The Vernon Morning News reported Friday morning that Gord Cochran, who has been with the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers since 2009, has signed on with the Pats. A native of Williams Lake, B.C., he had been the Vipers’ trainer/equipment manager.
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Jim Hiller, a former WHL head coach with the Chilliwack Bruins and Tri-City Americans, signed on earlier this week as an assistant coach with the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings. On Thursday, Hiller appeared on The Locker Room Show (610 KONA). That clip is right here, starting at about the 9:30 mark. (Stick tap to Locker Room co-host Craig West for the link.)
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Dave McLellan is the new GM/head coach of the junior B Nelson Leafs, who play in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. He replaces Matt Hughes, who signed on in May but left last weekend to coach at the Pursuit of Excellence in Kelowna. The Nelson Daily has more right here.
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Posted by Gregg Drinnan at 11:26 PM
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Wednesday, February 29, 2012

THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Tomas Kudelka (Lethbridge, 2005-07) signed a one-year contract extension with Vitkovice Ostrava (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He has three goals and 16 assists in 52 games for Vitkovice this season.
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Shelley Lowes, the wife of longtime hockey coach/scout Bob Lowes, has undergone surgery in Regina after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
The Lowes family is doing a remarkable thing through all of this — maintaining a blog titled: We can . . . with love!
Here is a note Shelley left for her family before surgery:
“To my beautiful family.
“Please take a deep breath and help each other out...even if you are not asked to help.
“Please remember to say ‘I love you’ and give a hug...it doesn't cost a thing.
“Please remember I love you....have a great lunch today, work out....stay busy, stay together, stay strong!
“Thank you — for you, your prayers — your strength!
“Can't wait to see you.
“Love Mom xoxo”
You should check this out right here and please feel free to send along some thoughts and best wishes.
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Ryan Gibbons, a WHL linesman who played for the Seattle Thunderbirds, wore a GoPro camera on his helmet during the Celebrity All-Star game that was part of Hockey Challenge 2012 in Kent, Wash., on Saturday. If you haven’t seen the footage yet, it’s right here.
Gibbons also worked the Thunderbirds’ game that night. . . . His linesmen’s jersey was part of the Challenge auction and it went for $750. He autographed it after the game.
The Thunderbirds and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western Washington & Alaska (RMHC) have since announced that the 14th annual Hockey Challenge, which was held Saturday and Sunday, raised more than $190,000, bringing the 14-year total to more than $4.2 million.
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Whatever happened to Mick McGeough, who perhaps was the last of the WHL referees to express his personality while he worked? He was the supervising official when the Vancouver Canucks played the Phoenix Coyotes in the desert last night. . . .
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The Edmonton Journal reports that Medicine Hat Tigers G Tyler Bunz, who turned 20 on Feb. 11, will face a drunk driving trial on March 5 in St. Albert, Alta. According to the newspaper, Bunz “is charged with one count of impaired driving and one count of driving with a blood-alcohol level over .08.” . . . Bunz, who is from St. Albert, was charged on May 28. . . . His NHL rights belong to the Edmonton Oilers. . . .
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The Lethbridge Hurricanes, who play the Raiders in Prince Albert tonight, have lost F Brady Ramsay and his 23 goals to an undisclosed injury. They have brought in Tyler Wong and Harrison Harper. . . . Wong, taken in the fifth round of the 2011 bantam draft, had 32 points in 26 games with the midget AAA UFA Bisons, while Harper had 10 points in 28 games with the junior B Airdrie Thunder. Harper was a 12th round pick in the 2009 bantam draft. . . .
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The WHL and the Prince Albert Raiders are mourning the death of Ruth (Grams) Pollock, who passed away Tuesday morning. She was 90. Pollock billeted players for 20 straight seasons, starting with grandson Troy Hjertaas in 1988-89. According to a Raiders new release, “Over two decades, Grams billeted many players, including Donovan Hextall, Richard Seeley, Derek Paget, David Van Drunen, Milan Kraft, Shane Willis, Dane Byers Rejean Beauchemin, Aki Seitsonen, Shane Hnidy, Mike McGhan, Ryan White, David Aime, Mike Small, Greg Watson, Jordan Kochan and Brandon Herrod. Her billeting duties came full circle in 2008, when she billeted her grandson Zach Sim.” . . . She received the WHL Distinguished Services Award in 2008. . . . Funeral arrangements are pending. . . .
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A tweet from Ryan Button (@buttsy78): “RIP Grams, truly a legend in the community of PA. #thebest”
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A source has told me that the Portland Winterhawks received two second-round bantam draft picks from Everett as compensation for the Silvertips decision to sign Garry Davidson as general manager. Davidson has been Portland’s director of player personnel. . . . That would be one pick in 2012 and another in 2013. . . .
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The Regina Pats have added D Nathan Zimbaluk, 18, who started the season in the Queen City but was sent to the SJHL’s Melfort Mustangs in January. . . . With Zimbaluk in camp, the Pats no longer have D Colby Williams, 16, with them. He spent the season with the midget AAA Regina Pat Canadians. . . .
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BCHL commissioner John Grisdale and a member of that league’s expansion committee will be in Wenatchee, Wash., this weekend looking at the NAHL’s Wild as a potential entry. The Wild would like to get into the BCHL as soon as next season; the BCHL has said it is looking at 2013-14. . . . The Wild is home to the Fresno Monsters on Saturday.
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THE COACHING GAME:
The SJHL’s Yorkton Terriers have re-signed general manager Don Chesney and head coach Trent Cassan to two-year contracts. . . .
Former U of North Dakota star Tony Hrkac won’t return for a sixth season as head coach of the hockey program at Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon, Wis. . . . Hrkac went 10-109-10 as the first head coach in the program’s history.
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TUESDAY’S GAMES:
In Moose Jaw, F Sam Fioretti scored twice to help the Warriors to a 5-1 victory over the Red Deer Rebels. . . . Fioretti, who has 19 goals, opened the scoring at 11:41 of the first and then broke a 1-1 tie at 4:23 of the second. . . . F Quinton Howden had a goal and two assists for the Warriors. . . . Moose Jaw lost F Kenton Miller toa checking-to-the-head major at 13:55 of the first period. . . . The Rebels had captain Adam Kambeitz back after a 13-game absence, but they dressed just 16 skaters, two under the maximum. D Aaron Borejko, D Kayle Doetzel, F Joel Hamilton, F Colten Mayor, F Cory Millette and D Justin Weller all are out with injuries, as is G Patrik Bartosak. . . . With the victory, the Warriors clinched a playoff spot, the second Eastern Conference team to do so. . . . The Warriors were without F Cody Beach, who has been suspended for two games for “accumulation of embellishment penalties.” Earlier, he was suspended one game for the same thing. . . . Beach gets three games for making a fool of himself; other players get one-game suspensions for incurring kneeing and cross-checking majors, infractions that presumably put other players at risk. You figure it out. . . . The Warriors are atop the East Division, 11 points ahead of the Saskatoon Blades, who have nine games left. . . . The Rebels are 10 points out of the playoffs with 10 games remaining. . . .

In Kennewick, Wash., the Brendan Shinnimin train slowed, but just a bit, as he drew two assists in the Tri-City Americans’ 3-1 victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . Shinnimin, whose 10-game goal-scoring streak was snapped, finished February with 43 points in 14 games. That included 23 goals. . . . He now has 117 points and an 11-point lead atop the WHL scoring race. . . . Tri-City F Patrick Holland had a goal, his 24th, and an assist, lifting him to 97 points. . . . Holland leads the WHL with 73 assists. The last WHLer with 80 assists in a season was Portland F Todd Robinson (1996-97). . . . F Justin Feser got his 32nd goal for the Americans, giving them a 3-0 lead in the first period. . . . F Connor Sanvido scored for Seattle, his fifth of the season. Sanvido, Seatte’s first selection, 14th overall, in the 2009 bantam draft, was playing in his first game since Feb. 6 after having been sent home to think about things. . . . The Thunderbirds were without D Cason Machacek, who drew an eight-game suspension after his stick came into contact with linesman Zach Brooks in Sunday’s 5-1 loss to the visiting Tri-City Americans. Machacek has been suspended four times this season for a total of 15 games. . . . Seattle also was without F Branden Troock, who drew a one-game sentence for a cross-checking major in that same game. . . . The Americans remain on top of the WHL’s overall standings and the Western Conference. . . . They are a point ahead of the Portland Winterhawks and three ahead of the Kamloops Blazers. Portland will visit the Americans on Friday and the teams will meet at the Rose Garden in Portland on Sunday. . . . Seattle holds the Western Conference’s last playoff spot, one point ahead of the Everett Silvertips. . . . The Thunderbirds are to play in Everett on Friday. . . .

In Portland, F Oliver Gabriel scored twice to lead the Winterhawks to a 5-2 victory over the Kamloops Blazers. . . . Gabriel got the game’s first goal, at 1:35 of the second period, and then gave his side a 3-1 lead at 3:30 of the third. He’s got 16 goals. . . . Portland F Sven Baertschi had a goal, his 26th broke a 1-1 tie ta 3:14 of the third, and two assists. He is a point shy of maintaining his two-point-a-game clip — he has 87 in 44. . . . Last season, Baertschi finished with 85 points in 66 games. . . . Portland F Marcel Noebels got his 20th goal, while F Ty Rattie had two assists. . . . Portland had a 47-26 edge in shots, including 22-5 in the third period. . . . Portland G Mac Carruth won his WHL-leading 39th game. With nine games remaining, Carruth can’t get to the WHL single-game record that is held by Glen Hanlon, now an assistant coach with the Vancouver Giants. Hanlon won 49  games with the 1976-77 Brandon Wheat Kings. . . . The Blazers have lost their last two games, the seventh time this season they have lost two in a row. They have yet to lose three in a row. Kamloops plays the Silvertips in Everett tonight. . . . Kamloops F Brendan Ranford, who had his 13-game point streak halted, left in the third period with an apparent leg injury. . . . Kamloops F Jordan DePape, who hasn’t played since Oct. 10 because of a shoulder injury that needed surgery, skated in the pregame warmup before being scratched. He may play against the Silvertips in Everett tonight. . . . While they trail Tri-City and Portland in the overall standings, Kamloops remains the Western Conference’s second seed because it leads the B.C. Division. . . . Portland has won 10 of 11 and 24 of 29. . . .

In Prince George, F Hunter Shinkaruk scored twice to help the Medicine Hat Tigers to a 3-2 victory over the Cougars. . . . Shinkaruk has 42 goals. . . . Tigers F Emerson Etem, who leads the league with 53 goals, didn’t score but did draw three assists. . . . Cougars G Drew Owsley stopped 41 shots; Medicine Hat’s Tiger Bunz stopped 19. . . . Shinkaruk gave the Tigers a 3-1 lead at 14:53 of the second. . . . F Caleb Belter got the Cougars to within one at 14:09 of the third. . . . The same teams play again tonight in Prince George. . . . The Cougars have lost five straight and are four points out of a playoff spot. . . .

In Victoria, the Spokane penalty-killers went 6-for-6 as the Chiefs doubled the Royals, 4-2. . . . Spokane F Blake Gal broke a 2-2 tie at 16:40 of the third period. He’s got 13 goals. . . . D Corbin Baldwin put it away with an empty-netter at 18:54. . . . Chiefs D Brendan Kichton had one assist and was plus-3. . . . Victoria G Jared Rathjen, making his fourth straight start, stopped 29 shots, three more than Spokane’s Mac Engel. . . . The Chiefs had lost their previous two games. They are fifth in the Western Conference, three points behind the Vancouver Giants with a game in hand. These two teams will meet in the first round, so all that’s left to decide is home-ice advantage. . . . The Royals have won three in a row. They are seventh in the Western Conference, two points ahead of Seattle and three ahead of Everett.
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TUESDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
None.
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TUESDAY’S CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
F Kenton Miller, Moose Jaw (major).
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For what it’s worth, The New York Times played that story on fighting in hockey that was linked to here yesterday on its front page. It was below the fold but it was front page news.
Jeff Z. Klein of The Times spent some time recently in the Saskatoon area and filed this story that focuses on fighting in hockey.
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Todd Holt was a real pepper-pot when he played for the Swift Current Broncos. He wasn’t very big, but he was a talker and a sniper with the ability to bring fans out of their seats. Who knew then of the torture he was experiencing? Rob Vanstone of the Regina Leader-Post has a close-up look at the life Holt has led since then. If you read anything today, make sure this is it.
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ASK THE COMMISSIONER:
The Kamloops Blazers played the Giants in Vancouver on Friday night. There was a skirmish at 18:03 of the third period, after which the two referees gave misconducts to all 10 skaters who were on the ice, including Vancouver D Kiefer McNaughton. Both play-by-play men, Dan Elliott of the Giants and Jon Keen of the Blazers, confirmed that McNaughton took another shift before the game ended. Mr. Commissioner, if McNaughton was given a misconduct, how was that possible?

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Posted by Gregg Drinnan at 12:39 AM
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