THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Wacey Rabbit (Saskatoon, Vancouver, 2001-07) signed a one-year contract with Jesenice (Slovenia, Austria Erste Bank Liga). He had 12 goals and 27 assists in 53 games for Medvescak Zagreb (Croatia, Austria Erste Bank Liga) this season.
———
A regular visitor to this blog asked if I had any idea how many WHL players who were selected in the NHL’s 2009 draft weren’t signed by the June 1 deadline?
So I scurried over to Small Thoughts At Large and found Alan Caldwell’s list of WHLers who were selected in that draft. After subtracting recent signees, here is what’s left:
Second round:
43. San Jose: D William Wrenn (Portland Winter Hawks)
Third round:
67. Florida: F Josh Birkholz (Everett Silvertips)
81. Philadelphia: G Adam Morrison (Saskatoon Blades)
Fifth round:
141. Calgary: F Spencer Bennett (Vancouver Giants)
Sixth round:
155. Atlanta: F Jimmy Bubnick (Calgary Hitmen)
157. Phoenix: F Evan Bloodoff (Kelowna Rockets)
Seventh round:
185. Atlanta: F Levko Koper (Spokane Chiefs)
———
To the best of my knowledge, none of the above seven players signed. However, because Wrenn and Birkholz were drafted out of the U.S. college ranks, they weren’t subject to the June 1 deadline. They don’t have to be signed until their classes are scheduled to graduate.
Meanwhile, the Carolina Hurricanes signed D Tommi Kivisto, whom they took 208th overall after he played a season with the Red Deer Rebels. However, he returned to his native Finland for 2010-11 and played for Jokerit. The contract he signed allows him to return to Jokerit and then come to the NHL in 2012-13, should he choose.
———
Matt Coxford of the Cranbrook Daily Townsman had an interesting chat with WHL commissioner Ron Robison. Most of the conversation dealt with the attendance at Kootenay Ice games during the playoffs. Among other things, Robison said:
"The margin for error in these small centres is not there. They have to fill the building, they have to get to a position that we're dealing with 90 per cent capacity attendance. Sixty per cent is just not acceptable. A club can't be expected to operate under those circumstances.
"The reality is, if the Western Hockey League is going to continue to operate in the Kootenays — and we're fully committed to making that happen — we need to increase the season ticket base and we need to increase the attendance in a game-by-game basis."
Coxford’s complete story is right here.
Wasn’t it just a short time ago when the WHL was fully committed to making a go of it in Chilliwack? That’s what I thought.
———
F Joey Hishon of the Owen Sound Attack was on the receiving end of that elbow from Kootenay Ice D Brayden McNabb at the Memorial Cup. . . . Mike Savage of the Stratford, Ont., Beacon Herald talks with Hishon about his concussion and the impact it has had on him. That story is right here.
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One of the benefits of living as close to the Left Coast as I do is that I, with a newspaper addiction that needs to be fed every day, have access to four daily newspapers, not counting the one for which I work. Had I the time, I would read all four — The Globe and Mail, the National Post, the Vancouver Province and the Vancouver Sun — every day. Not having the time, I pick and choose, but I always try to read columnist Pete McMartin of the Sun. Having started in this business when some of us really did have a bottle in the bottom desk drawer, and when you couldn’t write without chainsmoking and taking coffee via IV, I can easily picture McMartin in a news room in that era.
Anyway, the Seattle Times asked McMartin to write a column for them on the Stanley Cup final. That column is right here and it’s worth your time.
———
Jack Knox of the Victoria Times Colonist is another Left Coaster who can write. There are a lot of news columnist out here who have caught Stanley Cup fever and decided to try their hand at sports writing. Knox is no exception and his piece his right here.
———
JUST NOTES: The OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds have filled out their coaching staff with the hiring of three assistants — Nick Warriner, Seamus Kotyk and Mike Oliverio. Warriner is back for a fourth season with the Soo. Kotyk was promoted to fulltime assistant after serving as the goaltending coach last season. Oliverio, who played five seasons as a player with the Soo, spent the last 14 seasons scouting for the OHL’s Plymouth Whalers. They will work under new head coach mike Stapleton. . . . G Robin Lehner stopped 21 shots Friday night as the host Binghamton Senators blanked the Houston Aeros in Game 4 of the AHL’s championship final for the Calder Cup. . . . Attendance was 4,710. . . . The series is tied 2-2 with Game 5 in Binghamton tonight. . . . The series will return to Houston for Game 6 on Tuesday. A seventh game, if needed, will be played in Houston on Thursday. . . . The OHL released its 2011-12 schedule on Friday. . . . More than 48 hours have passed since Game 1 of the NHL final was played and I’m still trying to figure out why Boston head coach Claude Julien assigned D Zdeno Chara to the front of the Vancouver net on the Bruins’ power play. Gotta think Vancouver’s penalty killers much prefer having Chara there, rather than using his 105 mile an hour slapper from the point. It will be interesting to see where Chara finds himself on Boston’s PP in Game 2. Assuming, that is, that the referees choose to call penalties. . . .
———
A note from Rob Vanstone of the Regina Leader-Post:
“Two and a half months have elapsed since the Regina Pats’ season concluded, but there has yet to be an announcement regarding the status of head coach Curtis Hunt and director of scouting Todd Ripplinger. At this point, we can only presume that both men will be retained, because that is the only fair decision general manager Chad Lang can make after taking so long to assess the organization.”
Of course, the other side of that thought process is that if the Pats were going to have them back, they would have made the announcement well before now.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Taking Note on Twitter
Showing posts with label Brayden McNabb. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brayden McNabb. Show all posts
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Thursday . . .
THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Marcin Kolusz (Vancouver, 2003-04) signed a two-year contract with Sanok (Poland, Ekstraliga) for next season. He had seven goals and 14 assists in 24 games for Podhale Nowy Targ (Poland, Ekstraliga) this season and also was an assistant captain of the Polish national team at this year's Division 1 World Championship. Kolusz had two goals and four assists in five games to lead Poland in scoring. . . .
G Riku Helenius (Seattle, 2007-08) signed a two-year plus option contract with JyP Jyväskylä (Finland, SM-Liiga). He had a 3.03 GAA and a .884 save percentage in 18 games for Södertälje (Sweden, Elitserien) this season.
———
They were playing street hockey at Portage and Main last night, which must mean the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers are headed to Winnipeg.
Which means, of course, that the Manitoba Moose, the AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks, will need a new home.
Let’s see. There is an arena in Chilliwack that has yet to land a hockey team as a tenant. The WHL’s Chilliwack Bruins, you’ll recall, were sold and have relocated to Victoria. Vancouver-based RG Properties, which purchased the Bruins, has since killed off its other team, the ECHL’s Victoria Salmon Kings.
Negotations aimed at bringing the BCHL’s Quesnel Millionaires to Chilliwack are on-going. But you have to wonder if they won’t be slowed by news that the Moose suddenly are available. If for no other reason than to let this sort itself out.
Or what of Regina, where the Pats again are embroiled in lease negotiations with their landord, Evraz Place? A few weeks ago, when the Phoenix Coyotes-to-Winnipeg rumours were running rampant, I was told that Evraz Place people had at least touched base with the AHL.
So . . . what if the Moose ended up in Regina? Could the Pats pack up and move to Chilliwack?
John Shannon, a hockey analyst with Rogers Sportsnet, tweeted Thursday night that he has heard that a destination for the Moose might well be St. John’s, Nfld., or Thunder Bay.
Or, hey, how about the Chilliwack Moose?
———
THE COACHING GAME: Steve Hartley has signed on as an assistant coach with the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads. He is the son of former NHL coach Bob Hartley. Steve will work under Dominique Ducharme, the Mooseheads’ new head coach. Hartley, 25, is a former goaltender who played at Miami-Ohio. He spent the last two seasons coaching the in the Quebec Junior AAA league. . . . Two former WHL head coaches, both of whom also played in the league, are out of work. Terry Ruskowski, who coached the Saskatoon Blades (1989-91), has stepped down as president, general manager and head coach of the Central league’s Laredo Bucks. He had been there for nine seasons, winning championships in 2004 and 2006. “My first instinct was to make sure hockey stays in Laredo,” Ruskowski told Pro 8 Sports-TV, “so I sacrificed my contract to make sure hockey stays in Laredo.” . . . Kenny Ryan of the Laredo Morning Times has more right here. . . . Serge Dube, who has played for the Bucks since 2002, is the Bucks’ new head coach. . . . Brad McCrimmon, another former Blades head coach (1998-2000), has resigned after three seasons as an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings. McCrimmon, who has head-coaching aspirations, also has worked as an assistant with the Atlanta Thrashers, Calgary Flames and New York Islanders.
———
Management of the Central leagues Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees say the franchise is still alive; however, the office is closed because the team can’t make payroll. Brian Sandalow of Valley Freedom Newspapers has the story right here.
———
D Brayden McNabb of the Kootenay Ice signed a three-year deal with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday. According to capgeek.com, his AHL salary each of the seasons will be US$67,500 with NHL salaries of $615,000, $690,000 and $740,000. McNabb, a second-round pick in the NHL’s 2009 draft, got a $270,000 signing bonus over the three years. . . . Gotta think McNabb will be buying lunch for the boys sometime during Memorial Cup week.
———
Medicine Hat Tigers F Emerson Etem has signed a three-year deal with the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks. He was the 29th player selected in the 2010 NHL draft. Last season, his second in the WHL, he had 80 points, including 45 goals, in 65 games. Etem who is scheduled to turn 19 on June 16, also was plus-41.
———
The Max Gardiner watch is on. Gardiner, a forward who was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the third round of the 2010 NHL draft, has left the U of Minnesota after one season with the Gophers. The Dubuque Fighting Saints hold his USHL rights, but he could be ticketed for the WHL’s Tri-City Americans, who have him on their college list. . . . The 6-foot-2, 187-pound Gardiner, who turned 19 on May 7, is from Minnetonka, Minn. He had a miserable season at Minnesota, though, getting just three points in 17 games.
———
The Tri-City Americans have listed F Justin Gutierrez, who played for the Alaska All-Stars midget AAA (U-16) team this season. He had 35 points, including 17 goals, and 40 penalty minutes in 39 games. The 6-foot-3, 170-pound Gutierrez is a late birthday; he’ll turn 16 on Dec. 22. He is a younger brother to former WHLer Moises Gutierrez.
———
Wade Klippenstein, the assistant GM and director of player personnel with the Prince George Cougars, scored what is believed to be the first journalist scoop of his life Wednesday night when he tweeted congratulations to Brian Chow as the SJHL’s new president.
The SJHL made the formal announcement Thursday.
Chow, 52, has been with the Prince Albert Police Service for 29 years, while also scouting for the Spokane Chiefs.
Chow signed a three-year contract. He replaces Laury Ryan, who resigned in March after spending eight years in the office.
———
TWEET OF THE DAY:
From Edmonton Oil Kings D Keegan Lowe: “i dont like the sound of 7 canadian NHL teams. whats gonna happen on hockey day in canada? 1 gets left out.”
If you’re on Twitter, you are able to follow him at @Klowe4.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Taking Note on Twitter
F Marcin Kolusz (Vancouver, 2003-04) signed a two-year contract with Sanok (Poland, Ekstraliga) for next season. He had seven goals and 14 assists in 24 games for Podhale Nowy Targ (Poland, Ekstraliga) this season and also was an assistant captain of the Polish national team at this year's Division 1 World Championship. Kolusz had two goals and four assists in five games to lead Poland in scoring. . . .
G Riku Helenius (Seattle, 2007-08) signed a two-year plus option contract with JyP Jyväskylä (Finland, SM-Liiga). He had a 3.03 GAA and a .884 save percentage in 18 games for Södertälje (Sweden, Elitserien) this season.
———
They were playing street hockey at Portage and Main last night, which must mean the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers are headed to Winnipeg.
Which means, of course, that the Manitoba Moose, the AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks, will need a new home.
Let’s see. There is an arena in Chilliwack that has yet to land a hockey team as a tenant. The WHL’s Chilliwack Bruins, you’ll recall, were sold and have relocated to Victoria. Vancouver-based RG Properties, which purchased the Bruins, has since killed off its other team, the ECHL’s Victoria Salmon Kings.
Negotations aimed at bringing the BCHL’s Quesnel Millionaires to Chilliwack are on-going. But you have to wonder if they won’t be slowed by news that the Moose suddenly are available. If for no other reason than to let this sort itself out.
Or what of Regina, where the Pats again are embroiled in lease negotiations with their landord, Evraz Place? A few weeks ago, when the Phoenix Coyotes-to-Winnipeg rumours were running rampant, I was told that Evraz Place people had at least touched base with the AHL.
So . . . what if the Moose ended up in Regina? Could the Pats pack up and move to Chilliwack?
John Shannon, a hockey analyst with Rogers Sportsnet, tweeted Thursday night that he has heard that a destination for the Moose might well be St. John’s, Nfld., or Thunder Bay.
Or, hey, how about the Chilliwack Moose?
———
THE COACHING GAME: Steve Hartley has signed on as an assistant coach with the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads. He is the son of former NHL coach Bob Hartley. Steve will work under Dominique Ducharme, the Mooseheads’ new head coach. Hartley, 25, is a former goaltender who played at Miami-Ohio. He spent the last two seasons coaching the in the Quebec Junior AAA league. . . . Two former WHL head coaches, both of whom also played in the league, are out of work. Terry Ruskowski, who coached the Saskatoon Blades (1989-91), has stepped down as president, general manager and head coach of the Central league’s Laredo Bucks. He had been there for nine seasons, winning championships in 2004 and 2006. “My first instinct was to make sure hockey stays in Laredo,” Ruskowski told Pro 8 Sports-TV, “so I sacrificed my contract to make sure hockey stays in Laredo.” . . . Kenny Ryan of the Laredo Morning Times has more right here. . . . Serge Dube, who has played for the Bucks since 2002, is the Bucks’ new head coach. . . . Brad McCrimmon, another former Blades head coach (1998-2000), has resigned after three seasons as an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings. McCrimmon, who has head-coaching aspirations, also has worked as an assistant with the Atlanta Thrashers, Calgary Flames and New York Islanders.
———
Management of the Central leagues Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees say the franchise is still alive; however, the office is closed because the team can’t make payroll. Brian Sandalow of Valley Freedom Newspapers has the story right here.
———
D Brayden McNabb of the Kootenay Ice signed a three-year deal with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday. According to capgeek.com, his AHL salary each of the seasons will be US$67,500 with NHL salaries of $615,000, $690,000 and $740,000. McNabb, a second-round pick in the NHL’s 2009 draft, got a $270,000 signing bonus over the three years. . . . Gotta think McNabb will be buying lunch for the boys sometime during Memorial Cup week.
———
Medicine Hat Tigers F Emerson Etem has signed a three-year deal with the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks. He was the 29th player selected in the 2010 NHL draft. Last season, his second in the WHL, he had 80 points, including 45 goals, in 65 games. Etem who is scheduled to turn 19 on June 16, also was plus-41.
———
The Max Gardiner watch is on. Gardiner, a forward who was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the third round of the 2010 NHL draft, has left the U of Minnesota after one season with the Gophers. The Dubuque Fighting Saints hold his USHL rights, but he could be ticketed for the WHL’s Tri-City Americans, who have him on their college list. . . . The 6-foot-2, 187-pound Gardiner, who turned 19 on May 7, is from Minnetonka, Minn. He had a miserable season at Minnesota, though, getting just three points in 17 games.
———
The Tri-City Americans have listed F Justin Gutierrez, who played for the Alaska All-Stars midget AAA (U-16) team this season. He had 35 points, including 17 goals, and 40 penalty minutes in 39 games. The 6-foot-3, 170-pound Gutierrez is a late birthday; he’ll turn 16 on Dec. 22. He is a younger brother to former WHLer Moises Gutierrez.
———
Wade Klippenstein, the assistant GM and director of player personnel with the Prince George Cougars, scored what is believed to be the first journalist scoop of his life Wednesday night when he tweeted congratulations to Brian Chow as the SJHL’s new president.
The SJHL made the formal announcement Thursday.
Chow, 52, has been with the Prince Albert Police Service for 29 years, while also scouting for the Spokane Chiefs.
Chow signed a three-year contract. He replaces Laury Ryan, who resigned in March after spending eight years in the office.
———
TWEET OF THE DAY:
From Edmonton Oil Kings D Keegan Lowe: “i dont like the sound of 7 canadian NHL teams. whats gonna happen on hockey day in canada? 1 gets left out.”
If you’re on Twitter, you are able to follow him at @Klowe4.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Taking Note on Twitter
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Wednesday . . .
James Mirtle of The Globe and Mail wonders today if the Memorial Cup tickets aren’t just a bit over-priced. The tournament opens Friday in Mississauga, Ont. Mirtle, by the way, is from Kamloops and grew up as a big fan of the Blazers. His blog entry is right here.
———
As of early this morning, there hasn’t been an announcement from the SJHL, but it seems the junior A league has found its new president.
Wade Klippenstein, the Prince George Cougars’ assistant GM and director of player personnel, tweeted Wednesday evening: “Congrats to Spokane Chiefs scout Bill Chow, the next president of the SJHL. A fantastic choice!”
Besides scouting for the Chiefs, Chow has been a Staff Sargeant with the Prince Albert Police Service, most recently working as administrative NCO/media liaison.
The SJHL has been searching for a president to replace Laury Ryan, who resigned in March after spending eight years in that office.
———
THE COACHING GAME: Former NHLer Corey Millen is the new head coach of the NAHL’s Alaska Avalanche, which plays out of Palmer, Alaska. Millen replaces Brian Huebel. He and assistant coach Sean Fish will work on the coaching staff of the NAHL’s Wichita Falls Wildcats, who are owned by Rick Brodsky, who also owns the WHL’s Prince George Cougars. . . . Former WHL and NHL goaltender Glen Hanlon has been dismissed as head coach of Slovakia’s national team. Slovakia didn’t qualify for the playoff round at the recently completed world championship. Hanlon, the first foreign head coach of the Slovak team, had been under contract through the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. He was hired after the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.
———
JUST NOTES: The Swift Current Broncos have signed G Steven Myland, 17. He was acquired as part of the deal in which Swift Current sent F Cody Eakin to the Kootenay Ice. Myland played this season with the Valley West Hawks of the B.C. major midget league, going 15-4 with two ties and a 1.94 GAA. . . . F Austin Wuthrich of Anchorage has committed to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish after spending this season with the U.S. National Team Development Program’s U-18 team, although he was injured for much of this season. He was a 12th-round selection by the Everett Silvertips in the 2008 bantam draft. . . . Kelly McCrimmon, the owner/GM/head coach of the Brandon Wheat Kings, has told Rob Henderson of the Brandon Sun that, other than trainer Cam McGhee, he expects the club’s hockey staff back for another season. That includes assistant coaches Dwayne Gylywoychuk and Darren Ritchie. McGhee, McNeil reports, is headed for the U of Manitoba “to complete his physiotherapy degree.” McGhee was with the Wheat Kings for three seasons.
———
Kootenay Ice D Brayden McNabb has signed a three-year deal with the Buffalo Sabres, who selected him in the third round of the NHL’s 2009 draft. The Sabres had to sign McNabb, who turned 20 on Jan. 21, by June 1 or he would have gone back into the draft. McNabb, 6-foot-5 and 216 pounds, has played four seasons with the Ice, who took him in the second round of the 2006 bantam draft. This season, he had 72 points in 59 regular-season games. . . .
John Vogl of the Buffalo News has more right here, including a mention of the Sabres planning to sign Portland Winterhawks F Riley Boychuk.
———
TWEET OF THE DAY:
“@USAHockey surpassed 100K members in 8&under category for 1st time in 2010-11 & finished season w/105,394. Goal for 2011-12: 110K!”
———
Those are rather interesting figures and should make Canadian hockey people sit up and take notice.
If you are wondering, Hockey Canada had 584,679 registered players in 2008-09. That figure slipped to 577,077 for 2009-10.
I couldn’t find figures for 2010-11 but apparently they were expected to decline another one per cent.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Taking Note on Twitter
———
As of early this morning, there hasn’t been an announcement from the SJHL, but it seems the junior A league has found its new president.
Wade Klippenstein, the Prince George Cougars’ assistant GM and director of player personnel, tweeted Wednesday evening: “Congrats to Spokane Chiefs scout Bill Chow, the next president of the SJHL. A fantastic choice!”
Besides scouting for the Chiefs, Chow has been a Staff Sargeant with the Prince Albert Police Service, most recently working as administrative NCO/media liaison.
The SJHL has been searching for a president to replace Laury Ryan, who resigned in March after spending eight years in that office.
———
THE COACHING GAME: Former NHLer Corey Millen is the new head coach of the NAHL’s Alaska Avalanche, which plays out of Palmer, Alaska. Millen replaces Brian Huebel. He and assistant coach Sean Fish will work on the coaching staff of the NAHL’s Wichita Falls Wildcats, who are owned by Rick Brodsky, who also owns the WHL’s Prince George Cougars. . . . Former WHL and NHL goaltender Glen Hanlon has been dismissed as head coach of Slovakia’s national team. Slovakia didn’t qualify for the playoff round at the recently completed world championship. Hanlon, the first foreign head coach of the Slovak team, had been under contract through the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. He was hired after the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.
———
JUST NOTES: The Swift Current Broncos have signed G Steven Myland, 17. He was acquired as part of the deal in which Swift Current sent F Cody Eakin to the Kootenay Ice. Myland played this season with the Valley West Hawks of the B.C. major midget league, going 15-4 with two ties and a 1.94 GAA. . . . F Austin Wuthrich of Anchorage has committed to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish after spending this season with the U.S. National Team Development Program’s U-18 team, although he was injured for much of this season. He was a 12th-round selection by the Everett Silvertips in the 2008 bantam draft. . . . Kelly McCrimmon, the owner/GM/head coach of the Brandon Wheat Kings, has told Rob Henderson of the Brandon Sun that, other than trainer Cam McGhee, he expects the club’s hockey staff back for another season. That includes assistant coaches Dwayne Gylywoychuk and Darren Ritchie. McGhee, McNeil reports, is headed for the U of Manitoba “to complete his physiotherapy degree.” McGhee was with the Wheat Kings for three seasons.
———
Kootenay Ice D Brayden McNabb has signed a three-year deal with the Buffalo Sabres, who selected him in the third round of the NHL’s 2009 draft. The Sabres had to sign McNabb, who turned 20 on Jan. 21, by June 1 or he would have gone back into the draft. McNabb, 6-foot-5 and 216 pounds, has played four seasons with the Ice, who took him in the second round of the 2006 bantam draft. This season, he had 72 points in 59 regular-season games. . . .
John Vogl of the Buffalo News has more right here, including a mention of the Sabres planning to sign Portland Winterhawks F Riley Boychuk.
———
TWEET OF THE DAY:
“@USAHockey surpassed 100K members in 8&under category for 1st time in 2010-11 & finished season w/105,394. Goal for 2011-12: 110K!”
———
Those are rather interesting figures and should make Canadian hockey people sit up and take notice.
If you are wondering, Hockey Canada had 584,679 registered players in 2008-09. That figure slipped to 577,077 for 2009-10.
I couldn’t find figures for 2010-11 but apparently they were expected to decline another one per cent.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Taking Note on Twitter
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Wednesday . . .
 |
| MAX REINHART |
In Cranbrook, Kootenay F Max Reinhart scored the game’s first three goals, all in the first period, en route to a record-tying five-goal night and the Ice went on to beat the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers, 7-2. . . . The Ice, which now has won 11 straight playoff games, swept the Tigers from the Eastern Conference final. . . .
The WHL record for consecutive playoff victories is 12. It has been done five times, most recently by the Calgary Hitmen in 2009. . . . Reinhart, who has a WHL-high 14 goals, scored his first three in a span of 6:42 in the first period. . . . The record for fastest three goals in a playoff game by one player is 2:39 (Doug Saunders, Kamloops Jr. Oilers, April 14, 1984). . . . Reinhart got to five with two shorthanded goals, at 9:15 of the second and 4:50 of the third. . . . Others to have scored five times in one playoff game are Dave Chartier (Brandon, March 27, 1981), Don Nachbaur (Billings Bighorns, April 20, 1978) and Dave Kryskow (Edmonton Oil Kings, March 25, 1971). . . . Nachbaur, of course, now is the head coach of the Spokane Chiefs. . . . Reinhart now has 22 points, including 14 goals, in 14 playoff games. He had seven goals and two assists in the four games against the Tigers. . . . Reinhart is second in the WHL scoring race, three behind Medicine Hat F Linden Vey. . . . Ice F Cody Eakin, named the Eastern Conference playoff MVP, added his side’s other two goals, giving him eight. He had five goals and four assists in the series, and has at least one goal in each of his last five games. . . . Ice F Matt Fraser drew three assists. . . . Ice D Brayden McNabb had two assists. He tied a franchise record with a nine-game point streak and has set franchise records for assists and points in a playoff season by a defenceman. . . . Ice G Nathan Lieuwen made 21 saves. . . . Ice D Hayden Rintoul had one assist and was plus-5. . . . Attendance was 3,474. . . . The Ice was without F Drew Czerwonka, who was stretchered off the ice and taken to hospital after a nasty spill into the boards during Tuesday’s Game 2. Other than being a bit sore, he is OK. In fact, he had the OK to play but was held out. . . . The Tigers were without D Sebastian Owuya, due to an undisclosed injury.———
In Spokane, F Brendan Leipsic scored at 7:44 of OT to give the Portland Winterhawks a 3-2 victory over the Chiefs. . . . Portland leads the Western Conference final, 2-1. . . . They’ll meet again Friday in Spokane before returning to Portland for
Game 5 on Saturday. . . . Portland is 6-0 on the road in these playoffs. . . . Leipsic won it by finishing off a 2-on-1 break with F Taylor Peters. . . . Spokane D Jared Cowen opened the scoring at 15:07 of the first period. . . . Peters tied it with a shorthanded goal at 16:13. . . . After a scoreless second period, The Chiefs took a 2-1 lead at 8:40 of the third on a goal by F Levko Koper. . . . Portland F Ryan Johansen forced OT with his ninth goal at 17:46 of the third. . . . Portland G Mac Carruth made 43 saves. . . . Spokane G James Reid stopped 29 shots. His night’s work included stopping Portland F Sven Bartschi on a second-period penalty shot with the score at 1-1. . . . Spokane was 0-for-9 on the PP, while Portland was 0-for-2. . . . Attendance was 5,542.———
WEDNESDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
None.
———
THE COACHING GAME: The Regina Pats have decided not to renew the contracts of assistant coach Shaun Sutter or goaltender coach Ryan Cyr.
———
JUST NOTES: Mac Carruth of the Portland Winterhawks is the CHL’s goaltender of the week. He was 1-1, 1.51, .962 last week. . . . The OHL’s Owen Sound Attack took out the Windsor Spitfires, who won the last two Memorial Cups, in five games and have advanced to the 2011 MC tournament. The Attack, which won 10-4 at home on Wednesday, will be the OHL representative. The Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors, the host team, and the Attack first will compete in the OHL championship series. The final will open Tuesday or Thursday in Mississauga. . . . Victoria WHL fans will pay $576 for one adult season ticket in standard bowl seating, while a senior/student ticket will sell for $396. The Victoria franchise, formerly the Chilliwack Bruins, announced its pricing plan Wednesday. There are upgrades available to Club seats ($856) and King club seats ($1,136). Check the team’s website for more details. . . . G Jeff Bosch, who completed his WHL eligibility with the Kamloops Blazers this season, has committed to attend Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ont., and play for the Thunderwolves. Kyle Moir, another former WHLer, graduated after this season, leaving the Thunderwolves needing a goaltender. . . . D Riley McIntosh (Kelowna, Tri-City, 2006-10) also will attend Lakehead U and play for the Thunderwolves. McIntosh played this season with the BCHL’s Coquitlam Express.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
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Taking Note on Twitter
Monday, April 4, 2011
Sunday . . .
Doug Soetaert, the general manager of the Everett Silvertips, says there won’t be anymore reloading. Starting now, he says, the Silvertips are rebuilding. "We can't 
continue to bring other people's players in to win a championship every year," Soetaert told the Everett Herald‘s Nick Patterson. "It catches up to you. You have to get back to creating your identity and bringing your players through your system."
Patterson’s story is right here.
———
The QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads are looking for a new coaching staff, reports Willy Panov of the Halifax Chronicle-Herald. Former NHLer Bobby Smith, who is the club’s
majority owner, is out as head coach, as is associate coach Chris Donnelly. Cam Russell, who started the season as general manager/head coach before Smith took over as coach, remains the GM but won’t be on the bench. Assistant coach Jason Troini has returned to the major midget Dartmouth Ice Dawgs as GM and head coach. Only goaltender coach Eric Raymond will be returning. . . . The Mooseheads were 4-9-1 when Smith moved in; they went 16-34-4 under him, and were swept by the Montreal Juniors in the first round of playoffs.
———
The gang from NHL Central Scouting has been in meetings, working to compile their final list before the June draft. There won’t be an official release with players ranked numerically until April 12, but Mike G. Morreale of NHL.com has a look right here at the top 10 from each of the three major junior leagues, as well as some other areas.
———
THE PLAYOFF PICTURE:
Seven of the eight first-round series are dust, with only the Medicine Hat Tigers versus Brandon Wheat Kings still on the go. The Tigers, who have won the last two games, take a 3-2 edge into Game 6 tonight in Winnipeg.
The Saskatoon Blades and Kootenay Ice advanced with victories on Sunday night.
Should Medicine Hat win its series, the second-round matchups will be Saskatoon against Kootenay and the Red Deer Rebels versus the Tigers. A Brandon victory, would put the Wheat Kings against the Blades, with the Rebels meeting the Ice.
Should the Wheat Kings win tonight to force a Game 7, that series will be decided Wednesday in Medicine Hat.
The Blades will open the second round at home on Friday night.
———
SUNDAY’S GAMES:
In Prince Albert, the Saskatoon Blades beat the Raiders 2-1 in overtime to win that series, 4-2. . . . F Matej Stransky took advantage of a turnover by Raiders G Jamie
Tucker behind his net to score the winner at 4:24 of OT. . . . Cory Wolfe of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix reports that Blades F Marek Viedensky duped Tucker into passing him the puck. “I just heard my name ‘Tucks’ get called,” a teary-eyed Tucker told Wolfe. “I was on my backhand, so I thought it was my guy but I guess it was him.” . . . Viedensky flipped the puck out front to Stransky, who promptly scored the series winner. . . . Moments earlier, Tucker had robbed Saskatoon F Josh Nicholls with a huge glove save. . . . D Antoine Corbin gave the Raidersd a 1-0 lead at 2:43 of the first period. . . . Saskatoon F Brent Benson tied it at 12:21 of the second. . . . Stransky, who has three playoff goals, drew an assist on Benson’s goal. . . . Tucker finished with 35 saves, six more than Saskatoon’s Steven Stanford. . . . Attendance was 3,366 as the Art Hauser Memorial Centre was sold right out. . . .
In Moose Jaw, the Kootenay Ice jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period and went on to beat the Warriors 5-4. . . . The Ice won the series 4-2. . . . This was thefinal WHL game in the Moose Jaw Civic Centre (aka the Crushed Can) as the Warriors are scheduled to move into a new multiplex in time for next season. . . . D Brayden McNabb gave the visitors a 1-0 lead just 1:36 into the first period. . . . F Max Reinhart and F Matt Fraser upped it to 3-0 with goals 1:04 apart later in the period. . . . The Warriors got back to within 3-2 and 4-3 and 5-4 but weren’t able to equalize. . . . Fraser finished with three goals, giving him five in the series. He gave the Ice a 4-2 lead at 9:12 of the second and a 5-3 edge at 9:22 of the third. . . . Reinhart also had three assists. . . . F Quinton Howden had a goal, his fifth, and an assist for the Warriors. . . . Attendance was 2,727.
———
SUNDAY’S CFB COUNT:
None.
———
And now for something completely different. . . .
This is every team’s worst nightmare . . . its season over before it really gets started. But, in truth, it happens a lot because there always are teams in a league that don’t have a chance of winning the championship.
But check this out right here to see what happened to the New York Mets the other day. (Hint: It involves a clip from Family Guy.)
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Taking Note on Twitter
continue to bring other people's players in to win a championship every year," Soetaert told the Everett Herald‘s Nick Patterson. "It catches up to you. You have to get back to creating your identity and bringing your players through your system."Patterson’s story is right here.
———
The QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads are looking for a new coaching staff, reports Willy Panov of the Halifax Chronicle-Herald. Former NHLer Bobby Smith, who is the club’s
majority owner, is out as head coach, as is associate coach Chris Donnelly. Cam Russell, who started the season as general manager/head coach before Smith took over as coach, remains the GM but won’t be on the bench. Assistant coach Jason Troini has returned to the major midget Dartmouth Ice Dawgs as GM and head coach. Only goaltender coach Eric Raymond will be returning. . . . The Mooseheads were 4-9-1 when Smith moved in; they went 16-34-4 under him, and were swept by the Montreal Juniors in the first round of playoffs.———
The gang from NHL Central Scouting has been in meetings, working to compile their final list before the June draft. There won’t be an official release with players ranked numerically until April 12, but Mike G. Morreale of NHL.com has a look right here at the top 10 from each of the three major junior leagues, as well as some other areas.
———
THE PLAYOFF PICTURE:
Seven of the eight first-round series are dust, with only the Medicine Hat Tigers versus Brandon Wheat Kings still on the go. The Tigers, who have won the last two games, take a 3-2 edge into Game 6 tonight in Winnipeg.
The Saskatoon Blades and Kootenay Ice advanced with victories on Sunday night.
Should Medicine Hat win its series, the second-round matchups will be Saskatoon against Kootenay and the Red Deer Rebels versus the Tigers. A Brandon victory, would put the Wheat Kings against the Blades, with the Rebels meeting the Ice.
Should the Wheat Kings win tonight to force a Game 7, that series will be decided Wednesday in Medicine Hat.
The Blades will open the second round at home on Friday night.
———
SUNDAY’S GAMES:
In Prince Albert, the Saskatoon Blades beat the Raiders 2-1 in overtime to win that series, 4-2. . . . F Matej Stransky took advantage of a turnover by Raiders G Jamie
Tucker behind his net to score the winner at 4:24 of OT. . . . Cory Wolfe of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix reports that Blades F Marek Viedensky duped Tucker into passing him the puck. “I just heard my name ‘Tucks’ get called,” a teary-eyed Tucker told Wolfe. “I was on my backhand, so I thought it was my guy but I guess it was him.” . . . Viedensky flipped the puck out front to Stransky, who promptly scored the series winner. . . . Moments earlier, Tucker had robbed Saskatoon F Josh Nicholls with a huge glove save. . . . D Antoine Corbin gave the Raidersd a 1-0 lead at 2:43 of the first period. . . . Saskatoon F Brent Benson tied it at 12:21 of the second. . . . Stransky, who has three playoff goals, drew an assist on Benson’s goal. . . . Tucker finished with 35 saves, six more than Saskatoon’s Steven Stanford. . . . Attendance was 3,366 as the Art Hauser Memorial Centre was sold right out. . . .In Moose Jaw, the Kootenay Ice jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period and went on to beat the Warriors 5-4. . . . The Ice won the series 4-2. . . . This was the
final WHL game in the Moose Jaw Civic Centre (aka the Crushed Can) as the Warriors are scheduled to move into a new multiplex in time for next season. . . . D Brayden McNabb gave the visitors a 1-0 lead just 1:36 into the first period. . . . F Max Reinhart and F Matt Fraser upped it to 3-0 with goals 1:04 apart later in the period. . . . The Warriors got back to within 3-2 and 4-3 and 5-4 but weren’t able to equalize. . . . Fraser finished with three goals, giving him five in the series. He gave the Ice a 4-2 lead at 9:12 of the second and a 5-3 edge at 9:22 of the third. . . . Reinhart also had three assists. . . . F Quinton Howden had a goal, his fifth, and an assist for the Warriors. . . . Attendance was 2,727.———
SUNDAY’S CFB COUNT:
None.
———
And now for something completely different. . . .
This is every team’s worst nightmare . . . its season over before it really gets started. But, in truth, it happens a lot because there always are teams in a league that don’t have a chance of winning the championship.
But check this out right here to see what happened to the New York Mets the other day. (Hint: It involves a clip from Family Guy.)
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Taking Note on Twitter
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday . . .
Congratulations to old friend Greg Evtushevski! (Well, he’s not that old, but you know what I mean.) . . . Yes, that's him with the award in the photo at the top of this post. . . .
The Norm Bodle Memorial Award, the most prestigious annual award handed out by Sports Distributors of Canada, has been given to Greg Evtushevski, owner of Chevy’s Source For Sports in Kelowna. Evtushevski played for the Kamloops Jr. Oilers/Blazers from 1982-86 and his number has been retired. . . . SDC has more than 200 members under the Source For Sports, Source For Adventure and sporting goods and outdoor buying group divisions. The award was presented at its annual general meeting earlier this month in Hamilton. The award is named after the first managing director of SDC when it was incorporated in 1972. According to a news release, it “is given yearly to the member who is the most supportive of the group, and who encourages and supports other members within the organization. . . . As well as having his name engraved on the plaque which hangs in the lobby of the SDC headquarters in Burlington, Ont., Greg has donated the $1,000 that accompanies the honour to the Kelowna Christian School Scholarship for post-secondary education for a deserving student.”
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Matt Gallagher, the father of Ian Gallagher, the Vancouver Giants’ strength and conditioning coach, and grandfather of Giants F Brendan Gallagher, passed away last week in Edmonton. . . . Brendan and the Giants will keep his grandfather’s memory alive this season. Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province has that story right here.
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The Giants, who have some injury problems, have had a player walk out on them. The Province’s Steve Ewen reports that F R.J. Reed left the team late last week and now is with the AJHL’s Brooks Bandits. . . . With D Tanner Sohn (knee) and D Tyler Hart (foot) hurt, the Giants have brought in D Brett Kulak, a ninth-round pick in the 2009 bantam draft. He attended Vancouver’s training camp and now is with the midget AAA St. Albert, Alta., Raiders.
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The Spokane Chiefs have named C Tyler Johnson, 20, as team captain, succeeding D Jared Cowen, 19, who is expected to at least open the season with the NHL’s Ottawa Senators. . . . F Levko Koper, 20, is one alternate captain. . . . According to a news release from the Chiefs: “The other two alternate captains will be chosen on a nightly basis from a leadership core that includes key veterans.”
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The NHL’s Buffalo Sabres have returned D Brayden McNabb, 19, to the Kootenay Ice. McNabb, from Davidson, Sask., was a third-round pick in the NHL’s 2009 draft.
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The NAHL’s Wenatchee Wild has lost an assistant coach. Corey Voegele of the Wenatchee World reports that Tyson Terry has left the Wild, leaving head coach Paul Baxter and assistant coach Chris Clark to go it alone. The move apparently was a mutual decision. “I didn’t get fired. I didn’t quit. I just wanted to pursue other interests right now,” Terry told Voegele. . . . Terry was with the Wild for less than a month. He replaced Ryan McKelvie, now on staff with the U of Alaska-Anchorage.
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F Misha Fisenko, 20, is back with the Calgary Hitmen, his tryout with the Central league’s Laredo Bucks cut short for some reason. . . . His arrival leaves the Hitmen with five 20-year-olds, the others being D Kyle Aschim, F Tyler Fiddler, F Kris Foucault and D Zak Stebner. Aschim (shoulder) remains on the injured list. . . . Fisenko, who had 44 points in 55 games last season, also gives the Hitmen two imports, the other being Slovakian G Juraj Holly, 19.
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WEDNESDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:
BRANDON 5 at MOOSE JAW 2: D Darren Bestland scored two goals and drew an assist for the Wheat Kings (3-0-0-0). . . . Bestland, who turned 20 on Sept. 19, scored two goals in 70 games last season. . . . He gave Brandon a 2-0 lead with goals at 15:48 of the first period and 9:44 of the second. . . . Brandon F Mark Stone, who had a goal and five assists in two season-opening victories over the Regina Pats, had a goal and an assist. . . . F Quinton Howden had a goal and an assist for Moose Jaw (1-2-0-0). . . . The Wheat Kings started G Ty Rimmer, who made 21 stops, and had Corbin Boes on the bench. . . . Brandon held a 43-23 edge in shots. . . . Brandon was 2-for-7 on the PP; Moose Jaw was 0-for-2. . . . Brandon F Tyrel Seaman, 16, picked up 22 minutes in penalties after getting into two fights and adding an instigating minor and a misconduct. . . . Attendance was 2,502.
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KOOTENAY 2 at RED DEER 4: The Rebels went 2-for-3 on the PP in running their record to 3-0-0-0. . . . The Rebels broke a 1-1 tie with three goals in a 2:13 span midway through the second period. . . . F Adam Kambeitz scored shorthanded at 9:11, F Ryan Nugent-Hopkins added another at 11:22 and F Turner Elson notched a PP marker at 12:24. . . . Nugent-Hopkins had a goal and an assist, giving him five points in three games. . . . Red Deer F Byron Froese had two assists but was minus-2, while F Andrej Kudrna had a goal and an assist. . . . The Ice (1-1-0-0) was 0-for-5 on the PP. . . . Attendance was 3,861.
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SWIFT CURRENT 3 at REGINA 4: The Pats (1-2-0-0) won this one with three third-period goals. . . . F Dane Muench, who had four assists in six games with the Broncos last season, got the winner at 8:17, just 33 seconds after D Cody Carlson had tied it. . . . F Killian Hutt had gotten the Pats to within one at 6:59. . . . F Stepan Novotny had two goals, giving him four, and an assist for the Broncos. He had the Broncos (1-2-0-0) up 2-0 at 6:10 of the first period. . . . The Pats were 0-for-2 on the PP and now are 0-12 on the season. . . . The Broncos were 1-for-2 on the PP. . . . F Justin Dowling had two assists for the Broncos. . . . C Thomas Frazee and C Jordan Weal each had two assists for Regina. . . . Regina G Damien Ketlo stopped 12 of 15 shots but left after the Broncos took a 3-1 lead at 6:42 of the second period. G Dawson Guhle came on to stop the nine shots he faced. . . . Attendance was 3,123.
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PORTLAND 4 at VANCOUVER 3: The Winter hawks (2-1-0-0) erased a 1-0 deficit with four second-period goals and then withstood a late Vancouver (1-3-0-0) rally. . . . The Giants, who opened with a 9-4 victory over the visiting Chilliwack Bruins on Friday, now have lost three straight. . . . F Craig Cunningham set up all three Vancouver goals, including one from D David Musil at 2:16 of the first period. . . . F Brad Ross scored twice early in the second period, with F Spencer Bennett (7:54) and D Ty Rattie (10:59, PP) also scoring before the frame ended. . . . Vancouver got two third-period PP goals, by D Neil Manning at 10:52 and F Brendan Gallagher at 19:25. . . . Portland beat visiting Vancouver 7-2 on Monday. . . . Gallagher had a goal and an assist. He has nine points in four games. . . . Portland G Keith Hamilton stopped 33 shots. (Portland has two goaltenders, Ian Curtis and Mac Carruth, out with injuries.) . . . Referees Brett Iverson and Jeff Ingram handed out 112 penalty minutes, with the Giants taking 61 of those. . . . Of that total, 53 minutes was shared by three players -- D Wes Vannieuwenhuizen (21), F Randy McNaught (17) and F Greg Lamoure (15). . . . Attendance was 4,823.
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TRI-CITY 4 at KELOWNA 3: The Americans ran their record to 3-0-0-0 by coming from behind 2-1 and 3-2 deficits. . . . F Patrick Holland tied the score with his second goal of the game at 4:53 of the third period. . . . F Connor Rankin. a 16-year-old from North Vancouver, got the winner, his first WHL goal, at 6:51. . . . F Brendan Shinnimin added two assists for the winners, who got 26 saves from G Drew Owsley. . . . Tri-City D Brock Sutherland had three assists. He went into the game with 14 assists in 126 career games. . . . The Rockets (0-2-0-0) lost for the second straight time at home. . . . Tri-City is 17-4 over Kelowna over the last four-plus seasons. That includes a 4-0 record last season. . . . The Americans were 2-for-7 on the PP; the Rockets were 1-for-6. . . . Referee Andy Thiessen handed out 126 penalty minutes, 64 to the Rockets. Of that, 102 minutes were dished out at 19:52 of the second period as a multi-fight situation took place. . . . The Rockets were without D Tyson Barrie (hamstring) and F Shane McColgan (tonsils). . . . Attendance was 6,026. . . . The teams will meet again Friday in Kennewick, Wash. . . . The Americans are 3-0 for the third time in their 23-year history. The only time they have opened 4-0 was 2007-08.
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EDMONTON 3 at PRINCE ALBERT 1: F Dylan Wruck scored twice to lead the Oil Kings (1-2-0-0). . . . Edmonton had been outscored 12-2 in two season-opening losses to the Red Deer Rebels. . . . In this one, Wruck’s two goals gave Edmonton a 3-0 lead late in the second period. . . . Wruck, 18, scored five goals in 53 games last season. . . . Wruck’s second goal came via the PP, ending a 0-for-14 season-opening drought for Edmonton. . . . F Jordan Hickmott, 20, scored the game’s first goal for Edmonton, which acquired him from the Raiders over the summer. . . . F Brandon Herrod scored for Prince Albert (0-3-0-0). He has four of his club’s eight goals this season. . . . Edmonton G Cam Lanigan stopped 36 shots, five more than Prince Albert’s Jamie Tucker. . . . Attendance was 1,916. . . . The Raiders are without D Jordan Rowley (wrist) who has returned to his home in Edmonton and will have an MRI.
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