F Matt Keith (Spokane, Red Deer, 1998-2003) signed a one-year contract with Red Bull Salzburg (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). He had no points in four games with Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic, Extraliga) and seven goals and 21 assists in 37 games with Dornbirn (Austria, Erste Bank Liga) last season. . . .
D Ivan Baranka (Everett, 2003-05) signed a one-year contract with Avangard Omsk (Russia, KHL). He had two goals and six assists in 43 games with Salavat Yulaev Ufa (Russia, KHL) last season.
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Here’s some news you were waiting for: I was in Costco in Kamloops on Friday. Some Christmas wrapping paper is available, as are a couple of Christmas trees. . . . Sorry, shoppers, but no Christmas carols yet.
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Bob Robson, who had a lot to do with the Prince Albert Raiders and their history in that Saskatchewan community, died a week ago. There’s more right here from the Prince Albert Daily Herald.
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The National Post has discovered Liam Stewart of the Spokane Chiefs. Actually, Sean Fitz-Gerald, one of the NP’s writers, has discovered that Stewart’s parents are model/actress Rachel Hunter and singer Rod Stewart. . . . Liam, of course, is a forward with the Spokane Chiefs who has been named to Great Britain’s preliminary roster for the IIHF’s Division 1B world championship tournament in December. . . . “It’s amazing how one guy can get us so much exposure,” a laughing Pete Russell, Great Britain’s head coach, told FitzGerald. . . . That story is right here. . . . While the package includes a still photo of Hunter, along with a music video in which she starred (Fountains of Wayne and the, uhh, catchy Stacy’s Mom), and there is a video of Liam’s Chiefs highlights, sorry, Rod, but there isn’t a photo or video that includes you.———
Here’s a nugget from Greg Douglas’s Saturday column in the Vancouver Sun:“There had been speculation that (Dan) Russell might surface as play-by-play announcer for the Vancouver Giants but that was snuffed out when the Giants let it be known that Blake Price and Brendan Bachelor of Team 1040 would be sharing the team’s broadcasts this year. Bachelor, who did the play-by-play with the Surrey Eagles last season, will work the majority of the Giants’ road games. It appears 1040s Jeff Paterson is the odd man out of the hockey club’s broadcasting mix.”
For Douglas’s complete column, click right here. He spells out the latest changes on the Vancouver sports radio scene.
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F Brenden Walker, who captained the Saskatoon Blades last season, has signed on as a free agent with the AHL’s Portland Pirates. Walker, who is from Brandon, used up his junior eligibility last season. The Blades had acquired him from the Brandon Wheat Kings during the summer. . . . Walker had 76 points, including 33 goals, in 72 regular-season games with the Blades. In his career, he put up 228 points, 93 of them goals, in 269 games.———
From Brent Parker (@Patguy65): “That guys on the call in show sure made some well thought out intelligent comments....said nobody ever! Put the phone down people!”
Yes, Parker lives in Regina. Yes, the Saskatchewan Roughriders lost, 42-27, to the Stampeders in Calgary.
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And now to put everything in perspective, here’s a Friday tweet from Dana Dirks (@chug48), who scouts for the BCHL’s Cowichan Valley Capitals:
“Need a lot of positive thoughts and prayers from you all. We just found out my 3 year old son needs a heart transplant. #prayforkeaton.”
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.
D Shaone Morrisonn (Kamloops, 1999-2002) signed a one-year contract with TPS Turku (Finland, SM-Liiga). He had one goal and three assists in 46 games with Spartak Moscow (Russia, KHL) before being traded to CSKA Moscow (Russia, KHL) at the KHL trading deadline of Jan. 31, two games before the end of the regular season. With CSKA, he had one goal and one assist in those two games. . . .
The ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears announced Thursday that head coach Drake Berehowsky won’t be returning for a second season. The Solar Bears were 28-37-7 under Berehowsky this season. . . . Darrell Romuld of CTV Lethbridge reported earlier this week that sources told him that Berehowsky will be named head coach of the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Thursday. . . . “I do not have a contract with anybody right now,” Berehowsky told Brendan Sonnone of the Orlando Sentinel. “That’s about all I can say.”
Former NHLer Todd Krygier is the new head coach of the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks. Krygier, 47, who retired as a player in 2000, has been coaching at various levels in Michigan. He played 543 NHL games (1989-98_ with the Hartford Whalers, Anaheim Mighty Ducks, and Washington Capitals. . . . Krygier replaces Jim McKenzie, who was dismissed on May 24.
There has been speculation that D Derrick Pouliot could return to the Portland Winterhawks’ lineup tonight against the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings. Pouliot, who has been rehabbing a high ankle sprain, originally was injured on Dec. 18. He came back to play four games in January (on the 8th, 9th, 11th and 25th) but hasn’t played since then. . . . Pouliot has been skating for a couple of weeks now and Travis Green, the acting head coach, told Paul Buker of The Oregonian that the defenceman “is close.” . . . Green also said: “I’m not sure if it will be this week, or this weekend. But it’s more day to day now than week to week.” . . . As for Pouliot playing tonight, Green told Buker: “It’s possible, but I don’t suspect he will play.”
The BCHL’s Cowichan Capitals announced Tuesday that Bob Beatty has signed on as general manager and head coach. Beatty had been with the SJHL’s La Ronge Ice Wolves. Beatty will take over the Capitals once their 20012-13 season has ended.
In Red Deer, the Saskatoon Blades ran their winning streak to 16 games and clinched a playoff spot with a 4-0 victory over the Rebels. . . . Saskatoon G Andrey Makarov stopped 24 shots as he set a single-season franchise record with his seventh shutout. The previous record had been held by Braden Holtby (2008-09). Holtby, now with the Washington Capitals, also put up a shutout last night, beating the visiting Carolina Hurricanes, 3-0. . . . F Brenden Walker scored twice for the Blades, with F Michael Ferland and F Brett Stovin each drawing two assists. . . . Walker has a career-high 27 goals. . . . Red Deer G Patrik Bartosak turned aside 42 shots. . . . The Rebels had won the first three games of the season series from the Blades, outscoring them 11-4. . . . The Blades remain atop the East Division, seven points ahead of Prince Albert. . . .
In Kent, Wash., F Henrik Samuelsson and F Michael St. Croix each had a goal and two assists as the Edmonton Oil Kings beat the Seattle Thunderbirds (of Kent), 6-2. . . . The Oil Kings had lost their previous three games, including two on this U.S. Division swing. . . . Edmonton is to meet the Winterhawks in Portland tonight. The Oil Kings beat Portland in seven games in last springs championship final. . . . Samuelsson and St. Croix each has 32 goals. . . . Edmonton F T.J. Foster scored his 26th goal of the season. It was his 100th career goal and 250th career point. . . . Edmonton F Curtis Lazar scored his 34th goal. . . . Oil Kings G Laurent Brossoit picked up his fourth assist this season, breaking the franchise’s single-season record that he set last season. . . . Seattle F Alex Delnov scored his 20th goal. . . . Edmonton was 3-for-3 on the PP. . . . The Oil Kings moved back into second in the overall standings a point ahead of the idle Kelowna Rockets. . . .
In Kennewick, Wash., the Tri-City Americans scored the game’s last four goals and beat the Portland Winterhawks, 4-2. . . . Tri-City F Parker Bowles tied the game 2-2 with his 20th goal at 17:55 of the second period. . . . The Americans report that Bowles, 17, who has 20 goals, is the “youngest Americans rookie to reach 20 goals in a season.” F Jaroslav Kristek was an 18-year-old rookie when he scored 20 goals in 1997-98. . . . Tri-City F Connor Rankin snapped the tie with his 24th at 6:42 of the third. . . . F Beau McCue had two assists for the winners. . . . Portland F Ty Rattie scored his 40th goal. He is the sixth WHLer to reach 40 this season. . . . Portland D Shaun McPherson opened the scoring with his fourth goal. He turned 19 yesterday. . . . Tri-City F Justin Feser scored his 39th goal of the season — and the 150th of his career — in his 311th consecutive game. That ties the WHL record held by D Dwayne Newman (Brandon, Victoria, 1987-92). . . . Tri-City G Troy Trombley continued his terrific run. He made 37 saves in his sixth straight start — he is 6-0-0. He now has beaten the Winerhawks twice, having turned aside 41 shots in a 6-2 victory in Portland on Feb. 15. . . . The Winterhawks had won five in a row. . . . The Americans, who have won six in a row, have three victories over Portland this season. . . . Tri-City is fourth in the Western Conference, now with a three-point edge over the idle Spokane Chiefs. Each team has 10 games remaining. 
D Bryce Lampman (Kamloops, 2002-03) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Langnau (Switzerland, NL A) after he was released from a tryout contract with the Portland Pirates (AHL). He had no points in eight games with the Pirates during the tryout. Lampman started the season with the Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL), getting three goals and nine assists in 21 games before joining Portland.
In Calgary, F Cody Sylvester scored twice to lead the Hitmen to a 3-1 victory over the Victoria Royals. . . . Sylvester has 33 goals this season after scoring twice on the PP. . . . Calgary G Chris Driedger stopped 31 shots, losing his shutout bid when F Steven Hodges got his 24th goal, via the PP, at 17:25 of the third. . . . Calgary had played its previous nine games on the road. . . . The Hitmen are second in the Central Division, seven points behind Edmonton. . . . The Royals are tied with the Tri-City Americans for fifth in the Western Conference. . . . Victoria G Coleman Vollrath stopped 22 shots. He got the start after Patrik Polivka apparently was injured during the shootout portion of a 2-1 loss to the Rebels in Red Deer on Friday. The Royals had Michael Herringer, a ninth-round selection in the 2011 bantam draft, backing up Vollrath. Herringer, 16, is from Comox, B.C., and plays for the junior B Victoria Cougars. . . . 
In Prince Albert, D Morgan Rielly scored two goals and added an assist as his Moose Jaw Warriors erased a 3-0 deficit and dumped the Raiders, 4-3. . . . The Warriors were 3-for-10 on the PP; the Raiders were 1-for-4. . . . Rielly scored his 10th and 11th goals, both on the PP, the latter tying the score 3-3 at 5:15 of the third. . . . F Sam Fioretti’s 28th goal, on another PP, broke the 3-3 tie at 11:13. . . . F Jayden Hart scored twice, giving him nine, for the Raiders. . . . 
In Brandon, F Jon Martin scored twice, the second one in OT, as the Kootenay Ice got past the Wheat Kings, 4-3. . . . Martin got his ninth goal at 1:17 of OT. . . . Kootenay led this one 3-1 before Brandon got goals from F Nick Buonassisi, his 11th, at 19:13 of the second and, and F Marek Kalus, his fourth, shorthanded, at 2:25 of the third. . . . The Wheat Kings finished a seven-game homestand at 3-3-1. . . . The Ice closed to within a point of the Lethbridge Hurricanes, who hold down the Eastern Conference’s last playoff spot. . . . 
In Lethbridge, the Prince George Cougars erased a 1-0 deficit with five straight goals and beat the Hurricanes, 5-4. . . . F Colin Jacobs had a goal, his 22nd, and three assists for the Cougars, who got two goals from F Klarc Wilson. He’s got eight. . . . Jacobs has seven points over his last two games. . . . The Cougars were 3-for-6 on the PP; the Hurricanes were 1-for-6. . . . F Jaimen Yakubowski scored all four Lethbridge goals, giving him 31. He had a five-goal game earlier in the season. . . . Lethbridge F Russell Maxwell had four assists. . . . The Cougars are three points away from the Western Conference’s last playoff spot. . . . 
In Kennewick, Wash., G Troy Trombley posted his first WHL shutout in his second start as the Tri-City Americans beat the Spokane Chiefs, 6-0. . . . Trombley stopped 34 shots as he won for the second night in a row. He earned his first WHL victory on Friday night when he stopped 41 shots for a 6-2 victory in Portland. . . . F Connor Rankin had two goals and an assist for the Americans, who scored four times in the first period. . . . Rankin has 22 goals. . . . The Americans moved into a fifth-place tie with Victoria in the Western Conference, just a point behind Spokane. . . .
In Kelowna, F Brendan Ranford had a goal and an assist to lead the Kamloops Blazers to a 3-1 victory over the Rockets. . . . The previous night, Ranford had a goal and two helpers as the Blazers beat the visiting Rockets, 4-2. . . . The Blazers have won seven in a row. . . . Ranford, who has 17 goals, is on a nine-game point streak, with 18 points in that span. He has five straight multi-point games. . . . Kamloops D Joel Edmundson broke a 1-1 tie with his seventh goal, shorthanded, at 5:45 of the second. . . . Kamloops D Marek Hrbas provided insurance with his seventh goal, at 17:12 of the third. He’s got four goals in his last five games. . . . The Rockets had 18 shots on goal, their lowest such total this season. . . . The Blazers are three points behind the B.C. Division-leading Rockets. . . .
In Everett, the Seattle Thunderbirds scored the game’s last four goals and beat the Silvertips, 4-1. . . . Seattle F Roberts Lipsbergs broke a 1-1 tie with his 22nd goal at 19:46 of the first period. . . . The Thunderbirds had lost seven straight. . . . Everett has lost 10 in a row to equal a franchise record set last sesaon. . . . The victory moved Seattle into a tie for seventh with Everett in the Western Conference.
D Tomas Mojzis (Moose Jaw, Seattle, 2000-03) signed a one-year contract extension with Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia, KHL). Mojzis was acquired by Slovan in mid-January from Lev Prague (Czech Republic, KHL) and the contract extension keeps him with Slovan through the end
The Everett Silvertips held their first-ever Town Hall Meeting on Jan. 31.
In Swift Current, G Eetu Laurikainen stopped 35 shots in recording his first WHL shutout as the Broncos dumped the Prince Albert Raiders, 3-0. . . . F Adam Lowry’s 34th goal, at 9:43 of the first period, stood up as the winner. . . . Broncos D Brett Lernout scored his first WHL goal in his 44th game, 24 of which have been played this season. . . . The Broncos closed to within two points of the sixth-place Lethbridge Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference. . . . 
In Brandon, the Regina Pats scored the game’s last six goals and beat the Wheat Kings, 7-3. . . . Regina F Dyson Stevenson broke a 3-3 tie at 7:02 of the third period. . . . Regina F Lane Scheidl had tied the game with goals at 15:27 and 19:39 of the second. He’s got 28. . . . Regina D Kyle Burroughs had one assist and was plus-4. . . . F Braden Christoffer also scored twice for Regina. . . . Brandon D Eric Roy scored twice, giving him 13 goals, including six in his last nine games. . . . Brandon F Jayce Hawryluk had two assists. He has had five straight multi-point games and has points in six in a row. . . . The Pats moved into 10th in the Eastern Conference, but they’re nine points out of a playoff spot. . . . 
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