Ice on thin ice? . . . Will Gallacher kick Penguins' tires? . . . New look for Cougars

SCATTERSHOOTING, with apologies to Blackie Sherrod:

1. Well, Game 1 of the NHL’s Stanley Cup final wasn’t much, at least not until the final five minutes. The Tampa Bay Lightning was nursing a 1-0 lead when it started playing a 1-3-1 defence in the neutral zone in the third period. Shortly afterwards, the Chicago Blackhawks started to dominate and, of course, they won 2-1 with two late goals.
2. The Lethbrige Hurricanes will remain community-owned. They also are attempting to sell 2,000 shares at $1,000 apiece. Does that mean the opportunity is there for someone to purchase those shares for $200,000, spread them among friends and acquaintances, and control the next shareholders’ vote on whether to sell?
3. Hey, it’s not like there isn’t precedent for an end-run like that in the WHL.
4. Tampa Bay F Tyler Johnson has had a terrific spring, as has Chicago F Jonathan Toews. But the best player in the playoffs is Chicago D Duncan Keith and, really, it isn’t that close.
5. If you missed the performance turned in by Seattle Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon on Tuesday night, hunt it up and give it a look. It wasn’t quite in Lou Piniella country, but it was close.
6. The Kootenay Ice’s average attendance in 2014-15 was 2,239. WHL commissioner Ron Robison has told Taylor Rocca of the Cranbrook Daily Townsman that the figure needs to be at 3,000 or better in 2015-16. Or else . . . Abbotsford Ice?
7. The NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs have at least talked with Kelly McCrimmon, the owner, general manager and head coach of the Brandon Wheat Kings. The Leafs have been hiring major junior executives the way a Greyhound bus takes on passengers. McCrimmon would like nothing better than to be given opportunity at the NHL level. But I can’t see him leaving at this point, not when his Wheat Kings have been built with next season in mind.
8. The more I think about Kootenay hiring Luke Pierce as its new head coach, the more I like it. Hey, what’s not to like. How many WHL coaches have degrees from Royal Military College? Pierce has a BA (psychology major, business minor) and an MBA (concentration in strategic management). He also spent six seasons as the GM/head coach of the BCHL’s Merritt Centennials. Merritt just happens to be his hometown. So he is no stranger to pressure.
9. The NBA Finals — it’s the NBA Finals and the NHL final — starts tonight, meaning it’s Steph versus LeBron. According to Ray Ratto of CSNBayArea.com, the cheapest seat for Game 1 was going for US$638, with the priciest at $58,000. Seriously!
10. Should we be surprised that Dennis Rodman apparently has said he would like to date Caitlyn Jenner?
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F Brett McLean (Tacoma/Kelowna, Brandon, 1994-99) signed a one-year contract with the Linz Black Wings (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). This season, with Lugano (Switzerland, NL A), he had nine goals and 21 assists in 47 games. He was an alternate captain. . . .
F Brett Palin (Kelowna, 2000-05) signed a one-year contract with the Linz Black Wings (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). This season, as an alternate captain with Mora (Sweden, Allsvenskan), Palin had four goals and nine assists in 51 games. . . .
F Grant Toulmin (Swift Current, 2005-07, 2008-09) signed a one-year contract with the Hull Stingrays (England, UK Elite). This season, with the Heilbronner Falken (Germany, DEL2), he had 24 points, including nine goals, in 45 games.
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Ron Robison, the WHL commissioner, has reiterated that if the Kootenay Ice’s attendance doesn’t improve in 2015-16, the franchise’s future in Cranbrook may come to an end.
“It’s reached a very critical stage,” Robison told Taylor Rocca of the Cranbrook Daily Townsman. “I think it’s something we’re going to have to determine this year. If things aren’t improving, I don’t believe ownership or the league will be in a position to continue to support the franchise remaining in Cranbrook. It’s a very critical season coming up. We need to see more support in order to get us to a position where we have confidence in the market moving forward, but at this stage, we’re very concerned about the future of the franchise.”
Rocca’s story includes a chart showing the Ice’s average attendance each season. It was 3,635 in 2000-01 and 2,239 this season.
Robison told Rocca:
“We recognize Cranbrook is a small market in relation to other markets. I think back to when the franchise moved into Cranbrook and the goal and certainly the requirement at that time was to draw a minimum of 2,800 fans. What we see now is (that) it’s going to have to be something in excess of 3,000 a game. When you look at the attendance this year, that’s certainly a long way from where we need to be.”
I’m thinking Luke Pierce, the Ice’s new head coach, should rent for the first year.
Rocca’s story is right here.
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Owners Ron Burkle and Mario Lemieux are exploring the their options in terms of selling the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins.
Don’t be surprised if you hear that Bill Gallacher, the owner of the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks and the Kloten Flyers of Switzerland’s NL A, is kicking the tires.
According to a news released from the Penguins, they “have engaged Morgan Stanley to oversee a review of their strategic options.”
Burkle and Lemieux are the lead owners in a group that has owned the franchise for 16 years.
“We conduct periodic reviews of our business and, because we have received several inquiries about the franchise in recent years, we decided to engage Morgan Stanley for their insight and counsel,” Lemieux and Burkle said in a joint statement. “After buying the team out of bankruptcy, ensuring its long-term future in Pittsburgh and creating a strong foundation for continued success, we believe it is time to explore our options.”
Bob McKenzie, TSN’s lead hockey insider, reported right here: “It doesn't mean Burkle and Lemieux are necessarily getting out but they are looking at various options. It's believed Lemieux, perhaps more than Burkle, may have an interest in getting his equity share out of the franchise.”
According to Pittsburgh’s news release, the Penguins “have made the playoffs for nine straight seasons, the second-longest active streak in the NHL. They have sold out 377 straight games, dating back to February 2007, and have led the NHL’s U.S.-based teams in local television ratings for six straight years.”
Gallacher purchased the Winterhawks over the summer of 2008. He bought majority ownership in the Flyers earlier this year.
It is believed that Gallacher has long been interested in owning an NHL franchise, but he has been patient in waiting for what he feels is the right franchise at the right time.
Mike Johnston, who just finished his first season as the Penguins’ head coach, spent the previous six seasons as the Winterhawks’ general manager and head coach. You can bet that he will have provided Gallacher with a lot of inside information on the Pittsburgh franchise.
Earlier this year, Forbes magazine valued the Penguins at US$550 million.
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The Prince George Cougars, who are preparing for a second season under their new ownership group, unveiled a new logo on Wednesday. The 2015-16 season will be the franchise’s 22nd in Prince George.
“It was very important for us to respect the history of both the Prince George Cougars name and logo during this process, particularly since two of our owners (Dan Hamhuis and Eric Brewer) played such a vital part in helping create this team’s identity when they played in Prince George,” Cougars president Greg Pocock said in a news release.“This is another historic moment for the Prince George Cougars franchise. Our new logo keeps the similar color scheme that our fans have come to know and love, while also providing a new identifiable symbol that will help unite our fans as the excitement and passion continues to build for all that lies ahead for us.” . . . The logo was designed by Mike Doran of Prince George-based Splash Media. . . . This will be the Cougars’ fourth logo since they relocated from Victoria after 1993-94. . . . For more on the Cougars and their Wednesday announcements, click right here.
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The fifth annual Hockey Coaches Conference is scheduled for July 24 and 25 in Vancouver. Presenters announced to date include NHL head coaches Willie Desjardins and Mike Johnston; Toronto Maple Leafs AGM Kyle Dubas; Mike Valley, the Dallas Stars’ goaltender coach; Roger Takahashi, the Canucks’ strength and conditioning coach; and, Scott Salmond, vice-president, hockey operations and national teams with Hockey Canada. . . . For lots more info, check out the website right here.
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THE COACHING GAME:

Ron Wilson, a veteran NHL coach, is expected to be named head coach of the U.S. national junior team this morning. Wilson, 60, was fired as the head coach of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs late in the 2011-12 season. Prior to that, he spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the Vacnouver Canucks, four as the head coach of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, five as head coach of the Washington Capitals and five as head coach of the San Jose Sharks.
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The junior B Kelowna Chiefs of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League have signed Ryan Jorde and Lennie Rampone as assistant coaches. Jorde and Rampone, both of whom are from Kelowna, will work alongside head coach Jason Tansem. . . . Jorde, 34, spent the past four seasons coaching at the Pursuit of Excellence Academy. He played parts of five seasons in the WHL (Tri-City Americans, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Moose Jaw Warriors, 1997-2002). . . . Rampone, 36, captained the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers when they won the 1999 RBC Cup as national junior A champions. Of late, he has coached in Calgary and Kelowna.
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 In the ECHL, the South Carolina Stingrays scored a 4-1 victory over the host Allen Americans in Game 3 of the Kelly Cup final. . . . The Stingrays hold a 2-1 lead, with the next three games in their home arena. . . . Attendance for Game 3 was 3,604. . . . Allen held a 40-28 edge in shots. . . . The series will resume with games in North Charleston, S.C., on Sunday and Tuesday. Game 6, if needed, would be played on Wednesday.
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Teuvo Teravainen: "When I scored the goal I think the first thing was, ‘Oh no, I have to go do media now.' " #Blackhawks

— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) June 4, 2015

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Catching up . . .

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Marek Kalus (Spokane, Brandon, 2010-13) signed a tryout deal with Cracovia Krakow (Poland, Ekstraliga) after being released from a tryout with Västerås (Sweden, Allsvenskan). He had two assists in eight games during the tryout. Earlier this season, he had four assists in 12 games with Dukla Trencin (Slovakia, Extraliga). . . .
F Gilbert Brulé (Vancouver, 2002-06) signed for the rest of this season with Metallurg Magnitogorsk (Russia, KHL). This season, he had six goals and two assists in eight games with Portland (AHL). . . .
D Jim Vandermeer (Red Deer, 1997-2001) signed a one-year extension with Kloten (Switzerland, NL A). At the time of the signing, he had eight points, one of them a goal, in 24 games. . . .
F Brett McLean (Tacoma/Kelowna, Brandon, 1994-99) signed a one-year extension with Lugano (Switzerland, NL A). This season, he has 24 points, 12 of them goals, in 25 games. That left him third in the NL A scoring race. . . .
F Marcin Kolusz (Vancouver, 2003-04) signed for the rest of the season with Tychy (Poland, Ekstraliga) after being released by Krynica for financial reasons. This season with Krynica, he had 27 points, eight of them goals, in 19 games. He was fourth in league scoring at the time of his release. Krynica also released three other players, including its leading scorer. . . .
F Clarke Breitkreuz (Regina, Prince George, 2008-10) has been loaned to Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg (Germany, DEL) by Löwen Frankfurt (Germany, Oberliga). This season with Löwen, he had 34 points, including 26 assists, in 13 games. He was leading the team in assists and points. . . .
F Adam Rehak (Medicine Hat, 2011-12) signed for one year plus an option with Cracovia Krakow (Poland, Ekstraliga). Rehak started the season with Meran/Merano (Italy, Austria Nationalliga), putting up 12 points, including seven goals, in 12 games. He Rehak wanted to move closer to hometown of Ostrava. . . .
F Justin Maylan (Moose Jaw, Prince George, Prince Albert, 2007-12) signed for the rest of the season with Herning (Denmark, AL-Bank Liga). This season, Maylan had one assists in three games with South Carolina (ECHL) and was pointless in four games with Oklahoma City (AHL).
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You may be aware that 10 former NHL players have filed a class-action lawsuit against the league, the claim being that not enough has been done to protect players from brain injuries.
Eddie Pells of The Associated Press examines that situation right here.
You can bet that the WHL and its owners/operators are paying attention.
Earlier this year, after the NFL had settled a similar lawsuit brought against it by former players, I asked a legal expert if, in his opinion, hockey leagues were open to such action.
His response:
“I think hockey is in a different position than football because there are no allegations that the sport was sitting on information and not sharing it with players. Hockey was first out of the starting blocks with its baseline neurological testing program in 1997-98. “Hockey has not, in my view, had the sort of radical re-writing of the rulebook that the NFL recently undertook and so has not done enough to remove the unnecessary risks from the game.
“I think there will be hockey lawsuits (yeah, there’s already Boogaard but this case is singularly unique) in the NHL.
“I think where the CHL/WHL is vulnerable is that legally minors can’t consent and courts are taking a harsher and narrower view to inherent risks to the game (i.e. Could the game survive without fighting? That is the ultimate test of whether or not a risk is inherent. ‘Are the penalties for headshots sufficient to disincentivize teams, coaches and players? Or does the league consider it part of the game?’) especially now that teams are being bought and sold for nearly $10 million.”
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Was Tuesday’s deal between the NHL and Rogers Communications the death knell for TSN? And maybe for CBC-TV, too? . . . Cam Cole of the Vancouver Sun opines right here.
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Over at the National Post, Scott Stinson writes: “Rogers will collect all of the revenues from the advertisements and sponsorships that are sold on Hockey Night in Canada, even the versions of it that appear on CBC. . . . The executives could talk up the partnership all they want, but it is Rogers that is piloting the ship, and the CBC trailing behind in its dingy. Four years from now, the rope could be cut.”
Stinson’s complete column is right here.
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F Henrik Nyberg, 19, has left the Kelowna Rockets and returned to his home in Danderyd, Sweden. Last season, Nyberg had 17 points, including eight goals, in 54 games. This season, he had three assists in 21 games. . . . "Henrik has come to the realization that playing in North America is not in his future and he wants to move on with his life," Rockets' head coach Ryan Huska said in a news release.
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A few things that occurred while Taking Note was in darkness . . .
The Kamloops Blazers traded F Aaron Macklin, 18, to the Prince George Cougars for F Carson Bolduc, 17, on Tuesday. . . . Bolduc, who is from Salmon Arm, B.C., had left the Cougars and asked for a trade. He had seven points in 54 games last season, and had two goals in 17 games this season. . . . Bolduc played bantam in Kamloops before being selected by the Cougars in the Macklin, from High River, Alta., had seven points, three of them goals, in 20 games this season. Last season, he had four points, one of them a goal, in 62 games.
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The Victoria Royals made two trades, the first one announced immediately following a 2-1 victory over the Blazers in Kamloops on Nov. 19.
In that deal, the Royals sent F Luke Harrison, 18, to the Blazers for a 2014 sixth-round bantam draft pick.
Harrison, from West Kelowna, was in his third season with the Royals. In 92 games, he had six points, including four goals. This season, he had three goals in 23 games with the Royals.
The next day, the Royals announced the acquisition of Swedish forward Axel Blomqvist, 18, from the Lethbridge Hurricanes. The Royals also received an undisclosed conditional 2016 bantam draft pick, while surrendering fourth- and eighth-round selections in the 2014 draft.
The 6-foot-6, 212-pound Blomqvist had 13 points, eight of them goals, in 19 games with the Hurricanes this season. He becomes the Royals’ second import, alongside G Patrik Polivka. Last season, as a freshman, Blomqvist had 33 points, seven of them goals, in 59 games.
Undrafted, Blomqvist went to camp with the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets and later signed a three-year NHL contract.
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Jim Swanson, who spent a number of years covering the WHL and the Prince George Cougars for the Prince George Citizen, has signed on as the general manager of baseball’s Victoria HarbourCats, who play in the West Coast League. . . . Swanson is a long-time baseball guy and was heavily involved in the Prairie League, a now-defunct independent league that had franchises in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, North Dakota and Minnesota. . . . He also has been heavily involved in baseball in Prince George and was a major push behind the World Baseball Challenge, the 2009, 2011 and 2013 editions having featured tremendous international competition. . . . He was the manager of the Prince George Axemen, who won the 2012 Canadian senior championship. . . . The HarbourCats are preparing for their second season in the WCL.
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The Vancouver Giants dealt F Scott Cooke, 19, to the Moose Jaw Warriors for a sixth-round selection in the 2014 bantam draft. Cooke, who has yet to play this season after breaking his right leg in the exhibition season, is from White Rock, B.C. He was back practising this week so his return should be imminent. Cooke had one assist in 40 games last season, after putting up a goal and two helpers in 34 games in 2011-12.
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The Brandon Wheat Kings acquired G Christopher Tai, 18, from the Lethbridge Hurricanes for a conditional eighth-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft. The Wheat Kings needed some depth behind Jordan Papirny, as Curtis Honey has been out with an undisclosed injury. At the time of the trade, Papirny had made nine straight starts, most of them with an emergency backup on the bench. Tai became expendable in Lethbridge after the Hurricanes acquired G Teagan Sacher, who turns 19 on Dec. 1, from the Regina Pats to work in support of starter Corbin Boes, 20, who was acquired from Brandon over the summer.
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As all are aware, Nov. 22 marked the 50th anniversary of the assassination of JFK. . . . Right here is the column written by the legendary Jimmy Breslin following the assassination. This is one of the most remarkable newspaper pieces I have ever read. You won’t be wasting your time by giving it a look.
And right here is a piece in which Breslin explains the circumstances involved in his decision to write that particular column.


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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Jannik Hansen (Portland, 2005-06) signed a lockout contract with Tappara Tampere (Finland, SM-Liiga). He had 16 goals and 23 assists in 82 games with the Vancouver Canucks last season. Hansen arrived in Finland on Tuesday and will be in Tappara's lineup Thursday against KalPa Kuopio. . . .
D Brendan Mikkelson (Portland, Vancouver, 2003-07) signed a lockout contract with Västerås (Sweden, Allsvenskan). He had three goals and 12 assists in 33 games with the Abbotsford Heat (AHL) and one goal and two assists with the Tampa Bay Lightning last season. Mikkelson is expected to join the club, which includes fellow NHL locked-out players F Mikael Backlund (Kelowna, 2008-09) and F Patrik Berglund in time for Thursday's game against Mora. Mikkelson's signing puts Västerås one over the limit of two non-EU players allowed per team, the other two being Brady Leisenring and David Lundbohm, both Americans. Västerås GM Niklas Johansson says: "We are fully aware and have a plan we will follow. It's no secret that our great need right now is on the back end." Leisenring and Lundbohm are both forwards, with Leisenring having eight goals and seven assists in 13 games to lead the team in scoring so far this season. Lundbohm just returned from a loan to TuTo Turku (Finland, Mestis), where he had five goals and five assists in 15 games, and has yet to play a game for Västerås this season. . . .
F Joffrey Lupul (Medicine Hat, 2000-03) signed a lockout contract with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg (Russia, KHL). He had 25 goals and 42 assists in 66 games with Toronto Maple Leafs last season. . . .
F Brett McLean (Tacoma/Kelowna, Brandon, 1994-99) signed a one-year contract extension with Lugano (Switzerland, NL A). He has four goals and seven assists in 17 games with Lugano this season. McLean signed a one-year extension with Lugano in March after joining the club in January from the Rockford Ice Hogs (AHL). The current extension now ties McLean to Lugano through the end of next season.
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Here’s a little extra from The MacBeth Report, who writes that he “came across this little bit from Greg Wyshynski (Puck Daddy). A fan went after Benn Olson after the game between Coventry and Cardiff in Cardiff on Sunday. Olson and Mike Egener, both with Coventery, are involved.”
Olson and Egener are former WHLers.
The video is right here.
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TUESDAY’S GAMES:
F Shane McColgan scored on the PP to break a 2-2 tie and give the visiting Saskatoon Blades a 3-2 victory over the Regina Pats. . . . Regina F Lane Scheidl pulled the Pats even at 12:10, only to have McColgan score his third goal of the season 53 seconds later. . . . Scheidl also scored a first-period PP goal that ended a Blades’ run of 22 consecutive successful kills. . . . Saskatoon G Andrew Makarov made his ninth straight start. . . . The Blades had a 10-day layoff prior to this game. . . . Regina has lost three straight games now. . . . The Pats lost freshman D Colby Williams in the first period after he took a hit to the head and suffered a deep cut. . . .

In Prince Albert, F Leon Draisaitl scored the only goal of the circus as the Raiders beat the Swift Current Broncos, 2-1. . . . Draisaitl scored his third goal of the season, at 2:47 of the third, via the PP, to tie the score 1-1. . . . A 17-year-old from Cologne, Germany, Draisaitl had three assists in a 5-1 victory over the Moose Jaw Warriors on Saturday. His mother and sister have been in attendance at his last two games. . . . Prince Albert G Luke Siemens improved to 9-3-2 with a 30-save effort . . . The Broncos have played 11 games against East Division and have lost six of them. However, they got loser points in five of those so are 5-1-5, which is a .682 winning percentage. . . . Dave Leaderhouse of the Prince Albert Herald reports that the Raiders scratched F Dakota Conroy, D Shayne Gwinner and F Davis Vandane, all of whom were “suspended for violating team rules.” . . .

F Nathan Burns scored the only goal of the circus as the Vancouver Giants beat the Hurricanes 4-3 in Lethbridge. . . . Burns was the only one of eight shooters to score. . . . Vancouver F Dalton Sward forced OT with his third goal of the season at 19:10 of the third. . . .  F Marek Tvrdon had two assists as he ran his point streak to a career-best nine games. . . . Vancouver G Liam Liston, who played 24 games with the Hurricanes last season, stopped 26 shots for his first victory this season. He’s 1-6-0. . . . F Russell Maxwell had his 11th goal and two assists for Lethbridge. He has 19 points after totalling 31 points, including 15 goals, in 72 games last season. . . .

F Colin Smith scored the only goal of the circus to give the Kamloops Blazers a 3-2 victory over the Silvertips in Everett. . . . The victory allowed the Blazers to set a franchise record for consecutive victories (14). . . . The Blazers are 16-0-1 and remain the CHL’s only team not have been beaten in regulation time. . . . Everett F Ryan Harrison scored his club’s first goal and it was his 200th career regular-season point. . . . The last WHL team to win 14 in a row? Everett and the Kootenay Ice did it in 2009-10. The Edmonton Oil Kings went on a 22-game run last season that overlapped with the playoffs.

D Mike Aviani had two goals and two assists to lead the host Spokane Chiefs to an 8-2 victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . Aviani has 10 goals this season. . . . Chiefs D Brenden Kichton scored his club’s seventh goal — it was his 50th career goal and 200th point. . . . Spokane D Tyler King had a goal and two assists. . . . Spokane F Todd Fiddler scored his ninth and 10th goals. . . . The Chiefs are 7-0-0 at home and 11-5-0 overall.
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CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
D Sam Grist, Kamloops

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
F Tanner Moar, Vancouver.
F Jackson Houck, Vancouver.
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TWEET OF THE DAY:
From WHL fan Terry Massey (@TerryMassey): “Dear @whl why do the pucks keep breaking? #cheap #noslapshotsrestofthegame #rubberpuckshereonin”
This was after two pucks broke just seconds apart during the first period of last night’s game in Regina.
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From Dan Russell (@DanRussellCKNW): “Can a WHL win in October be classified as ‘huge’??? If so, that was a huge win for Saskatoon tonight in Regina.”

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
The Krefeld Pinguine (Germany, DEL) announced that the club will not re-sign seven players, including F Duncan Milroy (Swift Current, Kootenay, 1998-2003), D Lawrence Nycholat (Swift Current, 1996-2000), and F Ben Ondrus (Swift Current, 1998-2003). Milroy had six goals and 22 assists in 45 games, Nycholat had one goal and five assists in 23 games, and Ondrus had three goals and seven assists in 47 games for the Penguins this season. . . .
F Petr Vala (Seattle, 1997-98) signed a one-year contract extension with Zell am See (Austria, Nationalliga). He had 13 goals and 23 assists in 26 games for Zell am See this season. . . .
F Brett McLean (Tacoma/Kelowna, Brandon, 1994-99) signed a one-year contract extension with Lugano (Switzerland, NL A). McLean started the season with the Rockford Ice Hogs (AHL), getting seven goals and 14 assists in 36 games. After clearing NHL unconditional waivers with Chicago on Jan. 19, McLean joined Lugano, where he had five goals and one assist in 10 games. From the Lugano press release: "The 33-year-old Canadian has proven to be a valuable player both defensively and offensively, and displays strong leadership skills."
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F Sven Baertschi scored another goal Thursday night, helping the Calgary Flames to a 4-1 victory over the visiting Phoenix Coyotes. Baertschi, who was brought in from the Portland Winterhawks under emergency recall rules, has three goals in four games with the Flames. . . . Calgary head coach Brent Sutter said after last night’s game that he plans on playing Baertschi again tonight when the Flames meet the Oilers in Edmonton. . . . After last night’s game, Vicki Hall of the Calgary Herald wrote: “Under the agreement between the NHL and Canadian Hockey League, the Flames must reassign Baertschi to his junior club the moment one of their injured forwards returns to the lineup. Lee Stempniak, Tim Jackman and Lance Bouma are all prime candidates to take Baertschi's spot.”
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Neate Sager, our pal at Yahoo! Sports, has put together in interesting look at some connections between junior hockey and Hollywood. That piece is right here. If you know of any more, email me at gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca and we’ll start a list.
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The Kamloops Blazers have added G Taran Kozun, 17, to their roster. He joins Cole Cheveldave, 18, and Cam Lanigan, 19, as goaltenders on the Kamloops roster. Kozun opened the season with the Blazers before being assigned to the SJHL’s Nipawin Hawks on Oct. 17. With Nipawin, he got into 16 games, going 5-10-0, 3.30, .904. . . . In Nipawin, Kozun found himself playing behind Davis Jones, 19, who went 26-12-0, 2.42, .920 and was named the SJHL’s goaltender of the year.
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F Austin Bourhis of the Prince Albert Raiders has drawn a six-game suspension for what the WHL calls a “one-man fight” against the Blades in Saskatoon on Tuesdsay night. The suspension will carry over to next season when Bourhis will miss the first three games. . . . As well, Kelowna Rockets F Shane McColgan was hit with a one-game suspension for accumulation of embellishment penalties. He won’t play tonight against the host Vancouver Giants but will be eligible to return for Saturday’s rematch in Kelowna.
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The NHL’s Boston Bruins have signed G Adam Morrison, 20, of the Vancouver Giants to a three-year contract. Morrison was an unrestricted free agent. The Philadelphia Flyers didn’t sign him after selecing him in the third round of the NHL’s 2009 draft. The Giants acquired Morrison from the Saskatoon Blades earlier this season. He is 35-17-3, 2.80, .900 this season. . . .
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D Alex Petrovic of the Red Deer Rebels will join the San Antonio Rampage, the AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers, on Tuesday. He will play his final WHL games tonight and Saturday against the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes and Edmonton Oil Kings. The Panthers selected him in the second round of the NHL’s 2010 draft.
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Before he wraps up his WHL career, F Taylor Vause, the 20-year-old captain of the Swift Current Broncos, took the time to write a letter to the editor of the Prairie Post.
That letter is right here, and you should take time to read it.
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The Kelowna Rockets said Thursday that D Myles Bell (leg) and D Madison Bowey (shoulder) both are day-to-day after being injured in a 4-2 victory over the visiting Everett Silvertips on Wednesday. . . . The Rockets are to play tonight in Vancouver. . . . Without Bell, Bowey and D Mitchell Chapman, who also is injured, the Rockets may use D Riley Stadel, a 2011 third-round bantam draft pick from Surrey, B.C., who spent the season at the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Brian Curran, the AJHL’s coach of the year this season, has changed teams. Curran was named the coach of the year for his season with the Lloydminster Bobcats. On Thursday, however, he signed a five-year deal as GM and head coach of the Drumheller Dragons. . . . He replaces Barry Wolff, who had been general manager and interim head coach. Wolff had worked the bench for the season’s last four months.
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When the WHL playoffs approach and it gets close to the end of the regular season, I usually stay away from attempting to figure out all the possible permutations.
Why? Because I always screw it up and the mess always seem to sort itself out anyway.
But as the WHL heads into its final three days of the regular season, Garth MacBeth, who pens the MacBeth Report, has made some notes involving the Western Conference . . .
Standings now:
7. Victoria 53 (v. Portland tonight)
8. Everett 52 (at Tri-City tonight, at Seattle on Saturday)
9. Seattle 50 (at Spokane tonight, v. Everett on Saturday, at Portland on Sunday)
10. Prince George 48 (at Kamloops tonight, v. Kamloops on Saturday)
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If Victoria wins tonight, the Royals will clinch at least a tiebreaker game. That will give them 55 points after their final game. Everett and Seattle can both get to 56 points but not at the same time. One of them can only get to 55 since they play each other Saturday — by losing that game in OT. PG cannot catch Victoria, which has 53 points, so the best it can do is get into a tie for eighth place. For that tie to occur, here is what must happen:
1. PG wins both games against Kamloops. That would give it 52 points and 25 victories.
2. Everett must lose both of its games (at Tri-City and at Seattle) in regulation. Everett would then have 52 points and 21 victories.
3. Seattle, by virtue of its win over Everett on Saturday, would have 52 points and 25 victories. So it must lose in regulation tonight at Spokane and Sunday at Portland.
This is the only scenario for Prince George to make the playoffs. There is no other way. This would result in a three-way playoff for the eighth spot which, it seems, would result in two sudden-death playoff games.
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Neither Garth nor I could find anything with the rules for a three-team tie for a playoff spot. If two teams tie, they play a sudden-death game at the home of the team with the most overall victories. And that game would be played on the Tuesday before the playoffs begin.
Presumably, then, if three teams tied, there would be two sudden-death games in two different cities.
Prince George would get the bye on the basis of having the most victories. Seattle and Everett would play in the first game. It would be played in Kent, Wash., because the Thunderbirds would have the most victories.
Presumably, the winner of that game would then travel to Prince George.
And it all would have to be wrapped up in time for the teams to begin the first round of playoffs on Friday, March 23.
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Garth also pointed out that Victoria can still end up in a tiebreaker game and it could be a three-way affair, as well. If it's a tie with Everett, Victoria would have more victories than Everett and would play host to the tiebreaker. If it's a tie with Seattle, Seattle would have more victories than Victoria and would play host to the tiebreaker. If it's a three-way tie, Seattle would get seventh place with the most victories, and Victoria would play host to Everett in the tiebreaker.
Victoria could also miss the playoffs and a tiebreaker completely. If Victoria loses in regulation tonight, then Seattle needs three points and Everett two points to send Victoria to the sidelines. If Victoria loses in OT, Everett needs three points and Seattle four points. As I said earlier, if Victoria wins tonight, it gets at least a tiebreaker game. A Victoria victory and a Seattle or Everett loss in regulation tonight clinches a playoff spot for Victoria.
Whew . . .
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IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY:
Eastern Conference
Edmonton (1) vs. Brandon (8)
Moose Jaw (2) vs. Kootenay (7)
Medicine Hat (3) vs. Saskatoon (6)
Calgary (4) vs. Regina (5)
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Western Conference
Tri-City (1) vs. Everett (8)
Kamloops (2) vs. Victoria (7)
Portland (3) vs. Kelowna (6)
Vancouver (4) vs. Spokane (5)
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TODAY’S GAMES:
Calgary at Kootenay
Moose Jaw at Prince Albert
Brandon at Regina
Saskatoon at Swift Current
Edmonton at Medicine Hat
Lethbridge at Red Deer
Prince George at Kamloops
Seattle at Spokane
Everett at Tri-City
Portland at Victoria
Kelowna at Vancouver

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Ned Lukacevic (Spokane, Swift Current, 2001-06) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Sundsvall (Sweden, Allsvenskan). He had two goals and eight assists in 13 games with the Las Vegas Wranglers (ECHL) this season. . . .
F Brett McLean (Tacoma/Kelowna, Brandon, 1994-99) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Lugano (Switzerland, NL A). He had seven goals and 14 assists in 36 games for the Rockford IceHogs (AHL) . McLean also played for Canada at this season's Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland, where he had one goal in three games. . . .
F Ladislav Kohn (Brandon, Swift Current, 1993-95) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Ambri-Piotta (Switzerland, NL A). He had five goals and 14 assists in 37 games for Trinec (Czech Republic, Extraliga) this season. . . .
D Justin Kurtz (Brandon, 1993-97) was released by Linz (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). He had six assists in 33 games for Linz this season. . . .
D Ross Lupaschuk (Lethbridge, Prince Albert, Red Deer, 1996-2001) was released by the Vienna Capitals (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). He had 10 goals and 17 assists in 38 games for the Capitals this season. . . .
F Bernhard Keil (Kamloops, 2010-11) signed a one-year contract extension with the Straubing Tigers, (Germany, DEL). He has one goal and five assists in 32 games for Straubing and one goal and one assist in two games on loan to Regensburg (Germany, Oberliga) this season. Keil also played for the German national team at the Division 1 world junior championship in December. He had two goals and five assists in five games. . . .
F Rhett Gordon (Regina, 1992-96) signed a contract for the rest of this season with the Nottingham Panthers (England, UK Elite). He had one goal and four assists in t0 games with the Colorado Eagles (ECHL) this season.
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In the BCHL on Sunday, the Penticton Vees ran their winning streak to 25 games with a 3-1 victory over the visiting Prince George Spruce Kings. The Vees broke a 1-1 tie with two third-period goals. . . . The Vees next play Wednesday when they visit the Merritt Centennials.
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SUNDAY’S GAMES:
In Calgary, F Chase Clayton scored twice to help the Hitmen to a 4-2 victory over the Red Deer Rebels. . . . Clayton scored the game’s first two goals, one shorthanded and the other on the PP. He has 10 goals this season. . . . D Mathew Dumba got the Rebels to within one 40 seconds into the third, but F Jimmy Bubnick answered, with his 21st, less than six minutes later. . . . Bubnick has 21 goals. . . . Calgary G Chris Driedger stopped 41 shots. . . . Calgary has won 10 of its last 11 games. . . . The Hitmen are seventh in the Eastern Conference, one point out of sixth and just three out of third. . . . The Rebels are ninth, four points out of eighth. . . .

In Vancouver, F Marek Tvrdon’s third-period goal stood up as the winner as the Giants beat the Seattle Thunderbird, 3-2. . . . Tvrdon’s 18th goal, on the PP, came at 10:47 of the third and gave the home side a 3-1 lead. . . . Seattle F Chance Lund got his second of the game and 12th of the season, on the PP, at 17:12. . . . The Giants outshot the visitors 14-0 in the first period. . . . The victory lifted Vancouver to within four points of the third-place Portland Winterhawks in the Western Conference. . . . Seattle is seventh, a point ahead of the Victoria Royals. . . . Tvrdon is riding an eight-game point streak during which time he has 14 points. . . . Seattle G Calvin Pickard made 42 saves, and the last one gave him the WHL record for most career saves. He now has stopped 9,659 pucks, one more than the previous record that was held by Danny Lorenz (Seattle, 1986-90). . . . Vancouver G Payton Lee, a 15-year-old from Cranbrook, stopped 24 shots for his second victory in three nights. . . . The Giants continue to be without F Brendan Gallagher (shoulder), F Dalton Sward (shoulder), D David Musil (wrist) and G Adam Morrison (concussion). The Giants are headed into Alberta for three games, and Gallagher, Morrison and Musil apparently are to make the trip. . . . Pickard has appeared in 217 regular-season games, averaging 32 saves per 60 minutes. . . . Last night, Pickard also set a franchise record for most career minutes played by a goaltender (12,639). That is five minutes more than Lorenz played for Seattle. . . . Pickard is third in the WHL record book, behind Kurtis Mucha (13,708) and Kyle Moir (12,774). Mucha played for Portland and Kamloops (2005-10) and Moir played for Swift Current (2002-07). . . .

In Spokane, the Chiefs completed a doubleheader sweep of Portland, beating the Winterhawks, 6-1. . . . Spokane, which is 8-1-1 in its last 10, had won 5-2 at home on Saturday night. . . . F Mitch Holmberg, with two goals and an assist, and F Mike Aviani, with two goals, led the Spokane offence. Holmberg has 19 goals; Aviani has nine. . . . The Chiefs scored the game’s first five goals. . . . Chiefs F Dominik Uher continued his impressive play with three assists. . . . Spokane F Darren Kramer had two assists for the second straight game. He also got tossed for his part in a late second-period dustup. . . . The Chiefs took 61 of the game’s 114 penalty minutes. . . . Spokane won three games on the weekend, all over the two teams ahead of it in the U.S. Division. The Chiefs began the weekend with a victory over the host Tri-City Americans on Friday. . . . The Chiefs remain fifth in the Western Conference, three points behind Vancouver and 11 ahead of the Kelowna Rockets.
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TWEET OF THE DAY:
It comes courtesy of KingMaxymus23 (aka Tyler Maxwell of the Edmonton Oil Kings: “Why do I try to do so many things in between the time I start a microwave to the time it goes off?”
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Jeff Z. Klein of The New York Times offers up his take on the situation involving F Marc Savard of the Boston Bruins, who continues his recovery from post-concussion syndrome.
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Your good read today comes from Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal. Matty’s Hockey World is right here.
 
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