Ex-Brandon star to Moose? . . . KHL game ends after three minutes

F Brett Sonne (Calgary, 2004-09) has signed a one-year contract with Herlev (Denmark, Metal Ligaen). Last season, he had three assists in seven games with Banská Bystrica (Slovakia, Extraliga), and six goals and 11 assists in 17 games with Cortina (Italy, Serie A).

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F Scott Glennie (Brandon, 2007-11) is expected to sign a contract with the Manitoba Moose, the Winnipeg-based AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets. Glennie, 25, is from Winnipeg. The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder was selected by the Dallas Stars with the eighth overall pick of the 2009 NHL draft. However, he has played only one NHL game. . . . He played four seasons (2011-15) with the AHL’s Texas Stars, totalling 46 goals and 72 assists in 230 games. . . . Glennie wasn’t qualified by Dallas prior to 2015-16 and sat out the season rehabbing a shoulder injury.

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Hockey Canada’s loss is a huge gain for the NHL’s new Las Vegas franchise, which has hired Misha Donskov as its director of hockey operations. On July 1, he was named by Hockey Canada as its assistant coach/hockey operations for the men’s national teams. Prior to that, he was Hockey Canada’s manager, hockey operations/analytics and video. . . . Before joining Hockey Canada, Donskov was an associate coach (2012-14) with the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s and he spent three seasons as AGM and assistant coach with the London Knights. He also has worked with the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers and Columbus Blue Jackets.

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There was some nastiness in a KHL exhibition game on Monday; in fact, the game came to a premature end, just three minutes after it began. The game featured Barys Astana and Kunlun Red Star Beijing. . . . The two teams met Friday in a game in which F Dustin Boyd (Moose Jaw, 2002-06), who is in his sixth season with Barys, suffered a broken ankle that will sideline him for up to four months. . . . Patrick Conway has more on all this right here in his Russian Hockey Blog.

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Matthews tied up in immigration issue? . . . McCrimmon still pondering offer . . . Ex-Giants coach back in game

F T.J. Galiardi (Calgary, 2007-08) signed a one-year contract with Malmö (Sweden, SHL). This season, he had one goal in 38 games with the Winnipeg Jets. . . .
F Brett Sonne (Calgary, 2004-09) signed a one-year contract with Banská Bystrica (Slovakia, Extraliga). This season, with Mora (Sweden, Allsvenskan), he had four goals and three assists in 35 games, and in 12 games with Frisk Asker (Norway, GET-Ligaen), he had five goals and eight assists. . . .
D Jeff May (Prince Albert, Lethbridge, 2002-08) signed a one-year contract with Angers (France, Ligue Magnus). This season, he was an alternate captain with the Ontario Reign (ECHL), and had four goals and 12 assists in 38 games. He played for Angers in 2012-13.
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There hasn’t been confirmation yet, but it appears that F Auston Matthews and the ZSC Zurich Lions of the Swiss National League A have agreed to terms on a contract.
According to a story at watson.ch, as written by Klaus Zaugg, the situation has run up against some immigration issues. (Thanks to the MacBeth Report for providing the information that follows.)
“The thing is tricky, we cannot say anything yet,” Lions manager Peter Zahner said.
ZSC Sports Chief Edgar Salis added: “I cannot say why there is a delay.”
Apparently, they are having problems getting him a visa because Matthews has not played professionally outside of Switzerland.
According to Swiss regulations regarding soccer and hockey, a non-European Union citizen must have played one year as a professional before being eligible for a Swiss work permit.
There is recent precedent with this situation, too. Swiss soccer club FC Basel ran into this issue last summer with a Serbian player it signed to a five-year contract. FC Basel wasn’t able to get a work permit for the player, so he was loaned to a Slovakian team for one year. That made him eligible for a Swiss work permit.
In light of that situation, Swiss soccer clubs have started an initiative to get this regulation overturned, and ZSC lawyers now have joined the movement. A decision is expected in the next two weeks.
Depending on what happens, ZSC could get a provisional work permit for Matthews but if the Federal Office for Migration rejects the application, Matthews would have to leave the country immediately.
After the 2012-13 season, D Ryan O’Connor went directly from the OHL’s Barrie Colts to the Swiss team Davos and he received a work permit without delay. However, O’Connor is Canadian and there is a special agreement between Canada and Switzerland that allows this for Canadian citizens. There is no such agreement between the United States and Switzerland.
The Everett Silvertips hold Matthews’ WHL rights.
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Kelly McCrimmon, the owner, general manager and head coach of the Brandon Wheat Kings, has yet to speak publicly about the offer he is mulling over from the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Maple Leafs apparently interviewed McCrimmon sometime in the past two weeks and later made an offer to him. Bruce Luebke, the long-time radio voice of the Wheat Kings, has reported that the offer carried with it a June 11 deadline.
On Tuesday’s Insider Trading, Darren Dreger, one of TSN’s Hockey Insiders, offered: “My sense is that Kelly McCrimmon is leaning towards taking the job in the front office of the Toronto Maple Leafs.”
That’s it. No source or sources. No indication that Dreger spoke with McCrimmon. No indication of from where he got his “sense.”
I have no idea which way McCrimmon might be leaning, but I can guess that the last few days have torn him apart.
McCrimmon, 54, is the best hockey/business mind in the WHL. He should have been in the NHL long before this. So, you’re wondering, why hasn’t an NHL team come calling before now? Likely for the same reason that the late Ed Chynoweth never ended up with an NHL team. It would have taken an NHL executive with uncommon job security to have hired Chynoweth, who was his own man.
The same is true of McCrimmon.
In past conversations, he has said that he would have loved to have been given the opportunity to work in the NHL. The position of assistant general manager would have suited him perfectly. He could have started there and then seen what happened.
Complicating the issue now is that he has built a Wheat Kings team that has the chance to dominate over the next couple of seasons. Does he walk away from what he has constructed, leaving it in the hands of someone else?
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THE COACHING GAME:

Bryant Perrier is the new general manager and head coach of the junior B North Okanagan Knights of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. The Knights play out of Armstrong, B.C. . . . Perrier, 50, is a native of Penticton. . . . Former owner Chuck Gallacher was the GM last season, while Jim Armstrong was the head coach. . . . The team now is owned by Dean Keller. . . . Perrier spent the past three seasons coaching in France. . . . He has head-coaching experience in the region, having coached with the BCHL’s Merritt Centennials and Penticton Panthers. . . . Perrier last coached in North America in 2011-12. In his third season with the MJHL’s Neepawa Natives, he left the team after a hazing incident. He later was suspended by the MJHL for the remainder of the season. Perrier has been adamant that he had no idea what had happened; the MJHL said that Perrier, as the GM and head coach, should have known.
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Andy Baggot of the Wisconsin State Journal tweeted Tuesday that the USHL’s Madison Capitols have hired Troy Ward as general manager and head coach. Ward, who began last season as head coach of the Vancouver Giants, will replace Luke Strand, who left to join the U of Wisconsin Badgers as an associate coach. . . . The Capitols are expected to announce Ward’s signing next week during their spring camp.
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In the ECHL, F Greger Hanson scored at 5:25 of OT to give the Allen Americans a 3-2 victory over the host South Carolina Stingrays in Game 5 of the Kelly Cup final. . . . The Americans lead the series 3-2 with Game 6 scheduled for tonight in North Charleston. . . . F Chris Crane gave the Americans a 2-1 lead at 3:01 of the third period. . . . F Wayne Simpson pulled the Stingrays into a tie at 16:05. . . . Attendance was 4,184.
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It is one of the most famous headlines in newspaper history — Headless Body in Topless Bar. It appeared on the front page of the New York Post in 1983. Vincent Musetto, the man who wrote that headline, has died. Jim Norman, who was there the night that headline was written, has more on that story right here.

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The NHL draft . . . Rathjen on move . . . Blades hire assistant coach

F Codey Burki (Brandon, 2002-07) has signed a one-year contract with Olten (Switzerland, NL B). Last season, with Lausanne (Switzerland, NL A), he had three points, including one goal, in 30 games. He has dual Canadian-Swiss citizenship, so doesn’t count as import. . . .
F Brett Sonne (Calgary, 2004-09) has signed a one-year contract with Mora (Sweden, Allsvenskan). Last season, with Dornbirn (Austria, Erste Bank Liga), he had 30 points, seven of them goals, in 43 games. . . .
D Tyson Marsh (Vancouver, 2001-05) has signed a one-year extension with the Cardiff Devils (Wales, UK Elite). Last season, in 63 games, he had 41 points, including nine goals, and was a second-team all-star. . . .
G Kristofer Westblom (Kelowna, 2004-08) has signed a one-year contract with Gap (France, Ligue Magnus). Last season, with the Brampton Beast (CHL), he was 3.22 and .903 in 41 games.
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THE NHL DRAFT (aka Mostly White Men in Suits):
Sorry, but there is no way I was going to sit down and watch the draft live. Not a chance. All that talk and all those commercials. And all those Mostly White Men in Suits with more White Men in Suits reporting from the floor and doing the interviewing.
So . . . let’s go to the PVR, with ample use of the FF button.
Keeping in mind that this is Philadelphia where football fans once booed Santa Claus, the reception given NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is rather epic. I mean, there’s booing and then there’s this. . . . Give Bettman credit, though. He gets booed everywhere and he keeps coming back for more.
Vancouver comic Torben Rolfsen (‏@vanguy) offered this up via Twitter: “The Wells Fargo Center crowd has just been nominated for a special Grammy award for its booing of Gary Bettman.”
First off, you have to like what the Vancouver Canucks did on Friday. They got F Ryan Kesler out of the room, sending him to the Anaheim Ducks, and brought in F Nick Bonino, who will be among their top six forwards for a few seasons, and D Luca Sbisa, who will surprise if given the opportunity to play on a regular basis. Vancouver also picked up a first-round pick (No. 24) in this draft. . . . And that doesn’t take into account the trading of D Jason Garrison, who doesn’t skate well enough to fit into what Vancouver’s braintrust is trying to do here, to the Tampa Bay Lightning, or the acquisition of pain-in-the-butt F Derek Dorsett, who played for new head coach Willie Desjardins in Medicine Hat, from the New York Rangers. (In Dorsett, the Canucks finally have an answer to F Brad Marchand of the Boston Bruins.)
OK . . . here we go.
1. The Florida Panthers have the first selection. They have eight men in suits (MIS) on the stage. They take D Aaron Ekblad from the OHL's Barrie Colts. If you want to win the Stanley Cup, you have to have a stud defenceman.
2. The Buffalo Sabres are up. It‘s Tim Murray’s first pick as GM. He is the first of a number of GMs who get to the podium and announce their pick. No thanking anyone. No congratulating anyone. Just the pick. The Sabres take Kootenay Ice F Sam Reinhart, who might have the best hockey IQ in the draft. . . . The Sabres have seven MIS.
3. The Edmonton Oilers add to their stable of young forwards with German F Leon Draisaitl of the Prince Albert Raiders. No surprise here. . . . The stage holds five MIS, including owner Daryl Katz. Also there his son, Harrison, wearing an Oilers jersey (No. 14) and sporting the draft’s best hair, even better than his father’s. Harrison also is bigger than most of Friday’s draftees.
4. The Calgary Flames take F Sam Bennett from the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs. Already he is being compared to the retired Doug Gilmour, who is the GM in Kingston. . . . The Flames have eight MIS on stage, and that includes Brian Burke, their president of hockey operations, and his hair.
5. The New York Islanders, with seven MIS, use their first pick on F Michael Dal Colle of the OHL’s Oshawa Generals. They later will trade back into the first round.
6. The Vancouver Canucks take F Jake Virtanen from the Calgary Hitmen. That is the second year in a row that the Canucks, who have been accused of ignoring WHL players, have taken a WHLer in the first round; a year ago, they took F Hunter Shinkaruk of the Medicine Hat Tigers with the 24th pick. . . . This is the first pick of the Trevor Linden/Jim Benning regime. There are seven MIS on stage.
7. The Carolina Hurricanes, in an apparent attempt to stave up the expected booing, send former Flyers favourite Rod Brind'Amour to the podium. He gets a rousing reception. . . . They take D Haydn Fleury of the Red Deer Rebels. He is the 12th first-round selection from the Rebels and the other 11 all have played in the NHL. . . . There are five MIS, including new head coach Bill Peters, a former head coach of the Spokane Chiefs.
8. The Toronto Maple Leafs, with eight MIS up there, select F William Nylander, the Swedish son of former NHLer Michael Nylander. TV shows his family and there is blonde hair everywhere.
9. The Winnipeg Jets decide on F Nikolaj Ehlers, a Dane who plays for the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads. We don’t know it at the time but he will be only QMJHL player taken in the first round. . . . Oh, there are seven MIS on stage.
10. The Anaheim Ducks go for size with F Nick Ritchie, who is said to be 6-foot-3 and 226 pounds. He also has hands, witness 39 goals in 61 games with the OHL’s Peterborough Petes. He also has a late birthday; he turns 19 on Dec. 5. . . . How big is Ritchie? Former NHLer Jim Sandlak, known as House when he played, now scouts for the Ducks. Ritchie looked to be a tad bigger than Sandlak. . . . There were seven MIS.
11. The Nashville Predators reach into Sweden and take F Kevin Fiala, who was born in Switzerland to Czech parents. (Gee, wonder if he knows Tim Bozon, who was born in St. Louis to French parents and later lived in Switzerland?). . . . We digress. The Predators paraded eight MIS to the stage.
12. The Arizona Coyotes, once known as the Phoenix Coyotes, have seven MIS on stage as they take F Brendan Perlini, who plays for the OHL’s Niagara IceDogs. Bob McKenzie, as usual the star of TSN’s draft show, informs that he covered Perlini’s father, Freddie, when he played for the Toronto Marlies back in the day. Brendan was born in Guildford, England, while his father was playing there. . . . Freddie was an eight-round pick by the Leafs in the 1980 draft, so his son has bragging right snow.
13. The Washington Capitals, with Ross Mahoney, the new assistant general manager, take F Jakub Vrana, a Czech who played in Sweden. Barry Trotz, the Caps’ new head coach, also was on the stage. He was one of five MIS.
14. The Dallas Stars pick D Julius Honka, the first member of the Swift Current Broncos to go in the first round since Vancouver took F Nathan Smith with the 23rd selection in 2000. The Broncos had 25 players taken in the next 13 drafts, but none in the first round. . . . Whoops! Here’s a tweet from Mike Heika, who covers the Stars for the Dallas Morning News: “Jim Nill just said they will talk to Julius Honka about moving from WHL to play in Finnish Elite League next season.” . . . Nill is the Stars’ GM. . . . He was one of nine MIS on stage, a number that will give the Stars the lead at halftime.
15. The Detroit Red Wings, with eight MIS, take F Dylan Larkin from the U.S. National Team Development Program. He is the first American-born player selected.
16. The Columbus Blue Jackets reach into the USNTDP for F Sonny Milano. Yes, the name sounds as though he should be an associate of Tony Soprano’s. Sonny’s given name is Frank; his father also is Frank. . . . There are six MIS when CBJ makes its pick.
17.  With his first selection as the Philadelphia Flyers’ GM, Ron Hextall, who is from Brandon, reaches down the Trans-Canada Highway to Elkhorn and grabs D Travis Sanheim of the Calgary Hitmen. Elkhorn also is the home of Sheldon Kennedy. . . . Going into last season, only friends and family seemed aware of Sanheim, who rocketed up the ratings as the season progressed. . . . The Flyers have only four MIS, including the legendary Bob Clarke, who was, yes, the 17th overall selection by the Flyers in the 1969 NHL draft.
18. The Minnesota Wild, with six MIS, go for F Alex Tuch, another USNTDP player.
19. The Tampa Bay Lightning select D Anthony DeAngelo of the OHL’s Sarnia Sting. He had 71 points in 51 games, but missed 15 games due to suspensions for (a) a slur against a linesman, (b) a slur against a teammate, (c) verbally abusing an official. The Lightning will work with him on what would appear to be anger management issues. . . . Still, DeAngelo is from South Philadelphia so you know this was a big night for him. . . . The Lightning trotted 10 MIS to the stage and took the lead from Dallas.
20. The Chicago Blackhawks grab F Nick Schmaltz of the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers, the first player to be taken from a junior A league. His brother, Jordan, plays for the St. Louis Blues, who took him 25th overall in 2012. The Blackhawks have five MIS on stage.
21. The St. Louis Blues, with seven MIS, select F Rob Fabbri of the OHL’s Guelph Storm. He had a fabulous playoff run as the Storm won the OHL championship, and you know that always helps.
22. The Pittsburgh Penguins send Rick Tocchet, a former Flyers star who now is an assistant with Pittsburgh, to the podium. It doesn’t work as the booing is loud. The Flyers take F Kasperi Kapanen, the son of former Flyers F Sami Kapanen. Sami also played for the Carolina Hurricanes. Former Carolina GM Jim Rutherford now is the Penguins’ GM. . . . There are seven MIS, including new head coach Mike Johnston.
23. The Colorado Avalanche, with classy Joe Sakic making the pick, take F Conner Bleackley of the Red Deer Rebels. So you can make it 13 Red Deer first-rounders. No wonder Red Deer owner/GM/head coach Brent Sutter was smiling last night. . . . The Avalanche took five MIS to the stage.
24. The Canucks are back, with a pick acquired from Anaheim in the Kesler deal. This time, they go for F Jared McCann of the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds. Again, they had seven MIS.
25. The Boston Bruins, with six MIS up there, select F David Pastrnak, another Czech who played in Sweden.
26. The Montreal Canadiens reach into the WHL for Russian F Nikita Scherbak of the Saskatoon Blades. His interview with TSN host James Duthie will become the stuff of legend. Who knew Scherbak was a big curling fan? The Habs have eight MIS, including former WHL/NHL heavyweight Shane Churla, who has become one of the game’s top scouts.
27. The San Jose Sharks, with five MIS taking part, pick Russian F Nikolay Goldobin of the OHL’s Sarnia Sting.
28. The Islanders are back, having acquired this pick from Tampa Bay. GM Garth Snow (see Tweet of the Day) selects F Josh Ho-Sang of the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires for whom he had 85 points in 67 games. For some reason, there are questions about his character. The Isles again have seven MIS.
29. The Stanley Cup-champion Los Angeles Kings go to Sweden for F Adrian Kempe. The Kings also show up on stage with 11 MIS, to take over the lead from Tampa Bay. Hey, when you’re the champs . . .
30. The New Jersey Devils, with five MIS, close out the first round by selecting F John Quenneville of the Brandon Wheat Kings. Quenneville had to work to get to the stage as he was going against the traffic with fans heading for the exits. He didn’t shy from contact, which must have made Devils superscout David Conte happy. . . . Edmonton Journal writer Jim Matheson later tweeted that his wife gets her nails done by Quenneville’s mother, which is an apt spot to wrap up the first-round coverage.
SOME NOTES: TSN’s draft coverage once again set the standard for all sports. This, of course, was their last kick as Sportsnet has signed a 12-year contract with the NHL. . . . Last night’s first round featured 25 forwards and no goaltenders. It was the second year in a row that goaltenders were blanked in the opening round. . . . For a story on bloodlines and this draft, check out this nhl.com piece right here. . . . Quenneville was the ninth WHLer taken in the first round. All nine were from the Eastern Conference, with five of those from the Central Division. That’s right. Not one Western Conference players was taken. . . . The WHL had nine players taken in the first round in each of the 2007 and 2008 drafts. Last year, that number was eight. . . . There were 10 OHL players taken, with only one QMJHL player selected. . . . There were five U.S.-born players selected. . . . Not one player taller than 6-foot-3 was selected, while a handful of players under 6-foot-0 were selected. Yes, it was a victory, albeit a small one, for smaller, skilled players. . . . Round 2 is scheduled to start at 7 a.m. Eastern today.
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1. G Jared Rathjen, 20, is on his way to his third WHL team. Rathjen, from Prince George, began his WHL career with the Victoria Royals, who dealt him early in 2012-13 to the Vancouver Giants. . . . On Friday, the Giants sent him to the Medicine Hat Tigers for a conditional fifth-round selection in the WHL’s 2015 bantam draft. . . . Rathjen got into 29 games with the Giants last season and played well when Payton Lee was hurt. Rathjen finished 13-8-5, 2.98, .898. . . . The Tigers finished last season with two goaltenders on their roster -- Marek Langhamer and Nick Schneider. Langhamer, who turns 20 on July 22, is from Czech Republic and has signed with the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes. Schneider, who turns 17 on July 21, came over from the Regina Pats last season and went 6-0-0, 1.42, .943 in limited time behind Langhamer. . . . The Tigers’ roster also includes other potential 20-year-olds in F Miles Koules, D Tyler Lewington and D Kyle Becker. . . . Among Vancouver’s potential 20-year-olds are F Dalton Sward, F Travis McEvoy, F Trent Lofthouse, F Joel Hamilton and F Matt Bellerive.

2. The CIS Acadia Axemen, who play out of Wolfville, N.S., announced their 2014 recruiting class on Friday and it included a few names familiar to WHL fans. . . . Head coach Darren Burns lost seven players to graduation and also had D Colin Archer (Red Deer, 2007-10) move on when he was accepted into medical school at the U of Alberta. . . . D Matt Pufahl (Red Deer, Saskatoon, Everett, 2010-14), F Zach Franko (Kelowna, Kootenay, 2010-14), F Sam Fioretti (Moose Jaw, 2010-14) and F Boston Leier (Medicine Hat, Regina, 2010-14) all are among Acadia’s newest recruits.

3, The Young Stars Classic preseason tournament is scheduled for Penticton, B.C., Sept. 12-15. The six-game event will feature teams of prospects from the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale on July 11. Emanuel Sequeira of the Penticton Herald has more right here.

4. Bob Mackin, a freelancer who lives and works on the Lower Mainland of B.C., is one of my favourite journalists. He is doing journalism the way it’s meant to be done. . . . It’s doubtful that any journalist on the West Coast has more people who don’t respond to interview requests than Mackin. . . . On Friday, he filed a piece to the Vancouver Courier that ended up with this headline: World Cup slows City of Vancouver websites. . . . It carried this subhead: Too many city employees watching soccer online at work. . . . That story is right here.

5. Bobby Womack, a legendary singer, songwriter and musician, died on Friday at the age of 70. The New York Times obituary, written by Paul Vitello, is right here. . . . According to Vitello, Womack remained a gospel singer at heart. “Me being from the old school, I would not say ‘bitch’ on a record,” he said. “I couldn’t face my mother if I did.” . . . That’s Womack’s Across 110th Street in the great movie Jackie Brown. Here’s Across 110th Street right here.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Dean Brockman, a four-time coach of the year in the SJHL, has joined the Saskatoon Blades as an assistant coach. Brockman, who had been hoping to land the head-coaching job that went to Bob Woods, got a four-year deal. He had been the GM/head coach of the SJHL’s Humboldt Broncos for 10 seasons. Before that, he was GM/assistant coach (1997-2003). . . . The Blades also announced that assistant coach Jerome Engele, one of the WHL’s really good guys, and goaltending coach Tim Cheveldae (he’s a good guy, too) will be back. . . . Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix has the story right here.
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Former Prince George Cougars head coach Lane Lambert has joined the NHL’s Washington Capitals as an assistant coach. Lambert, 49, spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach with the Nashville Predators. Barry Trotz, who was dropped as Nashville’s head coach after the season, is preparing for his first season as Washington’s head coach. . . . Lambert also spent two seasons (2002-04) as an assistant coach with the Moose Jaw Warriors.
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Jamie Russell, a native of Kamloops, is the new head coach of the ECHL’s Elmira Jackals. Russell, 47, spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach at Providence College. Before that, he was the head coach at Michigan Tech from 2003-11. . . . Russell replaces Dwight Mullins (Lethbridge, Calgary, Saskatoon, 1982-88), who left to take over as head coach of the ECHL’s Evansville IceMen.
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Garth Snow, on TSN, on Ho-Sang: "He'll fit right in. They shit on me, too."
— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) June 28, 2014

Garth Snow, um, cleanup on Isle Six...
— Adam Proteau (@Proteautype) June 28, 2014

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.

Former WHLer needing some help

THE MacBETH REPORT:
The SM-Liiga had its board meeting on Tuesday at which it discussed the Jokerit Helsinki situation. At 7:50 p.m. Helsinki time, SM-Liiga announced the following via the league website:
“SM-Liiga and Jokerit on Tuesday reached agreement on the terms on which Jokerit has been granted the right to play in the SM-Liiga for the 2013-2014 season. It has also agreed on the terms of the agreement under which the League granted Jokerit the right to play in the Kontinental Hockey League beginning with the 2014-2015 season. SM-League Chairman Hannu Penttilä  and Jokerit owner Harry Harkimo are happy with the end result.”
It was reported to be a contentious meeting that began at 3 p.m., one where Harkimo angrily walked out twice, at 3:45 for about 45 minutes and again at 5:30 for about 30 minutes.
Initial reports are that Kärpät Oulu, HIFK Helsinki and TPS Turku were most reluctant to allow Jokerit to compete in the league under any circumstances, while some of the other clubs were open to a financial settlement from Jokerit.
After the announcement, Harkimo answered “I am not going to comment” when asked how much Jokerit had to pay to stay in SM-Liiga and whether Jokerit had to pay to leave SM-Liiga for the KHL.
When asked again, Harkimo said: “It is what it is.”
Harkimo did say: “Certainly SM-Liiga will survive Jokerit’s departure.”
SM-Liiga Chairman Hannu Penttilä said: “The process was not as it should have been, but everyone is happy now. SM-Liiga will begin as normal in September and there are no other clubs going to the KHL.”
Penttilä later said that the conditions attached to the agreement won’t be made public. It is rumoured that Jokerit must pay 5 to 8 million Euros (US$6.6 to 10.6 million, Cdn$6.8 to 10.9 million) to compensate the league and other clubs for lost revenues.
To put the amount in perspective, Jokerit’s player payroll for last season was about 4 million Euros.
Harkimo also said that the agreement for Jokerit to join the KHL is not final yet; a final decision will be made this fall.
It seems that public opinion in Finland is running against Jokerit playing in SM-Liiga this season.
On Friday, the Helsinki newspaper Iltalehti ran an online poll and 65 per cent of the 13,162 respondents said that Jokerit shouldn’t be allowed to play in SM-Liiga this season.
Another online poll, this one run by another Helsinki newspaper, Ilta-Sanomat, while the meeting was taking place, asked the question: “Should Jokerit be kicked out of SM-Liiga immediately?” Of the 8,046 respondents, 87 per cent said: “YES.”
A second Ilta-Sanomat online poll which ran after the decision was announced asked: “Was it the right decision to allow Jokerit to play in SM-Liiga this season?” Of the 10,475 respondents, 82 per cent said: “NO.”
Finally, a columnist for Ilta-Sanomat said in an editorial posted after the decision was announced that “this season, Jokerit is the most hated team more than ever.”
While we are talking SM-Liiga, here is a look at this season’s ice surface at Oulu's Energia Areena, the home arena for Kärpät Oulu. Try to find the puck quickly here. One Finnish commentator said this really gives a new meaning to the phrase “home ice advantage.”

Moving to central Europe, the Czech Republic Ice Hockey Federation and the Czech Extraliga have announced new roster rules for the 2013-14 season.
They are:
1) teams are allowed to dress for each game a maximum of 15 players born 1990 or earlier (age 23 and older);
2) each team must have at least three players dressed born between 1991 and 1993 (age 20-22); and,
3) at least one player dressed for a game must be born after 1993 (age 19 and under).
Goaltenders are exempt from these rules.
Additionally, each Extraliga team will be allowed six import (non-Czech citizen) licenses. Once an import is listed on a game sheet, that uses up one of the licenses, regardless of whether the import player actually plays in the game or not.
The intent is to try to keep more Czech young players at home and to get them drafted — there were only four Czech players drafted in the 2013 NHL draft and all four played in the CHL last season. The last player to go directly to the NHL from an Extraliga team was Edmonton Oilers D Ladislav Smid, drafted by Anaheim in 2004 from Liberec.
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Now for Tuesday’s moves . . .
F Ryan Russell (Kootenay, 2003-07) signed a one-year contract with Leksand (Sweden, SEL). He had 10 goals and six assists in 62 games with the Springfield Falcons (AHL) last season. . . .

F Brett Sonne (Calgary, 2004-09) signed a one-year contract with Dornbirn (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). He had seven goals and eight assists in 56 games with the Peoria Rivermen (AHL), three goals and four assists in seven games with the Evansville Icemen (ECHL), and one goal and two assists in six games with the Texas Stars (AHL) last season. . . .

D Trevor Johnson (Kootenay, Seattle, Tri-City, 1998-2003) signed a one-year contract extension with Valpellice (Italy, Serie A). He had 10 goals and 34 assists in 42 games as captain of Valpellice last season. Johnson also represented Italy at both the Division 1 world championship and the Olympic Games Qualification Tournament, totaling four assists in eight games. . . .

F Ales Kilnar (Vancouver, 2012-13) signed a tryout contract with Orli Znojmo (Czech Republic, Austria Erste Bank Liga). He had no points in one game with Vancouver, no points in three games with Jokipojat Joensuu U20 (Finland, SM-Liiga A-Juniors), four goals and seven assists in 15 games with Vitkovice Ostrava U20 (Czech Republic, U20 Extraliga), and three goals and three assists in seven games with Poruba (Czech Republic, 2. Liga) last season. Kilnar had a goal for Orli in Tuesday’s 4-1 exhibition game victory against Mlada Boleslav, playing on a line with Ondrej Fiala (Everett, Saskatoon, 2005-08).
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Jonathan Parker played three seasons (Seattle, Prince Albert, 2008-11) in the WHL. Now 21, Parker, a forward from Solona Beach, Calif., is preparing for his third season in the Buffalo Sabres’ organization. But, as Jeff Cox writes at sbnation.com, this season will be different for Parker because his father, Steven, won’t be there to enjoy it with him. Steven Parker lost a three-year battle with cancer last week. . . . As Cox points out right here, there’s more to the story and now Jonathan Parker and his sister, Charlene, need help. Here’s hoping the hockey community will provide some.
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F Adam Kambeitz (Red Deer, Saskatoon, Seattle, 2008-13) has decided he’ll go to the U of Calgary and play for the Dinos. Kambeitz is from Coaldale, Alta. He played out his WHL eligibility last season. He was in his fifth season with the Red Deer Rebels when he was traded to the Saskatoon Blades early last season. Then, at the trade deadline, the Blades sent him to the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . Kambeitz told Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix that it came down to Calgary or Acadia U in Wolfville, N.S. . . . Nugent-Bowman also reports that F Chris Collins (Chilliwack, Saskatoon, 2007-12) also will attend the U of Calgary. Collins, from Calgary, played last season with the AJHL’s Okotoks Oilers.
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F James Henry (Vancouver, Moose Jaw, 2007-12) has chosen to leave school after one season with the U of Manitoba Bisons. He has signed with the ECHL’s Stockton Thunder. Henry, 22, is a Winnipeg native. He had 22 points in 28 games with the Bisons last season. He earned CIS all-rookie team honours and was named Canada West’s most outstanding freshman. . . . While in Vancouver, Henry was teammates with F Garet Hunt, who is a fan favourite in Stockton.
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There isn’t a more polarizing sports figure anywhere than Ken (Hawk) Harrelson, the TV play-by-play voice of the Chicago White Sox. He has referred to the explosion of mathematical-based analytics in baseball as “the biggest joke I’ve ever seen.” . . . Ben Strauss of The New York Times has more on Harrelson right here. BTW, Hawk says the only stat that matters is “T.W.T.W.”
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THE COACHING GAME:
Randy Ladouceur has signed on as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters. Ladouceur, a veteran of the NHL playing and coaching wars, will work alongside head coach Dean Chynoweth. Ladouceur has worked as an assisteant coach for four NHL teams since he ended his playing career in 1996. . . . Ladouceur’s arrival allows David Oliver to return to his role as director of AHL operations. The Monsters are the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche. . . . Jock Callander is preparing for his second season as an assistant coach, while Jean-Ian Filiatrault has come on board as the goaltending coach.
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The ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings have signed Colin Chaulk as an assistant coach. Chaulk retired as a player after last season. He spent 10 pro seasons playing for the Fort Wayne Komets, a rival of the Wings. . . . In Kalamazoo, he will work with Nick Bootland, the director of hockey operations and head coach.

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