Spitfires have spot in Memorial Cup final ... Hitmen move two veteran scouts ... Rockets' top pick commits to UND

F Michal Hlinka (Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, 2010-12) has signed a one-year extension with Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia, KHL). This season, he had seven goals and four assists in 43 games. Hlinka also spent time with Dukla Trenčín (Slovakia, Extraliga) this season, scoring three goals and adding an assist in 13 games.

———

The host Windsor Spitfires claimed the first berth in the Memorial Cup final with a 4-2 victory over the OHL-champion Erie Otters on Wednesday night. The Otters (2-1) will play in Friday’s semifinal, where they will meet the QMJHL-champion Saint John Sea Dogs (1-2). The winner of that game will meet the Spitfires (3-0) in Sunday’s final. . . . The WHL-champion Seattle Thunderbirds went 0-3 and were eliminated on Tuesday when they lost 7-0 to Saint John. . . . 

Last night, F Jeremiah Addison, who finished with three goals, got Windsor started with a pair of first-period goals, at 5:50 and 15:28. F Gabriel Vilardi earned the primary assist on both goals en route to a four-assist game. . . . F Mikhail Sergachev upped it to 3-0 with his first goal, on a PP, just 43 seconds into the second period. . . . F Kyle Maksimovich got Erie on the scoreboard when he scored off a rebound at 8:10 of the third period. . . . Addison completed his hat trick at 13:31. . . . F Taylor Raddysh’s third goal of the tournament got Erie to within two goals at 17:34, on a PP. . . . 

The Spitfires got a big game from G Michael DiPietro, with 33 saves. At the other end, Troy Timpano turned aside 15 shots. . . . Erie was 1-3 on the PP; Windsor was 1-4. . . . Erie F Alex DeBrincat, who scored 65 goals in the regular season, was helped from the ice late in the second period after taking a hit from Addison. However, DeBrincat was back for the third period. . . . Announced attendance: 6,136.

Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun has a game story right here.

——

The Calgary Hitmen moved Mike Moore from general manager and vice-president of business operations to vice-president and alternate governor last week. The announcement was made by Ken King, the president and CEO of Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation. . . . Taking Note was told Wednesday night that the Hitmen also jettisoned Dan Bonar and Roy Stasiuk, although those moves weren’t included in the announcement. . . . Bonar, 60, had been with the Hitmen since 2003, starting as a scout. He was named head scout on July 11, 2011, and took over as director of player personnel prior to the 2013-14 season. Bonar, from Deloraine, Man., played three seasons (1974-77) with the Brandon Wheat Kings before going on to a pro career that included 169 NHL games with the Los Angeles Kings. . . . Stasiuk, from Edmonton, was named Calgary’s Prairie scouting director on July 31, 2015. Before joining Calgary, he spent six seasons scouting for the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs. Prior to that, Stasiuk, 54, spent 20 seasons in the WHL, working with the Prince Albert Raiders, Red Deer Rebels, Edmonton Oil Kings, Kootenay Ice and Lethbridge Hurricanes.

——

F Ethan Bowen, whose WHL rights belong to the Kelowna Rockets, has committed to North Dakota, for 2020-21, while saying he will play for the BCHL’s Chilliwack Chiefs in 2018-19. Bowen, who turned 15 on May 14, is from Chilliwack. He played this season at the Yale Hockey Academy in Abbotsford, B.C., putting up 33 goals and 29 assists in 29 games with the bantam prep team. . . . Had there not been doubts about which route he would take, Bowen would have been an early first-round selection in the WHL’s 2017 bantam draft. The Rockets took him with their first pick, which happened to be in the second round. 

——

The NHL’s Arizona Coyotes have signed Craig Cunningham, 26, to a two-year contract as a pro scout. He also will work in player development. Cunningham, from Trail, B.C., played in the WHL with the Vancouver Giants and Portland Winterhawks (2006-11). He was the captain of the Tucson Roadrunners, the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate, when his playing career ended this season when he suffered a cardiac emergency prior to a game on Nov. 19. Doctors later had to amputate part of his left leg.

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———

Darryl Sydor is back in the NHL. The St. Louis Blues announced Wednesday that Sydor has been signed to a three-year contract as an assistant coach. Sydor, 45, will work alongside Blues head coach Mike Yeo. . . . Sydor, a co-owner of the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers, was an assistant coach with the Minnesota Wild for five seasons during Yeo’s time there as head coach. . . . This season, Sydor was an assistant coach with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. . . . Sydor, from Edmonton, played four seasons (1988-92) in Kamloops.

——

Arnie Caplan is the new general manager and head coach of the MJHL’s Waywayseecappo Wolverines. Caplan, 49, most recently was the head coach of the Portage College Voyageurs of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference. As a goaltender, he made brief stops in the MJHL and the WHL, before spending four years with the Acadia Axemen. . . . With the Wolverines, Caplan replaces Barry Butler, who had been the GM/head coach for all but two seasons since 1999-2000, when the franchise joined the MJHL.

——

Kirk MacDonald has been named director of hockey operations and head coach of the ECHL’s Reading Royals, who have a working agreement with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers. MacDonald signed a three-year contract. MacDonald took over as interim head coach on April 3, replacing Larry Courville, who was fired with a week left in the regular season. He had revealed in February that he wouldn’t be returning for another season. MacDonald, who is from Victoria, had been an assistant coach since July 2014. 

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Public service announcement: If you're "that guy" who thinks it's necessary to yell out random things during national anthems - please STOP!

— Loosepucks (@loosepucks) May 24, 2017

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Hay chasing milestone . . . Surgery for Cunningham . . . Pats have new COO

DON HAY
(Photo: mastimages.com)

Ken Hodge holds the WHL record for most regular-season victories by a head coach. For the longest time, that record — 742 — was thought to be unassailable.

However, it’s now evident that Don Hay, the head coach of the Kamloops Blazers, is going to take a run at that record.

Hay gets his first opportunity to post No. 700 tonight (Friday) when the Blazers (24-15-2) entertain the Kelowna Rockets. If it doesn’t happen then, it could happen Saturday in Kelowna. On Sunday, the Blazers are in Portland where they will meet the Winterhawks, the team that Hodge coached for the bulk of his 22-year WHL career. He also coached the original Edmonton Oil Kings, who moved to Portland over the summer of 1976.

Hay has also been the head coach of the Tri-City Americans and Vancouver Giants.

“I haven’t even really thought about it, but it’d be great if we could get that win against Kelowna, a big rival,” Hay told Marty Hastings of Kamloops This Week. “I broke into the league when Ken Hodge was the head coach in Portland. I have a lot of respect for what he did.

“To be mentioned in the same breath as Hodgey, I feel good about that and I hope he does, too.”

Hay already is the all-time leader in career playoff victories, with 106, five more than Hodge.

——

Here’s a look at WHL head coaches who have more than 500 regular-season victories to their credit:

1. Ken Hodge (Edmonton, Portland), 742

2. Don Hay (Kamloops, Tri-City, Vancouver) 699

3. Don Nachbaur (Seattle, Tri-City, Spokane) 681

4. Lorne Molleken (Moose Jaw, Saskatoon, Regina) 626

5. Ernie McLean (Estevan, New Westminster) 548

6. Pat Ginnell (Flin Flon, Victoria, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, New Westminster) 518

7. Mike Williamson (Portland, Calgary, Tri-City) 515

——

When last we heard from former WHLer Craig Cunningham, Christmas hadn’t yet arrived and he was expected to get out of a Tucson, Ariz., hospital in time for the big day. Well, that didn’t happen. In fact, doctors took off part of Cunningham’s left leg on Christmas Eve, but that hasn’t dampened his spirits. . . . As Cunningham told Craig Custance of ESPN: “Every time I think about how I can’t play anymore, I just think back to (the fact that) I’m lucky I’m not 10 feet under.” . . . Custance’s story is right here.

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Stacey Cattell, a former marketing and game day assistant with the Regina Pats, is returning to the WHL franchise, this time as chief operating officer. Cattell will join the Pats on Jan. 30 as he takes over from Marty Klyne, who is moving on to another organization. . . . Cattell has been with Rawlco Radio for the past 13 years, most recently as national, regional and CJME sales manager. He also spent seven seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, some of that time as director of corporate development. . . . He previously was with the Pats from 1984-87. . . . According to a Pats news release, Cattell “will be responsible for the day-to-day business operations. . . . He will oversee everything from ticket sales and sponsorship to advancing the game night experience for the Pats Regiment.”

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JUST NOTES:

The Prince Albert Raiders have signed F Justin Nachbaur, 16, to a WHL contract. From Cross Lake, Man., the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder was a seventh-round selection in the 2015 WHL bantam draft. This season, with the MJHL’s OCN Blizzard, he has eight goals and 10 assists in 35 games. . . .

The Brandon Wheat Kings have signed G Ethan Kruger, 15, to a WHL contract. He was a fifth-round pick in the 2016 bantam draft. From Sherwood Park, Alta., the 5-foot-11, 170-pound Kruger plays for the midget AAA Sherwood Park Kings. In 12 appearances, he has a 2.43 GAA and .914 save percentage.

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We picked up some stragglers! @grey_millar88, @Connorcmac8 & @kemp_2000 join the #OilKings heading to Lethbridge! Welcome guys!!😎 pic.twitter.com/Su0RUcJGTh

— Edmonton Oil Kings (@EdmOilKings) January 6, 2017

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THURSDAY’S GAMES:

No Games Scheduled.

——

FRIDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Kelowna at Kamloops, 7 p.m.

Spokane vs. Kootenay, at Cranbrook, B.C., 7 p.m.

Edmonton at Lethbridge, 7 p.m.

Saskatoon at Moose Jaw, 7 p.m.

Tri-City at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.

Victoria at Prince George, 7 p.m.

Vancouver at Red Deer, 7 p.m.

Calgary at Regina, 7 p.m.

Everett vs. Seattle, at Kent, Wash., 7:35 p.m.

Brandon at Swift Current, 7 p.m.

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Cunningham tells his story ... Ingram blanks Czechs ... MJHL losing a franchise

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM TAKING NOTE

I know . . . I know! There were a couple of Little Drummer Boy videos here yesterday. But this one right here — featuring Bing Crosby and David Bowie — is exceptional. Enjoy!

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F Denis Tolpeko (Seattle, Regina, 2003-06) has signed a contract for the rest of this season with Spartak Moscow (Russia, KHL). Tolpeko was released Tuesday by mutual agreement by Sochi (Russia, KHL). He had two goals and five assists in 31 games with Sochi. . . . 

D Alex Roach (Calgary, 2010-14) has signed a contract for the rest of this season with Eisbären Berlin (Germany, DEL). This season, he had two assists in 12 games with the Atlanta Gladiators (ECHL). . . .

F Brendan Shinnimin (Tri-City, 2007-12) has been released by mutual agreement by Langnau (Switzerland, NL A). He had two goals and seven assists in 12 games. . . .

D Brendan Mikkelson (Portland, Vancouver, 2003-07) has signed a two-year extension with Luleå (Sweden, SHL). This season, he has four goals and five assists in 27 games. He is an alternate captain and leads the team in ice time, averaging 22 minutes 53 seconds per game.

-———

Craig Cunningham, the captain of the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners, met with the media on Wednesday. Cunningham had a massive cardiac event prior to a home game on Nov. 19. The fact that he is where he is today is nothing  short of a medical miracle. . . . Craig Reck of Tucson News Now has more right here.

On Tuesday, A.E. Araiza of the Arizona Daily Star filed an all-encompassing piece that is right here.

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G Connor Ingram of the Kamloops Blazers stopped 21 shots on Wednesday as Canada’s national junior team beat Czech Republic, 5-0, in an exhibition game played in Ottawa. Both teams are prepping for the World Junior Championship that opens in Montreal and Toronto on Monday. . . . Canada is 2-0 in preparation games, having beaten Finland 5-0 two nights earlier. G Carter Hart of the Everett Silvertips turned aside 25 shots for the shutout in that one. . . . Last night, F Anthony Cirelli (Oshawa Generals) scored twice, with singles coming from F Tyson Jost (North Dakota), F Dylan Strome (Erie Otters) and F Julien Gauthier (Val-d’Or Foreurs). . . . Canada will complete its pre-tournament schedule on Friday when it meets Switzerland in Toronto.

In another Wednesday game, the U.S. beat Switzerland, 4-3. D Caleb Jones of the Portland Winterhawks wasn’t in Team USA’s lineup.

F Calvin Thurkauf of the Kelowna Rockets has been named captain of Switzerland’s national junior team that will play in the World Junior Championship. The Swiss begin play on Dec. 27 when they are scheduled to meet Czech Republic. 

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Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet filed his latest 30 Thoughts on Wednesday. This week, he opens with an interesting look at the NHL’s New Jersey Devils and analytics. It’s all right here.

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The MJHL is losing a franchise after this season. The OCN Blizzard, which is owned and operated by the Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN), are winding things down and will close the doors after the season. . . . A news release from OCN reads: ”The announcement comes after careful deliberations with Opaskwayak Cree Nation representatives from administration and finance, who presented recommendations to the Opaskwayak Cree Nation leadership. Based on the information presented, the decision was made to proceed with winding down on the operations of the OCN Blizzard.” . . . OCN, which is located near The Pas, Man., entered the MJHL for the 1996-97 season.

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DEC. 19-26:

No Games Scheduled.

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Nanaimo council calls for referendum on complex . . . Ducks mightier with Steel . . . Cunningham real miracle

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM TAKING NOTE

When it comes to music, I rarely (never!) disagree with my good wife, who plays piano by ear, and when it comes to one of my favourite Christmas songs — Little Drummer Boy — she says this version right here is among the best. It’s Jennifer Nettles and Idina Menzel with . . . Little Drummer Boy. 

And, as a bonus, right here is the late, great Johnny Cash with his version of . . . Little Drummer Boy.

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F Denis Tolpeko (Seattle, Regina, 2003-06) has been released by mutual agreement by Sochi (Russia, KHL). He had two goals and five assists in 31 games. . . .

F Fredrik Pettersson (Calgary, 2005-07) has been released by Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (Russia, KHL). He had five goals and seven assists in 24 games.

-———

The taxpayers of Nanaimo will be going to the polls, perhaps as early as February, after city council voted 8-1 late Monday night to hold a referendum on whether to go ahead with the construction of a sports and entertainment complex.

Having already spent almost $500,000 on Phases 1 and 2, city council now will spend the money

necessary to hold a referendum.

The complex, which will seat more than 6,400 for hockey, is expected to come in at around $86.6 million.

Tamara Cunningham of the Nanaimo News Bulletin reported that council also “agreed . . . to move ahead on next steps, which includes hiring advisors and an event centre management firm, and directing staff to prepare for an electoral approval process.”

According to Cunningham, “Council unanimously agreed to have staff prepare for an elector approval process for the centre, and decided 8-1 to move ahead with a series of steps on the centre, including negotiate with the Western Hockey League, continue public engagement and hire advisors, architect firm, project manager and professional events centre management firm.”

Of course, the only WHL franchise that is known to be available at this time is the Kootenay Ice. That franchise, owned by the Chynoweth family, plays out of Cranbrook, B.C., and has been for sale since 2012.

Should a referendum be held early enough in 2017 and should it pass, don’t be surprised if the Ice is sold and lands in Nanaimo in time for next season. The team would play in the 2,400-seat Frank Crane Arena, home to the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers, for at least two seasons.

Cunningham’s story is right here.

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The Anaheim Ducks have signed F Sam Steel of the Regina Pats to a three-year, entry-level NHL

SAM STEEL

contract. The Ducks selected Steel, who went into the Christmas break atop the WHL’s scoring derby, in the first round, 30th overall, of the NHL’s 2016 draft. . . . Earlier in December, Steel attended the Canadian national junior team’s selection camp in Boisbriand, Que. He didn’t make the team and his release was seen as quite a surprise by many observers. Steel, who is from Sherwood Park, Alta., returned to the Pats and recorded six points in two games to move to the top of the scoring table, with 54 points, one more than teammate Adam Brooks and forwards Chad Butcher and Mason Shaw of the Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . According to capfriendly.com, Steel’s contract calls for an NHL salary of US$925,000 each season, with annual signing bonuses of $92,500. Steel’s AHL salary would be $70,000 each season. The contract doesn’t include any performance bonuses.

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You may recall that the Boston Bruins signed F Jesse Gabrielle, 19, of the Prince George Cougars to a three-year, entry-level deal last week. The Bruins selected him in the fourth round of the 2015 NHL draft. . . . According to capfriendly.com, Gabrielle’s NHL salary would be US$742,500, $742,500 and $817,500, with a $92,500 signing bonus payable each season. Gabrielle’s contract also includes performance bonuses totalling $182,500, $182,500 and $107,500. . . . His AHL salary would be $70,000 in each of the three seasons. 

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F Craig Cunningham, the captain of the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners, is expected to be released from a Tucson hospital in time for Christmas. Cunningham has been in hospital since suffering a cardiac event and collapsing prior to a home game on Nov. 19. Cunningham played in the WHL with the Vancouver Giants and Portland Winterhawks. He is expected to address the media today in Tucson. . . . Bob McKenzie of TSN has spoken with Cunningham and his mother, Heather, and has more on this medical miracle right here.

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Canada will be the defending champion when the Spengler Cup begins play in Davos, Switzerland, on Monday. Canada, under general manager Sean Burke and head coach Luke Richardson, will open against Dinamo Minsk. The championship game will be played on Dec. 31. . . . Also in the tournament: Avtomobilist Yekaterinberg, HC Luongo and Mountfield HK. . . . There’s a Hockey Canada news release that includes a roster right here.

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@WolverinesJrA Gord Thibodeau with #AJHL Head Coaching win 824 tonight. Closing in on the all-time record set by Don Phelps (832). #GT833

— AJHL Commissioner (@AJHLcommish) December 21, 2016

———

DEC. 19-26:

No Games Scheduled.

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.

Hay: Cunningham 'special person' . . . Steinke checks on Tigers . . . Oil Kings end trip with win

Hockey Canada/EDM Oilers to formally announce Monday Ivan Hlinka Memorial (U-18) Tourney is coming to CAN every other year, starting 2018.

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) November 28, 2016

———

Don Hay’s face lights up and there’s a glint in his eyes when you ask him about his relationship with Craig Cunningham.

And then Hay’s face settles into something that reminds you of a father thinking of a son or a grandfather a grandson.

Cunningham played five seasons in the WHL, totalling 409 regular-season and playoff games, all but 56 of them with the Hay-coached Vancouver Giants.

Cunningham is in critical but stable condition in Banner University Medical Center in Tucson, Ariz.,

CRAIG CUNNINGHAM

although he has yet to regain consciousness after collapsing on the ice prior to an AHL game between the host Roadrunners and Manitoba Moose on Sept. 19.

Cunningham, 26, was the captain of the Roadrunners, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes. He had put up 13 points, including four goals, in 11 games.

The fact that he also captained the two other AHL teams on which he has played — the Springfield Falcons and Providence Bruins — tells you a lot about Cunningham’s character. Yes, he also captained Hay’s Giants.

“I had him since he was 15 at training camp,” Hay said. From Trail, B.C., Cunningham was a seventh-round pick by the Giants in the WHL’s 2005 bantam draft. Of course, he wasn’t eligible to play full-time in the WHL in 2005-06 and, according to Hay, wasn’t expected to play with the Giants the following season.

“At 16,” Hay said, “he wasn’t in our plans.”

Before training camp started, prior to the 2006-07 season, the Giants had three other 16-year-olds ahead of Cunningham — forwards Lance Bouma, Wacey Hamilton and James Wright. However, Hamilton, who is from Cochrane, Alta., wanted to play closer to home and subsequently was traded to the Medicine Hat Tigers.

“Craig was the next guy on the list,” Hay said. “He didn’t score as a 16-year-old (Cunningham managed five assists in 48 games), but he did everything right and he was such a coachable guy.

“At 19, he was one of our top scorers. At 20, he was our captain.”

In his 19-year-old season, Cunningham finished with 97 points, 37 of them goals, and was the Western

Don Hay (left) coached the Vancouver Giants while
Craig Cunningham played there.
(Photo: Vancouver Giants)

Conference’s nominee as the WHL’s player of the year.

Hay calls those 16-year-olds “a special bunch.”

The Giants won 45 regular-season games in 2006-07, with that special bunch. They lost the WHL championship in seven games to the Medicine Hat Tigers, but went on to win the Memorial Cup as the host team.

Over the following three seasons, Vancouver won 49, 57 and 41 regular-season games. Although another title eluded them, they played in 43 playoff games through those three seasons.

“When we were able to win,” Hay said, “all they knew was winning and they knew how hard they had to work to win.”

On Dec. 28, 2010, the Giants dealt the 20-year-old Cunningham to the Portland Winterhawks for forwards Spencer Bennett and Teal Burns, a 2011 first-round draft pick and a second-rounder in 2012. (The Giants used that first-rounder on F Thomas Foster; they took F Jesse Roach with the 2012 pick.)

In the spring of 2011, the Winterhawks lost in the WHL’s championship final. It was the first of their four straight appearances in the final.

“It’s why Portland wanted (Cunningham),” Hay said. “He taught guys like (Nic) Petan how to win.”

Hay has kept in touch with Cunningham, talking to him “over the summers.”

The veteran coach said he was “shocked” when he heard that Cunningham had collapsed and been taken to hospital.

“It’s different when you have feeling for someone,” Hay said. “I know his life and how hard he has had to work to get to where he is.

“He is just a special person.”

Thoughts and prayers are going out to ex teammate Craig Cunningham and his family tonight.

— Nic Petan (@petan19) November 20, 2016

——

The Kelowna Rockets dressed only 16 skaters, including 10 forwards, on Saturday night when they beat the visiting Regina Pats, 3-2 in overtime. The Rockets scratched two injured players — F Riley Stadel,

who is out with an undisclosed injury, and D Gordie Ballhorn, who is believed to have injured a hand in a fight with F Jack Walker of the Victoria Royals earlier this month. Also scratched were F Jake Kryski, F Jack Cowell and F Conner Bruggen-Cate.

I am told that Kelowna head coach Jason Smith was asked after Saturday’s game if the players who weren’t dressed all were injured and he chose not to comment, other than to say it was a hockey decision.

Kryski, 18, now has missed three straight games — he last played on Nov. 18 in a 5-3 victory over the visiting Vancouver Giants — but wasn’t listed as being injured on the WHL’s Nov. 22 roster report. He sat out a doubleheader in Victoria as the Rockets beat the Royals 5-1 on Nov. 20 and then lost 6-2 on Nov. 22.

Kryski had 14 points, including five goals, in 20 games. In his last eight games, he had two goals and five assists.

Kryski was selected 13th overall by the Prince Albert Raiders in the WHL’s 2013 bantam draft. He was traded to the Kamloops Blazers and they moved him to the Rockets 

The Rockets acquired him from the Kamloops Blazers on Aug. 18, giving up D Joe Gatenby, D Danny Gatenby — yes, they are brothers — and a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2019 bantam draft.

When I inquired Sunday night about Kryski’s status, a Rockets official replied with: “No comment.”

Kelowna next is scheduled to play Wednesday when it is to visit the Tri-City Americans in Kennewick, Wash.

——

While many observers were watching the Everett Silvertips, Prince George Cougars and Regina Pats dance around at the top of the WHL standings, the Medicine Hat Tigers skated past them all. . . . Yes, the Tigers are atop the 22-team WHL’s overall standings, which is what can happen when a team goes on a nine-game winning streak. . . . The Tigers ran that streak to nine with an 8-2 victory over the host Saskatoon Blades on Saturday night. . . . Darren Steinke has more on the Tigers and their success right here.

——

Meanwhile, the Prince George Cougars are in their third season under new ownership and, yes, things are going pretty well. Ted Clarke of the Prince George Citizen talks with Greg Pocock, the franchise’s president, about what has gone right. And, as Clarke points out, you can’t discount the drafting done by former general manager Dallas Thompson. That’s all right here.

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If you’ve got a comment, some information you would like to pass along, or if you just want to say hello, feel free to contact me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

If you would like to donate to the cause, please visit the bottom of this post and go right ahead.

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#Stats - Categories that @SCBroncos Tyler Steenbergen leads the WHL in:
Goals (20, *tied)
Power Play Goals (11)
GWG (5, *tied)
OT Goals (3)

— WHL Facts (@WHLFacts) November 27, 2016

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SUNDAY’S GAMES:

#OilKings Josh Dechaine celebrates his first WHL win in style😎🙌 pic.twitter.com/N6M4pJnpQ6

— Edmonton Oil Kings (@EdmOilKings) November 28, 2016

At Cranbrook, B.C., F Lane Bauer broke a 2-2 tie at 15:47 of the second period and the Edmonton Oil Kings went on to post a 5-3 victory over the Kootenay Ice. . . . Both teams had played Saturday night and

LANE BAUER

this game started at 4 p.m. The Oil Kings were coming off a 6-5 victory over the Chiefs in Spokane, while the Ice lost 4-3 to the visiting Swift Current Broncos. . . . Edmonton (12-13-2) has won two in a row to finish off a stretch of seven road games in seven days. The Oil Kings won four of those games. . . . The Ice (5-16-6) has lost three straight. . . . Kootenay F Zak Zborosky became the WHL’s third 20-goal man when he scored on a PP at 6:30 of the first period. . . . Edmonton took the lead on goals from F Colton Kehler (7) at 8:11 and F Kobe Mohr (5) at 10:15. . . . Kootenay D Cale Fleury (6) tied it at 13:53 of the second period. . . . Bauer then scored two straight PP goals, giving him 16. He broke the tie at 15:47 of the second and added insurance at 8:01 of the third period. . . . Oil Kings F Tyler Robertson (9), who had two assists, added insurance with another PP goal at 11:12. . . . Ice D Fedor Rudakov (3) closed out the scoring at 18:48. . . . Edmonton D Aaron Irving had two assists, while Mohr added one to his goal. . . . Zborosky also had an assist for the Ice. Zborosky, F Michael Rasmussen of the Tri-City Americans and F Tyler Steenbergen of the Swift Current Broncos are tied for the WHL goal-scoring lead, each with 20 scores. . . . Edmonton G Josh Dechaine stopped 36 shots to earn his first victory in his first WHL start. An 18-year-old from St. Albert, Alta., he had been with the SJHL’s La Ronge Ice Wolves  until joining the Oil Kings a couple of weeks ago after G Liam Hughes went down with an undisclosed injury. . . . The Ice got 34 saves from G Payton Lee. . . . The Oil Kings were 3-8 on the PP; the Ice was 1-5. . . . Ice D Troy Murray left with a checking-from-behind major and game misconduct for a hit on Edmonton F Artyom Baltruk at 11:46 of the third period. . . . Announced attendance: 1,499, the smallest crowd in Cranbrook this season.

——

At Portland, freshman F Brad Ginnell, who has some WHL in his blood, broke a 3-3 tie at 13:54 of the third period and the Winterhawks went on to a 6-3 victory over the Prince George Cougars. . . . This was

BRAD GINNELL

an afternoon game, with a 2 o’clock faceoff. The Cougars had played Saturday night, losing 3-0 to the host Everett Silvertips, while the Winterhawks enjoyed a night off. . . . Portland (13-12-1) now has points in six straight (5-0-1). . . . The Cougars (18-6-2) have lost two in a row. . . . The late Pat (Patty) Ginnell, the legendary coach, was Brad’s grandfather. Brad’s father, Erin, scouts for the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights and played in the WHL with the New Westminster Bruins, Calgary Wranglers, Seattle Thunderbirds, Regina Pats and Swift Current Broncos (1985-87). . . . Brad was a fifth-round pick by Portland in the 2015 bantam draft. . . . Ginnell’s second goal of the season was his first game-winner. . . . Portland F Joachim Blichfeld (9) opened the scoring at 8:21 of the first period, only to have Prince George D Brendan Guhle (4) tie it on a PP at 13:35. . . . The Winterhawks then took a 3-1 lead as D Henri Jokiharju (2) scored at 6:09 of the second period and F Cody Glass got his 13th, on a PP, at 12:15. . . . F Colby McAuley (11) followed with two goals, at 15:50 of the second and 11:54 of the third. . . . After Ginnell snapped the tie, F Brendan De Jong (5) added insurance at 14:40 and D Keoni Texeira (7) got the empty-netter, at 18:27. . . . Portland got two assists from F Jake Gricius, while Jokiharju added an assist to his goal. . . . F Aaron Boyd had two assists for the Cougars. . . . The Winterhawks got 39 saves from G Cole Kehler, while Nick McBride turned aside 27 for the Cougars. . . . The Winterhawks were 1-3 on the PP; the Cougars were 1-5. . . . D Sam Ruopp of the Cougars, who is their captain, served the final game of an eight-game suspension. . . . Announced attendance: 3,164.

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MONDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

No Games Scheduled.

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TUESDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Prince Albert at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.

Prince George at Vancouver, 7 p.m.

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WHL Guide? Where is it? ... Ice in brutal stretch of schedule ... Pats finalist for 2018 Memorial Cup

Scattershooting on a Monday evening while watching an NFL game from Mexico City and wondering why there isn’t a franchise there . . .

The WHL’s regular season is almost one-third of the way to done and yet the 2016-17 Guide isn’t ready for download. As if it isn’t enough that the league no longer offers a printed guide for sale, now it seems that it can’t even deliver an on-line version in good time.

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I spoke with one WHL GM recently who suggests soft attendance at mid-week games indicates that at least some thought should be given to (a) shortening the 72-game regular season and (b) adding one weekend to its end. It’s hard to disagree with that argument. A 64- or 66-game regular season would allow more practice time, too.

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If you don’t think it’s time to do something about the WHL schedule, consider that the Kootenay Ice is about to embark on a stretch of four games in five nights FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT WEEK! . . . The Ice played at home Nov. 15, in Lethbridge on Nov. 16, and back at home on Nov 18 and 19. . . . This week, it’s at home on Wednesday, in Red Deer on Friday and back home on Friday and Saturday. . . . It says here that the teenagers in this league deserve better than that. . . . Also, do you think playing six home games — that’s 17 per cent of a team’s home schedule — in a stretch of 12 days might be a bit much?

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If you’re waiting for a WHL franchise to land in Nanaimo, don’t hold your breath. Were a private investor to build a facility there, a team would appear in the Vancouver Island city in a hurry. But there isn’t any such person/group on the horizon.

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Spoke with a WHL coach recently and he bemoaned the amount of checking from behind that goes on in an average game. In fact, he admitted that he fears there will be tragic consequences if things don’t change.

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Remember when the Green Bay Packers were a force to be reckoned with in the NFL? What happened?

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Spoke with a pharmacist the other night who told me only about 30 per cent of people get flu shots. As someone whose wife lives with a suppressed immune system after having a kidney transplant, I am asking you to get a flu shot, if you haven’t already.

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Isn’t it time for hockey to take the cross-check to the back out of the game? It really is amazing how the cross-check continually is allowed to weasel its way back into hockey as a legitimate defensive play. Yes, it’s back in the WHL and it’s back in the NHL.

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11 - Last 4 seasons, Average @PGCougars Home Attendance through Game #11:
2013-14 (1,624)
2014-15 (2,833)
2015-16 (2,701)
2016-17 (3,600)

— WHL Facts (@WHLFacts) November 22, 2016

It may be hard to wrap your head around the Prince George Cougars as a legitimate Memorial Cup threat — likely because of the struggles the franchise has experienced in recent seasons — but the acquisition of D Brendan Guhle on Friday puts them squarely in the conversation. With the Cougars, Guhle won’t have to be the star attraction; he won’t have to feel that he’s got the entire team on his shoulders, like he did with the Prince Albert Raiders. If the Cougars can maintain their discipline the way they did in a recent 7-0 blitzing of the host Kamloops Blazers, well, look out.

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The Postmedia scalpel has taken a chunk out of the newsroom at my old paper, the Regina Leader-Post. Eight friends have taken buyouts and that includes Ian Hamilton, who worked for me during my run as the sports editor there. Hamilton is the best reporter/writer/copy editor with whom I have worked. It hurts to see the newspaper industry cast aside so many great journalists and you really have to wonder about Postmedia’s end game, if it even has one. . . . The other day, a friend brought me a copy of the Winnipeg Free Press from Saturday, Nov. 12. As I devoured it, I realized that there are some people out there who continue to operate a real newspaper.

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F Zach Hamill (Everett, 2004-08) has signed for the rest of this season with Björklöven Umeå (Sweden, Allsvenskan). Last season, with Fribourg-Gottéron (Switzerland, NL A), he had five goals and two assists in nine games. He also had a goal and three assists in eight games with Ambrì-Piotta (same), and four goals and seven assists in 24 games with the Iserlohn Roosters (Germany, DEL). . . .

F Brandon McMillan (Kelowna, 2006-10) has been released by Medveščak Zagreb (Croatia, KHL), which allows him to sign for the rest of this season with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (Russia, KHL). This season, he had nine goals and six assists in 31 games with Medveščak. . . . The McMillan transaction was a trade, with Medveščak receiving “monetary compensation” from Torpedo in exchange for McMillan.

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The Regina Pats are one step closer to playing host to the 2018 Memorial Cup tournament. On Monday, the CHL revealed that the Pats and two OHL teams — the Hamilton Bulldogs and Oshawa Generals — have been shortlisted as potential host teams. . . . The tournament, which is scheduled for May 17-27, 2018, features four teams — a host team and the champions from the WHL, OHL and QMJHL. . . . The 2018 event will celebrate 100 years of the Memorial Cup. The Pats will celebrate their 100th anniversary season in 2017-18. . . . The host team is to be named sometime in February, with formal bid presentations to be made at some point before then. . . . The 2017 tournament is scheduled for Windsor with the OHL’s Spitfires as the host team. . . . The tournament normally is passed among the leagues on a rotated basis. That was changed for 2018 because of it being the 100th anniversary of the trophy and all 60 CHL teams were allowed to bid on it. . . . Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post has more right here on the story, including an update on the Pats’ lease with the Regina Exhibition Associated Ltd., which expired on May 31.

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The Kootenay Ice has acquired F Jake Elmer, who will turn 18 on Dec. 31, from the Regina Pats for a ninth-round selection in the 2017 bantam draft. The Calgarian was a sixth-round pick in the 2013 bantam draft. . . . Last season, he was pointless in 17 games with the Pats, and had a goal and three assists in 20 games with the AJHL’s Grande Prairie Storm. This season, with the Storm, he had 12 points, including nine goals, in 20 games. . . . The Ice is carrying 23 players, including seven defencemen and 14 forwards.

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The AJHL’s board of governors has voted to move to one division from two for the 2018-19 season. With that, all teams will play a fully interlocking schedule, with each of the 16 teams playing each opponent four times — two at home and two away. . . . Interestingly, the AJHL also is going away from its system of signing prospective players to White Cards; instead, it will use a system involving Letters of Intent. . . . There is more on the AJHL meeting right here.

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The AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners have postponed Tuesday and Wednesday home games as F Craig Cunningham, their captain, continues to fight for his life in a Tucson hospital. Cunningham, who played for the WHL’s Vancouver Giants and Portland Winterhawks, collapsed prior to a game against the visiting Manitoba Moose on Saturday night. That game also was postponed. . . . TSN’s Bob McKenzie has more on the Cunningham story right here. . . . As of Monday afternoon, Cunningham was listed in critical but stable condition.

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If you’ve got a comment, some information you would like to pass along, or if you just want to say hello, feel free to contact me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

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MONDAY’S GAMES:

No Games Scheduled.

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TUESDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Red Deer at Calgary, 7 p.m.

Medicine Hat at Moose Jaw, 7 p.m.

Regina at Prince George, 7 p.m.

Edmonton vs. Seattle, at Kent, Wash., 7:05 p.m.

Saskatoon at Swift Current, 7 p.m.

Kelowna at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.

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.