Showing posts with label Dan Price. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dan Price. Show all posts

Monday, June 12, 2017

Price is right in Victoria ... Bodger on full-time with Royals ... Blazers sign first-round pick


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 G Riku Helenius (Seattle, 2007-08) has been released by Jokerit Helsinki (Finland, KHL). He had one year left on his contract. Last season, in 20 games, he was 2.66 and.902. . . .
F Michal Řepík (Vancouver, 2005-08) signed a one-year contract with Fribourg-Gottéron (Switzerland, NL A). Last season, with Traktor Chelyabinsk (Russia, KHL), he was pointless in two games, and he had seven goals and nine assists in 22 games with Sparta Prague (Czech Republic, Extraliga).
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The Victoria Royals introduced Dan Price as their new head coach on Monday.
Price, 42, takes over from Dave Lowry, who left after five seasons as head coach to join the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings as an assistant coach.
The Royals also announced that Doug Bodger, a former NHL and WHL defenceman (Kamloops, 1982-84), has been hired a a full-time assistant coach. Bodger was a part-time assistant last season.
Price joined the Royals as an assistant coach on Sept. 1. From St. Albert, Sask., he had spent the
Dan Price, the new head coach of the Victoria Royals.
previous two seasons with the U of Toronto Varsity Blues, first as the assistant coach and then as assistant coach/manager of athletic recruitment.
In Victoria, Price replaced Enio Sacilotto, who moved from assistant coach of director of prospect development and WHL scout.
Before joining the Royals, Price had previous WHL experience as he had spent two seasons (2012-14) as an assistant coach with the Tri-City Americans and and three with the Chilliwack Bruins (2006-09). The Bruins, of course, morphed into the Royals over the summer of 2011. Price also scouted for the Regina Pats (2003-06).
Last season, Price spent three games as the Royals’ head coach, going 0-2-1 as Lowry sat out after being diagnosed with the mumps.
As a player, Price, a goaltender, spent three seasons at the U of Regina (1995-98). He moved on to the U of Saskatchewan, where he graduated in 2001 with a law degree.
The Royals’ announcement leaves the Calgary Hitmen as the only one of the WHL’s 22 teams without a head coach.
The Everett Silvertips have hired Dennis Williams to replace Kevin Constantine; the Kootenay Ice brought in James Patrick in place of Luke Pierce; the Spokane Chiefs signed Dan Lambert to take over from Don Nachbaur; and, of course, the Royals now have Price in place.
The Hitmen are looking for a replacement for Mark French, who has signed with a pro team in Switzerland after three seasons in Calgary. 
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The Victoria Royals also announced on Monday that Ryan Guenter has been promoted to head scout. He had been the senior regional scout for Alberta.
From Lethbridge, he has been part of Victoria’s organization since 2009-10.
Guenter is presently writing his thesis as he works to a masters in sport psychology with a focus on talent identification at the U of Alberta. He already has a bachelor of arts, psychology degree and business management, human resources degree from the U of Lethbridge.
The Royals also announced that they have extended their two senior regional scouts — Garry Pochipinski (East) and Ed Fowler (West).
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The Kamloops Blazers have signed F Josh Pillar, their first-round selection in the WHL’s 2017 bantam draft. Pillar, from Warman, Sask., was taken with the 14th overall pick. Pillar played last season with the bantam AA Sask Valley Vipers, putting up 18 goals and 36 assists in 25 games. In 2017-18, he is expected to play for the midget AAA Prince Albert Mintos. Pillar spent last weekend in Kamloops at the Blazers’ prospects camp. . . . The Blazers haven’t yet signed F Massimo Rizzo, their first-round pick, also 14th overall, in the 2016 bantam draft. Management hopes to meet with Rizzo and his family later this month. Rizzo finished this season with the BCHL’s Penticton Vees.
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Keith McCambridge, a former WHL defenceman, is the new head coach of the Hartford Wolf Pack, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers. He replaces Ken Gernander, who was fired in May after 10 seasons as head coach. . . . McCambridge, 43, joined the Wolf Pack as an assistant coach on Aug. 3, 2016. He had spent the previous five seasons (2011-16) as the head coach of the Winnipeg Jets’ AHL affiliate, first the St. John’s IceCaps and then the Manitoba Moose. . . . From Thompson, Man., McCambridge played four seasons in the WHL (1991-95), three plus with the Swift Current Broncos and the last 21 games with the Kamloops Blazers. He helped the Blazers win the 1995 Memorial Cup.
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F Alex Mowbray, who played out his junior eligibility last season with the Spokane Chiefs, will attend York U and play for the Lions next season. From Calgary, Mowbray played three seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers and one with the Chiefs. In 212 regular-season games, he had 49 points, including 26 goals.
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I’m also on Twitter (@gdrinnan).
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Friday, March 10, 2017

Royals await mumps test results . . . Rockets, Tigers romp . . . T-Birds back on top in U.S.



Like a monster in a horror movie, just when you thought the mumps had left the WHL, the illness may have raised its ugly head again.
The Brandon Wheat Kings, Medicine Hat Tigers and Swiift Current Broncos have dealt with mumps
outbreaks in the recent past. But with no new cases in the past week or two it was hoped that the worst was over.
However, the Victoria Royals, in Kamloops for a Wednesday/Friday doubleheader with the Blazers, isolated head coach Dave Lowry and one play before the second game after they showed symptoms of mumps.
Cam Hope, the Royals’ general manager, told Taking Note that no one was yet sure if it is the mumps, “but always better to be safe than sorry until test results (come) back.”
Hope added that the Royals had “isolated a player and coach as per protocol.”
Prior to Friday’s game in Kamloops, arena security posted warnings throughout the arena, asking fans to stay away from players. This is the same protocol that was followed last month.
With Lowry gone, assistant coach Dan Price controlled the bench with help from Hope, who ran the defence.
Price said prior to the game that he couldn’t remember the last time he had flown solo behind a bench, so was grateful to have Hope there.
Doug Bodger, the Royals’ other assistant coach, wasn’t in Kamloops with the team, but is expected to get to Kelowna in time for a Saturday game with the Rockets.
The Royals, playing their third game in four nights, lost 6-2 to the Blazers last night. Victoria will play its fourth game in five nights today in Kelowna.
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If you’re a hockey fan, this piece right here may be the best thing you will read in 2017. Eric Duhatschek of The Globe and Mail explores how coaching in the NHL got from there to here, and it’s fantastic.
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The owners of the Elmira Jackals have informed the ECHL that they won’t return for another season. The ECHL’s board of governors already has approved the request for a voluntary suspension of operations. The Jackals have been in operation for 17 years. . . . This follows on the heels of an announcement by the Anchorage-based Alaska Aces that they won’t be back for another season. . . . At the moment, the ECHL includes 27 teams -- one in Canada and 26 scattered across the U.S. It once was known as the East Coast Hockey League but now simply is the ECHL.
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If you have some information you would like to share or just a general comment, feel free to email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.
If interested, you also are able to follow me on Twitter at @gdrinnan.
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Coaching

 Mike Reagan will be back for an 11th season with the SJHL’s Flin Flon Bombers. It will be his 11th season as the team’s head coach. For the past five seasons, he also has been the general manager. The Bombers will make their 10th playoff appearance under Reagan this season. He was working under a one-year contract that was agreed to in May. A Toronto native, Reagan will turn 38 on March 18. He played two seasons (1998-2000) with the Bombers before spending four seasons at Sacred Heart University. . . . Reagan has a 316-206-48 regular-season record with the Bombers, who reached the championship final last season. This season, they finished 39-14-5 and atop the Sherwood Division.
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After 15 seasons, Walt Kyle is out as head coach of the Northern Michigan U Wildcats, who play out of Marquette. The school made the announcement early Friday.
Later in the day, the Marquette Country Sheriff’s Office arrested Kyle. He was charged with one count each of residential mortgage fraud and forgery of documents. He was released on bond. According to Sam Ali of ABC 10 Sports in Marquette, “The case alleges that Kyle committed forgery and fraud with River Valley Bank while obtaining a mortgage in 2014.”
George Hyde, Kyle’s attorney, released this statement on Friday night:
"These charges against my client, Mr. Walt Kyle, are extremely unfortunate and a prime example of misunderstanding and misrepresentation of the facts.
"The facts are the following: while married to his former wife, his former wife granted him a general power of attorney on her behalf, which authorized him to sign her name on her behalf on any financial documents. While still married, Mr. Kyle and his then wife, Ann Kyle, jointly decided to refinance an existing bank loan in order to complete certain home repairs. Mr. Kyle did nothing more than sign his wife's name to the loan documents, with his wife's full knowledge and consent. The home repairs were completed while Mr. Kyle and Ann Kyle were still married.
"During subsequent divorce proceedings, Ann Kyle sought to avoid responsibility for the loans by falsely claiming no knowledge of them. That didn't work, and the judge in the divorce correctly determined that the loan was a joint debt. This loan was paid in full during the divorce proceedings.
"Undeterred, Ann Kyle has since convinced a local sheriff deputy to seek charges against Mr. Kyle, despite the existence of the valid power of attorney that Ann Kyle had granted her husband.
"The bottom line is this: Mr. Walt Kyle did nothing wrong and broke no laws whatsoever. These charges are the unfortunate result of his former wife's campaign to disparage him, which is ironic given her criminal behavior during their divorce proceedings that until now Mr. Kyle has been reluctant to report to the authorities."
Kyle was 265-263-68 as the Wildcats’ head coach, including 13-22-4 this season. Their season ended with a three-game loss to Bemidji State in the WCHA quarterfinals. . . . Kyle spent nine seasons (1981-92) as an assistant coach at NMU. . . . He played his junior and senior seasons with the Wildcats, captaining the team both seasons. . . . Kyle spent two seasons in the WHL (1992-94) as head coach of the Seattle Thunderbirds.
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If the WHL playoffs began today . . . 
Eastern Conference
Regina vs. Saskatoon
Medicine Hat vs. Brandon
Moose Jaw vs. Swift Current
Lethbridge vs. Red Deer
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Western Conference
Seattle vs. Portland
Prince George vs. Victoria
Kelowna vs. Kamloops
Everett vs. Tri-City
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FRIDAY’S GAMES:


At Calgary, the Hitmen erased 2-0 and 3-2 deficits en route to a 4-3 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. . . . They meet again tonight in Lethbridge. . . . F Jakob Stukel pulled Lethbridge into a 3-3 tie
JAYDAN GORDON
with his 22nd goal at 19:58 of the second period. . . . Calgary D Jaydan Gordon won it with his second goal of the season, at 5:10 of the third period. . . . Gordon has three goals in 167 regular-season games over three seasons, the first two with the Swift Current Broncos. . . . The Hurricanes had taken an early 2-0 lead on first-period goals from F Giorgio Estephan (31), at 2:14, and F Tanner Nagel (9), at 3:58. . . . The Hitmen moved into a 2-2 tie on second-period PP goals from F Matteo Gennaro (41), at 2:55, and F Beck Malenstyn, at 6:02. . . . Estephan put the visitors back in front, on a PP, at 18:59. . . . D Jake Bean, F Mark Kastelic and D Vladislav Yeryomenko had two assists each for Calgary. . . . F Tyler Wong drew two assists for Lethbridge. . . . Calgary got 21 saves from G Cody Porter. . . . G Stuart Skinner stopped 18 shots for the Hurricanes. . . . Calgsry was 2-4 on the PP; Lethbridge was 1-2. . . . F Matt Alfaro and F Zak Zborosky, who were acquired from the Kootenay Ice in January, were among Lethbridge’s scratches for a second straight game. . . . The Hitmen (26-31-10) closed to within a point of the Saskatoon Blades, who hold down the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot. . . . The Hurricanes (43-18-7) had won their previous seven games. The now trail the Central Division-leading Medicine Hat Tigers by four points. . . . Announced attendance: 6,328.
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At Kamloops, the Blazers scored a 6-2 victory over Victoria, completing a Wednesday/Friday doubleheader sweep of the Royals. . . . Kamloops had won 5-2 two nights earlier. . . . The Blazers scored
RUDOLFS BALCERS
the game’s first four goals to lead 4-0 late in the second period. . . . F Garrett Pilon got it started with his 20th goal, at 15:10 of the first period. . . . F Nic Holowko (6) followed at 19:07. . . . F Erik Miller (5) made it 3-0 at 4:01 of the second period and F Rudolfs Balcers (38) upped it to 4-0 at 16:26. . . . The Royals got to within two on goals from F Matt Phillips (48), on a PP, at 19:35 of the second period, and F Blake Bargar (5), 27 seconds into the third. . . . The Blazers put it away on third-period goals by F Nick Chyzowski (16) and F Quinn Benjafield (15), on a PP. . . . Kamloops got two assists from D Luke Zazula and one each from Holowko, Chyzowski, Balcers and Benjafield. . . . Kamloops G Connor Ingram blocked 29 shots. . . . Victoria starter Griffen Outhouse surrendered six goals on 38 shots in 52:38. Dylan Myskiw finished up, stopping two shots in 7:22. . . . Kamloops was 2-7 on the PP; Victoria was 1-6. . . . These two teams don’t like each other. In this one, they combined for 100 penalty minutes, 54 to Kamloops. . . . F Jared Dmytriw of the Royals and F Deven Sideroff and D Ondrej Vala of the Blazers didn’t play after they came out of Wednesday’s affair with one-game suspensions. . . . Due to injuries, illness and a suspension, the Royals dressed only 16 skaters for their third game in four nights. . . . The Blazers (40-23-6) have won two in a row. They are third in the B.C. Division, three points behind the Kelowna Rockets and seven ahead of Victoria, which has four games remaining. . . . The Royals (37-26-5) have lost three in a row. . . . Announced attendance: 3,851.
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At Kelowna, the Rockets scored the game’s first eight goals en route to an 8-1 victory over the Vancouver
DILLON DUBE
Giants. . . . The home team started with first-period goals from F Carsen Twarynski (17), on a PP, at 9:55, and F Dillon Dube, at 12:23. . . . Dube added his second of the game and 17th of the season, on a PP, at 7:20 of the second period for a 3-0 edge. . . . The Rockets also got goals from D James Hilsendager (5), D Cal Foote (6), F Leif Mattson (8), F Reid Gardiner (15) and D Devante Stephens (12). . . . The Rockets got three assists from F Calvin Thurkauf. F Nick Merkley and F Erik Gardiner had two assists each, with Hilsendager, Gwarynski, Dube and Foote adding one apiece. . . . Reid Gardiner ran his point streak to 14 games. He has nine goals and 11 assists during that stretch. . . . Vancouver’s goal came from F James Malm (18), on a PP, at 9:06 of the third period. . . . Kelowna G Brodan Salmond stopped 20 shots, 19 fewer than Vancouver’s David Tendeck. . . . Kelowna was 2-4 on the PP; Vancouver was 1-4. . . . The Rockets (42-21-5) have won six in a row; they are 15-2-1 since Feb. 1. They are second in the B.C. Division, two points behind Prince George. . . . The Giants (19-42-6) have lost seven straight (0-6-1). . . . Announced attendance: 5,006.
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At Cranbrook, B.C., F Brandon Hagel scored twice to help the Red Deer Rebels to a 4-1 victory over the
BRANDON HAGEL
Kootenay Ice. . . . The teams will meet again tonight, this time in Red Deer. . . . F Vince Loschiavo gave the Ice a 1-0 lead with his 27th goal, on a PP, at 9:00 of the first period. . . . Red Deer tied it on F Evan Polei’s 30th goal, at 3:32 of the second, and took the lead when Hagel sniped at 12:56. . . . F Michael Spacek (28) added insurance at 15:48 of the second, and Hagel got his 24th, on a PP, at 17:21. . . . Spacek and D Jared Freadrich had two assists each for the winners. . . . Red Deer G Lasse Petersen stopped 32 shots, two more than the Ice’s Payton Lee. . . . Kootenay was 1-2 on the PP; Red Deer was 1-4. . . . The Rebels (27-28-12) have points in four straight (2-0-2). They are third in the Central Division, four points ahead of the Calgary Hitmen. . . . The Ice (14-42-11) has lost five in a row (0-4-1). . . . The Ice has two home games remaining — the Edmonton Oil Kings are to visit on March 14, with the Hitmen there on March 17. Will those be the last two home games in the history of Cranbrook’s WHL franchise? . . . If voters in Nanaimo go YES in a referendum being held today that would lead to a new arena being built, it’s expected the Ice will be sold and relocated. . . . Announced attendance: 1,868.
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At Medicine Hat, F Matt Bradley and F Zach Fisher each scored three times as the Tigers rolled over the Edmonton Oil Kings, 9-3. . . . The Tigers are to visit Edmonton tonight. . . . Fischer and Bradley, each of whom has 33 goals, accounted for five of Medicine Hat’s first six goals. . . . Fischer opened the scoring at 8:13 of the first period, with Edmonton F Colton Kehler (16) tying it, on a PP, at 9:34. . . . Bradley scored twice before the period ended for a 3-1 lead. . . .Fischer got his second goal at 3:49 of the second period, with Bradley completing his hat trick at 4:36. . . . The Tigers completed an eight-goal outburst on goals from D David Quenneville (22), F Tyler Preziuso (5), F Chad Butcher (26) and Fischer, who filled his hat at 1:36 of the third period. . . . D Brayden Gorda (4) and F Kobe Mohr (6) added late Edmonton goals. . . . F Steve Owre and F Mason Shaw each had three assists for Medicine Hat, with D Brad Forrest, Quenneville and Butcher getting two apiece. . . . G Nick Schneider earned the victory with 18 saves. . . . Edmonton starter Josh Dechaine allowed seven goals on 30 shots in 32:15. Patrick Dea finished up with 19 saves on 21 shots in 27:45. . . . Edmonton was 1-4 on the PP; Medicine Hat was 0-5. . . . Gorda left at 18:30 of the third period with a checking-from-behind major and game misconduct for a hit on Medicine Hat F Ryan Chyzowski. Chyzowski was down for a bit but left under his own power. . . . The Tigers (48-19-1) have won two in a row. They are five points behind the Regina Pats, who lead the overall standings. . . . The Oil Kings (20-41-6) have lost 10 straight (0-8-2). . . . Announced attendance: 3,465.
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At Prince Albert, F Cole Fonstad snapped a 1-1 tie at 17:18 of the third period as the Raiders posted a 3-
ZACK HAYES
1 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings. . . . Fonstad has 10 goals. . . . Raiders F Parker Kelly had a chance to break a 1-1 tie when he was awarded a penalty shot at 15:34 of the third period. However, Brandon G Travis Child turned aside a backhand attempt. . . . D Zack Hayes’ second goal of the season put the home team ahead 1-0 at 12:10 of the first period. . . . F Tanner Kaspick (18) pulled Brandon even at 18:22 of the second period. . . . F Curtis Miske (19) iced it with an empty-netter at 19:29 of the third period. . . . F Cavin Leth had two assists for the Raiders. . . . G Ian Scott earned the victory with 29 saves, one fewer than Child. . . . Prince Albert was 0-3 on the PP; Brandon was 0-2. . . . With the return of Kaspick from the injured list, the Wheat Kings had all players on deck for the first time this season. . . . The Raiders improved to 19-42-7. . . . Brandon (29-28-10) lost for the 10th straight time on the road. It is in possession of the Eastern Conference’s first wild-card spot. . . . The Raiders will play in Brandon tonight. . . . Announced attendance: 2,168.
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At Regina, F Sam Steel, who leads the WHL in points, had two goals and two assists to lead the Pats to a 5-0 victory over the Moose Jaw Warriors. . . . The Pats clinched first place in the East Division with the
TYLER BROWN
victory as they set a franchise record for points (102) in one season. The previous record (100) was established in 1980-81. . . . The rematch goes tonight in Moose Jaw, with the Pats holding a 4-3-0 edge in the season series. . . . Regina G Tyler Brown turned aside 26 shots to earn his fifth shutout of the season. He has seven in his career. . . . F Adam Brooks gave Regina a 1-0 lead, on a PP, at 11:44 of the first period. . . . D Josh Mahura got No. 16 at 2:19 of the second and F Nick Henry scored his 33rd at 3:27. . . . Steel scored Regina’s last two goals, at 12:50 of the second, on a PP, and at 12:41 of the third. . . . Steel leads the WHL with 123 points, including 48 goals. . . . Brooks, who also had an assist, is second, with 114 points, including 37 goals. . . . D Connor Hobbs recorded two assists. . . . The Warriors got 38 saves from G Zach Sawchenko. . . . Regina was 2-5 on the PP; Moose Jaw was 0-6. . . . Regina (47-12-8) has won three in a row. It continues to lead the overall standings, by five points over the Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . The Warriors (41-18-9) had a nine-game winning streak end. They will finish second in the East Division and meet the third-place Swift Current Broncos in the first round of the playoffs. . . . Announced attendance: 6,484.
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At Saskatoon, the Swift Current Broncos erased a 2-0 deficit with four straight goals and went on to beat
ALEKSI HEPONIEMI
the Blades, 5-3. . . . The rematch goes tonight in Swift Current. . . . The home team took a 2-0 lead on a pair of goals by F Braylon Shmyr, who has 34, at 11:43 and 13:23 of the first period. The second one came via the PP. . . . The Broncos tied it with the only goals of the second period, F Aleksi Heponiemi (27) scoring at 12:37 and F Tyler Steenbergen counting, on a PP, at 17:27. . . . The Broncos took the lead when F Conner Chaulk (8) scored at 2:06 of the third period. . . . Steenbergen followed with his 49th, at 7:47. . . . Saskatoon got back to within a goal when D Evan Fiala (4) scored at 9:48, but the Broncos put it away on F Lane Pederson’s 23rd goal, on a PP, at 14:21. . . . Heponiemi added two assists, with Pederson getting one. . . . Fiala and Shmyr had one each for the Blades. . . . The Broncos got 33 saves from G Taz Burman. . . . G Brock Hamm turned aside 23 shots in his 100th appearance with the Blades. . . . Swift Current was 2-4 on the PP; Saskatoon was 1-4. . . . The Broncos (36-21-10) will finish third in the East Division and meet Moose Jaw in the opening round. . . . The Blades (27-32-9) had points in each of their previous four games (3-0-1). They hold down the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot, one point up on the Calgary Hitmen. . . . Announced attendance: 4,285.
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At Kent, Wash., D Ethan Bear broke a 2-2 tie at 7:45 of the third period as the Seattle Thunderbirds beat
ETHAN BEAR
the Everett Silvertips, 3-2. . . . The victory lifted Seattle (43-19-6) back atop the Western Conference and the U.S. Division, one point ahead of Everett (40-15-11). . . . Seattle has won two in a row. . . . Everett had points in its previous three games (2-0-1). . . . F Mathew Barzal of the Thunderbirds took part in the pregame warmup, but took ill and left for the dressing room before the anthem. He didn’t return. . . . Everett F Sean Richards (7) gave his side a 1-0 lead at 1:38 of the second period. . . . Seattle D Turner Ottenbreit (7) tied it just 48 seconds later. . . . F Alexander True’s 22nd goal, shorthanded, at 4:18 gave the home team a 2-1 lead. . . . Everett tied it at 19:11 when F Connor Dewar got his 13th goal. . . . Seattle got two assists from F Sami Moilanen, but F Keegan Kolesar had a 15-game point streak end. . . . G Rylan Toth stopped 16 shots for Seattle, including a second-period penalty shot by Richards. . . . Everett got 19 saves from G Carter Hart. . . . Seattle was 0-2 on the PP; Everett was 0-3. . . . D Aaron Irving was among Seattle’s scratches. . . . A mid-game tweet from Andy Eide of 710 ESPN Seattle: “Have confirmed with T-Birds that Wyatt Bear has left the team and gone home.” . . . Announced attendance: 5,204.
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At Spokane, F Cody Glass scored two goals as the Portland Winterhawks skated to a 4-2 victory over the
CODY GLASS
Chiefs. . . . Glass, with 31 goals, opened the scoring at 4:38 of the first period. . . . Spokane F Kailer Yamamoto tied it with No. 38, at 4:44 of the second period. . . . The Winterhawks went back out front when D Caleb Jones (8) scored at 11:34 of the third period. . . . Glass got his second of the night, on a PP, at 14:04. . . . The Chiefs got to within a goal when F Taylor Ross scored his sixth goal, shorthanded, at 16:33. . . . Portland iced it when F Skyler McKenzie put his 39th goal into an empty net at 19:30. . . . McKenzie also had an assist, while F Keegan Iverson had two of them. . . . Glass, a certain first-round selection in the NHL’s 2017 draft, has 91 points in 65 games. Last season, as a freshman, he finished with 27 points, 10 of them goals, in 65 games. . . . G Cole Kehler stopped 23 shots for Portland. . . . Spokane got 45 stops from G Jayden Sittler. . . . Portland was 1-6 on the PP; Spokane was 0-2. . . . The Winterhawks (37-26-4) have won five in a row. They hold down the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot, one point behind Victoria. The Winterhawks also are fourth in the U.S. Division, one point behind the Tri-City Americans. . . . The Chiefs (26-31-10) have lost five in a row (0-4-1). . . . Announced attendance: 5,759.
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At Kennewick, Wash., FJesse Gabrielle scored twice to help the Prince George Cougars to a 6-1 victory
JESSE GABRIELLE
over the Tri-City Americans. . . . Gabrielle got the Cougars started, on a PP, at 4:06 of the first period. . . . The Americans tied it at 6:28 when F Kyle Olson scored his 19th goal. . . . Prince George F Jared Bethune (21) broke the tie at 6:39, with Gabrielle adding insurance with his 33rd goal, on another PP, at 2:01 of the second period. . . . The Cougars added second-period goals from D Sam Ruopp (4) and F Radovan Bondra (32), before F Jansen Harkins added his 21st, on a PP, in the third period. . . . Bondra also had one assist. . . . G Ty Edmonds earned the victory with 29 stops. . . . Tri-City starter Rylan Parenteau gave up four goals on 23 shots in 26:32. Evan Sarthou finished up with 23 stops on 25 shots in 33:28. . . . The Cougars were 3-3 on the PP; Tri-City was 0-1. . . . The Americans remain without F Vladislav Lukin, while F Michael Rasmussen (wrist) may not play again this season. . . . The Cougars are still without F Brad Morrison (ankle). . . . Prince George (43-21-5) leads the B.C. Division by two points over the Kelowna Rockets. . . . The Americans (38-26-3) have lost three in a row. They remain third in the U.S. Division, but now are just two points ahead of the Portland Winterhawks. . . . Announced attendance: 4,035.
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SATURDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Prince Albert at Brandon, 7:30 p.m.
Medicine Hat at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Vancouver at Kamloops, 5 p.m.
Victoria at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
Calgary at Lethbridge, 7 p.m.
Regina at Moose Jaw, 7 p.m.
Seattle at Portland, 6 p.m.
Kootenay at Red Deer, 7 p.m.
Prince George at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
Saskatoon at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
Everett vs. Tri-City, at Kennewick, Wash., 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.
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Posted by Gregg Drinnan at 11:35 PM
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Thursday, July 3, 2014

Laxdal leaves Oil Kings . . . Price is right at U of T








The KHL has announced that Lev Prague (Czech Republic) will go on “administrative leave” for the 2014-2015 season for financial reasons. Two major sponsors, Gazprom and Skoda, have withdrawn their financial sponsorship, reducing Lev Prague’s revenue by 50 per cent. Lev remains a member of the KHL and may rejoin the league in 2015. Ex-WHL players on Lev last season included F Michal Řepík (Vancouver, 2005-08) and F Jakub Klepiš (Portland, 2001-02), who signed with Färjestad Karlstad (Sweden, SHL) last week. . . .
D David Turon (Portland, 2002-03) has signed a one-year contract with Havířov (Czech Republic, 1. Liga). He grew up and played as a youth in Havířov. Last season, with Meran/Merano (Italy, Inter-National-League), he had 22 points, including 12 goals, in 25 games. In 16 games from January on with Fassa (Italy, Serie A), he had nine points, two of the goals, in 16 games. . . .
F Kris Foucault (Swift Current, Kootenay, Calgary, 2006-11) has signed a one-year contract with the Vienna Capitals (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). Last season, he had 22 points, 11 of them goals, in 58 games with the Iowa Wild (AHL). . . .
F Kris Beech (Calgary, 1996-2001) has signed a one-year contract with Innsbruck (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). Last season, with the Straubing Tigers (Germany, DEL), he had 24 points, eight of them goals, in 36 games. In two games in March with the Vienna Capitals (Austria, Erste Bank Liga), he had a goal and three assists.
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There will be yet another coaching change in the WHL with the news on Thursday that Edmonton Oil Kings head coach Derek Laxdal has signed a three-year deal with the Texas Stars, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars.
AHLLaxdal leaves the Memorial Cup-champion Oil Kings for the team that won the Calder Cup as the AHL’s playoff champions. Willie Desjardins, the AHL team’s head coach, now is the head coach of the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks.
Laxdal, 48, spent four seasons with the Oil Kings, with the team winning at least 50 games in each of the last three. The Oil Kings also appeared in the last three WHL championship finals, winning two of them.
With Laxdal behind the bench, the Oil Kings put together a 182-83-23 regular-season record.
Prior to joining the Oil Kings, Laxdal spent five seasons as head coach of the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads, who were affiliated with Dallas. Under Laxdal, the Steelheads won the Kelly Cup as ECHL champions in 2007.
From Stonewall, Man., Laxdal also played in the WHL (Portland, Brandon, New Westminster, 1982-86) and was a member of the Memorial Cup-champion Winterhawks in 1983.
It will be a shock if the Oil Kings don’t fill the head-coaching vacancy from within by promoting highly touted assistant coach Steve Hamilton, who is presently on vacation. Chances are he’ll be introduced as head coach next week.
Meanwhile, the Moose Jaw Warriors, Portland Winterhawks, Regina Pats and Vancouver Giants continue to search for head coaches, while the Calgary Hitmen, Kamloops Blazers, Kelowna Rockets, Saskatoon Blades and Tri-City Americans have already made changes at that position.
Interestingly, only the Rockets have promoted from within as five-year assistant coach Dan Lambert has taken over from Ryan Huska, who now is the head coach of the Adirondack Flames, the Glens Falls, N.Y.,-based AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Calgary Flames.
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Hockey Canada will have to replace Derek Laxdal as head coach of the U-18 team that is to play in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament in August.
Laxdal was named head coach on June 12, with Jody Hull, the head coach of the OHL’s Peterborough Petes, and Eric Veilleux, the head coach of the QMJHL’s Baie-Comeau Drakkar, as assistant coaches.
The U-18 team’s selection camp is scheduled for Calgary, Aug. 2-5, with the tournament to run Aug. 11-16 in Breclav, Czech Republic, and Piestany, Slovakia.
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1. So what are we to make of all these WHL coaches who have move on up hockey’s ladder? . . . “That tells you how good this league is,” former Moose Jaw Warriors head coach Mike Stothers told Matthew Gourlie of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald. “It’s outstanding. I don’t want to blanket it and say it’s the best in all of junior hockey, but I don’t know how it can’t be. Every team has a great coach and that just bodes well for the league and the future of it.” . . . After three years with the Warriors, Stothers is leaving to become head coach of the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs.

2. The Swift Current Broncos are expected to introduce Josh Dixon as associate coach this morning. . . . “Although Dixon offered a polite ‘no comment’ when contacted via text message on Thursday,” Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post reported, “multiple WHL sources confirmed that Dixon is set to be named the new associate coach of the Broncos, replacing Darren Evjen, who recently stepped down for family reasons.” . . . Evjen is going back to teaching school, although he will remain involved with the team to some extent. . . . Dixon spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach with the Regina Pats but resigned last month when he and the team’s new owners weren’t able to reach agreement on a new contract.

3. Malcolm Cameron, who was fired as head coach of the Regina Pats last week, has told the Regina Leader-Post’s Greg Harder that he is “very, very interested” in the opening in Moose Jaw. In fact, Cameron already has submitted his resume. . . . Cameron spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Pats, before taking over a year ago after the resignation of Pat Conacher. In Cameron’s lone season as head coach, the Pats finished atop the East Division and then were swept from the playoffs by the Brandon Wheat Kings in the first round.

4. Jim Brosnan was a decent relief pitcher who turned out to be a much better writer. He wrote The Longest Season, one of the best baseball books in anyone’s library. In fact, it’s one of the best books. Period. . . . Brosnan died Saturday at 84. . . . There’s more right here from The New York Times.

5. Ira Berkow of The New York Times writes:
“Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner whose remarkable story of survival as a prisoner of war in World War II gained new attention in 2010 with the publication of a best-selling biography by Laura Hillenbrand, died on Wednesday in Los Angeles. He was 97.
“A statement released by his family said he had been suffering from pneumonia.”
If you haven’t read Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, do yourself a favour and give it a read.
Berkow’s obituary of Zamperini is right here.

6. D Nick Walters, 20, of the Lethbridge Hurricanes has signed an amateur tryout (ATO) with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets. A fourth-round pick by the St. Louis Blukes in the 2012 NHL draft, Walters wasn’t signed, so was a free agent. He also has played with the Everett Silvertips and Brandon Wheat Kings.

7. Veteran WHL coach Dan Price has signed on as a full-time assistant coach with the CIS U of Toronto Varsity Blues. Price, a former goaltender with the U of Regina Cougars (1995-98), will work alongside Darren Lowe, who is preparing for his 20th season as the Blues’ head coach. . . . Price graduade from law school at the U of Saskatchewan in 2001. . . . Last season, he was an assistant coach with the Tri-City Americans. He also has worked as a scout or assistant/associate coach with the Regina Pats, Calgary Hitmen and Chilliwack Bruins.
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Posted by Gregg Drinnan at 11:39 PM
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Thursday, July 19, 2012

THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Jiri Ryzuk (Kootenay, 2007-09) signed a one-year contract with Weiden (Germany, Oberliga). He had one goal and five assists in 37 games with Selb (Germany, Oberliga) last season. . . .
G Justin Pogge (Prince George, Calgary, 2003-06) signed a one-year contract with Ritten/Renon (Italy, Serie A). He had a 3.07 GAA and a .890 save percentage in 37 games with the Portland Pirates (AHL) last season.
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And then there was one . . .
The Brandon Wheat Kings named Dwayne Gylywoychuk as their newest head coach on Wednesday, leaving the Victoria Royals as the only WHL team presently without a head coach.
However, there was ample speculation yesterday that the Royals, who have a news conference scheduled for today, will name Cory Clouston as their head coach.
Gylywoychuk, a former Wheat Kings defenceman and long-time assistant coach, replaces Clouston, who was let go with a year left on his contract after last season.
There also has been speculation that Rich Preston, the general manager and head coach of the Lethbridge Hurricanes, still may end up as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Kings. I had heard that rumour a while ago, but put it to bed last week when the Hurricanes announced they had picked up the 2013-14 option on Preston’s contract. However, Preston does have a relationship with Kings head coach Darryl Sutter, who is looking for an assistant coach.
Meanwhile, in Brandon, Gylywoychuk, a 39-year-old Winnipeg native, has been an assistant coach with the Wheat Kings since 2003. As an assistant coach in Brandon, he has worked under head coaches Dean Clark, Mike Kelly, Kelly McCrimmon and Clouston.
McCrimmon is the franchise’s owner, governor and general manager, and many observers had expected him to end up back behind the bench.
Gylywoychuk played five seasons with the Wheat Kings and holds the franchise record for most games played (323).
Assistant coach Darren Ritchie will be back for a sixth season with the Wheat Kings.
Gylywoychuk also is serving as an assistant coach with Team West, the squad that will represent Manitoba and Saskatchewan at the U-17 World Hockey Challenge after Christmas.
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Elliotte Friedman of Hockey Night in Canada has written his final 30 Thoughts – it’s actually 44 thoughts – for the 2011-12 season and they’re right here.
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The Tri-City Americans have added Dan Price to their coaching staff, while announcing that assistant coach Brent Bilodeau has resigned. . . . Price, a former goaltender, worked under Americans head coach Jim Hiller with the Chilliwack Bruins (hey, remember them?). . . . Bilodeau, a former WHL defenceman who enjoyed a lengthy pro career, has been named a coaching advisor for the Tri-Cities Amateur Hockey Association.
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F Andy Blanke has decided not to return to the Swift Current Broncos for his 20-year-old season. Instead, he will attend the U of Saskatchewan and play for the Huskies. Blanke, who is from Swift Current, had 11 points and a team-high 168 penalty minutes in 71 games with the Broncos last season. He played three seasons with them, missing only 10 games over that time. He finished with 28 points, including nine goals, and 312 penalty minutes.
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Posted by Gregg Drinnan at 1:26 AM
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Tuesday, November 1, 2011

It would seem the Kelowna Rockets can forget about F Zemgus Girgensons, a 17-year-old Latvian whom they selected in the 2011 CHL import draft.
He played last season with the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints, is there again this season, and doesn’t sound as though he is the least bit interested in playing in the WHL.
“You know, first of all I don’t see my future in the CHL,” Girgensons told Ryan Clark of the Fargo, N.D., Forum on the weekend. “I talked with other CHL teams that were interested in me. I thought about the Q (the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League) and the Quebec Remparts, but (Kelowna) drafted me and didn’t say anything to me about it. After that, I felt they disrespected me a little bit. They pushed it a little bit onto my adviser and I don’t think he really liked it.”
For more on this story, check out Clark’s blog Slightly Chilled over there on the right.
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The Prince Albert Raiders assigned F T.J. Constant, 18, to the MJHL’s OCN Blizzard. He had a goal and five penalty minutes in 15 games with the Raiders. . . . The Raiders, who made a coaching change on Friday, also have added Dave Manson, who was part of the 1985 Memorial Cup-championship team, to their coaching staff. Manson, who played for the Raiders (1983-86) before going on to a terrific NHL career, lives in Prince Albert where he operates a business. Manson was an assistant coach with the Raiders from 2002-09. . . . He will work alongside head coach Steve Young, who was promoted Friday when Bruno Campese, who remains as general manager, stepped aside. . . . Craig Bedard also is on staff as an assistant coach.
Drew Wilson has more right here on the guy they call Charlie.
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The Minnesota Wild has returned F Brett Bulmer to the Kelowna Rockets. Bulmer had three assists and six penalty minutes in nine games with the NHL team. Bulmer was a healthy scratch for Saturday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings. That would have been his 10th game, meaning the first year of his three-year contract would have kicked in.
Bulmer’s return leaves three WHLers — F Nino Niederreiter and F Ryan Johansen of the Portland Winterhawks and F Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Red Deer Rebels — in the NHL.
Niederreiter, 19, has yet to play with the New York Islanders because of a groin injury, although he is back skating.
Johansen, 19, is with the Columbus Blue Jackets; in fact, he has played nine games with them, scoring two goals, both game-winners, and drawing two assists. The word out of Columbus on Monday was that there may be an announcement today regarding Johansen’s immediate future.
The Edmonton Oilers said late last week that they will be keeping Nugent-Hopkins, 18, while F Brett Connolly, 19, has stuck with the Tampa Bay Lightning and won't be returning to the Prince George Cougars, at least not for a while.
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THE COACHING GAME: The AJHL’s Drumheller Dragons have fired general manager and head coach Dan Price. The Dragons go into this week at 5-14-2, good for seventh place in the eight-team South Division. . . . On Monday, the Dragons announced that Barry Wolff is the new GM and head coach. Wolff most recently was associate head coach and assistant GM with the BCHL’s Langley Chiefs.
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JUST NOTES: F Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants has drawn a two-game suspension for a penalty he incurred on Friday in Prince George. What was a checking-to-the-head major was turned into a boarding major before he was suspended. He has one game left to serve. . . . F Blake Gal of the Spokane Chiefs will watch for three games after he took a boarding major in a game against the host Tri-City Americans on Saturday. . . . As well, F Austin Carroll of the Victoria Royals got a two-game suspension under supplemental discipline for something he did against the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds on Friday. . . . F Cody Beach of the Moose Jaw Warriors is the WHL’s player of the week. He had eight points, four of them goals, in three games last week. . . . Tyler Bunz of the Medicine Hat Tigers is the WHL’s goaltender of the week. He was 2-0-0, 1.00, .966 last week. . . . Vancouver, with F Matt Bellerive, F Scott Cooke, F Anthony Ast and D Blake Orban all out with undisclosed injuries, has brought in F Logan Harland, 16, from the AJHL’s Bonnyville Pontiacs. He had two points in six games with the Pontiacs.
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If you are a fan of hockey movies, there is some good news — nay, great news _ for you. The movie Face-Off is being released on DVD on Nov. 15.
Dave Shoalts of The Globe and Mail has more right here.
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If you are into rankings, Neate Sager of Yahoo! Sports posts weekly CHL rankings that have some bite to them and make for a good read. Check out this week’s Buzzing The Net rankings right here. If you’re a fan of the Spokane Chiefs, you will love them.
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Take a few minutes out of your day and watch this video. It involves a Vancouver sportscaster who won quite a prize in a lottery draw. The draw was made on a set at the TV station where he works. But he wasn’t there at the time. No, Barry Deley was shopping for groceries when he got the call from a fellow sportscaster. Enjoy!
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Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province has a question, via Twitter:
“With the upper body/lower body injury thing, shouldn't it be a checking to the upper body penalty, rather than a checking to the head?”
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And now for today’s good read . . . we bring you a piece by Jim Diamond at examiner.com. It has to do with former WHL referee Mike Hasenfratz, who will work a Thursday night game between the host Nashville Predators and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Hasenfratz, who really is one of the good guys, hasn’t been working for a while and Diamond has his story right here.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
     
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Posted by Gregg Drinnan at 2:06 AM
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