Merry Christmas from Taking Note . . . Broncos Memorial Monument almost ready; Dec. 30 unveiling

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM TAKING NOTE

We have arrived at the big day. To get you prepped for the fun day ahead, right here is Darlene Love with . . . Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home).

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F Fredrik Pettersson (Calgary, 2005-07) has signed a contract for the rest of this season with Dinamo Minsk (Belarus, KHL). He was released by Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (Russia, KHL) on Dec. 20. In 24 games, he had five goals and seven assists. . . .

F T.J. Galiardi (Calgary, 2007-08) has been traded by Medveščak Zagreb (Croatia, KHL) to Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk (Russia, KHL) for “monetary compensation.” Galiardi had signed with Medveščak Zagreb on Nov. 23. In eight games, he had four goals and three assists.

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The site of the Broncos Memorial Monument, just as work
was about to begin earlier this year.

It will be a day to remember in Swift Current on Dec. 30 as people there unveil a monument in memory of the four players killed in the crash of the Broncos’ bus on Dec. 30, 1986. The accident claimed the lives of Chris Mantyka, Trent Kresse, Scott Kruger and Brent Ruff.

The monument is located just east of Swift Current, where the accident occurred. It actually was put into place this week but will remain covered until Dec. 30.

The unveiling, which will involve family of the four players, along with Broncos’ alumni, this season’s team and various VIPs, will be open to the public. It is being held in conjunction with the team’s Hall of Fame Game that is scheduled for later that evening.

There is more about the monument’s unveiling, including the day’s itinerary, on a Facebook site that is right here.

There also is a gofundme page right here.

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The Vancouver Giants are about halfway through their first season in the Langley Events Centre, having moved there from the Pacific Coliseum. So . . . how are things going? What does majority owner Ron Toigo see in the franchise’s future? . . . Steve Ewen of Postmedia has a far-reaching conversation with Toigo right here.

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Dec. 19 through Monday:

No Games Scheduled.

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TUESDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Kamloops at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.

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

Calgary at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.

Saskatoon at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
Edmonton at Red Deer, 7 p.m.

Brandon at Regina, 7 p.m.

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

Moose Jaw at Swift Current, 7 p.m.

Portland vs. Tri-City, at Kennewick, Wash., 7:05 p.m.

Everett vs. Vancouver, at Langley, B.C., 7 p.m.

Prince George at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.

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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.

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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

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DEC. 19-26:

No Games Scheduled.

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Two players leave WHL for school . . . Irving ties franchise record . . . Pats win once again

The note Leonard Cohen sent his old girlfriend Marianne Ihlen (subject of his songs) when she was dying this summer. https://t.co/o1J89ks9Gj pic.twitter.com/ZTnufo2hMG

— Robert Loerzel (@robertloerzel) November 11, 2016

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F Michal Řepík (Vancouver, 2005-08) has signed a contract for the rest of this season with Sparta Prague (Czech Republic, Extraliga). This season, he was pointless in two games with Trakto Chelyabinsk (Russia, KHL). He was released by mutual agreement on Oct. 10. Řepík injured a shoulder with Chelyabinsk and now has mononucleosis. Sparta hopes he will be ready to play in January. . . . 

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

F Gaelan Patterson (Saskatoon, 2006-10) has signed a contract for the rest of this season with Chamonix-Morzine (France, Ligue Magnus). Last season, he had 10 goals and 14 assists in 45 games with Sparta Sarpsborg (Norway, GET-Ligaen).

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The Brandon Wheat Kings have acquired F Zach Russell, 17, from the Victoria Royals for a sixth-round selection in the 2017 WHL bantam draft. . . . Russell, who signed with the Royals in August 2015, is from Calgary. The 6-foot-0, 180-pounder is playing for the AJHL’s Calgary Canucks and has six goals and five assists in 19 games. . . . Last season, he had 19 goals and 21 assists in 31 games with the midget AAA Calgary Flames. . . .  Grant Armstrong, Brandon’s general managerr, joined the Wheat Kings in August after working as the Royals’ assistant GM, player personnel.

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I can remember a number of years ago when someone — if memory serves, it was Gerry James when he owned an SJHL franchise — was heard to say that as an owner the best season a junior A team could have would be to lose Game 7 of the league final on home ice. That, he felt, was the perfect season because once your team started playing outside its own league the expenses mounted in a hurry. . . . I don’t know if that was the case here, but: Last season, the BCHL’s West Kelowna Warriors won the national championship and owner Mark Cheyne says the franchise lost $300,000. . . . "Oh yeah, it blows people away,” Cheyne told Evan Cooke of AM1150, a Kelowna radio station. “And then when you start throwing the numbers around, they're just like, ‘Are you kidding?’ People don't understand how much it costs to run that thing. They can physically see what you drag in for revenue on any given night, but they just don't understand the budget side of it.” . . . BTW, Cheyne says the Warriors have been for sale “for a year now.” . . . Cooke’s story is right here.

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Rudy Poeschek, a former WHL and NHL enforcer, is back in court. As Tim Petruk of Kamloops This Week writes, Poeschek has been charged with breach of probation, “accused of missing meetings with his probation officer in July and August.” . . . Last year, Poeschek was sentenced to 45 days in jail “after pleading guilty to a string of criminal charges.” . . . Poeschek, 49, says he is having issues with his memory, that he forgot about the meetings with his probation officer and almost forgot about Thursday’s court date. . . . Petruk’s latest story on Poeschek is right here.

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Evan Vossen is the new general manager and head coach of the SJHL’s La Ronge Ice Wolves. He takes over from Shawn Martin, who was fired on Oct. 24. . . . This season, the Ice Wolves were 2-12-1 under Martin, who was in his fourth season as head coach. They go into weekend play at 3-15-3. . . . Vossen, 30, is a native of Swift Current. He played three seasons (2004-07) playing for the Ice Wolves. He then went on to spend five seasons at McGill U in Montreal, playing for the Redmen. He was the team captain in 2011-12, his last season, and scored the overtime goal as the Redmen beat the Western Mustangs 4-3 in the Canadian university championship final. That gave McGill its first hockey title in its 135-year history.

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JUST NOTES:

According to a Thursday afternoon tweet from the Vancouver Giants, D Tyler Brown, who was listed as ‘retired’ on this week’s roster report, “has chosen to return to the U.S. to attend school.” . . . 

@czaikowski5 going to miss seeing you everyday, good luck brother! #footloose #juju ❤️

— Cody Glass (@Cody12Glass) November 10, 2016

D Carter Czaikowski, 18, has left the Portland Winterhawks. He tweeted on Thursday afternoon that he has “decided to start a new chapter in my life by attending university.” . . . Czaikowski, from Calgary, was a sixth-round selection by Portland in the 2013 bantam draft. He had four assists in 37 games with the Winterhawks last season, and had a goal and four assists in 17 games this season. . . . 

F Grant Mismash, a fifth-round selection by the Red Deer Rebels in the 2014 WHL bantam draft, has committed to the U of North Dakota for 2018-19. From Edina, Minn., Mismash, 17, is playing for the U.S. national U-18 team. . . . 

F Brannon McManus, a fourth-round pick by the Portland Winterhawks in the 2014 WHL bantam draft, has committed to attend the U of Minnesota next season and play for the Gophers. From Newport Beach, Calif., he is in his second season with the USHL’s Omaha Lancers.

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We have made an addition to our helmets in the memory of the late Marek Svatos. pic.twitter.com/W3ULIWOMFm

— Kootenay ICE (@WHLKootenayICE) November 10, 2016

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THURSDAY’S GAMES:

#WHL SAS/EDM:  @EdmOilKings Aaron Irving posts first 2-goal game in 224 games; ties Corbett and Reinhart for most team goals by D-man (30).

— Geoffrey Brandow (@GeoffreyBrandow) November 11, 2016

At Edmonton, D Aaron Irving scored two goals, including the empty-netter, as the Oil Kings doubled the

AARON IRVING

Saskatoon Blades, 4-2. . . . Irving has six goals this season and 30 in his career. He now shares the franchise’s career record for goals by a defenceman with Cody Corbett and Griffin Reinhart. . . . The Oil Kings got a 2-0 lead on goals from D Anatolii Elizarov, his first, at 19:05 of the first period, and Irving, 24 seconds into the second. . . . The Blades tied it when F Logan Christensen scored his fifth, at 9:40 of the second, and F Mason McCarty added his 12th, at 13:10. . . . F Trey Fix-Wolansky broke the tie at 11:28 of the third period. . . . Irving got the empty-netter at 19:53. . . . G Patrick Dea turned aside 34 shots for the victory, while Saskatoon’s Logan Flodell stopped 35. . . . Edmonton was 0-2 on the PP; Saskatoon was 0-1. . . . The Oil Kings (7-9-2) have won two in a row. . . . The Blades slipped to 8-10-1. . . . F Kirby Dach, the second overall pick in the 2016 bantam draft, made his WHL debut with the Blades. He is playing with the midget AAA Fort Saskatchewan Rangers this season. . . . The Oil Kings had G Boston Bilous dressed in support of Dea and in place of freshman Liam Hughes. Bilous, from Langley, B.C., was a fourth-round pick in the 2016 WHL bantam draft. He is playing for the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds of the B.C. Major Midget League. . . . Announced attendance: 8,429.

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At Moose Jaw, F Sam Steel scored on a PP just 19 seconds into OT to give the Regina Pats a 5-4 victory over the Warriors. . . . Steel’s goal, his 15th of the season, was Regina’s fourth PP score of the game. . . .

SAM STEEL

The Warriors, who were outshot 51-27, forced OT on F Nikita Popugaev’s second goal of the game, and 13th of the season, at 16:31 of the third period. . . . F Filip Ahl, who has 14 goals, scored three times for Regina. He opened the scoring on a PP at 6:07 of the first period. . . . The Warriors then took a 2-1 lead on PP goals from Popugaev, at 14:20, and F Tristan Langan, his first, at 16:05. . . . Ahl scored the only two goals of the second period, getting a PP score at 10:49 and then putting the Pats out front at 19:59. . . . Moose Jaw tied it on F Noah Gregor’s seventh goal, at 11:32 of the third, only to have F Dawson Leedahl put Regina out front again, with his seventh goal, at 14:46. . . . Steel, the WHL’s leading scorer, also had an assist, while D Connor Hobbs had two helpers. . . . The Pats got two assists from F Adam Brooks, who is on a 10-game point streak. He has at least a point in every game he has played with Regina this season. . . . Regina D Chase Harrison had one assist to run his point streak to 11 games, the longest in the WHL this season. He has two goals and 13 assists over that stretch. . . . Moose Jaw F Luka Burzan had two assists, with Gregor adding one to his goal. . . . The Pats got 23 saves from G Tyler Brown, with G Zach Sawchenko blocking 46 for the home team. . . . Regina was 4-7 on the PP; Moose Jaw was 2-4. . . . The Pats (13-0-3) have won nine in a row and remain the only one of the CHL’s 60 teams not to have lost in regulation time. Regina also has points in 16 straight games; the last time a WHL team accomplished that was in 2014-15 when the Brandon Wheat Kings and Kelowna Rockets both did it. . . . (A tip of the cap to Geoffrey Brandow, who tweets at @GeoffreyBrandow, for those last stats). . . . The Warriors (11-4-3) have lost two in a row (0-1-1). . . . The Warriors were without three top-end forwards — Brett Howden (hip), Jayden Halbgewachs (suspended) and Brayden Burke, who was acquired from the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Tuesday — and had five 16-year-olds in the lineup. . . . Announced attendance: 4,442, the Warriors’ first sellout of the season.

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At Langley, B.C., the Vancouver Giants scored the game’s last three goals and beat the Prince George

JAMES MALM

Cougars, 4-2. . . . F James Malm gave Vancouver a 1-0 lead at 14:26 of the first period. . . . The Cougars moved out front on goals from F Brad Morrison, his eighth, at 17:53, and D Cole Moberg, his first, at 6:16 of the second period. . . . Malm’s second of the game, and fifth of the season, tied the score at 19:01. . . . Vancouver F Dawson Holt broke the tie at 6:44 of the third period, with his fourth goal, and F Radovan Bondra, who also had an assist, provided insurance with his 12th at 8:46. . . . G Ryan Kubic stopped 35 shots for the Giants, with the Cougars’ Nick McBride blocking 37. . . . Each team was 0-2 on the PP. . . . The Giants (9-11-0) have won two in a row; the Cougars, who had won eight of nine on the road, are 14-4-2. . . . The Cougars were without D Sam Ruopp, who served Game 2 of an eight-game suspension, and F Kody McDonald, who has one game left in a three-game sentence. . . . The Giants wore special uniforms as they honoured the late Pat Quinn, who owned a piece of the franchise. Quinn is to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto on Monday. . . . Announced attendance: 3,383.

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FRIDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Red Deer at Brandon 2:30 p.m.

Prince Albert at Kamloops, 5 p.m.

Everett at Portland, 7 p.m.

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

Tri-City at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.

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Thrower's season over?

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Fredrik Pettersson (Calgary, 2005-07) has signed a two-year extension with Lugano (Switzerland, NL A). His contract now runs through 2016-2017. This season, with Donbass Donetsk (Ukraine, KHL), Pettersson was pointless in five games. He was released in October and signed a two-year deal with Lugano in November. In 20 games with Lugano, he has 20 points, including seven goals.
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F Jackson Houck and D Brett Kulak of the Vancouver Giants have been told that charges stemming from an incident last summer have been dropped. . . . They had been charged with assault causing bodily harm following a house party in Delta, B.C., on Aug. 18. Kulak also was facing a charge of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm. . . . "It's behind them now and everyone's happy they'll be able to move on," Peter Toigo, the Giants’ vice-president of operations, told Brian Morton of the Vancouver Sun. . . . Toigo told Morton that both players were required to do community service related to the situation.
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D Dalton Thrower’s season may be over, according to Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province. . . . Thrower, the Vancouver Giants’ best player and their captain, “had to be helped off the ice midway through a session at South Delta Recreation Centre on Monday morning after re-injuring his left ankle. The team isn’t saying yet, but it’s likely that the overage defenceman is finished for the season. He was on his way to hospital before his teammates got off the ice.” . . . Thrower, 20, has missed the Giants’ past 16 games and there was hope he would return Wednesday against the visiting Kamloops Blazers. . . . Ewen also reports that G Jared Rathjen, who appeared to injure a shoulder in Saturday’s 3-1 loss to the visiting Kelowna Rockets, wasn’t on the ice Monday, while F Tyler Benson, the first overall selection in the WHL‘s 2013 bantam draft, was there. . . . Ewen’s complete report is right here.
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The Kootenay Ice is 19-8-1 since returning from the Christmas break, including 11-2-0 in February, but may not have F Tim Bozon for the remainder of this season. Bozon has been diagnosed with meningitis and is in hospital in Saskatoon. . . . Ice F Sam Reinhart, who set franchise records for consecutive games with a point (22) and an assist (15) last month, has 60 assists, six off the franchise record that his held by F Jarret Stoll (2000-01). . . . The Ice is at home to the Red Deer Rebels tonight.
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The Portland Winterhawks didn’t skate Monday, no doubt still savouring their second consecutive U.S. Division title and their third in the last four seasons. With 99 points, the Winterhawks are about to surpass the century mark for a fourth-straight season. That will be a first in franchise history. . . . Portland F Brendan Leipsic has 291 career points with seven games left in the regular season. He needs five more points to tie F Brian (Bunny) Shaw for 10th on the franchise’s all-time list. Leipsic also is looking to become the 10th play in franchise history with 300 career points. . . . Portland D Derrick Pouliot has 198 career points as he strives to become the sixth defenceman in franchise to reach 200 points. He is seven points shy of Kevin Haupt, who is fifth among Portland defencemen on the career list. . . . The Winterhawks meet the Tri-City Americans in Kennewick, Wash., on Wednesday.
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F Mitch Holmberg of the Spokane Chiefs goes into the week atop the WHL’s scoring race. He has 107 points, one more than F Nic Petan of the Portland Winterhawks and 10 more than Portland F Oliver Bjorkstrand. . . . The Chiefs meet the Rockets in Kelowna on Wednesday and then head to Prince George for Friday and Saturday dates with the Cougars. . . . Prince George F Todd Fiddler will take an 18-game point streak into the weekend series against his former team. That’s the longest active streak in the WHL.
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IF THE PLAYOFFS BEGAN TODAY:
Eastern Conference
Edmonton (1) vs. Red Deer/Prince Albert (8)
Regina (2) vs. Brandon (7)
Calgary (3) vs. Swift Current (6)
Medicine Hat (4) vs. Kootenay (5)
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Western Conference
Kelowna (1) vs. Tri-City (8)
Portland (2) vs. Vancouver (7)
Victoria (3) vs. Everett (6)
Seattle (4) vs. Spokane (5)
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TUESDAY’S WHL GAMES (all times local):
Calgary at Brandon, 7 p.m.
Moose Jaw at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
Edmonton at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
Red Deer at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
Kelowna at Everett, 7:05 p.m.
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MONDAY’S GAMES:
No games scheduled.
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From ScanBC (@ScanBC): “#Vancovuer Fire crews are on scene at 52 E Hastings St after a male woke and found his pants on fire.”
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One more from ScanBC on Monday: “#Vancouver Police are at 6542 Fraser St, A male stole $250 from Moneymart and is now buying a coffee from Starbucks next door.”


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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Fredrik Pettersson (Calgary, 2005-07) exercised his KHL opt-out clause and has left Frölunda Gothenburg (Sweden, Elitserien) after completing just one year of a four-year contract. He now has signed a contract with Donbass Donetsk (Ukraine, KHL). No terms were announced. Pettersson had 16 goals and 24 assists in 54 games as an alternate captain for Frölunda this season. The head coach of Donbass is former Portland assistant coach Julius Supler.
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Hearty congratulations to old friend Roy MacGregor, who was named Friday as this year’s winner of the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award. It is a Hockey Hall of Fame honour that is selected by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.
MacGregor is a prolific writer, who now is with The Globe and Mail. A veteran of the newspaper game, he also has written a number of books, hockey-related and otherwise, as well as a highly successful series of childrens books — The Screech Owls.
The surprise with this award is that he hadn’t won the award a whole lot earlier than this.
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Also on Friday, veteran hockey writer Red Fisher of the Montreal Gazette announced his retirement. Fisher has written about the NHL for 57 years, beginning with the infamous Richard riots in 1955.
Dave Stubbs of the Montreal Gazette writes about Fisher right here.
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James Mirtle of The Globe and Mail writes right here about the Toronto Marlies trying to move forward after losing an AHL playoff game Thursday on a goal that should have been disallowed.
That piece is right here.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Adam Deadmarsh (Portland, 1991-95) had to end his NHL playing career because of concussion-related problems. Now he has left his assistant-coaching job with the Colorado Avalanche for the same reason. Deadmarsh was 28 when he retired as a player; he’s now 37. . . . His wife, Christa, sent this message to Adrian Dater of the Denver Post: “Adam was hurt (concussion issues) this season and decided that health/family and safety are his priority … Adam enjoyed coaching, but this was the right decision … We are back in Idaho and will love being close to our family again:) Hello Idaho friends … we are home:)” . . .
Mike Heilka of the Dallas Morning News reports here that the Dallas Stars “are speaking with Willie Desjardins about taking the head-coaching job with the Texas Stars.” Desjardins, the former GM and head coach of the Medicine Hat Tigers, has one year left on his contract with Dallas. He is the associate coach to head coach Glen Gulutzan. . . .
The OHL’s Kitchener Rangers have hired Mike McKenzie as an assistant coach. Yes, he is a son of Bob McKenzie, TSN’s crack hockey analyst. Mike, 26, played four seasons of NCAA hockey at St. Lawrence U — he twice was on the NCAA all-academic team — before turning pro and playing with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers and Albany River Rats and the ECHL’s Florida Everblades. He retired after playing last season with the AHL’s Houston Aeros. . . . In Kitchener, he will work alongside GM/head coach Steve Spott. . . .
Craig Hartsburg, a former head coach of the Everett Silvertips, has been dismissed as associate coach by the NHL’s Calgary Flames. He left the Silvertips prior to this season to work with the Flames and then-head coach Brent Sutter. . . . When the Flames dumped Sutter, they also got rid of assistant coach Dave Lowry, a former head coach of the Calgary Hitmen. . . .
Former NHL coach Paul Maurice has signed on as head coach of the KHL’s Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Maurice began this season as head coach of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, only to be fired 25 games into it. . . . Former NHL G Tom Barrasso has signed on as Maurice’s assistant coach. . . .
Two WHL assistant coaches — Dwayne Gylywoychuk of the Brandon Wheat Kings and Malcolm Cameron of the Regina Pats — have been named to the coaching staff of Team West that will represent Manitoba and Saskatchewan at the U17 World Hockey Challenge. That tournament is to beging in Drummondville and Victoriaville, Que., on Dec. 29. . . . Don MacGillivray, the head coach of the MJHL’s Winnipeg Blues for four years, is Team West’s head coach for a second consecutive year. . . .
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As you no doubt are aware, the Oklahoma City Thunder has advanced to the NBA final. (BTW, it’s final, not finals, and I don't care what David Stern thinks. It’s one series so it’s singular. OK?)
You also should be aware that the Thunder began life as the Seattle SuperSonics.
So . . . how are the sporting fans of Seattle feeling?
Let’s just say they aren’t enjoying this one bit.
Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times pretty much sums it up with his Friday column right here.


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