Showing posts with label Graham Tuer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Graham Tuer. Show all posts

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Booster Club does its part for Literacy Week ... Blazers, Hurricanes come through late ... Rebels' line explodes


Let’s start with a great story involving the Portland Winterhawks Booster Club. . . .
You may be aware that 43 members of the booster club made their way to Prince George for a mid-week doubleheader, then rode the bus to Kamloops for Friday night’s game and wrapped it up in Kelowna on Saturday night.
It seems they made a stop before arriving at Friday’s game in Kamloops.
It was Family Literacy Week in Kamloops and the organizing committee had partnered with Kamloops Honda on a book drive that they called Heap the Honda. New and gently used children’s books were being collected to be given to children on Jan. 25, which is ABC Family Literacy Day.
The book drive was ongoing at Friday’s game between the Blazers and Winterhawks.
As I understand it, the booster club got wind of this promotion before arriving at Friday’s game and club members were able to make their way to a book store, where they purchased children’s books that helped Heap the Honda when they arrived at the Sandman Centre.
The Blazers won the game, beating the Winterhawks, 4-3 in a shootout, but the children of Kamloops were the real winners, thanks to people like those in the Portland Winterhawks Booster Club.
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Five people with ties to the WHL are among the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame’s class of 2017.
Bob Bourne, the late Eddie Litzenberger, the late Stan Dunn, Graham Tuer and Ken Wheler will be honoured at the annual induction dinner in Battlefords on July 22.
Bourne played for the Saskatoon Blades (1971-74) before going on to an NHL career that included four Stanley Cup titles with the New York Islanders.
Litzenberger played three seasons (1949-52) with the Regina Pats, appearing in the 1950 Memorial Cup. During his pro career, he won four Stanley Cups and two Calder Cups.
Dunn was the head coach of the Weyburn Red Wings during their only season in the WHL. He later spent four seasons as the general manager and head coach of the Swift Current Broncos.
Tuer is a favourite among the hockey scouting fraternity and has been around WHL arenas for a year or two. A former assistant GM with the Regina Pats, he most recently has scouted for the Kelowna Rockets and the Pats.
Wheler was a long-time WHL referee.
Bourne, Litzenberger and Fiona Smith-Bell will be inducted as players, with Dunn and Tuer going in as builders.
The Northwest Hockey Development Association is to be inducted in the grassroots division, while two teams — the 1983-84 Wilkie Outlaws and 2000-01 Lloydminster Border Kings — also will be inducted.
The Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame is located in the iPlex, the home of the Swift Current Broncos.
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SATURDAY’S GAMES:

At Brandon, F Stelio Mattheos had a goal and three assists to lead the Wheat Kings to a 5-2 victory over
STELIO MATTHEOS
the Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . The Wheat Kings scored four goals, three of them on the PP, in the game’s first half and took that 4-0 lead into the third period. . . . F Nolan Patrick opened the scoring at 10:03 of the first period and F Connor Gutenberg (10) made it 2-0 at 15:33, on a PP. . . . Mattheos’s 17th goal upped the lead to 3-0, on a PP, at 2:25 of the second and F Reid Duke’s 26th goal, on another PP, made it 4-0 at 9:57. . . . The Tigers got a pair of third-period goals, both on the PP, from F Max Gerlach (25), at 7:43, and F Mason Shaw (15), at 11:01. . . . Patrick iced it with an empty-netter at 19:33. He’s got eight goals. . . . Mattheos, who is seen as a potential first-round pick in the NHL’s 2017 draft, has 38 points in 45 games. . . . F Ty Lewis had two assists for Brandon. . . . G Logan Thompson stopped 41 shots for Brandon, nine more than Medicine Hat’s Nick Schneider. . . . Brandon was 3-3 on the PP; Medicine Hat was 2-7. . . . The Wheat Kings lost D Dmitry Osipov to a charging major and game misconduct at 9:00 of the third period. . . . The Wheat Kings (23-17-5) have points in four straight (3-0-1). They hold down the Eastern Conference’s first wild-card spot and are seven points behind the third-place Swift Current Broncos in the East Division. . . . The Tigers (31-15-1) lead the Central Division by four points over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. . . . Announced attendance: 4,155.
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At Edmonton, the Prince Albert Raiders scored the game’s first four goals and went on to beat the Oil
JORDY STALLARD
Kings, 5-2. . . . F Curtis Miske (9) got it started at 7:30 of the first period. . . . The Raiders took control with three goals in 1:30 in the second period. F Jordy Stallard (13) made it 2-0 at 8:51, with F Cavin Leth (12) scoring at 9:06 and F Cole Fonstad (8) at 10:21. . . . The Oil Kings got on the scoreboard when F Davis Koch got No. 12, at 1:02 of the third period. . . . Prince Albert got that one back as F Sean Montgomery got his 10th at 3:47. . . . F Ty Gerla got his fifth goal for Edmonton at 18:25. . . . Miske and Stallard each had an assist for the Raiders. . . . G Nic Sanders blocked 29 shots for the winners. . . . Edmonton starter Patrick Dea was beaten four times on 20 shots in 30:21, with Josh Dechaine coming on in relief to stop four of five shots in 29:39. . . . Edmonton was 0-4 on the PP; Prince Albert was 0-6. . . . Prince Albert (10-34-5) has won two in a row for the first time this season. . . . Edmonton (18-24-4) has lost seven straight and is four points out of a playoff spot. . . . Announced attendance: 10,647.
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At Kamloops, the Blazers tied the game with 52.3 seconds left in the third period and then scored 59 seconds into OT to beat the Prince George Cougars, 5-4. . . . Prince George led 4-2 after the second
COLLIN SHIRLEY
period. The Cougars went into the game with a 24-0-1 record when leading after two. . . . F Nic Holowko’s fourth goal got Kamloops to within one at 5:22 of the third period. . . . F Deven Sideroff tied it with his 27th goal and F Collin Shirley won it with his second goal of the game, and 20th of the season. . . . The visitors took a 2-0 lead before the game was five minutes old, with F Jesse Gabrielle (22) scoring, on a PP, at 3:29, and F Jansen Harkins (15) counting at 4:36. . . . F Lane Bauer cut the deficit in half with his 26th goal, his first with Kamloops since coming over from the Edmonton Oil Kings, on a PP, at 6:23. . . . Cougars D Brendan Guhle got that one back at 7:26, only to have Shirley score on a PP at 13:18. . . . Guhle’s second of the game, and 11th of the season, gave the Cougars a 4-2 lead at 13:18. . . . After the six-goal opening period, the teams played a scoreless second. . . . Sideroff, Bauer and F Rudolfs Balcers each had two assists. . . . The Cougars got two assists from each of Gabrielle and Nikita Popugaev, with Harkins adding one. . . . Harkins now has 151 career assists, one shy of the Prince George record held by Troy Bourke. . . . The Blazers got 27 saves from G Connor Ingram, while Ty Edmonds turned aside 35 for the Cougars. . . . Kamloops was 2-4 on the PP; Prince George was 1-3. . . . The Blazers (29-16-3) have won four in a row. They are second in the B.C. Division, eight points behind the Cougars and three in front of the Kelowna Rockets. . . . Kamloops will play its next seven games on the road, six in the U.S. Division and one in Kelowna. . . . The Cougars (33-13-3) remain atop the overall standings, a point ahead of the Everett Silvertips. The Cougars have lost two in a row (0-1-1). . . . Announced attendance: 3,734.
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At Kelowna, F Kole Lind, who hadn’t scored in 10 games, had two goals and two assists to lead the
KOLE LIND
Rockets to a 4-1 victory over the Portland Winterhawks. . . . Lind, who has 22 goals, picked up a pair of PP markers, breaking a 1-1 tie at 11:07 of the second period and adding insurance at 3:00 of the third. . . . F Tomas Soustal (15) gave the home side a 1-0 lead at 4:53 of the opening period. . . . Portland tied it at 14:00 when F Joachim Blichfeld got No. 14 on a PP. . . . D Braydyn Chizen iced it with his third goal at 15:45 of the third period. Lind’s assist on that goal gave him 100 career points. . . . Soustal also had an assist. . . . The Rockets got 34 saves from G Michael Herringer, while Cole Kehler stopped 33 at the other end. . . . Kelowna was 2-6 on the PP; Portland was 1-5. . . . Kelowna was again without F Reid Gardiner (undisclosed injury), F Dillon Dube (ill) and F Nolan Foote, who has missed eight straight games. . . . The Rockets (27-17-4) had lost their previous three games (0-2-1). Kelowna is third in the B.C. Division, three points behind the Kamloops Blazers. . . . The Winterhawks (22-21-3), who were playing their fourth road game in five nights, have lost five in a row (0-3-2). They hold down the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot. . . . Announced attendance: 5,361.
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At Lethbridge, the Hurricanes scored late in the third period and again in OT, both goals coming via the
ZAK ZBOROSKY
PP, as they beat the Calgary Hitmen, 3-2. . . . F Tyler Wong’s 34th goal tied the game at 19:42 of the third period and F Zak Zborosky’s 31st goal won it at 3:21 of OT. . . . G Giorgio Estephan drew an assist on both goals. . . . F Alec Baer gave the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead with his ninth goal — his sixth since arriving from the Vancouver Giants at the trade deadline — at 14:25 of the first period. . . . Calgary F Matteo Gennaro put his guys ahead with two quick goals in the second period. He scored on a PP at 1:58 and added No. 28 at 6:45. . . . Gennaro has goals in five straight games, having scored 10 times during that stretch. . . . G Stuart Skinner turned aside 31 shots to earn the victory. . . . Calgary G Trevor Martin stopped 21 shots. . . . Lethbridge was 2-7 on the PP; Calgary was 1-5. . . . F Matt Alfaro, acquired from the Kootenay Ice at the trade deadline, made his Hurricanes debut with one assist. Lethbridge was without F Egor Babenko and F Ryan Bowen. . . . The Hurricanes (26-15-7) have points in eight straight (6-0-2). They are second in the Central Division, four points behind the Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . The Hitmen (17-21-7) have lost two in a row (0-1-1). They are three points out of a playoff spot. . . . Announced attendance: 4,231.
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At Red Deer, F Lane Zablocki scored three times and added an assist and F Brandon Hagel had two
LANE ZABLOCKI
goals and four assists to lead the Rebels to a 6-2 victory over the Victoria Royals. . . . Zablocki has six goals and two assists in seven games since coming over from the Regina Pats. . . . He opened the scoring at 3:56 of the first period. . . . Victoria D Scott Walford (2) tied it at 5:00. . . . Hagel’s PP goal, at 13:28, gave the Rebels a 2-1 lead. . . . Zablocki made it 3-1 at 12:48 of the second period. . . . The Royals got back to within one when F Tyler Soy scored his 20th goal, shorthanded, at 5:55. . . . Soy has scored at least 20 goals for three straight seasons. He had 28 in 2014-15 and 46 last season. . . . The Rebels put it away with the game’s last three goals. . . . F Adam Musil got his 17th at 10:20 of the third period. . . . Zablocki completed the hat trick at 11:10. . . . Hagel scored his second of the game, and 20th of the season, on a PP, at 15:38. . . . F Michael Spacek drew five assists for Red Deer. The line of Spacek, Hagel and Zablocki totalled 15 points. . . . The Rebels got 21 saves from G Lasse Petersen. . . . G Griffen Outhouse stopped 38 shots for the Royals in what was his 21st consecutive game. That ties the Victoria/Chilliwack Bruins franchise record that had belonged to Lucas Gore (2010-11). . . . Red Deer was 2-6 on the PP; Victoria was 0-3. . . . Red Deer F Austin Glover played in his 200th regular-season WHL game. . . . The Rebels (21-20-7) had lost their previous four games (0-3-1). They look to be headed to a third-place finish in the Central Division. . . . The Royals (26-19-4) had won four in a row. This was their third game in as many nights, after wins in Edmonton and Calgary. . . . Victoria is in possession of the Western Conference’s first wild-card spot. It is fourth in the B.C. Division, two points behind the Kelowna Rockets. . . . Announced attendance: 5,557.
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At Kent, Wash., F Mathew Barzal scored two goals and added an assist as the Seattle Thunderbirds
TURNER OTTENBREIT
dumped the Vancouver Giants, 6-1. . . . This was the final Teddy Bear Game of this season and it was D Turner Ottenbreit who scored the goal, giving Seattle a 1-0 lead at 9:30 of the first period. . . . He was the sixth defenceman to score a TBG this season. . . . Ottenbreit has four goals. . . . Barzal made it 2-0, at 14:43. . . . Seattle went up 4-0 on goals from F Alexander True (14), at 8:03 of the second period, and Barzal, who has six goals, at 6:03 of the third. . . . F Calvin Spencer (11) scored for Vancouver at 7:45. . . . The Thunderbirds put it away on third-period goals from F Sami Moilanen (14), at 9:40, and F Luke Ormsby (4), at 11:36. . . . Seattle got three assists from F Ryan Gropp, while F Tyler Adams had two assists. . . . G Rylan Toth stopped 15 shots for Seattle. . . . Vancouver G David Tendeck turned aside 40 shots. . . . Seattle held a 33-9 edge in shots through two periods. . . . Each team was 0-3 on the PP. . . . The Thunderbirds (25-15-4) are comfortably in third in the U.S. Division. . . . The Giants (17-27-3) are 10 points out of a playoff spot. . . . Announced attendance: 6,146.
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At Spokane, the Chiefs unleashed a 50-shot barrage en route to a 5-2 victory over the Kootenay Ice. . . .
TYSON HELGESEN
F Eli Zummack gave Spokane a 1-0 lead with his fourth goal, on a PP, at 12:18 of the first period. . . . F Kailer Yamamoto made it 2-0 with his 29th goal at 5:56 of the second period. . . . The Ice got to within a goal when F Noah Philp (6) scored at 1:04 of the third period. . . . D Ty Smith’s third goal, on a PP, at 9:59, restored the two-goal lead. . . . F Ondrej Najman (4) provided some insurance for the Chiefs at 14:09 and D Tyson Helgesen (7) added more, at 16:27. . . . Ice F Kaeden Taphorn’s second goal, at 19:22, closed out the scoring. . . . Spokane got two assists from each of F Rykr Cole and F Jaret Anderson-Dolan, with Helgesen adding one. . . . G Dawson Weatherill earned the victory with 22 saves, while Jakob Walter blocked 45 at the other end. . . . Spokane was 2-4 on the PP; Kootenay was 0-4. . . .  F Peyton Krebs, the first overall selection in the 2016 bantam draft, played in his sixth game this season. Under ordinary circumstances, a 15-year-old is allowed to play five games in the WHL before his club team has its season end. The Ice, however, has been allowed to keep using Krebs due to the team’s injury situation. . . . The Chiefs (19-20-7) are two points out of a playoff spot. . . . The Ice (11-29-8) has lost two in a row. . . . Announced attendance: 9,506.
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At Swift Current, D Connor Hobbs snapped a 5-5 tie at 15:30 of the third period as the Regina Pats beat the Broncos, 6-5. . . . Hobbs won it with his 20th goal of the season. He and David Quenneville of the
CONNOR HOBBS
Medicine Hat Tigers lead all defencemen in goals. Quenneville is out with a broken fibula. . . . F Jake Leschyshyn (17) gave Regina a 1-0 lead at 7:51 of the first period. . . . The Broncos replied with goals 41 seconds apart from F Riley Stotts (6) and F Aleksi Heponiemi (17). . . . Regina followed that with two goals to take a 3-2 lead into the second period. D Josh Mahura got his 10th goal — his first with Regina since being acquired from the Red Deer Rebels — at 15:04 and D Chase Harrison (6) scored on a PP at 19:47. . . . F Glenn Gawdin’s 17th goal pulled the Broncos into a tie, on a PP, at 7:31 of the second period. . . . F Sam Steel’s 34th goal sent Regina into a 4-3 lead, on a PP, at 14:25. . . . Heponiemi’s second goal, on a PP, tied it at 14:25 and Gawdin put the home side out front at 16:49. . . . The Pats tied it when F Dawson Leedahl counted No. 22, on a PP, at 13:59. . . . Regina got three assists from F Adam Brooks, with Hobbs and Steel adding one each. . . . Gawdin, D Max Lajoie, F Tyler Steenbergen and F Lane Pederson each had two assists for Swift Current, with Heponiemi getting one. . . . G Jordan Hollett stopped 23 shots for Regina. He was playing his first game since Nov. 20 and ran his record to 8-0-1. . . . G Jordan Papirny turned aside 29 shots for the Broncos. . . . Regina was 3-4 on the PP; Swift Current was 2-5. . . . Regina (30-6-7) is atop the East Division, four points in front of the Moose Jaw Warriors. . . . According to Kevin Shaw (@theblueliner), who knows such things, this is the third time that the Pats have had at least 30 victories in their first 43 games, the others being in 1980-81 (31) and 1983-84 (30). . . . The Broncos (25-15-8) have lost two in a row. They are third in the East Division, five points behind Moose Jaw. . . . Announced attendance: 2,177.
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At Kennewick, Wash., D Kevin Davis scored a pair of goals to help the Everett Silvertips to a 4-2 victory
KEVIN DAVIS
over the Tri-City Americans. . . . This season, Davis has six goals and 35 assists in 44 games. Over the previous two seasons, he totalled six goals and 35 assists in 133 games. . . . F Brandson Hein’s second goal gave Everett a 1-0 lead at 18:33 of the first period. . . . The Americans tied it at 19:48 of the second period when F Kyle Olson got his 12th goal. . . . Davis gave the visitors a 2-1 lead at 11:51 of the third period. . . . F Vladislav Lukin pulled the Americans into a 2-2 tie at 13:23. . . . Davis broke the tie, on a PP, at 15:30 and F Connor Dewar added insurance, with a PP goal into an empty net, at 19:33. He’s got nine goals. . . . F Morgan Geekie had two assists for the Americans. . . . G Mario Petit stopped 22 shots for the Silvertips as he improved to 10-2-3. . . . Tri-City got 19 saves from G Rylan Parenteau. . . . Everett was 2-3 on the PP; Tri-City was 0-2. . . . Tri-City lost F Jordan Topping to a charging major and game misconduct at 19:10 of the third period. . . . The Silvertips (30-6-8) have won two in a row. They lead the U.S. Division by seven points over the Americans. Everett also is second in the overall standings, one point behind the Prince George Cougars. . . . The Americans (29-18-3) had won their previous seven games. . . . Announced attendance: 4,302.
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TEDDY BEAR, TOQUE AND MITTEN TOSS GAMES:

Jan. 21: D Turner Ottenbreit, 9:30 1st period, Vancouver 1 vs. Seattle 6, at Kent, Wash.
Nov. 26: D Micheal Zipp, 19:47 1st period, Lethbridge 4 at Calgary 2.
Dec. 2: D Artyom Minulin, 13:24 1st period, Calgary 1 at Swift Current 5.
Dec. 2: F Jordy Bellerive, 14:00 1st period, Red Deer 3 at Lethbridge 5.
Dec. 3: F Adam Musil, 14:27 1st period, Lethbridge 2 at Red Deer 3 (OT).
Dec. 3: D Ondrej Vala, 10:38 1st period, Vancouver 2 at Kamloops 5.
Dec. 3: F Nick Merkley, 6:54 2nd period, Brandon 1 at Kelowna 3.
Dec. 9: F Austin Glover, 0:32 2nd period, Moose Jaw 7 at Prince Albert 3. 
Dec. 9: F Riley Woods, 11:45 1st period, Swift Current 1 at Regina 8.
Dec. 9: F Keanu Yamamoto, 4:01 1st period, Kootenay 3 at Spokane 4.
Dec. 10: D Josh Thrower, 12:13 1st period, Prince Albert 4 at Moose Jaw 5 (SO).
Dec. 10: F Nick Bowman, 13:38 2nd period, Kamloops 3 at Edmonton 2.
Dec. 10: D Troy Murray, 1:51 2nd, Kelowna 7 at Kootenay 3.
Dec. 10: F Max Gerlach, 5:26 1st period, Calgary 4 at Medicine Hat 7.
Dec. 10: F Skyler McKenzie 2:21 1st, Everett 2 at Portland 5.
Dec. 10: F Josh Curtis, 6:02 2nd period, Seattle 4 at Prince George 6.
Dec. 10: F Tyler Sandhu, 0:36 1st period, Victoria 3 at Tri-City 4.
Dec. 16: F Linden McCorrister, 17:47 1st period, Saskatoon 2 at Brandon 3 (SO).
Dec. 16: F James Malm, 3:34 1st period, Portland 4 vs. Vancouver 6, at Langley, B.C.
Dec. 17: F Braylon Shmyr, 2:13 2nd period, Brandon 3 at Saskatoon 2.
Dec. 17: F Eetu Tuulola, 19:29 2nd period, Portland 2 at Everett 4.
Dec. 17: F Eric Florchuk, 15:57 1st period, Vancouver 5 at Victoria 4 (OT).
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SUNDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Prince Albert at Calgary, 4 p.m.
Moose Jaw at Edmonton, 4 p.m.
Spokane at Everett, 4:05 p.m.
Brandon at Regina, 4 p.m.
Swift Current at Saskatoon, 2:05 p.m.

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Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Giants introduce head coach . . . Ice fills out hockey staff . . . Pats bring back familiar face








EIHL-UKD Mike Wilson (Prince Albert, Swift Current, 2003-08) signed one-year contract with the Belfast Giants (Northern Ireland, UK Elite). Last season, with the Wichita Thunder (ECHL), he had 13 goals and 37 assists in 72 games.
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The Vancouver Giants introduced Lorne Molleken as their newest head coach on Tuesday morning. Molleken, the fourth-winningest coach in WHL regular-season history, replaces Claude Noel, who replaced Troy Ward 25 games into last season. . . . Molleken, 59, last coached in 2012-13 with the Saskatoon Blades. He was the Blades’ general manager the following season, then was bought out when Edmonton-based auto dealer Mike Priestner bought the franchise. . . . Cam Tucker of Metro Vancouver has more right here.
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The Kootenay Ice have finished filling out the hockey operations side of their organization. Last month, general manager Jeff Chynoweth announced the hiring of Luke Pierce as head coach, replacing Ryan McGill, whose contract wasn’t renewed. . . . On Tuesday, Chynoweth announced the hiring of Gordon Burnett as assistant coach. As well, Garnet Kazuik, the director of scouting, has been re-signed, while Darcy Ewanchuk is returning to the Ice as trainer/equipment manager. . . . Burnett, Kazuik and Ewanchuk each signed a three-year contract. . . . Burnett, 34, is from Regina. Last season, he worked as an assistant coach at the U of Notre Dame. In 2013-14, he was with the Central league’s Arizona Sundogs. . . . Kazuik has been with the Ice since 2005. He has been the director of scouting since 2007. . . . Ewanchuk takes over from Cory Cameron, who stays with the team as an athletic consultant. Ewanchuk was with the Ice when the franchise was in Edmonton, working as assistant athletic trainer (1996-98) and was the Ice’s training in Cranbrook from 1999-2007. He also has worked with the Edmonton Oil Kings and Tri-City Americans.
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Graham Tuer is back with the Regina Pats. He will scout for the team and also serve as a liaison with Hockey Regina, which oversees minor hockey in the city. . . . Tuer, who had been scouting with the Kelowna Rockets, has been associated with hockey in Regina for more than 50 years. . . . An annual bantam AA tournament in Regina was named after him in 2007. . . . Tuer worked as the Pats’ assistant GM and director of player personnel in the early 1990s. . . . He is a member of the Regina Sports Hall of Fame and has been on the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League’s board of directors since 1983.
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Got a tip or some information you feel could be useful to me, send an email to greggdrinnan@gmail.com.
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THE IMPORT DRAFT:


Some notes . . .
The Victoria Royals used their first-round selection on Russian F Vladimir Bobylev, 18, who played last season with the Vancouver Giants. He had three goals and six assists in 52 games. . . . Vancouver had selected him in the first round of the 2014 draft, but dropped him before Tuesday’s draft. . . .
The Red Deer Rebels took Czech F Michael Spacek in the first round. The Rebels rolled the dice because Spacek, 18, has one year left on a contract with HC Dynamo Pardubice of the Czech Extraliga. Spacek was selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the fourth round of the NHL draft on Saturday. . . . After the Rebels took Spacek, Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun tweeted: “At the draft, Michael Spacek expressed interest in playing in North America next season. Rebels are hosting the 2016 Memorial Cup.” . . . 
The Kootenay Ice took Slovakian D Mario Grman, 18, in the second round. He played last season with the Red Deer Rebels, earning three assists in 35 games. . . .
The Saskatoon Blades were the first WHL team to pick and they took Czech D Libor Hajek with the second overall selection. . . . Scott Larson of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix has more right here. . . .
With the last selection of the first round, the Brandon Wheat Kings took Swedish D Oliver Kylington. The Calgary Flames selected Kylington in the second round of the NHL draft on Saturday. . . . Kylington is signed for the next two seasons with AIK, which plays in Sweden’s Allsvenskan, the country’s No. 2 pro league. . . .
The Vancouver Giants held the eighth overall pick and took Slovakian F Radovan Bondra, 18. He is said to be 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds. He was a fifth-round pick by the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL draft on Saturday. . . .
The Regina Pats selected Russian D Nikolai Knyzhov, 17, with their first-round pick. He has played the last two seasons in Phoenix. Last season, he had a goal and three assists with the U-16 Phoenix Jr. Coyotes. . . .
With their first-round pick, the Seattle Thunderbirds took Swedish F Gustav Olhaver. On Saturday, he was taken by the Colorado Avalanche in the seventh round of the NHL draft. . . . He is said to be 6-foot-6 and 213 pounds. . . .
There is a complete list of WHL team selections right here.
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Coaching

SJHLDarcy Pindus is retiring after 18 seasons with the SJHL’s Weyburn Red Wings. Pindus, a defence man in his playing days, first joined the Red Wings in 1980. He played parts of three seasons with Weyburn, while having stints in the WHL with the Regina Pats, Lethbridge Hurricanes and Medicine Hat Tigers. He also played five seasons with the U of Regina Cougars. In 1997, he began helping then-head coach Dwight MacMillan with the Red Wings. . . . From a Red Wings’ news release: “During his 18-year tenure, Pindus helped the Red Wings to two league titles, two Anavet Cups, and what he calls his most cherished memory with the Wings, winning the 2005 RBC Cup on home ice.”
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SJHLThe SJHL’s Estevan Bruins have signed GM/head coach Chris Lewgood to a four-year extension that runs through 2019-20. Lewgood, who had one season left on his original three-year contract, is preparing for his third season with the Bruins. . . . Estevan is 49-47-1-15 under Lewgood.
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Fabian Joseph has signed on as head coach and assistant GM of the Woodstock, N.B., Slammers of the junior A Maritime Hockey League. Joseph (Victoria Cougars, 11982-84) had been on the coaching staff of the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats since 2007. . . . He is a native of Sydney, N.S.
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ECHLAnthony Noreen is the new head coach of the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears. He was the USHL’s coach of the year after his Youngstown Phantoms went 40-14-6 last season. . . . Noreen, who is from Chicago, was the Phantoms’ general manager and head coach for four seasons.
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The NHL’s Edmonton Oilers invited eight free agents from the WHL to their development camp that opens today. Headed to Edmonton are G Jordan Papirny, 19, of the Brandon Wheat Kings, D Kevin Davis, 18, of the Everett Silvertips, F Connor Rankin of the Calgary Hitmen, F Jakob Stukel, 18, of the Vancouver Giants, F Cole Sanford, 20, of the Medicine Hat Tigers, F Braden Christoffer of the Regina Pats, F Tyler Soy, 18, of the Victoria Royals and F Tyler Robertson, 19, of the Edmonton Oil Kings. . . . Rankin and Christoffer played out their junior eligibility last season. . . . F Trevor Cox, 20, of the Medicine Hat Tigers will skate with the Washington Capitals.
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Friday, May 29, 2015

Rockets, Generals in Memorial Cup final . . . Hockey Canada honours Tuer . . . Campese back coaching








F Adam Hughesman (Tri-City, 2006-12) signed a one-year contract with Sterzing/Vipiteno (Italy, Serie A). This season, with the Reading Royals (ECHL), he had 23 goals and 44 assists in 69 ghames. He also had one goal in three games with the Manchester Monarchs (AHL). Hughesman led Reading in assists and was second in points. . . .
F Brad Ross (Portland, 2007-12) signed a one-year-plus-option contract with the Iserlohn Roosters (Germany, DEL). This season, he had four goals and four assists in 32 games with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) and five goals and six assists in 32 games with the Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL). . . .
D Rod Sarich (Calgary, 1996-2002) signed a one-year extension with the Sheffield Steelers (England, UK Elite). This season, he had three goals and seven assists in 60 games. Sarich has dual Canadian-UK citizenship. Next season will be his 10th season with Sheffield. He has played 507 games with the Steelers, fifth on their all-time list.
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The WHL-champion Kelowna Rockets advanced to the Memorial Cup final by thrashing the host Quebec Remparts 9-3 before 9,870 fans on Friday night. . . . The Remparts were playing their third game in three nights and it showed. This also was their final game in the historic Colisee, as they will move into the brand new Videotron Centre next season. . . . The Rockets and OHL-champion Oshawa Generals will play Sunday
evening for the major junior championship. . . . The Generals went 3-0 in the round-robin to earn a bye into the final. The Rockets were 1-2 in the round-robin, including a 2-1 loss to Oshawa on Tuesday. . . . The Generals haven’t played since that game. . . . The QMJHL, the host league, won’t be represented in the final. This will be the first time that has happened since 2009 when the final, in Rimouski, Que., featured the Rockets and the Windsor Spitfires. That was the Rockets’ last Memorial Cup appearance. The Spitfires won that one, 4-1. . . . Oshawa head coach DJ Smith was on Windsor’s coaching staff at the time. . . . Last night, the Rockets got two goals and two assists from F Justin Kirkland, with F Leon Draisaitl and D Josh Morrissey each getting a goal and two assists. . . . Kelowna F Rourke Chartier scored twice. . . . F Adam Erne gave Quebec a 1-0 lead at 3:11 of the first period, with Kelowna F Chance Braid tying it at 9:51. . . . Kelowna took control with four second-period goals, the first three coming in a span of 3:49 in the first 4:06. . . . Kelowna G Jackson Whistle stopped 20 shots, while Quebec’s Zach Fucale, who turned 20 on Thursday, turned aside 35. . . . The Rockets were 3-for-6 on the PP; the Remparts were 1-for-7. . . . The referees were Jonathan Alarie and Olivier Gouin, both from the QMJHL. In fact, they were the referees on Wednesday when the Remparts dropped a 4-0 decision to the Rimouski Oceanic. After that game, Quebec head coach Phillippe Boucher ripped the officiating and later was fined $10,000. . . . The Rockets were 51-for-82 on faceoffs, with Draisaitl going 16-for-26. . . . Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News has more on the game right here, and it included quite a trash-throwing incident involving the fans.
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Here is the Memorial Cup schedule (all games on Sportsnet; all times Eastern):
Friday, May 22: Kelowna 3 vs. Quebec 4 (9,497)
Saturday, May 23: Rimouski 3 vs. Oshawa 4 (8,409)
Sunday, May 24: Quebec 4 vs. Oshawa 5 (OT) (10,970)
Monday, May 25: Rimouski 3 vs. Kelowna 7 (6,981)
Tuesday, May 26: Oshawa 2 vs. Kelowna 1 (7,002)
Wednesday, May 27: Quebec 0 vs. Rimouski 4 (10,277)
Thursday, May 28 (tiebreaker): Quebec 5 vs. Rimouski 2 (6,533)
Friday, May 29 (semifinal): Kelowna 9 vs. Quebec 3 (9,870)
Sunday (championship): Oshawa vs. Kelowna, 7 p.m.
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Luke Pierce, who signed with the Kootenay Ice earlier in the week, is the youngest head coach in the WHL, and it isn’t even close.
Keeping in mind that the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Vancouver Giants have yet to sign head coaches, here’s a look at the ages of the league’s head guys, from youngest to oldest:
Luke Pierce, Kootenay Ice, 31
Steve Hamilton, Edmonton Oil Kings, 41
Mike Williamson, Tri-City Americans, 42
Steve Konowalchuk, Seattle Thunderbirds, 42
Mark French, Calgary Hitmen, 44
Dan Lambert, Kelowna Rockets, 45
Mark Holick, Prince George Cougars, 46
Shaun Clouston, Medicine Hat Tigers, 47
Bob Woods, Saskatoon Blades, 47
Jamie Kompon, Portland Winterhawks, 48
Dave Lowry, Victoria Royals, 50
Mark Lamb, Swift Current Broncos, 50
Marc Habscheid, Prince Albert Raiders, 52
Brent Sutter, Red Deer Rebels, 52
Kelly McCrimmon, Brandon Wheat Kings, 54
Tim Hunter, Moose Jaw Warriors, 54
Don Nachbaur, Spokane Chiefs, 56
Kevin Constantine, Everett Silvertips, 56
John Paddock, Regina Pats, 60
Don Hay, Kamloops Blazers, 61
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Graham Tuer, one of the really good guys in the hockey world, received an Order of Merit for dedicated service to the sport during Hockey Canada’s Spring Congress in Toronto on Friday. . . . Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post has more right here. . . . It’s also worth mentioning that Brad Howard of Regina, a longtime on-ice official and someone who continues to be involved with officiating, was presented with Hockey Canada’s Officiating Award for his contributions to that aspect of the game.
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The Moose Jaw Warriors are holding their prospects’ camp this weekend, and there are some familiar names on hand. . . . F Landon Quinney of Las Vegas, who has played in the Arizona Bobcats program, is the son of former Calgary Wranglers F Ken Quinney and the brother of Gage, a forward with the Kelowna Rockets. . . . Also in camp, reports Matthew Gourlie of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald, is F Erik Middendorf, who was a fourth-round selection in the 2015 bantam draft. From Phoenix, he is the nephew of F Max Middendorf, who played in the QMJHL and NHL. . . . The Warriors have put some added emphasis on their American scouting of late. Former Lethbridge Hurricanes GM Bob Bartlett is Moose Jaw’s senior scout and manager of U.S. scouting and player development.
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Here’s Jeb Lund, for Rolling Stone, on the biggest story in sports this year: “FIFA is so grandiosely historically corrupt that busting them for this, finally, feels like ignoring reports on Jeffrey Dahmer for years and then raiding his kitchen for health-code violations.” . . . This excellent piece is right here.
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THE COACHING GAME:

Bruno Campese, the former general manager of the Prince Albert Raiders, has been named head coach of the Penticton, B.C.-based Okanagan Hockey Academy’s bantam prep team. . . . Campese, 51, spent eight seasons with the Raiders, beginning as head coach. He coached until 2011 and was the general manager from 2008-15. . . . Before joining the Raiders, Campese spent three seasons as director of hockey operations and head coach with the BCHL’s Penticton Vees.
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BCHLBrian Wiebe tweeted Friday that the BCHL’s Merritt Centennials have promoted Joe Martin, their assistant general manager and assistant coach, to GM and head coach. He takes over from Luke Pierce, who signed on as the Kootenay Ice’s head coach earlier in the week. . . . Pierce had been with the Centennials for six seasons. . . . Martin has been with the Centennials since May 27, 2011. He had been GM/head coach of the junior B Creston Valley Thundercats of the Kootenay International Junior League. . . . Wiebe, by the way, has been named assistant GM of the junior B Port Moody Panthers. He already was their director of media and communications.
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BCHLFred Harbinson, the general manager and head coach of the BCHL’s Penticton Vees, has decided to stay put. Andy Baggot of the Wisconsin State Journal has reported that Mike Eaves, the head coach of the U of Wisconsin Badgers, offered Harbinson an assistant-coaching position. Harbinson told Baggot he had multiple conversations with Eaves and received a “very strong” offer. . . . Harbinson chose to remain in Penticton because “it’s better for me and my family to stay put.”
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The Tri-City Americans have signed F Carson Focht, the seventh overall selection in the WHL’s 2015 bantam draft. The 6-foot-0, 150-pound Focht, from Regina, played with the Notre Dame Hounds of Wilcox, Sask. He led the bantam league in scoring, with 70 points, including 39 goals, in 38 games. . . .
In the AHL, the host Grand Rapids Griffins earned a 3-2 OT victory over the Utica Comets before 8,967 fans on Friday night. That tied the Western Conference final 2-2 with Game 5 in Grand Rapids on Sunday. . . . F Andreas Athanasiou got the winner last night, at 5:05 of the first extra period. . . .
The NHL’s Montreal Canadiens no longer are affiliated with the ECHL’s Wheeling Thunder. Instead, Montreal’s ECHL affiliate will be the Brampton, Ont., Beast. . . . The Beast will play in the 5,000-seat Powerade Centre, the former home of the OHL’s Brampton Battalion.
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Saturday, September 8, 2012

If you aren’t aware, John Leake is the author of Cold a Long Time: An Alpine Mystery.
The book is the story of parents searching for the truth about what happened to their son.
Duncan MacPherson was a former Saskatoon Blades’ defenceman who was embarking on what he hoped would be a coaching career in Scotland when he chose to tour Europe for a bit.
He never made it to Scotland. His body later was found on an Austrian glacier.
In between MacPherson’s departure from Canada in the summer of 1989 and the discovery of his body there were 14 years and a whole lot of intrigue and incompetence.
Leake appeared on a live Twitter chat on Friday. Here are some of his comments . . .
This is the key question – were his injuries caused by a fall and ice movement or by something else connected with a human. . . .
The parents suspected some form of culpability, though they weren't sure if it was intentional. The crime is concealment. . . .
Duncan's body had sustained sharp force trauma to three of his limbs, and the amputated limbs were found with his body. . . .
It is important to understand that NO information was offered to the parents. They had to repeatedly ask for everything they got. . . .
Hinterhoelzl maintains he assumed that Duncan forgot his clothing in the ski school office. . . .
Dr. Rabl told the parents that – according to the radiologist – the CT scan indicated no signs of violence to the body. . . .
When the parents heard this from Rabl, they decided to have the body cremated. Later they became aware of the chopped up limbs. . . .
In 1989, Canadian External Affairs withheld information from the MacPhersons indicating that Duncan had died on the ski slope. . . .
The MacPhersons asked me to investigate and write a book about this case because it is so incredibly convoluted and confusing. . . .
The Canadian government has been ineffectual at best. . . .
It is impossible to explain what happened in any form of conversation. Only a comprehensive narrative can make it understandable. . . .
It would have been very easy to determine the cause and manner of Duncan's death if the authorities had WANTED to do so. . . .
Our only hope for getting some kind of justice for the MacPherson family is through public awareness of the story. . . .
So far, the MacPherson's efforts to obtain clarity and redress have been successfully blocked by Austrian authorities. . . .
The Innsbruck public officials who participated in this cover-up should be severely punished.
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If you haven’t already read Cold A Long Time, you should. If you can’t find it in a book store, check out this website.
But be forewarned . . . as you read this book, you will get angrier and angrier because as much as it is a book about a search for truth, it is a book about injustice.
There are some people out there who need to look in a mirror and then speak up about whatever it was that happened to Duncan MacPherson.
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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Taggart Desmet (seven games with Calgary, 2000-01) signed a one-year contract with Meran (Italy, Serie A2). He had 10 goals and 23 assists in 43 games with Valpellice (Italy, Serie A) last season.
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The Vancouver Giants had four goaltenders on their roster as they prepared to play an exhibition game against the Kamloops Blazers in Ladner, B.C., on Friday night. That list got whittled to three early in the day when Jackson Whistle, 17, was dealt to the Kelowna Rockets for a 2013 third-round bantam draft pick.
Whistle, who is from Kelowna, played the last half of the Giants’ 7-4 loss to the Blazers, giving up four goals on 16 shots.
Whistle got into 21 games with the Giants last season. He was 1-7-3 as a starter. Overall, he was 3.61, .873. In Kelowna, he will work as the backup to Jordon Cooke, 19, who takes over from the graduated Adam Brown.
Whistle was a fourth-round selection in the 2010 bantam draft. There was time when he and Payton Lee, a second-round pick in 2011, were seen as the future of the Giants’ goaltending.
That obviously won’t happen, but Lee, 16, remains in camp, along with Liam Liston, 19, and Tyler Fuhr, 17.
Liston was acquired over the summer from the Lethbridge Hurricanes, while Fuhr, from Sherwood Park, Alta., perhaps has been the biggest surprise in camp. He’s a walk-on who has been terrific. He started Wednesday’s 7-4 loss to the Blazers in Kamloops and stopped 15 of 17 shots over the first half. The Giants gave up quite a few odd-man breaks and Fuhr kept them close. Whistle played the second half, giving up four goals on 16 shots.
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The Saskatoon Blades are down to three 20-year-olds after having released veteran F Chris Collins.
That move leaves the Blades with D Connor Dox, F Josh Nicholls and F Brendan Walker as the 20s.
Collins, from Calgary, was acquired from the Chilliwack Bruins (remember them?) during 2010-11. With the Blades, he had 67 points, including 25 goals, in 112 games. Last season, Collins put up 26 points in 56 games with the Blades. In his career, he has 108 points in 200 regular-season games.
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JUST NOTES: F Burke Gallimore (Spokane, Saskatoon, Seattle, 2006-12) has decided to attend the U of Alberta and play for the Golden Bears. Gallimore, who is from Edmonton, put up 198 points in 289 regular-season games. In four full seasons, he missed only four games. . . . The MJHL’s Dauphin Kings have traded F Neil Tarnasky, 20, to the AJHL’s Drayton Valley Thunder for future considerations. He had seven points in 112 games with the Lethbridge Hurricanes (2009-11). . . . F Jesse Mychan, 20, in his first game since severing an Achilles tendon in the first round of last spring’s playoffs, scored twice but his Tri-City Americans lost 4-3 in a shootout to the Seattle Thunderbirds in a Friday game at the Americans’ annual Red Lions Hotels tournament. . . . Among Brandon’s scratches for Friday’s home game against the Regina Pats were F Dominick Favreau (back), F Jayce Hawryluk (concussion), F Jens Meilleur (back) and D Ryley Miller (ill). The Wheat Kings beat the Pat, 5-3. . . . Regina was without F Dryden Hunt, who suffered a concussion in Regina’s 3-1 victory over visiting Brandon on Thursday night.
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The first paragraph of a Friday press release from the QMJHL:
“The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League today announced that Michel Bergeron and Marc Lachapelle are the honorary co-presidents of the Ambassadors Club Golf Tournament. They will lead the honorary foursome at the Boucherville Golf Club this September 19th with Gilles Courteau, QMJHL Commissioner and Guy Darveau, President of the Ambassadors Club.”
That brought a real smile to my face. Bergeron, of course, is a veteran of hockey’s coaching wars, while Lachapelle, a legendary hockey writer, first covered the QMJHL in 1971.
The three of us came into the same orbit at the 1979 Memorial Cup that was held in Montreal and environs. Bergeron was the head coach of the QMJHL-champion Trois-Rivieres Draveurs. Lachapelle was covering the tournament for Le Journal de Montreal. I was there covering the WHL-champion Brandon Wheat Kings for the Brandon Sun.
And when I asked Bergeron a question in English, he chose to reply in French. In fact, I don’t recall him speaking English at all in post-game situations.
Thankfully, Lachapelle bailed me out by showing up at my hotel and offering his translation of the proceedings.
Which is just another reason why Lachapelle always will be remembered as one of the good ones.
Merci, mon ami!
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The tweet of the day comes from F Chase Witala (@chasewitala) of the Prince George Cougars: “Picking up a locker with @alexforsberg27 hopefully we don't have any flies living in there this year”
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The Vancouver Giants will have three — count ’em: one, two, three — radio play-by-play voices this season. They have signed on with Team 1040/1410 and will have their games called by Jeff Paterson, Blake Price and Alex Grebenyuk. . . . The Giants announced Friday that Paterson and Price will alternate in calling home games. It has been known for a while that Grebenyuk would do all the road games. Grebenyuk is the Giants’ new director of media relations and broadcasting. . . . Paterson called Kamloops Blazers came from 1994-99. He was the Blazers’ voice in 1994-95 when they won the Memorial Cup under head coach Don Hay, who now is the head coach of the Giants. . . . According to a Giants’ news release, “Bill Wilms will continue to serve as the primary colour commentator for both home and away broadcasts.” . . . Also according to that news release: “At this point, of the 72 regular-season Giants games, 33 will be broadcast on TEAM 1040, 37 will be broadcast on TEAM 1410, and two will be available online only (due to scheduling conflicts) at www.teamradio.ca The Giants' final broadcast schedule is subject to change.” . . . Dan Elliott, who handled play-by-play and media relations for the last two seasons for the Giants, and the club parted company after last season. He now is UBC Athletics’ manager, media relations.
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Congratulations to old friend Graham Tuer, who has a whole lot of friends in the hockey fraternity. He will be inducted into the Regina Sports Hall of Fame on Oct. 4.
Here’s how the Regina Leader-Post summed up Tuer’s accomplishments:
“Involved in hockey for 50-plus years . . . coached and/or managed hockey teams at every level of minor and junior hockey in Saskatchewan . . . member of Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League board since 1982 . . . helped create provincial hockey's development model in 2007 . . . involved in Western Prospects development camp – served as assistant general manager/director of player personnel with WHL's Regina Pats . . . manager of Regina Pat Canadians for national championship in 1987-88 . . . scouted for numerous WHL teams and NHL Central Scouting . . . Regina Pats ‘builder recognition’ in 2008 . . . WHL Distinguished Service Award in 2009-10 - SaskSport volunteer of the year in 2008 . . . Hockey Regina bantam AA tournament named in his honour in 2007.”
At the same time, the Pat Canadians also will be inducted.
Here’s the Leader-Post on the Pat Canadians:
“Finished atop SMAAAHL regular-season standings with 26-2-0 record . . . Tim Iannone, Len Nielsen, Brett Burlock, Brent Fedyk, Troy Volhoffer and Selmar Odelein placed first to sixth in league scoring . . . coached by Bill Liskowich and Barry Trapp . . . support staff of Stew MacDonald (manager), Ron Blerot (trainer), Todd Liskowich and Trevor Dillabough (assistant trainers) – other team members: Kelly Murphy, Darren Hector, Brad Obrigewitsch, Mike Brannen, Curtis Fayant, Frank Joo, Kevin Herom, Dean Shaw, Jim Ruhland, Brian Wilkie and Kenton Rein . . . beat Notre Dame in league final . . . advanced to 12-team Air Canada Cup in Ste. Foye, Que., where 3-2 record put them into playoffs . . . defeated Toronto Don Mills 4-3 in quarterfinal, Thunder Bay 6-2 in semifinal and Ste. Foye 5-4 in final, with Nielsen scoring at 18: 21 and 19: 22 of third period in come-from-behind victory.”
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F Juraj Bezuch, who played last season with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, now is with the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires. He had been in camp with the Kitchener Rangers, but was swapped on Friday, along with a conditional 2013 sixth-round draft pick, for F Nick Czinder, 20, D Jeff Braithwaite, 20, and a 2014 seventh-round draft pick. . . . Braithwaite may not report as he has said he is going to focus on school. . . . Bezuch, from Slovakia, turns 19 on Dec. 20. He had 21 points in 67 games with Lethbridge last season but was released at season’s end. Kitchener selected him in the second round of the CHL‘s 2012 import draft. . . . Windsor immediately waived F Vlad Ionin, a Russian, who was the 15th pick in the 2012 import draft.

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