Showing posts with label J.T. Barnett. Show all posts
Showing posts with label J.T. Barnett. Show all posts

Thursday, February 9, 2017

WHL in court: More facts and figures from big business of junior hockey


F J.T. Barnett (Vancouver, Kamloops, Everett, Kelowna, 2008-13) has signed a contract for the rest of this season with Timrå (Sweden, Allsvenskan). This season, he was pointless in one game with CSKA Moscow (Russia, KHL), had seven goals and three assists in 24 games with Zvezda Chekhov (Russia, Vysshaya Liga, CSKA farm team), and was pointless in three games with Amur Khabarovsk (Russia, KHL). . . . He was traded by CSKA to Amur on Dec. 13, then released by Amur on Jan 30.
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 I was wrong — oh, was I! — when I wrote earlier in the week that the biggest story involving the WHL over the next while would involve the future of the Kootenay Ice in Cranbrook and the City of Nanaimo’s desire to build a new arena.
No . . . no . . . no!
The biggest story — and it’s huge — continues to unfold in a Calgary courtroom.
If you’re late to this, about 400 present and former major junior hockey players are seeking certification for a class-action lawsuit that, if successful, would result in WHL and OHL teams, which operate under
the CHL umbrella, having to pay minimum wage and assorted other benefits such as vacation pay.
This week, lawyers have been arguing both sides in a Calgary courtroom. Early on, Justice Robert Hall ordered the unsealing of financial statements and tax returns once certain personal information has been redacted, a process that now is underway.
In the meantime, some information is starting to trickle out.
On Thursday, we got our first glance at a tax-related document when Justice Hall gave permission for the media to look at and report on the Portland Winterhawks’ tax return for the period June 1, 2015 to May 31, 2016.
For that period, the Winterhawks declared gross revenues of US$5,657,050 and a net loss of $191,955, numbers that didn’t sit well with Ted Charney, a lawyer representing the players in this case.


According to the Form 1120 filed by the Winterhawks, they paid $382,568 in “compensation of officers” and $1,737,330 in salaries and wages. All told, $771,409 was paid in rent and $1,671,881 went to “other deductions,” for which there isn’t an explanation provided.
Total deductions added up to $5,607,710, leaving that net loss of $191,995.
According to the WHL’s attendance report for 2015,16, the Winterhawks drew 252,124 fans to 36 home games, an average of 7,004 per game. Only the Calgary Hitmen, at 8,217, had a higher average attendance.
Late last year, Justice Hall ordered teams to produce financials and tax returns for five years, starting with 2011.
In 2014,15, Portland’s average attendance was 6,980, while it was 7,329 in 2013-14, 6,687 for 2012-13, and 6,075 for 2011-12.
We haven’t yet seen earlier tax returns, but according to a report for the plaintiffs by forensic accountant Ronald Smith, the Winterhawks, under “compensation of officers,” paid out $263,025 in 2012, $292,375 in 2013, $354,781 in 2014 and $393,468 in 2015.
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Included in the same Ronald Smith-prepared chart that contained Portland’s “compensation of officers” were annual “management fees” paid by the Red Deer Rebels.
According to this chart, the Rebels, starting in 2012 and running through 2016, paid “management fees” of $652,600, $400,000, $700,000, $725,000 and $1,490,000, respectively.
Smith wrote: “Based on the large increase in the fiscal 2016 management fees, it appears that a significant portion of those management fees may be a distribution of profit.”
Red Deer management — the franchise is owned by Brent Sutter, who also is the team’s general manager and head coach — hasn’t commented.

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Rick Westhead, a senior correspondent for TSN, was tweeting again (@rwesthead) Thursday. Here are a few:
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After perusing all of these numbers and more, Ken Campbell of The Hockey News wrote:
“We’re beginning to see why the Canadian Hockey League was so desperate to keep the details of its financial situation away from the prying eyes of the media and public. But if you’re going to pay the vast majority of your employees poverty wages, you’re also going to have to justify it by opening your books for all to see.
“And what we’re seeing so far doesn’t look great for the CHL.”
As all of this continues to unfold in that Calgary courtroom — it had been hoped things would wrap up today (Friday), but they now are expected to run through Wednesday and perhaps longer — people are learning that major junior hockey is big business.
“In the coming days,” Campbell wrote, “we’re about to find out that there is some big money out there in junior hockey and not much of it is going to the players. We’re going to learn that teams are paying their non-playing employees hundreds of thousands of dollars, even more than a million dollars, while many of the players earn $50 a week. For most teams, the amount they pay in salaries and benefits to non-players dwarfs the entire expense budget (which includes equipment, travel and scholarships), and in many cases is double the entire amount they spend on players.”
There was some interesting news involving the Kelowna Rockets, too, as Campbell pointed out that Smith’s report indicates the Rockets “have a wholly-owned subsidiary that provides the team with bussing services, which means transportation costs are being paid to a company that the Rockets already own.”
Smith wrote: “We do not know if the subsidiary is profitable or not.”
In the coming days, we are going to learn that nothing is cut and dried about any of this business. The more we hear and read, the more we realize that major junior hockey is a large, multi-faceted business with a whole lot of layers. What you are seeing when you walk into an arena and the puck is dropped is only the tip of the iceberg.
Campbell’s complete piece is right here.
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JUST NOTES:

The Prince Albert Raiders have lost F Jordy Stallard, 19, for the rest of this season after he underwent shoulder surgery on Monday. The Brandon native is at home recovering. . . . Jeff D’Andrea of paNOW reports that the Raiders have more injury issues, too. “Rookie Carson Miller missed Wednesday’s 3-2 defeat to the Medicine Hat Tigers,” D’Andrea wrote, “and will be evaluated for a shoulder injury on Friday. Drew Warkentine was withdrawn from Wednesday’s game due to a lower body injury.” . . .
Meanwhile, the Saskatoon Blades have one forward ready to return from injury, with another close to getting back in the lineup. F Mason McCarty has missed 27 games with a knee injury but should play tonight against the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors. McCarty had 14 goals and nine assists in 26 games when he was injured on Nov. 25. . . . Meanwhile, F Markson Bechtold, who was injured in his third game after being acquired from the Spokane Chiefs, is close to returning but isn’t expected to play tonight. . . . However, Ryan Flaherty of Global-TV in Saskatoon tweeted Thursday that F Caleb Fantillo was “hurt at practice today. Blades back down to 19 skaters.” . . . 
F Michael Rasmussen, a 32-goal scorer and a projected first-round selection in the NHL’s 2017 draft, has an undisclosed injury and isn’t expected to play tonight against the host Seattle Thunderbirds and may also miss Saturday’s game in Spokane against the Chiefs. . . .
The Vancouver Giants, coming off a 3-2 shootout victory over the Cougars in Prince George on Wednesday, are scheduled to meet the Rockets in Kelowna tonight. The Rockets have beaten the Giants in each of their last 21 meetings in Kelowna, going back to March 19, 2011. . . . The Rockets likely will be a little ornery, having lost 6-0 to the host Kamloops Blazers on Wednesday.
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THURSDAY GAMES:

No Games Scheduled.
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FRIDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Everett at Brandon, 7:30 p.m.
Medicine Hat at Calgary, 7 p.m.
Regina at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Vancouver at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
Prince Albert at Lethbridge, 7 p.m.
Spokane at Portland, 7 p.m.
Swift Current at Red Deer, 7 p.m.
Moose Jaw at Saskatoon, 7:05 p.m.
Tri-City vs. Seattle, at Kent, Wash., 7:35 p.m.
Kamloops at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.

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Posted by Gregg Drinnan at 9:43 PM
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Monday, January 30, 2017

WHL suspends pair . . . Pats sneak past Blades; Brooks leads way


D David Turoň (Portland, 2002-03) has been released by the Fife Flyers (Scotland, UK Elite). He had three goals and five assists in 30 games. . . .
F J.T. Barnett (Vancouver, Kamloops, Everett, Kelowna, 2008-13) has been released by Amur Khabarovsk (Russia, KHL). He was pointless in three games. . . . Earlier this season, Barnett was pointless in one game with CSKA Moscow (Russia, KHL), and seven goals and three assists in 24 games with Zvezda Chekhov (Russia, Vysshaya Liga). . . . Barnett was traded by CSKA to Amur on Dec. 13.
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 The WHL’s Department of Discipline dealt with a couple of players on Monday. . . . F Tadden Rattie of the Vancouver Giants drew a TBD suspension for becoming involved in a one-man fight during a game with the host Victoria Royals on Sunday. . . . Brandon D Kale Clague will sit out one game after taking a charging major and game misconduct during a game in Calgary against the Hitmen on Sunday.
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The Portland Winterhawks have signed D Kade Nolan, 15, to a WHL contract. Nolan was a fourth-round selection in the 2016 bantam draft. Nolan, from Rouleau, Sask., has six points, five of them assists, in 33 games with the Saskatoon Blazers of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League. Last season, he had 26 points, including 24 assists, in 38 games with the bantam AAA Notre Dame Hounds.
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MONDAY’S GAME:


At Saskatoon, the Regina Pats scored a pair of PP goals as they beat the Blades, 2-1. . . . This was the Blades’ third annual Team Up for Respect game and included the teams shaking hands at centre ice
ADAM BROOKS
when it was over. . . . F Adam Brooks gave Regina a 1-0 lead at 18:04 of the first period with his 29th goal. . . . Brooks drew an assist on F Dawson Leedahl’s goal, his 26th, 35 seconds into the second period. Leedahl is from Saskatoon. . . . D Bryton Sayers (5) got the Blades to within a goal when he scored on a PP at 1:24 of the third period. . . . Regina F Sam Steel drew an assist on Leedahl’s goal. Steel leads the WHL with 88 points, two more than Brooks. . . . Brooks is No. 1 in assists, with 57, five more than Steel. . . . The Pats got 22 saves from G Tyler Brown, while Saskatoon’s Logan Flodell stopped 25 shots. . . . Regina was 2-4 on the PP; Saskatoon was 1-5. . . . The Pats (34-6-7) have won five in a row. They have moved back into a tie for first-place overall with the Prince George Cougars. Regina holds six games in hand, too. . . . The Blades (20-25-6) have lost three straight after having won five in a row. They are in possession of the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot, but are just one point ahead of the Calgary Hitmen. . . . Announced attendance: 8,019.
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TUESDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Everett vs. Portland, 7 p.m. (ppd. from Jan. 7)
Brandon at Lethbridge, 7 p.m.
Kootenay at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.
Kamloops vs. Seattle, at Kent, Wash., 7:05 p.m.

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Posted by Gregg Drinnan at 8:40 PM
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Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Blades, Chiefs swap four . . . Seven WHLers on Team Canada . . . Sideroff deadly in OT


MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM TAKING NOTE

Today we have a true WHL flavour to our musical opening. It’s Michael Bublé, who owns a chunk of the Vancouver Giants, and Mariah Carey, with All I Want For Christmas Is You, and it's right here.
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It’s your lucky day, because right here is another Christmas video. If you haven’t heard this song, give it a listen. It’s a catchy one from Chris Rea, who is . . . Driving Home for Christmas.
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The Edmonton Oil Kings always have a grand time with their Christmas video. Their latest one is no exception, and it’s right here.
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F J.T. Barnett (Vancouver, Everett, Kelowna, 2008-13) has been traded by CSKA Moscow to Amur Khabarovsk (both Russia, KHL) for "monetary considerations.” Barnett was pointless in one game with CSKA and had seven goals and three assists in 24 games with Zvezda Chekhov (Russia, Vysshaya Liga). . . .
D Filip Novák (Regina, 1999-2002) has been released by Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia, KHL). He had three assists in 11 games. Earlier this season, he had a goal and two assists in nine games with Pardubice (Czech Republic, Extraliga).
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The Saskatoon Blades have acquired F Markson Bechtold, 20, D Evan Fiala, 19, and a conditional sixth-round WHL bantam draft selection in an undisclosed year from the Spokane Chiefs in exchange for F and Wyatt Sloboshan, 19, D Nolan Reid, 18, and a third-round pick in the 2017 bantam draft. (At a guess, the
conditional pick will be in 2018 and it will hinge on whether Fiala plays as a 20-year-old in 2017-18.)
The trade was announced after the Blades were beaten, 3-2 in OT, by the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings on Wednesday night.
The acquisition of Bechtold left the Blades with four 20-year-olds, one over the maximum, so they have placed F Kolten Olynek on waivers. The Blades had acquired Olynek on waivers from the Prince Albert Raiders earlier in the season.
The Blades now have Bechtold, F Jesse Shynkaruk and D Bryton Sayers as their 20-year-olds.
It would appear that the Blades (13-18-3) were wanting to shake things up in their dressing room. That doesn’t mean anything untoward has been happening, just that management is looking for a different mix.
The Blades have picked it up a bit of late — they are 4-4-2 in their last 10 games — as they go into two important weekend games. They are one point out of the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot that is held by the defending-champion Brandon Wheat Kings (13-14-4). The teams meet Friday in Brandon and Saturday in Saskatoon.
Bechtold, from Strathmore, Alta., has five goals and three assists in 13 games this season. He has three goals and an assist in five games since returning from an undisclosed injury. A third-round pick by the Chiefs in the 2011 bantam draft, Bechtold has 93 points, 35 of them goals, in 211 regular-season games.
Fiala, from Clavet, Sask., has two goals and seven assists in 32 games this season. The Chiefs selected him in the first round of the 2012 bantam draft. In 157 regular-season games, he has eight goals and 32 assists.
Bechtold and Fiala are expected to join the Blades on Friday in time for the game in Brandon.
Sloboshan, the Blades’ captain, is from Vanscoy, Sask. He was a third-round pick by the Swift Current Broncos in the 2012 bantam draft. This season, he has four goals and 12 assists in 30 games. In 145 career games, all with Saskatoon, he has 91 points, including 33 goals.
Reid, from Deer Valley, Sask., was a second-round selection by the Blades in the 2013 bantam draft. Last season, he had four goals and 22 assists in 72 games. This season, he has 11 assists in 34 games. In 161 career games, all with the Blades, he has 48 points, seven of them goals.
Sloboshan, who hasn't played since Dec. 6 because of an undisclosed injury, and Reid are expected in Spokane before the Chiefs meet the visiting Prince George Cougars on Saturday.
Like the Blades, the Chiefs are chasing a playoff spot. At 14-12-6, they are one point out of the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot and five points short of third place in the U.S. Division.
Getting the 2017 third-round draft pick was important for the Chiefs as they traded a conditional third-rounder to the Red Deer Rebels, along with G Tyson Verhelst, who has since retired, for G Dawson Weatherill and a conditional fifth-rounder in 2018.
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After beating Czech Republic 8-0 in an exhibition game on Wednesday night in Boisbriand, Que., the Canadian national junior team made its last cuts.
Released were G Michael McNiven of the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack, F Sam Steel of the Regina Pats, F Zach Senyshyn of the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, D Guillaume Brisebois of the QMJHL’s Charlottetown Islanders and D Samuel Girard of the QMJHL’s Shawinigan Cataractes.
McNiven’s release means that Team Canada will go with two WHL goaltenders — Carter Hart of the Everett Silvertips is expected to go into the pre-World Junior Championship games as the starter, with Connor Ingram of the Kamloops Blazers backing him up.
Last night, Ingram stopped six shots and McNiven 11 in the victory over Czech Republic.
Other WHLers on the 22-player roster are F Mathew Barzal (Seattle Thunderbirds), F Dillon Dube (Kelowna Rockets), D Jake Bean (Calgary Hitmen), D Kale Clague (Brandon Wheat Kings) and D Noah Juulsen (Everett).
The roster features seven players from each of the WHL and QMJHL, with six from the OHL and two from the NCAA. The two NCAA skaters are D Dante Fabbro (Boston U), whose WHL rights belong to the Seattle Thunderbirds) and F Tyson Jost (North Dakota), whose WHL rights were acquired by Regina from Everett earlier this season.
Team Canada will move today from Boisbriand to Mont-Tremblant, Que., where it will prepare for exhibition games against Finland (Montreal, Dec. 19), Czech Republic (Ottawa, Dec. 21) and Switzerland (Toronto, Dec. 23).
The 2017 World Junior Championship opens Dec. 26 in Toronto and Montreal.
There is more on the Canadian roster right here.
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JUST NOTES:

F Dylan Holloway, who was selected by the Everett Silvertips in the sixth round of the WHL’s 2016 bantam draft, has committed to the U of Wisconsin where he will play for the Badgers. Holloway, 15, is from Bragg Creek, Alta., and plays for the midget AAA Calgary Flames. 
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WEDNESDAY’S GAMES:

At Kootenay, F Tyler Steenbergen broke a 2-2 tie at 13:17 of the second period and the Swift Current
COLE JOHNSON
Broncos went on to a 5-2 victory over the Kootenay Ice. . . . Steenbergen has 22 goals. . . . F Vince Loschiavo (11), who also had an assist, got the Ice on the scoreboard first, just 35 seconds into the game. . . . The Broncos took a 2-1 lead on goals from F Conner Chaulk (3), at 13:29, and F Ryan Graham (10), at 16:49. . . . F Matt Alfaro’s 10th goal pulled the Ice into a tie at 18:43. . . . Steenbergen broke the tie and F Cole Johnson (4), who also had an assist, added insurance at 15:59. Johnson was playing his first game since Dec. 2. . . . Broncos F Aleksi Heponiemi added his eighth goal at 13:15. . . . The Broncos got 21 stops from G Travis Child. . . . G Payton Lee stopped 38 shots for the Ice. . . . Swift Current (16-10-7) had lost its previous three games (0-2-1). . . . The Ice (6-20-8) has lost four in a row (0-3-1). . . . The Broncos welcomed back F Glenn Gawdin, their captain, who last played on Oct. 28. He missed 19 games. . . . Announced attendance: 1,506.
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At Lethbridge, F Deven Sideroff scored in OT to give the Kamloops Blazers a 3-2 victory over the
DEVEN SIDEROFF
Hurricanes. . . . Sideroff also scored in OT on Tuesday night as the Blazers won, 4-3, over the Rebels in Red Deer. . . . The Blazers now are 3-0-1 on a six-game jaunt through the Central Division. They are 2-0-1 in their last three games, each of which has been decided in OT. . . . Sideroff, who scored twice in Lethbridge, now has 21 goals. He leads the WHL with seven game-winners, four of them in his last seven games. Four of his winners have come in extra time. . . . The Hurricanes took a 2-0 lead on goals from F Brett Davis (2), at 5:42 of the first period, and F Egor Babenko (10), on a PP, at 19:22 of the second period. . . . The Blazers tied it on third-period goals from F Travis Walton (2), at 7:48, and Sideroff, at 15:08. . . . Babenko also had an assist. . . . G Dylan Ferguson stopped 25 shots for the winners. With starter Connor Ingram with Canada’s national junior team, Ferguson has made four straight starts. In those games, he is 3-0-1, 2.15, .932. . . . The Hurricanes got 26 stops from Stuart Skinner. . . . Lethbridge was 1-4 on the PP; Kamloops was 0-4. . . . Kamloops (20-12-2), which was playing its fourth game in five nights, has points in seven straight (6-0-1). . . . Lethbridge (18-11-5) has points in 13 in a row (11-0-2). . . . The Hurricanes had won their previous five games, and had won six in a row on home ice. . . . Announced attendance: 2,871.
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At Moose Jaw, F Jayden Halbgewachs continued to torch opposing teams, this time scoring a goal and
JAYDEN HALBGEWACHS
adding two assists as the Warriors beat the Prince Albert Raiders, 4-1. . . . Halbgewachs, 19, leads the WHL with 28 goals and is tied for the scoring lead, with 50 points, in 31 games. He has scored at least once in each of his past 10 games. The WHL record for longest goal-scoring streak is 18 games and is held by F Cliff Ronning, who did it with the New Westminster Bruins in 1984-85. Halbgewachs went into this season with single-season career highs of 15 goals and 41 points, both set in 69 games last season. . . . Last night, Halbgewachs scored the game’s first goal, at 16:01 of the second period. He drew an assist on F Noah Gregor’s 17th goal, on a PP, at 19:12. . . . Raiders D Loch Morrison was serving a slashing minor when Gregor scored. “I thought it was a weak call,” Prince Albert associate coach Dave Manson told Jeff D’Andrea of paNow.com. “It was something that was going on all night and they let it go for the first period and a half and they for some reason, they decided to call it there. It was a terrible call but those things happen. We have to kill that penalty in order to stay in it. They got one off of it and that put the nail in the coffin for us.” . . . F Tanner Jeannot (10) made it 3-0 at 1:28 of the third period and D Josh Brook added his fourth at 17:01, with Halbgewachs drawing his second assist. . . . Brook and Gregor also had an assist apiece, while F Nikita Popugaev had two of them. . . . Moose Jaw F Brayden Burke had an assist to run his point streak to 10 games. . . . Warriors G Zach Sawchenko stopped 29 shots, losing his shutout bid when F Austin Glover (11) scored at 17:37 of the third period. . . . G Ian Scott stopped 42 shots for Prince Albert. . . . Moose Jaw was 1-4 on the PP; Prince Albert was 0-6. . . . The Warriors were without D Matt Sozanski for a sixth straight game, while F Tristin Langan missed his third in a row. . . . Warriors F Brett Howden, released Tuesday by the Canadian national junior team, was back in the lineup and had an assist. . . . Prince Albert was without D Vojtech Budik and F Simon Stransky, both of whom played for the Czech Republic’s national junior team in an 8-0 loss to Canada in an exhibition game in Boisbriand, Que., on Wednesday. . . . Moose Jaw improved to 19-7-5. . . . The Raiders (7-24-2) are 1-1-1 in their last three games. . . . Announced attendance: 2,726.
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At Prince George, D Brendan Guhle snapped a 3-3 tie at 16:31 of the second period and the Cougars
TY EDMONDS
went on to beat the Tri-City Americans, 5-3. . . . One night earlier, the Cougars had beaten the Americans, 4-1. . . . The doubleheader sweep allowed the Cougars (24-8-2), who have won three in a row, to move back into first place in the overall standings. They are one point ahead of the Everett Silvertips (22-4-5), who hold three games in hand, and two ahead of the Regina pats (21-2-6), who have played five fewer games. . . . Last night, the Cougars jumped out front 2-0 when F Brad Morrison (14) and F Jared Bethune (11) scored 39 seconds apart midway through the first period. . . . The visitors tied it on goals from F Morgan Geekie (18), at 17:57, and F Michael Rasmussen (23), at 0:19 of the second period. . . . F Brogan O’Brien’s fifth goal, at 2:00 of the second, put the Cougars back into the lead, but Tri-City F Jordan Topping tied it with his third goal, at 13:26. . . . Guhle broke that deadlock, and F Kody McDonald added insurance with his eighth goal, on a PP, at 5:08 of the third period. . . . The Cougars got two assists from F Colby McAuley, while O’Brien, Guhle, McDonald and Bethune added one each. . . . Geekie and Topping had an assist each for Tri-City. . . . G Ty Edmonds stopped 22 shots for the Cougars, as he won for the 19th time this season. . . . The Americans got 32 saves from G Rylan Parenteau. . . . The Cougars were 1-7 on the PP; the Americans were 0-4. . . . The Americans (19-13-3) have lost two in a row. . . . Announced attendance: 2,855.
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At Saskatoon, F Davis Koch scored his second goal of the game 11 seconds into OT to give the
DAVIS KOCH
Edmonton Oil Kings a 3-2 victory over the Blades. . . . The Oil Kings overcame a 2-0 first-period deficit before winning it on Koch’s ninth goal of the season. . . . The Blades got a pair of first-period PP goals, with F Josh Patterson (7) scoring at 9:34 and F Chase Wouters (4) at 10:34. . . . D Anatolii Elizarov’s third goal, at 19:14 of the first, got the Oil Kings to within one. . . . Koch, who finished last season with nine goals, tied the score at 5:32 of the third period. . . . F Tyson Gruninger had two assists for Edmonton. . . . Koch, 18, now has 36 points in 33 games, after totalling 23 in 58 games last season and 25 in 52 in 2014-15. . . . The Oil Kings had a 46-17 edge in shots. . . . G Patrick Dea stopped 15 shots to earn the victory over Logan Flodell, who turned aside 43. . . . Saskatoon was 2-4 on the PP; Edmonton was 0-4. . . . The Oil Kings went 4-0-0 against the Blades, who would up 0-3-1 against the Oil Kings. . . . Edmonton (15-15-3) had lost its previous two games (0-1-1). . . . Saskatoon (13-18-3) has points in three straight (2-0-1). . . . Announced attendance: 3,056.
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At Victoria, F Ilijah Colina scored his first WHL goal at 8:33 of the third period, breaking a 3-3 tie and
ILIJAH COLINA
giving the Portland Winterhawks a 4-3 victory over the Royals. . . . Colina, 16, is from North Delta, B.C. He has a goal and three assists in 14 games. Portland selected him in the eighth round of the 2015 bantam draft. . . . The Winterhawks, who had lost 5-1 in Victoria one night earlier, took a 2-0 lead on goals from D Connor MacEachern, his first, at 4:32 of the first period and F Skyler McKenzie, his 21st, at 8:28. . . . F Ryan Peckford’s 12th goal, at 10:21, got the Royals to within one, but Portland F Cody Glass scored his 17th at 18:41 for a 3-1 lead. . . . The Royals tied it on second-period PP goals from F Matt Phillips (23), at 9:09, and F Dante Hannoun (14), at 13:35. . . . Glass also had two assists, giving him 48 points in 34 games. Last season, as a freshman, he finished with 27 points, including 10 goals, in 65 games. . . . F Evan Weinger also had two assists for Portland. . . . The Royals got three helpers from F Jack Walker and two from D Chaz Reddekopp, with Phillips adding one to his goal. . . . The Winterhawks got 32 saves from G Michael Bullion, while Griffen Outhouse stopped 23 for Victoria. . . . Victoria was 3-8 on the PP; Portland was 1-6. . . . The Winterhawks are 19-14-1; the Royals are 17-15-3. . . . Victoria D Ryan Gagnon returned after serving a four-game suspension. He played in his 283rd regular-season game, all with the Royals. That is tied for second, with F Logan Fisher, for second on the franchise’s all-time list. F Brandon Magee (318) holds the franchise record after playing with the Chilliwack Bruins/Victoria. If Gagnon plays the remainder of the Royals’ games, he will finish at 320. . . . Announced attendance: 3,568.
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THURSDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

No Games Scheduled.
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FRIDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Saskatoon at Brandon, 7:30 p.m.
Lethbridge at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Tri-City at Everett, 7:35 p.m.
Kamloops at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.
Regina at Moose Jaw, 7 p.m.
Kelowna at Red Deer, 7 p.m.
Prince George at Seattle, 7:35 p.m.
Prince Albert at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
Portland vs. Vancouver, at Langley, B.C., 7:30 p.m.
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TEDDY BEAR, TOQUE AND MITTEN TOSS GAMES:

Friday, Dec. 16: Saskatoon at Brandon, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 16: Portland vs. Vancouver, at Langley, B.C., 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 17: Brandon at Saskatoon, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 17: Portland at Everett, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 17: Vancouver at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 21: Vancouver vs. Seattle, at Kent, Wash., 7:05 p.m.
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.

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Posted by Gregg Drinnan at 10:58 PM
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Thursday, September 8, 2016

Chiefs get Carter . . . Cougars change imports . . . A conversation with M.J.



My wife, Dorothy, is one of the co-honourees — along with her friend Margaret Thompson — of the 2016 Kamloops Kidney Walk. Each year, the walk salutes someone who has worked to shine a light on kidney transplants and organ donorship. Dorothy, who had a kidney transplant almost three years ago, will take part in her third straight Kidney Walk on Sept. 25.
The hockey community, especially those of you who stop by here, have always been terrific in supporting her. If you would like to be part of her team and sponsor her, please click right here.

F J.T. Barnett (Vancouver, Kamloops, Everett, Kelowna, 2008-13) assigned by CSKA Moscow (Russia, KHL) to their farm club, Zvezda Chekhov (Russia, Vysshaya Liga). . . .
F James Wright (Vancouver, 2005-10) has signed a one-year contract with Admiral Vladivostok (Russia, KHL). Last season, with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL), he had 14 goals and 27 assists in 73 games. . . . There now are three former Vancouver Giants with Admiral: Wright, Jon Blum, and Mikhail Fisenko. All were teammates in 2008-09.
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Scott Carter is the new general manager of the Spokane Chiefs. He takes over from Tim Speltz, who left after 26 years in the position. Speltz now is the director of western area scouting with the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs.
Carter, who turned 55 on Thursday, was born and raised in Penticton. He helped bring the junior A 
Vees back to relevancy and was their managing partner. He also did a stint as president and general manager, and was named the BCHL’s executive of the year in 2005.
Carter was a co-founder of the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame, which is based in Penticton. He was inducted into the hall in 2012.
In the business world, he became involved with Vaughn Custom Sports in 1983, and has been part-owner and president since 1996.
In 1994, he helped bring the Western Professional Hockey League into being, later selling his shares in order to become a full partner in Vaughn.
He also has scouted for the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks. Most recently, he has done consulting work with the Canadian Sport School Hockey League, working with the academies to help them maintain certain standards.
“We draft and sign what we call ‘Chief type’ players,” Brett said in a news release, “and wanted a guy that would fit into that culture but also bring new ideas. We’re always looking for ways to get better. The more I got to know Scott and checked in with his references, it was clear that we made the right choice.”
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The Prince George Cougars added one import to their roster while dropping another on Thursday. . . . F Yan Khomenko, 18, of St. Petersburg, Russia, is in, while Swedish F Axel Jonsson Fjallby is out. . . . The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Khomenko had five goals and four assists in 45 games with the Everett Silvertips last season. They selected him in the CHL’s 2015 import draft. . . . Fjallby, 18, was a fifth-round pick by the Washington Capitals in the 2016 NHL draft. The Cougars selected him in the CHL’s 2016 import draft. He is likely to play this season with the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms. . . . Prince George’s other import is sophomore F Bartek Bison, who is from Amsterdam, Netherlands.
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The Saskatoon Blades have signed F Logan Doust to a WHL contract. Doust, from North Vancouver, was a ninth-round pick in the 2016 bantam draft. He played last season with the North Shore Winter Club’s bantam AAA team. His regular-season stats aren’t available, but Small Thoughts At Large has him with a goal and three assists in five games at the St. Albert tournament and two goals in five games with the Wild at the U-16 B.C. Cup. . . . The Blades also signed F Josh Bruce, 18, who is from Surrey, B.C. Last season, the 6-foot-1, 185-pounder had 28 points, including 12 goals, in 39 games with the Valley West Hawks of the B.C. Major Midget League.
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The Lethbridge Hurricanes have signed F Jayden Davis and F Connor Lyons, both of whom are list players. . . . Davis, who will turn 17 in November, is from Alameda, Sask. Last season, his second with the midget AAA Moose Jaw Generals, the 5-foot-10, 175-pounder had 23 points, 10 of them goals, in 39 games. . . . Lyons, 17, is a list player from Lethbridge. The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder played last season with the midget AAA Lethbridge Hurricanes, putting up 23 points, including seven goals, in 34 games. His father, Corey, is a former Hurricanes forward.
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The Kootenay Ice has signed F Blake Allan, a third-round selection in the 2016 bantam draft. Allan, from Humboldt, Sask., had 40 points, including 18 goals, in 30 games with the bantam AA Humboldt Broncos last season.
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Portland-based journalist Dwight Jaynes is the host of a podcast these days — the Podfather Godcast — and he interviewed Mike Johnston, the vice-president, general manager and head coach of the Portland Winterhawks, the other day. There is lots right here, including Johnston’s being fired last season from his position as head coach of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, who went on to win the Stanley Cup. As usual, Johnston is open and honest.
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It is going on a year since former Brandon Wheat Kings scoring star Brian Propp had a stroke. Today, after a month in Magee Rehabilitation Hospital in Philadelphia and a whole lot of hard work, and with some help from a “robotic gait-training system,” Propp is well on the road to recovery. He now is working at giving back. . . . Brian Hickey of PhillyVoice has more right here.
www.phillyvoice.com/recovering-stroke-former-flyer-brian-propp-establishes-scholarship-program/
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Got a tip or some information you feel could be useful to me, feel free to email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.
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THURSDAY’S GAMES:

In Kennewick, Wash., F Devon Skoleski’s goal ended a six-round shootout and gave the Everett Silvertips a 5-4 victory over the Portland Winterhawks (3-0-1). F Orrin Centazzo also scored for Everett (2-2-1) in the shootout, while F Skyler McKenzie did the same for Portland. The Winterhawks held 3-0 and 4-1 leads, only to have Everett score three straight goals. F Brian King got the Silvertips’ last two goals, at 8:30 and 15:33 of the third period. F Connor Dewar scored his fourth goal of the preseason for the Silvertips. F Graham Millar had three assists for Everett. Portland got two goals from F Bronson Sharp and two assists from McKenzie. . . . F Jansen Harkins scored his second goal 53 seconds into OT to give the Prince George Cougars a 5-4 victory over the Kootenay Ice. The Cougars held 3-0 and 4-3 leads, only to have F Jared Legien force OT with his second goal of the game at 19:26 of the third period. F Jesse Gabrielle and D Max Martin each had three assists for the Cougars (2-2-0). The Ice (0-0-1) got two assists from F Max Patterson. . . .
In Prince Albert, F Simon Stransky had a goal and two assists to lead the Raiders to a 5-3 victory over the Saskatoon Blades. F Drew Warkentine and F Reid Gardiner had two assists each for the winners. The Blades got two assists from D Anthony Bishop. Saskatoon held a 42-26 edge in shots. The Raiders are 1-1-0; the Blades 2-2-0.
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Posted by Gregg Drinnan at 11:15 PM
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Friday, September 2, 2016

Kisio latest to head for Vegas . . . Royals add assistant coach . . . More signings, exhibition games

F J.T. Barnett (Vancouver, Kamloops, Everett, Kelowna, 2008-13) has signed a one-year contract with CSKA Moscow (Russia, KHL). Last season, with the Atlanta Gladiators (ECHL), he had five goals and eight assists in 35 games.
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Another long-time WHL executive is on his way to the NHL.
Kelly Kisio, who had been with the Calgary Hitmen for 18 years and part of the Calgary Flames for 23 years, has joined the NHL’s expansion Las Vegas franchise as a pro scout. Most recently, Kisio has
After 18 years with the Calgary Hitmen, Kelly Kisio is
on his way to the NHL as a pro scout.(Calgary Hitmen photo)
been the Hitmen’s president of hockey operations and alternate governor. For four seasons (2004-08), Kisio was Calgary’s general manager and head coach. He also is a former WHL and NHL player, who played 13 seasons in the NHL.
Kisio follows good friend Kelly McCrimmon, the long-time owner, general manager and head coach of the Brandon Wheat Kings, and Tim Speltz, the veteran GM of the Spokane Chiefs, to the NHL. McCrimmon now is the assistant GM with Las Vegas; Speltz is the Toronto Maple Leafs’ director of western scouting.
“There were a lot of sleepless nights deciding whether I wanted to leave after 23 years,” Kisio told Scott Fisher of the Calgary Sun. “I haven’t had a chance to sit back and reflect on it, but I’ve been thinking about (the move) quite a bit.
“I competed against (McCrimmon) here for a long, long time. And I played with (Las Vegas GM George McPhee), so it looks like it will be a great fit.”
Fisher’s story is right here.
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The Victoria Royals have signed G Brock Gould, who won’t turn 15 until Dec. 11. Gould, who is from Colorado Springs, Colo., was an eighth-round pick by the Royals in the 2016 bantam draft. Gould, 6-foot-3 and 155 pounds, played last season with the Colorado Thunderbirds (T1EH14), going 4-1-0, 1.40, .935 with two shutouts in six games.
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The Portland Winterhawks have signed F Connor Bowie, F Easton Easterson and F Ty Kolle to WHL contracts. All three are on the Winterhawks’ roster as they open their exhibition schedule at a tournament in Everett this weekend. . . . Bowie, from Fort St. John, B.C., was a seventh-round selection in the 2016 bantam draft. Last season, he had 62 points, including 39 goals, in 28 games with the Fort St. John Northern Metallic Flyers of the Edmonton Rural Bantam Hockey League. . . . Kolle, a 16-year-old from Kamloops, was a fourth-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft. Last season, with the Prince George-based Cariboo Cougars of the B.C. Major Midget League, he had 29 points, 11 of them goals, in 40 games. . . . Easterson, 16, is from Canyon Country, Calif. He was an invitee to training camp and has had a good showing. Last season, with the U-16 Los Angeles Junior Kings of the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League, he had 28 points, 20 of them goals, in 49 games.
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The Vancouver Giants have signed G Trent Miner, 15, to a WHL contract. Miner, from Brandon, was a first-round selection in the 2016 bantam draft. Last season, in 27 games with the bantam AAA Wheat Kings, he was 23-3-0, 1.52 with five shutouts. . . . As an aside, Glen Hanlon, the Giants’ first-year general manager, is from Brandon. He played his minor hockey there before going on to play in the WHL with the Wheat Kings.
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The Medicine Hat Tigers have signed D Cameron MacPhee, 17, of Edmonton to a WHL contract. Last season, the 6-foot-1, 180-pounder had one goal and four assists in 22 games with the midget AAA South Side Athletic Club Athletics.
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The Prince Albert Raiders have signed F Nikita Krivokrasov, 16, to a WHL contract. Krivokrasov, who lives in Westminster, Colo., had seven points, including two goals, in 20 games with the U-16 Rocky Mountain Roughriders last season. He will turn 16 on Dec. 23. . . . He is an undrafted list player. . . . Krivokrasov, who is a native of Moscow, Russia, played some minor hockey in North America — he moved over here at the age of 9 — so isn’t classified as an import player. He is the son of F Sergei Krivokrasov, who played in 450 NHL games after being a first-round pick by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1992 draft.
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MJHLThe MJHL’s Portage Terriers have acquired the rights to D Jordan Thomson, 20, from the SJHL’s Notre Dame Hounds for the rights to D Caleb Boman, who turns 19 on Nov. 4. . . . Thomson played 205 regular-season WHL games, split between the Kamloops Blazers, who took him fourth overall in the 2011 bantam draft, Saskatoon Blades, Swift Current Broncos and Brandon Wheat Kings. From Wawanesa, Man., Thomson played 46 regular-season and 21 playoff games with Brandon last season as the Wheat Kings won the WHL championship. Last week, before the Wheat Kings opened training camp, Thomson said he wouldn’t return, that he was working and contemplating going to school in Brandon. . . . According to portageonline.com, Thomson “is considering playing for the Terriers.”
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The Victoria Royals have added Doug Bodger as an assistant coach. From Chemainus, B.C., Bodger spent last season as an assistant coach with the Shawinigan Lake bantam prep team in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League. He also has worked as an assistant coach with the BCHL’s Cowichan Valley Capitals. Bodger, 50, played 16 years of pro hockey after playing in the WHL with the Kamloops Junior Oilers (1982-84). . . . In Victoria, he will work alongside head coach Dave Lowry and assistant coach Dan Price.
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The Seattle Thunderbirds have signed D Tyson Terretta, 16, who is from High Riverd, Alta. Last season, he had one goal and 20 assists in 37 games with the midget AAA Rockyview Raiders of the Alberta Minor Midget League. . . . He was a sixth-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft.
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The Everett Silvertips have signed D Carter Brown, F Orrin Centazzo, F Brandson Hein, D Ian Walker and D Kyle Walker to WHL deals. . . . Brown, from Edmonton, was selected by the Saskatoon Blades in the 10th round of the 2013 bantam draft. He will turn 18 on Oct. 17. He was limited to one game with the midget AAA Knights of Columbus Pats last season. In 2014-15, he had one assists in 27 games with the midget AAA Maple Leaf Athletic Club Maple Leafs. . . . Centazzo, from Marwayne, Alta., was a fifth-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft. Last season, the 16-year-old had 53 points, 30 of them goals, in 37 games with the minor midget Lloydminster, Alta., Rage. . . . Hein, from Winnipeg, had 48 points, including 23 goals, in 33 games with the midget AAA Winnipeg Thrashers last season. Hein, who will turn 18 on Sept. 27, is a listed player. . . . Ian Walker, a 16-year-old from Vancouver, was a third-round selection in the 2015 bantam draft. Last season, with the Burnaby Winter Club Elite 15s, he had 17 points, including 15 assists, in 35 games. . . . Kyle Walker, from Leduc, Alta., is a listed player who had 44 points, including four goals, in 37 games with the minor midget AAA Leduc Oil Kings. He led the Alberta Minor Midget League’s defencemen in points.
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The OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs want in on the bidding to play host to the 2018 Memorial Cup tournament, which will celebrate the trophy’s 100th anniversary. Scott Radley of the Hamilton Spectator reports that the Bulldogs will make it official with an announcement on Thursday. . . . The WHL’s Regina Pats, who also will be celebrating 100 years, have said that they will be putting together a bid, too. . . . In the OHL, the Oshawa Generals and Ottawa 67’s have said they are interested in getting involved. . . . Radley’s story is right here.
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Got a tip or some information you feel could be useful to me, feel free to email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.
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Coaching
Regan Bartel, the veteran radio voice of the Kelowna Rockets, reports that the team has hired Adam Brown, 24, as its “eye in the sky in the press box at home games.” Brown also will “help out with the goaltenders.” . . . Brown, a goaltender, played four seasons (2008-12) with the Rockets before going on to a brief pro career. He retired after playing last season in Sweden. Born in Houghton, Mich., he is the son of Newell Brown, who is preparing for his 20th season as an NHL assistant coach. 
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FRIDAY’S GAMES:

In Everett, F Evan Weigner had a goal and two assists to lead the Portland Winterhawks to a 4-3 victory over the Tri-City Americans. The Winterhawks built a 4-0 early second-period lead and hung on for the victory. . . . F Curtis Miske had two goals and an assist, while F Kailer Yamamoto, the team captain, drew three assists, as the Spokane Chiefs beat the Vancouver Giants, 5-3. F Thomas Foster had two goals and an assist for the Giants, who lost D Dmitry Osipov to a boarding major and game misconduct at 18:38 of the second period. . . . The Seattle Thunderbirds built a 3-0 lead en route to a 3-1 victory over the Everett Silvertips. D Jarret Tyszka and F Nick Holowko each had a goal and an assist for Seattle. . . .
In Red Deer, D Shaun Dosanjh scored at 4:59 of OT as the Prince George Cougars beat the Calgary Hitmen, 5-4. F Ethan O’Rourke had pulled the Cougars even at 15:57 of the third period. F Jesse Gabrielle had two goals for the Cougars. Hitmen F Vladislav Yeryomenko had two goals and an assist. Calgary D Jackson van de Leest left with a checking-from-behind major and game misconduct at 19:59 of the third. . . . F Michael Spacek had two goals and two assists to lead the Red Deer Rebels to a 6-1 victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings. D Alexander Alexeyev and F Brandon Hagel each added a goal and two assists. . . . 
In Regina, the Saskatoon Blades scored three times in the shootout and beat the Swift Current Broncos, 4-3. The Blades trailed 3-0 after one period, but scored three times for a 3-3 tie. F Cameron Hausinger forced OT with a PP goal at 10:08 of the third period. He also had an assist. Broncos D Artyom Minulin had two assists, giving him five in two games. . . . The Regina Pats broke a 1-1 tie with five second-period goals and went on to a 7-2 victory over the Prince Albert Raiders. F Riley Woods, F Erik Gardner and D Connor Hobbs each had a goal and an assist for the Pats, who got two assists from each of F Jake Leschyshyn and F Nick Henry. . . . 
In Kamloops, F Dante Hannoun scored three times, the last one into an empty net, as the Victoria Royals beat the Blazers, 5-3. The Royals took a 3-0 lead in the first period, only to have the Blazers score three second-period goals, two from F Matt Revel. Victoria F Tyler Soy broke the tie at 15:05 of the second. . . .
In Coaldale, Alta., F James Hamblin scored three times and added an assist to lead the Medicine Hat Tigers to a 7-5 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. F Gary Haden had two goals for the Tigers, with F Ryan Jevne notching one goal and adding two helpers. F Jordy Bellerive scored twice for Lethbridge. . . . Prior to the game, organizers saluted former WHL/NHL player Stacy Roest, who was born in Lethridge and raised in Coaldale. Roest, 42, is the director of player development with the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning.
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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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