McDavid as a d-man? . . . OT rules in WHL playoffs . . . Thunder booms at Allan Cup

With apologies to Blackie Sherrod, we’re scatter shooting on a Saturday evening:
1. There I was sitting at a counter in a DQ, enjoying a cup of coffee while my wife did the crossword puzzle in Saturday’s Vancouver Sun. I was tracking the NHL draft lottery on my tablet and wondering if the NHL intentionally created such humour.
2. Of course, the last thing the Edmonton Oilers, who won the lottery, need is another highly skilled forward. Perhaps they will select F Connor McDavid of the OHL’s Erie Otters and turn him into a defenceman?
3. Here’s a post-lottery tweet from Neate Sager of Yahoo! Sports that says it all: “So Connor McDavid will go to #Oilers, who forced @ErieOtters owner Sherry Bassin to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. No justice. #OHL.”
4. Do you recall the comments by then-Vancouver Canucks head coach John Tortorella after his infamous dash towards the Calgary Flames dressing room last season? After that incident, he said of Flames head coach Bob Hartley: “I don’t like the way he does business.” . . . You can bet that wherever Tortorella was on Friday night, he was nodding his head.
5. If you’re like me, you’re wondering how much of that $50,000 fine will come out of Hartley’s pocket?
6. The WHL playoffs are almost through two rounds, and 21 of 61 games have gone to overtime. Unfortunately, these playoffs haven’t been as close as that might seem to indicate. To date, only three of 11 series have needed more than five games to decide. If Portland wins tonight in Everett, that will be three of 12.
7. If you’re a fan of the Portland Winterhawks, you have to like the way these playoffs are shaping up. The Winterhawks, who have been to four straight WHL finals, are relatively healthy, while the other four teams still standing — Brandon, Calgary, Everett and Kelowna — all have had injury issues. It could be, though, that the Rockets are getting healthy at just the right time.
8. You can bet that Brandon, Calgary and Kelowna, none of whom is likely to play before Friday, will make good use of the off days, simply by resting those players with bumps and bruises and worse.
9. There is speculation that Mike Johnston, who had so much success as the GM and head coach of the Winterhawks, is on the hot seat as his first season as head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins winds down. . . . If you think that’s crazy, there is speculation that the Boston Bruins’ brain trust is giving at least some consideration to firing head coach Claude Julien and hiring Mike Milbury to replace him. . . . Peter Chiarelli, the GM the Bruins fired the other day, had three years left on his contract.
10. A Saturday night tweet from Randy Turner of the Winnpeg Free Press: “I don't know why media keeps asking MacT if he'll trade McDavid. The Edmonton Oilers would never trade the best hockey player in the world.”
———







F Maximilian Kammerer (Regina, 2013-14) has signed a three-year contract with Düsseldorf (Germany, DEL). This season, with Red Bull Salzburg II (Austria, Russia MHL), he had five goals and eight assists in 35 games.
———

SATURDAY’S GAMES:

No Games Scheduled.
———


G Steve Christie, a 30-year-old Winnipegger, stopped 27 shots on Saturday, leading the South East Prairie Thunder to a 2-0 victory over the Bentley, Alta., Generals in the Allan Cup final in Clarenville, Nfld. The Allan Cup was awarded for the 107th time. . . . The Prairie Thunder, which plays out of Steinbach, Man., will be host team for the 2016 Allan Cup tournament. . . . The goals came from F Mark Agnew, a 32-year-old native of Hartney, Man., who played four seasons at Quinnipiac U, and F Shawn Limpright, 33, who is from St. Adolphe, Man., and played four seasons with the Moose Jaw Warriors. . . . The Thunder’s lineup also included F Terry Yake, who played three seasons with the Brandon Wheat Kings before going on to a pro career that included 403 games in the NHL. Yake had an assist in the final, giving him a goal and two assists in four tournament games. Yake is 46 years of age. . . . The scoresheet from the final game is right here.
——
The Kelowna Rockets advanced to the third round of the WHL playoffs on Friday night and now await the winner of the ongoing series between the Portland Winterhawks and Everett Silvertips. Portland takes a 3-1 lead into Everett tonight. . . . Should the next round feature Kelowna and Portland, Larry Fisher of the Kelowna Daily Courier writes that the Rockets could be “heavy favourites to avenge last year’s loss.” His reasoning? “Portland has a couple elite talents up front in Oliver Bjorkstrand and Nic Petan, but the tables have been turned on the back end, with Kelowna now boasting a clear advantage with (Josh) Morrissey in the fold. If (Leon) Draisaitl can pick up where he left off against Victoria, then the Rockets will be heavy favourites to avenge last year’s loss.”
Fisher’s story is right here.
——
Here’s Kerry Eggers of the Portland Tribune, before the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the host New York Rangers 4-3 on Saturday:
The Pittsburgh Penguins are in tough in their first-round NHL playoff series with the New York Rangers, who owned the league's best record in the regular season (53-22-7). According to a column in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, first-year coach Mike Johnston — the former Winterhawks general manager/head coach — is on the hot seat if the Penguins lose.
"Mike Johnston should survive. He probably won't," writes columnist Rob Rossi, blaming the Penguins' late-season swoon on injuries and a poor job of salary-cap management by general manager Jim Rutherford.
If the Penguins axe Johnston, the Winterhawks would be wise to welcome him back with open arms.
Johnston's replacement, Jamie Kompon, has done a capable job coaching the Hawks into the WHL's Western Conference semifinals. But Johnston did a sensational job in his six years in Portland, resurrecting a woebegone franchise that was a laughingstock when he arrived in 2008.
Keeping Kompon as coach and bringing back Johnston as the club's GM would be a win-win for everybody.
——-



Jack Brodsky, a former owner of the Saskatoon Blades, will be presented with the Saskatchewan Order of Merit on May 13 in Regina. . . . Before the Blades were sold to Edmonton-based auto dealer Mike Priestner prior to the 2013-14 season, Brodsky was prominent in WHL circles. He was the Blades’ president and governor, and served on numerous WHL committees. . . .
F Tim Bozon (Kootenay Ice) made his pro debut with the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs last night. Bozon, who played out his junior eligibility this season, was pointless but had six shots on goal as the host Bulldogs dropped a 4-3 shootout decision to the Lake Erie Monsters. Bozon had a chance to win the game in OT but Monster G Calvin Pickard came up with a tremendous save. . . . Kootenay D Rinat Valiev also made his debut last night. He was plus-1 as his Toronto Marlies beat the host Rockford IceHogs, 3-1.
F Cole Ully (Kamloops Blazers) was pointless as the Texas Stars scored a 4-3 OT victory over the San Antonio Rampage. It was Ully’s second pro game; he picked up an assist in a 3-2 victory on Friday night. Ully, who has signed with the parent Dallas Stars, is headed home to Calgary today. . . . BTW, former Kamloops F Brendan Ranford scored the OT goal for Texas last night.
——








What is it like to be part of a family in which one individual is trying to cope with post-concussion syndrome? Kristin Reed has had six of these brain injuries, all while playing sports. She is 15 years of age. She yearns for a headache-free day. . . . Brandon Stoneburg of the Norristown, Pa., Times Herald has Stewart’s story right here.
———

I wonder if Kelowna Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton has made the call to Oilers GM Craig McTavish to get Connor McDavid in a Rockets Jersey ???
— Andrew Castell (@ACHockeyHistory) April 19, 2015

So think of how many years that Canada will now have McDavid for the World Champs this time of year!
— Peter Milobar (@PeterMilobar) April 19, 2015

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.

Cougars deal could be close

The WHL without anyone from the Brodsky family involved at the ownership level? Yes, it appears the time has come.
The Brodsky family has owned at least part of a WHL franchise since 1976 when Nate Brodsky, the family patriarch, along with Jackie McLeod and Joe Reich purchased the Saskatoon Blades from Jim Piggott.
On Dec. 1, 1980, Brodsky bought out his partners and took complete control of the franchise.
Sons Bob, Jack and Rick and daughter Debbie later became involved at the ownership level, before Rick left to purchase the Victoria Cougars, a franchise that he later moved to Prince George.
With Rick gone, Jack became the face of the Blades’ ownership, something that lasted until earlier this season when the Blades were sold to Edmonton-based auto dealer Mike Priestner.
And now Rick is in the process of selling the Cougars, likely to local interests including NHLers Eric Brewer and Dan Hamhuis, both of them former Prince George players.
“The Prince George Cougars have been sold to local businessman Greg Pocock and a group of investors that includes NHL players and former Cougars Eric Brewer and Dan Hamhuis, say several sources close to the team,”
That’s how Ted Clarke of the Prince George Citizen began a story that appears in Monday’s newspaper.
“Pocock is the owner of Prince George Hydromechanical, an industrial cleaning services contractor, and is co-owner of Forest Power Sports, a Prince George-based recreational vehicle dealership,” the story continues. “The local sources, who requested anonymity, say the team was purchased for close to $7 million, while longtime owner Rick Brodsky had been asking for $8 million. With a tentative deal now in place, it still has to receive approval from the WHL head office and be passed by the league's board of directors.”
Clarke’s complete story is right here.
As I understand it, a sale has yet to be completed. I was told earlier today that nothing has been signed, nor has any money changed hands, but that serious talks are ongoing.
If a sale does get completed, it would bring to an end Rick Brodsky’s up-and-down relationship with the hockey fans of Prince George. Presumably, local ownership would keep the team in Prince George because should it ever leave you have to believe that the WHL wouldn’t be in any rush to return. Why not? The reasons are strictly geographic . . . teams aren’t at all enthralled with the bus ride to P.G., either from Kamloops or Edmonton.
Meanwhile, Clarke also had this in his story: “The Cougars have been the subject of rumours they would be moved to Nanaimo or Winnipeg. But Nanaimo lacks a WHL-sized arena, and now it appears Winnipeg will be the home of the Kootenay Ice next season.”
That presumably would mean that True North Sports and Entertainment, the owner of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets, would be involved at the ownership level.
Jim Toth of CJOB in Winnipeg, who once worked in Cranbrook, tweeted Monday morning: “Just got word from #TNSE regarding this article of speculative move of #WHL franchise to WPG. is ‘100% False again’ ”
Toth later tweeted: “Confirmed with Kootenay Ice same as #TNSE regarding Prince George article. Told same as in October, no truth to this story out of PG.”
When I contacted Jeff Chynoweth, the Ice’s owner, president and general manager for comment, all he said was: “Where do they come up with stuff like that?”
While the Cougars’ future in Prince George has been the centre of speculation and rumours for a few years now, that all seems likely to end in the next while. However, the same can’t be said for Lethbridge, where it seems the fun is just beginning.For example, there also was another unsourced and unattributed rumour floating around this morning. That one had the Hurricanes being sold to True North and relocating to Winnipeg, with the Ice then moving to Lethbridge.
Chynoweth’s response to that one: “Seriously? . . . You should laugh at that one.”
Later in the day, Paul Kingsmith, the sports director at Global-TV in Lethbridge, tweeted: “Wichers says team is not for sale, #WHL has not taken financial control and he expects the @WHLHurricanes to be here next season.”
Wichers is Brian Wichers, who is a member of the Hurricanes’ board of directors.

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.

Brodsky to see Paris in September

Jack Brodsky and his wife, Shirley, are flying to Paris today, just for a little vacation time. Before he left, Brodsky explained to Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix why he sold the WHL franchise to Edmonton auto dealer Mike Priestner. . . . That piece is right here.
———
The Kamloops Blazers acquired F Tristan Sieben, 19, from the Vancouver Giants for a seventh-round selection in the 2016 bantam draft. Sieben, from Edmonton, has 29 points in 97 regular-season games with the Giants and Edmonton Oil Kings. . . . The Blazers are rather young up front and were looking for some veteran leadership.
———
The Regina Pats signed five players to WHL contracts on Thursday — D Chase Harrison, F Colton Kroeker, F Jared McAmmond, F Adam Berg and G Nick Schneider. . . . Harrison, a 17-year-old list player, had 30 points in 44 games with the midget AAA Winnipeg Thrashers last season. . . . Kroeker was a seventh-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft. He had 47 points in 36 games with the minor midget AAA Delta, B.C., Hockey Academy Wild last season. . . . McAmmond, from Grande Prairie, was a 10th-round pick in 2012. He had six points in 31 games with the midget AAA Grande Prairie Storm last season. . . . Berg, a 16-year-old list player, put up 34 points in 32 games with the minor midget AAA Calgary Blackhawks last season. . . . Schneider, another list player, was 6-7-1, 2.77, .926 for the minor midget AAA Spruce Grove Saints last season.
———
Veteran D Michael Mylchreest, 18, has been released by the Prince George Cougars. Mylchreest, from Gilroy, Calif., played the last two seasons with the Cougars, recording nine assists in 116 games. . . . The Cougars have dropped three veterans this week. Earlier, they released G Mac Engel, 20, and F Jarrett Fontaine, 18.
———
F Dylen McKinlay, who used up his junior eligibility while playing with the Kelowna Rockets last season, has signed with the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies. . . . McKinlay, from Langley, B.C., played three seasons with the Chilliwack Bruins and one each with the Kootenay Ice and the Rockets. He had 69 points in 72 games last season with Kelowna. . . . In 320 career regular-season games, he had 180 points, including 68 goals.
———
Ken Bensinger of the Los Angeles Times reports: “(Deion) Sanders is one of a host of current NFL employees, including at least six other NFL Network analysts and dozens of assistant coaches and team personnel” who have filed workers’ compensation claims, alleging head trauma and other injuries incurred while playing football. . . . The story, and it’s a good one, is right here.
———
Charles P. Pierce at grantland.com writes: “The NFL didn't agree to this settlement to pay anyone's hospital bills. That $765 million was to buy silence. It was to abort an embarrassing discovery process. It was to bury the evidence of how little the NFL ever has cared about the health of the people who work for it.”
Pierce is one of today’s great essayists. His complete piece is right here.
———


From Dickson Liong (@DLLiong): “#WHLGiants' F Tyler Benson will stay with the team until Sunday, and then will leave for POE after the game against Kamloops. #WHL”



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.

Walter goes to Saint John

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Jakub Sindel (Brandon, 2004-05) signed a one-year contract extension with Fassa (Italy, Serie A). He had 23 goals and 33 assists in 42 games last season. . . .
F Björn Svensson (Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, 2003-06) signed a two-year contract with Malmö (Sweden, Allsvenskan). He had three goals and three assists in 40 games with MoDo Örnsköldsvik (Sweden, Elitserien) last season.
———
As expected, the WHL’s board of governors voted unanimously Wednesday in Calgary to allow the Brodsky family to sell the Saskatoon Blades to Mike Priestner, an Edmonton-based auto dealer. The sale is expected to close this week.
Following the vote, Ron Robison, the WHL commissioner, allowed himself to say a few words and then the cone of silence was put back in place. No one, including former owner Jack Brodsky, Priestner or Steve Hogle, the Blades’ new president, was permitted to speak before a news conference that is scheduled for today in Saskatoon.
Hogle, who had been the vice-president of hockey communications for the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers, takes over as the Blades’ president and alternate governor, while Colin Priestner, Mike’s son, will relocate to Saskatoon and will be the managing partner
The Blades are the only franchise to have played in every season of the WHL’s history, which began with the 1966-67 season. The Brodsky family has been involved in the Blades’ ownership since 1976.
All of which begs the question: There was no chance that Brodsky’s request to transfer ownership would be rejected, so why was this board of governors’ meeting held in Calgary? Why wasn’t it held in Saskatoon?
Had it been held in Saskatoon, the governors all could have attended a news conference and shown their respect for the Brodskys, and especially for Jack, who has been an active governor for a long time. The entire day could have been turned into a real testimonial for a long-time member of the fraternity, and one who just played an integral role in driving up the value of all franchises.
Priestner is reported to have paid more than $9 million for the Blades.
The way that the WHL has handled this story has become all too familiar, and that’s too bad. By trying to control the message, the WHL has missed a golden opportunity to gain some positive publicity.
Instead of once again dragging out the cone of silence, at the very least there should have been a conference call, allowing the national media to have access to all those involved.
Instead, the WHL worked to bury the story on Wednesday, when this was news. A day later, the news cycle has turned over and the sale of a franchise that occured on Wednesday is already old news.
———
F Lukas Walter, 20, has joined the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs. Walter had five points in 117 regular-season games with the Tri-City Americans over the last two seasons. He was released by the Americans over the summer and went to camp with the Portland Winterhawks, who released him late last month. . . . Walter, who is from Langley, B.C., is with the Sea Dogs on a tryout basis.
———
The Moose Jaw Warriors announced Wednesday that Russian F Alexander Chirva, 17, has been cleared to play. According to the Warriors, Chirva “has received his visa and will be in Moose Jaw Thursday evening. Chirva is expected to skate with his teammates for the first time Saturday, 2:30 p.m., in Caronport.” . . . The Warriors selected Chirva in the 2013 CHL import draft.
———
G Tristan Jarry of the Edmonton Oil Kings has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins. Jarry, 18, was selected in the second round of the NHL’s 2013 draft. He was the Penguins’ first selection. . . . Last season, with the Oil Kings, Jarry was 18-7-0, 1.61, .936. He also put up six shutouts. . . . Jarry will be the Oil Kings’ starting goaltender this season.
———
The Regina Pats and Saskatchewan Roughriders announced Wednesday that they have “entered into a partnership” that will cover the remainder of this CFL season and the approaching WHL regular season. According to a news release: “Fans of the Pats and Riders have the opportunity to join the ‘Sea of Green’ at Pats home games in 2013-14 with a special green section in the Brandt Centre.” . . . Players from the Roughriders will be making appearances in the Sea of Green. . . . The partnership will include a special price ($250) on Pats season-tickets for Roughriders season-ticket holders. . . . Pats season-ticket holders “will be provided with a special Ticketmaster code for discounted ticket specials to the final five Riders home games.”
———
The Kamloops Blazers have signed D Dawson Davidson to a WHL contract. Davidson, from Moosomin, Sask., was a third-round selection in the 2013 bantam draft. He will play this season with the midget AAA Moose Jaw Generals, the host team for the Telus Cup, the national midget championship tournament. . . . Last season, he had 49 points in 25 games with the bantam AA Melville Millionaires.
———
Brian Wiebe, who covers the BCHL like a blanket, tweeted last night that Surrey Eagles “D Tommy Stipancik (94) has retired due to an undisclosed injury.” . . . Stipancik, from Vancouver, was selected by the Saskatoon Blades in the third round of the 2010 bantam draft. However, brain injuries — he had four in three years — would limit him to 10 games in 2011-12 and 34 games in 2011-12. In fact, over the last four seasons, he played only 96 games in major midget, the BCHL and the WHL. . . . The Blades released him on Sept. 4, 2012.
———
Former Tri-City Americans G Olaf Kolzig, who now owns a chunk of the WHL franchise, has taken over as the goaltender coach for the NHL’s Washington Capitals. . . . Tim Leone of pennlive.com has that story right here.
———
F Morgan Klimchuk of the Regina Pats won’t be taking part in the Calgary Flames’ training camp. The NHL team reported Thursday that Klimchuk, the 28th overall selection in the 2013 draft, “suffered an abdominal wall strain injury during a recent pre-season game with the Regina Pats . . . and will be unable to participate in training camp with the Flames. Klimchuk will rehab his injury in Calgary with Flames’ personnel. He is expected to miss 2-4 weeks.”
———
The Calgary Flames also announced that they have suspended F Ryan Howse “for failing to report to training camp. The club will have no further comment at this time.” . . . Howse (Chilliwack, 2006-11) was a third-round selection by the Flames in the NHL’s 2009 draft. He put up 217 points, including 140 goals, in 262 games with the Chilliwack Bruins (remember them?).
———
D Julius Honka of the Swift Current Broncos has become quite a story in the WHL’s exhibition season. From Jyvaskyla, Finland, Honka, 17, was selected by the Broncos in the CHL’s 2013 import draft. . . . Last night, Honka scored in his fourth straight exhibition game — he has five goals — as the Broncos beat the visiting visiting Saskatoon Blades, 9-4. . . . Last season, Honka had four goals and 11 assists in 42 games with the JYP U-20 side.
———
The Tri-City Americans have signed D Kurtis Rutledge, an eight-round selection in the 2012 bantam draft. Rutledge, from Calgary, had seven points in 15 games with the Calgary Flames of the Alberta Midget Hockey League last season.


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.

Priestner has agreement to purchase Blades

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Lukas Vantuch (Calgary, Lethbridge, 2005-07) signed a tryout contract with Landshut (Germany, DEL2). He had one goal and four assists in 31 games with Liberec (Czech Republic, Extraliga), one assist in five games on loan to Sparta Prague (Czech Republic, Extraliga), and was pointless in two games on loan to Benatky nad Jizerou (Czech Republic, 1. Liga) last season. . . .
F Judd Blackwater (Spokane, 2005-08) signed a one-year contract with Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia, Austria Erste Bank Liga). He had 19 goals and 31 assists in 69 games with the Las Vegas Wranglers (ECHL) last season. Blackwater is expected to arrive in Ljubljana on Friday. . . .
F Adam Chorneyko (Kamloops, Lethbridge, Saskatoon, 2004-09) signed a one-year contract with the Friesland Flyers Heerenveen (Netherlands, Eredivisie). He had no points in two games with the Colorado Eagles (ECHL), no points in four games with the Rapid City Rush (CHL), and two assists in five games with the Arizona Sundogs (CHL) last season.
———
An agreement to sell the Saskatoon Blades to Mike Priestner has been reached. Jack Brodsky, his brother, Bob, and their sister, Debbie, have applied to the WHL’s board of governors for a transfer of ownership. The board will meet in Calgary on Sept. 4 to review the application. . . . Priestner, who attempted to purchase the Kamloops Blazers over the summer of 2007, is the owner of Go Auto, an Edmonton-based company that owns more than 30 automobile dealerships. . . . According to a WHL news release: “A special resolution vote of two-thirds majority from the Board of Governors is required in order to grant approval for the sale. If approval is granted at the Sept. 4 meeting, Mr. Priestner will assume control of the Saskatoon Blades franchise prior to the start of the 2013-14 WHL season.”
After issuing the news release, the WHL then dropped the cone of silence on the entire situation, as it did after it whacked the Portland Winterhawks in November. “The WHL, the Brodsky family and Mr. Priestner will not be making any further comments on this matter until following the WHL Board of Governors Meeting on Sept. 4,” concluded the news release.
———
The Victoria Royals have signed F Matthew Phillips and D Ralph Jarratt to WHL contracts. . . . Phillips was the 33rd overall selection in the 2013 bantam draft. He had 77 points, 40 of them goals, in 37 games with the Calgary Bisons of the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League last season. . . . Jarratt, from Fort St. John, B.C., was taken selecctions after Phillips. Jarratt played last season in the Pursuit of Excellence’s bantam AAA program, putting up 29 points in 28 games. . . . F Dante Hannoun, Victoria’s first selection in the 2013 bantam draft, has left the Royals’ camp. Cleve Dheensaw of the Victoria Times Colonist reports that Hannoun “took ill” and he and the team decided it would be best for him to return home to Delta, B.C., so that he could get proper rest and get better.
———
The Tri-City Americans have signed F Maxwell James to a WHL contract. James, from Kamloops, was a sixth-round selection in the 2012 bantam draft. Last season, he put up 12 points in 40 games with the major midget Thompson Blazers. . . . The Americans now have signed their first six selections from the 2012 bantam draft.
———
Pat Mangold, who played with the Calgary Wranglers and Kamloops Blazers (1981-85), died in a personal watercraft accident on Okanagan Lake near Kelowna on Saturday evening. According to Castanet.net, Mangold, 47, “was riding his (personal watercraft) on Okanagan Lake about 8:30 p.m. Saturday when (he) struck a log boom near Traders Cove” on the west side of the lake. . . . It is believed that Mangold died instantly, and that speed and visibility may have been factors. . . . Mangold, who was from Kelowna, played three games for the Wranglers in each of the 1981-82 and 1982-83 seasons, and 69 games in 1983-84. He moved to the Blazers early in 1985-86. In 133 regular-season games, he had 52 points, including 28 goals.
———
The Kootenay Ice has added Mike Dyck to its coaching staff. Dyck, a former head coach of the Lethbridge Hurricanes, will attend training camp and will return to the team to help first-year assistant Jay Henderson on the bench when head coach Ryan McGill serves as an assistant coach with Canada’s national junior team in December. . . . “With Ryan going to the World Juniors and this being Jay's first year coaching in the WHL,” Chynoweth said in a news release, “we felt another coach was needed during this time frame. We feel very fortunate to be able to add a coach with the experience that Mike has in the WHL." . . . Dyck spent five seasons as Lethbridge’s head coach, going 132-120-16 and reaching the WHL’s championship final in 2008. He also worked as an assistant coach with Lethbridge and the Vancouver Giants.
———
The Swift Current Broncos have signed F Brandan Arnold, 16. Arnold, from Dodsland, Sask., was taken by the Broncos in the seventh round of the 2012 bantam draft. He has 23 points with the midget AAA Tisdale Trojans last season. . . . Arnold signed in time to play in the Broncos’ 5-4 victory over the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors last night. He picked up an assist on the game’s first goal, a power-play score 9:18 into the opening period.
———
JUST NOTES: F Lucas Grayson, 19, now is on the roster of the BCHL’s Powell River Kings. From Port Hardy, B.C., Grayson had a goal and two assists in 117 regular-season WHL games split between the Red Deer Rebels (41) and Everett Silvertips (76). . . . F Colten Mayor, 20, has joined the AJHL’s Whitecourt Wolverines. He split last season between the Calgary Hitmen and Regina Pats. He also played with the Red Deer Rebels during his WHL career. The native of St. Albert, Alta., put up 94 points, including 38 goals, in 228 WHL games.
———


From Saskawhat (@saskawhat): “So it begins. Warriors coach Stothers on tonights rookie game loss to @SCBroncos: ‘1 team actually played rookies; the other team didn't.’ ”

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.

Green moves from Oil Kings to Oilers

If you are a season-ticket holder, I don’t know what, if any, gift you get from the team
you support, but the Regina Pats are providing “a limited edition canvas jersey print,”
according to a news release. “The print features seven jerseys, including the Pats’ current
home-and-away uniforms, along with five from past seasons.”

THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Paul Albers (Calgary, Regina, Vancouver, 2001-06) signed a one-year contract extension with Cortina (Italy, Serie A). He had seven goals and 18 assists in 43 games last season. . . .
D Tyson Marsh (Vancouver, 2001-04) signed a one-year contract extension with the Cardiff Devils (Wales, UK Elite). He had six goals and 23 assists in 52 games last season. . . .
F Tomas Polak (Red Deer, 2007-09) signed a try-out contract with Landshut (Germany, DEL2). He had one assist in one game with Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic, Extraliga), three assists in 11 games on loan to Most (Czech Republic, 1. Liga), and two assists in 27 games on loan to Berounsti Medvedi (Czech Republic, 1. Liga) last season. . . .
D Sebastian Owuya (Medicine Hat, 2010-11) signed a one-year contract with Sundsvall (Sweden, Division 1). He had one goal and four assists in 17 games with Borås (Sweden, Division 1) and three goals and six assists in 24 games with Västervik (Sweden, Division 1) last season.
———
One day last week, I ran an item here from a Greg Douglas column that appeared in the Vancouver Sun. That item suggested that there had been discussions between the Vancouver Giants and Vancouver broadcaster Dan Russell involving the WHL team’s play-by-play position.
Russell, the long-time host of Sportstalk on Vancouver radio station CKNW, informed me on Wednesday that simply isn’t true.
“Sadly,” Russell wrote in an email, “it isn’t the first time Douglas has carelessly or erroneously reported on my career.
“The fact is that there was never one discussion with the Giants about that possibility, nor did I want to explore it given that I already have a WHL play-by-play role with Shaw TV.”
———
A regular reader from Portland dropped this note:
“Just in case you care . . . the naming rights to the Rose Garden (now the Moda Center) went for $40 million over 10 years . . . four million a year. This was the reported figure in all of the Portland media.
“According to Forbes, Paul Allen is the 20th richest person in the States with an estimated value of $15 billion, so obviously it was very important to him to collect another $40 million.”
———
The Edmonton Oil Kings lost their general manager on Wednesday when the parent Edmonton Oilers named Bob Green their director of amateur free-agent scouting. . . . The 52-year-old Green, the WHL’s executive of the year in each of the last two seasons, spent six seasons as the Oil Kings’ GM. . . . According to an Oilers news release: “Green . . . will work closely with the Oilers Hockey Operations department and Amateur Scouting staff, assisting with identifying and recruiting NCAA, CHL and select European free agents, as well as develop a free agent priority list.” . . . Under Green, the Oil Kings have been in the last two WHL championship finals, winning it all in 2011-12. . . . There was no announcement involving a new GM for the Oil Kings, but speculation is that Randy Hansch, the assistant GM and director of player personnel, may be in line for a promotion and that it may come as early as today.
The Edmonton Journal has more right here.
———
Jack Brodsky almost certainly will be the majority owner of the Saskatoon Blades when the WHL’s 2013-14 season begins. That’s because there really isn’t anything new regarding a possible sale of the franchise.
Mike Priestner, the Edmonton auto dealer who is hoping to purchase the franchise, confirmed to Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix that he made a “firm offer” but he and Brodsky both have been on vacation.
“Jack is certainly very happy with our offer as far as both the price and what he felt our management structure would look like if we did go forward,” Priestner told Nugent-Bowman without divulging any of his plans.
“Based on their conversations,” Nugent-Bowman writes, “Priestner said he doesn’t expect to hear back from Brodsky for another three or four weeks while he mulls over the offers with his family and the league.”
One other group that includes former Blades players Kelly Chase, Dave Chartier and Rhett Warrener is believed to be in the hunt.
———
The Prince Albert Raiders will induct the late Brad McCrimmon into their Wall of Honour on Sept. 27. McCrimmon, a former Raiders defenceman, went on to star for the Brandon Wheat Kings, who will provide the opposition on Sept. 27. Kelly McCrimmon, Brad’s brother, is the Wheat Kings’ owner/GM/head coach. . . . Brad, the SJHL’s defenceman of the year as a 16-year-old with the Raiders, went on to a lengthy pro career and was into coaching when he died in a plane crash with the KHL’s Yaroslavl Lokomotiv on Sept. 7, 2011. . . . The McCrimmons are from Plenty, Sask. . . . Also being inducted into the Wall of Honour will be builders Jim Bristowe and Doug Winterton. . . . Bristowe worked as a minor official and linseman and then took over as the public address voice, a position he held for 27 years, through 1999-2000. He also served on the franchise’s board of directors. . . . Winterton also served on the board and was a charter member of the Raiders’ Booster Club. Like Bristowe, Winterton also billeted players, including Brad McCrimmon.
———
Jacques Beaulieu, the former head coach of the OHL’s Sarnia Sting, and his son, Nathan, a Montreal Canadiens prospect, were in court Wednesday. They each pleaded guilty to one count of assault and received conditional discharges.
Jane Sims of the London Free Press has more right here.
———
Former NHL player and coach Steve Ludzik is living a happy life despite his battles with Parkinson’s disease.
"I'm the happiest I've ever been in my life," he tells Damian Cristodero of the Tampa Bay Times. "I decided to come out and treat Parkinson's like a bully and expose it."
Later in the story, Ludzik, who figures he had at least six concussions during his NHL careers, says: “"My Parkinson's disease I know without a shadow of a doubt is from getting blows to the head and constant damage to my body.”
Cristodero’s complete story is right here.
———
THE COACHING GAME:
Former NHL F Mike Craig has signed on as an assistant coach with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. He joins head coach Drake Berehowsky and assistant Brad Lukowich on what is a brand new coaching staff. . . . Craig, who played junior for the OHL’s Oshawa Generals, played professionally for 22 years, the last 10 in Europe. He played 423 NHL games with four teams (Minnesota North Stars, Dallas Stars, Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks).
———
The junior B Revelstoke Grizzlies of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League have hired their second head coach of the summer. . . . Kevin MacKay is the new head man, after James Eccles, who was hired late in July, decided to go in another direction. . . . Eccles had been the head coach of the major midget Okanagan Rockets. . . . Kevin Kraus, the GM and head coach of the Grizzlies last season, now is an assistant coach with the BCHL’s Salmon Arm SilverBacks.
Alex Cooper of the Revelstoke Times Review has more right here.
———


From Portland Winterhawks F Shane McColgan (@Shane18McColgan): “Surgery was a success.”
He included an instagram photo showing him in a hospital bed with his right arm, wrist, hand and thumb in a cast.

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.