Rizzo commits to Vees; Blazers' first-rounder picks BCHL ... A July 4 look at hot dogs

F Gaelan Patterson (Saskatoon, 2006-10) has signed a one-year contract with the Coventry Blaze (England, UK Elite). Last season, with Chamonix-Morzine (France, Ligue Magnus), he had two goals and three assists in 23 games. . . . 

F Jan Dalecký (Swift Current, 2007-09) has signed a one-year contract with the Herning Blue Fox (Denmark, Metal Ligaen). Last season, with Ústí nad Labem (Czech Republic, 1. Liga), he had eight goals and six assists in 39 games. . . . 

F Jesse Schultz (Tri-City, Prince Albert, Kelowna, 1999-2003) has signed a one-year contract with Nové Zámky (Slovakia, Extraliga). Last season, he had eight goals and 11 assists in 22 games with the Sheffield Steelers (England, UK Elite). He also had four goals and seven assists in seven games with Debrecen (Hungary, MOL Liga). . . .

F Max Ross (Lethbridge, 2008-11) has signed a one-year extension with Gap (France, Ligue Magnus). Last season, he had seven goals and 17 assists in 44 games, as Gap won the French league championship.

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BREAKING NEWS: @MassimoRizzo28 has committed to the @bchllive Vees and will wear number 13 when the puck drops next season #veesnation #BCHL pic.twitter.com/acEU8aEE0o

— Penticton Vees (@PentictonVees) July 4, 2017

F Massimo Rizzo, the 14th selection in the WHL’s 2016 bantam draft, has made his decision — he will play for the BCHL’s Penticton Vees in 2017-18.

The Vees made the announcement on their Twitter account on Monday afternoon.

Each of the 13 players selected before Rizzo in that 2016 bantam draft has signed with the WHL team that picked him.

Rizzo, from Burnaby, B.C., and his father met with representatives of the Blazers in Vancouver on Wednesday. The Blazers’ group included majority owner Tom Gaglardi, part-owner Shane Doan, general manager Stu MacGregor and head coach Don Hay.

Rizzo played last season with a midget prep team at the Burnaby Winter Club, finishing with 84 points in 48 games. He also played a total of 20 games — regular-season, playoff, Western Canada Cup and RBC Cup — with the Vees. While he was pointless in three regular-season games, he had one goal in seven playoff games, a goal and four assists in five games at the WCC and a goal in five games at the RBC Cup.

Rizzo is one of 111 players invited by Hockey Canada to attend an under-17 development camp in Calgary starting on July 22.

The Blazers already have signed their 2017 first-round selection. They announced the signing of F Josh Pillar of Allan, Sask., on June 12.

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“Professional athletes are tested in ways that most of us can only imagine,” writes Phil Barber of the Santa Rosa, Calif., Press Democrat. “Their jobs frequently involve pain and risk of injury. Public failure hangs over them like a swaying piano, adulation whispers to them like an untrustworthy friend. It makes sense that the emotions that consume their days would also invade their nights.” . . . So what shows up in the dreams of pro athletes? . . . Barber asked a number of them and his story is right here.

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Few wordsmiths today are able to spin it like Steve Rushin of Sports Illustrated. So, on this Fourth of July, he provides a look at . . . yes, the hot dog. Click right here and enjoy.

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BTW, if you want to contact me with some information or just feel like commenting on something, you may email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

I’m also on Twitter (@gdrinnan).

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"Wayne Gretzky, arguably the greatest hockey player ever, never played #hockey in the spring or summer as a child." https://t.co/9MtP54Jgeg

— viaSport (@viaSportBC) May 9, 2017

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.

Nanaimo closing in on WHL franchise? ... Americans 4-0 on east swing ... Steenbergen shows off six-pack

Debrecen (Hungary, MOL Liga) has signed F Jesse Schultz (Tri-City, Prince Albert, Kelowna, 1999-2003) and D Jesse Dudas (Lethbridge, Prince George, Swift Current, Regina, 2003-09) to contracts for the rest of the season. . . . This season, with the Sheffield Steelers (England, UK Elite), Schultz had eight goals and 11 assists in 23 games. He was released on Dec. 30. . . . Dudas had been with TPS Turku (Finland, Liiga), but was injured in the only game he played, a Champions League match in which he scored a goal. He was released on Nov. 28.

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The Kootenay Ice moving to Nanaimo? An expansion franchise? What will it be? Who knows, but it seems that talks are ongoing . . .

According to the Nanaimo News Bulletin, the City of Nanaimo and the WHL are involved in talks that could lead to a franchise landing in the Vancouver Island City.

Tamara Cummingham of the News Bulletin reports that, according to city staff, “negotiations” between the WHL and the city “leading to a memorandum of understanding for one of its teams (are) underway.”

Nanaimo has yet to hold a referendum on an $86.6-million event centre, something that likely will happen in March.

Despite that, Cunningham reports, the city has “hired a legal advisor, financial advisor and put out requests for qualifications for architects, project management and an operations manager.”

Cunningham’s story is right here.

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You may have read here yesterday that the Red Deer Rebels had dropped veteran F Matt Campese, 19, and that he was returning to the BCHL’s West Kelowna Warriors. It turns out that Campese, who has a goal and an assist with the Rebels, will stay in Red Deer for the remainder of this season.

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A number of players who weren’t involved in deals at Tuesday’s WHL trade deadline are on the move. Here’s a look . . .

F Dakota Odgers, 20, has joined the SJHL’s Yorkton Terriers. He was released by the Moose Jaw Warriors at the trade deadline. . . .

D Zach Wytinck, 17, has moved from the Brandon Wheat Kings to the midget AAA Southwest Cougars, while F Garrett Armour, 19, will play for the MJHL’s Winnipeg Blues. . . .

D Ethan King, 17, who had been with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, has been added to the roster of the BCHL’s Merritt Centennials. The 6-foot-6, 225-pound King is from Vernon, B.C. . . .

F Ethan O’Rourke, 17, has moved from the Prince George Cougars to the BCHL’s Prince George Spruce Kings. He is the son of Cougars’ associate coach Steve O’Rourke. . . .

The Regina Pats have brought in F Duncan Pierce, 16, from the midget AAA Winnipeg Thrashers, while dropping D Riley Bruce, 17, from their roster. Bruce is headed for the MJHL’s Steinbach Pistons. Bruce had a goal and two assists in 18 games with the Pats. . . . Pierce has 10 goals and 13 assists in 25 games with the Thrashers. His arrival leaves the Pats with 13 forwards, to go with three goaltenders — Jordan Hollett is injured — and seven defencemen.

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The Vancouver Giants, fresh off an Alberta swing and having traded away F Radovan Bondra, F Thomas Foster and D Dmitry Osipov, are at home to the Moose Jaw Warriors on Friday night. . . . Postmedia’s Steve Ewen reports that F Tyler Benson, who has missed the last three games with an undisclosed injury, skated Wednesday in a non-contact sweater, as did F Dawson Holt and F Johnny Wesley. . . . D Darian Skeoch, who has been out with an ankle injury, took part in the full practice so should play Friday.

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The Portland Winterhawks have rescheduled a pair of games that were postponed by inclement weather over the weekend. . . . The game with the Kamloops Blazers that was to have been played on Sunday now is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 24, 7 p.m., at the Moda Center. . . . The game with the Everett Silvertips that was to have been played on Saturday has been moved to Tuesday, Jan. 31, 7 p.m., at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

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The WHL hasn’t seen a sniper like Brian Propp since, well, Brian Propp. No one could score like Propp when he played for the Brandon Wheat Kings in the late 1970s, and he went on to an NHL career in which he totalled 1,004 points in 1,016 games. . . . Propp suffered a stroke more than a year ago, but has recovered to the point where he will be playing in a Philadelphia Flyers alumni game on Saturday. Adam Kimelman of nhl.com has more right here on Propp’s remarkable recovery and how he’s helping others.

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.@joachimblich and @BDeJong21 created their own snow den for their #WinterhawksSnowDay pic.twitter.com/t33ABG0J3J

— Portland Winterhawks (@pdxwinterhawks) January 11, 2017

.@coltonveloso17, @Jones4Caleb, @iverke and @henrijokiharju have their fort ready for the neighborhood snowball fight! #WinterhawksSnowDay pic.twitter.com/kf0mdOJYRg

— Portland Winterhawks (@pdxwinterhawks) January 11, 2017

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WEDNESDAY’S GAMES:

@TCAmericans @M_14Geekie he put on a show for his first game in Manitoba #4assist pic.twitter.com/lkmi8Bvl0i

— Riley (@RileyBoles6) January 12, 2017

At Brandon, F Jordan Topping scored the game’s last three goals as the Tri-City Americans beat the

JORDAN TOPPING

Wheat Kings, 5-2. . . . The Wheat Kings took a 2-0 lead on goals from F Ty Lewis (22), at 1:43 of the first period, and F Baron Thompson (2), 38 seconds into the second period. . . . D Parker Wotherspoon got the Americans on the scoreboard, with his seventh goal, at 4:25 of the second. . . . F Parker AuCoin pulled Tri-City even with his 15th goal, his third shorthanded, at 9:21. . . . Topping, who has nine goals, gave the Americans the lead at 12:22, then added insurance at 5:17 and 19:44 of the third. His second goal came via a PP and the third was an empty-netter. . . . Tri-City F Morgan Geekie, who is from nearby Strathclair, Man., drew four assists and you can bet that his father, Craig, a former WHLer (Brandon, Spokane, 1991-94), was in attendance. . . . The Americans also got three assists from F Tyler Sandhu. . . . Geekie and Sandhu drew the assists on all three of Topping’s goals. . . . G Rylan Parenteau stopped 29 shots for the victory, while Brandon’s Logan Thompson also blocked 29. . . . The Americans were 1-5 on the PP; the Wheat Kings were 0-5. . . . The Wheat Kings lost F Reid Duke with a kneeing major and game misconduct at 2:41 of the third period. . . . Tri-City F Michael Rasmussen was scratched for a second straight game. . . . The Americans (26-17-3) have won four in a row, all on an East Division swing. They are second in the U.S. Division, four points behind the Everett Silvertips, who have eight games in hand. . . . The Wheat Kings (20-17-4) had won their previous two games. They hold down the Eastern Conference’s first wild-card spot. . . . Announced attendance: 3,233.

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At Edmonton, the Lethbridge Hurricanes scored twice before the game was three minutes old and went

ALEC BAER

on to a 7-4 victory over the Oil Kings. . . . F Zak Zborosky, in his first game with the Hurricanes after being acquired from the Kootenay Ice, scored on his first shot on his first, at 1:06 of the first period. . . . He’s got 29 goals. . . . F Jordy Bellerive made it 2-0 at 2:29. . . . Edmonton head coach Steve Hamilton changed goaltenders, sending Josh Dechaine in for Patrick Dea at 2:29. . . . The Hurricanes scored off a 2-on-0 break with F Egor Babenko getting his 14th goal at 4:10. . . . The visitors went up 4-0 when F Tyler Wong got No. 29, at 13:41. . . . The Oil Kings made a game of it with three goals in 35 seconds early in the second period. . . . F Ty Gerla scored tgwice, giving him four goals, at 2:58 and 3:06, and D Will Warm added his sixth goal, at 3:33. . . . But the Hurricanes regained control on two goals from F Alec Baer, in his first game since coming over from the Vancouver Giants. He counted at 5:40 and 12:14 of the second period, giving him five goals this season. . . . Bellerive’s second goal of the game, and 19th this season, added more insurance 36 seconds into the third period. . . . Edmonton D Conner McDonald (2) closed out the scoring with his first goal since being acquired last week from the Kamloops Blazers. . . . The Hurricanes got two assists from each of D Brennan Menell, F Giorgio Estephan and D Igor Merezhko, and one each from Wong, Zborosky and Babenko. . . . F Brett Kemp, who was acquired from the Everett Silvertips, had three assists for Edmonton, with McDonald and Gerla each getting one. . . . G Stuart Skinner stopped 39 shots for Lethbridge. . . . At the other end, Dea gave up three goals on five shots, while Dechaine was beaten five times on 31 shots. . . . The Hurricanes were 1-4 on the PP; the Oil Kings were 0-2. . . . F Matt Alfaro, who came over from the Ice with Zborosky, was scratched with an undisclosed injury. . . . The Oil Kings are without F Riley Stadel, who was acquired from the Kelowna Rockets last week. He is out week-to-week with an undisclosed injury. . . . The Hurricanes (23-15-5) have won three straight and are a solid second in the Central Division. . . . The Oil Kings (18-21-4) have lost four in a row. They hold down the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot. . . . Announced attendance: 5,442.

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At Everett, G Mario Petit and G Dorrin Luding combined for 23 saves in sharing the shutout as the

DORRIN LUDING

Silvertips beat the Spokane Chiefs, 5-0. . . . With Carter Hart yet to return to Everett’s lineup after playing for Canada at the World Junior Championship, Petit started and stopped 18 shots in 52:36. . . . Luding, a 17-year-old from Prince George, came on to make his WHL debut with 7:24 to play and stopped five shots. . . . F Brandson Hein scored his first goal, at 2:40 of the second period, and it stood up as the winner. . . . Hein, an 18-year-old from Winnipeg, scored in his 21st game. . . . F Connor Dewar (6) made it 2-0 at 11:57 of the second period and F Devon Skoleski (6) made it 3-0, while shorthanded, at 5:29 of the third. . . . F Jake Christiansen (3) and F Riley Sutter (13) added goals later in the third period. . . . Everett got two assists from F Bradly Goethals, while Skoleski added an assist to his goal. . . . Silvertips D Kevin Davis recorded one assist to run his point streak to 13 games, the longest active streak in the WHL at this point. . . . Spokane G Dawson Weatherill made 29 stops. . . . Everett was 1-3 on the PP; Spokane was 0-2. . . . The Silvertips were without D Aaron Irving and D Lucas Skrumeda. . . . Everett (26-5-7) had lost its previous two games (0-1-1). It is tied for third in the overall standings, two points behind the Regina Pats and one behind the Prince George Cougars. . . . The Chiefs (17-18-7) have lost three in a row (0-2-1) and remain two points out of a playoff spot. . . . Announced attendance: 3,225.

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When I said I wanted it to feel like Florida I meant temperature, not attendance. #MHTigers

— Ryan McCracken (@MHNMcCracken) January 12, 2017

At Medicine Hat, the Prince George Cougars scored two third-period goals as they beat the Tigers, 4-3. .

JARED BETHUNE

. . F Radovan Bondra, who was acquired Tuesday from the Vancouver Giants, scored his 20th goal to tie the score just 37 seconds into the period. . . . F Jared Bethune broke the tie on a PP, at 7:06. He’s got 12 goals. . . . D Sam Ruopp (3) had given the visitors a 1-0 lead at 5:58 of the first period. . . . The Tigers took the lead on goals from F Steve Owre (15), at 10:05 of the first, and F Zach Fischer (23), on a PP, at 8:26 of the second period. . . . The Cougars tied it when F Jesse Gabrielle scored No. 20, at 9:26. . . . That lasted until 11:50 when F Matt Bradley’s 19th goal gave the home side a 3-2 lead. . . . Gabrielle and Bondra added an assist each, as did Fischer and Owre. . . . G Ty Edmonds stopped 29 shots in earning his 22nd victory of the season, one more than he put up last season and six fewer than in 2014-15. . . . Tigers G Nick Schneider, who leads the WHL with 26 victories, stopped 27 shots. . . . The Tigers were 1-4 on the PP; the Cougars were 1-5. . . . D Brendan Guhle was back in the Cougars’ lineup after missing one game due to illness. . . . The Cougars (29-12-2) moved past the Tigers (29-13-1) and into second place in the overall standings, two points behind the idle Regina Pats (27-4-7). . . . The Tigers had won their previous two games. . . . Announced attendance: 2,967.

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At Prince Albert, D Vladislav Yeryomenko scored at 2:11 of OT to give the Calgary Hitmen a 5-4 victory

VLADISLAV YERYOMENKO

over the Raiders. . . . It was Yeryomenko’s fourth goal this season. . . . The teams took turns scoring back-to-back goals in this one. . . . F Justyn Gurney (2) and F Andrei Grishakov (5) gave Calgary a 2-0 lead with goals at 9:21 and 11:51 of the first period. . . . The Raiders tied it on second-period goals from F Adam Kadlec (3) and D Kolten Olynek (9). . . . D Brady Reagan (2) gave Calgary a 3-2 lead at 13:22 of the second and F Jakob Stukel made it 4-1 just five seconds into the third period. . . . F Jordy Stallard, who was acquired from the Hitmen at the trade deadline, bot his ninth goal at 8:15 to get the Raiders to within one. . . . F Cavin Leth tied with his 11th goal, at 13:56. . . . F Parker Kelly had two assists for the Raiders, with Kadlec and Olynek getting one each. . . . G Trevor Martin, in his first appearance since joining the Hitmen this week, stopped 25 shots. . . . The Raiders got 27 stops from G Ian Scott. . . . Calgary was 0-1 on the PP; Prince Albert was 0-3. . . . The Hitmen lost 5-4 in OT to the Blades in Saskatoon on Tuesday night. . . . Calgary (15-19-6) had lost its previous five games (0-2-3). It is four points out of a playoff spot. . . . The Raiders (8-31-4) have lost seven in a row (0-5-2). . . . Announced attendance: 1,815.

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At Swift Current, F Tyler Steenbergen scored two goals and added four assists to lead the Broncos to an

TYLER STEENBERGEN

8-3 victory over the Kootenay Ice. . . . Steenbergen has 12 points in his last four games and 21 in his last 10. In that 10-game stretch, he also has three two-point games, a three-pointer and a four-pointer. . . . The teams were tied 2-2 after the first period, but the Broncos took control with four goals in in 2:16 late in the second. . . . Steenbergen, who has 32 goals, scored at 15:14 and 16:41, with F Conner Chaulk getting his fifth goal at 17:20 and F Aleksi Heponiemi scoring No. 14 at 17:30. . . . Steenbergen, an 18-year-old from Sylvan Lake, Alta., has 55 points, including 32 goals, in 43 games. Last season, as a freshman, he finished with 20 goals and 26 assists in 67 games. His fifth point last night was No. 100 for his career. . . . Swift Current F Glenn Gawdin scored the game’s last two goals — he’s got 15 — and also had two assists, while Heponiemi also had two goals and two assists. Gawdin, Steenbergen and Heponiemi combined for 14 points. . . . Broncos D Max Lajoie had two assists, too. . . . F Vince Loschiavo scored his 14th goal and added an assist for the Ice. . . . The Broncos got 24 saves from G Taz Burman, while Kootenay’s Jakob Walter stopped 35 shots. . . . Kootenay was 2-3 on the PP; Swift Current was 0-3. . . . Swift Current (24-12-7) has won two in a row and is third in the East Division, two points behind the Moose Jaw Warriors. . . . The Ice (10-25-8) had won its previous two games. . . . Announced attendance: 1,647.

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At Victoria, the Kelowna Rockets scored the game’s last two goals and beat the Royals, 4-3. . . . D Cal

CALVIN THURKAUF

Foote (4) pulled the Rockets into a 3-3 tie with a PP goal, at 14:36 of the third period. . . . Kelowna F Calvin Thurkauf broke the tie with his 18th goal, at 15:14 of the third period. . . . F Tomas Soustal had given the visitors a 1-0 lead at 12:43 of the first period. . . . Victoria F Vladimir Bobylev (3) tied it at 2:28 of the second period and F Ryan Peckford (13) gave the home side a 2-1 lead, on a PP, at 15:33. . . . F Dillon Dube’s third goal pulled the Rockets into a 2-2 tie at 8:32 of the third period. . . . F Matt Phillips scored No. 27 at 11:59, giving his guys a 3-2 lead. . . . The Rockets got three assists from F Kole Lind, with Dube and Foote adding one each. . . . Bobylev also had two assists for the Royals. . . . Kelowna G Michael Herringer stopped 19 shots, 13 fewer than Victoria’s Griffen Outhouse. . . . The Rockets were 1-4 on the PP; the Royals were 1-8. . . . Kelowna (25-15-3) has won two in a row and is tied with the idle Kamloops Blazers for second in the B.C. Division. . . . Victoria (22-17-4) has lost two straight and is five points behind Kamloops and Kelowna. . . . The teams will meet in Victoria again on Friday night. . . . Announced attendance: 3,783.

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THURSDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

No Games Scheduled.

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FRIDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Kootenay at Brandon, 7:30 p.m.

Everett at Kamloops, 7 p.m.

Prince George at Lethbridge, 7 p.m.

Swift Current at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.

Spokane at Portland, 7 p.m.

Red Deer at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.

Tri-City at Regina, 7 p.m.

Moose Jaw vs. Vancouver, at Langley, B.C., 7:30 p.m.

Kelowna at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.

There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.

Some of what appears today is left over from Tuesday night, when there were issues. . . . Ahh, I did some compiling at work and then forgot to email it to my laptop. . . .
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If you are interested in an eBook version of Sudden Death: The Incredible Saga of the 1986 Swift Current Broncos, the links are further down on this page.
I also heard yesterday from a friend who ordered the book from Amazon. He had received notification that his copy had shipped.
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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Byron Ritchie (Lethbridge, 1993-97) signed a two-year contract extension with Bern (Switzerland, NL A). He has 11 goals and 17 assists in 24 games with Bern this season, which puts him in sixth place in league scoring. The contract extension keeps Ritchie with Bern through the 2014-15 season. . . .
F Jason Chimera (Medicine Hat, Brandon, 1996-99) was granted his release from Chomutov (Czech Republic, Extraliga) for personal reasons. He had one goal in five games with Chomutov this season. Chimera's family did not accompany him to Chomutov and he decided it was best to return home. Chomutov GM Leo Gudas says that should the NHL season be cancelled, Chimera could return to Chomutov with his family and finish out the season with the club. . . .
F Domenic Pittis (Lethbridge, 1991-94) signed a two-year contract extension with Visp (Switzerland, NL B). He has one goal and 13 assists in eight games this season. Pittis is now under contract with Visp through the end of the 2014-2015 season. . . .
F Tyler Redenbach (Prince George, Swift Current, Lethbridge, 2001-05) was released by HIFK Helsinki (Finland, SM-Liiga) to make room for Washington Capitals F Mathieu Perreault, who was signed to a lockout contract. Redenbach had three goals and nine assists in 23 games with HIFK this season. . . .
F Jesse Schultz (Tri-City, Prince Albert, Kelowna, 1999-2003) signed a contract for the rest of this season with the Braehead Clan Glasgow (Scotland, UK Elite). Schultz started the season with Milan Rossoblu (Italy, Serie A), registering two goals and two assists in eight games before his release in mid-October. . . .
F Marek Ivan (Lethbridge, Moose Jaw, 1996-98) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Karvina (Czech Republic, 2. Liga), just four days after his release by Novy Jicin (Czech Republic, 2. Liga). He had seven goals and eight assists in 10 games with Novy Jicin this season. Ivan played for Karvina last season, getting 19 goals and 25 assists in 39 games for them.
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Sophomore D Spencer Wand, 17, has left the Kootenay Ice and returned to his home in Saskatoon. Wand suffered a concussion on Nov. 16 against the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings. The Ice thought Wand was making a good recovery, but he told head coach Ryan McGill on Monday that he had lost the desire to play and that he was quitting hockey. . . . Wand was a fourth-round selection in the 2010 bantam draft. . . . He had one assist and 37 penalty minutes in 15 games this season. . . . Wand’s departure leaves the Ice with six defencemen on its roster.
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The injury-riddled Regina Pats have added F Connor Gay, 17, to their roster. He had been with the SJHL’s Kindersley Klippers, for whom he had 17 points, including seven goals, in 20 games.
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It would appear that the Kelowna Rockets have dealt Slovakian F Filip Vasko, 19, to the Red Deer Rebels. Vasko, who has 10 points, including three goals, in 19 games this season, didn’t play for the Rockets in last night’s 3-2 victory over the visiting Tri-City Americans. (Attendance in Kelowna was 4,769, and what's with that?)
After the game, Kelowna D Jesse Lees (@LeeserBeam2) tweeted: “Gonna miss @filvask great guy, good luck in red deer”
Kelowna D Madison Bowey (@m_bows4) tweeted: “Always sad to see a teammate go. Gonna miss ya @filvask #loveha #eurobeaut”
Vasko’s handle on Twitter is @filvask.
Last season, he had 12 assists in 51 games.
With F Carter Rigby and F J.T. Barnett returning from injuries, the Rockets had 16 forwards on their roster.
The Rebels have been playing with just one import — Czech G Patrik Bartosak.
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D Ryan Murray of the Everett Silvertips will have shoulder surgery sometime next month and isn’t likely to play again this season. Murray, who also would have played for Canada’s national junior team, was injured on Nov. 16 in a game against the Royals in Victoria. He was diagnosed with a small tear in the labrum, a diagnosis that was confirmed by the medical staff of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets. They selected him with the second pick of the 2012 NHL draft.
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THE COACHING GAME:
After starting the season 1-9-1, the Southern Professional Hockey League’s Augusta RiverHawks have fired head coach Rob Miller, who was in his first season there. Mark Richards, the team president, has stepped in as interim head coach while the search goes on for a replacement. . . . Miller took over the RiverHawks from Brad Ralph, who now is the head coach of the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads. . . .
Ben Johnson, who played 31 games with the Spokane Chiefs (1997-99), is the new head coach of the Duluth Clydesdales of the Superior International Junior League. They won just once in their first 20 games. Johnson had been the club’s director of player development. He replaces Aaron Haupert, who was in his first season as head coach.
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The departures are soon to start.
The Prince Albert Raiders are to lose F Jonas Knutsen and F Leon Draisaitl to tournament play.
Knutsen will play for Norway at the IIHF Division I U-20 tournament that opens in Amiens, France, on Dec. 9. Knutsen, who is to leave Dec. 5, is expected to miss five WHL games.
Draisaitl will play for Germany in the World Junior Championship that opens Dec. 26 in Ufa, Russia. He is the WHL’s top-scoring freshman, with 23 points. Draisaitl is to leave Dec. 10 and will miss as many as eight WHL games.
In Brandon, the Wheat Kings are preparing for the loss of Alessio Bertaggia, their second-leading scorer. Bertaggia will attend Switzerland’s training camp in mid-December. He played for Switzerland in last season’s tournament, so is expected to make the roster again this time.

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.

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Jonas Johansson (Kamloops, 2002-04) signed a one-year contract with Alleghe (Italy, Serie A). He had 21 goals and 26 assists in 41 games with Cortina (Italy, Serie A) last season. . . .
D Deryk Engelland (Moose Jaw, 1998-2003) signed a lockout contract with Rosenborg (Norway, GET-Ligaen). He had four goals and 13 assists in 73 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins last season. Rosenborg's press release notes that Engelland is drawing no salary from the club. Rosenborg is covering only his insurance premiums, travel expenses, and accommodations in Norway. Engelland is scheduled to arrive in Rosenborg on Monday. . . .
F Dale Weise (Swift Current, 2005-08) signed a lockout contract with the Tilburg Trappers (Netherlands, Eredivisie). He had four goals and four assists in 68 games with the Vancouver Canucks last season. . . .
F Jesse Schultz (Tri-City, Prince Albert, Kelowna, 1999-2003) was released by Milan Rossoblu (Italy, Serie A). He had two goals and two assists in eight games with Milan this season. No reason was given by the club for the release. . . .
D Tyler Myers (Kelowna, 2005-09) signed a lockout contract with Klagenfurt (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). He had eight goals and 15 assists in 55 games with the Buffalo Sabres last season. Myers is
scheduled to arrive in Austria on Tuesday. Klagenfurt's director of hockey operations is former Prince Albert Raiders and Minnesota North Stars D Emanuel Viveiros, father of Portland D Layne Viveiros. . . .
F Marek Curilla (Kootenay, Medicine Hat, 2005-06) was released at the end of his try-out contract with Most (Czech Republic, 1.Liga). He had four assists in 10 games during his try-out. Last season, Curilla had one goal in seven games with Slovan Ustecti Lvi (Czech Republic 1.Liga) and eight goals and nine assists in 41 games on loan to Zvolen (Slovakia, Extraliga).
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A story from the press box that illustrates what today’s junior hockey coaches are up against. . . .
Someone from the visiting team always comes into the press box about 90 minutes before game time and sets up a laptop computer that is hooked into the home team’s video gear.
At one game in Kamloops this season, one of the visiting team’s assistant coaches was doing just that when he discovered that he was going to need a power bar in order to get plugged into the nearest electrical outlet.
Just then, one of the players who was scratched from the lineup walked into the press box.
The assistant coach promptly asked the player to return to the dressing room area and bring back a power bar.
And that, said the assistant coach, would be an electrical power bar, not the PowerBar that you eat.
A nearby reporter digested that and burst out laughing.
Don’t laugh, offered the assistant coach, admitting that at a previous game he had requested a power bar and been presented with a PowerBar.
Ahh, the challenges of coaching in today’s game!
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You will recall reading here yesterday that, according to the online scoresheet, Seattle Thunderbirds F Brendan Rouse had been credited with three goals in a 6-4 victory over the host Vancouver Giants on Friday night.
But a news release from the Thunderbirds indicated that Rouse had scored twice, with the other goal going to Luke Lockhart.
Well, if you click right here and scroll down a few pictures, you will see Lockhart’s goal. No idea how that could end up being credited to Rouse. (As of 1:30 a.m. PT, Rouse still had three goals on the online scoresheet.)
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SATURDAY’S STUFF:
The Tri-City Americans opened their six-game East Division swing with a 4-3 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings. . . . Tri-City F Jesse Mychan (bruised thigh) returned to the lineup for the first time since Sept. 29 and drew two assists. . . . Tri-City F Lukas Walter, who didn’t score in 49 games last season, scored his first WHL goal in his eighth game this season. . . . The Wheat Kings lost three games to visiting U.S. Division teams in an eight-day span, as they also lost to the Portland Winterhawks (2-1) and Everett Silvertips (3-2, OT). . . . The Wheat Kings (5-3-1) leave Monday on a seven-game swing into the Western Conference. . . . The Americans are in Moose Jaw tonight, where they have won four straight . . . .

The Calgary Hitmen scored the game’s last three goals and beat the visiting Red Deer Rebels, 4-2. . . . Calgary F Cody Sylvester tied the game 2-2 at 12:39 of the second period on a PP and got the winner at 10:54 of the third. He’s got seven goals. . . . Calgary G Mack Shields stopped 17 shots in earning his first WHL victory. . . . This result sets up this afternoon’s game between the only two teams who have yet to lose in regulation time. The Kamloops Blazers (7-0-1) will meet the Hitmen (6-0-2) in Calgary today. . . . The Blazers (.938) and Hitmen (.875) also own the WHL’s top two winning percentages. . . .

F Brett Stovin scored three times as the Saskatoon Blades snapped a five-game losing streak, winning 5-2 over the host Lethbridge Hurricanes. . . . These were Stovin’s first goals this season. He had 13 in 69 games last season. . . . Saskatoon F Travis McEvoy had three assists. . . . Saskatoon enjoyed its first two-goal lead of the season. . . . Saskatoon D Dalton Thrower was ejected for a check to the head of Lethbridge D Axel Blomqvist. . . .

F Sam Fioretti scored three times as the Moose Jaw Warriors whipped the visiting Prince Albert Raiders, 9-0. . . . G Daniel Wapple stopped 32 shots for his first WHL shutout. . . . Fioretti has a WHL-leading 10 goals, one more than Spokane Chiefs F Mitch Holmberg. . . . Fioretti, who also had two assists, has two WHL hat tricks, both in the last two weeks. . . . Fioretti has 17 points, one behind F JC Lipon of the Kamloops Blazers, who leads the WHL with 18. . . . Moose Jaw F Tanner Eberle (shoulder) played in his first game this season. . . . Moose Jaw D Morgan Rielly had five assists and was plus-5. . . . Moose Jaw D Kendall McFaull was pointless and plus-5. . . . Prince Albert F Tim Vanstone picked up a match penalty for attempt to injury at 13:31 of the first. . . . The Raiders have followed a seven-game winning streak with two straight losses. . . .

The Steph/venson boys struck late to carry the Regina Pats to a 4-3 victory over the visiting Everett Silvertips. . . . F Colton Stephenson scored at 13:35 of the third period on a PP to forge a 3-3 tie. . . . F Dyson Stevenson scored at 14:41 for the victory. . . . Everett led this one 3-1 midway through the second period. . . . Regina F Dryden Hunt was shaken up after taking a hit to head from Everett F Lucas Grayson who was tossed. . . . Hunt, who was playing in his second game after returning from a concussion, left the game and didn’t return. . . . Regina G Teagan Sacher stopped 21 shots in earning his first WHL victory. . . .

F Ty Rattie struck for four goals to lead the Portland Winterhawks to a 6-3 victory over the host Swift Current Broncos. . . . The Winterhawks went 4-1-1 on their East Division swing. . . . Rattie, who has seven goals, also drew on assist. . . . The Winterhawks improved to 7-3-1 and moved into a tie for first in the Western Conference with the idle Kamloops Blazers. Kamloops holds three games in hand as it opens a Central Division swing in Calgary today. . . . Portland G Brendan Burke stopped 28 shots, with Mac Carruth on the bench as the backup. . . .

F Boston Leier drew four assists to help the host Medicine Hat Tigers beat the Prince George Cougars, 7-2. . . . Medicine Hat F Hunter Shinkaruk scored his fifth goal — it stood up as the winner — on his 18th birthday. . . .

F Colin Valcourt scored three times in the third period to lead the Spokane Chiefs to a 5-2 victory over the visiting Vancouver Giants. . . . Spokane F Mitch Holmberg, who had a six-game scoring streak snapped Friday in a 5-1 loss in Kamloops, drew three assists. . . . Spokane F Dylan Walchuk also had three assists. . . . The Giants slipped to 2-7-0 and have the WHL’s poorest winning percentage (.222). . . .

G Coleman Vollrath made 30 saves for his first WHL victory as the host Victoria Royals beat the Kelowna Rockets, 3-2. . . . It was Vollrath’s first career start. . . . Vollrath is one of three goaltenders on the Royals’ roster, along with Czeck Partik Polivka and Jared Rathjen. . . . The Royals scored the game’s last two goals, with D Jesse Zgraggen’s first goal tying it at 6:16 of the third and F Ben Walker winning it on a PP at 17:44. . . . Walker scored twice and added an assist. . . . Zgraggen, 19, went into the game with three goals in 134 regular-season games. . . . Victoria F Steven Hodges (undisclosed) missed his eighth straight game. . . . The Rockets were without F Zach Franko, who suffered an undisclosed injury in Friday’s 4-1 victory over the Royals.
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CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
F Tim Vanstone, Prince Albert (match, intent to injure)
D Dalton Thrower, Saskatoon
D Kyle Burroughs, Regina

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
D Dalton Thrower, Saskatoon (major)
F Lucas Grayson, Everett (major)
F Ryan Olsen, Kelowna (major)
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TWEET OF THE DAY:
Former Kamloops Blazers F Ryan Hanes (@HANESR13), now with the BCHL’s Cowichan Valley Capitals: “Holy smokes, I love to see @_JLipon on the top of the leading board in the whole WHL! Get him to the show, ima live in guesthouse #beauty.”
Hanes leads the Capitals in goals (8) and points (12) in 11 games.

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Jesse Schultz (Tri-City, Prince Albert, Kelowna, 1999-2003) signed a one-year plus option contract with Milano Rossoblu (Italy, Serie A). He had 24 goals and 40 assists in 49 games with Rapid City Rush (CHL) last season. . . .
D Kyle Cumiskey (Kelowna, 2003-06) signed a one-year contract with MoDo Örnsköldsvik (Sweden, Elitserien). He had six goals and 23 assists in 57 games with Syracuse Crunch (AHL) last season. . . .
D Ross Lupaschuk (Lethbridge, Prince Albert, Red Deer, 1996-2001) signed a one-year contract with Red Bull Salzburg (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). He had 10 goals and 17 assists in 38 games last season with the Vienna Capitals (Austria, Erste Bank Liga) before transferring to Jokerit Helsinki (Finland, SM-Liiga), where he had one goal and three assists in 15 games. . . .
Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic, Extraliga) announced the signing of D Dustin Kohn (Calgary, Brandon, 2003-07) and F Matt Keith (Spokane, Red Deer, 1998-2003) to one-year contracts. Kohn and Keith both played for Örebro (Sweden, Allsvenskan) last season; Kohn had five assists in 38 games, while Keith notched 11 goals and 16 assists in 52 games. . . .
F Joni Lindlöf (Kelowna, Lethbridge, 2002-04) signed a one-year plus option contract with Nyköping (Sweden, Allsvenskan). In 33 games with Kristianstad (Sweden, Allsvenskan) last season, Lindlöf had eight goals and four assists.
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Remember that story from last week that appeared in the Michigan Daily that claimed the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers had cut a $200,000 deal to land D Jacob Trouba?
Well, it seems that the Rangers have filed suit against the Daily and reporter Matt Slovin.
"It's not a threat anymore," Rangers chief operating officer and governor Steve Bienkowski told the Waterloo Region Record on Monday. "We served the newspaper and the writer there to either back it up or retract it."
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THE COACHING GAME:
Chad Kletzel is the new assistant coach with the Kootenay Ice. Kletzel signed a two-year contract with a club option for a third season. He replaces Todd Johnson, who left to take over as head coach of the U of Regina Cougars. . . . Kletzel is a former WHL player (Edmonton Ice, 1996-97; Lethbridge Hurricanes, 1997-99). Ryan McGill, the Ice’s new head coach, was on Edmonton’s coaching staff in 1996-97. . . . Kletzel, 32, later played three seasons with the U of Lethbridge Pronghorns while earning two degrees (bachelor of arts in kinesiology and a bachelor of education). . . . Last season, he was the head coach of a midget AAA team in Lethbridge. . . . The Ice also announced that assistant coach Jerry Bancks is returning for a third season. . . .
The Oklahoma City Barons, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers, has re-signed head coach Todd Nelson and assistant coaches Gerry Fleming and Rocky Thompson. . . . All three are former WHL players and all are going into their third seasons with the Barons. . . .
Ross Yates has signed on as an assistant coach with the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs. Yates, 53, is a former head coach of the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch. . . . In Saint John, he will work alongside GM/head coach Mike Kelly.


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