Rockets score early and late in second to win opener . . . MacBeth Report overflowing

So happy my Family and friends could join me today at #OrderOfCanada ceremonies. One never receive this award alone. pic.twitter.com/nsGPPUedBz

— Sheldon Kennedy (@ShelKenn) May 8, 2015

D Micki DuPont (Kamloops, 1996-2000) signed a one-year contract with Eisbären Berlin (Germany, DEL). This season, he had two goals and 21 assists in 48 games with Kloten (Switzerland, NL A). DuPont earlier played three seasons (2003-06) with Eisbären Berlin. . . .
F Spencer Machacek (Vancouver, 2005-08) signed a one-year contract with Eisbären Berlin (Germany, DEL). This season, with the Augsburger Panther (Germany, DEL), he had 35 points, including eight goals, in 43 games. . . .
F Radim Valchar (Portland, Lethbridge, 2007-10) signed a one-year contract with Hokki Kajaani (Finland, Mestis). This season, with Gap (France, Ligue Magnus), he had five goals and 13 assists in 26 games. . . .
F Masi Marjamäki (Red Deer, Moose Jaw, 2002-05) signed a one-year contract with Ässät Port (Finland, Liiga). This season, he had four goals and two assists with Tappara Tampere (Finland, Liiga). He also had three goals and three assists in eight games on loan to LeKi Lempäälä (Finland, Mestis). . . .
D Brendan Mikkelson (Portland, Vancouver, 2003-07) signed a two-year contract with Luleå (Sweden, SHL). This season, with the Toronto Marlies (AHL), he had 23 points, including nine goals, in 60 games. He was an alternate captain with the Marlies. . . .
F Justin Taylor (Medicine Hat, Red Deer, 1999-2001, 2003-04) signed a one-year contract with Peiting (Germany, Oberliga). This season, with Mörrum (Sweden, Division 1), he had six goals and five assists in 18 games. . . .
F Dan DaSilva (Portland, 2002-05) signed one-year contract with the Linz Black Wings (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). This season, with the Augsburger Panther (Germany, DEL), he had 36 points, including 17 goals, in 51 games. . . .
D Derek Meech (Red Deer, 1999-2004) signed a two-year contract with Malmö (Sweden, SHL). This season, with the Texas Stars (AHL), he had 35 points, 10 of them goals, in 63 games. Malmö won promotion to SHL from Allsvenskan this season. . . .
D Jesse Dudas (Lethbridge, Prince George, Swift Current, Regina, 2003-09) signed a three-week tryout contract with TPS Turku (Finland, Liiga). This season, with Jegesmedve Miskolc (Hungary, MOL Liga), he had 43 points, 11 of them goals, in 34 games. Teams in Finland often practise until the end of May. . . .
G Jeff Glass (Kootenay, 2002-05) signed a one-year contract with Dynamo Minsk (Belarus, KHL). This season, with Lada Togliatti (Russia, KHL), he had a 3.46 GAA and a .885 save percentage in 14 games. . . .
F John Lammers (Lethbridge, Everett, 2001-06) signed a one-year contract with Innsbruck (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). This season, with Villach (Austria, Erste Bank Liga), he had 36 points, including 13 goals, in 54 games. . . .
F Jordan Draper (Red Deer, 2007-08) signed a one-year contract with Courbevoie (France, Division 1). This season, with Mont-Blanc (France Division 1), he had 34 points, including 20 goals, in 22 games. He led his team in goals and points, and was fifth in the league’s scoring race. . . .
F Jan Dalecký (Swift Current, 2007-09) signed a one-year extension with Kladno (Czech Republic, 1. Liga). This season, he had five goals and three assists in 34 games.
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pic.twitter.com/yEL9VehCEh

— Brandon Wheat Kings (@bdnwheatkings) May 8, 2015

FRIDAY’S GAME:

In Brandon, F Leon Draisaitl broke a 3-3 tie at 18:50 of the second period as the Kelowna Rockets opened the WHL’s championship final with a 4-3 victory over the Wheat Kings. . . . They’ll play Game 2 tonight in Brandon. . . . F Rihards Bukarts got Brandon on the board during the game’s first PP, scoring his third goal at 4:58 of the first period. . . . The Rockets scored the game’s next three goals in just 3:38. . . . F Tyson Baillie got his 10th goal at 17:41 of the first period, via the PP. . . . F Justin Kirkland scored his third goal 52 seconds into the second to give the visitors their first lead. . . . F Chance Braid, with his fourth goal, gave the Rockets a two-goal lead at 1:19. . . . The Wheat Kings tied it, getting goals 1:57 apart, from F Peter Quenneville, his eighth, on the PP, at 15:58, and Bukarts, at 17:55. . . . Draisaitl scored the goal that would stand up as the winner just 55 seconds later. . . . The difference in the game? The Rockets scored two goals in the first 1:19 of the second and another almost in the last minute of that period. So much for Brandon maintaining momentum, especially after tying the game 3-3. . . . Kelowna D Josh Morrissey had two assists, with Kirkland and Baillie each adding an assist to their goals. . . . Kelowna G Jackson Whistle stopped 24 shots, 12 fewer than Brandon’s Jordan Papirny. . . . Brandon was 2-for-3 on the PP; Kelowna was 1-for-4. . . . The referees were Chris Crich and Brett Iverson. . . . Kelowna F Rourke Chartier (ankle) had a question mark beside his name on the lineup sheet. He took the warmup and was in the lineup, picking up one assist. He started on a line with Rodney Southam and Riley Stadel. . . . While F Tanner Kaspick was back in Brandon’s lineup, D Kale Clague and F Reid Duke were among the scratches. . . . The Wheat Kings also had F Ty Lewis in the lineup for the first time in these playoffs. Lewis, who is from Brandon, was a sixth-round pick in the 2013 bantam draft. . . . F Caiden Daley, selected by the Wheat Kings with the 21st overall pick in Thursday’s bantam draft, was in the house. He played this season with the bantam AAA Winnipeg Warriors. . . . Shaw-TV is showing the entire series. . . . The attendance was a season-high 5,502. . . . Bruce Luebke, the radio voice of the Wheat Kings on CKLQ, has a game story right here. . . . Doyle Potenteau of the Kelowna Daily Courier filed this story right here.
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The host Oshawa Generals opened the OHL final last night with a 4-1 victory over the Erie Otters before 6,068 fans. . . . Erie F Connor McDavid had one assist, the fourth time in 16 playoff games that he was held to one point. . . . They’ll play Game 2 tonight in Oshawa. . . .
In the QMJHL, the visiting Quebec Remparts beat the Rimouski Oceanic 4-1 to take a 2-1 lead in the championship series. . . . Quebec G Zach Fucale stopped 40 shots. . . . Attendance was 5,062. . . . They are scheduled to play Sunday and Wednesday in Quebec City.
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In the AHL, the Utica Comets and Oklahoma City Barons, who went into the fourth OT period on Thursday night, were back at it last night. The Barons won the series opener 2-1. Last night, it was the Comets winning 2-1, this time at 3:32 of the first extra period. . . . The online scoresheet is right here.
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The BCHL’s Chilliwack Chiefs issued a rather interesting news release this week, as they announced “the addition of eight players for the 2015-16 season. All eight were members of the split-season Connecticut Wolf Pack team that captured the 2015 USA Hockey Tier 1 U18 National Championship in Amherst, N.Y., in April. . . . All told, the Chiefs added a goaltender, a defence man and six forwards from the Wolf Pack. . . . Six of the players are Americans; the other two are from Quebec. . . . There’s more right here.
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If you missed it, ESPN announced Thursday that it won’t renew Bill Simmons’ contract. Jeb Lund greeted that news with ‘A Begrudging Appreciation’ for Rolling Stone. It’s a good read and it’s right here.
——
Florence and Kaye Kaminishi of Kamloops celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on Friday. You may not know them or know of them, but there is a truly amazing story there. . . . Kaminishi was a promising young baseball player in Vancouver when Japan bombed Pearl Harbour on Dec. 7, 1941. It wasn’t long before Kaminish and his mother were in an internment camp near Lillooet, B.C., their lumberyard gone, seized by the government. . . . Kaminishi survived all of that and is a man of uncommon grace. For more on his story, click right here.
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#NHLJets announce Andrew Ladd had 'successful surgery' on a sports hernia today in St. L. Expected to be ready for camp in Sept. #bn

— Ed Tait (@WFPEdTait) May 8, 2015

Wonder if a pro sports team ever announced a player underwent 'unsuccessful surgery'? 'Sorry to report the doc really messed up...'

— Ed Tait (@WFPEdTait) May 8, 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.

Calling all Terriers! . . . Three series one victory from ending

F John Lammers (Lethbridge, Everett, 2001-06) has signed a one-year contract with Villach (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). This season, with Klagenfurt (Austria, Erste Bank Liga), he had 34 points, including 14 goals, in 43 games. . . .
The Manchester Phoenix (England, Premier) announced via Twitter the retirement of D Robert Schnabel (Red Deer, 1997-99). This season, in 53 games, Schnabel had 43 points, 11 of them goals. He was the fifth-leading scorer among league defencemen and was named to the second all-star team. . . .
Among the English Premier first team all-stars: F Michal Psurny (Medicine Hat, Kootenay, 2005-06) of the Manchester Phoenix, who led the league in scoring with 99 points, including 45 goals, in 54 games. . . . F Tomas Karpov (Moose Jaw, Calgary, 2007-09) of the Basingstoke Bison. . . . Among the second team all-stars: F Robin Kovar (Vancouver, 2001-03) and F Tony Hand (Victoria Cougars, 1986-87), both of the Manchester Phoenix. At 46, Hand led the league in assists (64) and was third with 82 points, in 53 games.
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Portage la Prairie, home of the MJHL’s Terriers, will play host to the Royal Bank Cup in 2015. With that in mind, the Terriers are working hard to reach as many former players, coaches, team officials, executives, etc., as possible in an attempt to bring everyone back for what will be a big week. So if you had anything at all to do with the Terriers, going back to Day 1, you should visit the Terriers’ alumni page right here and sign up.
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Moose Jaw’s city council has decided to write a letter to the Moose Jaw Warriors, expressing concern over the WHL team’s decision to bring back an old logo as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations set for 2014-15. . . . A Canadian Press story that originated with Moose Jaw radio station CHAB is right here. . . . Neate Sager of Yahoo! Sports weighs in with more right here.
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The Ulmer brothers, Jeff and Jason, have signed contracts with teams in Austria’s Erste Bank Liga. . . . Jeff, 36, has signed a one-year deal with the Innsbruck Sharks. He had 43 points, including 22 goals, in 53 games with the Sharks this season. . . . Jason, 35, signed a two-year deal with the Linz Black Wings. This season, in 55 games, he had 58 points, including 16 goals. . . . The brothers are from Wilcox, Sask., the home of the Notre Dame Hounds.
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Mountain climbers, especially those whose lives belong to the Everests and K2s of the world, have never been able to explain why they do what they do. Perhaps it was Sir Edmund Hilary, the legendary climber, who came closest when he said: “It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” . . . Whatever it is, Gabriel Filippi has spent a lot of his life chasing it. . . . If you enjoy great reads, this one right here is for you.
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The Tri-City Americans have signed F Zach Andrusiak of Armstrong, B.C., who was placed on their list in December. Andrusiak, 15, spent this season with the Kelowna-based Pursuit of Excellence’s U18 prep team. In 66 games, he put up 82 points, including 35 goals. On the team, he was second to F Tyler Benson in goals and points. Benson was selected by the Vancouver Giants with the first overall pick of the 2013 bantam draft.
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THE SECOND ROUND (best-of-seven; all times local):
(x - if necessary)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
EDMONTON (1) vs. BRANDON (7)
(Edmonton leads, 3-0)
Season series: Edmonton, 3-1-0; Brandon, 1-2-1.
Thursday: Brandon 0 at Edmonton 5 (5,899)
Saturday: Brandon 0 at Edmonton 3 (7,115)
Tuesday: Edmonton 5 at Brandon 2 (3,522)
Wednesday: Edmonton at Brandon, 7 p.m.
x-Friday: Brandon at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
x-Monday: Edmonton at Brandon, 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 16: Brandon at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Edmonton: F Brandon Baddock, day-to-day; D Blake Orban, day-to-day.
Brandon: G Curtis Honey, day-to-day.
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MEDICINE HAT (4) vs. KOOTENAY (6)
(Series tied, 1-1)
Season series: Medicine Hat, 3-3-0; Kootenay, 3-3-0.
Saturday: Kootenay 4 at Medicine Hat 2 (3,750)
Sunday: Kootenay 2 at Medicine Hat 5 (3,755)
Wednesday: Medicine Hat at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
Thursday: Medicine Hat at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
Saturday: Kootenay at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.
x-Monday: Medicine Hat at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 16: Kootenay at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.
(NOTE: Kootenay plays home games in Cranbrook, B.C.)
INJURIES
Medicine Hat: F Gavin Broadhead, day-to-day; F Hunter Shinkaruk, indefinite.
Kootenay: F Tim Bozon, indefinite; F Ryan Chynoweth, indefinite; D Tyler King, day-to-day; D Tanner Faith, 3-5 months.
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WESTERN CONFERENCE
KELOWNA (1) vs. SEATTLE (4)
(Kelowna leads, 3-0)
Season series: Kelowna, 2-1-1; Seattle, 2-1-1.
Thursday: Seattle 2 at Kelowna 6 (4,581)
Saturday: Seattle 3 at Kelowna 6 (5,675)
Tuesday: Kelowna 5 at Seattle 4 (5,029)
Wednesday: Kelowna at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
x-Friday: Seattle at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
x-Sunday: Kelowna at Seattle, 5:05 p.m.
x-Tuesday: Seattle at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
(NOTE: Seattle plays home games in Kent, Wash.)
INJURIES
Kelowna: F Myles Bell, week-to-week.
Seattle: F Connor Honey, indefinite; F Jaimen Yakubowski, day-to-day.
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PORTLAND (2) vs. VICTORIA (3)
(Portland leads, 3-1)
(Series televised by Shaw-TV in Canada;
Games 6 and 7, if necessary, on Comcast SportsNet in Portland area)
Season series: Portland, 1-1-2; Victoria, 3-1-0.
Friday: Victoria 2 at Portland 8 (6,152)
Saturday: Victoria 3 at Portland 6 (10,947)
Monday: Portland 1 at Victoria 2 (6,505)
Tuesday: Portland 4 at Victoria 3 (6,745)
Thursday: Victoria at Portland (Moda Center), 7, p.m.
x-Saturday: Portland at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
x-Monday: Victoria at Portland (Veterans Memorial Coliseum), 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Portland: None.
Victoria: None.
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TUESDAY’S GAMES:

 In Brandon, F Mitch Moroz had a goal and two assists as the Edmonton Oil Kings dumped the Wheat Kings, 5-2. . . . The Oil Kings lead the series 3-0 and are able to wrap it up in Brandon tonight. . . . F Riley Kieser gave Edmonton a 1-0 lead at 16:13 of the first period. . . . Brandon F John Quenneville tied it on a PP at 4:38 of the second. He’s got four goals. . . . Moroz broke the tie at 5:40 of the third period and F Curtis Lazar added insurance at 8:38, via the PP. . . . Kieser, Moroz, Lazar, Edmonton D Ashton Sautner and Brandon F Richard Nejezchleb each scored his third goal of these playoffs. . . . F Luke Bertolucci added an empty-netter for Edmonton, his second goal. . . . Edmonton G Tristan Jarry stopped 32 shots, six fewer than Brandon’s Jordan Papirny. . . . The Oil Kings were 2-for-8 on the PP, with both goals coming with 5-on-3 advantages; Brandon was 1-for-4. . . . The Wheat Kings took 53 of 65 penalty minutes. That included a fighting major and game misconduct to D Ryan Pilon at 19:26 of the third period. No one from Edmonton was penalized at the time, leaving one to wonder if Pilon might hear from the WHL office today. . . . Brandon had two 15-year-olds in its lineup as D Kale Clague, the sixth overall pick in the 2013 bantam draft, made his playoff debut, joining F Nolan Patrick, the fourth overall pick. . . .


In Kent, Wash., the Kelowna Rockets took a 4-1 lead into the third period and hung on for a 5-4 victory over the Thunderbirds. . . . With a 3-0 lead in the series, the Rockets can wrap it up tonight in Kent. . . . The Rockets opened a 2-0 first-period lead on late goals from F Ryan Olsen and F Tyrell Goulbourne, at 18:39 (PP) and 19:03, respectively. . . . Seattle F Ethan Bear cut the lead to 2-1 at 4:12 of the second, but the Rockets took control on goals from F Tyson Baillie at 7:23 and D Madison Bowey, at 9:54. . . . Seattle outscored the visitors 3-1 in the third period but wasn’t able to equalize. . . . F Alexander Delnov got the home side to within 5-4 at 18:43 of the third. . . . D Damon Severson and F Marek Tvrdeon each had two assists for Kelowna, while F Mathew Barzal did the same for Seattle. . . . Severson has nine points in the series’ three games. He has two assists in each game. . . . Kelowna G Jordon Cooke stopped 28 shots, one more than Seattle’s Taran Kozun. . . . Kelowna, which took 11 of 17 minors, was 2-for-5 on the PP; Seattle was 1-for-10. . . .


 In Victoria, the Portland Winterhawks scored the game’s last two goals and beat the Rockets, 4-3. . . . The Winterhawks go home with a 3-1 series lead. Game 5 is scheduled for Thursday in the Moda Center. . . . F Steven Hodges scored a PP goal seven seconds into the third period to give the Royals a 3-2 lead. . . . Portland F Brendan Leipsic tied it with his second goal of the game just 1:26 later. . . . F Chase De Leo scored his third goal at 8:05 and it stood up as the winner. . . . Leipsic and teammate Oliver Bjorkstrand, who was held to one assist in this one, have a WHL-leading eight goals. . . . Leipsic also took over the playoff points lead, with 18, one more than Kootenay Ice forwards Jaedon Descheneau and Sam Reinhart. . . . Leipsic has at least one point in each of his club’s eight playoff games. Going back to the regular season, he is riding a 15-game point streak. . . . F Tyler Soy had given Victoria the lead at 6:39 of the first period. . . . Portland got goals from F Adam Rossignol, at 8:06 of the first, and Leipsic, on the PP at 12:18 of the second, to take the lead. . . . F Taylor Crunk, shorthanded, pulled Victoria into a 2-2 tie at 17:11 of the second. . . . D Mathew Dumba had two assists for the Winterhawks. . . . Portland G Brendan Burke turned aside 27 shots, while Victoria’s Patrik Polivka stopped 34. . . . Portland was 1-for-5 on the PP; Victoria was 1-for-4.
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From Helene Barbier Bozon (@HeleneBozon): “Good bye Canada,Time to go back home! 40 days @timbozon94 Terrify,tears,despair,believe,hope,Miracle Thank you everyone.”
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From Kootenay Ice F Tim Bozon (@timbozon94): “Here we go finally flying back to europe in couple hours @HeleneBozon #seeyacanada #RehabTime”


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.

'Our Timmy is keeping fighting . . . '

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Roman Wick (Red Deer, Lethbridge, 2004-06) has signed a three-year extension with ZSC Zurich (Switzerland, NL A). His current contract expires in 2015. The extension keeps Wick with ZSC through the 2017-2018 season. This season, in 47 games, he has 48 points, including 23 goals, leaving him second in the league’s scoring race. . . .

Klagenfurt (Austria, Erste Bank Liga) won’t renew seven players’ contracts, including F John Lammers (Lethbridge, Everett, 2001-06) and F Tyler Spurgeon (Kelowna, 2001-06). This season, Lammers had 34 points, including 14 goals, in 43 games, while Spurgeon had 22 points, 11 of them goals, in 34 games.
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F Tim Bozon of the Kootenay Ice remains in critical condition in Royal University  Hospital in Saskatoon as he battles Neisseria meningitis.
On Thursday, his parents, using their son’s Twitter account, tweeted: “Our Timmy is keeping fighting but . . . thank you so much for your wonderful wishes. Helene and Phil Bozon.”
The Bozons aren’t expected to offer comment unless Tim’s condition changes.
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Before being hospitalized and diagnosed with Neisseria meningitis, F Tim Bozon of the Kootenay Ice played against the Blades in Saskatoon and also attended a rock concert with one of their players. . . . On the heels of Bozon’s diagnosis, Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix writes, the Blades are taking precautions. That story is right here.
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There’s a story right here (video) from CTV Saskatoon about a hockey fan who was sticken by meningitis 20 years ago and now is offering to help the Bozon family in way he can.
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While Tim Bozon fights meningitis in a Saskatoon hospital, his Kootenay Ice teammates are preparing for weekend games. Trevor Crawley of the Cranbrook Daily Townsman has that story right here.
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F Kohl Bauml of the Everett Silvertips has a broken leg and, according to Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald, “is likely done for the rest of the season.” Bauml was injured early in Tuesday’s 5-1 victory over the visiting Kelowna Rockets. Patterson reports that the diagnosis is a compound fracture to a tibia. . . . Bauml, 19, had 28 points, including 14 goals, in 65 games. . . . Patterson also reports that F Tyler Sandhu and F Logan Aasman, both of whom have been out with undisclosed injuries, have been cleared to return to play. . . .

The Regina Pats have brought in G Tyler Fuhr, 18, from the SJHL’s La Ronge Ice Wolves. The Pats need a goaltender to back up Dawson MacAuley this weekend after Daniel Wapple was injured in Wednesday’s 5-2 loss to the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings. Wapple went down in a goal-mouth collision and was later seen with a walking boot on one foot. . . . Fuhr, a fourth-round selection by the Brandon Wheat Kings in the 2010 bantam draft, was 13-21-0, 3.68, .903 with the Ice Wolves this season. . . .

F Austin Daae of the Estevan Bruins has won the SJHL’s scoring championship. It’s worth mentioning because Daae, a 20-year-old native of Estevan, played 11 games with the WHL Saskatoon Blades in 2010-11, 52 with the Prince George Cougars in 2011-12 and 30 with the Prince Albert Raiders in 2012-13. Daae, a 10th-round pick by the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL’s 2008 bantam draft, also is the first Estevan player in 26 years to win the SJHL scoring crown. . . . Josh Lewis of the Estevan Mercury has more right here.
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IF THE PLAYOFFS BEGAN TODAY:
Eastern Conference
Edmonton (1) vs. Red Deer (8)
Regina (2) vs. Brandon (7)
Calgary (3) vs. Swift Current (6)
Medicine Hat (4) vs. Kootenay (5)
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Western Conference
Kelowna (1) vs. Tri-City (8)
Portland (2) vs. Vancouver (7)
Victoria (3) vs. Everett (6)
Seattle (4) vs. Spokane (5)
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FRIDAY’S WHL GAMES (all times local):
Calgary at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
Moose Jaw at Saskatoon, 7:05 p.m.
Edmonton at Brandon, 7:30 p.m.
Medicine Hat at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
Regina at Lethbridge, 7 p.m.
Swift Current at Red Deer, 7 p.m.
Seattle at Portland, 7 p.m.
Spokane at Prince George, 7 p.m.
Everett at Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.
Kamloops at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
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THURSDAY’S GAMES:
No games scheduled.
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TWEET OF THE DAY:
Please keep Tim Bozon (@timbozon94) and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

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 John Lammers (Lethbridge, Everett, 2001-06) and F Tyler Spurgeon (Kelowna, 2001-06) each signed one-year contract extensions with Klagenfurt (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). . . . Lammers has 12 goals and 13 assists in 43 games. . . . Spurgeon has two goals and seven assists in seven games this season.
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I was in the press box at Interior Savings Centre in Kamloops late Saturday night when I learned of the passing of Cal Murphy, who had been in a Regina hospital after experiencing a fall.
While I wasn’t surprised as I had heard Murphy was having health issues of late, I was saddened.
During a total of 22 years at the late, great Winnipeg Tribune and the Regina Leader-Post, I came in contact with a lot of football people. The one I remember the most is Murphy, who would have been 80 on March 12.
When he smiled, he lit up the room. And no one had a laugh — nay, a cackle — like he did.
Most people are aware that Murphy, after having had heart issues and at least two heart attacks, underwent a heart transplant in July of 1992 at the London, Ont., Health Sciences Centre.
No one loved the CFL more than did Murphy. Once he was able to leave the hospital in London, he returned to Winnipeg and one of his first stops was Winnipeg Stadium where he watched the Blue Bombers beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 59-11 in the East final.
In recent times, Murphy’s health hasn’t been terrific and in early 2010 he actually was on a respirator in a Regina hospital. A month after that episode, however, he was back searching for players on behalf of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.
Murphy spent three seasons on the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ coaching staff, starting in 1997. He was the director of football operations and head coach in 1999.
On Sept. 29, 1999, I underwent triple bypass surgery in a Regina hospital.
There was a gift basket from the Roughriders in the first batch of mail I received upon returning home.
Included was a card from Murphy, who had written: “I didn’t know you had a heart!!!”
I laughed because I could see that smile and I could hear him cackling as he wrote it.
Cal Murphy . . . he was one of a kind.
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You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to realize that the WHL has been hit by an epidemic of injuries.
The Red Deer Rebels, of course, are the best (worst?) example, but right now the Brandon Wheat Kings and Tri-City Americans also are hurting in a big, big way. The Saskatoon Blades also have had their injury woes.
The Medicine Hat Tigers have at least four regulars out of the lineup.
The Kelowna Rockets have fought the injury bug for most of the season, as have the Vancouver Giants.
And on and on it goes.
Yes, coaches regularly are heard to say that “all teams go through this” and “this gives other guys the opportunity to step up.”
That’s fine if a team is missing one, two or maybe even three players. But when a team has three or four players out on a long-term basis, it is going to catch up with it.
So . . . what do do?
I was told Sunday that there is some talk about WHL teams carrying 25 players next season. That would be an increase of two.
I would suggest that would be a good idea if the two added players both were 20 years of age. Why not increase the number of allowable 20-year-olds per roster to five from three?
That would raise the league’s maturity level, improve the level of entertainment and give some more veteran players a chance to prolong their WHL careers.
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JUST NOTES:
I meant to mention this in yesterday’s notes, and it slipped through the cracks. . . . Saturday’s game between the visiting Calgary Hitmen and the Kamloops Blazers may have been the best-officiated game in Kamloops this season. Surely, the fact that referee Brent Montsion was working by himself was a coincidence. . . .
Say what you want about the Montreal Canadiens, but nobody does special ceremonies any better. The playing of Eagles’ New Kid in Town during Sunday’s tribute to the late Gary Carter was wonderful. . . .
If you were paying attention on the weekend, you may have seen former Montreal Canadiens head coach Jacques Martin in a WHL arena or two. He was checking out Tri-City Americans F Patrick Holland, a player the Habs acquired from the Calgary Flames earlier this season. . . . Martin is keeping busy. He was in Sweden not that long ago and has Denver and Boston on his itinerary.
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SUNDAY’S GAMES:
The Western Conference now has five teams with playoff berths in their hip pockets. The Vancouver Giants clinched a spot Saturday and the Spokane Chiefs are in as of Sunday. . . . The sixth spot will go to the Kelowna Rockets. . . . The conference’s other four teams are going to scrap over the last two spots and it may well go down to the wire. Right now, there are two points separating the four teams. . . .
In the Eastern Conference, the chances are that the teams that are one through eight right now are the ones who will be in the playoffs. But the Red Deer Rebels, as injury ravaged as they are, obviously aren’t prepared to lay down for anyone. They won Sunday and are seven points back with 13 to play. . . . They couldn’t, could they?

In Vancouver, F Tyson Ness broke a 1-1 tie at 18:28 of the second period and the Red Deer Rebels went on to beat the Giants, 3-1. . . . F Charles Inglis scored his 18th goal just 18 seconds into the game for Red Deer. . . . F Riley Kieser got his fourth for the Giants at 14:25 of the second. . . . Ness has 15 goals. . . . F Turner Elson provided insurance with his 21st, but it didn’t come until 19:53 of the third. . . . Red Deer G Deven Dubyk stopped 29 shots, two fewer than Vancouver’s Adam Morrison. . . . Vancouver F Anthony Ast and F Marek Tvrdon both completed WHL suspensions by sitting out this one. . . . The Rebels, who were playing their third game in three nights, went 2-1-1 on a four-game swing into the B.C. Division. . . . Vancouver was playing its fifth game in six nights — it went 3-1-1, losing the last two, one of them in a shootout. . . . Vancouver D Neil Manning played in his 300th regular-season game, the first player to do that entirely in a Giants uniform. . . .

In Kent, Wash., G Mac Engel stopped 18 shots as the Spokane Chiefs beat the host Seattle Thunderbirds, 3-0. . . . It was Engel’s first shutout of the season; he has five in his career. . . . F Dominick Uher got the game’s first goal, his 25th, at 10:05 of the first period. F Colin Valcourt, with his 14th, and F Liam Stewart, with his 11th, also scored. . . . Seattle dressed 17 skaters, one under the maximum. . . . Seattle G Calvin Pickard stopped 31 shots. . . . The Chiefs snapped a four-game losing skid. . . . Seattle last won two in a row on Dec. 28 and 30. Since then, the Thunderbirds have lost 21 of 25.
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SUNDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
F Mitch Elliot, Seattle.
D Corbin Baldwin, Spokane.
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SUNDAY’S CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
F Scott Cooke, Vancouver.
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Every Sunday, I fire up the Keurig coffee maker and read the Sunday papers online. One of my first stops is the Seattle Times, where I  check in with Ron Judd. His Sunday column is a piece of work. It really is. He obviously has a lifetime supply of darts and he uses them well. This week, Judd, who isn’t believed to be related to Naomi, Ashley or Wynonna, writes about the future of the NBA and NHL in Seattle. It is today’s good read and I dare you not to nod your head in agreement as you’re reading.
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D Chris Pronger of the Philadelphia Flyers hasn’t shown any improvement with his post-concussion symptoms. This story, from Tim Panaccio of csnphilly.com, is rather frightening.
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Just for kicks, click right here and read an obituary from the Casper Tribune. You won’t be disappointed.
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Jim Jamieson of the Vancouver Province takes a look right here at D Nolan Baumgartner, who now plays for the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. He will saluted there on Friday for playing in his 1,000th professional game.
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TWEET OF THE DAY:
From F Matt Kassian (@kassassination) after his Minnesota Wild beat the visiting Boston Bruins 2-0 on Sunday in a game that was televised by NBC-TV: “Funny thing — during a TV timeout tonight Pierre Mcguire leaned over and told me 7 or 8 detailed facts about my life that I didnt even know.”


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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F John Lammers (Lethbridge, Everett, 2001-06) signed a one-year contract with Klagenfurt (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). He had 10 goals and 11 assists in 49 games for Plzen (Czech Republic, Extraliga) last season. . . .
D Vladimir Sicak (Medicine Hat, 1998-2000) and D Josef Melichar (Tri-City, 1997-99) signed one-year contracts with Pardubice (Czech Republic, Extraliga). Sicak had five goals and 12 assists in 49 games for Kärpät Oulu (Finland, SM-Liiga); Melichar had five assists in 41 games with Linköping (Sweden, Elitserien) and one assist in 12 games on loan to Ceske Budejovice (Czech Republic, Extraliga) last season.
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First came the news Tuesday afternoon that Mark Ferner had resigned after four seasons as general manager and head coach of the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers.

MARK FERNER

Then came the news that the WHL’s Everett Silvertips had scheduled a news conference for this afternoon, at which they will introduce their new head coach.
And then came a news release from the BCHL that contained this opening paragraph:
“The British Columbia Hockey League announced Wednesday that the Vernon Vipers have hired Jason Williamson as their new head coach after Mark Ferner accepted a job with the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League.”
So much for Everett’s secret.
Ferner, 45, played three seasons with the WHL’s Kamloops Junior Oilers/Blazers before going on to a pro career. He later turned to coaching and was on the Blazers’ staff for one season as an assistant coach and two as associate before taking over as head coach early in the 2004-05 season.
The Blazers finished 19-27-6 under Ferner that season. He was fired early the next season with the Blazers at 16-16-0.
The Vipers, in four seasons under Ferner, went 165-51-7, winning three straight BCHL titles (2008-09, 2009-10 and 2009-11) and national titles in 2009 and 2010. They lost in the RBC Cup championship game in 2011.
Williamson, 30, Ferner’s assistant for all four seasons, already has taken over as the Vipers’ GM and head coach.
In Everett, Ferner, who is a Regina native, replaces Craig Hartsburg who left after two seasons to accept the position as associate coach with the NHL’s Calgary Flames.
Ferner’s signing leaves only the Moose Jaw Warriors and Regina Pats as WHL teams without head coaches.
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THE COACHING GAME:

BRAD LAUER

I was told Tuesday evening that Brad Lauer, who spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach alongside Cory Clouston with the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, is to be named an assistant coach with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch. Mark Holick just completed his first season as head coach of the Crunch, which is affiliated with the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks. . . . Holick is a former head coach of the WHL’s Kootenay Ice; Lauer was an assistant coach with the Ice when Clouston was the head coach. . . .
Clouston, who has yet to find a coaching job after being fired by the Senators following the end of last season, was interviewed by the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL draft. The Red Wings have an opening for an assistant coach or two. . . .
As expected, John Torchetti is the new head coach of the AHL’s Houston Aeros. The parent Minnesota Wild made the announcement Tuesday. . . . Torchetti, 46, had been an associate coach with the Atlanta Thrashers, who, of course, now are the Winnipeg Jets. . . . Torchetti replaces Mike Yeo, who now is head coach of the Wild. . . .
Colin O’Hara is the new GM/head coach of the BCHL’s Salmon Arm SilverBacks. He signed a three-year contract. O’Hara replaces Tim Kehler, who resigned last week despite having two years left on his three-year deal. . . .
Tom McCarthy is the new head coach of the North Bay Trappers, who play in the junior A Northern Ontario junior league. McCarthy was the 10th overall selection in the NHL’s 1979 draft, taken by the Minnesota North Stars.
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JUST NOTES: F Sven Bartschi of the Portland Winterhawks signed a three-year deal with the Calgary Flames on Tuesday. He was the 13th overall selection in the 2011 NHL draft. Bartschi is in Calgary attending the Flames’ development camp. Bartschi, from Switzerland, had 85 points, including 34 goals, in his freshman WHL season, then added 27 points in 21 playoff games. . . .
One WHL team has offered season tickets to William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who are touring around Canada these days. In fact, the Duke took time out for a little street hockey on Tuesday in Yellowknife. . . . Neate Sager of Yahoo! Sports takes a look at the season-ticket offer right here.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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