Scott Fisher of the Calgary Sun thinks the time is right for the WHL to move a franchise into Winnipeg.
“Now that the NHL is safe and sound back in Winnipeg, the WHL is staring at a great opportunity,” he writes.
That piece is right here.
———
Only eight Russian players were among the 210 selected in the NHL draft, and three of those went to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Perhaps the existence of the Kontinental Hockey League has something to do with the dearth of Russian draft picks.
Here's a piece from The Globe and Mail.
———
You’ve been touring the Internet and you still haven’t had enough of the NHL draft. Check out this notebook from Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal.
———
JUST NOTES: Apologies to Jeff Paterson of Vancouver radio station Team 1040. After the NHL draft, Paterson, a former radio voice of the Kamloops Blazers, tweeted: “Not right or wrong, just strange: 652 players taken in NHL drafts since Canucks last drafted a WHLer (7th rd 2008).” . . . I misremembered or something and got it all wrong. He was correct. That last pick was G Morgan Clark, then with the Red Deer Rebels. . . . John MacNeil of the Brandon Sun reports that G Jacob DeSerres, who backstopped the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs to the Memorial Cup title, “has earned an invitation to the Phoenix Coyotes’ prospects development camp next month.” DeSerres told MacNeil that he “probably attend.” DeSerres, who completed his junior eligibility last season, is keeping his options open, though, and admits that he still might end up going to school, perhaps at the U of Manitoba. DeSerres was a third-round pick by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2008 NHL draft but was never signed. . . . The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the NHL’s Nashville Predators will hold a new conference today at noon to introduce Kirk Muller as the head coach of the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals. Muller has spent five seasons as an assistant coach with the Montreal Canadiens. The Admirals lost their head coach, Lane Lambert, to the parent Nashville Predators. . . . Two former WHL players, Ian Herbers and Brad Lauer, were assistants with Milwaukee last season and were in the running for the head-coaching job.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Taking Note on Twitter
Showing posts with label John MacNeil. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John MacNeil. Show all posts
Monday, June 27, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Sheesh, if you had arrived fresh on the Twitterverse on Thursday afternoon you might have thought Seattle had an NHL franchise and that it was going to begin play in 
September.
Fresh out of cities to use as leverage (thank you, Winnipeg), could it be that the NHL has turned its lonely eyes to Seattle?
You remember Seattle? It used to be home to a WHL franchise that now is located in Kent, Wash., even though it still calls itself the Seattle Thunderbirds.
The Thunderbirds, you may recall, vacated the KeyArena and moved into new digs in Kent. The KeyArena, you will remember, also at one time was home to an NBA franchise, one that now is the Oklahoma City Thunder.
So why would the NHL be interested in moving into a city where there obviously isn’t an arena that would meet its standards, and where there isn’t a plan anywhere in sight for a new building? After all, even though baseball’s Mariners and football’s Seahawks have new homes, no one stepped up to build a new facility and save the SuperSonics.
“We’ve had discussions with a group in Seattle,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told Seattle TV station KING5. “Certainly (there are) people who are interested in having NHL hockey in Seattle. I would rather not get into specifics to be fair to that group, or the process.”
In speaking with the TV station, Daly also questioned whether KeyArena would be a proper venue for an NHL franchise, pointing out that there are “obstructed view” seats for hockey.
But that didn’t stop people from jumping all over this story and running with it. Part of that is likely because a Seattle franchise presumably would have some kind of rivalry with the Vancouver Canucks and, these days, the Canucks are kind of a hot topic on the West Coast.
Of course, a skeptic might suggest that with the Phoenix Coyotes staying put, at least for now, and with the Atlanta Thrashers’ move to Winnipeg to be finalized whenever TSN and Rogers Sportsnet quit fighting over the date of the official announcement, the NHL simply is searching for another lever. So that the next time it is suggested that a particular team is struggling financially, well, Seattle will be in the conversation as an option.
Nah . . .
———
THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Daniel Vorab (Saskatoon, 2001-03) signed a one-year contract with the Basingstoke Bison (England, Premier). He had eight goals and 15 assists in 44 games for Hradec Kralove (Czech Republic 1.Liga) this season. Bison director of ice hockey Steve Moria: "I am obviously very happy to sign a player of this calibre. This is a player who could have been playing in the NHL right now if things went differently seven or eight years ago. His excellent overall game will suit us perfectly. His vision and awareness wil create scoring opportunities for his wingers."
F Igor Revenko (Prince Albert, 2008-11) signed a one-year contract with Yunost Minsk (Belarus, Open). He had 23 goals and 28 assists in 57 games for the Raiders this season. . . .
F Kyle Wanvig (Edmonton/Kootenay, Red Deer, 1997-2001) signed a one-year contract with Villach (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). He had five goals and 10 assists in 37 games for Augsburger Panther (Germany, DEL) and two goals and two assists in five games for Poprad (Slovakia, Extraliga) this season.
———
John MacNeil of the Brandon Sun has written extensively this week on concussions and their impact on people. Right here is a look at Jace Miller, a 14-year-old minor hockey player, and what he and his family went through.
———
A note from a sidebar written by MacNeil is worth posting here:
Hockey Brandon is polling its members for input on a gameplan to tackle and manage concussions.
"We've taken a proactive approach to offer a non-contact division for peewee-aged and older children who don't want to play (contact hockey)," said Hockey Brandon third vice-president Don Wilson. "A lot of larger centres are going to that, with very good success and their numbers are going up and kids are staying involved in the sport. We've sent out an email to all families to see if that is something they'd at all be interested in, just to get a gauge on interest."
Brandon will host an open concussion symposium June 8 at the Victoria Inn at 7 p.m.
———
D Victor Bartley, who played in Europe this season, signed a two-year deal with the NHL’s Nashville Predators earlier this week. According to capgeek.com, Bartley, 23, will get US$67,500 in the AHL and $537,5000 in the NHL. He got a $25,000 signing bonus over two years. . . . The Minnesota Wild has signed Red Deer Rebels G Darcy Kuemper to a three-year contract. Kuemper, who played out his junior eligibility this season, was a sixth-round selection in the 2009 NHL draft. He is coming off a season in which he was the WHL’s player and goaltender of the year. Capgeek.com reports that Kuemper’s AHL salary will be US$67,500 for each of the three seasons, with NHL salaries of $690,000, $740,000 annd $900,000. He got a $270,000 signing bonus over three years. . . .
As expected, Don Hay, the head coach of the Vancouver Giants, has been named head coach of Canada’s national junior team. Assistant coaches will be George Burnett (Belleville Bulls), Ryan Huska (Kelowna Rockets) and Pascal Vincent (Montreal Juniors). The 2012 World Junior Championship is scheduled to open in Calgary and Edmonton on Dec. 26. . . . Steve Spott of the Kitchener Rangers was named head coach of the Canadian U-18 team that will play in the Ivan Hlinka Memmorial tournament in Czech Republic and Slovakia, Aug. 8-13. His assistants will be Don Nachbaur (Spokane Chiefs) and Mario Duhamel (Drummondville Voltigeurs).
———
The Saskatoon Blades aren’t going anywhere.
According to saskatoonhomepage.com, the Blades have signed a three-year lease with Credit Union Centre. The lease gives them
hockey exclusivity, meaning you can forget about the AHL (hello, there, Manitoba Moose) showing up in ‘Toontown.
The Blades will celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2013-14 and this lease takes them through there.
The Blades also are hoping to serve as the host team for the 2013 Memorial Cup. Of course, at this point, so are the Kelowna Rockets, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Prince George Cougars and Red Deer Rebels.
With five of the WHL’s most-successful franchises located in the U.S. Division, when does the Memorial Cup go south again?
———
There really weren’t any surprises out of the news conference held Thursday by the Victoria ?????, who used to be the Chilliwack Bruins. Marc Habscheid has relocated and remains the GM/head coach. Pat Conacher also has made the move and is the assistant GM/assistant coach. . . . No, they didn’t announce a nickname. . . . Cleve Dheensaw of the Victoria Times Colonist was at the newser. His story is right here.
———
TWEET OF THE DAY, Part 1:
Comedian and TV host Bill Maher: “Looks like Palin is running! Thank u Jesus!”
———
TWEET OF THE DAY, Part 2:
Comedian, actor and banjo picker Steve Martin: “I’ve decided I want to get to know Cher on a first-name basis.”
———
The Kootenay Ice has lived to play another day.
The Ice won its second straight elimination game at the MasterCard Memorial Cup on Thursday, beating the OHL-champion Owen Sound Attack, 7-3.
The Ice, which trailed 2-0 after one period, got two goals from each of F Matt Fraser and F Cody Eakin. The Ice also got key shorthanded goals from F Joe Antilla and F Max Reinhart.
The Attack, which had beaten the Ice 5-0 in the round-robin, was without captain Garrett Wilson and leading scorer Joey Hishon, both of whom suffered concussions during the tournament.
Attendance was 4,916, the first game of the tournament’s first seven that wasn’t sold out.
And so it’s on to the semifinal for the Ice, which will play the host Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors tonight. When they met in the round-robin, the Majors beat the Ice 2-1. That was on Sunday, before the Ice rediscovered its scoring touch.
The semifinal winner will meet the QMJHL-champion Saint John Sea Dogs in Sunday’s final.
On Tueday, the Ice completed its portion of the round-robin with a 5-4 victory over the Sea Dogs. A loss would have eliminated the Ice, which had lost its first two games.
The only team to have won the Memorial Cup after starting the tournament 0-2 was the 2009 Windsor Spitfires.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Taking Note on Twitter
September.Fresh out of cities to use as leverage (thank you, Winnipeg), could it be that the NHL has turned its lonely eyes to Seattle?
You remember Seattle? It used to be home to a WHL franchise that now is located in Kent, Wash., even though it still calls itself the Seattle Thunderbirds.
The Thunderbirds, you may recall, vacated the KeyArena and moved into new digs in Kent. The KeyArena, you will remember, also at one time was home to an NBA franchise, one that now is the Oklahoma City Thunder.So why would the NHL be interested in moving into a city where there obviously isn’t an arena that would meet its standards, and where there isn’t a plan anywhere in sight for a new building? After all, even though baseball’s Mariners and football’s Seahawks have new homes, no one stepped up to build a new facility and save the SuperSonics.
“We’ve had discussions with a group in Seattle,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told Seattle TV station KING5. “Certainly (there are) people who are interested in having NHL hockey in Seattle. I would rather not get into specifics to be fair to that group, or the process.”
In speaking with the TV station, Daly also questioned whether KeyArena would be a proper venue for an NHL franchise, pointing out that there are “obstructed view” seats for hockey.
But that didn’t stop people from jumping all over this story and running with it. Part of that is likely because a Seattle franchise presumably would have some kind of rivalry with the Vancouver Canucks and, these days, the Canucks are kind of a hot topic on the West Coast.
Of course, a skeptic might suggest that with the Phoenix Coyotes staying put, at least for now, and with the Atlanta Thrashers’ move to Winnipeg to be finalized whenever TSN and Rogers Sportsnet quit fighting over the date of the official announcement, the NHL simply is searching for another lever. So that the next time it is suggested that a particular team is struggling financially, well, Seattle will be in the conversation as an option.
Nah . . .
———
THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Daniel Vorab (Saskatoon, 2001-03) signed a one-year contract with the Basingstoke Bison (England, Premier). He had eight goals and 15 assists in 44 games for Hradec Kralove (Czech Republic 1.Liga) this season. Bison director of ice hockey Steve Moria: "I am obviously very happy to sign a player of this calibre. This is a player who could have been playing in the NHL right now if things went differently seven or eight years ago. His excellent overall game will suit us perfectly. His vision and awareness wil create scoring opportunities for his wingers."
F Igor Revenko (Prince Albert, 2008-11) signed a one-year contract with Yunost Minsk (Belarus, Open). He had 23 goals and 28 assists in 57 games for the Raiders this season. . . .
F Kyle Wanvig (Edmonton/Kootenay, Red Deer, 1997-2001) signed a one-year contract with Villach (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). He had five goals and 10 assists in 37 games for Augsburger Panther (Germany, DEL) and two goals and two assists in five games for Poprad (Slovakia, Extraliga) this season.
———
John MacNeil of the Brandon Sun has written extensively this week on concussions and their impact on people. Right here is a look at Jace Miller, a 14-year-old minor hockey player, and what he and his family went through.
———
A note from a sidebar written by MacNeil is worth posting here:
Hockey Brandon is polling its members for input on a gameplan to tackle and manage concussions.
"We've taken a proactive approach to offer a non-contact division for peewee-aged and older children who don't want to play (contact hockey)," said Hockey Brandon third vice-president Don Wilson. "A lot of larger centres are going to that, with very good success and their numbers are going up and kids are staying involved in the sport. We've sent out an email to all families to see if that is something they'd at all be interested in, just to get a gauge on interest."
Brandon will host an open concussion symposium June 8 at the Victoria Inn at 7 p.m.
———
D Victor Bartley, who played in Europe this season, signed a two-year deal with the NHL’s Nashville Predators earlier this week. According to capgeek.com, Bartley, 23, will get US$67,500 in the AHL and $537,5000 in the NHL. He got a $25,000 signing bonus over two years. . . . The Minnesota Wild has signed Red Deer Rebels G Darcy Kuemper to a three-year contract. Kuemper, who played out his junior eligibility this season, was a sixth-round selection in the 2009 NHL draft. He is coming off a season in which he was the WHL’s player and goaltender of the year. Capgeek.com reports that Kuemper’s AHL salary will be US$67,500 for each of the three seasons, with NHL salaries of $690,000, $740,000 annd $900,000. He got a $270,000 signing bonus over three years. . . .As expected, Don Hay, the head coach of the Vancouver Giants, has been named head coach of Canada’s national junior team. Assistant coaches will be George Burnett (Belleville Bulls), Ryan Huska (Kelowna Rockets) and Pascal Vincent (Montreal Juniors). The 2012 World Junior Championship is scheduled to open in Calgary and Edmonton on Dec. 26. . . . Steve Spott of the Kitchener Rangers was named head coach of the Canadian U-18 team that will play in the Ivan Hlinka Memmorial tournament in Czech Republic and Slovakia, Aug. 8-13. His assistants will be Don Nachbaur (Spokane Chiefs) and Mario Duhamel (Drummondville Voltigeurs).
———
The Saskatoon Blades aren’t going anywhere.
According to saskatoonhomepage.com, the Blades have signed a three-year lease with Credit Union Centre. The lease gives them
hockey exclusivity, meaning you can forget about the AHL (hello, there, Manitoba Moose) showing up in ‘Toontown.The Blades will celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2013-14 and this lease takes them through there.
The Blades also are hoping to serve as the host team for the 2013 Memorial Cup. Of course, at this point, so are the Kelowna Rockets, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Prince George Cougars and Red Deer Rebels.
With five of the WHL’s most-successful franchises located in the U.S. Division, when does the Memorial Cup go south again?
———
There really weren’t any surprises out of the news conference held Thursday by the Victoria ?????, who used to be the Chilliwack Bruins. Marc Habscheid has relocated and remains the GM/head coach. Pat Conacher also has made the move and is the assistant GM/assistant coach. . . . No, they didn’t announce a nickname. . . . Cleve Dheensaw of the Victoria Times Colonist was at the newser. His story is right here.
———
TWEET OF THE DAY, Part 1:
Comedian and TV host Bill Maher: “Looks like Palin is running! Thank u Jesus!”
———
TWEET OF THE DAY, Part 2:
Comedian, actor and banjo picker Steve Martin: “I’ve decided I want to get to know Cher on a first-name basis.”
———
The Kootenay Ice has lived to play another day.
The Ice won its second straight elimination game at the MasterCard Memorial Cup on Thursday, beating the OHL-champion Owen Sound Attack, 7-3.
The Ice, which trailed 2-0 after one period, got two goals from each of F Matt Fraser and F Cody Eakin. The Ice also got key shorthanded goals from F Joe Antilla and F Max Reinhart.The Attack, which had beaten the Ice 5-0 in the round-robin, was without captain Garrett Wilson and leading scorer Joey Hishon, both of whom suffered concussions during the tournament.
Attendance was 4,916, the first game of the tournament’s first seven that wasn’t sold out.
And so it’s on to the semifinal for the Ice, which will play the host Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors tonight. When they met in the round-robin, the Majors beat the Ice 2-1. That was on Sunday, before the Ice rediscovered its scoring touch.The semifinal winner will meet the QMJHL-champion Saint John Sea Dogs in Sunday’s final.
On Tueday, the Ice completed its portion of the round-robin with a 5-4 victory over the Sea Dogs. A loss would have eliminated the Ice, which had lost its first two games.
The only team to have won the Memorial Cup after starting the tournament 0-2 was the 2009 Windsor Spitfires.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Taking Note on Twitter
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Dumont going from ice to front office
THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Kris Beech (Calgary, 1996-2001) signed a one-year contract with Lukko Rauma (Finland, SM-Liiga). He had 14 goals and 17 assists in 48 games for HV71 Jönköping (Sweden, Elitserien) this season. Lukko director of player personnel Hannu Vanhatalo: "Beech is a large, strong, and skillful player who plays every night for the team. His strength is his overall game play, but he is also a very good player on the power play with a great shot. Beech is also a very popular guy with his teammates. He has shown himself to be a winner in many different categories and we are very pleased to have this level of player on our team next season."
———
Here are the first three paragraphs to Bob Duff’s column in today’s Windsor Star:
In his third National Hockey League game, Windsor’s Barry Potomski, then with the Los Angeles Kings, dropped the gloves and fought with Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ken Baumgartner, who was among the league’s most feared tough guys.
“You have to have one of those in your first five games,” suggested former Detroit Red Wings tough guy Darren McCarty of Leamington at the time. “It’s your initiation to the club.”
The Essex County Enforcers Association.
———
Potomski died Tuesday. Duff’s column, in its entirety, is right here.
———
Wondering what it’s like when you’re 16 years of age and your hockey season is cut in half by a concussion? John MacNeil of the Brandon Sun has the story of Moose Jaw Warriors F Brayden Cuthbert right here.
———
If you want more, or even if you don’t, MacNeil also has a piece on Brandon Wheat Kings G Liam Liston. He took a puck off the mask in practice during the playoffs and didn’t play again. That story is right here.
———
One of the great careers in modern minor pro hockey history came to an end this week with the retirement of F Louis Dumont of the Central league’s Mississippi RiverKings.
Dumont, 38, has been named general manager of the Southern Professional league’s Louisiana IceGators.
Dumont played the last five seasons of his pro career with the RiverKings, who were based out of Memphis in the first of those seasons. He also played three seasons (1996-99) with the IceGators, who were then in the ECHL.
After playing in the WHL (Regina, Kamloops, 1990-94), hockeydb.com shows that the native of Calgary, went on to play for the Wheeling Thunderbirds (ECHL), Tallahassee Tiger Sharks (ECHL), Syracuse Crunch (AHL), Louisiana IceGators (ECHL), Manitoba Moose (IHL), Ayr Scottish Eagles (BISL), Augusta Lynx (ECHL), Lowell Lock Monsters (AHL), Pensacola Ice Pilots (ECHL), Mississippi Sea Wolves (ECHL), Utah Grizzlies (ECHL) and Mississippi River Kings (Central).
———
The tide may come rolling in this morning in Victoria where the WHL’s newest franchise — remember the Chilliwack Bruins? — is expected to reveal its nickname and introduce its general manager and head coach. Hello, there, Marc Habscheid.
Cleve Dheensaw of the Victoria Times Colonist has more right here.
———
JUST NOTES: Multiple reports Wednesday night have Don Hay being named today as head coach of Canada’s national junior team. Hay, the head coach of the Vancouver Giants, was Canada’s head coach in 1995 when it won the World Junior Championship in Red Deer. The 2012 tournament is to be played in Calgary and Edmonton. . . . Team Canada will hold its summer camp in Edmonton, Aug. 3-6. . . . As well, reports indicate that Steve Spott, head coach of the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers, is to be named head coach of the Canadian under-18 team that will compete in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in Czech Republic and Slovakia in August. . . .
The Edmonton Capitals of baseballs North American league announced Wednesday that all residents of the fire-ravaged community of Slave Lake will be admitted free of charge to any home game in June. According to a press release: “Slave Lake residents who wish to capitalize on this offer can simply show valid identification at the Capitals Ticket Office at TELUS Field and may redeem up to six complimentary tickets for any game in the month of June.” . . . And when the Capitals play their home-opener on Tuesday, F T.J. Foster of the Edmonton Oil Kings, who is from Slave Lake, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Joanne Ireland of the Edmonton Journal has more right here on Foster and what he and his family have been through of late.
———
THE COACHING GAME: The Central league’s Tulsa Oilers have signed head coach Bruce Ramsay to a two-year extension through 2012-13. He his heading into his third season with the Oilers.
———
The host Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors scored a 3-1 victory over the OHL-champion Owen Sound Attack at the Memorial Cup on Wednesday. That puts the Attack into the third-place tiebreaker against the Kootenay Ice tonight. . . . The winner of that game advances to Friday’s semifinal against Mississauga. . . . The QMJHL-champion Saint John Sea Dogs have clinched a berth in Sunday’s final.
One of the big stories at this Memorial Cup has been the officiating. Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun has more right here.
———
Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal has written a good piece about the Morrow men — father Dave and sons Josh and Joe. That piece is right here.
———
And now for something completely different . . .
Is America a great country, or what?
If you haven’t already, check out the American Shifter website and take a look at the latest shift knob. It’s called Osama bin Hidin’ Shift Knob, and you can take it all in right here.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Taking Note on Twitter
F Kris Beech (Calgary, 1996-2001) signed a one-year contract with Lukko Rauma (Finland, SM-Liiga). He had 14 goals and 17 assists in 48 games for HV71 Jönköping (Sweden, Elitserien) this season. Lukko director of player personnel Hannu Vanhatalo: "Beech is a large, strong, and skillful player who plays every night for the team. His strength is his overall game play, but he is also a very good player on the power play with a great shot. Beech is also a very popular guy with his teammates. He has shown himself to be a winner in many different categories and we are very pleased to have this level of player on our team next season."
———
Here are the first three paragraphs to Bob Duff’s column in today’s Windsor Star:
In his third National Hockey League game, Windsor’s Barry Potomski, then with the Los Angeles Kings, dropped the gloves and fought with Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ken Baumgartner, who was among the league’s most feared tough guys.
“You have to have one of those in your first five games,” suggested former Detroit Red Wings tough guy Darren McCarty of Leamington at the time. “It’s your initiation to the club.”
The Essex County Enforcers Association.
———
Potomski died Tuesday. Duff’s column, in its entirety, is right here.
———
Wondering what it’s like when you’re 16 years of age and your hockey season is cut in half by a concussion? John MacNeil of the Brandon Sun has the story of Moose Jaw Warriors F Brayden Cuthbert right here.
———
If you want more, or even if you don’t, MacNeil also has a piece on Brandon Wheat Kings G Liam Liston. He took a puck off the mask in practice during the playoffs and didn’t play again. That story is right here.
———
 |
| LOUIS DUMONT |
Dumont, 38, has been named general manager of the Southern Professional league’s Louisiana IceGators.
Dumont played the last five seasons of his pro career with the RiverKings, who were based out of Memphis in the first of those seasons. He also played three seasons (1996-99) with the IceGators, who were then in the ECHL.
After playing in the WHL (Regina, Kamloops, 1990-94), hockeydb.com shows that the native of Calgary, went on to play for the Wheeling Thunderbirds (ECHL), Tallahassee Tiger Sharks (ECHL), Syracuse Crunch (AHL), Louisiana IceGators (ECHL), Manitoba Moose (IHL), Ayr Scottish Eagles (BISL), Augusta Lynx (ECHL), Lowell Lock Monsters (AHL), Pensacola Ice Pilots (ECHL), Mississippi Sea Wolves (ECHL), Utah Grizzlies (ECHL) and Mississippi River Kings (Central).
———
The tide may come rolling in this morning in Victoria where the WHL’s newest franchise — remember the Chilliwack Bruins? — is expected to reveal its nickname and introduce its general manager and head coach. Hello, there, Marc Habscheid.
Cleve Dheensaw of the Victoria Times Colonist has more right here.
———
JUST NOTES: Multiple reports Wednesday night have Don Hay being named today as head coach of Canada’s national junior team. Hay, the head coach of the Vancouver Giants, was Canada’s head coach in 1995 when it won the World Junior Championship in Red Deer. The 2012 tournament is to be played in Calgary and Edmonton. . . . Team Canada will hold its summer camp in Edmonton, Aug. 3-6. . . . As well, reports indicate that Steve Spott, head coach of the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers, is to be named head coach of the Canadian under-18 team that will compete in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in Czech Republic and Slovakia in August. . . .
The Edmonton Capitals of baseballs North American league announced Wednesday that all residents of the fire-ravaged community of Slave Lake will be admitted free of charge to any home game in June. According to a press release: “Slave Lake residents who wish to capitalize on this offer can simply show valid identification at the Capitals Ticket Office at TELUS Field and may redeem up to six complimentary tickets for any game in the month of June.” . . . And when the Capitals play their home-opener on Tuesday, F T.J. Foster of the Edmonton Oil Kings, who is from Slave Lake, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Joanne Ireland of the Edmonton Journal has more right here on Foster and what he and his family have been through of late.
———
THE COACHING GAME: The Central league’s Tulsa Oilers have signed head coach Bruce Ramsay to a two-year extension through 2012-13. He his heading into his third season with the Oilers.
———
The host Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors scored a 3-1 victory over the OHL-champion Owen Sound Attack at the Memorial Cup on Wednesday. That puts the Attack into the third-place tiebreaker against the Kootenay Ice tonight. . . . The winner of that game advances to Friday’s semifinal against Mississauga. . . . The QMJHL-champion Saint John Sea Dogs have clinched a berth in Sunday’s final.One of the big stories at this Memorial Cup has been the officiating. Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun has more right here.
———
Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal has written a good piece about the Morrow men — father Dave and sons Josh and Joe. That piece is right here.
———
And now for something completely different . . .
Is America a great country, or what?
If you haven’t already, check out the American Shifter website and take a look at the latest shift knob. It’s called Osama bin Hidin’ Shift Knob, and you can take it all in right here.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Taking Note on Twitter
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Some Sunday stuff . . .
Regular visitors to this site will notice the Twitter feed is missing from the top right corner.
Repeated efforts to get that feed to show the origination of retweets has led me to have it deleted.
When something is retweeted, there should be an avatar appear on the left side, showing where the tweet originated. Unable to get it to work properly, I have chosen to simply delete it.
You are still able to follow me on twitter (twitter.com/gdrinnan) and get tweets and retweets there.
---
THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Max Brandl (Prince Albert, Portland, 2007-09) signed a one-year contract extension with the Landshut Cannibals (Germany 2.Bundesliga). He had eight goals and 13 assists in 46 games for the Cannibals this season. . . .
F Ty Morris (Swift Current, Vancouver, Red Deer, 2003-05) signed a one-year contract with the Bietigheim Steelers (Germany 2.Bundesliga). He had 17 goals and 29 assists in 42 games with the Landshut Cannibals (Germany 2.Bundesliga) this season.
———
Might F Jaden Schwartz of the Colorado College Tigers end up with the Tri-City Americans? The speculation has started and some of it is right here. The Americans selected him in the eighth round of the 2007 bantam draft.
———
It’s doubtful that many people had a week like the one Dale Saip experienced.
Saip, the Vancouver Giants’ vice-president of business development, was nominated Monday as the federal Conservative candidate for the Lower Mainland riding of Delta Richmond.
But then came a story by Jeff Lee of the Vancouver Sun that detailed Saip’s personal and financial history.
It didn’t take long after that for the Conservative Party to change its mind and move Saip to the sideline.
In Saturday’s Vancouver Sun, columnist Craig McInnes looked at the situation involving Saip and wondered why anyone would want to get involved in Canadian politics.
Having read all of this, and more, on this situation, I’m thinking Saip might well be a great fit as a politician. If nothing else, because of everything he has been through and all that he has dealt with to get here from there, he might be closer to understanding the problems faced almost daily by the average citizen than many of the politicians we see in action these days.
———
SUNDAY’S PLAYOFF GAMES:
In Saskatoon, the Blades went home with a 5-2 victory over the Prince Albert Raiders and one fan — or maybe two — took home $44,000. . . . F Brayden Schenn scored twice to lead the Blades, who take a 2-0 series lead into Game 3 in Prince Albert on Wednesday. . . . The 50/50 draw was worth somewhere near $44,000. The total pool during Friday’s first game reached $40,000, with $20,000 of that ticketed for the winner. But no one claimed the pot, so it rolled over to Sunday night and someone went home within around $44,000. . . . Word after the game was that a couple of former WHL players had won the draw. . . . Prince Albert started G Eric Williams, who had come in for starter Jamie Tucker during the opener. . . .
In Portland, F Nino Niederreiter and F Craig Cunningham each scored twice as the Winterhawks dumped the Everett Silvertips, 7-2. . . . Portland won the opener 7-1 on Saturday. . . . Portland G Mac Carruth stopped 37 shots. . . . The Silvertips, with starter Kent Simpson unable to dress because of an ankle problem, again went with Luke Siemens in goal. He finished with 39 saves. . . . Attendance was 6,119. . . . The series now shifts to Everett for games on Wednesday and Thursday. . . .
———
SUNDAY’S CFB COUNT:
One minor:
Portland F Riley Boychuk
———
JUST NOTES: John MacNeil of the Brandon Sun is reporting today that Medicine Hat Tigers G Tyler Bunz will sit out at least two more games due to a concussion. Bunz sat out the last two weeks of the regular season with a concussion. He told MacNeil that he got bumped during Brandon’s 7-2 victory in Game 1 and some symptoms returned. . . . Late last night, Bunz tweeted: “Roomin with the other injured Tyler in winnipeg, biggest band aids in the league.” . . . Bunz rooms with F Tyler Pitlick, who is out with a broken ankle. . . . The Tigers and Wheat Kings resume their series — they’re tied 1-1 — tonight in Winnipeg. The Wheat Kings had to move their first-round games to the Manitoba capital because their home arena is occupied by the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. . . . One other series resumes tonight with the Red Deer Rebels taking a 2-0 lead into Edmonton to play the Oil Kings.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Taking Note on Twitter
Repeated efforts to get that feed to show the origination of retweets has led me to have it deleted.
When something is retweeted, there should be an avatar appear on the left side, showing where the tweet originated. Unable to get it to work properly, I have chosen to simply delete it.
You are still able to follow me on twitter (twitter.com/gdrinnan) and get tweets and retweets there.
---
THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Max Brandl (Prince Albert, Portland, 2007-09) signed a one-year contract extension with the Landshut Cannibals (Germany 2.Bundesliga). He had eight goals and 13 assists in 46 games for the Cannibals this season. . . .
F Ty Morris (Swift Current, Vancouver, Red Deer, 2003-05) signed a one-year contract with the Bietigheim Steelers (Germany 2.Bundesliga). He had 17 goals and 29 assists in 42 games with the Landshut Cannibals (Germany 2.Bundesliga) this season.
———
Might F Jaden Schwartz of the Colorado College Tigers end up with the Tri-City Americans? The speculation has started and some of it is right here. The Americans selected him in the eighth round of the 2007 bantam draft.
———
It’s doubtful that many people had a week like the one Dale Saip experienced.
Saip, the Vancouver Giants’ vice-president of business development, was nominated Monday as the federal Conservative candidate for the Lower Mainland riding of Delta Richmond.
But then came a story by Jeff Lee of the Vancouver Sun that detailed Saip’s personal and financial history.
It didn’t take long after that for the Conservative Party to change its mind and move Saip to the sideline.
In Saturday’s Vancouver Sun, columnist Craig McInnes looked at the situation involving Saip and wondered why anyone would want to get involved in Canadian politics.
Having read all of this, and more, on this situation, I’m thinking Saip might well be a great fit as a politician. If nothing else, because of everything he has been through and all that he has dealt with to get here from there, he might be closer to understanding the problems faced almost daily by the average citizen than many of the politicians we see in action these days.
———
SUNDAY’S PLAYOFF GAMES:
In Saskatoon, the Blades went home with a 5-2 victory over the Prince Albert Raiders and one fan — or maybe two — took home $44,000. . . . F Brayden Schenn scored twice to lead the Blades, who take a 2-0 series lead into Game 3 in Prince Albert on Wednesday. . . . The 50/50 draw was worth somewhere near $44,000. The total pool during Friday’s first game reached $40,000, with $20,000 of that ticketed for the winner. But no one claimed the pot, so it rolled over to Sunday night and someone went home within around $44,000. . . . Word after the game was that a couple of former WHL players had won the draw. . . . Prince Albert started G Eric Williams, who had come in for starter Jamie Tucker during the opener. . . .
In Portland, F Nino Niederreiter and F Craig Cunningham each scored twice as the Winterhawks dumped the Everett Silvertips, 7-2. . . . Portland won the opener 7-1 on Saturday. . . . Portland G Mac Carruth stopped 37 shots. . . . The Silvertips, with starter Kent Simpson unable to dress because of an ankle problem, again went with Luke Siemens in goal. He finished with 39 saves. . . . Attendance was 6,119. . . . The series now shifts to Everett for games on Wednesday and Thursday. . . .
———
SUNDAY’S CFB COUNT:
One minor:
Portland F Riley Boychuk
———
JUST NOTES: John MacNeil of the Brandon Sun is reporting today that Medicine Hat Tigers G Tyler Bunz will sit out at least two more games due to a concussion. Bunz sat out the last two weeks of the regular season with a concussion. He told MacNeil that he got bumped during Brandon’s 7-2 victory in Game 1 and some symptoms returned. . . . Late last night, Bunz tweeted: “Roomin with the other injured Tyler in winnipeg, biggest band aids in the league.” . . . Bunz rooms with F Tyler Pitlick, who is out with a broken ankle. . . . The Tigers and Wheat Kings resume their series — they’re tied 1-1 — tonight in Winnipeg. The Wheat Kings had to move their first-round games to the Manitoba capital because their home arena is occupied by the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. . . . One other series resumes tonight with the Red Deer Rebels taking a 2-0 lead into Edmonton to play the Oil Kings.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Taking Note on Twitter
Friday, January 7, 2011
THE MacBETH REPORT: F Ivan Dornic (Portland, 2003-05) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Rodovre (Denmark AL-Bank Ligaen). He started the season with Detva (Slovakia 1.Liga) and had one goal in two games. Dornic then signed with Königsborner JEC Unna (Germany Oberliga), where he had 14 goals and 11 assists in 24 games. . . .
D Tomas Slovak (Kelowna, 2001-03) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Chomutov (Czech Republic 1.Liga). He had three assists in 21 games with Avtomobilist Ekaterinburg prior to his release last month. The contract has an option for next season should Chomutov win promotion to Extraliga; Slovak can exercise an out-clause if he gets an offer from the NHL or the KHL.
---
These are tough times for many players in the WHL because the trade deadline is the elephant in every team’s dressing room.
Every single player is aware that the trade deadline is on its way. (It arrives Monday at 3 p.m. Calgary time.)
This is when the really ugly side of major junior hockey rears its head. This is when teenage boys are forced to relocate at a moment’s notice.
But they and their parents know that going in; they know that it’s a business and just because you’re here today doesn’t mean you won’t be gone tomorrow.
Why do they play the games in this league? They play to win the games and, ultimately, to win the Memorial Cup.
So there are a whole bunch of general managers out there who are trying to figure out what to do. Teams don’t budget for playoff revenue, which means the money that comes in during a good run can be considered gravy.
So, for example, what do you do if you’re Kelly McCrimmon, the owner, general manager and head coach of the Brandon Wheat Kings? One year ago, you were preparing to be the host team in the Memorial Cup. Today, you are 11th in the 12-team Eastern Conference and you are five points out of a playoff spot.
But you haven’t had Team Canada star Brayden Schenn in your lineup for any length of time. So do you keep him and hope that he and veteran Scott Glennie, 20, can provide a spark to get you over the hump?
Or do you unload some assets between now and Monday afternoon?
In the Western Conference, the bottom seven teams are separated by six points.
The Chilliwack Bruins are ninth in the 10-team conference, two points out of eighth and six points out of the B.C. Division lead, a spot that carries with it the No. 2 seed in the conference when the playoffs open.
So how does Marc Habscheid, the Bruins’ general manager and head coach, approach the deadline?
He admits that it’s tough right now because his roster was missing nine players when the Bruins lost 6-2 to the visiting Vancouver Giants on Sunday.
“That’s just it,” Habscheid said Thursday. “You have to kind of measure it. With the injuries . . . when they’re coming back, if they’re coming back, how will they be when they come back? Those are moving targets so it doesn’t make it any easier, that’s for sure.”
As for being felt in in the dressing room, Habscheid says the deadline “has effect, without question.”
So when you’re watching WHL games over the weekend, keep that in the back of your mind. Don’t forget that you’re watching teenagers who may have a little more on their minds than usual.
---
On the subject of Brayden Schenn, the Los Angeles Kings’ draft choice is at home in Saskatoon and is expected to rejoin the Wheat Kings next week. He told John MacNeil of the Brandon Sun that he is trying to come to grips with being on the losing side in two World Junior Championship finals and a Memorial Cup final in the past year. As TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported during the final game, Schenn finished the tournament with a partially separated right shoulder. “It’s probably a 10- to 14-day injury,” he told MacNeil. “We’ll have it re-evaluated (today) and we’ll take it from there. It’s a tough injury to have, but it’s kind of an easy injury to play through, just because you have your teammates behind you and the nation behind you. For me, obviously, it was pretty painful, but knowing that you have those people supporting you, you’ve just got to play for them.” . . . As for the approaching trade deadline, Schenn said he is taking a wait-and-see approach and “whatever happens, happens.” . . . Right now he is more concerned with healing mentally and physically. . . . The Saskatoon Blades, meanwhile, have expressed interest. GM/head coach Lorne Molleken told the Saskatoon StarPhoenix: “There’s a number of players out there for trade and we’re going to explore all options. If we can land a player like Brayden Schenn, it would sure benefit our team and our organization.”
---
JUST NOTES: F J.D. Watt, who was cut loose by the Calgary Flames on Wednesday, has signed with the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage. The Rampage is affiliated with the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes. . . . The Vancouver Giants hope to have 6-foot-4, 205-pound Slovakian F Andrej Stastny in their lineup tonight when they open a doubleheader in Prince George against the Cougars. He joined the Giants on Thursday after the World Junior Championship but the paperwork isn’t complete so he wasn’t able to practise. Elliott Pap of the Vancouver Sun also reports that D David Musil (ankle) and F Greg Lamoureux (shoulder) should play tonight. . . . As well, D Tanner Sohn, 18, is at home in Medicine Hat awaiting a trade. The Giants acquired him in October from the Medicine Hat Tigers for a sixth-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft. . . . If you are interested in the broadcast schedule for Saturday’s outdoor game in Spokane, check the WHL’s website. . . . Looking for something to read on L'Affaire Drinnan, as one wiseacre somewhere on the Internet billed it, you may want to check out Kamloops This Week's website right here. There are two stories there, one headlined Drinnan ban: WHL unaware?; the other headlined The WHL Was Aware Of Blazers' Decision To Place Limitations on Drinnan. . . . Take your pick.
---
F Reid Jorgensen (Kamloops, 2002-06) is one of the finest young men I have had the privilege of writing about during a lengthy career of covering the WHL and some of its teams. It’s great to see that he is scoring for the U of Calgary Dinosaurs and that, judging by his quotes, he continues to be the consummate team player. Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Sun has more right here. . . . The Dinos also have added F Walker Wintoneak (Saskatoon, 2005-10), who had been with the Central league’s Missouri Mavericks.
---
Jarrett Toll spent five seasons patrolling the back end for the Tri-City Amrericans, while dabbling in lacrosse on the side. Now that he has graduated from the WHL, he continues to play both sports while attending university. Gerry Moddejonge of the Edmonton Sun has that story right here.
---
If you’re wondering what Glen Erickson, who writes for Hockey’s Future, came up with after Team Russia beat Team Canada on Wednesday in Buffalo, you may check it out right here.
---
Noticed on the blog of Brandon Wheat Kings play-by-play voice Bruce Luebke that Tuesday was a sad day for that team and its fans.
“Long-time Wheat Kings' season-ticket holder Paul (Pops) Solon Sr. passed away on Tuesday,” Luebke writes. “Solon, 86, had been a season-ticket holder with the Wheat Kings since the 1948-49 season.”
Not many WHL fans can boast of that.
Yes, he was a regular when I covered the Wheat Kings from 1978-83.
Condolences to the Solon family.
---
SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THURSDAY’S GAMES:
In Kelowna, the Moose Jaw Warriors made it five victories in six road games as they beat the Rockets, 4-2. . . . The Warriors opened this swing with a victory in Calgary, then went 4-1 against B.C. Division teams, the only loss a 5-2 setback in Prince George. . . . The Warriors wrap up the trip on Friday in Cranbrook against the Kootenay Ice. . . . Last night, the Warriors erased a 1-0 deficit with four second-period goals. . . . F Joey Kornelsen, who is from Abbotsford, B.C., has nine points, including five goals, on the trip. He scored Moose Jaw’s first goal in this one. . . . Moose Jaw F Spencer Edwards got his side’s fourth goal, his 18th, and it was shorthanded. . . . F Geordie Wudrick got his 20th of the season to open the scoring for the Rockets. . . . Kelowna F Brett Bulmer tied it 2-2 with his 14th at 12:36 of the second, but Moose Jaw F Matt Grant got his fourth just 31 seconds later. . . .
In Swift Current, F Adam Lowry scored three times to lead the Broncos to a 3-2 victory over the Calgary Hitmen. . . . Lowry, who has 13 goals, scored his first career hat trick in his 99th regular-season game. . . . The Hitmen led the game 1-0 in the first period, but Lowry got the game’s next three goals. . . . Calgary F Justin Kirsch scored his team-leading 19th goal. . . .
---
THURSDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
Two minors:
Calgary F Jimmy Bubnick
Calgary D Matt MacKenzie
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Taking Note on Twitter
D Tomas Slovak (Kelowna, 2001-03) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Chomutov (Czech Republic 1.Liga). He had three assists in 21 games with Avtomobilist Ekaterinburg prior to his release last month. The contract has an option for next season should Chomutov win promotion to Extraliga; Slovak can exercise an out-clause if he gets an offer from the NHL or the KHL.
---
These are tough times for many players in the WHL because the trade deadline is the elephant in every team’s dressing room.
Every single player is aware that the trade deadline is on its way. (It arrives Monday at 3 p.m. Calgary time.)
This is when the really ugly side of major junior hockey rears its head. This is when teenage boys are forced to relocate at a moment’s notice.
But they and their parents know that going in; they know that it’s a business and just because you’re here today doesn’t mean you won’t be gone tomorrow.
Why do they play the games in this league? They play to win the games and, ultimately, to win the Memorial Cup.
So there are a whole bunch of general managers out there who are trying to figure out what to do. Teams don’t budget for playoff revenue, which means the money that comes in during a good run can be considered gravy.
So, for example, what do you do if you’re Kelly McCrimmon, the owner, general manager and head coach of the Brandon Wheat Kings? One year ago, you were preparing to be the host team in the Memorial Cup. Today, you are 11th in the 12-team Eastern Conference and you are five points out of a playoff spot.
But you haven’t had Team Canada star Brayden Schenn in your lineup for any length of time. So do you keep him and hope that he and veteran Scott Glennie, 20, can provide a spark to get you over the hump?
Or do you unload some assets between now and Monday afternoon?
In the Western Conference, the bottom seven teams are separated by six points.
The Chilliwack Bruins are ninth in the 10-team conference, two points out of eighth and six points out of the B.C. Division lead, a spot that carries with it the No. 2 seed in the conference when the playoffs open.
So how does Marc Habscheid, the Bruins’ general manager and head coach, approach the deadline?
He admits that it’s tough right now because his roster was missing nine players when the Bruins lost 6-2 to the visiting Vancouver Giants on Sunday.
“That’s just it,” Habscheid said Thursday. “You have to kind of measure it. With the injuries . . . when they’re coming back, if they’re coming back, how will they be when they come back? Those are moving targets so it doesn’t make it any easier, that’s for sure.”
As for being felt in in the dressing room, Habscheid says the deadline “has effect, without question.”
So when you’re watching WHL games over the weekend, keep that in the back of your mind. Don’t forget that you’re watching teenagers who may have a little more on their minds than usual.
---
On the subject of Brayden Schenn, the Los Angeles Kings’ draft choice is at home in Saskatoon and is expected to rejoin the Wheat Kings next week. He told John MacNeil of the Brandon Sun that he is trying to come to grips with being on the losing side in two World Junior Championship finals and a Memorial Cup final in the past year. As TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported during the final game, Schenn finished the tournament with a partially separated right shoulder. “It’s probably a 10- to 14-day injury,” he told MacNeil. “We’ll have it re-evaluated (today) and we’ll take it from there. It’s a tough injury to have, but it’s kind of an easy injury to play through, just because you have your teammates behind you and the nation behind you. For me, obviously, it was pretty painful, but knowing that you have those people supporting you, you’ve just got to play for them.” . . . As for the approaching trade deadline, Schenn said he is taking a wait-and-see approach and “whatever happens, happens.” . . . Right now he is more concerned with healing mentally and physically. . . . The Saskatoon Blades, meanwhile, have expressed interest. GM/head coach Lorne Molleken told the Saskatoon StarPhoenix: “There’s a number of players out there for trade and we’re going to explore all options. If we can land a player like Brayden Schenn, it would sure benefit our team and our organization.”
---
JUST NOTES: F J.D. Watt, who was cut loose by the Calgary Flames on Wednesday, has signed with the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage. The Rampage is affiliated with the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes. . . . The Vancouver Giants hope to have 6-foot-4, 205-pound Slovakian F Andrej Stastny in their lineup tonight when they open a doubleheader in Prince George against the Cougars. He joined the Giants on Thursday after the World Junior Championship but the paperwork isn’t complete so he wasn’t able to practise. Elliott Pap of the Vancouver Sun also reports that D David Musil (ankle) and F Greg Lamoureux (shoulder) should play tonight. . . . As well, D Tanner Sohn, 18, is at home in Medicine Hat awaiting a trade. The Giants acquired him in October from the Medicine Hat Tigers for a sixth-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft. . . . If you are interested in the broadcast schedule for Saturday’s outdoor game in Spokane, check the WHL’s website. . . . Looking for something to read on L'Affaire Drinnan, as one wiseacre somewhere on the Internet billed it, you may want to check out Kamloops This Week's website right here. There are two stories there, one headlined Drinnan ban: WHL unaware?; the other headlined The WHL Was Aware Of Blazers' Decision To Place Limitations on Drinnan. . . . Take your pick.
---
F Reid Jorgensen (Kamloops, 2002-06) is one of the finest young men I have had the privilege of writing about during a lengthy career of covering the WHL and some of its teams. It’s great to see that he is scoring for the U of Calgary Dinosaurs and that, judging by his quotes, he continues to be the consummate team player. Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Sun has more right here. . . . The Dinos also have added F Walker Wintoneak (Saskatoon, 2005-10), who had been with the Central league’s Missouri Mavericks.
---
Jarrett Toll spent five seasons patrolling the back end for the Tri-City Amrericans, while dabbling in lacrosse on the side. Now that he has graduated from the WHL, he continues to play both sports while attending university. Gerry Moddejonge of the Edmonton Sun has that story right here.
---
If you’re wondering what Glen Erickson, who writes for Hockey’s Future, came up with after Team Russia beat Team Canada on Wednesday in Buffalo, you may check it out right here.
---
Noticed on the blog of Brandon Wheat Kings play-by-play voice Bruce Luebke that Tuesday was a sad day for that team and its fans.
“Long-time Wheat Kings' season-ticket holder Paul (Pops) Solon Sr. passed away on Tuesday,” Luebke writes. “Solon, 86, had been a season-ticket holder with the Wheat Kings since the 1948-49 season.”
Not many WHL fans can boast of that.
Yes, he was a regular when I covered the Wheat Kings from 1978-83.
Condolences to the Solon family.
---
SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THURSDAY’S GAMES:
In Kelowna, the Moose Jaw Warriors made it five victories in six road games as they beat the Rockets, 4-2. . . . The Warriors opened this swing with a victory in Calgary, then went 4-1 against B.C. Division teams, the only loss a 5-2 setback in Prince George. . . . The Warriors wrap up the trip on Friday in Cranbrook against the Kootenay Ice. . . . Last night, the Warriors erased a 1-0 deficit with four second-period goals. . . . F Joey Kornelsen, who is from Abbotsford, B.C., has nine points, including five goals, on the trip. He scored Moose Jaw’s first goal in this one. . . . Moose Jaw F Spencer Edwards got his side’s fourth goal, his 18th, and it was shorthanded. . . . F Geordie Wudrick got his 20th of the season to open the scoring for the Rockets. . . . Kelowna F Brett Bulmer tied it 2-2 with his 14th at 12:36 of the second, but Moose Jaw F Matt Grant got his fourth just 31 seconds later. . . .
In Swift Current, F Adam Lowry scored three times to lead the Broncos to a 3-2 victory over the Calgary Hitmen. . . . Lowry, who has 13 goals, scored his first career hat trick in his 99th regular-season game. . . . The Hitmen led the game 1-0 in the first period, but Lowry got the game’s next three goals. . . . Calgary F Justin Kirsch scored his team-leading 19th goal. . . .
---
THURSDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
Two minors:
Calgary F Jimmy Bubnick
Calgary D Matt MacKenzie
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
Taking Note on Twitter
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