O'Dette takes over Thunderbirds' bench ... Ex-WHL coach the man in Kingston? ... Wagner facing long rehab

Hey folks @gdrinnan Taking Note is working just loading really slowly thanks to a new script from @blogger be patient. #SameGreatWriting

— Terry Massey (@TerryMassey) July 6, 2017

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The KHL player rights to D Dmitri Osipov (Vancouver, Brandon, 2013-17) have been traded by Sochi (Russia, KHL) to Ak Bars Kazan (Russia, KHL) for G Arseni Akhmetov (born 1999). Last season, Osipov had a goal and 10 assists in 42 games with Vancouver, then added a goal and two assists in 31 games with Brandon. . . . He was the first overall pick in the 2013 CHL import draft and in the 2013 KHL junior draft. . . . Osipov played out his junior eligibility last season. . . .

F David Rutherford (Vancouver, Spokane, 2004-08) has announced his retirement through his Twitter account. Last season, he had 19 goals and 24 assists in 41 games with the Belfast Giants (Northern Ireland, UK Elite). . . .

D Brennan Yadlowski (Lethbridge, Everett, 2007-12) has signed a one-year contract with the Guildford Flames (England, UK Elite). Last season, he had five assists in 28 games with the U of Alberta (U Sports). He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in June.

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Exciting day being named head coach of the @SeattleTbirds. Such an honor. Thank you for all the well wishes!

— Matt O'Dette (@MattODette) July 13, 2017

On Tuesday, the day before Matt O'Dette was introduced
as the Seattle Thunderbirds' head coach, he was in the
team's dressing room for a photo shoot when Grace, 6, (left)
and Fiona, 8, arrived on the scene. The daughters of
Ian Henry, the Thunderbirds' director of public and media
relations, promptly showed him a key coaching move.
(Photos: Brian Liesse)

Matt O’Dette is the new head coach of the Seattle Thunderbirds, the reigning WHL champions. O’Dette spent the previous four seasons as an assistant coach with Seattle, working alongside head coach Steve Konowalchuk, who has left to join the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks as an assistant coach.

As a Seattle assistant coach, O’Dette, 41, was responsible for the defencemen, including Shea Theodore, the WHL’s top defenceman in 2014-15 and Ethan Bear, who won the award last season.

O’Dette also directed the Seattle penalty kill, which ranked first in the 22-team league in 2015-16 and third last season.
O'Dette, who is from Toronto, was with the ECHL's Bakersfield Condors, as director of hockey operations and head coach, for two seasons before joining the Thunderbirds. He also worked as assistant GM/assistant coach with the ECHL's Stockton Thunder.

As a player, he got into 663 professional games over 14 seasons in the AHL and ECHL. A defenceman, he played with the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

The Thunderbirds now are looking for two assistant coaches, one to fill the void created by O’Dette’s promotion and the other because Tyler Alos has left the organization after three seasons on staff.

Andy Eide of 710 ESPN Seattle reports that Alos “has opted to pursue a non-hockey opportunity, according to the team.”

Alos played 201 regular-season games over four years with the Thunderbirds before retiring on Dec. 3, 2012, after incurring multiple concussions.

Eide’s story on O’Dette’s promotion is right here.

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WHL ACTIVE COACHES REGULAR-SEASON VICTORIES:

Don Hay, Tri-City, Vancouver, Kamloops 720

Mike Williamson, Portland, Calgary, Tri-City 534

Brent Sutter, Red Deer 441

Marc Habscheid, Kamloops, Kelowna, Chilliwack, Victoria, Prince Albert 424

Shaun Clouston, Medicine Hat 320

Mike Johnston, Portland 271

John Paddock, Regina 125

Tim Hunter, Moose Jaw 103

Steve Hamilton, Edmonton 88

Brent Kisio, Lethbridge 88

Dan Lambert, Kelowna, Spokane 53

Richard Matvichuk, Prince George 45

Jason Smith, Kelowna 45

David Anning, Brandon, 39

Emanuel Viveiros, Swift Current 39

Dean Brockman, Saskatoon 27

Jason McKee, Vancouver 20

Dallas Ferguson, Calgary 0

Matt O’Dette,Spokane 0

James Patrick, Kootenay 0

Dan Price, Victoria 0

Dennis Williams, Everett 0

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F Cavin Leth has decided to attend Ryerson U in Toronto and play for the Rams in 2017-18. Leth, 21, split last season between the Seattle Thunderbirds and Prince Albert Raiders. From Taber, Alta., he had three assists in five games with the Thunderbirds, then put up 23 goals and 13 assists in 63 games with the Raiders. He also played with the Swift Current Broncos during his WHL career. All told, he had 44 goals and 35 assists in 262 regular-season games.

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Believe this is still the case. Announcement tomorrow from the Frontenacs. https://t.co/LXodT60ltZ

— OHLInsiders(.com) (@OHLinsiders) July 13, 2017

The OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs have said they will introduce their new head coach today (Thursday). They have been in the market for one since Paul McFarland left to sign on as an assistant coach with the NHL’s Florida Panthers. . . . There has been speculation in OHL circles that Josh Dixon is the leading candidate to take over in Kingston. Dixon spent three seasons (2011-14) as an assistant coach with the Regina Pats and was with the Swift Current Broncos for 2014-15. . . . Dixon, who also is working on a masters in sports psychology, is in player development with CAA Sports.

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F Austin Wagner of the Regina Pats had shoulder surgery on June 7 and could be out of action for as long as six months. Perhaps the fastest skater in the WHL last season, he has signed with the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and, as a 20-year-old, is eligible to player with their AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign. But he is expected to miss all of training camp and the start of the 2017-18 season. So might the Kings send him back to the Pats, the host team for the 2018 Memorial Cup? . . . Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post has more right here.

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Here are the speaker topics for our annual @teamsnap Hockey Coaches Conference… STARTS FRIDAY!https://t.co/BO3WcEeFos pic.twitter.com/S9rXaMFKHt

— The Coaches Site (@TheCoachesSite) July 12, 2017

The seventh annual TeamSnap Hockey Coaches Conference in Vancouver runs on Friday and Saturday. Among the presenters are Glen Gulutzan, the head coach of the NHL's Calgary Flames; Ray Ferraro, the terrific hockey analyst with TSN; Craig Cunningham, a former WHLer who now is pro scouting with the Arizona Coyotes; and Winnipeg Jets assistant coach Jamie Kompon, who is a former GM/head coach with the Portland Winterhawks. . . . If you haven't yet registered, click right here. As you register, enter the coupon code TakingNote and you’ll get 20 per cent off the registration fee.

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If you would like to contact Taking Note with information, have a question or just feel like commenting on something, feel free to send an email to greggdrinnan@gmail.com. I’m also on Twitter (@gdrinnan).

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McCrimmon chats with Kylington . . . 'Canes trade away d-man . . . Broncos lose associate coach

D Keaton Ellerby (Kamloops, Moose Jaw, 2004-08) signed a one-year contract with Barys Astana (Kazakhstan, KHL). Last season, with the Winnipeg Jets (NHL), he had one assist in one game. With the St. John's Ice Caps (AHL), he had three goals and 13 assists in 41 games. . . .
F Rastislav Konečný (Saskatoon, 2006-07) signed a one-year contract with Žilina (Slovakia, Extraliga). Last season, with Piešťany (Slovakia, Extraliga), he had five goals and eight assists in 41 games. . . .
F Roman Tománek (Calgary, Seattle, 2004-06) signed a one-year contract with Ertis Pavlodar (Kazakhstan, Kazakh Vysshaya Liga). Last season, with Nitra (Slovakia, Extraliga), he had 29 goals and 33 assists in 55 games. He led his team in goals, assists and points, and was second in the league in all three categories.
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It appears doubtful that the Brandon Wheat Kings will have Swedish D Oliver Kylington in their lineup this season. Kylington was a second-round selection by the Calgary Flames in last month’s NHL draft, although he is working on a two-year contract with Swedish pro team AIK. . . . The Wheat Kings selected him in the CHL’s import draft. . . . On Wednesday, with the Flames holding their development camp and Kylington in attenance, Ryan Pike, the managing editor of @FlamesNation, tweeted that “Oliver Kylington told me he's locked in with AIK for this season, but season after has exit clause.” . . . Later in the day, Darren Haynes, who covers the Flames for Canadian Press, tweeted: “Spotted at WinSport this afternoon, meeting up with Oliver Kylington, was Brandon coach/GM Kelly McCrimmon. Wheat Kings own his WHL rights.”
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U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) has gotten behind a bid by Pittsburgh to play host to the IIHF’s 2018 World Junior Championship. On Wednesday, Casey sent a letter to IIHF president René Fasel, citing, according to a news release, “the city’s success in hosting major events and the region’s rich hockey history . . .” Casey wrote: “With all due respect to Detroit, Pittsburgh really is America’s hockey capital. Selecting Pittsburgh would be good for the city and the tournament. The opportunity to play in front of some of the nation’s most enthusiastic hockey fans will only add to the tournament.Pittsburgh has a successful record of hosting major events. Adding the 2018 World Juniors to the city’s roster of major events would contribute to the revitalization occurring in Pittsburgh and throughout the region.” . . . The 2016 tournament is to be held in Helsinki, Finland, with the 2017 event in Montreal and Toronto.
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Got a tip or some information you feel could be useful to me, feel free to send an email to greggdrinnan@gmail.com.
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The Swift Current Broncos have acquired D Kade Jensen, 18, from the Lethbridge Hurricanes in exchange for a fourth-round selection in the 2018 bantam draft. . . . Jensen, from Calgary, was a fifth-round pick by Lethbridge in the 2012 bantam draft. . . . He has played two WHL seasons, totalling 23 points, four of them goals, in 110 games. . . . Last season, he had 19 points, including four goals, in 64 games.
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Josh Dixon has left the Swift Current Broncos after one season as the associate coach. Dixon, who joined the Broncos after having been with the Regina Pats, will be working with CAA Sports as director of player development. . . . Mark Lamb, the Broncs’s general manager and head coach, will be looking for someone to work alongside him and assistant coach Jamie Heward.
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The NHL’s Los Angeles Kings have hired Dusty Imoo as their new goaltending development coach. He replaces Kim Dillabaugh, who signed on as the Philadelphia Flyers’ goaltending coach. . . . Bill Ranford is the King’ goaltending coach. . . . All three are former WHL goaltenders. . . . Jon Rosen, the Kings’ Insider, has more right here.
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The Prince Albert Raiders have signed F Spencer Moe, a Calgaryian who was a second-round selection in the 2015 bantam draft. . . . Moe had 52 points, including 31 goals, in 27 games with the bantam AAA Calgary Bisons last season.
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The Red Deer Rebels announced the signing of five players on Wednesday. . . . F Akash Bains, from Delta, B.C., was a ninth-round pick in the 2014 bantam draft. He had 20 points, six of them goals, in 28 games while at the Okanagan Hockey Academy last season. . . . F Chase Lowry was a third-round pick in 2015. He had 36 points, 16 of them goals, in 21 games with the major bantam Edmonton South Side Athletics. . . . D Jared Herauf, a first-round pick in 2015, had six goals and 17 assists in 33 games with the major bantam Sherwood Park Flyers. . . . D Ethan Sakowich, a second-rounder in 2014, is from Athabasca, Alta. He played last season with the midget AAA Fort Saskatchewan Rangers, earning five assists in 27 games. . . . F Tanner Sidaway, a 16-year-old from Victoria, was put on the Rebels’ protected list last season. He had 12 points, including nine goals, in 40 games with the bantam AAA South Island Royals. . . . Greg Meachem, the sports editor at the Red Deer Advocate, also reported that F Austin Adamson, 19, is out for up to five months after having surgery on a hip. He split last season between the Saskatoon Blades and Red Deer, finishing with 10 points, including five goals, in 53 games.
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Thanks @EllisDon for the the Great Relationship and Raising 200k today at golf tourney supporting @skcac pic.twitter.com/R44dYDeC2A

— Sheldon Kennedy (@ShelKenn) July 8, 2015

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Winterhawks close in on GM/head coach

F Ian McDonald (Tri-City, 2000-06) signed a one-year contract with Briançon (France, Ligue Magnus). Last season, with Beibarys Atyrau (Kazakhstan, Vysshaya Liga), he had a team-leading 57 points, including 27 goals, in 54 games. He finished seventh in the league’s scoring race.
F Brad Schell (Spokane, 1999-2004) signed a one-year contract with Herning (Denmark, Metal Ligaen). Last season, with Rossoblu Milan (Italy, Serie A), he had 45 points, including a team-leading 35 assists, in 38 games. . . .
F Jozef Balej (Portland, 1999-2002) signed a one-year contract with Plzeň (Czech Republic, Extraliga). Last season, with Chomutov (Czech Republic, Extraliga), he had 14 points, eight of the goals, in 37 games.
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1. The Portland Winterhawks are looking for a replacement for Mike Johnston, who had been their GM/head coach since October 2008. Johnston signed on as head coach of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins last month. . . . How close are the Winterhawks to signing someone? . . . “Should have an announcement on a new head coach very shortly,” a Portland insider told me on Friday. . . . When queried as to whether the Winterhawks were on the verge of hiring a GM or a GM/head coach, the response was “GM/head coach combo.”

2. The Prince George Cougars have hired Michael Hengen as what their news release called “an assistant/strength and conditioning coach.” . . . Hengen, from Surrey, B.C., spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach with the BCHL’s Penticton Vees. . . . Hengen, 26, was selected by the Swift Current Broncos in the fifth round of the 2002 bantam draft. He split 226 WHL regular-season games between the Broncos, Edmonton Oil Kings, Moose Jaw Warriors, Calgary Hitmen and Saskatoon Blades. . . . With the Cougars, Hengen will work alongside head coach Mark Holick.

3. The Swift Current Broncos have signed Josh Dixon to a three-year contract as their associate coach. Dixon spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach with the Regina Pats. He left last month after being unable to reach a contract agreement with the Pats’ new owners. . . . In Swift Current, Dixon will work with GM/head coach Mark Lamb. . . . With the Broncos, Dixon also will be responsible for all off-ice training and what Lamb referred to as “the fitness aspect of the Broncos organization.” . . . Dixon fills the void created when Darren Evjen resigned after four seasons.

4. The Regina Pats have re-signed goaltending coach Rob Muntain for another season. He is preparing for his fourth season working with Regina’s goaltenders. Muntain, an officer in the Regina Police Service, is a former WHL goaltender (Brandon, 1995-96), who has worked with the Saskatchewan Hockey Association and Hockey Canada. . . . The Pats also are working to sign a head coach and two assistant coaches.

5. Kris Mallette has signed on as an assistant coach with the Kelowna Rockets. He will work with head coach Dan Lambert, who was promoted after five seasons as an assistant coach. Former head coach Ryan Huska now is head coach of the Adirondack Flames, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Calgary Flames. . . . Mallette (Kelowna, Moose Jaw, 1996-2000) spent last season as an associate coach with the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers.

6. Through four days of NHL free agency, capgeek.com reports that 78 unrestricted free agents have signed for a total of US$560,950,000.


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Laxdal leaves Oil Kings . . . Price is right at U of T

The KHL has announced that Lev Prague (Czech Republic) will go on “administrative leave” for the 2014-2015 season for financial reasons. Two major sponsors, Gazprom and Skoda, have withdrawn their financial sponsorship, reducing Lev Prague’s revenue by 50 per cent. Lev remains a member of the KHL and may rejoin the league in 2015. Ex-WHL players on Lev last season included F Michal Řepík (Vancouver, 2005-08) and F Jakub Klepiš (Portland, 2001-02), who signed with Färjestad Karlstad (Sweden, SHL) last week. . . .
D David Turon (Portland, 2002-03) has signed a one-year contract with Havířov (Czech Republic, 1. Liga). He grew up and played as a youth in Havířov. Last season, with Meran/Merano (Italy, Inter-National-League), he had 22 points, including 12 goals, in 25 games. In 16 games from January on with Fassa (Italy, Serie A), he had nine points, two of the goals, in 16 games. . . .
F Kris Foucault (Swift Current, Kootenay, Calgary, 2006-11) has signed a one-year contract with the Vienna Capitals (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). Last season, he had 22 points, 11 of them goals, in 58 games with the Iowa Wild (AHL). . . .
F Kris Beech (Calgary, 1996-2001) has signed a one-year contract with Innsbruck (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). Last season, with the Straubing Tigers (Germany, DEL), he had 24 points, eight of them goals, in 36 games. In two games in March with the Vienna Capitals (Austria, Erste Bank Liga), he had a goal and three assists.
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There will be yet another coaching change in the WHL with the news on Thursday that Edmonton Oil Kings head coach Derek Laxdal has signed a three-year deal with the Texas Stars, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars.
Laxdal leaves the Memorial Cup-champion Oil Kings for the team that won the Calder Cup as the AHL’s playoff champions. Willie Desjardins, the AHL team’s head coach, now is the head coach of the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks.
Laxdal, 48, spent four seasons with the Oil Kings, with the team winning at least 50 games in each of the last three. The Oil Kings also appeared in the last three WHL championship finals, winning two of them.
With Laxdal behind the bench, the Oil Kings put together a 182-83-23 regular-season record.
Prior to joining the Oil Kings, Laxdal spent five seasons as head coach of the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads, who were affiliated with Dallas. Under Laxdal, the Steelheads won the Kelly Cup as ECHL champions in 2007.
From Stonewall, Man., Laxdal also played in the WHL (Portland, Brandon, New Westminster, 1982-86) and was a member of the Memorial Cup-champion Winterhawks in 1983.
It will be a shock if the Oil Kings don’t fill the head-coaching vacancy from within by promoting highly touted assistant coach Steve Hamilton, who is presently on vacation. Chances are he’ll be introduced as head coach next week.
Meanwhile, the Moose Jaw Warriors, Portland Winterhawks, Regina Pats and Vancouver Giants continue to search for head coaches, while the Calgary Hitmen, Kamloops Blazers, Kelowna Rockets, Saskatoon Blades and Tri-City Americans have already made changes at that position.
Interestingly, only the Rockets have promoted from within as five-year assistant coach Dan Lambert has taken over from Ryan Huska, who now is the head coach of the Adirondack Flames, the Glens Falls, N.Y.,-based AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Calgary Flames.
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Hockey Canada will have to replace Derek Laxdal as head coach of the U-18 team that is to play in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament in August.
Laxdal was named head coach on June 12, with Jody Hull, the head coach of the OHL’s Peterborough Petes, and Eric Veilleux, the head coach of the QMJHL’s Baie-Comeau Drakkar, as assistant coaches.
The U-18 team’s selection camp is scheduled for Calgary, Aug. 2-5, with the tournament to run Aug. 11-16 in Breclav, Czech Republic, and Piestany, Slovakia.
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1. So what are we to make of all these WHL coaches who have move on up hockey’s ladder? . . . “That tells you how good this league is,” former Moose Jaw Warriors head coach Mike Stothers told Matthew Gourlie of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald. “It’s outstanding. I don’t want to blanket it and say it’s the best in all of junior hockey, but I don’t know how it can’t be. Every team has a great coach and that just bodes well for the league and the future of it.” . . . After three years with the Warriors, Stothers is leaving to become head coach of the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs.

2. The Swift Current Broncos are expected to introduce Josh Dixon as associate coach this morning. . . . “Although Dixon offered a polite ‘no comment’ when contacted via text message on Thursday,” Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post reported, “multiple WHL sources confirmed that Dixon is set to be named the new associate coach of the Broncos, replacing Darren Evjen, who recently stepped down for family reasons.” . . . Evjen is going back to teaching school, although he will remain involved with the team to some extent. . . . Dixon spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach with the Regina Pats but resigned last month when he and the team’s new owners weren’t able to reach agreement on a new contract.

3. Malcolm Cameron, who was fired as head coach of the Regina Pats last week, has told the Regina Leader-Post’s Greg Harder that he is “very, very interested” in the opening in Moose Jaw. In fact, Cameron already has submitted his resume. . . . Cameron spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Pats, before taking over a year ago after the resignation of Pat Conacher. In Cameron’s lone season as head coach, the Pats finished atop the East Division and then were swept from the playoffs by the Brandon Wheat Kings in the first round.

4. Jim Brosnan was a decent relief pitcher who turned out to be a much better writer. He wrote The Longest Season, one of the best baseball books in anyone’s library. In fact, it’s one of the best books. Period. . . . Brosnan died Saturday at 84. . . . There’s more right here from The New York Times.

5. Ira Berkow of The New York Times writes:
“Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner whose remarkable story of survival as a prisoner of war in World War II gained new attention in 2010 with the publication of a best-selling biography by Laura Hillenbrand, died on Wednesday in Los Angeles. He was 97.
“A statement released by his family said he had been suffering from pneumonia.”
If you haven’t read Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, do yourself a favour and give it a read.
Berkow’s obituary of Zamperini is right here.

6. D Nick Walters, 20, of the Lethbridge Hurricanes has signed an amateur tryout (ATO) with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets. A fourth-round pick by the St. Louis Blukes in the 2012 NHL draft, Walters wasn’t signed, so was a free agent. He also has played with the Everett Silvertips and Brandon Wheat Kings.

7. Veteran WHL coach Dan Price has signed on as a full-time assistant coach with the CIS U of Toronto Varsity Blues. Price, a former goaltender with the U of Regina Cougars (1995-98), will work alongside Darren Lowe, who is preparing for his 20th season as the Blues’ head coach. . . . Price graduade from law school at the U of Saskatchewan in 2001. . . . Last season, he was an assistant coach with the Tri-City Americans. He also has worked as a scout or assistant/associate coach with the Regina Pats, Calgary Hitmen and Chilliwack Bruins.
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Fantastic day on the water. 78 pound halibut. It's like bringing up a grand piano from the ocean floor! #workout pic.twitter.com/cp8kXSCmXA
— Todd Harkins (@coachharks) July 3, 2014

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Pats shuffling their deck . . . Giants interested in Gulutzan, Morrison

F Cody Almond (Kelowna, 2005-09) has signed a five-year extension with Genève-Servette (Switzerland, NL A). Last season, he had 34 points, including 16 goals, in 44 games. Almond, an alternate captain on the team, has dual Canadian-Swiss citizenship. . . .
The KHL has announced that due to civil unrest in eastern Ukraine and the recent arson attack on the Donetsk arena, Donbass Donetsk (Ukraine) will take a “sabbatical” and won’t play in the KHL in 2014-2015. The club is scheduled to return to the KHL in 2015-2016. All players currently under contract with Donbass will remain under contract but will be allowed to sign one-year contracts with other KHL clubs. . . . Donbass announced that it will play in Ukraine Professionalnaya Hokkeinaya Liga this season. Its farm club played in that league last season. . . . Players currently under contract with Donbass include Gennady Razin (Kamloops, 1996-98), Pavel Padakin (Calgary, 2012-14) and Sergei Varlamov (Swift Current, 1995-98).
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Just when things seemed to be settling down on the WHL coaching front . . .
The Regina Pats announced Tuesday that head coach Malcolm Cameron has been fired “effective immediately.”
The Pats also chose to reveal that assistant coach Josh Dixon had quit on June 17, while fellow assistant Billy McGuigan had turned in his resignation on June 5. No one has said why those moves weren’t made public when they happened.
McGuigan apparently cited family reasons when he resigned, while Dixon wasn’t able to come to a contract agreement with the Pats and there are suggestions that he felt low-balled by the franchise’s new owners.
With both assistant coaches having left, it seems the new owners decided to get rid of the head coach and make a fresh start in that area of the front office.
“Coming in we were committed to moving forward as is,” Todd Lumbard, the team’s president and a co-owner, told Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post. “We had a coaching staff that had some success as a unit. (The owners wanted to) keep the momentum going.
“When we knew that neither assistant coach was going to come back for various reasons, we just stopped there for a bit and tried to figure out what we were going to do. We decided we wanted to bring a cohesive group to the team next season. We thought it was best for us to start with a head coach and build our coaching staff that way with someone new that we would hire.”
Cameron was preparing for his second season as head coach. He was an assistant coach there for two seasons before taking over when Pat Conacher left.
McGuigan had spent one season with the Pats, while Dixon had been there through three seasons.
Harder has lots more, including reaction from Cameron, at leaderpost.com.
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Interestingly, the Pats’ new owners, who were so up front and in the spotlight as they purchased the team from Diane and Russ Parker, weren’t very visible on Tuesday.
Here’s Rob Vanstone of the Regina Leader-Post:
“A Tuesday afternoon yak session with the media was devoid of Pat answers.
“The questions persisted for upwards of 20 minutes, leaving Regina Pats general manager Chad Lang as an uneasy and rather sympathetic figure in the face of microphones, cameras and, well, skepticism.
“Lang was essentially served up as a sacrificial lamb by the Western Hockey League team’s new ownership group after head coach Malcolm Cameron was fired — a move that was announced Tuesday morning but never satisfactorily explained to the reporters who convened outside the Pats’ Brandt Centre office.
“The picture became clearer when, in conversation with the Leader-Post’s Greg Harder, new Pats president Todd Lumbard acknowledged that the new regime wanted to bring in its own guy.
“Now, who knows whether the same philosophy will extend to the incumbent general manager?
“The new owners did entrust Lang to meet the media, en masse, on Tuesday. Lucky him . . .”
Visit leaderpost.com for Vanstone’s complete column.
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Glenn Reid, CBC Regina’s veteran sportscaster, took time out to tweet this: “1st strike against #Pats new owners. Fire the coach and don't show up to explain why. Shame.”
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1. Peter Anholt, one of the winningest coaches in WHL history, has joined the Lethbridge Hurricanes as their assistant general manager. . . . Anholt has 450 head-coaching victories to his credit, with the Prince Albert Raiders, Seattle Thunderbirds, Red Deer Rebels and Kelowna Rockets. He is 10th on the WHL list of career coaching victories and sixth in games coached (973). . . . In Lethbridge, he will work with GM Brad Robson. . . . Anholt has spent the last three seasons on Seattle’s scouting staff.

2. Yes, the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are looking for a head coach, are showing some interest in Mike Johnston, the GM/head coach of the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks. Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune filed this story right here.

3. Is Eric Lindros a legitimate candidate for the Hockey Hall of Fame? Ken Campbell of The Hockey News explores that issue right here.

4. Darren Gusdal, a forward who spent two seasons with the Brandon Wheat Kings (1978-80), died over the weekend. His obituary is right here; you also are able to leave messages of condolences if you follow that link.

5. It’s not often that #cannibal is trending on Twitter, but that was the case Tuesday afternoon after Italy soccer star Luis Suarez took a bite out of an opponent. . . . Dan Treadway of si.com takes an hilarious look at the situation, including a tweet from Evander Holyfield, right here.

6. The Vancouver Giants continue to search for a head coach to replace Don Hay, who was allowed to get out of his contract which had a year remaining and return to Kamloops where he now is head coach of the Blazers. . . . I am told that the Giants interviewed Glen Gulutzan on Tuesday. Gulutzan, a former head coach of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, is an assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks. When Gulutzan was the head coach in Dallas, Willie Desjardins was an associate coach with the Stars. Desjardins signed as the Canucks’ head coach on Monday.

7. Throw another name into the Giants’ list of potential head coaches. I am told that they have asked the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets for permission to speak with Mark Morrison, who has been an assistant coach with the St. John’s IceCaps for three seasons. Morrison, who is from Delta, B.C., was the head coach of the now-defunct Victoria Salmon Kings of the ECHL for four-plus seasons. . . . Morrison, 51, played four seasons for the Victoria Cougars (1979-83).

8. If Glen Gulutzan is interested in coaching in the WHL, chances are he will be getting in touch with the Regina Pats, who canned head coach Malcolm Cameron on Tuesday. Gulutzan, a native of The Pas., Man., played in the WHL with the Moose Jaw Warriors, Brandon Wheat Kings and Saskatoon Blades (1986-92).

9. How about Lorne Molleken as the next head coach of the Regina Pats? He’s from Regina. He coached the Pats in 2000-01, when they were the host team for the Memorial Cup. He’s available, too, having been bought out by the Saskatoon Blades’ new owners after spending last season as that team’s general manager.
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THE COACHING GAME:
The Seattle Thunderbirds have signed head coach Steve Konowalchuk to a three-year contract extension. Konowalchuk signed on with the Thunderbirds on June 16, 2011, and started off with a four-year deal. . . . The Thunderbirds went 41-25-6 last season and got into the second round of the players.
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TWEET OF THE DAY:

Cash-strapped Canes add assistant GM, I'd guess the reasoning is you don't get better by cutting back. And everyone else has an ass't GM.
— Dylan Purcell (@dylpurcell) June 24, 2014

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THE MacBETH REPORT:

 D Brett Palin (Kelowna, 2000-05) signed a one-year contract with Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg (Germany, DEL). He had six goals and seven assists in 50 games with Chomutov (Czech Republic, Extraliga) this season. . . .




F Rastislav Konecny (Saskatoon, 2006-07) signed a one-year contract with Kosice (Slovakia, Extraliga). He had 21 goals and 13 assists in 47 games for Skalica (Slovakia, Extraliga) this season. . . .




D Robby Sandrock (Spokane, Swift Current, Medicine Hat, Kelowna, 1994-99) signed a one-year contract extension with the Belfast Giants (Northern Ireland, UK Elite). He had 16 goals and 27 assists in 47 games with the Giants this season and was named to the UK Elite second all-star team.
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Ken Dryden, as only he can do, takes a look at the Eric Gryba hit on Lars Eller, breaks down the reaction to it and offers up his interpretation of where we’re going with the game of hockey. It’s all right here.
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The Portland Winterhawks are able to wrap up the WHL championship tonight as they take a 3-1 lead over the Edmonton Oil Kings into Game 5 at the Rose Garden.
Here’s an ad that was spotted on Craigslist:
“Winterhawks Tickets Wanted (Delaying my induced child birth for this) - $30 (Portland/Vancouver)
“I am scheduled to have induced child birth on Friday 5/10. If I can find tickets for the game the doctor has agreed to move it until Monday. Please email if you have 2 tickets available.”
Sheesh, this must be a big game!
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Jack Todd of the Montreal Gazette has an interesting piece right here on Montreal Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban and the love-hate relationship with fans.
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By now, you likely are aware of all that went on in social media implying a feud between April Reimer, the wife of Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer, and Elisha Cuthbert, the fiancee of Toronto defenceman Dion Phaneuf. Of course, it’s not true. Dan Robson of Sportsnet has the story right here. Oh, and he also talks with the guy in the North Stars cap.
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Over at The Nation (thenation.com), Dave Zirin has written an excellent piece that carries this headline: The Cesspool: Why Youth Sports Stink. . . . It’s right here and well worth your time, unless you are a parent or a coach who is meeting your needs at the expense of kids, to paraphrase former NFLer Joe Ehrmann, who is quoted in this column.
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THE COACHING GAME:
The Regina Pats will be short two coaches after the Christmas break next season. Regina head coach Malcolm Cameron will be the head coach for Team West at the U17 World Hockey Challenge in Cape Breton. Regina assistant coach Josh Dixon will serve as an assistant coach. . . . The tournament begins on Dec. 29. . . .


The BCHL’s Alberni Valley Bulldogs have signed general manager/head coach Kevin Willison and Adam Hayduk, the assistant director of hockey operations and assistant coach, through 2014-15. . . . The Bulldogs finished the regular season at 29-20-2-5 this season. . . .


Greg Ireland will be back for a third season as head coach of the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack. General manager Dale DeGray announced Thursday that the team has picked up the option on Ireland’s contract. The Attack is 76-47-13 under Ireland.
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The WHL’s playoff situation:
CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Portland vs. Edmonton
(Portland leads, 3-1)
(All times local)
Game 1: Friday — Edmonton 4 at Portland 1 (10,097)
Game 2: Saturday — Edmonton 0 at Portland 3 (10,947)
Game 3: Tuesday — Portland 3 at Edmonton 1 (8,513)
Game 4: Wednesday — Portland 2 at Edmonton 1 (8,400)
Game 5: Today, at Portland (Rose Garden), 7 p.m.
x-Game 6: Sunday, at Edmonton, 4 p.m.
x-Game 7: Monday, May 13, at Portland (Rose Garden), 7 p.m.
x – if necessary.


All games are being televised by Shaw in Canada. They also will be televised in Portland, with Games 5 and 6 on Comcast SportsNet, and Game 7 on Root Sports.
Comcast and Roots will pick up the Shaw telecast that feature play-by-play man Dan Russell, along with Bill Wilms, Peter Loubardias and Andy Neal.
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THURSDAY’S GAME:
No Game Scheduled.
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CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT (21):
None

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT (7):
None
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From Sunaya Sapurji (@sunayas) of Yahoo! Sports: “One person is offering "PS3 for free with controllers and games plus $50" for tickets to the Mooseheads. #CrazyTown)
Sapurji has more on the drive to get tickets right here.

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.