The inaugural Ryan Donaldson Memorial is being played this weekend at the Langley, B.C., Sportsplex (Rink 1). It’s on Twitter at @RDMtournament.
This is more than your average June hockey tournament, though, because it’s all about mental health.
Here’s a note from the website that was written by his sister Kirsten:
“Not only is this tournament to honour my brother Ryan and enjoy the sport he loved so much, but to address mental health and concussions.”
Kirsten’s goals in organizing the tournament are “to raise awareness about the serious side effects associated with traumatic brain injuries and second-impact syndrome.” She also hopes “to set up a specific protocol within minor hockey associations specifically related to baseline testing and post-concussion management/return to play guidelines.” As well, she wants to “address the stigma associated with mental health within the hockey community.”
The website, which is right here, includes links to information on mental health and concussions, as well as baseline testing.
As Kirsten writes, “The more we talk about concussions and depression, the more can be done to help those suffering.”
The website is right here.
If you aren’t familiar with the Ryan Donaldson story, read this piece right here that was written by Gary Ahuja of the Langley Times.
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F Keegan Dansereau (Calgary, Swift Current, 2003-09) and D Kalvin Sagert (Kamloops, Lethbridge, Prince George, 2002-08) both signed one-year extensions with Miskolci Jegesmedvék (Hungary, MOL Liga). . . . This season, Dansereau led the league in goals (33) and points (60), in 41 games. He also was the playoff MVP. . . . Sagert had four goals and 22 assists in 41 games with the league champions.
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#CalderCup champs! pic.twitter.com/XIOpOpfL3h
— Jon Rosen (@lakingsinsider) June 14, 2015
The Manchester Monarchs won the AHL championship on Saturday night, beating the host Utica Comets, 2-1,
in Game 5 of the Calder Cup final. The Monarchs won the series, 4-1. . . . This was Manchester’s first and last AHL title as the Monarchs will move to Ontario, Calif., over the summer where they will become part of the new Pacific Division. . . . The Monarchs are the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, while the Comets are hooked up with the Vancouver Canucks. . . . Former Moose Jaw Warriors head coach Mike Stothers was in his first season as the Monarchs’ head coach. . . . Utica head coach Travis Green was in his second season after working as the Portland Winterhawks’ assistant GM/assistant coach. . . . Last night, the Monarchs got first-period goals from F Adrian Kempe (10:02) and D Vincent LoVerde (13:09, PP). . . . F Cal O’Reilly scored for the Comets at 19:45 of the third. . . . Monarchs G Patrik Bartosak (Red Deer Rebels, 2011-14) stopped 31 shots in his second pro playoff start. He made his first playoff start in Friday’s 6-3 victory. . . . Manchester F Jordan Weal (Regina Pats, 2007-12) was honoured as the AHL’s playoff MVP. He had 22 points, including 10 goals, in 19 playoff games. . . . Attendance was 3,835.——
On Saturday, Elliotte Friedman of Hockey Night in Canada reported that the Toronto Maple Leafs are trying to sign Kim Dillabaugh away from the Los Angeles Kings. He is the Kings’ goaltender development coach and, until now, may have been one of hockey’s best-kept secrets. Dillabaugh, from Duncan, B.C., has worked with Kings’ goaltenders for eight seasons and has been a big part of the organization’s recent successes. . . . Dillabaugh, 37, worked with the Kelowna Rockets since 2004 and played a key role in working with that team’s goaltenders. With Dillabaugh on its coaching staff, Kelowna won the 2004 Memorial Cup and also won WHL titles in 2005 and 2009. Although not on the Rockets’ staff in 2014-15, he played a big part in getting G Jackson Whistle back on track after he was acquired from the Vancouver Giants prior to the 2012-13 season. . . . In the Monarchs’ championship photo above, the bespectacled Dillabaugh is in the upper left corner, just off head coach Mike Stothers’ right shoulder.
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The SJHL’s Flin Flon Bombers have acquired F Jesse Shynkaruk, 19, who finished last season with the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors. . . . The Bombers acquired D Joel Webb and Shynkaruk from the Kindersley Klippers for F Austin Calladine. . . . In 132 WHL games, with the Kamloops Blazers and Moose Jaw, Shynkaruk has 13 goals and 15 assists. . . . There’s more on this deal right here.———
THE COACHING GAME:
Kelly McCrimmon, the owner, general manager and head coach of the Brandon Wheat Kings, apparently has
yet to made a decision on whether to join the front office of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs. . . . However, it would seem that at least some readers of this blog don’t expect him to leave the Wheat Kings. . . . Our most-recent poll, asked who would coach the Wheat Kings in 2015-16 and 63 of 94 respondents (67 per cent) suggested it will be McCrimmon. . . . Andy Murray, who is from Souris, which is located a couple of slap shots south west of Brandon, drew 11 votes even though he is the head coach at Western Michigan. . . . Malcolm Cameron, a former Regina Pats head coach who is on staff at the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton, B.C., drew eight votes, while former Brandon Sun sports editor James Shewaga got six. . . . The Wheat Kings’ two assistant coaches, David Anning and Darren Ritchie, drew five and one votes, respectively.——
The 2015 Hockey Coaches Conference is scheduled for July 24 and 25 in Vancouver. Presenters will include at least two NHL head coaches — Willie Desjardins of the Vancouver Canucks and Mike Johnston of the Pittsburgh Penguins. For a look at all of the scheduled presenters, click right here.
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Still putting my money on Lorne Molleken as the next @WHLGiants coach. Think they will name new guy in next couple of weeks.
— Steve Ewen (@SteveEwen) June 14, 2015
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D Gord Baldwin (Medicine Hat, 2004-07) signed a two-year contract with the Sheffield Steelers (England, UK Elite). He had three goals and 11 assists in 26 games with the Idaho Steelheads (ECHL) and five assists in 29 games with the Texas Stars (AHL). The Steelers press release says that Baldwin will attend University of Sheffield Business School while playing for the Steelers. . . .
The Saskatoon Blades, the only franchise to have played every WHL season since the its inception in 1966-67, appears to be on the verge of being sold. Mike Priestner, an Edmonton-based auto dealer, apparently is the favourite to purchase the Blades. Priestner and Blades majority owner Jack Brodsky both told Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix that they are talking. . . . There’s more 
The Swift Current Broncos have acquired F Connor Sanvido, who is to turn 20 on Sept. 26, and F Andrew Johnson, who will be 19 on Oct. 15, from the Seattle Thunderbirds for a fourth-round selection in the 2014 bantam draft. . . . Sanvido, from Maple Ridge, B.C., was the 14th overall pick in the 2008 bantam draft. He had 29 points, including 14 goals, in 72 games last season. In 184 games, he has 53 points, 26 of them goals. . . . Johnson, from Saskatoon, was acquired form the Moose Jaw Warriors at last season’s trade deadline for a 2013 fourth-round bantam draft pick . A second-round pick by the Warriors in the 2009 bantam draft, he had 23 points in 72 games last season. In 189 career games, he has 76 points, including 33 goals. . . . Sanvido’s arrival leaves the Broncos with what would appear to be four potential 20-year-olds, the others being G Eetu Laurikainen, F Graham Black and F Daniel Dale. . . . The Thunderbirds, meanwhile, are down to three – F Mitch Elliot, D Jesse Forsberg and F Seth Swenson.
The Vancouver Giants have claimed F Tim Traber, 20, off waivers from the Victoria Royals. . . . Vancouver GM Scott Bonner told Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province that Traber is in Switzerland at the present time, so it has yet to be decided if he will report to the Giants. . . . The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Traber, who is from Quesnel, B.C., is a grinder. He has 32 points in 215 regular-season games, having played two seasons with the Chilliwack Bruins (remember them?) and two with the Royals. . . . At the moment, the Giants have F Cain Franson as their lone 20-year-old, although F Marek Tvrdon and D Dalton Thrower also are possibilities. Tvrdon has signed with the Detroit Red Wings, while Thrower has yet to sign with the Montreal Canadiens. . . . Victoria, meanwhile, has four 20-year-olds on its roster — D Jordan Fransoo, F Mitch Deacon, F Logan Nelson and F Ben Walker.
Congrats to old friend Lyle Helland, who will be one of three people inducted into the Conexus Warriors and Legends Hall of Fame in Moose Jaw this year. . . . Also going into the hall will be former players Darryl Laplante and Lyle Odelein. . . . Helland, who will be inducted as a builder, was part of the original group that brought the franchise from Winnipeg in 1984. He has served on the team’s board of director and has been a season-ticket holder for 29 years. . . . Odelein (1985-88) had 163 points in 189 games. He is the third-highest scoring defenceman in Warriors history. . . . Laplante (1994-97) had 310 points, including 102 goals, in 212 games. . . . The Warriors will celebrate their Hall of Fame weekend, Oct. 17-19.
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