Bozon out of hospital, but long road ahead and costs are escalating

TIM BOZON

There is concern in WHL circles that people are going to see Kootenay Ice F Tim Bozon up and about, now that he has been released from Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, and come to the conclusion that all is well and that his family doesn’t need financial aid.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Because Bozon’s situation wasn’t due to a hockey-related injury, Hockey Canada’s insurance doesn’t cover any of it.
When it comes to healthcare, each WHL team will buy insurance for each of its European players. In Bozon’s case, he had a policy that was taken out by the Kamloops Blazers, his original team, and transferred to the Ice when he was traded to Kootenay on Oct. 22.
Unfortunately, that policy expired on March 13, while Bozon was in hospital.
(There is no standardization in the healthcare policies taken out for European players. For example, one team might have a $25,000 policy, while another may go for $100,000. One WHL team official told me Friday that there almost definitely will be standardization of some sort brought in following what has happened with Bozon.)
One source has told me that the WHL and the Ice are pursuing all avenues in attempts to find financial help and/or relief for the Bozon family.
I also was told that Saskatchewan has the highest ICU rates in Canada. Combine that with the cost of rehabilitation and, before all of this is dealt with, the tab is going to be well into six figures.
“There is a big-time cost to this . . . big-time costs,” the source said. “They are escalating and we have a long way to go.”

In a photo from the Saskatoon Blades' Twitter feed,
Dr. Gary Hunter (left), Tim Bozon and Philippe
Bozon address a news conference
in Saskatoon on Friday.

Bozon was admitted to RUH in Saskatoon on March 1. He was diagnosed with Neisseria meningitis, a disease that involves inflammation around the brain and spine that can be fatal. Bozon was placed in a medically induced coma as doctors worked to slow the disease’s advance.
For much of the past four weeks, he was in critical condition in RUH’s intensive care unit. Last week, doctors brought him slowly out of the coma and his condition soon was upgraded to stable. He was well enough to appear at a news conference at the hospital on Friday, just before being discharged.
"I'm doing good, I've been through a lot," Bozon said at the news conference that was streamed by Global News. "It's been about a month and I've improved a lot and I'm feeling better now. As you can tell, my voice is not 100 per cent recovered, but I'm feeling better. I'm excited to leave the hospital.”
Bozon, who turned 20 on Monday, is 6-foot-1 and plays at about 195 pounds. On Friday, he appeared much thinner than that, and he also has a raspy voice, the result of having spent much of the last four weeks on a feeding tube.
“From what I have learned since coming out of the coma, the people here at the Royal University Hospital went to amazing lengths to save my life. To them, first and foremost, my heartfelt thanks. But I must also extend gratitude to everyone who sent me their thoughts and prayers, especially my parents, who rushed here from France to be by my side."
His parents, Helene and Philippe, arrived from their home in France on March 2. Tim’s younger brother, Kevin, flew over from Switzerland last week, once his junior hockey team in Lugano had completed its season.
"I want to say from my wife and I how proud we are of you Timmy, for fighting like this,” Philippe said during the news conference. “I know it was a tough fight and I know you are still fighting, and I will always have faith in you.”
Bozon was in the Ice’s lineup on Feb. 28, scoring his 33rd goal of the season in a 4-2 victory. He apparently doesn’t remember scoring that goal, or much about that game, although he remembers going to a concert by the Goo Goo Dolls on Feb. 27. He began to feel ill following the game and that got progressively worse through the night. Athletic trainer Cory Cameron made the decision that Bozon had something worse than the flu and was going to have to go to hospital, and he got him there around 8:45 a.m.
Philippe, who played in the NHL with the St. Louis Blues (1991-95), credits Cameron with having saved Tim’s life.
"(Cameron) reacted really well when things happened that night, really quick after the game," Philippe said. "It was amazing. In three hours, Tim went from being a healthy man. Cory did the right thing by bringing him to the hospital. He probably saved his life and I'm really thankful for him."
Cameron visited the Bozons in Saskatoon during the few day before the playoffs began and, since returning to the Ice, has been in twice-daily contact with Philippe. They have spoken each morning and again at night.
Dr. Gary Hunter, a neurologist at RUH who treated Tim, told the news conference that getting prompt medical attention was key to the recovery process.
"Any bacterial meningitis is a serious problem, and he certainly was very sick, but he received excellent care," Dr. Hunter said. “Because he's a young, tough kid he was able to pull through. His progress since he left the ICU has been really amazing. So I think his prognosis is really excellent.
“He's really motivated. He's got an amazing family that kept me calm most of the time in the ICU. He's a tough guy and he's really motivated so I think he's going to do really well.”
Dr. Hunter admitted that the medical community hasn’t any idea how Bozon contacted the disease.
"Bacterial meningitis in young people (who) are young and healthy is uncommon, in the first place,” he explained. “This particular bug is even more uncommon. We don't have a good reason for why he contracted it besides bad luck, really.”
As for looking into Bozon’s future, Dr. Hunter said: “It's very difficult to speculate exactly on his long-term neurological prognosis, but his early progress has been so tremendous and he's such a healthy guy that I'm very optimistic about (his playing hockey again)."
Bozon and his parents are scheduled to arrive in Cranbrook, B.C., this morning and are to attend tonight’s playoff game between the Ice and Calgary Hitmen. Kootenay, the Eastern Conference’s No. 6 seed, leads the No. 3 Hitmen, 3-2 in games, and can end the series tonight. Tim will take part in a ceremonial faceoff.
Later, the Bozons will journey to Montreal where Tim, a third-round selection by the Canadiens in the NHL’s 2012 draft, will meet with that team’s medical staff. He also will have a dental appointment or two, as he needs to get some damage repaired after being injured -- the Ice thought at the time that he had a broken jaw -- during one of his last games. Bozon has signed a three-year entry-level NHL contract with the Habs.
Eventually, the Bozons will end up at home in France and Tim will settle into the rehabilitation process at a clinic in Capbreton.
The Bozons have been blown away by the way the hockey community has responded to their son’s situation.
"It's been an unbelievable month for us," an emotional Philippe said. "Obviously, there was the tough part, but some nice things have happened to our family. Everyone, from all the people in hockey to the doctors to the people on the sixth floor helping with the physiotherapy, have been unbelievable to us . . . I can't believe how much support we've had from all over the world."
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A trust fund has been established to assist the Bozon family with medical- and rehabilitation-related costs.
You are able to make a donation at any BMO Bank of Montreal branch in Western Canada.
Should you live outside of that area and want to donate, please mail donations to:
Western Hockey League
c/o Tim Bozon
Father David Bauer Arena
2424 University Drive NW
Calgary AB
T2N 3Y9

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.

Ice rewrites record book, but Hitmen win game

Tim (left) and Kévin Bozon

F Tim Bozon of the Kootenay Ice turned 20 on Monday, which was his 24th day as a patient in Saskatoon’s Royal University Hospital.
Bozon has been there since March 1, when he was diagnosed with Nesseria meningitis. He was placed in a medically induced coma on March 1, but has since been brought out of that state and is making good progress.
His brother, Kévin, 18, tweeted the above photo, along with “Just arrived in Saskatoon, happy birthday ❤ #fighter #TB20.”
In the photo, the brothers are sharing Kévin’s silver medal, won with Lugano’s U20 team that plays in Switzerland’s elite junior A league.
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Here’s a Monday tweet from Colin Priestner (@colinpriestner), the Saskatoon Blades’ managing partner: “Unbelievable what a week can do. Just finished visit with @timbozon94, looks like a completely different person from last week. Happy bday!”
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A trust fund has been established to assist the Bozon family with medical- and rehabilitation-related costs with which they now are faced.
You are able to make a donation at any BMO Bank of Montreal branch in Western Canada.
Should you live outside of that area and want to donate, please mail donations to:
Western Hockey League
c/o Tim Bozon
Father David Bauer Arena
2424 University Drive NW
Calgary AB
T2N 3Y9
---
THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Daryl Boyle (Brandon, 2004-08) has signed a one-year deal with Red Bull Munich (Germany, DEL). This season, with the Augsburger Panther (Germany, DEL), he had 26 points, including four goals, in 52 games. He was Augsburg’s captain for the last two seasons. . . .
D Dave Sutter (Seattle, 2010-12) has signed a two-year contract with La Chaux-de-Fonds (Switzerland, NL B). This season, with Red Ice Martigny (Switzerland, NL B), he had 14 points, three of them goals, in 45 games.
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According to Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, “Tuesday is decision day when it comes to the job statuses of Saskatoon Blades head coach Dave Struch and general manager Lorne Molleken.”
Yes, that would be today.
Mike Priestner, the Blades’ owner, told Nugent-Bowman on Monday that “we will be coming forth with our plans at some point tomorrow for the future of the Blades.”
Molleken has two years left on his contract as the club’s general manager.
Struch just completed his first season as head coach, after seven seasons as an assistant. His contract expires in July.
The Blades, who sold everything in order to load up last season when they were the host team for the Memorial Cup, went 16-51-5 and missed the playoffs this season.
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As usual, Elliotte Friedman’s 30 Thoughts is a solid read. This week’s package is right here.
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The U of Alberta Golden Bears won their record 14th CIS championship on Sunday, beating the U of Saskatchewan Huskies, the host team, 3-1 in the championship game. . . . Alberta went in as the No. 1 seed and outshot the oppostion 131-57 over three games. . . . Of the 20 players dressed by Alberta for the final, 18 were products of the WHL. . . . Alberta head coach Ian Herbers won a national title in his second season with the Golden Bears. A defenceman, he, too, played in the WHL (Kelowna, Lethbridge, Spokane, Swift Current, 1984-88). . . . The final game, televised by Sportsnet, was terrific, with the turning point coming when Alberta’s Levko Koper (Spokane, 2006-11) gave his side a 2-0 lead with a shorthanded goal in the second period. . . . There’s more on the game right here.
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G Daniel Wapple, who has been out for almost three weeks with an ankle injury, isn’t yet ready to return to the Regina Pats’ lineup. So it will be either Dawson MacAuley or Tyler Fuhr in goal when the Pats resume their first-round series with the host Brandon Wheat Kings on Wednesday. The Wheat Kings lead the best-of-seven affair, 2-0. . . . MacAuley has surrendered 12 goals on 54 shots as the Pats lost 6-3 and 8-4 on home ice on the weekend. . . . Fuhr, who played this season with the SJHL’s La Ronge Ice Wolves, was selected by Brandon in the fourth round of the 2010 bantam draft. Prior to joining the Pats after Wapple was injured, Fuhr’s WHL experience consisted of 15 appearances with the Vancouver Giants in 2012-13. . . . “The options right now would be Tyler or Dawson,” Pats head coach Malcolm Cameron told Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post. “I’ll make the ultimate call but all the voices will have a say. (Wapple) hasn’t practised in a couple weeks so it wouldn’t be fair to the rest of the team, nor him, to put that type of burden on him going into Game 3. We have the two guys here and one of them will get the start and win us a game.” . . .

The Wheat Kings didn’t have F Peter Quenneville or D Eric Roy in their lineup for Game 2 in Regina. Quenneville went the distance in Game 1, while Roy didn’t finish that one. . . . In the playoffs, WHL teams aren’t required to provide any information on injuries, thus there isn’t a weekly injury report like the one that goes up on the WHL website during the regular season. . . . When Brandon Sun sports editor James Shewaga asked Kelly McCrimmon, the Wheat Kings’ owner, GM and head coach, about Roy and Quenneville, the response was: “I understand you asking and I know you understand me not answering.” . . .
The Wheat Kings went into Regina and won the first two games against the Pats, who finished atop the East Division. Looking back, the Wheat Kings have won three straight playoff series from Regina. . . . Brandon also is on a five-game winning streak, with four of those victories against the Pats. . . . Apologies to Brandon D Rene Hunter. Last week, I wrote that he is from Roblin, Man. He’s actually from Ebb and Flow. . . . The Pats and Wheat Kings play Wednesday and Friday in Brandon. . . .

If you’re into statistics, you should know that a scoring change has been made to the Seattle Thunderbirds’ second goal in its 2-1 victory over the visiting Everett Silvertips in Game 1 of their first-round series. Originally credited to D Shea Theodore, the goal now belongs to F Ryan Gropp, with assists from Theodore and F Branden Troock. . . .

The Portland Winterhawks take a nine-game winning streak into Game 3 against the Giants in Vancouver tonight. Portland won it’s last seven regular-season games and then won the first two games of their first-round series on the weekend. . . . Portland has won 30 of its last 31 games. . . . In its first two games against Vancouver, Portland held an 88-31 edge in shots on goal in posting 4-3 and 3-0 victories. . . .
Portland D Derrick Pouliot has three points in the first two games of these playoffs. That gives him 44 career playoff points. He is four behind Glen Wesley, who holds the franchise record for career playoff points by a defenceman and one behind Troy Rutkowski, who holds down second spot. . . .

Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province reports that G Jared Rathjen “didn’t skate with the Giants on Monday.” Rathjen, who has been backing up Payton Lee, was struck in the face by a puck while on the bench during Game 2 in Portland on Saturday. According to Ewen, Rathjen took 15 stitches near an eye. . . . Cody Porter, a 16-year-old who played with the BCHL’s West Kelowna Warriors, was on the ice with the Giants on Monday. . . . The Giants also expect to have F Ty Ronning back for Game 3 tonight. He missed the first two games due to illness.
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MONDAY’S GAME:
In  Cranbrook, F Greg Chase scored at 5:05 of OT to give the Calgary Hitmen a wild and crazy 7-6 victory over the Kootenay Ice. . . . The Hitmen lead the series 2-1, with Game 4 in Cranbrook tonight. . . . The teams had combined for 12 goals in splitting the first two games in Calgary. . . . Last night, they alternated goals, Calgary scoring first, until Ice F Jaedon Descheneau, who had six points, scored at 19:47 of the second period for a 5-4 lead. . . . Calgary D Trevor Sanheim tied it again at 5:17, only to have Ice D Jagger Dirk scored his second goal of the game at 11:23 to restore the lead. . . . Hitmen F Radel Fazleev, who had two goals and an assist, forced OT when he scored at 12:00. . . . Calgary F Landon Welykholowa scored twice in the game’s first 23 minutes. He was a healthy scratch in Game 1, got into Game 2 because of suspensions and scored twice, and now leads all playoff goal scorers, with four. The Calgarian, who turned 18 on Jan. 1, had one goal in 18 games with the Victoria Royals this season and none in 16 games with the Hitmen. . . . Calgary F Adam Tambellini had a goal and two assists, while F Mike Winther and F Pavel Padakin each drew two assists. . . . Descheneau added five assists to his goal, while F Sam Reinhart had a goal and four assists, and Dirk had two goals and two assists. . . . The Ice was 5-for-6 on the PP and only five points recorded points. . . . Calgary was 0-for-3 on the PP. . . . Calgary G Chris Driedger stopped 25 shots. Ice starter Mackenzie Skapski turned aside 21, while Wyatt Hoflin, who came on for the last 5:50 of the second period, was 2-for-2. . . . F Joe Mahon was back in Calgary’s lineup after serving a one-game WHL suspension, while F Linden Penner completed his two-game sentence. Both were suspended for Game 1 transgressions. . . . The Ice had veteran D Landon Cross back after he missed six games with an undisclosed injury. . . .
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Jeff Chynoweth, the Ice’s president and general manager, has always loved statistics. Which is the main reason why you are able to find a 165-page franchise record book on the Ice’s website. So thanks to Chynoweth and K.C. Fisher, who compiled the record book, here are some of the records the Ice broke or tied last night.
BROKE
Most goals, two teams (home) -- 13: The record had been 11 (Red Deer Rebels 4 at Ice 7, March 30, 2000).
Most assists -- 5: Descheneau broke a record that had been shared by Zdenek Blatny (vs. Moose Jaw, March 23, 2001); Bret DeCicco (at Moose Jaw, March 28, 2001); Duncan Milroy (vs. Kelowna, April 20, 2002); and Nigel Dawes (at Kamloops, March 29, 2003), each with 4.
Most points -- 6: Descheneau broke a record that had been shared by Blatny (1-4--5, vs. Moose Jaw, March 23, 2001) and Max Reinhart (five goals, vs. Medicine Hat, April 27, 2011).
Most points, defenceman -- 4: Dirk broke a record that had been shared by Scott Roles (1-2, at Calgary, March 24, 1999); Cole Fischer (0-3, vs. Moose Jaw, March 23, 2001); Gerard Dicaire (1-2, at Kamloops, March 29, 2003); Brayden McNabb (three times -- 1-2, vs. Moose Jaw, March 26, 2011; 1-2, vs. Saskatoon, April 12, 2011; 0-3, vs. Saskatoon, April 13, 2011); and Joey Leach (0-3, vs. Portland, May 11, 2011).
Most points, one period -- 4: With a goal and three assists in the second period, Descheneau broke a record that had been shared by Trevor Wasyluk (3-0, 2nd period, at Calgary, March 24, 1999); Nigel Dawes (0-3, 2nd period, at Kamloops, March 29, 2003); Martin Sagat (3-0, 3rd period, vs. Everett, April 9, 2005); Adam Taylor (0-3, 3rd period, vs. Everett, April 9, 2005); Andrew Bailey (2-1, 3rd period, at Lethbridge, April 5, 2008); and Max Reinhart (3-0, 1st period, vs. Medicine Hat, April 27, 2011).
TIED
Most goals, two teams (overall) -- 13: Ice 6 at Kamloops Blazers 7, March 29, 2003.
Most power-play goals by Ice (overall, home) -- 5: Red Deer 4 at Ice 7, March 30, 2000.
Most goals, one game, defenceman -- 2: Dirk tied Matt Walker, who did it against Red Deer on March 31, 2000.
Most assists in one period -- 3: Descheneau tied a record shared by Nigel Dawes (2nd period, at Kamloops, March 29, 2003) and Adam Taylor (3rd period, vs. Everett, April 9, 2005).
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A tweet from Alan Caldwell (@smallatlarge): “PP goals in this series: Kootenay 8, Calgary 1. ES goals: Calgary 13, Kootenay 3. Hitmen dominating at ES, but need to avoid penalties.”
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THE FIRST ROUND (best-of-seven; all times local):
(x - if necessary)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
EDMONTON (1) vs. PRINCE ALBERT (8)
Season series: Edmonton, 2-1-1; Prince Albert, 2-2-0.
Saturday: Prince Albert 3 at Edmonton 5 (6,534)
Sunday: Prince Albert 1 at Edmonton 3 (6,584)
Tuesday: Edmonton at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Edmonton at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
x-Saturday: Prince Albert at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
x-Sunday: Edmonton at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 1: Prince Albert at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Edmonton: F Brandon Baddock, 3-5 weeks; D Blake Orban, indefinite.
Prince Albert: D Graeme Craig, indefinite.
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REGINA (2) vs. BRANDON (7)
Season series: Brandon, 5-3-0; Regina, 3-3-2.
Saturday: Brandon 6 at Regina 3 (6,200)
Sunday: Brandon 8 at Regina 4 (5,014)
Wednesday: Regina at Brandon, 7 p.m.
Friday: Regina at Brandon, 7:30 p.m.
x-Saturday: Brandon at Regina, 7 p.m.
x-Monday: Regina vs. Brandon, at Dauphin, Man., 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 2: Brandon at Regina, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Brandon: F Peter Quenneville, day-to-day; D Eric Roy, day-to-day.
Regina: D Tye Hand, indefinite; G Daniel Wapple, day-to-day.
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CALGARY (3) vs. KOOTENAY (6)
Season series: Calgary, 4-4-0; Kootenay, 4-2-2.
Thursday: Kootenay 5 at Calgary 2 (6,649)
Saturday: Kootenay 0 at Calgary 5 (9,019)
Monday: Calgary 7 at Kootenay 6 (OT) (1,992)
Tuesday: Calgary at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
Thursday: Kootenay at Calgary, 7 p.m.
x-Saturday: Calgary at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
x-Monday: Kootenay at Calgary, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Calgary: F Cal Babych, day-to-day; F Connor Rankin, day-to-day.
Kootenay: F Tim Bozon, indefinite; F Ryan Chynoweth, indefinite; D Tyler King, day-to-day; D Tanner Faith, 3-5 months.
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MEDICINE HAT (4) vs. SWIFT CURRENT (5)
Season series: Medicine Hat, 2-2-0; Swift Current, 2-2-0.
Friday: Swift Current 1 at Medicine Hat 2 (3,512)
Saturday: Swift Current 2 at Medicine Hat 4 (3743)
Tuesday: Medicine Hat at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Medicine Hat at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
x-Saturday: Swift Current at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.
x-Sunday: Medicine Hat at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 1: Swift Current at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Medicine Hat: F Anthony Ast, indefinite; F Gavin Broadhead, day-to-day; F Steve Owre, day-to-day; F Hunter Shinkaruk, indefinite.
Swift Current: None.
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WESTERN CONFERENCE

KELOWNA (1) vs. TRI-CITY (8)
Season series: Kelowna, 4-4-0; Tri-City, 0-3-1.
Saturday: Tri-City 1 at Kelowna 3 (5,827)
Sunday: Tri-City 1 at Kelowna 3 (5,041)
Tuesday: Kelowna at Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday: Kelowna at Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.
x-Friday: Tri-City at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
x-Saturday: Kelowna at Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 1: Tri-City at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
(NOTE: Tri-City plays home games in Kennewick, Wash.)
INJURIES
Kelowna: D Jesse Lees, indefinite.
Tri-City: F Taylor Vickerman, indefinite.
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PORTLAND (2) vs. VANCOUVER (7)
Season series: Portland, 4-0-0; Vancouver, 0-3-1.
Friday: Vancouver 3 at Portland 4 (9,756)
Saturday: Vancouver 0 at Portland 3 (10,947)
Tuesday: Portland at Vancouver, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Portland at Vancouver, 7 p.m.
x-Friday: Vancouver at Portland, 7 p.m.
x-Sunday: Portland at Vancouver, 2 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 1: Vancouver at Portland, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Portland: None.
Vancouver: F Tyler Benson, indefinite; F Jakob Stukel, indefinite; D Dalton Thrower, indefinite; F Ty Ronning, day-to-day.
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VICTORIA (3) vs. SPOKANE (6)
Season series: Victoria, 1-3-0; Spokane, 3-1-0.
Saturday: Spokane 1 at Victoria 2 (OT) (6,615)
Sunday: Spokane 3 at Victoria 4 (OT) (4,629)
Wednesday: Victoria at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
Thursday: Victoria at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
x-Saturday: Spokane at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
x-Monday: Victoria at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 2: Spokane at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
INJURIES
Victoria: None.
Spokane: D Colton Bobyk, week-to-week; F Adam Hascic, day-to-day; F Blair Oneschuk, week-to-week.
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SEATTLE (4) vs. EVERETT (5)
Season series: Seattle, 5-4-1; Everett, 5-4-1.
Saturday: Everett 1 at Seattle 2 (4,650)
Sunday: Seattle 3 at Everett 1 (4,150)
Tuesday: Everett at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
Friday: Seattle at Everett, 7:35 p.m.
x-Saturday: Everett at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
x-Monday: Seattle at Everett, 7:05 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 2: Everett at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
(NOTE: Seattle plays home games in Kent, Wash.)
INJURIES
Seattle: F Connor Honey, indefinite.
Everett: F Kohl Baum, indefinite; F Tyler Sandhu, day-to-day.
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From Kootenay Ice F Tim Bozon (@timbozon94): “Thanks everyone for the bday wishes.”


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.

Driedger's shutout allows Hitmen to even series

Kévin Bozon's medal.

From Kévin Bozon (@kevboz12): “C est pas l'or..dommage, juste une envie maintenant, l amener a mon frère @timbozon94 #silvermedal.”
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From Tim Bozon (@timbozon94): “@kevboz12 congrats to my bro on his silver medal! #proudbrother”
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From the Seattle Thunderbirds (@SeattleTbirds): “Big thanks to fans that did 50/50 raffle at Game 1. T-Birds Foundation able to donate $3,391.50 to Tim Bozon Trust. Way to go!”
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A trust fund has been established to assist the Bozon family with medical- and rehabilitation-related costs with which they now are faced.
You are able to make a donation at any BMO Bank of Montreal branch in Western Canada.
Should you live outside of that area and want to donate, please mail donations to:
Western Hockey League
c/o Tim Bozon
Father David Bauer Arena
2424 University Drive NW
Calgary AB
T2N 3Y9
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If there is any doubt in your mind about whether the Vancouver Giants will bid to play host to the 2016 Memorial Cup tournament, you can forget it.
Ron Toigo, the Giants’ majority owner, told Greg Douglas, who writes a Saturday column for the Vancouver Sun, that his team is all-in for 2016.
Which is just one of the reasons why Toigo really wants his Giants to be competitive in their first-round series with the Portland Winterhawks.
“In order to get the required 11 votes from the league governors to land a Memorial Cup date, ” Toigo told Douglas on Friday, “we have to convince them that as the host team we’ll be competitive enough to be considered a threat to win it. We’ve been building our roster of young talent through the draft these past couple of years with an eye set on 2016.”
The WHL’s board of governors is expected to hears expressions of interest in October.
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This wasn’t a good week for the WHL office.
First, the Edmonton Oil Kings scratched a handful of key players for a Sunday game with the visiting Red Deer Rebels. Without those players, and playing in front of more than 14,000 fans on Fan Appreciation Night, the Oil Kings were beaten, 5-0. That allowed the Rebels to get into a tiebreaker game with the Prince Albert Raiders. On Tuesday, in Red Deer, the Raiders won that game to get into the playoffs.
Then, the Regina Pats, who play second fiddle to the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, so need all the media help they can get, closed an early-week practice as they prepared to open a playoff series with the Brandon Wheat Kings. (WHL commissioner Ron Robison told Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post on Saturday night that the Pats have been fined an undisclosed amount. Too bad some of these disciplinary measures don’t show up on the discipline section of the WHL website.)
And, finally, the WHL announced Friday that if Game 1 between the Raiders and host Oil Kings needed to go past one OT period, it would be decided in a shootout because of building availability issues brought on by the NHL game that was to be played there Saturday night.
The Oil Kings saved the WHL from further embarrassment when they won the game, 5-3.
Earlier in the day Bruce Luebke (@wheatkingsvoice), the radio voice of the Brandon Wheat Kings, tweeted a few suggestions the WHL could consider in lieu of a shootout “when building availability an issue.”
Here they are:
1) Winnipeg minor hockey rule, game replayed entirely if tied after one OT;
2) Two 15-minutes periods of straight time, followed by 20-minutes of stop time;
3) Rock, paper, scissors, lizard, spock;
4) HR derby;
5) Team captains throw pucks from bench toward centre-ice dot curling style. Closest wins!;
6) 3-on-3 half-ice scrimmage;
7) Battle of Hockey Enforcers;
8) Alphabetically;
9) Hardest Shot; and
10) HC's in Sumo suits at centre ice. First takedown wins!!
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Meanwhile, Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff), a former radio voice of the Kamloops Blazers who now works for Team 1040 radio in Vancouver, tweeted: “Have never openly pulled for a shootout. But am today. #WHL playoffs.”
After the game, Paterson followed with: “5-3 final. League dodged big ol' bullet. Would have been a few suits squirming had it gone to O/T.”
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Bruce Luebke, in Regina to call the play of Game 1 between the Pats and the Brandon Wheat Kings, wasn’t impressed with home team early last night.
His tweets:
“The Pats, in their infinite wisdom, have decided not to post scratches and starting lineups until after pre-game warmup tonight.”
“As I understand it, this is another violation of the WHL's policies. I wonder if they'll get a free pass on this one as well.”
“1st time in 21 years of broadcasting WHL games (regular season, playoffs, League Final, Memorial Cup) I can remember this happened.”
---






SATURDAY’S GAMES:
In Edmonton, F Brett Pollock scored two goals in his first WHL playoff game to help the Oil Kings to a 5-3 victory over the Prince Albert Raiders. . . . It was the opener of a first-round series, with Game 2 in Edmonton today. . . . Pollock, who turned 18 on March 17, is from Sherwood Park, Alta. He scored 25 goals in 71 regular-season games. Last season, as a freshman, he had two goals in 40 games. . . . Edmonton F Tyler Robertson broke a 3-3 tie at 19:55 of the second period. He also had an assist. . . . Robertson, a 17-year-old from Sherwood Park, Alta., also was playing in his first playoff game. He had two points in 26 regular-season games. . . . F Curtis Lazar had an empty-net goal and two assists for the Oil Kings. . . . Edmonton took a 3-1 lead in the first period, scoring three times on nine shots and driving Raiders starting G Nick McBride to the bench. Cole Cheveldave came on to stop 32 of 33 shots. . . . Edmonton G Tristan Jarry turned aside 21 shots. . . . The Raiders got a goal from D Brendan Guhle, who also is from Sherwood Park. Guhle didn’t score in 51 regular-season games. . . . Guhle pulled the Raiders to within 3-2 at 18:12 of the first period and F Dakota Conroy tied it at 10:39 on the PP. . . .

In Regina, the Brandon Wheat Kings scored four first-period goals and went on to a 6-3 victory over the Pats. . . . The second game of the series goes tonight in Regina. . . . F Jesse Gabrielle had a goal and two assists for Brandon. . . . Brandon G Jordan Papirny stopped 31 shots. . . . Regina starter Dawson MacAuley was gone after giving up four goals on 10 shots in the first period. Tyler Fuhr came on to stop 23 of 25 shots. . . . Brandon took a 4-0 lead into the second period when the Pats got goals from F Morgan Klimchuk at 3:13 and F Dryden Hunt, on the PP, at 10:51. . . . However, Regina D Ryan Pulock restored the three-goal lead at 16:45. . . . Regina F Connor Gay got his guys to within two at 17:45 of the second. . . . Gabrielle iced it with his goal at 8:19 of the third. . . . Brandon also got goals from the Quenneville brothers, John and Peter. . . . Brandon F Jayce Hawrulyk returned from a four-game WHL suspension to score once and add an assist. . . . The game featured two early picks from the 2013 bantam draft -- F Sam Steel of the Pats, who was taken second overall, and Brandon F Nolan Patrick, who went fourth. . . . Regina F Dyson Stevenson (hand), who led the Pats with 38 regular-season goals, didn’t play. . . . Brandon D Eric Roy didn’t play again after leaving in the second period with an undisclosed injury. . . .

In Calgary, G Chris Driedger stopped 34 shots to help the Hitmen to a 5-0 victory over the Kootenay Ice. . . . It was Driedger’s second career playoff shutout, and allowed the Hitmen to tie the series, 1-1. . . . Games 3 and 4 will be played in Cranbrook on Monday and Tuesday nights. . . . Calgary F Brady Brassart had a goal and two assists. He also was foiled on a second-period penalty shot. . . . F Adam Tambellini also scored once and drew two assists. . . . Calgary F Landon Welykholowa, playing his first WHL playoff game because two teammates were serving WHL suspensions, scored twice, including the winner, at 6:29 of the first period. . . . Welykholowa, who turned 18 on Jan. 1, had one goal in 18 games with the Victoria Royals last season. This season, the Calgarian had four points, all assists, in 16 games with his hometown team. He played most of the season with the AJHL’s Calgayr Canucks. . . . Ice G Mackenzie Skapski stopped 27 shots. . . . The Hitmen were without F Joe Mahon and F Linden Penner, both of whom were suspended by the WHL for Game 1 transgressions. . . . D Tyler King was among the Ice’s scratches. He left in the first period of Game 1 after absorbing a hit from Calgary F Brady Brassart, who was penalized for boarding. . . . The Ice also scratched veteran D Landon Cross as it dressed 16 skaters, two under the maximum. . . .

In Medicine Hat, F Chad Butcher broke a 2-2 tie at 12:11 of the third period and the Tigers went on to a 4-2 victory over the Swift Current Broncos. . . . Medicine Hat leads the series 2-0 as it shifts to Swift Current for games on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. . . . D Tommy Vannelli and F Miles Koules gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead with second-period PP goals. . . . The Broncos tied it on third-period goals from F Jack DeBrusk (7:58) and F Nate Burns (10:35). . . . Tigers F Trevor Cox got an empty-netter at 19:58. . . . Koules and Cox each finished with a goal and an assist, as did DeBrusk. . . . The Tigers were 2-for-4 on the PP; the Broncos were 0-for-3. . . . Tigers G Marek Langhamer stopped 34 shots, one more than the Broncos’ Eetu Laurikainen. . . .

In Portland, G Brendan Burke stopped 15 shots and the Winterhawks scored two power-play goals as they beat the Vancouver Giants, 3-0. . . . That was Burke’s first career playoff shutout and came in his fourth post-season appearance. . . . The Winterhawks take a 2-0 series lead to Vancouver for games on Tuesday and Wednesday. . . . F Nic Petan opened the scoring on the PP at 16:00 of the first period. . . . Portland got second-period goals from F Alex Schoenborn at 5:47 and F Taylor Leier at 7:37, on the PP. . . . Portland was 2-for-9 on the PP; Vancouver was 0-for-4. . . . Vancouver G Payton Lee turned aside 40 shots. . . . Jared Rathjen, Vancouver’s backup goaltender, was struck in the face by a puck while on the bench in the first period and needed some repairs. . . . Portland F Paul Bittner left in the second period, but returned to the bench early in the third. . . .

In Victoria, D Travis Brown scored at 8:10 of OT to give the Royals a 2-1 victory over the Spokane Chiefs. . . . Game 2 is scheduled for today in Victoria. . . . Royals F Ben Walker scored the game’s first goal, at 15:26 of the first period. . . . F Riley Whittingham pulled the Chiefs even at 2:22 of the third. . . . Victoria G Patrick Polivka stopped 26 shots, five fewer than Spokane’s Eric Williams. . . . Spokane was 0-for-5 on the PP; Victoria was 0-for-3. . . . Spokane lost F Keanu Yamamoto in the second period with an undisclosed injury. . . .

In Kent, Wash., G Taran Kozun stopped 37 shots, including 18 in the second period, to lead the host Seattle Thunderbirds to a 2-1 victory over the Everett Silvertips. . . . Game 2 in the series is scheduled for today in Everett. . . . All three goals came via the PP. . . . The Thunderbirds got two first-period goals, from F Russ Maxwell (2:27) and D Shea Theodore (11:44). . . . Everett F Patrick Bajkov scored at 2:43 of the second period. . . . Everett G Austin Lotz stopped 20 shots. . . . Seattle was 2-for-4 on the PP; Everett was 1-for-6. . . . Everett has been in the WHL for 11 seasons; this was the first playoff game between these teams. . . .

In Kelowna, F Rourke Chartier scored twice to lead the Rockets to a 3-1 victory over the Tri-City Americans. . . . The second game in the series will be played in Kelowna today. . . . Chartier opened the scoring at 7:09 of the first period and closed it with an empty-netter at 19:17 of the third. . . . Tri-City F Brian Williams pulled his guys even on a PP just 47 seconds into the second. . . . Kelowna F Myles Bell broke the tie at 17:53 of the second, also on a PP. . . . Each team was 1-for-4 on the PP. . . . Kelowna G Jordon Cooke stopped 32 shots. . . . Tri-City G Eric Comrie, who started just once in four regular-season games against the Rockets, stopped 32 shots.
---
THE FIRST ROUND (best-of-seven; all times local):
(x - if necessary)
(Graphics by Taking Note Graphics Department)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
EDMONTON (1) vs. PRINCE ALBERT (8)
Season series: Edmonton, 2-1-1; Prince Albert, 2-2-0.Saturday: Prince Albert 3 at Edmonton 5 (6,534)
Sunday: Prince Albert at Edmonton, 4 p.m.
Tuesday: Edmonton at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Edmonton at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
x-Saturday: Prince Albert at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
x-Sunday, March 30: Edmonton at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 1: Prince Albert at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Edmonton: F Brandon Baddock, 3-5 weeks; D Blake Orban, indefinite.
Prince Albert: D Graeme Craig, indefinite.
---

REGINA (2) vs. BRANDON (7)
Season series: Brandon, 5-3-0; Regina, 3-3-2.Saturday: Brandon 6 at Regina 3 (6,200)
Sunday: Brandon at Regina, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Regina at Brandon, 7 p.m.
Friday: Regina at Brandon, 7:30 p.m.
x-Saturday: Brandon at Regina, 7 p.m.
x-Monday, March 31: Regina vs. Brandon, at Dauphin, Man., 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 2: Brandon at Regina, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Brandon: G Kord Pankewicz, day-to-day.
Regina: D Tye Hand, indefinite; G Daniel Wapple, day-to-day; F Dyson Stevenson, day-to-day.
---

CALGARY (3) vs. KOOTENAY (6)
Season series: Calgary, 4-4-0; Kootenay, 4-2-2.Thursday: Kootenay 5 at Calgary 2 (6,649)
Saturday: Kootenay 0 at Calgary 5 (9,019)
Monday: Calgary at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
Tuesday: Calgary at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
Thursday: Kootenay at Calgary, 7 p.m.
x-Saturday: Calgary at Kootenay, 7 p.m.
x-Monday, March 31: Kootenay at Calgary, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Calgary: F Cal Babych, day-to-day; F Connor Rankin, day-to-day.
Kootenay: F Tim Bozon, indefinite; F Ryan Chynoweth, indefinite; D Landon Cross, day-to-day; D Tyler King, day-to-day; D Tanner Faith, 3-5 months.
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MEDICINE HAT (4) vs. SWIFT CURRENT (5)
Season series: Medicine Hat, 2-2-0; Swift Current, 2-2-0.Friday: Swift Current 1 at Medicine Hat 2 (3,512)
Saturday: Swift Current 2 at Medicine Hat 4 (3743)
Tuesday: Medicine Hat at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Medicine Hat at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
x-Saturday: Swift Current at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.
x-Sunday, March 30: Medicine Hat at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 1: Swift Current at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Medicine Hat: F Anthony Ast, indefinite; F Gavin Broadhead, day-to-day; F Steve Owre, day-to-day; F Hunter Shinkaruk, indefinite.
Swift Current: None.
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WESTERN CONFERENCE

KELOWNA (1) vs. TRI-CITY (8)
Season series: Kelowna, 4-4-0; Regina, 0-3-1.Saturday: Tri-City 1 at Kelowna 3 (5,827)
Sunday: Tri-City at Kelowna, 5:05 p.m.
Tuesday: Kelowna at Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday: Kelowna at Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.
x-Friday: Tri-City at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
x-Saturday: Kelowna at Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 1: Tri-City at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
(NOTE: Tri-City plays home games in Kennewick, Wash.)
INJURIES
Kelowna: D Jesse Lees, indefinite.
Tri-City: F Taylor Vickerman, indefinite.
---

PORTLAND (2) vs. VANCOUVER (7)
Season series: Portland, 4-0-0; Vancouver, 0-3-1.Friday: Vancouver 3 at Portland 4 (9,756)
Saturday: Vancouver 0 at Portland 3 (10,947)
Tuesday: Portland at Vancouver, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Portland at Vancouver, 7 p.m.
x-Friday: Vancouver at Portland, 7 p.m.
x-Sunday, March 30: Portland at Vancouver, 2 p.m.
x-Tuesday, April 1: Vancouver at Portland, 7 p.m.
INJURIES
Portland: None.
Vancouver: F Tyler Benson, indefinite; F Jakob Stukel, indefinite; D Dalton Thrower, indefinite; F Ty Ronning, day-to-day.
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VICTORIA (3) vs. SPOKANE (6)
Season series: Victoria, 1-3-0; Spokane, 3-1-0.Saturday: Spokane 1 at Victoria 2 (OT) (6,615)
Sunday: Spokane at Victoria, 5:05 p.m.
Wednesday: Victoria at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
Thursday: Victoria at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
x-Saturday: Spokane at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
x-Monday, March 30: Victoria at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 2: Spokane at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
INJURIES
Victoria: None.
Spokane: D Colton Bobyk, week-to-week; F Adam Hascic, day-to-day; F Blair Oneschuk, week-to-week.
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SEATTLE (4) vs. EVERETT (5)
Season series: Seattle, 5-4-1; Everett, 5-4-1.
Saturday: Everett 1 at Seattle 2 (4,650)
Sunday: Seattle at Everett, 4:05 p.m.
Tuesday: Everett at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
Friday: Seattle at Everett, 7:35 p.m.
x-Saturday: Everett at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
x-Monday, March 31: Seattle at Everett, 7:05 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 2: Everett at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
(NOTE: Seattle plays home games in Kent, Wash.)
INJURIES
Seattle: F Connor Honey, indefinite.
Everett: F Kohl Baum, indefinite; F Tyler Sandhu, day-to-day.
---

From Jeff Hollick (@JHollick_ICE), the radio voice of the Kootenay Ice, before Saturday’s game in Calgary: “Already has been a great day for the ICE as all the players & coaches had a chance to Face Time with Tim Bozon this morning.”

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