WHL says suit doesn't fit ... Pats get forward from Chiefs ... Benson recovered from surgery

F Justin Kelly (Prince Albert, Spokane, Saskatoon, 1997-2002) has signed a one-year extension with the Bietigheim Steelers (Germany, DEL2). Last season was an injury-plagued one for Kelly, who had five goals and 10 assists in 10 games. In the playoffs, he added four goals and 11 assists in 12 games. . . . 

F Radim Valchar (Portland, Lethbridge, 2007-10) has signed a two-year extension with Csíkszereda Miercurea-Ciuc (Romania, MOL Lisa). Last season, he had 14 goals and 13 assists in 24 games. He led his team in goals and was second in points.

———

A Calgary judge has given the OK for a lawsuit against the WHL and its Canadian teams to go ahead as a class action.

At the same time, Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Robert Hall exempted the WHL’s five U.S. teams.

The lawsuit is asking that teams be required to pay minimum wages and other items such as overtime, back pay and vacation pay for former and present-day players who qualify and choose not to opt out.

The WHL quickly responded on Thursday by issuing a statement.

“This was a procedural decision only and makes no determination regarding the merits of the claim and, in particular, the status of WHL players,” WHL commissioner Ron Robison said in that statement. “The claim fundamentally misunderstands the nature of amateur sport, including major junior hockey. We believe players are not employees but amateur athletes, and we believe our case is strong.”

On Thursday, while certifying the lawsuit as a class action, Justice Hall outlined the eligibility requirements, which are dependent on age and geography.

From Justice Hall’s decision:

The B.C. class is open to “all players who were or are members of a WHL team owned and/or operated by one or more of the defendants located in B.C. at some point, commencing Oct. 30, 2012, and all players who were members of a team who were under the age of 19 on Oct. 30, 2012, but excluding any players who commenced played for a team on or after Feb. 15, 2016.”

The Alberta and Manitoba class may be joined by “all players who were or are members of a team owned and/or operated by one or more of the defendants in Alberta or Manitoba at some point, commencing Oct. 30, 2012 and ending April 18, 2017, and all players who were members of a team who were under the age of 18 on Oct. 30, 2012.”

The Saskatchewan class may be joined by “all players who were or are members of any team owned and/or operated by one or more of the defendants in Saskatchewan, commencing Oct. 30, 2012, and all players who were members of a team who were under the age of 18 on Oct. 30, 2012, but excluding any players who commenced playing for a team on or after April 29, 2014.”

At the same time, Justice Hall exempted the five U.S. teams that play in the WHL.

“I believe it would be inappropriate,” Justice Hall wrote, “for an Alberta court to tell Washington and Oregon how their law should be interpreted and applied in these circumstances. There are actions available in those states, applying their rules of procedure, some of which differ considerably from Canada and Alberta procedures; such as the fact that in Canada a class member is a plaintiff unless he or she opts out, whereas in their jurisdictions a class member is not a plaintiff unless he or she opts in. It would be preferable that actions proceed in Washington and Oregon in respect to the” U.S. defendants.

TSN’s Rick Westhead, who has covered this situation extensively, tweeted yesterday that it’s “worth noting players, either current or former, can join class action lawsuit in secret . . . (without) teams or league knowing they have done so.”

A similar lawsuit brought against the OHL and its teams got the go-ahead from Ontario Superior Court Justice Paul Perell on April 27. The OHL had a 20-day window in which it could appeal, something it chose not to do.

A court hearing involving a lawsuit against QMJHL teams is scheduled for next week in Montreal.

In his statement, Robison pointed out that “our position has been endorsed by governments in the majority of jurisdictions where WHL clubs are located. The provinces of Saskatchewan and British Columbia along with the State of Washington have adopted exemptions to their employment standards acts clarifying that WHL players are amateur athletes. The WHL expects all other provincial and state jurisdictions will also pass similar exemptions in the near future.”

The WHL lobbied heavily for such changes in those jurisdictions. In fact, on Oct. 26, columnist Ian Mulgrew of the Vancouver Sun reported right here:

“The Western Hockey League did not register as a lobbyist before leaning on B.C.’s cabinet to exempt major junior players from the minimum wage law, the provincial watchdog says.”

Erin Beatty, communications director for the B.C. Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists, told Mulgrew that the regulator now is “acting on the potential incident of non-compliance in this case.”

Rob Shaw of Postmedia had reported that, according to Mulgrew, “internal government records, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, indicated aggressive lobbying by the WHL with Premier Christy Clark and Labour Minister Shirley Bond.” Bond is the MLA for Prince George-Valemount.

According to Mulgrew, “It started with a meeting in March 2015. . . . Robison appealed for protection from a class-action lawsuit launched by current and former players seeking minimum wage, holiday pay and other damages from the for-profit league for violating labour standards.”

Mulgrew added: “The direct lobbying effort worked — cabinet quietly passed an order-in-council on Feb. 15, 2016 granting the league the exemption.”

On Thursday, Robison again made the claim that if teams are ordered to pay more to their players, franchises will be in jeopardy of folding.

“Any change to the status of our players as amateur athletes would have major implications to not only the WHL but amateur sport as a whole,” Robison said in the statement. “If WHL clubs were required to provide minimum wage, in addition to the benefits the players currently receive, the majority of our teams would not be in a position to continue operating.”

Robison’s claim means at least 12 of the WHL’s 22 teams would be in danger of collapsing.

——

The Regina Pats have acquired F Koby Morrisseau, 17, from the Spokane Chiefs for a fourth-round WHL

KOBY MORRISSEAU

bantam draft pick in 2019 or 2020. The deal also includes two conditional bantam draft picks.

The Pats also get a conditional fifth-round selection in the 2020 draft, while giving up a conditional third-rounder in 2020.

Morrisseau, who is from Grandview, Man., was the ninth-overall election in the 2015 bantam draft.

Last season, he had a goal and an assist in 22 games with Spokane. In his draft season, he had 39 goals and 22 assists in 30 games with the midget AAA Parkland Rangers of the Manitoba Midget Hockey League.

Morrisseau’s 2016-17 season was cut short by concussions.

He was injured on a check-from-behind during a game against the Portland Winterhawks on Sept. 3 in a preseason tournament in Everett and spent a night in hospital.

Morrisseau returned in time to start the regular season on Sept. 24, but left a Dec. 13 game against the Seattle Thunderbirds following a hard check from D Turner Ottenbreit.

On Jan. 9, the Chiefs announced that Morrisseau’s season was over and that he had been placed on the long-term injured reserve list.

——

The injury-related trials and tribulations of Vancouver Giants F Tyler Benson have been detailed at length

TYLER BENSON

over the past couple of seasons. However, not until seeing an Edmonton Sun on Wednesday while in Jasper, Alta., was I aware that Benson had undergone surgery for a sports hernia last season. Postmedia’s Jim Matheson, a Hockey Hall of Famer who covers the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers, reported that Benson “had surgery to repair (a sports hernia) late this past season.” As Matty added, Benson has “had a cyst on his spine and osteitis pubis, along with the sports hernia, and had a shoulder injury he brought to camp last fall, which ended his chances to play exhibition games.” . . . Benson, who is from Edmonton, was a second-round pick by the Oilers in the NHL’s 2016 draft. He apparently has finished his rehab from surgery and is expected to attend the Oilers’ prospects came in Jasper sometime after next weekend’s 2017 draft. . . . Benson, 19, has played only 63 games with Vancouver over the past two seasons, but has put up 70 points, including 20 goals. The Giants selected him with the first overall pick of the WHL’s 2013 bantam draft.

——

The Seattle Thunderbirds have signed D Luke Bateman, who was a fourth-round pick in the WHL’s 2017 bantam draft. From Kamloops, Bateman won’t turn 15 until Sept. 9. Last season, he had three goals and 23 assists with the bantam AAA Kamloops Jr. Blazers.

——

The arena in which the Seattle Thunderbirds, the reigning WHL champions, play their home games is soon to undergo a bit of a name change. The facility that has been the ShoWare Center since it opened in 2009 will become the access ShoWare Center in the fall. . . . Steve Hunter of the Kent Reporter writes: “England-based access (which used the small letter for its name, which is Italian for access or admission) bought in 2014 California-based VisionOne, Inc., which owned ShoWare.” . . . Hunter reported that “the owners of access agreed to pay $3 million to get the naming rights for 10 years.” . . . The Thunderbirds, as the main tenant, get $50,000 per year under the terms of the naming rights deal. . . . Hunter’s story is right here.

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If you’re a regular here, and even you aren’t, feel free to contribute to the feeding of the Drinnan family by making a donation to the cause. You are able to do so by clicking on the DONATE button and going from there.

BTW, if you want to contact me with some information or just feel like commenting on something, you may email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

I’m also on Twitter (@gdrinnan).

———

Trevor Letowski is the new head coach of the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires, the reigning Memorial Cup champions. Letowski takes over from Rocky Thompson, now the head coach of the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. . . . Letowski, 40, has been Windsor’s associate coach for the past six seasons. Prior to that, he spent six seasons on the coaching staff of the Sarnia Sting.

——
Mike Vellucci is the new head coach of the Charlotte Checkers, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes. Vellucci has been an assistant GM with the Hurricanes through four seasons and will continue in that role, too. . . . With the Checkers, he replaces Ulf Samuelsson, who left after one season to join the Chicago Blackhawks as an assistant coach. . . . Vellucci hasn’t coached since 2012-13 when he was the OHL’s coach of the year while with the Plymouth Whalers. He spent 14 seasons with the Whalers. 

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Giants wheeling, dealing . . . Patrick back Friday? . . . Concussion ends Morrisseau's season

F Robin Kovář (Vancouver, Regina, 2001-04) has been released by the Manchester Phoenix (England, Premier) for financial reasons. He had 39 points, including 18 goals, in 32 games.

———

WHL trades since Dec. 27:

Trades: 25.

Players: 43.

Bantam draft picks: 33.

Conditional bantam draft picks: 6.

(WHL trade deadline is Jan. 10 at 3 p.m. MT, which is 4 p.m. in Brandon and 2 p.m. in Vancouver and Portland).

—

When last I left you, I had written that the Lethbridge Hurricanes, after a number of moves on Monday, had 21 players on their roster, including 12 forwards and seven defencemen. “Obviously, then,” I wrote, “Anholt isn’t finished.”

Shortly after I posted that, Peter Anholt, the Hurricanes’ general manager, acquired F Alec Baer, 19, from the Vancouver Giants for a third-round selection in the 2017 WHL bantam draft.

Baer, from St. Louis Park, Minn., is a list player who signed with the Giants on Feb. 15, 2013.

This season, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound Baer has three goals and 15 assists in 39 games this season, his fourth with the Giants. In 240 career games, he has 44 goals and 61 assists.

Baer is expected to be in the Hurricanes’ lineup on Wednesday when they visit the Edmonton Oil Kings.

——

News 1130 Sports of Vancouver reported Monday night that the Giants “have traded forward Radovan Bondra” to the Prince George Cougars.

According to the radio station, the Giants will get a third-round bantam draft pick and “1-2 players” from the Cougars.

Bondra, 19, is from Trebisov, Slovakia. He is a 6-foot-5, 220-pounder with good offensive skills.

This season, Bondra has 19 goals and 12 assists in 32 games. Last season, as a freshman, had had 30 points, including 15 goals, in 58 games.

The Chicago Blackhawks selected Bondra in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL draft.

The addition of Bondra would the Cougars with three imports, the other two being Russian F Nikita Popugaev, who was acquired last week from the Moose Jaw Warriors, and Dutch F Bartek Bison, who hasn’t played since Dec. 3 due to a concussion.

Vancouver’s other import is Russian D Dmitry Osipov, 20.

——

If things go well at practice this week, F Nolan Patrick could be back in the Brandon Wheat Kings’ lineup on Friday against the visiting Kootenay Ice.

Patrick, who remains the consensus No. 1 pick for the NHL’s 2017 draft, has played only six games this season, none since Oct. 11. He underwent surgery for a sports hernia in July, missed most of training camp, played six games and hasn’t played since.

Kelly McCrimmon, the Wheat Kings’ owner who now is the assistant GM with the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights, told TSN’s Bob McKenzie that Patrick was to take part in a full practice on Monday. “He’ll practise full up this week and he aims to play Friday so long as the rest of the week goes well,” McCrimmon said.

Patrick had four goals and five assists in those six games.

——

You may be wondering how F Nolan Patrick of the Brandon Wheat Kings can be the favourite as the No. 1 selection in the NHL’s 2017 draft despite playing only six games this season. Well, Craig Button of TSN has released his latest rankings — Craig’s List features his top 105 — and he explains why Patrick remains No. 1. That’s all right here.

——

F Koby Morrisseau, 16, has been shut down for the rest of this season by the Spokane Chiefs. He has

KOBY MORRISSEAU

been played on the long-term injured reserve list.

“After further review and consideration with medical professionals and his family, we have decided to shut Koby down for the rest of the (season),” Spokane general manager Scott Carter said in a news release. “His health is our top priority. We wish him the best as he works toward a full recovery.”

Morrisseau, from Grandview, Man., was a first-round selection in the 2015 WHL bantam draft. This season, he had one goal and one assist in 22 games.

Morrisseau has suffered two concussions this season.

The first occurred Sept. 3 in an exhibition game against the Portland Winterhawks in Everett. Morrisseau spent that night in hospital after leaving the ice on a stretcher following a check from behind. Portland F Brett Clayton was suspended for six games as a result of the hit.

Morrisseau was back in time for the start of the regular season on Sept. 24.

He last played on Dec. 13 against the host Seattle Thunderbirds. He needed attention from both teams’ training staffs and left the game following a hard check from Seattle D Turner Ottenbreit.

——

D Luke Reid, a second-round selection by the Victoria Royals in the 2016 WHL bantam draft, has made a verbal commitment to attend North Dakota. Reid, 15, is from Warman, Sask. Reid plays for the Battlefords Stars of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League.

———

A few years ago, a football player to a severe blow to the head while wearing a mouth guard with motion sensors. “The information from those sensors,” according to a piece in The New York Times, “has given researchers a more detailed and precise window into what was happening within the player’s brain in the milliseconds after the hit.” . . . That complete piece, including great video work, is right here. You really need to check this out in order to see just what happens to the brain after a shot to the head.

———

His name is Beck Cold https://t.co/Y5V5i2kJQy

— Chad Balcom (@hawkeyblog) January 9, 2017

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MONDAY’S GAMES:

No Games Scheduled.

——

TUESDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Tri-City at Moose Jaw 7 p.m.

Prince George at Red Deer, 7 p.m.

Calgary at Saskatoon, 7:05 p.m.

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More on Morrisseau . . . Blades to say thanks to Mr. Hockey . . . D-man, goalie move in trades . . . Hitmen sign assistant coach

5 years with out you guys ,We will never forget that ... 07.09.2011#RIP #loko pic.twitter.com/guEisGuwhR

— Sergey Zborovskiy (@BigZborovskiy) September 6, 2016

F Kris Versteeg (Lethbridge, Kamloops, Red Deer, 2002-06) didn’t pass his medical examination and was released by Bern (Switzerland, NL A). Versteeg didn’t play any games with Bern. Last season, with the Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) and Los Angeles Kings (NHL), he had 15 goals and 23 assists in 77 games.

-——

The Spokane Chiefs issued an update on the condition of F Koby Morrisseau on Tuesday:

“The Spokane Chiefs announced today that forward Koby Morrisseau returned to Spokane on Sunday, is doing well and is expected to make a full recovery from an injury sustained in Everett,

KOBY MORRISSEAU

Wash. on Saturday, Sept. 3 versus the Portland Winterhawks.

“Morrisseau, a 16-year-old from Grandview, Manitoba, spent Saturday night in an Everett hospital after being taken off the ice following a check from behind penalty in the third period. Extensive tests and X-rays revealed no fractures or soft tissue damage.

“Morrisseau will remain with the team while he completes a full recovery. No timeline has been set for his return.”

Morrisseau, the ninth overall selection in the 2015 bantam draft, was injured at 13:17 of the third period.

Portland F Brett Clayton was given a checking-from-behind major and game misconduct, and then was hit with a TBD suspension.

The WHL revealed later Tuesday that Clayton has been suspended for six games. Clayton didn’t play in Sunday’s 4-1 victory over the host Everett Silvertips. He will miss Portland’s last three exhibition games and the first two regular-season games.

——

The Saskatoon Blades have announced details of Thank You, Mr. Hockey Day, the special day that is planned in honour of the late Gordie Howe.

It all will take place on Sept. 25, with the Swift Current Broncos to provide the opposition.

For starters, Saskatoon city council has proclaimed the day ‘Thank You, Mr. Hockey Day.’

A private ceremony is scheduled for 9:30 a.m., during which members of the Howe family will watch

The Saskatoon Blades will wear special sweaters that
will be auctioned off to benefit the Gordie Howe
Alzheimers Fund.

as Colleen and Gordie’s ashes are interred at the site of a Gordie Howe statue near the SaskTel Centre.

The Blades then will escort the Howe family to a local bridge that is to be christened Gordie Howe Bridge.

The Blades and the family then will return to the SaskTel Centre, where a tailgate party is to begin at noon in the parking lot.

The doors to the arena will open at 1 p.m. A number of trophies that Howe won during his playing days will be on display in the concourse.

A pregame ceremony, with Hockey Night in Canada’s Bob Cole as the emcee, is to begin at 2 p.m. The game between the Broncos and Blades will start at 2:25 p.m.

The Blades will wear special sweaters during the game. They will be auctioned off with proceeds going to the Gordie Howe Alzheimers Fund.

The Blades also announced that they are teaming up with the Saskatoon Minor Hockey Association to form the Gordie Howe Player of the Year Award.” It will be awarded annually to a player graduating from midget hockey who displays excellence and leadership on and off the ice the way Howe did. The Blades will award a $1,000 scholarship to the winner.

Also on Sept. 25, the 50/50 draw will be operated by the Zone G Saskatoon Red Wings, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Quinn Stevenson Memorial Fund. He was a former Saskatoon Red Wings player who died in a car accident three years ago. His mother, Bonnie, has been instrumental in helping with this process. 

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The Prince Albert Raiders have acquired D Nick Heid, 19, from the Medicine Hat Tigers for a seventh-round selection in the 2017 bantam draft. Heid, from Fridley, Minn., was acquired by the Tigers from the Portland Winterhawks last season. In 2014-15, he was pointless in 17 games with Portland. Last season, he had one assist in two games with Portland and five helpers in 60 games with the Tigers. . . . The Winterhawks dealt Heid to Medicine Hat for a fourth-round selection in the 2017 bantam draft. In that deal, Portland actually reacquired a pick it had sent to Medicine Hat for F Miles Koules.

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The Kamloops Blazers sent a fourth-round pick in the 2018 bantam draft to the Edmonton Oil Kings on Tuesday, getting G Carter Phair in return. . . . Phair, 6-foot-4 and 185 pounds, will turn 18 on Dec.

CARTER PHAIR

15. He was a 10th-round pick by the Oil Kings in the 2013 bantam draft. . . . Phair played most of last season with the SJHL’s Weyburn Red Wings, going 8-4 with three ties, along with a 2.47 GAA and .925 save percentage in 19 games. He recorded two shutouts. . . . The Blazers have added to their goaltending depth and now have four on their roster, the others being starter Connor Ingram, 19; last year’s backup, Dylan Ferguson, who will be 18 on Sept. 20; and Max Palaga, 16, who is from Kamloops and signed last week. . . . The Blazers will lose Ingram later this month, as he heads for camp with the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning. He also may end up playing for Canada’s national junior team in the 2017 World Junior Championship. . . . Phair’s acquisition gives Kamloops one more option. . . . The Oil Kings still have four goaltenders in camp — veteran Patrick Dea, 19, who played in 46 games last season; Boston Bilous, 15, a fourth-round pick in the 2016 bantam draft who has signed a WHL contract; Alec Dillon, 20, who missed most of last season with injuries; and Liam Hughes, 17, who was a seventh-round pick in the 2014 bantam draft. Bilous, of course, isn’t eligible to play full-time this season until his club team has its season end.

——

The Calgary Hitmen have hired Trent Cassan as an assistant coach. He replaces Trent Whitfield, who left after one season to join the AHL’s Providence Bruins as an assistant coach. . . . In Calgary, Cassan joins head coach Mark French, assistant coach Joel Otto and goaltending coach Jason LaBarbera. . . . Cassan, 33, is from Medora, Man. He has been with the SJHL’s Yorkton Terriers. He was the interim head coach for part of 2009-10, the assistant GM/head coach (2010-14) and the GM/head coach (2014-16). Cassan helped the Terriers to the SJHL final four times, and won the franchise’s first RBC Cup in 2014. . . . The Terriers, in turn, have named Casey O’Brien as their GM/head coach. O’Brien, who is from Gloucester, Ont., had been an assistant coach with the Terriers for five seasons. He also was the AGM for the past two seasons.

——

The Edmonton Oil Kings have signed F Carter Souch to a WHL contract. Souch was a fourth-round selection in the 2016 bantam draft. He won’t turn 15 until Oct. 28. Last season, with the bantam AAA Southside Athletic Club Lions, he had 64 points, including 34 goals, in 36 games.

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Ryan Smyth, who played three seasons (1992-95) with the Moose Jaw Warriors, has bought into the AJHL’s Spruce Grove Saints. . . . “The AJHL Saints ownership stake really interested Smyth,” writes Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal. “Owner Darren Myshak, who’s had the club since 2004, also brought in the Leckelt brothers, Dan and Lindsey, who own Silent-Aire, an HVAC and data centre solutions design and manufacturing company, to be owners, and Lindsey knew Smyth from being owner of the senior Stony Plain Eagles, where Smyth played last season.”

Smyth, 40, told Matheson: “We were talking one day and they said, ‘Why don’t you come on board?’ It would be great to learn the business side of things in hockey and there’s no better opportunity than to get involved in junior. The Saints are an important part of the community. This is a stepping stone to learning more about a younger crew of player, after my working with Hockey Canada and their under-18 team.

“That was a great experience, learning the scouting side of things from Scott Salmond and Ryan Jankowski. It was awesome to piggy-back off them. I have a different appreciation for what scouts go through now, for sure. How fired up they are when a player succeeds, or the team.”

Matheson’s complete story is right here.

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Got a tip or some information you feel could be useful to me, feel free to email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

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The USHL’s Lincoln Stars have signed head coach Chris Hartsburg to a two-year contract extension that runs through the 2017-18 season. The team also holds an option on 2018-19. . . . In Hartsburg’s two seasons, they went 18-37-5 in 2014-15 and 33-24-3 last season. . . . Hartsburg was an assistant coach for two seasons (2011-13) with the Everett Silvertips. He is the son of former NHL player and coach Craig Hartsburg, who spent two seasons (2009-11) as Everett’s head coach.

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Crazy stat (hat tip @LLoewen986) the span between #Riders last 5 wins is 668 days... for the #Bombers it's 40 days. #CFL @CFL

— Kevin Jesus (@GlobalJesus) September 6, 2016

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Morrisseau out of hospital, more tests ahead . . . Wheaties sign second-rounder . . . Winterhawks now 3-0-0

D Nikolai Ladygin (Medicine Hat, Tri-City, 2001-02) has signed a one-year contract with Dunaújváros (Hungary, MOL Liga). Last season, with Beibarys Atyrau (Kazakhstan, Kazakh Vysshaya Liga), he had four goals and eight assists in 37 games.

-——

F Koby Morrisseau of the Spokane Chiefs has been released from hospital after being injured during an exhibition game in Everett on Saturday afternoon. . . . A WHL insider familiar with the situation told Taking Note late Monday afternoon that Morrisseau was released on Sunday morning and returned to Spokane. “He will undergo further testing this week, but it appears that everything should be fine after a recuperation period that may be a while,” Taking Note was told. . . . Morrisseau, the ninth overall selection in the 2015 bantam draft, was injured at 13:17 of the third period after being checked by F Brett Clayton of the Portland Winterhawks. After receiving medical attention on the ice, Morrisseau was placed on a backboard, then on a stretcher and taken to hospital. . . . Taking Note was told Saturday night that X-rays were negative. . . . Morrisseau, who is from Grandview, Man., will turn 16 on Oct. 18. He has signed with the Chiefs. . . . Clayton was handed a major for checking to the head — it later was changed to checking from behind — and a game misconduct.

——

F Brett Clayton of the Portland Winterhawks has been served with a TBD suspension for the check that resulted in Spokane Chiefs’ F Koby Morrisseau leaving a game on a stretcher in Everett on Saturday. . . . The WHL also suspended D Dmitry Osipov of the Vancouver Giants for one game after he took a boarding major and game misconduct against the Chiefs on Friday. . . . A WHL player suspended during the preseason will serve the suspension by missing an exhibition game or games. However, if the suspension were to run past the end of the exhibition season, he would miss regular-season games. . . . There are two skaters who will miss the start of the regular season with suspensions left over from last season. F Max James of Tri-City will miss the Americans’ first two games, while F Tyler Wong of Lethbridge is to miss the Hurricanes’ opener.

——

The Brandon Wheat Kings have signed F Ben McCartney, who was a second-round selection in the 2016 bantam draft. From Portage la Prairie, Man., McCartney played last season with the Okanagan Hockey Academy’s bantam prep team, putting up 33 points, including 18 goals, in 23 games.

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Got a tip or some information you feel could be useful to me, feel free to email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

———

SUNDAY’S GAMES:

In Everett, the Portland Winterhawks scored four third-period goals and beat the Silvertips, 4-1. The Winterhawks ran their exhibition record to 3-0-0 after one weekend of play. F Ryan Hughes led the Winterhawks with two goals. . . . The Victoria Royals got two goals from F Jack Walker as they beat the Tri-City Americans, 4-2. . . . The Seattle Thunderbirds scored the game’s last two goals to beat the Spokane Chiefs, 4-3. F Brandon Schuldaus tied the score at 19:18 of the second period and F Scott Eansor won it at 1:04 of the third. Schuldaus drew an assist on the winner. F Alexander True and F Keegan Kolesar had two assists each for Seattle. F Eli Zummack scored twice and added an assist for Spokane, which got a goal and two assists from F Taylor Ross. . . . 

In Kamloops, F Quinn Benjafield had a goal and two assists, while D Luke Zazula drew three assists as the Blazers got past the Kelowna Rockets, 5-2.

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Great news you guys: The OHL is teaching players not to be assholes to women in 2016! https://t.co/IHA0oPZyuW

— Sunaya Sapurji (@sunayas) September 5, 2016

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.

Chiefs player "moving limbs" after being injured . . . No timetable for Patrick's return . . . Heponiemi sharp for Broncos

Our games will never be the same without Norbert Heinzelmann, our score-keeper from day 1. We miss you Norbert #RIP pic.twitter.com/ZJ0XJ9TLgj

— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) September 4, 2016

-——

Kolby Morrisseau signed with the Spokane
Chiefs on May 22, 2015. (Spokane Chiefs photo)

F Koby Morrisseau, the ninth overall selection in the 2015 bantam draft, left the ice on a stretcher at 13:17 of the third period during a game in Everett between his Spokane Chiefs and the Portland Winterhawks on Saturday afternoon. . . . Late Saturday night, Taking Note was told by a source familiar with the situation that everyone was “waiting for concrete info,” but that Morrisseau had been taken to hospital for X-rays and was “moving all of his limbs since he left the ice.” He also had been talking to medical staff as he was taken off the ice. . . . Morrisseau, a native of Grandview, Man., who is to turn 16 on Oct. 18, signed with the Chiefs on May 22, 2015. . . . On Saturday, he was checked, went down and needed immediate attention. Trainers from Spokane and Portland were on the ice immediately and soon were joined by staff from the Seattle Thunderbirds and Everett Silvertips. There also were a couple of doctors and paramedics on the ice. . . . Last season, Morrisseau had 15 points, eight of them goals, with the midget AAA Parkland Rangers. In his draft season, he had 61 points, including 39 goals, in 30 games with the bantam AAA Rangers. . . . F Brett Clayton of the Winterhawks was handed a major for checking to the head and a game misconduct on the play on which Morrisseau was injured.

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F Nolan Patrick, who at this point is the most likely No. 1 selection in the NHL’s 2017 draft, has yet to take part in the Brandon Wheat Kings’ training camp. He had sports hernia surgery in July and is skating under the watchful eye of assistant coach Aaron Rome. . . . “It’s going pretty good,” Patrick told Perry Bergson of the Brandon Sun. “Obviously, you never want to go down with an injury but, for me, it kind of happened at the best time, in the off-season. Hopefully, I won’t miss any games.” . . . Patrick, who was the WHL’s playoff MVP, told Bergson that he was injured in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference final against the Red Deer Rebels on April 27. . . . After the playoffs, Patrick had hoped that the injury would heal with time. When that didn’t work, he underwent surgery. . . . There is no timetable for his return to practice, but he hopes to be ready for Brandon’s season-opener. The defending-champion Wheat Kings open against the host Moose Jaw Warriors on Sept 23. . . . Bergson’s story is right here.

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The Saskatoon Blades have signed G Nolan Maier, who was a second-round pick in the 2016 bantam draft. That is the earliest in the history of the draft that the Blades have selected a goaltender. From Yorkton, the 5-foot-11, 160-pounder played last season for the bantam AA Yorkton Terriers, putting up a 1.54 GAA in 16 games.
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The Edmonton Oil Kings have signed F Ty Gerla to a WHL contract. Gerla, a listed player from Calgary, played last season with the midget AAA Calgary Royals, putting up 23 points, 11 of them goals, in 32 games.

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Got a tip or some information you feel could be useful to me, feel free to email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

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Congratulations to #TwitterlessBrennanSonne on getting engaged. On game day. Proposed at nearby lake to Kaleigh. pic.twitter.com/cpuZvxqNbz

— Mike Benton (@Benton_Mike) September 4, 2016

SATURDAY’S GAMES:

At Everett, F Joachim Blichfeld scored at 1:21 of OT to give the Portland Winterhawks a 3-2 victory over the Spokane Chiefs. Portland F Ilijah Colina had tied the game 2-2 just six seconds into the third period. The game included 17 power-play opportunities — Spokane was 2-for-10; Portland was 2-for-7. F Brad Ginnell, the grandson of the late, great Pat Ginnell, scored his first WHL goal for Portland. . . . G Beck Warm stopped 33 shots to help the Tri-City Americans to a 5-3 victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds. Tri-City F Keltie Jeri-Leon broke a 2-2 at 13:19 of the second period and teammate D Kurtis Rutledge added insurance at 3:34 of the third. . . . F Connor Dewar’s second goal of the game, at 11:17 of the third period on a PP, gave the Everett Silvertips a 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Giants. D Kevin Davis had two assists for Everett. Vancouver got a goal and an assist from F Tyler Benson. . . .

At Red Deer, G Alec Dillon, who missed most of last season due to injury, stopped 20 of 21 shots in the game’s first 33:15 to help the Edmonton Oil Kings to a 4-2 victory over the Prince George Cougars. A 19-year-old from Victoria, the 6-foot-5, 185-pound Dillon got into only seven games last season. F Colton Kehler had a goal and an assist for the Oil Kings. The Oil Kings also got a goal from F Ty Gerla, whose signing was announced prior to the game. . . . F Cael Zimmerman and F Aaron Hyman each had a goal and two assists and D Jackson van de Leest drew three assists as the Calgary Hitmen beat the Red Deer Rebels, 6-4. F Matteo Gennaro added two goals for the Hitmen. The Rebels got two assists from F Austin Schellenberg. Red Deer F Evan Polei left in the first period with an undisclosed injury. Brent Sutter, the Rebels’ GM and head coach, said later that Polei will be out for “a bit.” . . . 

At Regina, Finnish freshman F Aleksi Heponiemi scored twice and added an assist to lead the Swift Current Broncos to a 7-6 OT victory over the Moose Jaw Warriors. Heponiemi has four goals and three assists in his first three exhibition games. F Lane Pederson won the game, at 2:53 of extra time. The Warriors forced OT with third-period goals from F Chantz Petruic, at 12:20, and Luka Burzan, at 18:42. F Noah Gregor and F Nikita Popugaev each had a goal and three assists and D Dmitri Zaitsev had three assists for the Warriors. Moose Jaw F Ryan Bowen left after apparently suffering a leg injury in the second period. . . . The Regina Pats scored the game’s last four goals, the last two into an empty net, as they beat the Saskatoon Blades, 4-1. F Nick Henry had a goal and two assists for Regina, with F Sam Steel getting two assists. Saskatoon G Nolan Maier, who signed earlier in the day, stopped 37 shots in his debut. . . .

At Kelowna, the Rockets built up a 5-1 lead and hung on for a 6-5 victory over the Victoria Royals. F Kole Lind’s empty-net goal, at 19:35 of the third period, gave the home side a 6-4 lead. Victoria got a goal from F Arjun Atwal at 19:41. F Jake Kryski and F Calvin Thurkauf each scored twice for Kelowna. F Dante Hannoun, who had three goals in Kamloops on Friday, had a goal and two assists for the Royals, with D Ralph Jarratt earning three assists. . . .

At Taber, Alta., the Lethbridge Hurricanes built a 3-0 second-period lead but needed a goal from F Colton Kroeker at 14:07 of the third period for a 4-3 victory over the Medicine Hat Tigers. F Tyler Wong scored twice for Lethbridge. F James Hamblin had a goal and an assist for the Tigers.

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Experienced the worst chirp of my life. Playing a team from France Skating to bench a player yells "hey Rabbit, Want a carrot?" 😬😊 #yawn

— Wacey Rabbit (@WaceyRabbit20) September 3, 2016

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Rockets drop opener to Remparts . . . Lowry on Sharks' radar . . . Hiller on move

F Chet Pickard (Tri-City, 2005-09) signed  one-year-plus-option contract with RHW Iserlohn Roosters (Germany, DEL). This season, with Odense (Denmark, Metal Ligaen), he was 2.65 and .909 in 36 games. . . .
F Martin Cibák (Medicine Hat, 1998-2000) signed a one-year contract with Zlín (Czech Republic, Extraliga). This season, with Olomouc (Czech Republic, Extraliga), he had 11 goals and nine assists in 48 games. . . .
F Tyler Mosienko (Kelowna, 2000-05) signed a one-year extension with the Sheffield Steelers (England, UK Elite). This season, he had 26 goals and 37 assists in 60 games.
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As you no doubt are aware, the games began at the Memorial Cup in Quebec City last night. . . . The host Quebec Remparts dumped the WHL-champion Kelowna Rockets, 4-3, before 9,497 fans. . . . In each of the last six tournaments, the host team had lost its opener. . . . The Remparts outchanced the Rockets and, at one point, held a 2-0 lead that could just as easily have been 5-0, but not for some solid play by Kelowna G Jackson Whistle. . . . A key part in this game occurred as the buzzer sounded to end the second period. The Remparts held a 2-1 lead at the time, with Kelowna F Nick Merkley having scored a shorthanded goal at 17:56 of the second period to get the Rockets to within a goal. . . . There was some milling around, some pushing and shoving, at the buzzer and the referees chose to slap misconducts on Kelowna F Leon Draisaitl and Quebec F Marc-Olivier Roy, both of whom are NHL draft picks of the Edmonton Oilers. That took Draisaitl, the WHL’s playoff MVP and Kelowna’s most-dangerous player, off the ice for the first half of the third period. . . . The Rockets didn’t do much offensively with Draisaitl off and, in fact, gave up a shorthanded goal to Quebec F Ryan Graves at 2:08 for a 3-1 Remparts lead. . . . Draisaitl came back and later scored the game’s last goal, on a PP, at 19:24. . . . The Rockets took 44 of the game’s 70 penalty minutes. If they are to win this tournament, they are going to have to stop giving the referees the option to make some of those calls. . . . The Rockets were 2-for-6 on the PP, but gave up that shorthanded goal. . . . Quebec was 0-for-5 on the PP. . . . Quebec G Zach Fucale stopped 26 shots, one fewer than Whistle. . . . Kelowna was 30-for-58 on faceoffs, and that was with Draisaitl struggling — he was 13-for-29. . . . Rockets D Madison Bowey had a game-high six shots, but he can play a lot better than he did. He fought the puck for a good part of this one. . . . The Rockets don’t play again until Monday, so will have some time to think about the loss.
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Here is the Memorial Cup schedule (all games on Sportsnet; all times Eastern):
Friday: Kelowna 3 vs. Quebec 4 (9,497)
Saturday: Rimouski vs. Oshawa, 4:30 p.m.
Sunday: Quebec vs. Oshawa, 4:30 p.m.
Monday: Rimouski vs. Kelowna, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday: Oshawa vs. Kelowna, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday: Quebec vs. Rimouski, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday: Tiebreaker, if necessary, 7:30 p.m.
Friday: Semifinal, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 31: Championship game, 7 p.m.
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An interesting note from Doyle Potenteau of the Kelowna Daily Courier, who is in Quebec City:
“The Colisée Pepsi is a wonderful, albeit aging, rink, one filled with
history. Located steps away is the city’s newest construction site, the home of Videotron Centre, an 18,482-seat arena that fans in this hockey-mad market hope will soon be home to an NHL team. And steps away from the Videotron Centre is Pavillon de la Jeunesse, a small but outstanding rink of which some WHL teams would be envious. The rink seats 5,000, has a low roof and an ice surface that, with the touch of a button, can be expanded from NHL to Olympic size in only eight minutes. If that sounds crazy, here’s something really crazy: The rink doesn’t have a main tenant, and, according to staff, is mostly used for cultural events.”
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Those of us on the outside really have no idea how serious a contender Dave Lowry is for the head-coaching position with the NHL’s San Jose Sharks. But if you believe that where there’s smoke, there’s fire, the Victoria Royals head coach very well may be in the hunt. . . . It could be that someone like Randy Carlyle or Peter DeBoer will replace Todd McLellan. But, hey, it could be Lowry, who played 143 games with the Sharks back in the day. . . . David Pollak of the San Jose Mercury News has more right here. . . . “I tried reaching Lowry through the Royals’ media relations director,” Pollak writes, “only to be told Lowry and Royals general manager Cam Hope — who indicated he thought the moment his coach would get a shot at an NHL job was getting closer — weren’t interested in talking any more about the subject. That, of course, only adds to Lowry’s viability as a serious candidate.”
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The Spokane Chiefs have signed F Koby Morrisseau, who was the ninth overall selection in the WHL’s 2015 bantam draft. Morrisseau, 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds, is from Grandview, Man. He had 61 points, including 39 goals, with the Parkland Rangers, who play in the West Division of the Winnipeg bantam AAA league. . . . The Chiefs had two first-round selections in the 2015 draft. Earlier, they signed D Ty Smith, who was the draft’s first overall selection.
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THE COACHING GAME:

The QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs have signed Danny Flynn to a three-year contract as head coach. Flynn, 57, spent this season as an assistant coach with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. . . . Flynn, a veteran of the coaching wars, spent six seasons (2007-13) as head coach of the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats, guiding them to the 2010 championship. Flynn replaces Ross Yates, the head coach for the past two seasons.
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Ansar Khan, who covers the Detroit Red Wings for MLive.com, reported Friday afternoon that former WHL coach Jim Hiller will be joining the Toronto Maple Leafs coaching staff. . . . Hiller, 46, coached in the WHL with the Chilliwack Bruins (remember them?) and Tri-City Americans. This season, he was an assistant coach under Mike Babcock with the Red Wings. . . . In Detroit, Hiller was responsible for the PP, which was the second most-prolific in the NHL.
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Happy 63rd b'day to former 2-way winger Rich Preston who notched 31 goals in 79-80, his 1st NHL season following WHA. pic.twitter.com/a51aJ6LEme

— O-Pee-Chee Stars (@opeecheestars) May 22, 2015

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