Nanaimo council calls for referendum on complex . . . Ducks mightier with Steel . . . Cunningham real miracle

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM TAKING NOTE

When it comes to music, I rarely (never!) disagree with my good wife, who plays piano by ear, and when it comes to one of my favourite Christmas songs — Little Drummer Boy — she says this version right here is among the best. It’s Jennifer Nettles and Idina Menzel with . . . Little Drummer Boy. 

And, as a bonus, right here is the late, great Johnny Cash with his version of . . . Little Drummer Boy.

———

F Denis Tolpeko (Seattle, Regina, 2003-06) has been released by mutual agreement by Sochi (Russia, KHL). He had two goals and five assists in 31 games. . . .

F Fredrik Pettersson (Calgary, 2005-07) has been released by Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (Russia, KHL). He had five goals and seven assists in 24 games.

-———

The taxpayers of Nanaimo will be going to the polls, perhaps as early as February, after city council voted 8-1 late Monday night to hold a referendum on whether to go ahead with the construction of a sports and entertainment complex.

Having already spent almost $500,000 on Phases 1 and 2, city council now will spend the money

necessary to hold a referendum.

The complex, which will seat more than 6,400 for hockey, is expected to come in at around $86.6 million.

Tamara Cunningham of the Nanaimo News Bulletin reported that council also “agreed . . . to move ahead on next steps, which includes hiring advisors and an event centre management firm, and directing staff to prepare for an electoral approval process.”

According to Cunningham, “Council unanimously agreed to have staff prepare for an elector approval process for the centre, and decided 8-1 to move ahead with a series of steps on the centre, including negotiate with the Western Hockey League, continue public engagement and hire advisors, architect firm, project manager and professional events centre management firm.”

Of course, the only WHL franchise that is known to be available at this time is the Kootenay Ice. That franchise, owned by the Chynoweth family, plays out of Cranbrook, B.C., and has been for sale since 2012.

Should a referendum be held early enough in 2017 and should it pass, don’t be surprised if the Ice is sold and lands in Nanaimo in time for next season. The team would play in the 2,400-seat Frank Crane Arena, home to the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers, for at least two seasons.

Cunningham’s story is right here.

——

The Anaheim Ducks have signed F Sam Steel of the Regina Pats to a three-year, entry-level NHL

SAM STEEL

contract. The Ducks selected Steel, who went into the Christmas break atop the WHL’s scoring derby, in the first round, 30th overall, of the NHL’s 2016 draft. . . . Earlier in December, Steel attended the Canadian national junior team’s selection camp in Boisbriand, Que. He didn’t make the team and his release was seen as quite a surprise by many observers. Steel, who is from Sherwood Park, Alta., returned to the Pats and recorded six points in two games to move to the top of the scoring table, with 54 points, one more than teammate Adam Brooks and forwards Chad Butcher and Mason Shaw of the Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . According to capfriendly.com, Steel’s contract calls for an NHL salary of US$925,000 each season, with annual signing bonuses of $92,500. Steel’s AHL salary would be $70,000 each season. The contract doesn’t include any performance bonuses.

——

You may recall that the Boston Bruins signed F Jesse Gabrielle, 19, of the Prince George Cougars to a three-year, entry-level deal last week. The Bruins selected him in the fourth round of the 2015 NHL draft. . . . According to capfriendly.com, Gabrielle’s NHL salary would be US$742,500, $742,500 and $817,500, with a $92,500 signing bonus payable each season. Gabrielle’s contract also includes performance bonuses totalling $182,500, $182,500 and $107,500. . . . His AHL salary would be $70,000 in each of the three seasons. 

——

F Craig Cunningham, the captain of the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners, is expected to be released from a Tucson hospital in time for Christmas. Cunningham has been in hospital since suffering a cardiac event and collapsing prior to a home game on Nov. 19. Cunningham played in the WHL with the Vancouver Giants and Portland Winterhawks. He is expected to address the media today in Tucson. . . . Bob McKenzie of TSN has spoken with Cunningham and his mother, Heather, and has more on this medical miracle right here.

——

Canada will be the defending champion when the Spengler Cup begins play in Davos, Switzerland, on Monday. Canada, under general manager Sean Burke and head coach Luke Richardson, will open against Dinamo Minsk. The championship game will be played on Dec. 31. . . . Also in the tournament: Avtomobilist Yekaterinberg, HC Luongo and Mountfield HK. . . . There’s a Hockey Canada news release that includes a roster right here.

———

@WolverinesJrA Gord Thibodeau with #AJHL Head Coaching win 824 tonight. Closing in on the all-time record set by Don Phelps (832). #GT833

— AJHL Commissioner (@AJHLcommish) December 21, 2016

———

DEC. 19-26:

No Games Scheduled.

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.

Card to play in Germany

THE MacBETH REPORT:
G Brian Boucher (Tri-City, 1994-97) signed a one-year contract with Zug (Switzerland, NL A). He had a 2.50 GAA and a .891 save percentage in four games with the Philadelphia Flyers (NHL) and a 2.57 GAA and a .905 save percentage in 16 games with the Adirondack Phantoms (AHL) last season. . . .
D Alex Plante (Calgary, 2004-09) signed a one-year contract with Dornbirn (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). He had one goal and two assists in 49 games with the Oklahoma City Barons (AHL) last season. . . .
F Lance Monych (Brandon, 1999-2005) signed a one-year contract with Esbjerg (Denmark, AL-Bank Liga). He had 16 goals and 15 assists in 13 games with Löwen Frankfurt (Germany, Oberliga) last season. . . .
D Mike Card (Kelowna, 2002-06) signed a one-year contract with Heilbronner Falken (Germany, 2. Bundesliga). He had three goals and eight assists in 45 games with Tingsryd (Sweden, Allsvenskan) last season.
———
More from The MacBeth Report . . .
There are a total of 18 players with WHL ties who have been selected to national junior teams participating in the USA Hockey National Junior evaluation camp tournament in Lake Placid, N.Y., Aug. 4-10. It is a four-team tournament with Canada, Finland and Sweden joining host USA.
Fourteen players from the WHL were selected by Canada: G Eric Comrie (Tri-City), D Ryan Pulock (Brandon), D Dillon Heatherington (Swift Current), D Damon Severson (Kelowna), D Josh Morrissey (Prince Albert), D Derrick Pouliot (Portland), D Mathew Dumba (Red Deer), F Hunter Shinkaruk (Medicine Hat), F Nic Petan (Portland), F Sam Reinhart (Kootenay), F Curtis Lazar (Edmonton), F Brendan Leipsic (Portland), D Griffin Reinhart (Edmonton, not travelling to Lake Placid), and D Morgan Rielly (Moose Jaw, not travelling to Lake Placid). The WHL also has four off-ice selections: head coach Brent Sutter (Red Deer), assistant coach Ryan McGill (Kootenay), equipment manager Steve Hildebrand (Saskatoon), and Bruce Hamilton (Kelowna, part of the team management group).
Finland selected two players for its roster who were chosen by WHL teams in the CHL import draft earlier this month – D Julius Honka (JYP Jyväskylä, chosen by Swift Current) and F Artturi Lehkonen (KalPa Kuopio, Kootenay).
USA Hockey has one WHL player on its roster – F Henrik Samuelsson (Edmonton).
Former Tri-City F Malte Strömwall, who signed a two-year contract with Växjö Lakers (Sweden, Elitserien) in April, was named to Sweden’s roster.
———
The Calgary Hitmen have signed F Beck Malenstyn to a WHL contract. Malenstyn, the 18th overall selection in the 2013 bantam draft, is from Delta, B.C. He played last season for a bantam team at the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton, B.C. He put up 119 points, including 62 goals, in 57 games.
———
THE COACHING GAME:
Luke Richardson has received a one-year extension from the Ottawa Senators as head coach of their AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Senators. . . . Ottawa also agreed to one-year extensions with assistant coaches Steve Stirling and Matt Meacham. . . . All three now are signed through 2014-15. . . . Binghamton was 44-24-1-7 last season, Richardson’s first as a head coach. . . . Stirling is preparing for his four season as an assistant in Binghamton, while Meacham has been moved up from video coach to assistant coach. He has been with Binghamton for five seasons.
———
Rod Aldoff is the new head coach of the SPHL’s Pensacola Ice Flyers. He has spent the past three seasons as the general manager and head coach of the Superior International Junior League’s Wisconsin/Minnesota Wilderness. . . . Aldoff is a native of Lethbridge. He got the Wilderness into the RBC Cup tournament last season. . . . The Wilderness has been around for only three seasons and has a 145-15-8 record in that time.

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.

Former WHLer David Rutherford with the Kelly Cup that he
and his Florida Everblades teammates won on Wednesday night.

THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Filip Novak (Regina, 1999-2002) signed a one-year contract extension with Dynamo Moscow (Russia, KHL). He had two goals and nine assists in 39 games for the KHL champions this season. . . .
D Tomas Slovak (Kelowna, 2001-03) signed a one-year contract with Plzen (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He had one goal and one assist in 31 games for Dinamo Minsk (Belarus, KHL) and was pointless in one game on assignment to Gomel (Belarus, Open League) this season. . . .
F Milan Kytnar (Kelowna, Saskatoon, Vancouver, 2007-10) signed a three-year contract with Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia, KHL). He had one goal and two assists in 13 games with the Oklahoma City Barons (AHL), seven goals and five assists in 17 games with the Stockton Thunder (ECHL), was pointless in one game with the Edmonton Oilers (NHL), and had no goals and three assists in 16 games with HPK Hämeenlinna (Finland, SM-Liiga). . . .
F Robin Soudek (Edmonton, Chilliwack/Victoria, 2009-12) signed a one-year plus option contract with Ceske Budejovice (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He had 27 goals and 30 assists in 65 games with Victoria this season.
———

ROB TRZONKOWSKI

On a day when the NFL’s Denver Broncos acquired FB Chris Gronkowski from the Indianapolis Colts, it was only fitting that the Calgary Hitmen should trade away F Rob Trzonkowski.
Trzonkowski, an 18-year-old from Calgary, was sent to the Kamloops Blazers for a fourth-round pick in the 2014 bantam draft.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Trzonkowski has 16 points and 200 penalty minutes in 111 regular-season games. He was an eighth-round selection in the 2009 bantam draft.
As for Gronkowski, he was acquired for CB Cassius Vaughn. Gronkowski is one of three brothers in the NFL at the moment. Trzonkowski is the only member of his family in the WHL.
———
THE COACHING GAME:
Bliss Littler is the new director of hockey operations and head coach of the NAHL’s Wenatchee Wild. Littler is a veteran coach who has 577 career victories at the junior A Tier 1 and Tier 2 levels in the U.S. He has been coaching for more than 19 years. Most recently, he has been the GM and head coach of the USHL’s Omaha Lancers. In Wenatchee, Littler replaces John Becanic, who resigned last month. . . .
The owners of the NAHL’s Johnstown Tomahawks have signed Jason Spence as the team’s head coach. He is an assistant coach with the ECHL’s Greenville Road Warriors. . . . Spence

played and worked for the ECHL’s Johnstown Chiefs from 2005-10. . . . The owners, according to a news release, named the “new team the Johnstown Tomahawks and unveiled a new team logo and name design that honors the storied history of the Johnstown Chiefs and its home arena made famous in the classic hockey film Slapshot.” . . . The Tomahawks will play out of the Cambria County War Memorial Arena in Johnstown. . . . From the news release: “The team logo and name's color scheme of red, white and blue was created as a tribute to the American war veterans honored and commemorated throughout the War Memorial Arena for their sacrifices and service to our country. The "Tomahawks" nickname was chosen to symbolize the new team's fighting spirit, exciting style of play and good sportsmanship the team and its fans expect from their young players.” . . . Sportsmanship? That means this team won’t include a  future Denis Lemieux. . . . “You do that, you go to the box, you know. Two minutes, by yourself, you know and you feel shame, you know. And then you get free.” . . . Presumably there will be any bounties placed on the opposing Tim McCrackens of the world, either. . . . Hmmm! Wonder how many games the Hanson brothers will attend. . . .
Luke Richardson has been named head coach of the Binghamton Senators, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators. Richardson, a former NHL defenceman, has been an assistant coach with Ottawa for the last three seasons. With Binghamton, he replaces Kurt Kleinendorst, who announced May 8 that he was leaving the organization with expiration of his two-year contract next month. Under Kleinendorst, the B-Sens won the AHL’s 2011 championship. . . .
The BCHL’s Vernon Vipers have signed Jason Read and David Robinson as assistant coaches to work alongside GM/head coach Jason Williamson. . . . Read worked this season with the midget AAA Calgary Royals. . . . Robinson is a former WHL player (Chilliwack, 2007-10) who returned to Vernon to play for the Vipers in 2010-11. He was the team captain as it reached the RBC Cup final. Robinson played this season at the U of Calgary with the Dinos. . . .
The AHL’s Hershey Bears announced Wednesday that head coach Mark French and assistant coach Troy Mann will return for another season. The Bears are affiliated with the NHL’s Washington Capitals. . . .
The ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays have signed head coach Spencer Carberry, 30, to a two-year extension. . . . Carberry is from Victoria and just completed his first season as head coach, after spending a season as assistant coach. He took over from Cail MacLean, who moved to the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat as an assistant coach.
———
The price of rent goes up . . . the price of tickets go up. Such is life in Brandon.
The Wheat Kings and the Keystone Centre announced the signing of a five-year lease agreement that will have the team continue to play in Westman Communications Group Place. The parties had been working on the five-year extension to a 10-year lease, with the extension due to expire on May 31.
"We are pleased to come to this agreement with the Wheat Kings," Neil Thomson, the Keystone Centre’s general manager, said in a news release. "It does mean a significant increase in the revenue for the facility since the last agreement in 1997."
Kelly McCrimmon, the Wheat Kings’ owner and GM, added: "It is true that we are paying much higher rent in our new agreement. However, in our minds we traded that with various factors. One of our goals in these negotiations was to protect our customers from additional fees. The Keystone Centre was looking for more revenue in the deal and spoke at length about increasing agency fees, implementing a new facility fee and even paid parking.
"In our minds, we felt that this would not work out for our fan base. So as a result, those costs were absorbed by us in the framework of this new agreement."
It is expected that the increased rent will help pay for improvements in lighting, seating and sound in the arena.
The Wheat Kings also announced their season-ticket prices, with adult tickets having risen $75 to $425. (Purchase by June 15 and save $25.)
That “equates to a single-game ticket price of just over $12 . . . which represents a saving of close to $8 (based on box office regular admission prices),” reads a news release. “To help illustrate the savings, if one was to purchase tickets for 36 individual games, the price (including agency fees) would be $720. That means, fans will have paid for their season tickets by the 22nd game of the year.”
The Wheat Kings also have gone back to offering Senior season tickets, at $375. Youth tickets (18-and-under) are going for $200.
"Our season ticket base is very important to us," McCrimmon said. "Under terms of our new lease, we will be paying in excess of four times the cost of the previous one and, while this is a positive development for the Keystone, it does significantly increase our cost of doing business."
This season, the Wheat Kings averaged about 4,100 fans per game, with about 3,000 of those being season-ticket holders.
———
F Brandon MacLean scored at 4:54 of OT to give the host Florida Everblades a 3-2 victory over the Las Vegas Wranglers and the ECHL’s Kelly Cup title. . . . Florida won the series, 4-1, to earn its first championship in its 14-season history. . . . The Everblades’ roster included former WHLer David Rutherford, who lost five teeth to a high-stick in Game 1,
———
The Red Deer Rebels and Westerner Park are adding 100 feet of digital LED ribbon signage to the fascia of the newly created lower suite level. According to a news release, “This signage is identical to that found ringing the lower bowl of both the Scotiabank Saddledome and Rexall Place.” . . . Gotta wonder if Cam Moon, the longtime radio voice of the Rebels, will have Major League Baseball scores on the ribbon in season?
———
G Mark Segal, who played in 36 games with the Vancouver Giants in 2009-10 and 55 the next season, has decided to end his competitive hockey career. Segal spent this season with the McGill Redmen, who won the school’s first CIS championship since its hockey program began in 1877. . . . Segal got into 11 games with McGill, going 9-2, .924, 2.27. . . . Segal, who is from Vancouver, has chosen to move to the U of Victoria but doesn’t plan on playing hockey, unless it’s of the intramural variety.
———
The Prince George Cougars have signed F Brett Roulston, a native of Whitehorse, Yukon, who turns 18 on Oct. 15. . . . Roulston played this season with the major midget Cariboo Cougars, who play out of Prince George. He had 36 points, including 16 goals, in 35 games. . . . He has been on the Cougars’ list since March. At one time he was on the Kamloops Blazers’ list, but a recurring back problem caused him to miss the 2010-11 season.

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.