THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Clinton Pettapiece (Tri-City, Medicine Hat, 2003-06) signed a one-year contract with the Dordrecht Lions (Netherlands, Eredivisie). He had 11 goals and 31 assists in 26 games with Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (ACAC) this season. Pettapiece finished third in scoring and led the league in assists. . . .


F Lynn Loyns (Spokane, 1997-2001) signed a one-year contract with the Nottingham Panthers (England, UK Elite). He had two goals and four assists in 14 games with the Ravensburg Towerstars (Germany, 2. Bundesliga) this season. . . .

G Tomas Vosvrda (Medicine Hat, 2007-08) signed a two-year contract with Olomouc (Czech Republic, 1. Liga) after signing a tryout contract on Monday. He had a 3.38 GAA and a .890 save percentage in 11 games with Liberec (Czech Republic, Extraliga) before being assigned on loan to Benatky nad Jizerou (Czech Republic, 1. Liga), where he posted a 2.59 GAA and a .904 save percentage in 30 games.
———

1. Police in Riga, Latvia, confirmed Saturday that it was the body of former Edmonton Oil Kings F Kristians Pelss that was found in the Daugava River on Friday. Pelss had finished this season with the Oklahoma City Barons, the Edmonton Oilers’ AHL affiliate. The Oilers had selected him in the seventh round of the NHL’s 2010 draft. . . . Joanne Ireland of the Edmonton Journal has more right here. . . . Dave (Crash) Cameron of the Edmonton Sun has memories right here.

2. If you were wondering, Mitch Love has one year left on his contract as an assistant coach with the Everett Silvertips. Love told me via text on Saturday that he is “definitely looking forward to learning a ton from KC.” . . . That would be head coach Kevin Constantine, not Harry Wayne Casey of KC and the Sunshine Band fame.

3. The Syracuse Crunch is taking the AHL final for the Calder Cup back home. The Crunch dumped the host Grand Rapids Griffins 5-2 on Saturday night. The Griffins still lead the best-of-seven series 3-2 with Game 6 scheduled for Tuesday night at the War Memorial in Syracuse. . . . Former WHLers Brett Connolly and Tyler Johnson each scored for the Crunch, while F Triston Grant had a goal for Grand Rapids.

4. Annie Fowler of the Tri-City Herald reports that sophomore F Parker Bowles of the Tri-City Americans isn’t likely to play until at least mid-November after undergoing shoulder surgery on May 30. Bowles, who had 44 points, including 21 goals, as a freshman, finished the season with a left shoulder that kept popping out of place. “It just kept popping out and it would go back in by itself,” Bowles told Fowler. “It was too loose and had to be repaired.” . . . Bowles is expected at Tri-City’s training camp late in August, but isn’t expected to be cleared to play until sometime in November.

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Patrik Vrana (Moose Jaw, Prince George, 2006-07) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Polonia Bytom (Poland, 1 Liga) after being released by Vsetin (Czech Republic, 2. Liga) for financial reasons. He started the season with Sumperk (Czech Republic, 1. Liga), where he had one goal in nine games, before transferring to Vsetin, where he had one goal and five assists in 12 games. . . .

F Dylan Gyori (Tri-City, 1994-99) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Dresdner Eislöwen (Germany, 2. Bundesliga) after his release by the Hannover Indians (Germany, 2. Bundesliga). He had one goal and three assists in seven games with the Indians. . . .

D Brent Sopel (Saskatoon, Swift Current, 1992-97) was traded by Metallurg Novokuznetsk (Russia, KHL) to Salavat Yulaev Ufa (Russia, KHL) for "monetary compensation." Metallurg is out of the playoffs and Salavat Yulaev have clinched a playoff spot. Both teams have four games left in the regular season. Sopel had four goals and six assists in 47 games with Metallurg this season. A short message from Sopel thanking the fans of Metallurg is right here. Unfortunately, it is overdubbed in Russian. . . .

G Tyson Sexsmith (Vancouver, 2004-09) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Bolzano (Italy, Serie A) after his release by Metallurg Novokuznetsk (Russia, KHL). He had a 3.28 GAA and a .873 save percentage in four games with Metallurg this season. Bolzano has three regular-season games left and currently sits in first place in Serie A Master Round. Sexsmith replaces Czech G Tomas Duba, who left Bolzano to sign with Krefeld Pinguine (Germany, DEL) two weeks ago. . . .

D Shaone Morrisonn (Kamloops, 1999-2002) was traded by Spartak Moscow (Russia, KHL) to CSKA Moscow (Russia, KHL) for "monetary compensation." He had one goal and three assists in 44 games for Spartak. Spartak also is out of the playoff race while CSKA has clinched a playoff spot with four games left for each team. You can see pictures of Morrisonn being welcomed to CSKA by general manager Sergei Fedorov right here. . . .

D Jordan Henry (Moose Jaw, Red Deer, 2003-07) signed a contract for the rest of this season with HPK Hämeenlinna (Finland, SM-Liiga). Henry started the season on a tryout contract with Södertälje (Sweden, Allsvenskan), where he had one goal and one assist in seven games. After his release form the try-out, he signed with the Stockton Thunder (ECHL) and was loaned to the Oklahoma City Barons (AHL) on a tryout five days afterwards. Henry had two assists in 20 games with the Barons but was released from his tryout loan and returned to Stockton on Jan. 21. He played two games with the Thunder and had two assists. . . .

F Lynn Loyns (Spokane, 1997-2001) was granted his release by the Ravensburg Towerstars (Germany, 2. Bundesliga) for personal reasons. He had two goals and three assists in 12 games for the Towerstars this season. . . .

F Ned Lukacevic (Spokane, Swift Current, 2001-06) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Aalborg (Denmark, AL-Bank Liga) after a successful tryout. He did not play any games during his tryout period; he just participated in practices and training sessions. Lukacevic was pointless during a two-game try-out with Eispiraten Crimmitschau (Germany, 2. Bundesliga) and had three goals and eight assists in 15 games with Banska Bystrica (Slovakia, Extraliga) earlier this season.
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The Tri-City Americans are expected to have a pair of prospects make their WHL debuts tonight in Everett against the Silvertips. . . . D Parker Wotherspoon, the Americans’ first-round selection in the 2012 bantam draft, and F Justin Marreck, who has been on the Americans’ list for two years, have been brought in for the weekend. . . . Wotherspoon, the younger brother of Portland Winterhawks D Tyler Wotherspoon, plays for the major midget Fraser Valley Hawks. . . . Marreck, 16, plays for the major midget Okanagan Rockets. . . . Both plays also are to play Saturday when the Americans are to meet the Seattle Thunderbirds in Kent, Wash., and then return to their club teams.
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The WHL has suspended D Joel Edmundson of the Kamloops Blazers for four games, while Tri-City Americans F Tyson Dallman has been hit with a three-game sentence. . . . Both suspensions are the result of infractions in Wednesday games. . . . Edmundson received a headshot major and game misconduct for an open-ice hit on Portland Winterhawks F Adam De Champlain, who left the game afer the first-period hit and didn’t return. . . . Dallman was given an interference major and game misconduct after a collision with Prince George Cougars G Brett Zarowny, who also left the game.
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THURSDAY’S GAMES:
In Red Deer, F Turner Elson and F Ryhse Dieno each had two goals to lead the Rebels to a 6-2 victory over the Kootenay Ice. . . . Dieno also had two assists, while Elson had one. . . . Dieno has 33 points, including 17 goals, since joining the Rebels from the SJHL’s La Ronge Ice Wolves. . . . Ice F Sam Reinhart scored his 27th goal as he ran his point streak to 15 games. . . . With F Joel Hamilton having suffered an undisclosed injury in practice Wednesday, the Rebels brought in F Vukie Mpofu, a fourth-round pick in the 2011 bantam draft. Mpofu has 55 points in 34 games with the midget AAA Saskatoon Contacts. That’s good for second place in the league scoring race. . . .

In Kelowna, the Rockets scored the game’s first four goals, three of them in the first period, and went on to a 6-1 victory over the Victoria Royals. . . . F Tyson Baillie scored the game’s first and last goals, giving him 18. . . . The Rockets ran their home-ice winning streak to 22 games. The franchise record (24) is held by the 1994-95 Tacoma Rockets. . . . Kelowna F Dylen McKinlay had two assists in his 300th regular-season game. . . . With the victory, the Rockets became the second WHL team to clinch a playoff spot this season.


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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Lynn Loyns (Spokane, 1997-2001) signed a contract for the rest of this season with the Ravensburg Towerstars (Germany, 2. Bundesliga) after a successful tryout. He had one goal and one assist in four games during the tryout. The club said in its press release that Loyns "impressed the management and head coach Petri Kujala with his skill and vision, despite the lack of an acclimatization period and game experience."
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On Dec. 30, 1986, the Swift Current Broncos boarded their bus and headed to Regina for a game with the Pats.
They never arrived as the bus crashed just outside the city and four players died.
As the Broncos’ website points out right here, “We will never forget.”
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A story at nflconcussionlitigation.com begins:
“The number of former players suing the NFL continues to grow by the week. In the month of December alone, more than 70 players joined the NFL Concussion Litigation Club.
“The number of former players suing the NFL has eclipsed 4,000. There are approximately 12,000 living, former players. More than 1/3 of all players to ever sign an NFL contract are now taking on the shield, seeking a piece of that $9.5 billion pie the former players helped create.”
That complete story is right here.
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Mark Morris of the Kansas City Star reports that Neil Smith, 46, a former Kansas City Chiefs defensive end, has joined in by filing a lawsuit against the NFL, “alleging it has not done enough to prevent the brain injuries from which he now suffers.”
According to Morris, Smith contends in his lawsuit that “because of repeated and misdiagnosed concussions he suffers from ‘permanent and debilitating injuries,’ including loss of memory, ‘cognitive impairment’ and early-onset dementia.”
The lawsuit contends that Smith once suffered three concussions, “all of which were improperly and treated,” in one game in 1988.
That story is right here.
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Vancouver journalist Bob Mackin, the author of Red Mittens and Red Ink: The Vancouver Olympics, is not missing the NHL. Why not? He provides 10 reasons right here.
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And now for your reading enjoyment here is Gene Collier of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette with his 29th annual awarding of the Trite Trophy. If you are a sports fan who reads, listens and watches, you won’t want to miss this look at the mis-language of sports. It’s right here.
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The Regina Pats are back down to the maximum three 20-year-olds following the retirement Sunday of D Alex Theriau. . . . Theriau, from Duncan, B.C., missed the early part of the season after undergoing offseason hip surgery. He was with the Medicine Hat Tigers at the time, but was released as they got down to three 20s. He was picked up by the Pats and played in 16 games. . . . A news release from the Pats states that playing those games “aggravated Theriau’s hip and will force Alex to end his junior career in order to heal and pursue professional and CIS opportunities next season.” . . . Theriau had four points with the Pats and finishes his WHL career with 66 points, 11 of them goals, and 206 penalty minutes in 267 games. . . . The Lethbridge Hurricanes selected Theriau sixth overall in the 2007 bantam draft. . . . The Pats would have been forced into a move because the return of D Colton Jobke left them with four 20s, the other two being G Matt Hewitt and F Lane Scheidl.
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SUNDAY’S GAMES:
In Kelowna, F Myles Bell scored two first-period goals and the Rockets went on to a 5-1 victory over the Everett Silvertips. . . . Kelowna has won 14 straight games at home and now is just two points behind the idle Kamloops Blazers, who lead the B.C. Division. . . . Overall, the Rockets have won 14 of 16. . . . The Rockets had F Colton Sissons, their captain, back in the lineup after he missed a month — 10 games — with a concussion. He scored once. . . . Kelowna G Jordon Cooke returned from a foot injury to stop 18 shots. . . . Everett F Ryan Harrison played in his 300th regular-season game and got to do it in his hometown. . . .

In Regina, F Chandler Stephenson had two goals and four assists as the Pats whipped the Saskatoon Blades, 6-2. . . . Regina built up a 6-0 lead in the second period. . . . Stephenson has eight points in three games since returning from a skate cut. He missed 26 games with that injury. . . . Regina F Morgan Klimchuk added a goal and four assists. . . . The Pats had only five players with at least a point. . . . Regina was 4-for-7 on the PP. . . . The Pats were without F Marc McCoy (knee), who had two goals in Saturday’s 5-1 victory in Moose Jaw. . . . The Blades had beaten the Pats four straight times this season, including 9-0 and 7-0 in the last two meetings. . . . It was something of a lost weekend for the Blades, who lost both ends of a Friday-Saturday home-and-home series with the Prince Albert Raiders. . . .

In Red Deer, F Michael Ferland scored at 13:08 of the third period to give the Brandon Wheat Kings a 6-5 victory over the Rebels. . . . Ferland, 20, was playing in his second game with Brandon after being reassigned by the NHL’s Calgary Flames. . . . The Wheat Kings, with four 20-year-olds on their roster, sat F Nick Buonassisi. . . .

In Vancouver, F Trevor Cheek scored three times to help the Giants to an 8-4 victory over the Prince George Cougars. . . . Vancouver had lost its last four games. . . . The Giants got three assists from each of F Dalton Sward and F Anthony Ast. . . . Cheek, who scored twice in the second half of the second period and again in the third, has 16 goals. . . . The Giants broke a 3-3 tie by scoring five of the game’s last six goals. . . . F Troy Bourke had two goals and an assist for the Cougars. . . . Vancouver F Taylor Vickerman was ejected at 3:00 of the third period with a major for kneeing.
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CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
F Brenden Walker, Saskatoon
D Luke Fenske, Regina
D Ryley Miller, Brandon
F Quintin Lisoway, Brandon

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
None
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From Singh Sports News (@SinghSportsNews): “Did you know: Justin Morneau played 1 preseason game as a goaltender for the Portland Winter Hawks of the WHL”



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.

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Lynn Loyns (Spokane, 1997-2001) signed a try-out contract with the Ravensburg Towerstars (Germany, 2. Bundesliga). He had one goal and one assist in nine games with Villach (Austria, Erste Bank Liga) and three goals and four assists in 35 games with Dusseldorf (Germany, DEL) last season. . . .
D Logan Stephenson (Try-City, 2001-06) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Sparta Sarpsborg (Norway, GET-Bank Ligaen), six days after his release by Karlskrona (Sweden, Allsvenskan). He had one assist in 21 games with Karlskrona. Stephenson played in the Get-Bank Ligaen last season with Vålerenga Oslo, getting eight goals and 15 assists in 28 games. . . .
F Kevin Saurette (Regina, 1997-99) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Belfast Giants (Northern Ireland, UK Elite) after obtaining his release from Kaufbeuren (Germany, 2. Bundesliga). He leaves Kaufbeuren as the team's leading scorer so far this season with 10 goals and 16 assists in 25 games.
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A news release from CBC-TV regarding a show that everyone who is involved in sports should watch. . . .
“Are hockey and football players risking brain damage from repeated blows to the head? The Passionate Eye presents the World Premiere of HEAD GAMES, from acclaimed director Steve James (Academy Award-nominated Hoop Dreams, The Interrupters). The documentary is a wake-up call for parents and athletes who think concussions are just part of the game. Told through the personal stories of professional and amateur athletes who share their struggles in dealing with the devastating and long-term effects of concussions, and medical experts who want to reduce the risks to young players.
“HEAD GAMES is a revealing documentary about the concussion crisis, an epidemic fueled by the ‘leave everything on the field’ culture so prominent in North American sports. Inspired by events from the book 'Head Games' written by former Ivy League Football Player and WWE Wrestler Christopher Nowinski, the film contrasts the latest evidence and cutting-edge science on head trauma from the nation's leading medical experts with first-hand accounts from the athletes, coaches, and parents who must tread the difficult balance between sports excellence and basic self-preservation.
“Former National Hockey League player Keith Primeau reveals his struggles with the multiple concussions that forced him into early retirement. Former Olympian and U.S. professional soccer player Cindy Parlow Cone, who lives with the aftermath of concussion, is an example of the risk of head injury for young soccer players, especially female players, who are at greater risk from heading the ball.
“Featured in the film is the research of the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston University. Their latest findings, released last week, identified four stages of a degenerative disorder in the brains of some deceased athletes, including NHL players. It offers a glimpse into the potential long-term impact of brain injuries for athletes. And, earlier this week, a new Canadian study suggested that restrictions on bodychecking in minor hockey could help reduce injuries.
“HEAD GAMES will expose viewers to one of the leading public health issues of our time, raising the question: ‘How much of you are you willing to lose for a game?’ ”
It is scheduled to be shown Saturday, Dec. 22, on the CBC News Network beginning at 4 p.m. PT (7 p.m. ET).
If you can’t be home to watch it, record it. Just don’t miss it.
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THE COACHING GAME:
The OHL’s Peterborough Petes fired head coach Mike Pelino on Thursday. Assistant coach Jody Hull, a former NHLer, has taken over as head coach for the rest of this season. The Petes were 55-102-14 under Pelino, who is a former Spokane Chiefs assistant coach (1997-99). . . . Earlier in the season, the Petes fired general manager Dave Reid. . . . Peterborough (8-23-4) has the OHL’s poorest record and is 14 points out of a playoff spot.
Mike Davies of the Peterborough Examiner spoke with Pelino, who really opens up about what happened. I have a feeling that Pelino’s quotes could belong to just about any major junior coach who gets fired during a season. That piece is right here.
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F Keegan Iverson and F Dominic Turgeon of the Portland Winterhawks will play for the U.S. at the U17 World Hockey Challenge in Drummondville and Victoriaville, Que., Dec. 28 through Jan. 4. . . . Iverson has four goals and four assists in 26 games. Turgeon, the son of former NHLer Pierre Turgeon, has one goal and two assists in 28 games. . . . They are the only two CHL players on the U.S. roster. . . . This means the Winterhawks will have had seven players off their roster involved in international play this month. . . . F Ty Rattie and D Tyler Wotherspoon will play for Canada in the World Junior Championship, while D Seth Jones is certain to be on Team USA. . . . Earlier in the month, F Oliver Bjorkstrand (Denmark) and D Layne Viveiros (Austria) played in the IIHF’s Division I Group A World Junior Championship in Amiens, France.
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Meanwhile, Jeff Z. Klein of The New York Times profiles Portland D Seth Jones right here. It seems the kid’s pretty good at basketball, too.
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From former Brandon Wheat Kings F Jordin Tootoo (@Jtootoo22): “2 yrs today I became a sober man. How time flys when you enjoy life to the fullest everyday. Thank you for all your support. #onedayatatime”

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.

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Dan DaSilva (Portland, 2002-05) was released by mutual agreement by Lev Poprad (Slovakia, KHL). He had one assist in 15 games this season with Poprad. . . .
F Justin Mapletoft (Red Deer, 1996-2001) was released by the Schwenninger Wild Wings (Germany, 2.Bundesliga). He had six assists in 14 games for the Wild Wings this season. . . .
After the first day of his tryout, F Lynn Loyns (Spokane, 1997-2001) has signed a contract  with the DEG Metro Stars Dusseldorf (Germany, DEL) for the rest of this  season. Loyns had one goal and one assist in nine games with Villach (Austria, Erste Bank Liga) this season. Last season, he had six goals and 11 assists in 21 games for Val Pusteria (Italy, Serie A). . . .
D Darrell Hay (Tri-City, 1996-2000) has rejoined Mlada Boleslav (Czech Republic, Extraliga) after being released last week by Liberec (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He had one goal in 20 games for Liberec this season. Last season, Hay had five goals and 10 assists in 52 games for Mlada Boleslav. The contract is for the remainder of this season. . . .
Joining Hay in Mlada Boleslav is F Andrej Podkonicky (Portland,  1996-98). Podkonicky was assigned on loan to Mlada Boleslav for the rest of the season by Kometa Brno (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He had three goals and three assists in 16 games with Brno this season. Podkonicky was with Liberec last season, getting nine goals and 19 assists in 52 games for the club. . . .
F Patrik Valcak (Lethbridge, Kelowna, 2003-04) signed a contract for the rest of this season with Nitra (Slovakia, Extraliga) after his release by Trinec (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He had no points in eight games with Trinec this season. Valcak had four goals and 15 assists in 23 games for Olofström (Sweden, Division 1) last season.
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Reports on Wednesday night — the first of which I think came from Mark Stepneski of ESPNDallas.com — indicate that the NHL’s board of governors has approved Tom Gaglardi, the majority owner of the Kamloops Blazers, as the new owner of the Dallas Stars.
The board, which isn’t scheduled to meet until early next month, apparently held a fax vote and Gaglardi’s ownership was approved.
Next up is a hearing in bankruptcy court in Delaware on Friday morning. The sale of the franchise is expected to be granted approval there.
That being the case, the Stars are expected to hold a news conference on Monday at which Gaglardi will be introduced as the owner.
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Remember the song Needles and Pins, by The Searchers. If it isn’t already, you have to wonder if it is a favourite song of F Branden Troock of the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Jim Riley, who covers the Thunderbirds on a freelance basis for the Seattle Times, has written an interesting piece on Troock and how acupuncture is helping him overcome a problem with headaches. It is especially interesting when you realize that Troock was thought to have been suffering with post-concussion syndrome. It turned out to be a neck problem that, as Seattle athletic therapist Phil Varney told Riley, “was mimicking concussion symptoms.”
That story is right here.
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JUST NOTES: Congratulations to head coach Mike Williamson of the Calgary Hitmen, who got his 300th coaching victory Sunday. Williamson, in his third season with the Hitmen, also was head coach of the Portland Winterhawks; in fact, his first 219 regular-season victories came with Portland. Hitmen team captain Cody Sylvester presented Williamson with the game puck from No. 300 on Wednesday. Williamson is the 19th coach in the WHL history to get to 300. . . . The Prince George Cougars released F Tayler Thompson, 18, on Monday. Thompson had four points in 16 games. He also was minus-15. . . . The Tri-City Americans were working for Habitat for Humanity on Wednesday. Check out the photos right here. . . .
F Brendan Gallagher of the Vancouver Giants signed a three-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday. Gallagher, 19, was a fifth-round selection by Montreal in the 2010 NHL draft. Gallagher has 31 points, including 18 goals, in 18 games with the Giants this season. . . . The Everett Silvertips have signed F Carson Stadnyk, 16, to a WHL contract. Stadnyk, from Saskatoon, was an eight-round selection in the 2010 bantam draft. He is playing with the midget AAA Saskatoon Contacts and has 27 points, including 15 goals, in 16 games. . . .
The NBA has cancelled games through Dec. 15, so the Portland Winterhawks have moved a Dec. 2 game against the Everett Silvertips to the Rose Garden. Game time will be 7 p.m. . . . Everett has assigned F Michael Bell, 16, to a BCHL team yet to be determined. He was pointless in 10 games with Everett. . . .
After a long run, Ben Wiebe has stepped aside as governor for the Swift Current Broncos. Wiebe will remain on the board of directors — he has had a chair there since the Broncos returned from Lethbridge in time for the 1986-87 season. He had been the governor for 17 years. Al Stewart is the club’s new governor, with GM/head coach Mark Lamb the alternate governor. Stewart has experience as alternate governor and chairman of the Broncos’ board. As well, Liam Choo-Foo is the new chairman of the board, with Kyle McIntyre the secretary. . . .
G Tyler Bunz of the Medicine Hat Tigers was struck in the head by an errant clearance as he was on the WHL’s bench during a 5-2 victory over the Russians in the Subway Super Series game in Regina on Wednesday night. He left the bench almost immediately and was taken to hospital for tests. There was no news as of late last night. Bunz is scheduled to start tonight Super Series finale in Moose Jaw. . . . However, Bunz did Tweet a note: “Congrats to the boys for the series clinching win! sorry I couldnt cheer you on! Big game by @cpickard1! Your the maaan.” . . .
David La Vaque of the Minneapolis Star Tribune has reported that F Ben Walker, the captain of the high school Edina Hornets, is leaving to sign with the Victoria Royals. The Hornets are coached by former NHL D Curt Giles, who confirmed the move. According to La Vaque: “Walker contributed to the Hornets' Class 2A state title run in 2010. As a junior last season he scored 18 goals and added 14 assists. Known for his speed, the 5-foot-10, 174-pound Walker scored 14 goals and added 13 assists playing 24 games for Team Southwest of the Elite League this fall.” Giles and Marc Habscheid, the Royals’ GM/head coach, were teammates on the NHL’s Minnesota North Stars in the late 1980s.
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SIT DOWN BOYS:
The WHL has suspended F Jesse Mychan for 10 games after he picked up a checking-to-the-head major and game misconduct for a hit on D Jesse Forsberg of the the visiting Prince George Cougars on Saturday. The WHL’s reasons for suspension included Mychan leaving his feet to deliver the hit, Forsberg being injured on the play (he is shown as being out week to week) and that it is Mychan’s third suspension this season. . . . F Charles Inglis of the Cougars drew a one-game suspension for the charging major he picked up for a hit on Everett F Josh Birkholz, who is out day-to-day. . . .
The OHL has issued two more lengthy suspensions, along with one for which it is getting some heat. F Dean Pawlaczyk of the Saginaw Spirit drew a 15-game sentence for a checking-to-the-head major assessed in a game against the Plymouth Whalers on Nov. 6. . . . F Alex O’Neil of the Brampton Battalion got a 10-game suspension for a checking-to-the-head major against the Niagara IceDogs on Nov. 11. . . . F Ryan Rupert of the London Knights got five games for a slashing major he incurred against the Soo Greyhounds on Nov. 11. A lot of observers expected Rupert to draw far more than five games for his violent slash at an opposing player, especially after it resulted in a post-game melee. When all was said and done, the OHL has suspended eight players, including Rupert, for a total of 19 games.
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TWEET OF THE DAY:
From Theo Fleury, who was in Lloydminster for a fund-raising game:
“Standing outside BP's and some kid asks Ron Duguay if he's Bon Jovi. Best thing I've heard in a longtime. That's funny.”

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
     
Taking Note on Twitter

Not sure if these are available to the public,
but would you want a Tri-City Americans
bathrobe for Christmas?

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Lynn Loyns (Spokane, 1997-2001) signed a tryout contract with DEG Metro Stars Dusseldorf (Germany, DEL). He had one goal and one assist in nine games with Villach (Austria, Erste Bank Liga) earlier this season. The Metro Stars did not release the length of the tryout.
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Jack Brockest, who purchased control of the Brandon Wheat Kings during their great season of 1978-79, has died.
Brockest, a native of Onanole, Man., passed away Thursday. He was 84.
A celebration of his life will be held today (Tuesday), 2 p.m., at Central United Church in Brandon. It is located at 327 8th St. Interment will take place at a later date.
Before taking over the Wheat Kings, Brockest was one of the WHL franchise’s eight directors, having bought his way in during the mid-1970s. On Jan. 11, 1979, with the Wheat Kings having lost just once in 36 games, Bob Cornell, the team’s governor, announced that Brockest, who had been the general manager since April 24, 1975, had purchased control of the hockey team.
Brockest later bought out the remaining ‘B’ shareholders in 1980. Three years later, he sold the franchise to a community-based group.
The neat part of the Brockest story is that five years before he bought the team he had been the manager of the Keystone Centre, the Wheat Kings’ home arena. And so it was that he went from managing the arena in which they played to owning the team.
Brockest teamed with head coach Dunc McCallum and super-scout Ron Dietrich to put together three of the greatest teams in WHL history. Over a three-season stretch (1976-79), back when ties were part of the deal, Brandon went 158-27-31. That is an .803 winning percentage.
The 1978-79 Wheat Kings finished with a 58-5-9 record, good for a WHL record 125 points. They reached the Memorial Cup final, where they lost 2-1 to the OHL’s Peterborough Petes.
Brockest was predeceased by his wife Shirley. He is survived by daughter Cathie (she is married to a great sports fan, Nelson ‘Roger’ Strong) and son Bob (Doris).
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JUST NOTES: D Colton Jobke of the Regina Pats has been added to the roster of the WHL team that will play the Russians in Regina on Wednesday. Jobke replaces D Mark Pysyk of the Edmonton Oil Kings, who suffered an undisclosed injury in Kamloops on Saturday. . . . D Alex Petrovic of the Red Deer Rebels is the WHL’s player of the week. He had nine points in four road games last week. . . . G Corbin Boes of the Brandon Wheat Kings is the WHL’s goaltender of the week. He was 2-0-0, 1.13, .965 last week. . . .
The NHL’s New York Islanders have recalled F Nino Niederreiter from the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Niederreiter was there on a conditioning assignment as he recovered from a lingering groin injury. He had four points in six games, including a goal in each of his last three games there. He’ll play for the Islanders tonight against the new York Rangers. . . . Niederreiter, 19, has to stick with the Islanders or be returned to the Portland Winterhawks. . . .
Turning Point Sports Management revealed Monday night that F Chase Witala of the Prince George Cougars “has been selected to play for Team (Pacific) in the prestigious U-17 World Junior Challenge.” The tournament is scheduled for London, Ont., Dec. 29 through Jan. 4. . . . Organizers are poised to announce the roster for Team Pacific today at 10 a.m. PT. . . . A quick Twitter tour on Monday night showed that among those selected for Team Pacific are F Anthony Ast (Vancouver Giants), D Mason Geertsen (Edmonton Oil Kings), G Tristan Jarry (Edmonton), F Curtis Lazar (Edmonton), F Greg Chase (Calgary Hitmen), F Tyson Baillie (Kelowna Rockets), F Torrin White (Moose Jaw Warriors), F Morgan Klimchuk (Regina Pats), D Kyle Burroughs (Regina), D Jesse Lees (Kelowna), D Macoy Erkamps (Lethbridge Hurricanes), F Jackson Houck (Vancouver) and F Nic Petan (Portland Winterhawks). . . . Team West berths apparently have gone to, among others, F Jon Martin (Kootenay Ice), F Jay Merkley (Lethbridge) and G Eric Comrie (Tri-City Americans).

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Lynn Loyns (Spokane, 1997-2001) was released by Villach (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). He had one goal and one assist in nine games for Villach this season.
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The WHL’s board of governors awarded hosting rights to the 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup to the Saskatoon Blades on Wednesday following meetings in Calgary.
The Blades, an original in this league, have never won a league championship or a Memorial Cup. They were the host team for the 1989 Memorial Cup when they lost the final 4-3 to the Swift Current Broncos on an OT goal by Tim Tisdale.
In awarding the tournament to Saskatoon, the governors chose not to go with a bid from either the Kelowna Rockets or Red Deer Rebels.
Saskatoon’s Credit Union Centre seats 15,195.
Prospera Place in Kelowna has 6,007 seats, with room for 500 standees, and will be home to the 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects festivities, with the skills competition Jan. 31 and the game Feb. 1
Red Deer’s Enmax Centrium had 5,735 seats with standing room for 1,000. Red Deer, however, is prepared to increase capacity to 7,000 seats and to add corporate boxes.
Kelowna played host to the Memorial Cup in 2004. Red Deer has never held the Memorial Cup; in fact, the tournament hasn’t been held anywhere in Alberta since 1974.
So you take in all that information and you’re thinking: Money talks.
And you would be correct.
The economy is in the dumper and there isn’t yet any light on the horizon, and there are WHL teams in deep financial doo-doo (see: Broncos, Swift Current, who drew 1,866 to a 5-4 victory over the Prince George Cougars last night). So the more money generated by the Memorial Cup, the better for the small- and mid-market teams.
The scary thing about this is that it would seem that whenever Saskatoon or the Vancouver Giants, Canadian teams who play in large facilities, choose to bid, one of them will get it.
And that’s too bad for teams that are ensconced in smaller venues but such is the nature of this beast.
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Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix began his story with:
“WHL commissioner Ron Robison knew exactly what made Saskatoon a worthy recipient of hosting the 2013 Mastercard Memorial Cup.”
The complete story is right here.
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Doyle Potenteau of the Kelowna Daily Courier began his story like this:
“Money talks. That was the underlying message on Wednesday when the Saskatoon Blades were awarded the hosting rights for the 2013 Memorial Cup.”
His complete story should be right here sometime today.
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Here’s how Greg Meachem, the sports editor of the Red Deer Advocate, began his story:
“Perhaps, just perhaps, the Red Deer Rebels bid never stood a chance.”
Sometime today that story should be posted right here.
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It was mentioned here Wednesday that the Prince George Cougars had added F Austin Daae, an 18-year-old from Estevan, Sask., to their roster. It also was mentioned that Austin isn’t believed to be related to Christine Daae. . . . Well, it turns out that he is related to Chrissy, who happens to be his mother. . . . I now am waiting to learn whether Chrissy is able to sing ‘Think of Me.’
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It also was mentioned here Wednesday that an announcement was imminent from the WHL regarding the use of video to explain some suspensions.
That announcement, I’m told, is likely to come today.
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The Lethbridge Hurricanes have dealt F Matt Marantz to the Regina Pats in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2013 bantam draft.
The Hurricanes had given up a fourth-round 2012 pick to get Marantz, who is from Calgary, from the Spokane Chiefs on Sept. 29. Marantz had five assists in six games with Lethbridge.
Marantz’s departure left the Hurricanes with four 20-year-olds -- F Cam Braes, F Austin Fyten, F Brody Sutter and G Damien Ketlo. However, Fyten is out long term with a knee injury so another decision won’t be needed until he returns.
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The 20-year-old deadline arrives this afternoon with teams (well, most of them) having to declare a maximum of three such players.
The Saskatoon Blades are carrying four 20-year-olds but aren’t required to declare three until sometime next week. That’s because F Darian Dziurzynski didn’t arrive back from pro camp until last week, after which a team is given 14 days to trim its roster if it has more than three 20-year-olds.
The Victoria Royals have released G Braden Gamble, 20, so he will be available in today’s draft. He had a 6.22 GAA and a .816 save percentage in six games this season after going 3.54 and 3.86 in 19 games with the Chilliwack Bruins last season. The Royals have chosen to go with Keith Hamilton, 19, and Jared Rathjen, 17.
Dropping Gamble leaves the Royals with two 20-year-olds, which would seem to indicate that Victoria GM/head coach Marc Habscheid will be adding a player today.
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The photo at the top of this entry is the cover of the newest edition of DubNation.
If you go to DubNation’s link over their on the right, you should be able to click on it and download this season’s first issue.
It includes, among other things, an interview with Jeff Chynoweth, the GM and head coach of the defending-champion Kootenay Ice; a look at the young defencemen with the Kelowna Rockets; a look back at the Billings Bighorns; and, a piece remembering Brad McCrimmon.
Enjoy!
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JUST NOTES: D Joshua Smith of the Prince George Cougars had his suspension set at four games on Wednesday. The WHL website had him out with a ‘tbd’ suspension following a kneeing major and game misconduct in a game against the Warriors in Moose Jaw on Monday. . . . The Portland Winterhawks have moved a Nov. 12 game with the Spokane Chiefs to the Rose Garden. Game time remains at 5 p.m. With the NBA having cancelled the first two weeks of its regular season, that date came open in the Rose Garden. The same teams play the previous night in the Rose Garden, at 7 p.m. . . . F Emerson Etem is the CHL’s player of the week. He had six goals and an assist in three games last week. . . .
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SOME WEDNESDAY HIGHLIGHTS:
In Cranbrook, the Edmonton Oil Kings took apart the defending-champion Kootenay Ice to the tune of 6-1. . . . The Oil Kings (6-2-1-1) are in first place — they lead the Central Division and the Eastern Conference — for the first time in franchise history. . . . The Ice got two goals from F Curtis Lazar, the second overall pick in the 2010 bantam draft. He’s got three goals this season. . . . Edmonton F Dylan Wruck had three assists. . . . The Oil Kings went 4-1 on their road swing, winning in Moose Jaw, Swift Current, Lethbridge and Cranbrook. . . .
In Red Deer, the Rebels, no doubt disappointed at not being named the host team for the 2013 Memorial Cup, beat the Lethbridge Hurricanes, 4-1. . . . The Hurricanes have lost six in a row. . . . The Hurricanes had F Reid Duke, the fifth overall pick in the 2011 bantam draft, in their lineup. Duke is from Calgary. . . .
In Calgary, the Regina Pats erased a late 3-1 defict and beat the Hitmen 4-3 in a shootout. . . . Regina F Jordan Weal scored at 17:50 of the third period and F Dyson Stevenson, with G Matt Hewitt on the bench for the extra attacker, tied it with 51 seconds to play. . . . Regina now is 6-2-0. . . . Calgary G Chris Driedger, who was acquired from the Tri-City Americans over the summer, made his first appearance with the Hitmen. He stopped 20 shots through OT, then was beaten by Weal and F Morgan Klimchuk in the shootout. . . . Driedger had been slowed by a high ankle sprain (aka lower body injury). . . .
In Swift Current, F Brad Hoban scored this third goal of the game at 19:22 of the third period to break a 4-4 tie and give the Broncos a 5-4 victory over the Prince George Cougars. . . . Hoban has four goals this season. . . . The Broncos were 3-for-7 on the PP. . . . D Martin Marincin had a goal and two assists for the Cougars. . . . F Adam Lowry and F Taylor Vause did the same for the Broncos. . . . The Cougars went 2-4-0 in their East Division swing. They next play Saturday in Kamloops. The Cougars left for Kamloops right after last night’s game; the Blazers leave today for Portland where they will play the Winterhawks on Friday night. . . .
In Kelowna, the Medicine Hat Tigers’ two Cy Young candidates continued to roll in a 4-2 victory over the Rockets. . . . F Hunter Shinkaruk scored three times for the Tigers; he has seven this season. F Emerson Etem added his 13th goal and two assists. . . . Shinkaruk has zero assists to go with his seven goals; Etem is 13-4 in eight games. . . . The Rockets have lost three in a row after opening with three victories. . . . The Tigers spent a week in B.C., and finished 4-1-0. They now go home for five in a row. . . . As the Tigers were getting ready to leave Kamloops after a 5-4 victory Monday afternoon, the legendary Bob Ridley, the club’s bus driver and play-by-play voice, was spotted hustling out of the press box. When it was suggested that the way Etem was playing, he likely could drive the bus, too, Ridley didn’t disagree. . . . The Tigers swept the three star awards — in order, Etem, Shinkaruk and G Tyler Bunz — something that doesn’t happen all that often in Kelowna. . . .
In Spokane, the Chiefs scored the game’s last three goals and beat the Brandon Wheat Kings, 4-3. . . . F Darren Kramer tied the score at 18:33 of the second period and F Dominik Uher won it at 16:18 of the third. . . . Spokane G Luke Lee-Knight — you should check him out on Twitter — stopped 20 shots in his second WHL appearance. . . . This was Brandon’s first game on a U.S. tour. . . . Kramer, who had seven goals in 68 games last season, has five in five outings this time around. . . .
In Kennewick, Wash., G Ty Rimmer stopped 29 shots to help the Tri-City Americans to a 2-1 victory over the Prince Albert Raiders. . . . F Brendan Shinnimin’s first goal of the season, a shorthanded effort at 19:31 of the second, gave the home boys a 2-0 lead. . . . F Shayne Danyluk spoiled Rimmer’s shutout bid at 17:51 of the third. . . . The Americans have won three in a row and are 4-0 at home. . . . The Raiders, winless in their last seven trips to the Toyota Center, are 2-2 in their U.S. swing.
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Yesterday, we provided a link to a story that took you inside the locker-room of the Boston Red Sox as their season imploded. Today, we provide a look at another angle to that story, this one from veteran U.S. broadcaster Keith Olbermann, who just happens to be friends with Theo Epstein and Terry Francona.
That piece is right here.

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Taking Note on Twitter

Machacek to Thunderbirds; Royer to Americans

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Lynn Loyns (Spokane, 1997-2001) signed a one-year contract with Villach (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). He had six goals and 11 assists in 21 games for Val Puisteria (Italy, Serie A) last season. . . .
F Shay Stephenson (Red Deer, 2000-04) and younger brother D Logan Stephenson (Tri-City, 2001-06) signed tryout contracts with Jesenice (Slovenia, Austria Erste Bank Liga). Shay did not play last
season while Logan had two goals and three assists in 43 games for the Adirondack Phantoms (AHL). In 2009-10, Shay had six goals and 13 assists in 36 games with the Las Vegas Wranglers (ECHL) and four goals and two assists in seven games for Vålerenga Oslo (Norway, Get Ligaen).
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Travel with Katy Perry or do play-by-play of the Victoria Royals’ games? Dave Sawchuk chose the former and now Marlon Martens will be doing the latter. Cleve Dheensaw of the Victoria Times Colonist has that story right here.
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John Scott of the Chicago Blackhawks has had a tough time coming to grips with the death of close friend Derek Boogaard. Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune takes a look at their relationship right here.
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Meanwhile, the Minneapolis StarTribune reported Thursday afternoon that Aaron Boogaard (Calgary, Tri-City, 2002-07) has been arrested “on suspicion of prescription fraud/possession of prescription pills, police said.” Aaron is Derek’s younger brother. The newspaper reported that police have until today at noon to charge him and that charges are expected to be laid this morning. The StarTribune story is right here.
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The Tri-City Americans picked up the rights to F MacKenzie Royer, 19, after he was dropped by the Moose Jaw Warriors. Royer, a second-round bantam draft selection by the Calgary Hitmen in the 2007 bantam draft, put up 11 points in 35 games last season — 16 with the Hitmen and 19 with the Warriors.
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The Lethbridge Hurricanes have traded D Cason Machacek, 20, to the Seattle Thunderbirds for a sixth-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft. Machacek, from Lethbridge, had six assists and 183 penalty minutes in 65 games last season. He is preparing for his fourth WHL season, having started with the Kootenay Ice. He was dealt to Lethbridge 20 games into the 2009-10 season. . . . In 205 regular-season games, he has 24 points, four of them goals, and 401 penalty minutes. . . . Lethbridge is left with three 20-year-olds on its roster — F Cam Braes, F Austin Fyten and F Brody Sutter. . . . The Thunderbirds now show Machacek, F Burke Gallimore, D Ryan Button and D Erik Bonsor as their 20s.
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THE COACHING GAME: The ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays are in the market for a head coach after Cail MacLean left to work as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat. MacLean, 34, spent two seasons as South Carolina’s head coach, going 88-48-18. Troy Ward, now the Heat’s head coach, was the head coach of the ECHL’s Trenton Titans, MacLean was his captain.
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Congrats to John Greenough for his victory in the CPGA of Saskatchewan Zone Championship at Swift Current-Elmwood on Wednesday. Greenough won the three-round affair by six shots, finishing at 8-under thanks in no small part to a course-record 10-under 61 in the first round. . . . Greenough, an old acquaintance from the days when he kicked around a ball a bit bigger than a golf ball on the east side of Regina, is the golf operations manager at Deer Valley Golf Club, which is located a couple of drives northwest of Regina. . . . His late father, Mark, was one of Saskatchewan’s best amateur golfers, which means the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. . . . Well done, John!
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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Taking Note on Twitter