The Moose Jaw Civic Centre goes into today with a 3-0 lead over the demolition crew.
The Crushed Can was to have been down by now but it just hasn’t happened.
The latest delay comes about after workers discovered a lot more rebar in the concrete than they had anticipated.
There’s more right here.
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The Victoria Royals have signed D Jack Walker, 16, to a WHL contract. Walker, from Edina, Minn., is the younger brother of Royals F Ben Walker, who is preparing for his second WHL season. . . . Jack played for the gold medal-winning U.S. team at the U-17 Five Nations tournament earlier this month in Chomutov, Czech Republic, earning one assist in four games. Barry Smith, a former head coach with the Kamloops Blazers, was the head coach of the U.S. team.
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JUST NOTES: G Luke Lee-Knight, 19, who played last season with the Prince Albert Raiders and Spokane Chiefs, is in camp with the Tri-City Americans. . . .  The AJHL’s Canmore Eagles – former WHLer Andrew Milne is their GM and head coach – have dealt G Michael Salmon (Seattle, Prince George, 2008-12) to the SJHL’s Notre Dame Hounds. Salmon, 20, is a native of Red Deer. . . . The Spokane Chiefs are keeping G Mac Engel (high ankle sprain) and F Marek Kalus (upper body) off the ice for now. . . . Jess Brown of the Spokane Spokesman-Review also reported that F Tanner MacMaster, the Chiefs’ first-round selection, 19th overall, in the 2011 bantam draft, didn’t report to camp. Neither did F Rhett Gardner, the Chiefs’ second-round selection in 2011. . . . The Red Deer Rebels have lost two players as F Marc Mackenzie, who will be 19 in November, and F Mason Burr, 18, have chosen to move on. Greg Meachem of the Red Deer Advocate reports that MacKenzie has returned to Kelowna-Okanagan College, while Burr has decided to leave hockey. Burr was a second-round selection in the 2009 bantam draft. Mackenzie, who is from Kelowna, started last season with the now-defunct Okanagan College Coyotes, joining the Rebels in time to play 31 games. . . . Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald reports that the Silvertips are without a couple of veterans early in camp. F Ryan Harrison, 20, is out with mononucleosis and may miss the start of the regular season. Of course, he also has four games left over from a suspension that he has yet to serve. F Kohl Bauml, meanwhile, is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. . . . The Silvertips also held G Austin Lotz (hamstring) out on Thursday.
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THE COACHING GAME:
The Regina Pats have signed assistant coaches Malcolm Cameron and Josh Dixon to one-year contract extensions that will take them through 2013-14. The contracts of general manager Chad Lang and head coach Pat Conacher also run through 2013-14. . . . All three coaches are heading into their second seasons in Regina. . . .
Former NHL D Jamie Heward has joined the Swift Current Broncos as an assistant coach and director of player development. Heward, who is from Regina and played four seasons with the Pats (1987-91), will work alongside GM/head coach Mark Lamb and assistant coach Darren Evjen in Swift Current. Heward, 41, retired after the 2008-09 season. . . . With Heward now under contract to Swift Current, perhaps his name no longer will surface in rumours every time the Pats are about to be sold. Then again, maybe not. . . .
The Red Deer Rebels chose not to renew the contract of assistant coach Chris Neiszner, leaving GM/head coach Jesse Wallin and assistant coach Bryce Thoma to run the club. Neiszner, who played four seasons (2001-05) with the Rebels, was on the coaching staff for two seasons. . . . The decision was made because owner Brent Sutter is back in the neighbourhood. “With Brent being back full-time we just felt that he's going to be able to be a lot more involved," Wallin told Red Deer media. "He'll be able to help me out with a lot of the GM duties and alleviate a lot of that, which will allow me to focus a lot more on the coaching side of things." . . . Troy Gillard at bigdrivesports.blogspot.ca reports that Neiszner now is working with Hockey Alberta. . . .
The Spokane Chiefs announced Thursday that Kevin Sawyer will serve as an interim assitant coach when head coach Don Nachbaur leaves for the World Junior Championship where he is to work as an assistant coach with Team Canada. With Nachbaur away, veteran assistant Jon Klemm will run the Chiefs. . . . Nachbaur, who is scheduled to leave the Chiefs on Dec. 8, might miss as many as 11 games. . . . The WJC will be held in Ufa, Russia, from Dec. 26 to Jan. 6. . . . Sawyer, who played three seasons with the Chiefs and was the team captain in 1993-94, is a familiar face around the Chiefs. He has been a guest coach in training camp for the past few seasons and will work with the club a lot between now and December. . . . Steve Spott (Kitchener Rangers) is Team Canada’s head coach, while the other assistants are Mario Duhamel (Drummondville Voltigeurs) and André Tourigny (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies).
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Gregg Doyel, a national columnist with CBSSports.com, has today’s good read. He chats with Scott Collie, a former football player whose son Austin is a receiver with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. On Sunday, Austin suffered his fourth concussion since November 2010. Read this to find out how a father feels when he sees his son go down again.
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By now, you are aware that David Branch, who heads up the OHL and the CHL, issued a statement on Wednesday regarding the upstart CHLPA. As expected, there weren’t any surprises in what was a brief and emotionless statement.
Later in the day, QMJHL commissioner Gilles Courteau, who is a CHL vice-president, issued a statement that just about knocked me off my chair. It didn’t appear to get much play, so in case you missed it, here it is, unedited and in its entirety:
“The Commissioner of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Gilles Courteau, wanted to correct the allegations made on various forums in the past several days. The QMJHL protests the lies and half-truths expressed on the treatment of our players, especially regarding the health, wellness and support. The great family of the QMJHL is outraged by these gratuitous and unfounded statements.
“We are always on the forefront of new initiatives and new trends in order to develop the sport of hockey. In recent years, we have been proactive in order to improve our support by the creation of numerous programs such as players support program, education programs, anti-doping programs and programs to fight against discrimination. In addition, we have added resources to ensure the implementation and enforcement of these programs within our teams.
“The QMJHL is a SCHOOL OF LIFE. For years we have worked tirelessly to adequately supervise athletes, particularly in terms of continuous academic achievement.
“Our role is to provide guidance to young people enabling them to pursue their passion and their sport while studying and developing as a citizen.
This is why there are mechanisms to expose and correct any inappropriate behaviour. In addition, the League has put in place a player support program to enable players to better manage the challenges they face and solve their personal problems before they become serious. This program provides personalized support in a timely manner or on a regular basis and this, in complete confidentiality.
“With respect to nutrition: All players benefit from the services of highly qualified personnel to educate them about the importance of a healthy and balanced diet. The teams provide the players with the services of a nutritionist to help them make the right choices in terms of nutrition.
“With respect to health: Teams hire certified individuals, such as physicians, athletic therapists, neuropsychologists and fitness coaches to ensure the players' health. In addition, the protection of our players continues to be a priority. For this reason, the League has put in place a concussion safety program to educate players as to the consequences of hits to the head.
“With respect to violence: The League has taken a series of measures aimed at preventing and countering violence occurring during games and has a zero tolerance policy with respect to gratuitous violence. These measures were developed based on the report of an Advisory Committee on Violence created in 2008 by the League Commissioner. On the other hand, the League adopted a widely publicized charter on the prevention of violence which now serves as a reference and awareness tool.
“With respect to education: While QMJHL student-athletes face a number of challenges, success in academics is no longer an exception but the norm among the 18 teams of the League. The motivation, the discipline and the efforts of the players, combined with the support extended by their teachers, the school advisors of their CEGEP, as well as the academic advisor of their team, can certainly explain the success witnessed these past years.
“With respect to grants: If the League supports its hockey players in pursuing their academic endeavours throughout their junior career, it also offers a generous scholarship program to those who wish to pursue professional or university education immediately following their hockey career.
“This program is recognized as one of the best among Canada's sports leagues. Each year, the League invests several hundred thousand dollars. Since the inception of the scholarship program, more than $8 million have been distributed.
For the 2010-11 season only, the League awarded close to half a million dollars in scholarships to some 129 former hockey players. With respect to the amounts granted to players: The teams cover the full amount of sport and education related costs, which represents amounts that reach several thousand dollars per player. For this reason they receive allocations and not wages during the season.
“With regard to the control of illicit substances: As part of the anti-doping policy, the League implemented a series of informational and educational programs in order to persuade players to avoid using illegal substances and methods. It also encourages the management staff to keep a watchful eye on its players and to protect their health and promote clean sport.
“With respect to traveling: We realize that sometimes during the season long trips are necessary, but they are infrequent. Our owners and managers often discuss this issue in order to find solutions to minimize the hardships for the players.
“The League is: A true school of life. It offers a real opportunity for young players to attain their dream of achieving the professional ranks, but first and foremost, it provides them with the support and the necessary academic tools so they can live fulfilling lives and contribute to the development of our society. Our role is to provide a living environment favourable to their development as an athlete and as a citizen.”
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As for the CHLPA, I have felt for some time now — likely since the CHL adopted its anti-doping policy — that something like this would show up sooner or later. Major junior players definitely need someone or an association to advocate on their behalf.
It’s just that when it happened I thought it would be a little more professional than what we have witnessed to this point.
In fact, what we have seen from the CHLPA to date hasn’t been much. Plain and simple, the ducks don’t seem to be in a row and they really needed to be before this production got to this stage.
I won’t argue with anyone who claims that major junior players should be better paid and that the education policy could have another year or two added to the option-to-use after a career ends.
As well, the anti-doping program got dropped on the players without their having any say.
There are all kinds of things like those that could be dealt with in one form or another, from working conditions (is it fair for players to have to play three games in less than 48 hours on occasion?) to the lack of an appeal process on matters of discipline.
And it’s great that all of these things and more are having some light shed on them these days.
But let me ask you this: If you had a son playing in the CHL, based on what you have seen and heard this week, would you want the CHLPA representing him?

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As you make your way through today, please take a moment to think about Jack Jablonski, the 16-year-old hockey player with Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School in Minneapolis, who was badly injured in a Friday game. Tim Leighton of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press writes that Jablonski “remains in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Hennepin County Medical Center. He is immobilized with a halo and unable to move his legs.”
Leighton’s complete story is right here. If you don’t read anything else today, read this.
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A regular reader here who also is a big, big WHL fan sent me a link to a terrific column by Jack Blatherwick, a columnist at Let’sPlayHockey.com.
Included in Blatherwick’s column – it is headlined Stop the charade: Fighting in hockey is not part of the game – is a paragraph that really resonates:
“I'm not writing to dispute the theory that ‘fighting fire with fire’ is the only way to extinguish flames – that violence reduces violence. I write because we adults in hockey (fans, coaches, league commissioners) are contributing to a far worse problem for young athletes who trust us.”
Blatherwick also makes an excellent point about how the fighting issue, entangled as it is with the talk of concussions and CTE, could well turn into a recruiting issue.
Blatherwick’s entire column is right here.
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Tyler Olsen of Chilliwack Times joins the chorus in calling for a ban on fighting in hockey. He presents his case right here.
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If you are a hockey fan, you have to admire the skill level and the skating ability of the Russian national junior team. And if you are a hockey fan who was following along on Twitter on Tuesday night, well, was that hilarious or what?
One thought I had while watching the game, and it is the only tournament game I have seen, is that our players seem to be more robotic than they used to be, while the Russians kids were playing with all kinds of excitement and emotion. Remember when it used to be the other way around?
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JUST NOTES:
The Edmonton Oil Kings have added F Henrik Samuelsson, who turns 18 on Feb. 7, to their roster. Samuelsson, who was born in Scottsdale, Ariz., and is the son of former NHLer Ulf Samuelsson, has been playing for Modo in Sweden, having suited up with the U-18, U-20 and senior teams. A potential power forward-type of player, he is expected to arrive in Edmonton this week. . . . Samuelsson is eligible for the NHL’s 2012 draft. . . .
F Shayne Neigum (Medicine Hat, Edmonton, Chilliwack, Kamloops, Regina, 2006-11) has left the ECHL’s Ontario Reign and joined the U of Saskatchewan Huskies. Neigum, 21, had four assists and 36 penalty minutes in 19 games with the Reign. . . . Darren Zary of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix reports that F Kevin King (Kootenay, 2006-11), who had been with the ECHL’s Elmira Jackals, and F Spencer Edwards (Red Deer, Seattle, Moose Jaw, 2006-2011), who was with the Central league’s Allen Americans, have joined the U of Calgary Dinos. . . .
F Mark Stone of the Brandon Wheat Kings has been named the winner of the Brandon Sun’s prestigious H.L. (Krug) Crawford Memorial Award. The annual award is emblematic of sporting excellence in southwestern Manitoba. Stone finished third in the WHL scoring race last sason, with 106 points. He was leading the league in scoring early in December when he left to join the Canadian national junior team. . . . Stone is the 13th member of the Wheat Kings to win the medal, the others being Brayden Schenn, Mark Derlago, Eric Fehr, Jordin Tootoo, Cory Cyrenne, Marty Murray, Trevor Kidd, Ray Ferraro, Dunc McCallum, Glen Hanlon, Ron Chipperfield and Juha Widing. . . .
The Red Deer Rebels have added F Marc Mackenzie, 18, to their roster. MacKenzie, a 6-foot-3, 195-pounder from Sherwood Park, Alta., who played minor hockey in Kelowna, had been with the Kelowna-based Okanagan College Coyotes of the B.C. Intercollegiate league. . . . He had eight points and 51 penalty minutes in 11 games with the Coyotes. . . . If you’re a Rebels fan, there’s more on Mackenzie right here.
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TUESDAY’S GAMES:
In Victoria, the Calgary Hitmen got three goals from F Chase Clayton and two goals and two assists from F Jimmy Bubnick as they dumped the Royals, 9-4. . . . Clayton, who scored three goals in 55 games last season, went into the game with two goals and came out with five. . . . Bubnick, 20, has 16 goals. . . . Calgary D Josh Thrower, the 23rd overall selection in the 2011 bantam draft, made his WHL debut. He had an assist and was plus-2. Thrower is from North Vancouver. . . . F Logan Nelson, a freshman from Rogers, Minn., had three goals. Nelson, 18, has 17 goals. He now has 39 points in 39 games. . . . Calgary now is 20-6-3 and in eight place in the 12-team Eastern Conference, just five points out of fourth. . . . The Hitmen finished last season with just 20 victories (20-47-5). . . . It was the sixth time this season that Victoria has allowed at least eight goals. In its last three games, Victoria has been outscored 22-13 and is 0-3. . . . The Royals now have lost seven in a row. . . . Calgary was 3-for-4 on the PP. . . . Victoria F Kevin Sundher ran his point streak to nine games with an assist and also had the fifth fight of his WHL career, this one in the third period with F Brady Brassart. . . .

In Portland, F Taylor Peters scored at 3:08 of OT to give the Winterhawks a 4-3 victory over the Moose Jaw Warriors. . . . Portland F Dillon Wagner forced OT with his third goal at 11:534 of the third period. . . . Peters, who scored on a breakaway, has eight goals. . . . The Winterhawks have won 13 straight games on home ice, three shy of the franchise that was set from Oct. 1–Dec. 11, 1993. . . . Portland is 16-2-1 on home ice this season. . . . Portland had a 49-29 edge in shots. . . . Portland F Ty Rattie was held to one assist. He leads the CHL in goals (37) and the WHL in points (69). . . . Portland G Mac Carruth has 69 career regular-season victories. He is fifth on the franchise list, behind Darrell May Sr. (105), Brent Belecki (79), Scott Langkow (71) and Lanny Ramage (69). . . . One other interesting note from Graham Kendrick’s notes: “Winterhawks public address announcer Sean Norris will be appearing on Monday's episode of Jeopardy, airing at 7 p.m. on KATU. Norris was in Los Angeles in October to tape the episode.” . . . Bob Bell for $500, Alex. . . . Sorry, Scooter, couldn’t resist!
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A few more words about Taylor Peters. . . . It turns out that he has a blog (Blades of Glory) that is right here. . . . And his Jan. 2 entry explains how he and his billets’ son climbed into kayaks in the dark of night and may have saved the lives of two kayakers who had capsized. . . . This is great stuff! . . . Oh, and Peters can write a bit, too!
Portland freelance writer Scott Sepich has more on the Peters story right here.
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Hockey Canada and the CHL have started the Ed Chynoweth Internship Program, aimed at alumni of the CHL and the national men’s and women’s programs who are pursuing careers in sports administration, communications, marketing or development.
According to a news release, “Internships will be awarded annually to up to five outstanding college or university students who have completed or are working toward an undergraduate or graduate degree in a sports-related field.”
For more information, check out the WHL website or visit hockeycanada.com.

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Monday . . .

The Prince Albert Raiders have dealt disgruntled F Marc Mackenzie to the Chilliwack Bruins for a 12th-round pick in the 2011 bantam draft. MacKenzie,  who turns 17 on Nov. 5, left the Raiders and returned to his Kelowna home on the weekend in a dispute over playing time and alleged broken promises. “There was never any promises made to Marc, or his dad, concerning that he would never be scratched (from the lineup),” Raiders GM/head coach Bruno Campese told John MacNeil of the Prince Albert Daily Herald. “It’s just not something that you do, for obvious reasons. . . . We’ve never made promises of the sort to our first-round draft picks, or any of our high-end draft picks.”
Check out MacNeil's story right here.
The Raiders are carrying 24 players now, including two goaltenders and nine defencemen.
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Congratulations to Kelly McCrimmon, the owner/GM/head coach of the Brandon Wheat Kings. When his side beat the Pats 3-1 in Regina on Sunday, it was McCrimmon’s 300th WHL head-coaching victory. He is the 17th coach in WHL history to reach that milestone. . . . McCrimmon is second on Brandon’s all-time list, behind Bob Lowes (363). . . . Next up? Marc Habscheid of the Chilliwack Bruins is at 285. Of course, he also coached with the Kamloops Blazers and Kelowna Rockets.
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If you are a fan of the Seattle Thunderbirds — or even if you aren’t — you will be able to chat with G Calvin Pickard and head coach Rob Sumner today (Tuesday, Sept. 28) from noon to 1 p.m. (Pacific time). . . . The Seattle Times sports department does weekly live chats with people from that area’s sports scene, and Sumner and Pickard are up today. . . . So if you’ve got a question, you may log on right here and fire away.
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ON THE MOVE: The Tri-City Americans have released D Cody Castro, an 18-year-old from Pasadena, Calif. He had one assist in 19 games with the Americans last season, after earning three points in 49 games with the Lethbridge Hurricanes in 2008-09. Lethbridge selected him in the 11th round of the 2007 bantam draft. . . . The Portland Winterhawks welcomed back F Riley Boychuk (Buffalo), D Brett Ponich (St. Louis) and F Brad Ross (Toronto) from NHL camps. They were back in time to play in the home-opener against the Vancouver Giants on Monday. The Winterhawks then reassigned D Stephane Robidoux and D David Watt. . . . Portland players still away: F Ryan Johansen (Columbus), F Nino Niederreiter (New York Islanders) and F Luke Walker (Lake Erie, AHL). . . . The Edmonton Oil Kings got D Mark Pysyk back from the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres.
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Junior Hockey’s Royal Franchise: The Regina Pats, a book written by Darrell Davis and Ron Johnston, has won an award in the International Sports Heritage Association’s (ISHA) 2010 Communication Awards.
According to a news release, the book, “published under the auspices of the (Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame and Museum’s) Sport History Project, won in the category of Books or Exhibit Catalogues for an institution with an operating budget exceeding $250,000.” . . . The book was co-published by the Regina Leader-Post Foundation. . . . If you’re a hockey fan and don’t have a copy, well, Christmas is coming.
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F Tyler Maxwell of the Everett Silvertips is the first Boston Pizza player of the week. He had five points in two season-opening victories. Maxwell, 19, is from Manhattan Beach, Calif. . . . G Nathan Lieuwen of the Kootenay Ice is the WHL’s nominee as CHL goaltender of the week. He stopped 25 shots in a 4-0 victory over the visiting Calgary Hitmen on Saturday.
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Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News has a thorough update on the situation involving the impending sale of the NHL’s Dallas Stars. If you’ve been following it, you’ll find it interesting. It’s right here.
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The SJHL has lowered the boom on F Justin Ducharme of the La Ronge Ice Wolves. He drew a 16-game suspension for a hit on Andrew Dommett, the captain of the Kindersley Klippers on Sept. 19. The league called it a “late and blind-side hit.” . . . According to the Regina Leader-Post, “Dommett suffered a broken jaw on both sides and also lost several teeth. The injuries could cause him to miss up to two months.” . . . Ducharme will be eligible to return on Nov. 19.
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Last season, F James Wright opened with the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning before eventually — having played in 48 games — being returned to the Vancouver Giants. Now, he is with the Lightning’s AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals. That story is right here.
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MONDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:
VANCOUVER 2 AT PORTLAND 7: F Spencer Bennett scored twice to lead the Winterhawks (1-1-0-0) in their home-opener. . . . Portland G Keith Hamilton stopped 30 shots. . . . The Giants (1-2-0-0) went with Derek Tendler, who made 33 saves. . . . Portland D Joe Morrow earned three assists. . . . Vancouver D Neil Manning had a tough night and was minus-4. . . . .It should be pointed out that Red No. 23 (aka Seth Swenson) scored one of Portland’s goals. . . . Portland, outshot 27-17 but leading 4-2 through two periods, had a 23-5 edge in shots in the third period. . . . Attendance was 4,068. . . . The teams meet again Wednesday in Vancouver.

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

Sunday . . .

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Ivan Dornic (Portland, 2003-05) signed a one-year contract with Königsborn (Germany Oberliga). He had 12 goals and 12 assists in 45 games for MHC Martin (Slovakia Extraliga) last season. . . .
F Martin Cibak (Medicine Hat, 1998-2000) was traded by Spartak Moscow (Russia KHL) to Severstal Cherepovets (Russia KHL). He is pointless in four games with Spartak this season. Last season, Cibak had 17 goals and 15 assists in 50 games for Spartak.
F Marek Svatos (Kootenay, 2000-02) signed a one-year contract with Avangard Omsk (Russia KHL). He had seven goals and four assists in 54 games with Colorado Avalanche (NHL) last season.
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It was Sept. 16 when F Marc Mackenzie intercepted a would-be burglar in his billet home in Prince Albert and became physically involved with him. Today, Mackenzie, who turns 17 on Nov. 5, is at home in Kelowna from where he told John MacNeil of the Prince Albert Daily Herald: “I just couldn’t handle it there anymore. It’s not the right place for me. . . . They won’t give me my release . .. . so hockey is probably over for me. I’m not going to play junior A to become an 18-year-old in the Dub next year, when I’ll just be put on the fourth line. It’s not worth it. They don’t want to give my rights up, so they can keep them. I’m not playing.”
Chris Turnbull, Mackenzie’s agent, told MacNeil: “There were promises made to Marc that I guess there was never any intention of keeping. His dad just got upset and said, ‘That’s it. If you’re not going to keep your word, we’re out of here.’ So, basically, that’s where it sits.”
Mackenzie played in Friday’s 3-2 loss to the Blades in Saskatoon, but was scratched from Saturday’s rematch, which the Raiders lost, 6-5.
“We think, rightfully so, that Marc is a pretty special hockey player,” Turnbull told MacNeil. “He’s got a lot of talent.
“Bruno made promises of where he would play and how many games he would have to sit, which is none.
“He only had four or five shifts the first night and then got sat (Saturday) night. His dad wasn’t very happy.”
Bruno Campese, the Raiders’ GM/head coach, didn’t return a phone message left by MacNeil on Sunday.
MacNeil’s complete story should be right here on the Daily Herald’s website on Monday.
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The best lead of the weekend was this, from a Tri-City Americans’ news release following Saturday’s 6-3 victory over the visiting Spokane Chiefs:
“There was a lot of red in the Toyota Center on Saturday night. First it was the pre-game pyrotechnics . . . then, it was the Americans' new third jerseys . . . then it was the goal light.”
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The Prince Albert Raiders were without veteran D Jordan Rowley, 20, when they dropped a 6-5 decision to the visiting Saskatoon Blades on Saturday night. . . . John MacNeil of the Prince Albert Daily News reports that Rowley has an “apparent injury.” On Friday, during the Raiders’ 3-2 loss in Saskatoon, Rowley scrapped with Saskatoon F Curt Gogol.
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On their way back from the NHL are: D Jace Coyle, to Medicine Hat, from Dallas; F Scott Glennie, to Brandon, from Dallas; F Brad Ross, to Portland, from Toronto; D Brett Ponich, to Portland, from St. Louis; D Cory Fienhage, to Kamloops, from Buffalo; D Brandon Manning, to Chilliwack, from N.Y. Rangers; F Kevin Sundher, to Chilliwack, from Buffalo; D Stefan Elliott, to Saskatoon, from Colorado.
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SUNDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:
BRANDON 3 AT REGINA 1: The Wheat Kings swept a season-opening doubleheader from the Pats. Brandon won 5-4 at home on Friday. . . . F Mark Stone and F Brenden Walker each had a goal and an assist for Brandon on Sunday. . . . Attendance was 4,219.
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SEATTLE 1 AT TRI-CITY 4: F Jordan Messier scored twice to lead the Americans, while F Kruise Reddick added a goal and two helpers. . . . G Alex Pechurskiy made 15 saves for Tri-City (2-0-0-0). . . . G Calvin Pickard stopped 32 shots for Seattle (1-2-0-0). . . . The Americans now have beaten Seattle 13 straight times in the Toyota Center. . . . Tri-City has opened the season 2-0-0-0 for the fourth straight season. . . . Attendance was 4,373.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
     
Taking Note on Twitter

Friday . . .

Marc Mackenzie says he’s not a hero. But you know what? He fits the bill.
Mackenzie, a forward with the Prince Albert Raiders, heard some noise and came upstairs at his billet’s home late Thursday morning to find a would-be burglar.
So what did Mackenzie do?
“He was about my build, maybe bigger,” Mackenzie, who goes 6-foot-2 and more than 190 pounds, told John MacNeil of the Prince Albert Daily Herald. “He just tackled me in the coat room. I got up and basically tossed him into the wall and just pounded on him for a good five minutes.
“He just ran out the door and I chased him for a little bit, but what are you going to do if this guy runs back to his buddies and tells (them what happened)? He just ran down the street, and then I just clued in, there’s no point in running after this guy.
“I’m totally fine. Just a little busted-up fist, but that’s about it.
Mackenzie, who turns 17 on Nov. 5, had returned home after morning classes and was in the basement, about to watch a movie.
“I guess it was just someone knocking on the door to try to get in . . . to see if people were home,” he told MacNeil. “And because I didn’t come upstairs fast enough, they just came in.”
When Mackenzie got upstairs, the would-be thief was in the living room . . . checking out Mackenzie’s laptop computer.
“Oh, I probably scared the crap out of him,” Mackenzie said. “He went after me first. I didn’t even touch the guy first. He just tackled me. I just said, ‘Who the f--- are you?’ and then he just tackled me into the closet.”
As MacNeil points out in his story, it would seem that “Mackenzie’s hockey instincts might have served him well.”
“I don’t know,” Mackenzie said. “Someone breaking and entering, there’s obviously something that’s going to get out of hand, if you walk in on him. You can’t just ask him to leave. I mean, they’re not going to wait for the cops (to arrive), that’s for sure.”
As of Friday night, Prince Albert City Police still were searching for the suspect.
Mackenzie, who is from Kelowna, played last season with the junior B Chase, B.C., Chiefs of the Kootenay International junior league. He had 24 points and 163 penalty minutes in 50 games with the Chiefs.
MacNeil wrote that Mackenzie “wanted to downplay the incident, and Raiders’ management refused to comment . . .”
You have to hope that Raiders’ management and the WHL office come to their senses and run this kid’s name up the flag pole, sooner rather than later. This is a great, great story coming as it does a week before the regular-season opens.
Mackenzie, however, would rather play down the entire episode.
“I’m not a hero,” he told MacNeil. “But it does save us, I guess (my billets), a little bit of money and hassle, not to have a bunch of crap stolen.
“My MacBook was sitting right there. The TV is there. Everything is in the house. There’s computers everywhere. If no one was home, it would have been bad, but . . .”
Something like this, of course, is every parent’s worst nightmare. I mean, think about it for a minute.
And here’s what Mackenzie’s father, Andrew, told MacNeil:
“It certainly shook me up a lot when he called and said what happened. The kid may be 6-foot-2 1/2, or whatever, but to me, he’s only 5-foot-5. He’s still a little boy, to me.”
Isn't that the truth!
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The WHL dished out some discipline on Friday and you can bet at least one GM/head coach will be hearing from the Calgary office, perhaps even today.
Kelly McCrimmon, the general manager and head coach of the Brandon Wheat Kings got tossed from his club’s 5-4 victory over the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors on Friday. Brandon was 2-for-6 on the PP in that one, while the Warriors were 2-for-10. . . . McCrimmon was ejected, according to the Brandon Sun, “after a verbal exchange with the officials.” The teams are to conclude their exhibition seasons tonight in Moose Jaw. Hmmm! Wonder if McCrimmon will be in the Crushed Can for this one?
Earlier in the day, the WHL office suspended D Harrison Ruopp of the Prince Albert Raiders for one game after he got into his fourth fight of the exhibition schedule on Thursday in a 6-1 victory over the visiting Swift Current Broncos.
The WHL office also suspended Kootenay Ice head coach Kris Knoblauch for one game and his side $250 for its part in a multiple-fight situation in a 4-1 loss to the visiting Tri-City Americans on Thursday night. The Americans weren’t disciplined at all, so that tells what the WHL thought of that situation. Kootenay F Jared Iron drew a one-game suspension for his fourth fight, which came against the Americans.
Finally, Tri-City F Zach McPhee got a one-game suspension after incurring a checking-from-behind major and game misconduct in that game in Cranbrook.
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The Everett Silvertips have dealt G Thomas Heemskerk, 20, to the Moose Jaw Warriors for D Chad Suer, 20. . . . Suer has played in 243 games over four seasons, with 66 points, including eight goals, and 130 penalty minutes. He had 20 points in 64 games last season. Suer is from Saskatoon. . . . Heemskerk, from Chilliwack, has played in 114 games over three seasons with the Kootenay Ice and Everett. Last season, he went 24-12-2-2 with a 2.34 GAA and a WHL-leading .927 save percentage, all with the Silvertips. . . . Heemskerk has signed with the NHL’s San Jose Sharks and is in their camp. . . . The deal leaves Kent Simpson, 18, as Everett’s starter, with Luke Siemens, 19, and Andy Desautels, 16, battling for the backup spot. . . . Siemens, from South Delta, B.C., played one game with the Prince George Cougars last season. . . . Desautels, from Regina, was a fifth-round pick in the 2009 bantam draft. He signed with the Silvertips in February.
Everett now has two 20-year-olds in camp — Suer and F Clayton Cumiskey.
According to the Warriors, Heemskerk will join them Sunday. The Warriors’ roster also features four other 20-year-olds — F Spencer Edwards, F Thomas Frazee, F Dylan Hood and F Brendan Rowinski.
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The Red Deer Rebels have released F Steve Oursov, 19, who is from Chilliwack. Oursov was trying to come back from post-concussion syndrome. He had four goals in 29 games in 2008-09, before suffering a concussion during a fight. . . . Originally, he was a third-round bantam draft pick of the Seattle Thunderbirds in 2006.
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Lorne Molleken, the GM and head coach of the Saskatoon Blades, is scratching his chin, scratching his head and pondering. He had said he would trim one goaltender from his roster following a Wednesday exhibition game in Regina. That didn’t happen. So the Blades continue to have four goaltenders on their roster. Freshmen Adam Iwan and Tyler Oswald, both 17, split a 4-3 victory in Regina, and Molleken chose not to make a move Thursday. He also has two veterans — Steven Stanford, 20, and Adam Morrison, 19 — on his roster. Morrison is in camp with the Philadelphia Flyers. When the smoke clears, you can expect the Blades to have one of the two veterans and one of the two newcomers on their roster. For now, though,everything is in a holding pattern. The Blades play their final exhibition game Saturday against the visiting Pats. Molleken may do something with his goaltending situation the next day. Maybe. . . .
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I am thrilled that a couple of fans of the Crushed Can took time to write. One posted a comment on the blog; another sent me an email.
Here’s the comment, if you missed it:
“Neate Sager has obviously never gone deaf listening to 2700+ fans screaming their heads off in the Crushed Can during the playoffs. That arena will be greatly missed!”
Ain’t that the truth! It is going to be awfully hard for that atmosphere to be replicated in a new building, even when the Regina Pats come calling.
The other fan, who actually is from Saskatoon, wrote this:
“My observations about the crushed can . . . the stairs to the seating can not be code in any city/town/rural outpost in Canada . . . They have more security than any rink I have ever seen . . . The guy running sound gets it as the game went to shootout and he seemed to play all the right songs at the right time.
“I do not know why I never went to Moose Jaw for a game before . . . and am glad I did. It is one of the barns that has some atmosphere unlike some others. . . . I skated many times at the old Exhibition Stadium in Regina and could feel the atmosphere in that barn. It is just something about those rinks that, yeah, they are not the prettiest girls at the dance but they seem to have that allure.”
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The Seattle Thunderbirds have acquired F Travis Toomey, 20, from the Saskatoon Blades for a fourth-round pick in the 2011 bantam draft. Toomey, form Leduc, Alta., has played three seasons with the Blades after being the 34th overall selection in the 2005 bantam draft. He put up 82 points and 314 penalty minutes in 198 career games in Saskatoon. . . . Seattle now has two 20-year-olds on its roster, the other being D Brenden Dillon. . . . The Blades still have seven 20-year-olds on their roster — G Steven Stanford, D Teigan Zahn, F Sena Acolatse, F Jeremy Boyer, F Randy McNaught, F Gaelan Patterson and F Marek Viedensky.
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ODDS AND ENDS: Moose Jaw F Michal Hlinka left the Warriors game in Brandon in the third period after “being shaken up in a collision,” according to Rob Henderson of the Brandon Sun. . . . The Kelowna Rockets dropped the hometown Chilliwack Bruin, 9-1, on Friday. The Chilliwack Progress points out that “Kelowna's nine-spot set a franchise mark for most goals-against in a game (including preseason, regular season and playoffs), and the eight-goal differential tied a franchise mark for largest margin of defeat.” . . .
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Mandi Schwartz, the native of Wilcox, Sask., who has been fighting a battle with acute myeloid leukemia, will have her next treatment on Wednesday in Seattle. The Regina Leader-Post has that story right here.
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The OHL’s Oshawa Generals won’t have their games on the radio this season. And the games that they pick up and put on their website will, in most cases, by provided by the opposition. Check out that story right here.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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