Improvements coming to Regina arena? ... Ice season tickets past 1,700 ... Benson skates with Oilers

F Liam Stewart (Spokane, 2011-15) has signed a one-year contract with the Guildford Flames (England, UK Elite). Last season, he had nine goals and 11 assists in 49 games with the Coventry Blaze (England, UK Elite). . . .

F Sergei Drozd (Tri-City, 2009-10) has signed a one-year extension with Dinamo Minsk (Belarus, KHL). Last season, he had a goal and six assists in 46 games.

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The Regina Pats will be the host team for the 2018 Memorial Cup tournament, which is bound to be extra-special because it’ll be the 100th anniversary of the fabled trophy. When the Pats bid on the tournament, they knew that their home, the Brandt Centre, would need some improvements. With that in mind, the Regina Exhibition Association Ltd. has asked the city for $1.3 million for renovations. . . . Craig Baird of the Regina Leader-Post has more right here.

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The Kootenay Ice’s Drive to 25 campaign ended on Friday with the team having sold 1,713 season tickets. The team made that announcement on Tuesday. . . . “We are off to a good start towards our goal of 2,500 season seats and we feel like there is some momentum gathering,” Matt Cockell, the franchise’s president and general manager, said in a news release. “Our entire staff is excited to do the work and continue to get out in the community and talk about the value of being a season-ticket holder; our goal of 2,500 season-seat holders continues to be the target.” . . . That news release is right here.

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F Tyler Benson has struggled through two injury-filled seasons with the Vancouver Giants. These days, he’s hoping they all are permanently in his rear-view mirror. Benson has been in Jasper, Alta., skating at the Edmonton Oilers’ development camp and he reports that things are going well. He had surgery to repair a sports hernia in April and in Jasper was almost up to full speed. . . . Postmedia’s Rob Tychkowski has more right here.

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There is a huge developing story ongoing in the KHL where 42 players whose rights belonged to Dynamo Moscow all have been declared “unlimited free agents.” That includes F Klim Kostin, who was selected by the Kootenay Ice with the first pick of the CHL’s 2016 import draft but chose not to report. He was selected by St. Louis with the 31st overall pick of the NHL’s 2017 draft and is expected to sign with the Blues, perhaps as soon as this week. . . . The Dynamo situation all has to do with a change in ownership, a power struggle and an organization that is in debt to the tune of somewhere near Cdn$43 million — that’s about two billion rubles. . . . Patrick Conway has a whole lot more on that story right here.

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Thunderbirds bow out of Memorial Cup ... Sea Dogs win, 7-0 ... Love staying in Everett

F Radek Meidl (Seattle, Tri-City, 2006-08) has signed a one-year extension with Orlik Opole (Poland, PHL). This season, he had three goals and an assist in four games there. He began the season with Frydek-Mistek (Czech Republic, 1. Liga), scoring a goal and adding three assists in 27 games, before joining Dukla Trencin (Slovakia, Extraliga), where he had one assist in 10 games. . . .

F Cody Sylvester (Calgary, 2008-13) has signed a one-year contract with Bad Nauheim (Germany, DEL2). This season, with Dornbirn (Austria, Erste Bank Liga), he had nine goals and 20 assists in 50 games. . . .

F Stanislav Balán (Portland, 2005-06) has signed a one-year contract with Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic, 1. Liga). This season, he had a goal and an assist in 30 games with Vítkovice Ostrava (Czech Republic, Extraliga). Balán's contract has an option clause that extends it by one year should Karlovy Vary win promotion to Extraliga next season. . . .

F Dylan Wruck (Edmonton, 2008-13) has signed a one-year contract with Cologne (Germany, DEL). This season, with the Iserlohn Roosters (Germany, DEL), he had eight goals and 16 assists in 52 games.

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Likely due to yesterday's event in Manchester, but increased security and bag checking at WFCU Centre in Windsor tonight.

— Loosepucks (@loosepucks) May 23, 2017

The WHL-champion Seattle Thunderbirds bowed out of the Memorial Cup tournament in Windsor, Ont., on Tuesday night after losing 7-0 to the QMJHL-champion Saint John Sea Dogs. . . . The Thunderbirds lost all three of their games and were outscored 18-3 in the process. . . . While the Thunderbirds are finished, the Sea Dogs advanced to Friday’s semifinal where they will meet the loser of Wednesday’s game between the host Windsor Spitfires (2-0) and the OHL-champion Erie Otters (2-0). The winner moves on to Sunday’s final. . . . Without the need for a tiebreaker, Thursday is a day off, as is Saturday. . . . 

Last night, Seattle and Saint John played through a goalless first period before the Sea Dogs exploded for six goals in the second period. . . . F Joe Veleno opened the scoring at 1:14. The next five goals came in the span of 3:09, starting at 14:04. . . . Veleno finished with two goals and an assist, with F Bokondji Imama adding a goal and two assists. F Spencer Smallman, F Mathieu Joseph, D Chase Stewart and F Cole Reginato also had goals. . . . G Callum Booth recorded the shutout with 31 saves. . . . Seattle head coach Steve Konowalchuk went back to G Carl Stankowski after lifting him after he gave up three goals, in 38 seconds, on six shots to start Sunday’s 7-1 loss to the host Windsor Spitfires. Against Saint John, Stankowski was beaten four times on 14 shots in 34:57. Rylan Toth came off the bench to stop 11 of 14 shots. . . . Seattle was 0-2 on the PP; Saint John was 0-3. . . . 

Seattle made one lineup change, inserting F Luke Ormsby and scratching D Anthony Bishop. . . . The WHL champion now is 0-6 in the last two Memorial Cup tournaments, the Brandon Wheat Kings having gone 0-3 a year ago in Red Deer. . . . Announced attendance: 5,062.

Andy Eide of 710 ESPN Seattle has a game story right here.

Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun has a game story right here.

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The number of empty seats at Memorial Cup games in the WCFU Centre in Windsor, which has a capacity of 6,500, is becoming a story in its own right.

They haven’t come close to a sellout through five games in the four-team tournament, this despite the fact the host Spitfires are 2-0 and proving to be highly competitive. The announced attendances, in order, have been: 5,926, 5,259, 5,237, 5,114 and 5,062. Games 1 and 3 featured the Spitfires.

So where are the fans? Well, perhaps junior hockey fans have a problem paying $70 or more for a single ticket.

As pensionplanpuppets.com points out right here, the cheapest adult season-ticket for the Spitfires (34 games) could be had for $425, while the cheapest Memorial Cup pass (nine games) was $672.35, tax included.

The piece at pensionplanpuppets.com is headlined: I love you Memorial Cup, but we need to talk about ticket prices.

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The Prince George Cougars have signed F Tyson Phare to a WHL contract. Phare, from Maple Ridge, B.C., was the 18th overall selection in the 2017 bantam draft. He played this season with the Yale Hockey Academy Lions in Abbotsford, B.C., putting up 18 goals and 22 assists in 28 games.

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The Swift Current Broncos have signed F Ben King, who was the 13th overall selection in the 2017 WHL bantam draft. King, from Vernon, B.C., played this season with the Pursuit of Excellence’s bantam prep team, putting up 16 goals and 30 assists in 22 regular-season games.

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Matt Cockell, the Kootenay Ice’s new president and general manager, is getting settled in Cranbrook and has begun the work aimed at re-establishing the WHL franchise in the area. Cockell, 38, is a former WHL goaltender and is eager to get things rolling. Brad McLeod of the Cranbrook Townsman has a piece on Cockell right here.

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Chase Souto has been named assistant general manager of hockey operations for the Los Angeles Jr. Kings organization. Souto, who is from Yorba Linda, Calif., played four seasons (2010-14) with the Kamloops Blazers before his career was ended by concussion problems. . . . Souto, 22, has been coaching with the Jr. Kings for three seasons. With his new title, he also will work as an assistant coach with three teams from midget to pee wee. . . . There’s more on Souto and his new position right here.

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The Mississauga Steelheads, fresh off their first appearance in the OHL’s championship final, have parted company with general manager James Boyd. He told John Matisz of Postmedia that “we were unable to come to an agreement on a contract moving forward.” According to Matisz, Boyd said the parting was “amicable” and that the decision was “mutual.” . . . Boyd had been the Steelheads GM/head coach for five seasons (2011-16). Prior to this season, James Richmond stepped in as head coach, allowing Boyd to focus on the GM’s duties. On Tuesday, after Boyd’s departure was made public, the Steelheads announced that Richmond now is the GM and head coach, and that he had signed a five-year contract. . . . Boyd is expected to interview with the Ottawa 67’s, who are looking for a GM and head coach to replace Jeff Brown. . . . Matisz reported that assistant GM Jan Egert also is gone from Mississauga, his contract having expired. . . . Matisz’s story is right here.

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The U of Waterloo, Ont., Warriors have commitments from two players who finished up their junior eligibility this season in the WHL. . . . G Trevor Martin, who was with the Calgary Hitmen, and F Markson Bechtold, who finished the season with the Saskatoon Blades, both have chosen to attend Waterloo. . . . Martin, from Androssan, Alta., also played with the Saskatoon Blades and Red Deer Blades. He spent some time with the QMJHL’s Baie-Comeau Drakkar this season before joining the Hitmen. . . . From Strathmore, Alta., Bechtold was dealt to the Blades by the Spokane Chiefs this season. In 231 career regular-season games, he had 38 goals and 62 assists. . . . Stick tap to Victor Findlay on the tweets about both players. He keeps tabs on the Canadian university hockey scene at @Finder_24.

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In the USHL, F Tyler Gratton scored at 11:30 of OT to give the visiting Chicago Steel a 2-1 victory over the Sioux City Musketeers in the final game of the championship series. The Steel won the best-of-five series, 3-2. . . . That goal was the first point in 14 playoff games for Gratton, a 17-year-old from Pottstown, Pa. . . . The Musketeers had a 46-25 edge in shots on goal. . . . Jay Varady, who is in his fourth season as the Musketeers’ director of hockey operations and head coach, spent eight seasons (2003-11) on the coaching staff of the WHL’s Everett Silvertips. . . . Mark LeRose, in his third season as Sioux City’s GM, was an assistant coach in Everett for three seasons (2007-09, 2013-14).

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Mitch Love will be returning as an assistant coach with the Everett Silvertips, who introduced Dennis Williams, their new head coach, to their fans on Monday. Jesse Geleynse of the Everett Herald reported that Love’s signing to a two-year extension should be announced shortly. . . . Love played five seasons (2000-05) in the WHL, the last two with the Silvertips. He is heading into his sixth season on their coaching staff. He spent four seasons alongside head coach Kevin Constantine, whose contract wasn’t renewed after this season. . . . Geleynse also reported that the Silvertips will employ only one assistant coach this season, a decision having been made not to replace Brennan Sonne, now the head coach of the pro team in Angers, France. . . . Geleynse’s story is right here.

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The OHL’s Sudbury Wolves are in the market for a head coach after parting company with Dave Matsos on Tuesday. Matsos had been with the Wolves since 2013 when he was the associate coach. He took over as head coach in January 2015. Matsos had a year left on his contract when, according to a news release from the Wolves, the parties “mutually agreed to part ways.” . . . Rob Papineau, the Wolves’ vice-president of hockey operations and general manager, said in a news release: “We considered options on contract extensions but we were unable to come to an agreement moving forward.” . . . Assistant coach Barry Smith also is gone. He joined the Wolves in mid-November when assistant coach Drake Berehowsky left to take over as head coach of the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears.

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At my 150th consecutive #MCMemorialCup game tonight. Seattle's goalie was 2 months old when it started. #old pic.twitter.com/UMWLsFRtsI

— Terry Doyle (@Terry_Doyle) May 23, 2017

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Owners prepping plan for new Ice age ... Pats, T-Birds take control; series resume Sunday

When the host Ottawa Senators opened the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers on Thursday night, there were more than 2,000 empty seats in the Canadian Tire Centre.

The howls of outrage could be heard all the way to Kamloops. Where were the fans?

According to Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen, “Ticket prices jump for Round 1 playoff tickets and jump again for Round 2. Those $25-$30 cheap seats in the regular season become $100. Lower-level seats are about $300, rich by local standards even if most other NHL clubs charge more.”

It likely didn’t help, either, that a parking lot close to the arena jacked up its fee fro $20 to $30.

And did I mention that a double bacon cheeseburger and a tall boy beer would total $27.75?

At some point, and perhaps we’re there now, sporting fans are going to tire of paying high prices to watch athletes who pull down much higher salaries than they do. Those in the corporate seats may always be there, but the average folks, I think, have about run out of the funds necessary to watch a lot of professional sports.

I have always found it interesting when people, often media types who can’t remember the last time they had to pay for a ticket, question the loyalty of fans because they, for whatever reason, choose not to fork over their hard-earned dollars, not even for a playoff game.

Of course, then there’s Edmonton, where thousands show up at Rogers Place even when the Oilers are playing a playoff game away from home. Last night, the winner of the 50/50 draw went home with $51,522.

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Two recent headlines of note . . . 

At TheOnion.com: Clogged rain causes Orioles’ dugout to overflow with chewing-tobacco spit.

At The kicker.com: LeBron passes Popovich for most wins by active head coach.

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Saw a young lady today who was wearing those cut up jeans that seem so popular these days. Had a thought: How do you put those on without catching your toes in the holes and causing even more damage?

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I spent 17 years at the Regina Leader-Post, the last 12 as sports editor, and for a lot of that time the Saskatchewan Roughriders weren’t far removed from the youngster next door with the lemonade stand. They were far removed from the big business that they are today. How much have times changed? The organization swallowed another $36,500 in fines on Friday, something that ran the tab to $116,500 since Aug. 2. . . . As Rob Vanstone of The Leader-Post writes right here: “Six figures worth of sanctions do not take into account other questionable moves by the Roughriders.” . . . Ohh, how times have changed!

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Hey, Sportsnet, how about getting rid of the giant computer-generated logos that you love to put up on the hitters’ background on the camera shot from behind home plate? There is a reason why that background is big and blank.

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The Toronto Blue Jays jettisoned backup catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia on Friday, then went out and blew a 3-1 seventh-inning lead in losing 7-4 to the visiting Tampa Bay Rays, who hit three eighth-inning home runs. Can we assume, then, that the 6-17 start wasn’t Saltalamacchia’s fault, even if he was only 1-for-25? . . . The Toronto bullpen now has blown eight of 12 save opportunities.

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The NHL’s Calgary Flames have lost 29 straight games in Anaheim; Calgary last won there on April 25, 2006. The Edmonton Oilers just posted two victories there in three days.

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D Spencer Humphries (Tri-City, Calgary, 2008-13) has signed a one-year extension with the Stavanger Oilers (Norway, GET-Ligaen). This season, in 45 games, he had 14 goals and 19 assists. Humphries led the league’s defencemen in goals as the Oilers won the Norwegian championship. . . .

F David Vrbata (Calgary, 2000-01) has announced his retirement from hockey. This season, with Neumarkt/Egna (Italy, Alps HL), he had fige goals and six assists in 12 games. He had four assists in 12 games with Benátky and Jizerou (Czech Republic, 1. Liga). Vrbata has accepted an offer to work in the marketing department for Czech Extraliga team Mladá Boleslav. He is from Mladá Boleslav.

G Chet Pickard (Tri-City, 2005-09) has signed a two-year contract with Adler Mannheim (Germany, DEL). This season, with the Iserlohn Roosters (Germany, DEL), he was 6-14, 2.98, .920 in 26 games.

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Matt Cockell, the new president and general manager of the Kootenay Ice, says he and partner Greg Fettes will need help to get the WHL franchise back on track.

“We wouldn’t be getting into this if we weren’t confident that we could make it a success,” Cockell told Cranbrook radio station Summit 107 FM. “Of course, in order to do that, we are going to need the help of everybody — we’re going to need the help of the community, we’re going to need the help of the city,

MATT COCKELL

we’re going to need the help of the entire East Kootenay region.”

The WHL’s board of governors unanimously approved the transfer of the franchise from the Chynoweth family to Fettes and Cockell, both of whom have been headquartered in Winnipeg, on Thursday.

Earlier this month, Fettes and Cockell are said to have met with Lee Pratt, the mayor of Cranbrook, for about five hours. Mayor Pratt has told people that he felt “very positive” about the meeting.

"This really is the City of Cranbrook and the East Kootenay region's team,” Cockell said. “That's how my partner, Greg, and I are approaching this, and in order for that partnership to be something that's really exciting and allows everybody to participate, we need to first and foremost get the chance to hear what that means for everybody.

"The franchise in its current state needs some investment, and that's what we're going to do. We're going to come in and we're prepared to invest and engage all the stakeholders. Our sincere hope and commitment is to ensure the long term viability of the Kootenay Ice in Cranbrook.”

WHL commissioner Ron Robison told the Cranbrook Townsman that the new ownership’s plans will be “contingent, obviously, on the level of support from the community.”

Robison went one step further, in fact, and used the word “immediately.”

“The attendance levels are at a point where they need to improve immediately,” he said, “and (the new owners) are focused not only on being very engaged in the community but (also) on improving the fan experience in the building.”

The Ice plays in the 4,264-seat Western Financial Place, which also has room for 352 standees. This season, the Ice had the poorest average attendance (1,754) in the 22-team league. that was down from 1,957 in 2015-16 and 2,239 in 2014-15.

There was a time, in the early 2000s, when the Ice drew more than 3,000 fans per game.

Of course, on the other hand, had the taxpayers of Nanaimo voted to allow city council to borrow $80 million that would have gone towards a new arena, the moving vans would be in Cranbrook and the Ice would be moving to Vancouver Island in time for the 2017-18 season.

Nanaimo taxpayers voted 80 per cent not to allow city council to borrow the money, so the Ice now has new owners who are about to get to work in Cranbrook.

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Austria and Korea have advanced to the top division of the IIHF World Championship after finishing in the top two spots at the Division I Group A championship that concluded Friday in Kyiv, Ukraine. . . . Austria finished the tournament in top spot after beating Poland, 11-0, in the final game. The Austria roster includes F Brian Lebler, who was a seventh-round selection by the Kamloops Blazers in the WHL’s 2003 bantam draft. He had four goals and an assist in five games. . . . Korea finished second after scoring a 2-1 shootout victory over host Ukraine. D Alex Plante, a former WHLer, is on the Korean roster. He had two goals and an assist in three games. . . . Plante was named to the tournament all-star team, was was F Nigel Dawes, another former WHLer, who plays for Kazakhstan. Dawes led the tournament in goals (5) and was tied for the points lead (9), in five games. . . . Former NHLer Jim Paek is the Korean team’s head coach. He won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins. . . . The 2018 World Championship is scheduled to be played in Copenhagen and Herning, Denmark.

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In the OHL, the host Erie Otters scored a 4-2 victory over the Owen Sound Attack on Friday and now lead the Western Conference final, 3-2. Game 6 is scheduled for Sunday in Owen Sound. The winner of that series will meet the Mississauga Steelheads in the championship final.

In the QMJHL, the host Saint John Sea Dogs blanked the Chicoutimi Sagueneens, 4-0, to take a 3-2 lead in that semifinal. Game 6 is scheduled for Sunday in Chicoutimi. . . . The other semifinal, featuring the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and Charlottetown Islanders, resumes today. The Aramada holds a 3-1 lead as they go into Charlottetown for Game 5.

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If you enjoy stopping off here and would care to make a donation to the cause, please feel free to do so by clicking on the DONATE button and going from there.

If you have some information you would like to share or just a general comment, feel free to email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

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Six years for the IceCaps, 20 years of @TheAHL hockey in St. John's. Thank you, thank you, thank you. pic.twitter.com/4Q7nxAwP2g

— St. John's IceCaps (@IceCapsAHL) April 29, 2017

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FRIDAY’S GAMES:

Thank you and congrats to K9 for 40 years. @keithhershphoto #yqr @BrandtCentre #amazing #40years #JoinTheRegiment pic.twitter.com/ANwyk9iEOC

— #JoinTheRegiment (@WHLPats) April 29, 2017

At Regina, F Adam Brooks drew four assists to lead the Pats to a 5-3 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. . . . Regina now leads the Eastern Conference, 3-2, with Game 6 scheduled for Lethbridge

ADAM BROOKS

on Sunday. . . . Brooks, the Pats’ captain, has seven points over the last two games. . . . Last night, Regina F Dawson Leedahl broke a 3-3 tie with his 11th goal of these playoffs, at 6:25 of the third period. Leedahl one-time a nifty backhand pass from Brooks, who was cruising behind the Lethbridge net. . . . Leedahl has goals in three straight games. . . . F Josh Tarzwell gave Lethbridge a 1-0 lead at 2:53 of the first period as he scored his first WHL playoff goal. He left shortly after that with an undisclosed injury and didn’t return. . . . The Pats tied it as D Josh Mahura (3) scored at 15:37. . . . Lethbridge went back in front when F Ryan Vandervlis, who had eight regular-season goals, scored his seventh of the playoffs, on a PP, at 3:04 of the second period. . . . The Pats took the lead on second-period goals from F Sam Steel (8), on a PP, at 5:10, and F Filip Ahl (3), at 11:29. That was Ahl’s first goal of the series. . . . Lethbridge pulled even at 13:54 as F Egor Babenko got his ninth goal. . . . That set the stage for Leedahl’s winner, with F Austin Wagner (13) adding an empty-netter at 19:57. . . . Shortly after Leedahl’s goal, the Hurricanes found themselves with a 5-on-3 PP for 1:30, but they weren’t able to score. . . . Wagner also had two assists, with Steel and Leedahl adding one each. . . . Vandervlis added an assist to his goal for Lethbridge. . . . G Tyler Brown earned the victory with 29 saves, three more than Lethbridge’s Stuart Skinner. . . . Regina was 1-2 on the PP; Lethbridge was 1-4. . . . The Pats had the speedy Wagner back in the lineup after he missed the previous game with an undisclosed injury. . . . The Hurricanes again scratched F Matt Alfaro, and they also took out F Ryan Bowen. . . . Announced attendance: 6,484, the 23rd sellout at the Brandt Centre this season.

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Watching Ethan Bear in pre-game skate. Attempts to shoot but his left hand, where injury occurred, can not stay on stick on follow through.

— Regan Bartel (@Reganrant) April 29, 2017

Based on warm-ups, I can't imagine Bear plays tonight. Not seeing anything on his wrist shot at all. Hasn't even wound up for a slapper.

— Tim Pigulski (@tpigulski) April 29, 2017

At Kent, Wash., the Seattle Thunderbirds broke a 2-2 tie with a pair of late second-period goals and went on to a 5-3 victory over the Kelowna Rockets. . . . The Thunderbirds hold a 3-2 lead in the Western

ALEXANDER TRUE

Conference final with Game 6 in Kelowna on Sunday. . . . In a game that featured 18 power-plays and six PP goals, Seattle took advantage of two Kelowna turnovers to grab a 2-0 first-period lead, F Scott Eansor (5) scoring while shorthanded at 3:15 and F Sami Moilanen (4) counting on a breakaway at 10:57. . . . Kelowna pulled even on PP goals from F Calvin Thurkauf (8), at 12:07 of the first period, and F Nick Merkley (6), at 9:23 of the second. . . . Seattle countered with a pair of PP goals in a span of 1:20 late in the period. F Alexander True (6) broke the 2-2 tie at 17:34 and F Ryan Gropp (4) added insurance at 18:54. . . . True added a second goal, on another PP, at 6:57 of the third period. . . . Kelowna F Dillon Dube (7) completed the scoring with, yes, another PP goal, at 19:25. . . . Seattle was 3-8 on the PP; Kelowna was 3-10. . . . Seattle F Mathew Barzal had three assists, with D Turner Ottenbreit adding two and Moilanen one. . . . The Rockets got two assists from D Cal Foote. . . . The Thunderbirds got 37 saves from G Carl Stankowski, while Kelowna’s Michael Herringer turned aside 19. . . . Seattle D Ethan Bear took the pregame warmup but it was apparent that he was having difficulty handling the puck and he was scratched. He suffered a hand injury — Taking Note has been told that there is a break — while blocking a shot late in Game 4. . . . Seattle G Rylan Toth was scratched again. He has yet to dress for a playoff game. . . . With Bear out, D Jake Lee, a 16-year-old who played four regular-season games, made his WHL playoff debut with Seattle. . . . Announced attendance: 5,001.

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SATURDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

No Games Scheduled.

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SUNDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Seattle at Kelowna, 5:05 p.m. (Seattle leads, 3-2)

Regina at Lethbridge, 6 p.m. (Regina leads, 3-2)

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Governors approve Ice's new owners ... WHL on Shaw nears end ... Lawsuit against OHL, teams certified

The Chynoweth family has been involved in the WHL for 45 consecutive years, a run that ended Thursday when the board of governors approved the sale of the Kootenay Ice, the franchise that the Chynoweths had been trying to sell since 2011.

There was a time when the WHL would have announced the transfer of ownership at a news conference and perhaps someone would have spoken about how much the family has meant to the WHL. These days, the WHL prefers to do things via news release posted on its website, which is what happened yesterday.

Well, allow this aging writer who still has ink in his veins to say “Thank You” to Linda, Dean and Jeff Chynoweth for their time and the many conversations, and heartfelt thanks for sharing your husband and father with us for all those years.

The late Ed Chynoweth was the WHL’s president for something like 23 years, starting in 1972. He left the WHL office to spend a season as GM of the Calgary Wranglers, returned, then later purchased an expansion franchise, the Edmonton Ice, that he later relocated to Cranbrook, B.C.

Back in the day, it wasn’t unusual for a writer to call Ed at home, no matter the time of night. It also wasn’t unusual for that same writer to get a call from Ed, who disagreed, sometimes politely, with something that had been written.

Ed rarely, if ever, visited a WHL city without meeting the local media, even if just to acknowledge our existence.

It hasn’t been the same since he left us, and it won’t be same now, without the Chynoweths owning the Ice. Perhaps Jeff will end up working in another team’s front office, unless, of course, he’s had enough of the WHL. Say what you want, though, he always answered his phone, returned calls and responded to texts, until near the end when he would have had to deny that a sale was near when it was close to happening.

Anyway . . . thanks to the first family of the WHL. May the next chapter be a good one.

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How could the NHL end up with a playoff schedule that had both its eastern series being played at the same time on Thursday night? Hey, Gary Bettman, I couldn’t decide which game to watch, so I spent the evening with baseball.

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A friend sent me a note on Thursday afternoon. With the WHL playoffs more than half over, the 2016-17 WHL Official Guide and Record Book now is available for download. You will find it right here.

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The WHL’s conference finals are scheduled to resume tonight with the Kelowna Rockets and Seattle Thunderbirds meeting in Kent, Wash., and the Regina Pats and the Hurricanes clashing in Lethbridge. Each of the series is 2-2.

Seattle fans can forget about seeing D Ethan Bear for a while. Taking Note has been told that he suffered a broken hand when he blocked a shot late in Game 3 on Tuesday in Kelowna.

The Rockets lost D James Hilsendager, who has been terrific in these playoffs, to an undisclosed injury in the first period of Game 4 on Wednesday. He didn’t return, so you would have to think he’s doubtful for tonight and perhaps longer. His absence means the pairings of Cal Foote/Gordie Ballhorn and Lucas Johansen/Devante Stephens will get a workout.

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The St. Louis Cardinals struggle to catch the ball, throw the ball and run the bases. Still, they were able to sweep a Thursday doubleheader from the visiting Toronto Blue Jays, who blew a 4-0 lead in the opener. If you missed it, the Blue Jays, leading 4-2, were one strike away from victory when they gave up a game-tying home run. They then lost on a grand slam in the 11th. The Blue Jays now are 6-16. Ohh, this is going to be a long season for Gibby and his guys.

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F Martin Růžička (Everett, Lethbridge, 2003-05) has signed a one-year extension with Třinec (Czech Republic, Extraliga). This season, he had nine goals and 13 assists in 33 games.

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As expected, the WHL’s board of governors approved the sale of the Kootenay Ice to Greg Fettes and Matt Cockell, a pair of Winnipeggers, on Thursday.

Fettes and Cockell have purchased the entire franchise, ending the Chynoweth family’s involvement in the WHL after 45 years.

The late Ed Chynoweth was the face of the WHL for a long time, especially during a 23-year run as the league’s president. In 1995, Chynoweth left the WHL office to set up the Ice as an expansion franchise in Edmonton. After two seasons in Edmonton, the franchise relocated to Cranbrook, B.C., for the 1998-99 season.

Chynoweth died in 2008 and his son, Jeff, has been the Ice’s president and general manager.

Fettes is the founder of 24-7 Intouch, which has more than 8,000 employees in call centres, according to a WHL news release, “in 14 sites around the world including Canada, United States, Guatemala, Jamaica, and the Philippines.”

Cockell played three seasons (1996-99) in the WHL as a goaltender, spending time with the Saskataoon Blades, Seattle Thunderbirds, Regina Pats and Spokane Chiefs. He had been working with True North Sports and Entertainment, the owners of the NHL’s Winnipeg Moose, as vice-president, corporate partnerships. Prior to that, Cockell was the chief customer officer at 24-7 Intouch.

Cockell now is the Ice’s president and GM.

Odd fact: Jeff Chynoweth, who was president and GM, once worked at the Keystone Centre. His successor, Matt Cockell, was #BWK goalie coach. https://t.co/J4CPgJFKid

— Perry Bergson (@PerryBergson) April 27, 2017

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When the WHL’s championship final concludes next month, the WHL on Shaw will sign off for good, ending a 13-season relationship.
Corus Entertainment and Shaw Communications announced Wednesday that Shaw will close stations in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. Corus Entertainment, which acquired Shaw‘s media arm in a deal last year, will continue to operate Shaw stations in Victoria, Kelowna and Saskatoon, each of which is home at a WHL franchise.

About 70 people are expected to lose their jobs, while the WHL on Shaw also will be a casualty.

The deal between Shaw and the WHL had one season (2017-18) remaining. However, a  source familiar with the situation has told Taking Note that the WHL has taken a $300,000 buyout.

“It’s easier for Shaw rather than pay out $750,000 in production costs,” the source explained, adding that the WHL was “in line for $375,000 in the next year of the deal.”

In light of the demise of the WHL on Shaw, it could be that Access7, a community TV station in Regina, expands its coverage of the Regina Pats and, as the source said, “may become the motor that drives WHL coverage to the remaining community stations.”

Access7 has been providing coverage of the Pats’ playoff games this spring.

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An Ontario Superior Court Justice has certified a class-action lawsuit brought by former OHL players against the league in an attempt to force teams to pay minimum wage.

Justice Paul Perell made the ruling Thursday in Toronto, something that will allow the three-year-old lawsuit to move forward.

A similar action filed in Calgary against the WHL was heard before Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Robert Hall, who has yet to rule. It is anticipated that there will be a decision in the next month.

As for Thursday’s ruling, Rick Westhead, a senior reporter with TSN, writes:

“Justice Perell wrote that he certified the case despite the warnings from the OHL that the ‘allegedly selfish class action would bring on the eve of destruction for hockey players.’ ”

The OHL has 20 days in which to file an appeal.

Westhead’s story is right here.

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F Nick Merkley now holds the Kelowna Rockets’ record for most career playoff points. Merkley had a goal and an assist on Wednesday as the Rockets beat the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds, 4-2, to even the Western Conference final, 2-2. . . . Merkley, who will turn 20 on May 23, now has 64 points, including 50 assists, in 55 playoff games. The previous record had been held by F Tyson Baillie, who put up 63 points, including 27 goals, in 64 games.

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F Mitch Skapski, who played in the WHL with the Everett Silvertips, Saskatoon Blades and Victoria Royals, will attend Ryerson U and play hockey for the Rams. Skapski, from Abbotsford, B.C., split the past two seasons between the BCHL’s Chilliwack Chiefs, Salmon Arm Silverbacks and Cowichan Valley Capitals, totalling 68 points in 109 games. He played 143 WHL games (2012-15), scoring six goals and adding 13 assists. He was a fourth-round selection by the Portland Winterhawks in the 2011 WHL bantam draft.

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The NHL’s Arizona Coyotes fired Doug Soetaert on Thursday, after one season as the general manager of their AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners. Soetaert is a former WHL goaltender (Edmonton Oil Kings, 1971-75), who spent six seasons (2006-12) as the Everett Silvertips’ vice-president of hockey operations and general manager. Soetaert had spent 2015-16 as the Coyotes’ western pro scout. . . . The Roadrunners were an expansion team this season and finished 29-31-8, good for sixth in the eight-team Pacific Division. They didn’t make the playoffs. . . . The Roadrunners’ head coach is Mark Lamb, a former GM/head coach of the Swift Current Broncos.

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The SJHL’s La Ronge Ice Wolves have hired Darren Martens as an assistant coach. Martens, from Mossbank, Sask., has ample playing and coaching experience. From a news release: “A graduate of the SJHL, Martens went on to play in the CIS, UHL, ECHL and six seasons in Germany. At the completion of his playing career, Darren transitioned into coaching. He has coached all levels of hockey, from bantam to junior B, and also spent two seasons with the Briercrest Clippers of the ACAC.” . . . Martens will work alongside head coach Evan Vossen and assistant Terry Hunt.

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THURSDAY’S GAMES:

No Games Scheduled.

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FRIDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Lethbridge at Regina, 7 p.m. (Series tied, 2-2)

Kelowna vs. Seattle, at Kent, Wash., 7:35 p.m. (Series tied, 2-2)

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Chynoweth family sells WHL's Ice to Winnipeggers . . . Team to stay in Cranbrook

The Kootenay Ice will be staying in Cranbrook, at least for now, but under new ownership.

The Chynoweth family announced Tuesday afternoon that it has “entered into an agreement” to sell the

GREG FETTES

franchise to Greg Fettes, the founder and CEO of 24-7 Intouch, and

MATT COCKELL

Matt Cockell, a former WHL goaltender.

The WHL has scheduled a board of governors’ meeting for April 27 at which time it will review the agreement.

The Chynoweth family has owned the franchise since 1995 when it was established as the Edmonton Ice. It moved to Cranbrook after two seasons in Edmonton.

Once the sale is finalized, Cockell will be moving to Cranbrook and will take over as president and general manager from Jeff Chynoweth, who has been the governor, president and GM.

Cockell has been vice-president, corporate partnerships for True North Sports and Entertainment, the owners of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets and its home arena, the MTS Centre. Cockell played three seasons in the WHL (1996-99) with the Saskatoon Blades, Seattle Thunderbirds, Regina Pats and Spokane Chiefs.

Cockell also has experience as the chief customer officer at 24-7 Intouch, the company founded by Fettes, who is its CEO. According to its website, 24-7 Intouch is “an award-winning global contact center.”

According to a news release issued by the Ice, 24-7 Intouch is “a global customer service outsourcing company with over 8,000 employees in 14 sites around the world including Canada, United States, Guatemala, Jamaica, and the Philippines.”

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Interestingly, the sale of the Ice was announced on the same day that a website — saveourice.com — surfaced aimed at keeping the team in Cranbrook.

According to a statement on the site:

“We are a group of local business owners and dedicated fans who are banding together to do everything we can to try to keep the Kootenay Ice in Cranbrook.

“We have chosen to remain anonymous at this time to keep the attention and focus on the team and what it brings to the region.

“But we are like you . . . passionate fans of the Ice.

“And we don't want to see them go.”

Now it seems the Ice isn’t going anywhere, at least not now. It just won’t have local ownership.

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'It makes me cry at my computer . . .'

F Tomáš Vincour (Edmonton, Vancouver, 2007-10) has signed a one-year contract with Kometa Brno (Czech Republic, Extraliga). Last season, with Ak Bars Kazan (Russia, KHL), he had six goals and five assists in 39 games. . . .
F Kyle Beach (Everett, Lethbridge, Spokane, 2005-10) has signed a tryout contract through Sept. 30 with Red Bull Salzburg (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). Last season, he had four goals in seven games with the Rockford IceHogs (AHL), two goals and an assist in seven games with HV71 Jönköping (Sweden, SHL), and two goals and five assists in 39 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL).
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An email arrived in my Inbox on Thursday morning. It was from a former WHL defenceman, who in his playing days could have played on my team, your team or any team. No, he wasn’t an all-star; rather, he was a tough-as-nails, take-no-prisoners defenceman, the kind you can’t win without. Yes, he fought; mostly, though, he played hard, really hard.
“I have had some depression issues in the past,” he wrote, “not to the point where I was thinking of doing anything drastic, but depression none the less.
“Was it from too many concussions? Maybe, not sure.
“My point to all this is, I know there are former players, just like myself, who have the same issues I do, they just hide it. Is it solely a hockey player problem? No, but it makes me cry at my computer when I see these kids killing themselves.
“Keep it in the spotlight, thanks for writing about this topic.”
That email came on the heels of another note, this from the wife of a career coach.
The other day, she wrote: “I read a Facebook status from a player who played for (my husband) on two different teams talking about his battle with depression. I contacted him. He was a tough guy, said he felt the need to live up to that reputation, until now.”
And now I’m wondering just how many former hockey players there are out there who are dealing, or trying to deal, with depression?
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TRADE WIRE:
THE DEAL: The Prince George Cougars acquired D Dominic Thom, 18, from the Brandon Wheat Kings for a conditional sixth-round selection in the 2016 bantam draft.
THE SKINNY: Thom, from Calgary, was a ninth-round pick by Brandon in the 2011 bantam draft. He played in two games with Brandon, both last season, earning one assist. He played 29 games with the AJHL’s Calgary Mustangs, recording a goal and five assists.
THE ANALYSIS: The Wheat Kings get a draft pick, likely conditional on his being on the Cougars’ roster at a particular date, for a player who wasn’t going to stick with them. The Cougars get to look at a 6-foot-3, 185-pound defenceman who could provide them with some depth on the back end.
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F Axel Blomqvist will be a bit late reporting to the Victoria Royals. That’s because he will play for Team Sweden at a Four Nations tournament in Jönköping, Aug. 29-31. Earlier this summer, Blomqvist, who was acquired by Victoria from the Lethbridge Hurricanes last season, attended Sweden’s national junior evaluation camp. The 6-foot-6, 210-pound Blomqvist, 19, hopes to be named to the Swedish team that will play in the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship. . . . The 2015 tournament will be split between Montreal and Toronto, running Dec. 26 through Jan. 5. . . . Blomqvist put up 43 points, including 16 goals, in 46 games with the Royals last season. He attended the Winnipeg Jets’ rookie and main camps as an undrafted free agent last season and ended up signing a three-year entry-level deal.
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The Saskatoon Blades have signed F Logan Christensen, who was a second-round pick in the 2014 bantam draft. Christensen, from Morden, Man., had 79 points, 34 of them goals, in 54 games at the Pursuit of Excellence in Kelowna last season.
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Teams in the QMJHL have been in camp for a few days now. If you’re wondering why that league always starts so early, Willy Palov of the Halifax ChronicleHerald has the scoop right here.
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A story in Thursday’s Ottawa Citizen begins with this: “A 31-year-old recreational hockey player has been sentenced to 18 months’ probation after a rare criminal conviction for an on-ice collision — a decision that his lawyer says has set a dangerous precedent that could chill participation in such hockey leagues.” . . . Meghan Hurley’s complete story is right here.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Ryan Smith, the MJHL’s coach of the year last season, now is the general manager and head coach of the SJHL’s Humboldt Broncos. He replaces Dean Brockman, who now is an assistant coach with the Saskatoon Blades. Smith, from Winnipeg, has a three-year contract with the Broncos. . . . Smith spent five seasons as the GM/head coach with the MJHL’s Selkirk Steelers.
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Darren Komonoski is back with the junior B Revelstoke Grizzlies, as assistant coach and goaltending coach. Komonoski returns to the Grizzlies after stepping aside for a couple of years. He also works with the BCHL’s Salmon Arm SilverBacks. . . . A native of Humboldt, Sask., Komonoski, who lives in Revelstoke, will work with GM/head coach Ryan Parent. The Grizzlies play in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.
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Matt Cockell (Saskatoon, Seattle, Regina, Spokane, 1996-99) is back with the Brandon Wheat Kings as their goaltending coach. Cockell, from Winnipeg, spent the past two seasons with Hockey Canada after being part of the Wheat Kings’ coaching staff. He was the goaltending coach with the Canadian women’s team that won gold at the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi last season. . . . While Cockell was gone, Brent Zelenwich had served as Brandon’s goaltending coach.
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Fernando Pisani, a native of Edmonton who played 402 regular-season games with the Oilers, has joined the U of Alberta Golden Bears as the lead assistant to head coach Ian Herbers. Pisani, 37, was the club’s part-time assistant last season; he now is full-time. He fills the spot created when Ryan Marsh left the Golden Bears to sign on as an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oil Kings.
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D MacKenzie Johnston (Kelowna, Prince Albert, Saskatoon, 2009-2014) will attend Mount Royal University and play for the Cougars. A native of Swift Current, Johnston played out his junior eligibility last season, splitting it between the Kelowna Rockets, Prince Albert Raiders and Saskatoon Blades. . . . D Dylan Busenius (Medicine Hat, Prince Albert, Saskatoon), who also played out his junior eligibility last season, has decided to attend the U of Calgary and play for the Dinosaurs. . . . F Connor Sanvido (Seattle, Swift Current, Saskatoon, 2009-13) will attend St. Thomas U in Fredericton, N.B., and play for the Tommies. Sanvido, the 14th overall pick in the WHL’s 2008 bantam draft, played three seasons with the Seattle Thunderbirds. He split last season between the Swift Current Broncos and Saskatoon Blades as he completed his junior eligibility. . . . A tip of the hat to Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix for tweeting all three of those moves.
The Brandon Wheat Kings revealed Thursday that they have sold 1,907 season tickets, “a slight increase over what the club had sold at the same time last summer.” The Wheat Kings sold more than “2,300 season tickets” last season when their average regular-season attendance was 3,529. . . . The Wheat Kings also announced that Russian D Ivan Provorov, 17, will report to training camp on Aug. 23. Provorov, who played with the USHL’s Cedar Rapids Roughriders last season, was selected in the 2014 CHL import draft. In 2012-13, he played midget hockey in Wilkes-Barre Scranton, Penn.

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Hey @HockeyCanada see this yet ? 30km West of Flin Flon, MB, side of hwy, saluting double gold in Sochi #ourgame pic.twitter.com/9uvADjrnht
— Evan Hammond (@HamWilder) August 15, 2014

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