WHL in eye of LGBT storm? ... Butcher, Polei get 2017-18 AHL deals ... DraftGeek guide available, too

In all my years covering junior hockey, I've never seen love for a player like this! Fans lined up to say good-bye to Tyler Wong! #whl #yql pic.twitter.com/UH3ZpXaIDc

— Pat Siedlecki (@radiopat258) May 2, 2017

——

F Ben Maxwell (Kootenay, 2003-08) has signed a one-year contract with Spartak Moscow (Russia, KHL). This season, he had eight goals and seven assists in 48 games with Sochi (Russia, KHL). He was an alternate captain. . . .

D Rory Rawlyk (Medicine Hat, Vancouver, Prince Albert, Red Deer, 2000-03) has signed a one-year contract with Memmingen (Germany, Oberliga). This season, he had three goals and 12 assists in 21 games with Brașov (Romania, MOL Liga), one goal and one assist in 14 games with the Florida Everblades (ECHL), and four goals and five assists in 25 games with the Atlanta Gladiators (ECHL). . . .

D Jonathan Harty (Everett, 2004-08) has signed a one-year contract with Székesfehérvár (Hungary, Erste Bank Liga). This season, with Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia, Erste Bank Liga), he had five goals and eight assists in 23 games. He also had two goals and 15 assists in 26 games with the Heilbronner Falken (Germany, DEL2).

———

F Jaret Anderson-Dolan of the Spokane Chiefs will be a first-round selection in next month’s NHL draft. He made sure of that by putting up 76 points, including 39 goals, this season as a 17-year-old sophomore.

But it is his commitment to excellence that makes him really special, that and the fact that he has two

JARET ANDERSON-DOLAN

mothers. Josh Horton of the Spokane Spokesman-Review has written a terrific story about Anderson-Dolan and it’s all right here, including this:

“Jaret hears other players talk smack to him on the ice about his two moms, although it happens less in the WHL because he’s a respected player within the league.

“But that’s far from the worst prejudice and discrimination he’s experienced.

“When Anderson-Dolan was going through the WHL bantam draft process, some teams told him and his family they would not take him because of his two mothers.

“Anderson-Dolan, with the talent to be picked in the top five of the (2014) draft, slipped all the way to No. 14 to Spokane.”

As Anderson-Dolan told Horton: “I can’t change people’s opinions. If that’s how they feel about it, I’d honestly rather not be in that organization if they’re going to be like that. I’d rather be in an organization with the Chiefs where they support it completely.

“Maybe that ended up with me falling in the draft a little bit, but I don’t really care, honestly.”

Really, WHL? In 2014, three short years ago, there were teams that took the low road on this? There were teams who chose not to draft a highly talented player because he grew up in a household with two moms? Really?

The WHL has to be better than this. Perhaps this will make its way on to the agenda for its annual meeting in June. In the meantime, I’m thinking that we haven’t heard the end of this, at least not on social media. There were indications on Twitter last night that a storm is brewing.

——

It turns out there is another bantam draft guide available, this one put together by DraftGeek, which is hooked up with the gang at DUBNetwork. . . . While Western Elite Hockey Prospects, which was mentioned in this space yesterday, has D Kaiden Guhle ranked No. 1, the crew at DraftGeek is going with F Connor McClennon of the Pursuit of Excellence. . . . DraftGeek’s guide, which may be purchased right here, features its top 180 skaters and 25 goaltenders, who are eligible for Thursday’s bantam draft. . . . There also are thumbnails of each of the top 180, a mock first round, a list of the top 10 U.S.-born prospects, and DraftGeek’s top 22 2003-born prospects.

——

The Bakersfield Condors have signed F Chad Butcher and F Evan Polei to AHL contracts for 2017-18. Butcher played out his junior eligibility with the Medicine Hat Tigers, while Polei did the same with the Red Deer Rebels. . . . Butcher, from Kamloops, put up 103 points, including 76 assists, in 68 games this season. In four seasons, he had 259 points, 82 of them goals, in 301 games. . . . Polei, from Wetaskiwin, Alta., had 33 goals and 29 assists in 69 games this season. In 242 career games, he had 131 points, including 72 goals. He actually finished this season with the Condors, getting into one game and recording one minor penalty. . . . The Condors are the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers.

——

Two players off the Kelowna Rockets’ roster are off to the AHL. . . . F Dillon Dube has joined the Stockton Heat, a team whose head coach is Ryan Huska, a former Rockets’ assistant coach and head coach. Dube was a second-round selection by the Calgary Flames, the Heat’s parent club, in the 2016 NHL draft. This season, he had 55 points, 20 of them goals, in 40 games. He missed the start of the WHL season with a knee injury incurred at the Flames’ training camp. . . . Dube’s stay was a short one as the Heat’s season ended last night when it fell 2-1 in OT, on a shorthanded goal, to the San Jose Barracuda. San Jose won the best-of-five series, 3-2. . . . D Lucas Johansen will finish the season with the Hershey Bears, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Washington Capitals. He was the 28th overall selection in the NHL’s 2016 draft. This season, he had 41 points, including 35 assists, in 68 games. . . . Dube and Johansen both have signed three-year entry-level NHL contracts.

——

The OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads are scheduled to open the OHL’s championship series on Thursday in Erie, Pa., against the Otters.

On Tuesday, Rogers TV shut down channels in Brampton, Mississauga, Richmond Hill and Toronto.

This apparently won’t impact the televising of the OHL’s final series — it’s called the Rogers OHL Championship Series — but there are expected to be changes before another regular-season arrives.

In Western Canada, Shaw TV announced last week that it was shutting down three stations — in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. That means that the WHL on Shaw, which is in its 13th season, will end its run with the conclusion of this season’s championship series.

——

Greg Fettes and Matt Cockell, the new owners of the @WHLKootenayICE, met w/ mayor Lee Pratt and biz community today. All excited for future. pic.twitter.com/Gn9r2BaAGm

— Trevor Crawley (@tcrawls) May 3, 2017

——

D Ben Verrall, who played one game with the Prince Albert Raiders in 2013-14, will attend York U in Toronto and play for the Lions. Verrall, from Saskatoon, played the past three seasons with the BCHL’s Cowichan Valley Capitals. He will turn 21 on Aug. 10. . . . In three BCHL seasons, he had eight goals and 21 assists in 132 games.

——

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.

If interested, you also are able to follow me on Twitter at @gdrinnan.

———

The BCHL’s Alberni Valley Bulldogs have signed Matt Hughes to a two-year contract, with an option for a third season, as general manager and head coach. Hughes had been the head coach of the U-18 Midget Prep team at the Pursuit of Excellence in Kelowna. . . . Hughes also has coaching experience in the AJHL and NAHL, as well as in the BCHL with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. . . . Hughes takes over from Kevin Willison, who was fired after this season. He had been with the Bulldogs for six seasons. . . . Alberni Valley finished 16-32-7-3 this season and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2012. . . . Evan Hammond, the radio voice of the Bulldogs, has a news release right here.

———

Terry Lake once again references my father's 1995 firing from Kamloops Blazers. https://t.co/ji4J1wfIil

— Scott Brown 😐 (@BrownieScott) May 2, 2017

———

MONDAY-THURSDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

No Games Scheduled.

——

FRIDAY’S GAME (all times local):

Seattle at Regina, 7 p.m. (Game 1)

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.

Gow decides to end his WHL career

F Michal Řepík (Vancouver, 2005-08) has signed a one-year contract with the Lahti Pelicans (Finland, Liiga). Last season, with Lev Prague (Czech Republic, KHL), he had 12 points, eight of them goals, in 51 games. . . .
F Vladimir Dolnik (Everett, 2011-12) has signed a tryout contract with Kitzbühel (Austria, Inter-National-League). Last season, with Banská Bystrica U20 (Slovakia, U20 Extraliga), he had 10 points, including five goals, in eight games. He also was pointless in 19 games with Banská Bystrica (Slovakia, Extraliga), and had three goals and three assists in 16 games with Detva (Slovakia, 1. Liga). . . .
D Kenton Smith (Calgary, 1995-2000) has signed a one-year contract with the Swindon Wildcats (England, Premier). Last season, with the Braehead Clan Glasgow (Scotland, UK Elite), he had 14 points, including five goals, in 41 games. Smith signed with Swindon to be closer to his family in Cardiff, Wales.
---



The Spokane Chiefs have taken something of a roster hit with the news that D Reid Gow has decided not to return for his 20-year-old season.
Gow, who is from Killarney, Man., also was the team captain. The 16th overall selection in the 2009 bantam draft, he played four seasons with the Chiefs. Last season, he had 62 points, including 56 assists in 65 games. Only four defencemen finished with more points, while he was the Chiefs’ third-leading scorer, behind F Mitch Holmberg and F Mike Aviani, both of whom were 20 last season.
In 229 regular-season games, Gow had 146 points, including 129 assists.
“I have spoken with Reid numerous times over the summer and he has informed me that he does not want to play in the WHL for his overage year,” Tim Speltz, the Chiefs’ general manager, said in a news release. “Reid said he has lost his desire to compete and does not have the drive to play in this league. He has decided to stay home and be close to family and friends.
“As an organization, we hope Reid reconsiders, but at this time, it is important for us to be prepared to move forward without him. He was a huge part of our team last year, but we understand the commitment and dedication it takes for a player to play at this level of competition.
"Although I do not agree with Reid's decision, our organization must accept and respect it. I will continue to have communication with him, but I am not confident any change in his decision is imminent."
The Chiefs’ roster now is down to three 20-year-olds -- F Connor Chartier, F Marcus Messier and F Liam Stewart.
Not that long ago, the Chiefs had six 20s on their roster, but Gow now is out of the picture, while D Cole Wedman was dealt to the Moose Jaw Warriors and F Carter Proft has signed with the Kassel Huskies (Germany, DEL).
---
You may be aware that there has been a huge hue and cry in the U.S., over comments made by talking head Stephen A. Smith on an ESPN yap fest last week. It all had to do with the two-game suspension issued by the NFL to Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice following an incident of domestic abuse.
Smith, who gives all of us a good reason not to watch those talk shows, spoke without thinking, as he is wont to do.
Anyway . . . Cathal Kelly of The Globe and Mail takes a good look at that situation right here.
Meanwhile, Sally Jenkins of the Washington Post makes sure that she’s not on Smith’s Christmas card list with this piece right here. When Jenkins got through with Smith, he was more done than a Christmas turkey.
---
THE COACHING GAME:
The junior B Nelson Leafs, who play in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, have lost their head coach before they played even one game with him behind their bench. . . . Matt Hughes, who was hired in May, resigned on the weekend and now is with the Kelowna-based Pursuit of Excellence. . . . Bruce Fuhr of the Nelson Daily has more right here.
---
Shayne Toporowski (Prince Albert, 1991-95) is the new head coach of the Worcester State Lancers. Toporowski, 38, takes over from John Guiney, who resigned after 22 seasons as head coach. . . . Jennifer Toland of the Worcester Telegram has more right here.
---
Former NHL D Todd Gill has signed on with the Adirondack Flames as an assistant coach. The Flames are the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Calgary Flames. . . . Gill had been the head coach of the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs for three seasons. However, he was dumped after last season, when his side blew a 3-0 lead to the Peterborough Petes in a first-round playoff series. . . . In Adirondack, he’ll work alongside head coach Ryan Huska, formerly of the Kelowna Rockets.
---

I'm more & more appreciative to have lived when Terry Fox was alive. As @Taggart7 said, his birthday – today – should be a Canadian holiday.
— Adam Proteau (@Proteautype) July 28, 2014

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.

Oil Kings fighting a curse? Some WHL coaching rumours . . .

F Ned Lukacevic (Spokane, Swift Current, 2001-06) has signed a one-year extension with the Fife Flyers (Scotland, UK Elite). Lukacevic started this season with Tohoku Free Blades Hachinohe (Japan, Asia HL), putting up seven points, two of them goals, in 10 games. . . . He signed with the Bakersfield Condors (ECHL) on Oct. 22 and was pointless in one game. He was claimed on waivers on Oct. 28 by the Reading Royals (ECHL) and scored twice in nine games. He signed with Fife on Dec. 14 and had 44 points, 15 of them goals in 34 games. . . . The Fife head coach is Todd Dutiaume (Brandon, 1991-94), who has been at Fife as a player, player-coach, or coach since 1998-99.
---


1. Ken Campbell of The Hockey News has seen enough of the present Memorial Cup tournament format that includes a sometimes undeserving host team. It’s time, he writes right here, for the Canadian Hockey League to come up with something different. . . . Campbell doesn’t seem to have a problem with the round-robin format, but I do. It just isn’t right to take teams that, for the most part, have just played and won four best-of-seven series and stick them into a championship that uses a round-robin format. Throw in a host team that perhaps didn’t get out of the first or second round of its league playoffs and you have a recipe for disaster. . . . Unfortunately, the host team format presents the CHL with a license to print money, so we never will see the major junior championship decided in a best-of-seven series. And that’s too bad. . . . (If you are wondering, I would have the champions of two leagues play off to see which one would meet the third league for the Memorial Cup. I would rotate the bye to the final each season.)

2. Bud Selig is to step down as the commissioner of Major League Baseball in January. Yes, there is a move afoot to find a successor. It appears that Selig knows who he wants to take over. But is there agreement among the owners? Michael S. Schmidt of The New York Times has an intriguing story right here.

3. F Jake Virtanen of the Calgary Hitmen has undergone shoulder surgery to repair damage suffered this season. Virtanen will be sidelined for up to six months. He will attend the NHL combine later this month but won’t be able to take part in any of the fitness tests. . . . Virtanen, the No. 1 pick in the 2011 bantam draft, had 71 points, 45 of them goals, in 71 games this season, his second in the WHL. He will turn 18 on Aug. 17.

4. The Royal Bank of Canada and the Toronto-Dominion Bank showed profits of more than $2 billion for the second straight quarter. . . . RBC was at $2.2 billion; while TD showed up at $2.1 billion. . . . Meanwhile, Canada Post lost $28 million in its first quarter. . . . Dear Canada Post: Perhaps you should go into the banking business.

5. G Dustin Tokarski is the flavour of the day, having backstopped the Montreal Canadiens to a 3-2 OT victory over the host New York Rangers on Thursday night. . . . If you aren’t aware, he was cut by six or seven midget AAA teams in Saskatchewan before the Prince Albert Mintos gave him a chance. Later, two WHL teams dropped him before he caught on with the Spokane Chiefs. . . . In fact, his mother, Darlene, emailed Mike Mazurak, the Mintos’ GM, to see if he needed a goaltender and the rest, including a national midget AAA championship, is history. As Mazurak told the Saskatoon StarPhoenix six years ago: “She sends me that email every year just to remind me.” . . . If you would like to read more about the legend of Dustin Tokarski, which includes Memorial Cup and World Junior titles, the StarPhoenix story, written by Darren Zary, is right here.

6. In 2008, G Dustin Tokarski was part of the Spokane Chiefs team that won the Memorial Cup, beating the host Kitchener Rangers 4-1 in the final. . . . You may recall that it was following that game when the Memorial Cup, as it was being cuddled by Chiefs captain Chris Bruton, broke into two pieces. . . . The WHL hasn’t held the Memorial Cup since that incident. . . . Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun, who wonders if the Oil Kings aren’t up against a curse at this Memorial Cup in London, Ont., has more right here.
---
THE COACHING GAME:
Suddenly, there are more names mentioned for the Vancouver Giants’ head-coaching vacancy than minority owner Michael Buble has songs in his repertoire. . . . News 1130 Sports tweeted early Thursday that Perry Pearn is “very high” on the list. “Coaching search not done,” the tweet read, “but Pearn emerging as leader.” . . . Earlier, News 1130 Sports had tweeted that Pearn, Marc Habscheid and Tim Hunter are “just some of the names who have applied” for the job. . . . Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province reports that the Giants “apparently” talked with former Portland Winterhawks head coach Travis Green, who is the head coach of the Utica Comets, the Vancouver Canucks’ AHL affiliate. According to Ewen, Green “told them that he wants to stay in the pro ranks.” . . . Ewen also reports that former Saskatoon Blades F Jason Christie, now the head coach with the ECHL’s Ontario Reign, “is said to be on the Giants’ radar,” as is Edmonton Oil Kings’ assistant coach Steve Hamilton. . . . I was told Thursday that the Saskatoon Blades, who are in need of a general manager and head coach, also are wanting to chat with Hamilton, who is kind of busy at the Memorial Cup these days. Hamilton is wrapping up his fourth season as an assistant with the Oil Kings. Of course, should Edmonton head coach Derek Laxdal move on after what has been another successful season, perhaps Hamilton would be in line for a promotion. When former GM Bob Green moved to the parent Edmonton Oilers, it was his assistant, Randy Hansch, who moved up, so there is at least some history in the organization of promoting from within.
---
Matt Hughes is the new general manager and head coach of the junior B Nelson Leafs of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. Hughes, who was born in Fort St. John, B.C., and raised in Kamloops, was fired earlier this month after one season as general manager and head coach of the AJHL’s Grande Prairie Storm. He has previous head-coaching experience in the KIJHL with the Columbia Valley Rockies. . . . Larry Martel, the interim president of the society that operates the Leafs, told the Nelson Daily that “there were 28 very good candidates from all over North America who applied. We interviewed eight the committee felt were the very best.” . . . Hughes takes over from Frank Maida, who resigned in April.
---
Jay Wells has joined the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit as an assistant coach. Wells, a veteran of 18 seasons as an NHL defenceman, spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach with the OHL’s Barrie Colts. . . . Wells and Spirit head coach Greg Gilbert played together on the 1993-94 New York Rangers, who won the Stanley Cup. . . . The Spirit, which earlier added former NHLer Phil Myre as its goaltending coach, also announced that associate coach John Kisil is returning.
---
Head coach Brad Ralph and the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads have reached agreement on a two-year contract extension that will take him through 2016-17. The 33-year-old Ralph, who also is director of hockey operations, has been with Idaho for two seasons, reaching the playoffs in both. The Steelheads got into the second round this season, after losing out in the Western Conference final a year ago.
---
Luke Strand is the new general manager and head coach of the Madison Capitols, who are preparing for their first season in the USHL. . . . Strand spent this season as general manager of the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers. From 2009-11, he was Sioux City’s head coach. He also has coach in the AHL, as an assistant coach with the Houston Aeros (2007-09) and Abbotsford Heat (2011-13). . . . With the Capitols, he replaces Steve Miller, who resigned last weekend.
---

MEMORIAL CUP
(at London, Ont., all times Eastern)
(all games televised by Sportsnet)
Friday: Val-d’Or 1, London 0 (8,863)
Saturday: Guelph 5, Edmonton 2 (8,842)
Sunday: Edmonton 5, London 2 (8,863)
Monday: Guelph 6, Val-d’Or 3 (8,796)
Tuesday: Val-d’Or 4, Edmonton 3 (2OT) (8,745)
Wednesday: Guelph 7, London 2 (8,863)
Thursday: No game scheduled.
Friday: Semifinal, 7 p.m.
Saturday: No game scheduled.
Sunday: Final, 4 p.m.
---

THURSDAY’S GAME:
No game scheduled.
---





 From Vancouver Giants F Cain Franson (@frannyy12): “I asked my dad if he wanted something from the ice cream shop, he replied with ‘do they sell six packs there?’ #carl #whatabeauty #role model”
---
From Adam Proteau (@Proteautype) of The Hockey News: “I'm sorry, but if you sit in public just chewing on a cigar, I reserve the right to imagine you talking like The Penguin from Batman.”

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.

Hay faced with real challenge in Kamloops

Don Hay is about to become a familiar figure in Kamloops again.
(Photo by Christopher Mast / www.mastimages.com)

THE MacBETH REPORT:


D Lukáš Pulpán (Vancouver, 2003-04) has signed a three-year contract with Plzeň (Czech Republic, Extraliga). This season with Chomutov (Czech Republic, Extraliga), he had 13 points, two of them goals, in 42 games. . . .



F Antonín Honejsek (Moose Jaw, 2009-11) has signed a one-year contract with the Espoo Blues (Finland, Liiga). This season with Zlin (Czech Republic, Extraliga), he had 24 points, 15 of them goals, in 45 games. . . .

F Alex Leavitt (Swift Current, Everett, 2003-05) has signed a one-year contract with the Ravensburg Towerstars (Germany, DEL2). Leavitt started this season with Oskarshamn (Sweden, Allsvenskan), earning three points, including a goal, in 10 games. He signed with Aalborg (Denmakr, Metal Ligaen) on Oct. 22 and went on record 61 points, including 22 goals, in 32 games. He led the Metal Ligaen in scoring and was named to the second all-star team.
---
For those who were wondering, there wasn’t a parade in Kamloops on Friday.
With the announcement by the Vancouver Giants on Thursday that Don Hay was leaving their organization after 10 years to return to coaching the Kamloops Blazers, perhaps you expected something of a celebration, say a party topped off with cake and fireworks at Riverside Park.
After all, Hay, one of the legendary figures in Kamloops’ history, is on his way home. He is a member of the Kamloops Sports Hall of Fame and the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame.
If you missed it, the Giants have let Hay out of the last year of his contract, allowing him to return to his hometown and try to restore the lustre to a franchise that won three Memorial Cup titles with him on the coaching staff. Hay was an assistant coach, under Tom Renney, in 1992 and the head coach in 1994 and 1995.
(Interestingly, the Giants made the announcement on Thursday, at 5 p.m. The Blazers didn’t issue a news release until Friday morning and have yet to hold a news conference to re-introduce him to a city where he, Ken Hitchcock or Bob Brown could be mayor should any one of them choose to run.
(Exactly how is Hay looked upon in these parts? My wife and I had coffee with an old friend last night. She hasn’t been to any more than a handful of Blazers games in recent years, but now is talking about buying a season ticket. Why? “Because,” she said, “it was so much fun back then.”)
These days, however, the Blazers aren’t even a shadow of the Memorial Cup teams.
After making a run to the Western Conference final a year ago, the Blazers have just suffered through the worst season in franchise history. They went 10-29-5 with Dave Hunchak as head coach, 0-1-0 with Mark Ferner running the bench, and finished up 4-23-0 with Guy Charron in charge. Add it up and the Blazers were 14-53-5.
What it means is that Hay has stepped into a job that is going to offer him the biggest challenge of his career.
The first time Hay stepped in as the Blazers’ head coach, after six seasons as an assistant, he took over a team that had gone 51-17-4 before winning the WHL championship and the Memorial Cup.
In 1998-99, he moved in as head coach of the Tri-City Americans, a team that was 17-49-6 (that’s six ties) the previous season, and they went 43-23-6. That team was swept from the Western Conference final by a Blazers team under head coach Marc Habscheid.
In 2004-05, Hay was back in the WHL as head coach of the Vancouver Giants, a team that was 33-24-9-6 (nine ties and six overtime losses) the previous season. His first season there was the franchise’s fourth and the Giants finished 34-30-4-4 before losing a first-round series in six games to the Kelowna Rockets.
Now, Hay takes over a team that scored 175 goals, the second-poorest total in the 22-team league. Sheesh, his two Memorial Cup-championship teams scored 381 and 375 goals. Yes, that was then and this is now, but that’s a 200-goal differential.
This season’s Blazers also gave up 305 goals and only two teams were poorer defensively.
Still, Hay proved in his first season with the Americans that, yes, miracles do happen on ice. Perhaps he can pull off another one in Kamloops.
At the end of the day, though, Blazers’ fans, especially those who continue to revel in those Memorial Cup victories of the mid-1990s, are going to have to realize that this isn’t about next season. It’s a cliché but this about Hay having to change the culture, to get this team playing Hay hockey, which means a team that is incredibly hard to play against, and then taking it from there.
That’s something that seemed to disappear in Vancouver about the time that gritty and pesky Brendan Gallagher graduated to the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens, and perhaps that wasn’t a coincidence.
Time will tell whether Hay, the winningest active coach in the WHL, still has that magic.
The great part of this story is that should this be the last stop of the 60-year-old Hay‘s coaching career, he will finish up among friends and family.
His mother, along with a brother and a sister, live in Kamloops, as do various relatives and in-laws. Hay and his wife, Vicki, have twin daughters -- Angela, who is married to former WHL goaltender Thomas Vicars, lives in Salmon Arm with their two daughters; Ashly lives in Kamloops with her fiancé. You bet that Grandpa is going to love being closer to his granddaughters.
Son Darrell, who played for his father in Tri-City, is 34 now and is a free agent, waiting to see whether there will another season in his career. After three seasons in Europe, he played this season in Japan, and will split the summer between Kamloops and Boise, Idaho.
Darrell is at the stage of his career where he is trying to look ahead. What about coaching?
“I would love to try it to see if I have the chops for it one day,” he told me yesterday.
Well, he played two seasons for his father with the Americans. Maybe the two could co-exist on the same coaching staff. It would be in their hometown and how neat would that be?
---



1. Is it just me, or does it seem like a month has passed since the WHL’s conference finals came to an end? In other words, Game 1 of the final can’t come soon enough.

2. The OHL’s championship final is 1-1 after the visiting North Bay Battalion beat the Guelph Storm 4-3 in OT on Friday night. . . . F Barclay Goodrow won it at 2:30 of extra time with his 12th goal of these playoffs. . . . The Storm had won the opener, 3-2 in OT, on Thursday night. That one needed just 57 seconds of extra time. . . . Last night, the Storm held a 2-0 lead in the first period and was up 3-2 in the third. . . . F Robby Fabbri scored twice for the Storm. . . . The Battalion forced OT when F Nick Paul scored on the PP at 14:32 of the third period. . . . Game 3 is scheduled for Tuesday in North Bay.

3. In the QMJHL final, G Philippe Cadorette stopped 19 shots and F Charles Hudon had two goals as the host Baie-Comeau Drakkar beat the Val-d’Or Foreurs 3-0 on Friday night in Game 1 of the final. . . . F Jeremy Gregoire helped out with a goal and two assists. . . . Game 2 is scheduled for tonight in Baie-Comeau.

4. How do you feel if you are a long-time fan of the Houston Rockets? . . . A tweet from ESPN Stats and Info after last night’s game in Portland: “The last 2 buzzer-beaters to win playoff series both came vs Rockets -- Damian Lillard tonight & John Stockton in 1997. @EliasSports”

5. Dan Russell and his son, Ben, were in the crowd for last night’s NBA game in Portland. What a way for Russell to spend his first night after signing off on a 30-year career as host of Sportstalk, his Vancouver-based radio show. . . . Russell will be calling the play tonight as the Edmonton Oil Kings and host Portland Winterhawks open the WHL’s championship final for the Ed Chynoweth Cup on Shaw TV.

6. Here’s an interesting Friday tweet from an interesting guy, Kyle Beach (@KBeachy12): “Congrats to all the players selected in the @TheWHL #BantamDraft! In particular the ones joining the @WHLsilvertips and @chiefs hockey.” . . . Beach also played for the Lethbridge Hurricanes, but perhaps he didn’t enjoy himself there as much as he did in Spokane and Everett.
---

The Spokane Chiefs have acquired G Alex Moodie from the Saskatoon Blades for a fourth-round selection in the 2016 bantam draft. Moodie was a fifth-round pick by the Blades in 2010. . . . Moodie, 19, is from Winnipeg. He got into 28 games with the Blades this season, going 7-18-2, 4.29, .894 on a team that didn’t come close to making the playoffs. . . . The Chiefs are looking to fill the vacancy created by the graduation of G Eric Williams. . . . "We feel Garret Hughson has earned the opportunity to be a starter in the WHL and if Alex Moodie can regain the form he showed as a young goaltender, we'll have two capable starting goaltenders,” Spokane GM Tim Speltz said in a news release. “We also expect Tyson Verhelst is ready to make the jump to the WHL, so we have good depth and competition for our goaltending position." . . . Verhelst, from Brandon, is prepping for his 17-year-old season. He was a third-round selection in the 2012 bantam draft. . . . Moodie’s best stint with the Blades came in 2011-12 when he joined them from his midget AAA team in Winnipeg in December and went 9-3-0, 3.42, .895.
Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix has more on this trade right here.
---

THE COACHING GAME:
The AJHL’s Grande Prairie Storm fired general manager and head coach Matt Hughes on Friday. The moves come after the Storm went 21-36-3-1 in his first season as GM/head coach and missed the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. . . . Logan Clow of the Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune has more right here.
---


THE FOURTH ROUND (best-of-seven; all times local):
WHL final, for the Ed Chynoweth Cup
(x - if necessary)
(All games televised live by Shaw)
(All games televised by Root Sports -- Game 2 live, others on delayed basis)
PORTLAND (2, West) vs. Edmonton (1, East)
Season series: Portland, 0-0-1; Edmonton, 1-0-0.
Saturday: Edmonton at Portland, 7 p.m. (Moda Center)
Sunday: Edmonton at Portland, 5 p.m. (Moda Center)
Tuesday: Portland at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Portland at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
x-Friday: Edmonton at Portland, 7 p.m. (Moda Center)
x-Sunday, May 11: Portland at Edmonton, 4 p.m.
x-Monday, May 12: Edmonton at Portland, 7 p.m. (Moda Center)
INJURIES
Portland: None.
Edmonton: None.
---
FRIDAY’S GAME:
No game scheduled.

There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.

Kosterman on the move

Czech F Jiri Fronk won’t be joining the WHL’s Victoria Royals this season. . . . Cleve Dheensaw of the Victoria Times Colonist reports that the Royals “lost to the KLH Chomutov Under-20s without a puck being fired.” . . . The Royals selected Fronk, 19, in the CHL’s 2013 import draft, but the IIHF has ruled that his contract with Chomutov is valid. . . .  “It was a reasoned written decision. That’s that,” Cam Hope, the Royals’ general manager, told Dheensaw. “It’s obviously disappointing but there’s nothing we can do about it. We have to respect the process because we rely on it both ways.” . . . The Royals are left with one import on their roster — G Patrik Polivka, 19, from Plzen, Czech Republic. . . . Dheensaw’s story is right here.
———
The Prince George Cougars have acquired D Peter Kosterman, 20, from the Calgary Hitmen for two bantam draft picks — a fourth-rounder in 2014 and sixth in 2015. . . . The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Kosterman, who is from Calgary, is preparing for his fifth WHL season. He was a first-round selection, 19th overall, by the HItmen in the 2008 bantam draft. He had 32 points in 234 games with Calgary. . . . The Cougars now have two 20-year-olds on their roster, the other being F Klarc Wilson.
———
It was mentioned here yesterday that Calgary Hitmen F Pavel Padakin and Kamloops Blazers F Devin Oakes, both of whom drew three-game WHL suspensions, would miss one exhibition game and two regular-season games. . . . Actually, each already had served one game, so were left with one exhibition game and one regular-season game to serve.
———
The Red Deer Rebels have added F Kailum Gervais, 18, to their roster. Gervais, 6-foot-0 and 200 pounds, played the last two seasons with the SJHL’s Yorkton Terriers, putting up 48 points, including 16 goals, and 126 penalty minutes in 85 games. . . . Gervais is coming off a knee injury, so will be given some time to skate his way into shape with the Rebels. . . . Greg Meachem of the Red Deer Advocate has more right here.
———
D Tyler Yaworski, who played the last four seasons in the WHL, has signed with the Central league’s Quad City Mallards where he will play for former WHL player and coach Terry Ruskowski. . . . Yaworski played last season with the Brandon Wheat Kings, putting up 12 points in 63 games. In 227 regular-season games, he had 47 points and 595 penalty minutes. . . . Yaworski is scheduled to go to camp with the AHL’s Iowa Wild.
———
The AJHL’s Grande Prairie Storm announced late Wednesday morning that it has “parted company with general manager Blaine Bablitz due to philosophical differences.” . . . The move came three weeks after Bablitz stepped aside as head coach to become a full-time GM. . . . Head coach Matt Hughes now also is the general manager. . . . Logan Clow of the Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune has more right here.
———
Oscar De La Hoya always wanted to shut up Floyd Mayweather. But the Golden Boy was never able to accomplish that in a boxing ring. And now, when his guy, Saúl Álvarez, who also is known as Canelo, has the opportunith to do just that on Saturday, De La Hoya won’t be there — he is back in rehab, trying to deal with his demons. . . . Greg Bishop of The New York Times takes a look right here.
———






From Pat Siedlecki (@radiopat258), the radio voice of the Lethbridge Hurricanes: “Great news for the @WHLHurricanes. (D) Ryan Pilon cleared by doctors to practice. He's been out with mono. Might play game 3 of reg season.”
———
From Chris Dilks (@ChrisDilks) of westerncollegehockeyblog.com: “Maple Grove HS forward Josh Passolt will play for Prince Albert (WHL) this year.”

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.

Raiders to honour Modano

THE MacBETH REPORT:


F Johannes Salmonsson (Spokane, 2005-06) signed a two-year contract extension with Linköping (Sweden, SHL). He had 10 goals and 11 assists in 53 games last season.
———

The Canadian Medical Association, at a meeting in Calgary, has condemned NHL owners for their acceptance of violence in the game.
According to The Canadian Press: “Two-thirds of delegates . . . voted ‘to condemn the complacency of the NHL in regards to violence in hockey.’ ”
The complete story is right here.
———
Meanwhile, a study published online in the journal Neurology on Wednesday, deals with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and the impact it may have on different people.
Sheryl Ubelacker of The Canadian Press has that story right here, and this is important stuff.
———
In their 43-year history, the Prince Albert Raiders have never retired a number. That will change on Nov. 1 when the Raiders retire F Mike Modano’s No. 9. This will happen prior to a game against the visiting Regina Pats. . . . Modano had 295 points in 176 games over three seasons with the Raiders. . . . According to a Raiders’ news release: “A sub-committee of the Raiders Board of Directors extensively researched and deliberated the honour of retiring jerseys by junior hockey franchises, and created a very strict criteria from their findings for the Prince Albert Raiders Hockey Club. Following an evaluation of the criteria, the Board of Directors approved the retirement of Mike Modano’s number 9.” . . . Mayor Greg Dionne has declared Nov. 1 and 2 to be Mike Modano Weekend in Prince Albert. The weekend also will feature the Kinsmen Sportsman Dinner, with Modano as special guest. Former Raiders play-by-play voice Kevin Winters will be the emcee.
———
F Robin Soudek, who played in the WHL with the Edmonton Oil Kings, Chilliwack Bruins and Victoria Royals (2008-12), will attend the University of Prince Edward Island and play for the Panthers. Soudek, from Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, played pro in his home country last season but was limited to 11 games by injuries.
———
THE COACHING GAME:
The Edmonton Oil Kings have signed head coach Derek Laxdal to a two-year extension that runs through 2015-16. . . . Laxdal, 47, has been with the Oil Kings through three seasons and has gotten them into the last two WHL championship finals. The Oil Kings won it all in 2011-12 and were runners-up last season. . . . In his three seasons in Edmonton, the Oil Kings are 132-64-20. . . . Laxdal, who played in the WHL with the Brandon Wheat Kings and Portland Winterhawks, joined the Oil Kings from the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads, where he was director of hockey operations and head coach. The Steelheads won the Kelly Cup in 2007.
———
The BCHL’s West Kelowna Warriors have added Ryan Parent to their staff as an assistant coach and director of scouting. Parent, who lives in Vernon, most recently was general manager and head coach of the AJHL’s Lloydminster Bobcats. . . . Rylan Ferster, the Warriors’ GM/head coach, also announced that Cory Cross, who played more than 600 NHL games, will work with the team’s defencemen. . . . Brent Gough is back as assistant GM and associate coach. . . . Shae Naka, who had been on staff as an assistant coach, now is at Pursuit of Excellence.
———
The AJHL’s Grande Prairie Storm has moved Blaine Bablitz from general manager and head coach to strictly GM. He will serve as a full-time general manager and now will have more time to focus on those duties. . . . Matt Hughes, who is preparing for his second season with the Storm, is the new head coach. . . . Jim Lawrence and Adam Manah are the assistant coaches. Manah also is the head coach of Grande Prairie’s midget AAA team.
———
The junior B Revelstoke Grizzlies of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League have signed another coach. In fact, Darren Naylor has signed on as the general manager and head coach. . . . Naylor, who also has coached the KIJHL’s Columbia Valley Rockies, is the fourth head coach the Grizzlies have had this summer. . . . Naylor is a former WHLer (Victoria, Swift Current, 1987-90).
Alex Cooper of the Revelstoke Times Review has more right here.
———

From Vancouver broadcaster Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff): “Word at WHL Giants golf tournament is that Sportstalk is moving to CISL AM650 starting in October.”
Dan Russell, Shaw TV’s WHL play-by-play voice, is the host of the long-running Sportstalk on Vancouver radio station CKNW. His contract isn’t being renewed when it expires on Aug. 31.
———
Later, Russell (@DanRussellST) tweeted: “Rumours duly noted — but nothing official to announce regarding future of Sportstalk. #cautiouslyhopeful”


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.