THE MacBETH REPORT:
F John Lammers (Lethbridge, Everett, 2001-06) and F Tyler Spurgeon (Kelowna, 2001-06) each signed one-year contract extensions with Klagenfurt (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). . . . Lammers has 12 goals and 13 assists in 43 games. . . . Spurgeon has two goals and seven assists in seven games this season.
———
I was in the press box at Interior Savings Centre in Kamloops late Saturday night when I learned of the passing of Cal Murphy, who had been in a Regina hospital after experiencing a fall.
While I wasn’t surprised as I had heard Murphy was having health issues of late, I was saddened.
During a total of 22 years at the late, great Winnipeg Tribune and the Regina Leader-Post, I came in contact with a lot of football people. The one I remember the most is Murphy, who would have been 80 on March 12.
When he smiled, he lit up the room. And no one had a laugh — nay, a cackle — like he did.
Most people are aware that Murphy, after having had heart issues and at least two heart attacks, underwent a heart transplant in July of 1992 at the London, Ont., Health Sciences Centre.
No one loved the CFL more than did Murphy. Once he was able to leave the hospital in London, he returned to Winnipeg and one of his first stops was Winnipeg Stadium where he watched the Blue Bombers beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 59-11 in the East final.
In recent times, Murphy’s health hasn’t been terrific and in early 2010 he actually was on a respirator in a Regina hospital. A month after that episode, however, he was back searching for players on behalf of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.
Murphy spent three seasons on the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ coaching staff, starting in 1997. He was the director of football operations and head coach in 1999.
On Sept. 29, 1999, I underwent triple bypass surgery in a Regina hospital.
There was a gift basket from the Roughriders in the first batch of mail I received upon returning home.
Included was a card from Murphy, who had written: “I didn’t know you had a heart!!!”
I laughed because I could see that smile and I could hear him cackling as he wrote it.
Cal Murphy . . . he was one of a kind.
———
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to realize that the WHL has been hit by an epidemic of injuries.
The Red Deer Rebels, of course, are the best (worst?) example, but right now the Brandon Wheat Kings and Tri-City Americans also are hurting in a big, big way. The Saskatoon Blades also have had their injury woes.
The Medicine Hat Tigers have at least four regulars out of the lineup.
The Kelowna Rockets have fought the injury bug for most of the season, as have the Vancouver Giants.
And on and on it goes.
Yes, coaches regularly are heard to say that “all teams go through this” and “this gives other guys the opportunity to step up.”
That’s fine if a team is missing one, two or maybe even three players. But when a team has three or four players out on a long-term basis, it is going to catch up with it.
So . . . what do do?
I was told Sunday that there is some talk about WHL teams carrying 25 players next season. That would be an increase of two.
I would suggest that would be a good idea if the two added players both were 20 years of age. Why not increase the number of allowable 20-year-olds per roster to five from three?
That would raise the league’s maturity level, improve the level of entertainment and give some more veteran players a chance to prolong their WHL careers.
———
JUST NOTES:
I meant to mention this in yesterday’s notes, and it slipped through the cracks. . . . Saturday’s game between the visiting Calgary Hitmen and the Kamloops Blazers may have been the best-officiated game in Kamloops this season. Surely, the fact that referee Brent Montsion was working by himself was a coincidence. . . .
Say what you want about the Montreal Canadiens, but nobody does special ceremonies any better. The playing of Eagles’ New Kid in Town during Sunday’s tribute to the late Gary Carter was wonderful. . . .
If you were paying attention on the weekend, you may have seen former Montreal Canadiens head coach Jacques Martin in a WHL arena or two. He was checking out Tri-City Americans F Patrick Holland, a player the Habs acquired from the Calgary Flames earlier this season. . . . Martin is keeping busy. He was in Sweden not that long ago and has Denver and Boston on his itinerary.
———
SUNDAY’S GAMES:
The Western Conference now has five teams with playoff berths in their hip pockets. The Vancouver Giants clinched a spot Saturday and the Spokane Chiefs are in as of Sunday. . . . The sixth spot will go to the Kelowna Rockets. . . . The conference’s other four teams are going to scrap over the last two spots and it may well go down to the wire. Right now, there are two points separating the four teams. . . .
In the Eastern Conference, the chances are that the teams that are one through eight right now are the ones who will be in the playoffs. But the Red Deer Rebels, as injury ravaged as they are, obviously aren’t prepared to lay down for anyone. They won Sunday and are seven points back with 13 to play. . . . They couldn’t, could they?

In Vancouver, F Tyson Ness broke a 1-1 tie at 18:28 of the second period and the Red Deer Rebels went on to beat the Giants, 3-1. . . . F Charles Inglis scored his 18th goal just 18 seconds into the game for Red Deer. . . . F Riley Kieser got his fourth for the Giants at 14:25 of the second. . . . Ness has 15 goals. . . . F Turner Elson provided insurance with his 21st, but it didn’t come until 19:53 of the third. . . . Red Deer G Deven Dubyk stopped 29 shots, two fewer than Vancouver’s Adam Morrison. . . . Vancouver F Anthony Ast and F Marek Tvrdon both completed WHL suspensions by sitting out this one. . . . The Rebels, who were playing their third game in three nights, went 2-1-1 on a four-game swing into the B.C. Division. . . . Vancouver was playing its fifth game in six nights — it went 3-1-1, losing the last two, one of them in a shootout. . . . Vancouver D Neil Manning played in his 300th regular-season game, the first player to do that entirely in a Giants uniform. . . .

In Kent, Wash., G Mac Engel stopped 18 shots as the Spokane Chiefs beat the host Seattle Thunderbirds, 3-0. . . . It was Engel’s first shutout of the season; he has five in his career. . . . F Dominick Uher got the game’s first goal, his 25th, at 10:05 of the first period. F Colin Valcourt, with his 14th, and F Liam Stewart, with his 11th, also scored. . . . Seattle dressed 17 skaters, one under the maximum. . . . Seattle G Calvin Pickard stopped 31 shots. . . . The Chiefs snapped a four-game losing skid. . . . Seattle last won two in a row on Dec. 28 and 30. Since then, the Thunderbirds have lost 21 of 25.
———
SUNDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
F Mitch Elliot, Seattle.
D Corbin Baldwin, Spokane.
———
SUNDAY’S CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
F Scott Cooke, Vancouver.
———
Every Sunday, I fire up the Keurig coffee maker and read the Sunday papers online. One of my first stops is the Seattle Times, where I  check in with Ron Judd. His Sunday column is a piece of work. It really is. He obviously has a lifetime supply of darts and he uses them well. This week, Judd, who isn’t believed to be related to Naomi, Ashley or Wynonna, writes about the future of the NBA and NHL in Seattle. It is today’s good read and I dare you not to nod your head in agreement as you’re reading.
———
D Chris Pronger of the Philadelphia Flyers hasn’t shown any improvement with his post-concussion symptoms. This story, from Tim Panaccio of csnphilly.com, is rather frightening.
———
Just for kicks, click right here and read an obituary from the Casper Tribune. You won’t be disappointed.
———
Jim Jamieson of the Vancouver Province takes a look right here at D Nolan Baumgartner, who now plays for the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. He will saluted there on Friday for playing in his 1,000th professional game.
———
TWEET OF THE DAY:
From F Matt Kassian (@kassassination) after his Minnesota Wild beat the visiting Boston Bruins 2-0 on Sunday in a game that was televised by NBC-TV: “Funny thing — during a TV timeout tonight Pierre Mcguire leaned over and told me 7 or 8 detailed facts about my life that I didnt even know.”


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.

Riley Sheen of the Medicine Hat Tigers tweeted this picture,
showing the damage after a Friday night fight.

A TALE FROM THE WHL:
There is an arena that is home to a WHL team and there is a parking lot in behind that arena. Before and during the early portion of every game, said parking lot is patrolled by an attendant, who makes sure that drivers park in some kind of organized fashion.
Without the attendant’s work, chances are the rear entrance to the arena would end up blocked, thus keeping emergency vehicles from having access, if necessary.
Anyway . . .
This attendant rules with an iron fist.
And so it was that a vehicle full of on-ice officials pulled into the parking lot a couple of hours before a recent game.
The attendant approached the vehicle.
Attendant: What are you guys doing here?
One official: What do you mean?
Attendant: There’s no game here tonight.
One official, glancing at other vehicles in parking lot: What do you mean?
Attendant: Cirque de Soleil is here tonight.
One official: Ahh, (crap)! Well, is it OK if we park here while we make a phone call?
Attendant nods, turns and walks away.
Moments later, the official, pointing a finger, tells the attendant: That was a good one. But, remember, I don’t get mad . . . I get even.
———
JUST NOTES:
You have to admire the spunk of F Riley Sheen of the Medicine Hat Tigers. He got into a scrap with F Jordan Wyton of the host Moose Jaw Warriors on Friday night. It happened at 7:06 of the second period. Sheen, who was bloodied in the exchange, didn’t return. However, he later tweeted the photo that is seen above. . . .
F Connor Sanvido has been dropped by the Seattle Thunderbirds. He had 13 points, four of them goals, in 47 games. An 18-year-old from Maple Ridge, B.C., Sanvido was the 14th overall selection in the 2008 bantam draft. In 101 career regular-season games, he had 20 points, including seven goals. He last played for the Thunderbirds on Feb. 6. . . . Asked by blogger Mike Caccioppoli what happened, Seattle head coach Steve Konowalchuk replied: “He wasn't putting in the work we needed so we sent him home.” . . . On the Seattle stats page on the WHL website, Sanvido’s name now carries the red ‘x’ of a player no longer on the roster. . . .
When Matt Kassian played in the WHL (Vancouver, Kamloops, 2003-07), he always was a good interview. Obviously, that hasn’t changed. Chip Scoggins of the Minneapolis Star Tribune talks with Kassian right here about his role as an enforcer with the Minnesota Wild.
———
The QMJHL wraps its season around the Quebec school system schedule, which is why it starts its training camps in mid-August. This season, the QMJHL is going to open its regular season later than it has in the past, which means . . . well, here’s Willy Pavov of the Halifax Chronicle to tell us exactly what it means.
———
Somewhere on high the Dipsy Doodle Dandy from Delisle is smiling. The Delisle Chiefs of the junior B Prairie Junior Hockey League set a league record with a regular season-ending 23 straight victories as they ran their record to 32-8-0-0. They finished three points ahead of the Saskatoon Royals, who went 30-9-0-1 (the last digit represents ties), in the North Division. . . . In the South Division, Fort Knox is 31-5-0-3 with a game to play. . . . The Chiefs, under head coach Dave Norris, haven’t lost since Nov. 26 when they were beaten 5-2 by visiting Fort Knox. . . . The PJHL’s regular season ends with two games today. . . . For you youngsters out there, the late, great Max Bentley, a Hall of Famer, will forever be known as the Dipsy Doodle Dandy from Delisle. He was one of the brothers from one of hockey’s first families.
———
In the OHL, G Mark Visentin set a single-season shutout record as the Niagara IceDogs got past the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, 3-0. It was his 10th shutout of the season, breaking the record that had been held by Don Lockhart (Toronto Marlies, 1949-50). . . . Visentin, who has twice played for Canada’s national junior team, has put up his 10 shutouts in only 36 starts.
———
With the Tampa Bay Lightning clearly in a selling mode, you have to think there is hope for the Tri-City Americans and their fans. . . . F Brett Connolly played seven shifts totaling 5 minutes 15 seconds in Tampa Bay’s 2-1 victory over the visiting Washington Capitals on Saturday night.
———
THE COACHING GAME:
Blaine Sautner, the head coach of the University of Regina Cougars, has decided to retire. Ian Hamilton of the Regina Leader-Post reports that Sautner is “headed home to run a ranch.” . . . According to Hamilton, Sautner and a brother plan on operating the family ranch near Flaxcombe, Sask. . . . Sautner, 43, is the father of Edmonton Oil Kings D Ashton Sautner, 17. . . . Blaine Sautner announced his decision after the Cougars (5-20-3) ended their season with a 4-1 loss to the visiting Saskatchewan Huskies on Saturday. . . . He has been the U of R head coach since 2005-06.
———
SATURDAY’S GAMES:
In Portland, F Ty Rattie had a five-pointer as the Winterhawks whipped the Seattle Thunderbirds, 11-2. . . . Rattie finished with three goals, giving him 48 on the season, and two assists. He also was plus-5. . . . That gave Rattie 97 points, two fewer than F Mark Stone of the Brandon Wheat Kings, who was in action later in the day. . . . It was Rattie’s fourth hat trick of the season. . . . Rattie is on pace to become the first Portland skater with 50 goals since F Josef Balej scored 51 in 2001-02 and the first 100-point man since F Todd Robinson finished with 109 in 1997-98. . . . The Winterhawks’ played host to an afternoon game and left the curtains open in Veterans Memorial Coliseum to let the sun shine in. . . . They will have the curtains open again Monday when the Prince George Cougars are in town for a matinee on Presidents Day. . . . Portland F Sven Bartschi had three assists and he now is on a two-point-per-game pace, with 78 points in 39 games. He has 56 assists, the fourth-best total in the league. . . . Portland F Marcel Noebels, who was acquired at the trade deadline, had two goals and an assist, as did teammate Brad Ross. . . . Ross broke a 1-1 tie with a PP goal at 11:10 of the first period. . . . Portland took that 2-1 lead into the second when it scored five times. . . . Seattle G Daniel Cotton went the distance, stopping 37 shots. . . . Portland G Brendan Burke also stopped 37 shots. . . . Talk about a tough month: Seattle D Dave Sutter has had back-to-back minus-4 outings and now is minus-17 in nine February games. . . . Portland has won six in a row. . . . The Winterhawks hadn’t scored 10 goals in a home game since Nov. 27, 2002, when they beat the Cougars, 10-2. . . . Portland last scored 11 in a game on Jan. 17, 1997, when they won 12-1 in Kamloops. . . . Portland F Oliver Gabriel had a goal, his 13th, as he ran his points streak to 10 games. . . .

In Brandon, F Michael Ferland scored the game’s first three goals and F Mark Stone became the first WHLer this season to reach 100 points as the Wheat Kings. . . . Ferland finished with four goals, giving him 40, and an assist. . . . Stone, who had two assists, got to 100 points with an assist on the game’s second goal, a PP score by Ferland late in the first period. Stone is the first Wheat Kings skater with back-to-back 100-point seasons since F Peter Schaefer (1995-97), the pride of Yellow Grass, Sask. . . . F Brenden Walker had three assists for Brandon, his third three-point outing in his last four games. He now has 66 points in 58 games. . . . The Wheat Kings, who have won four in a row,s were without F Alessio Bertaggia, F Kevin Sundher, F Jason Swyripa and F Tyrel Seaman, all out with injuries. . . .

In Swift Current, it was Sheldon Kennedy Day and the Broncos responded with an 8-3 victory over the Saskatoon Blades. . . . The City of Swift Current honoured Kennedy, a former Broncos captain who now is an advocate for those in abusive situations, with a proclamation declaring Saturday as Sheldon Kennedy Day. . . . F Coda Gordon had two goals for the Broncos, giving him 27. It was his third straight two-goal game. . . . Swift Current F Levi Bews also had two goals for the Broncos, while F Colby Cave and F Brad Hoban each had three assists. . . . The Blades, who beat the visiting Broncos 7-3 on Friday, had been 5-0-0 against Swift Current. . . . Broncos G Jon Groenheyde stopped 33 shots. . . . The toughest person in the WHL on Saturday night may have been the anthem singer at this game. A tweet from Cody Nickolet, who does colour on Blades’ broadcasts: “Credit to the anthem singer in Swift Current tonight, he slipped on his way on the ice. Did the anthem with a bloody forehead.”

In Cranbrook, F Chandler Stephenson broke a 2-2 tie with a PP goal at 15:57 of the third period as the Regina Pats beat the Kootenay Ice, 4-2. . . . The Pats led this one 2-0 before the Ice scored two goals 1:12 apart early in the third period. . . . D Luke Paulsen got his second goal at 3:05 on a PP and F Max Reinhart tied it with his 23rd at 4:17. . . . Regina F Lane Scheidl iced it with another PP score at 19:26 of the third. . . . Stephenson’s goal was his 16th. . . . Regina F Jordan Weal scored his 34th goal. . . . Regina D Brandon Davidson and D Martin Marincin each had two assists. . . . The Ice lost D Jeff Hubic to a charging major and game misconduct at 13:00 of the third period. . . . Regina was 2-9 on the PP; the Ice was 0-2. . . . The Ice is listing F Drew Czerwonka as being out week-to-week with an undisclosed injury. . . . The Ice will bring in F Luke Philp from the AJHL’s Canmore Eagles, who didn’t make the playoffs. He had 46 points, including 16 goals, in 48 games with the Eagles. He already has played 10 games with the Ice and has one assist. . . . A tweet after the second period from Jeff Holick, the radio voice of the Ice: “Asst Coach Jerry Bancks gm misc for clapping hands. Was encouraging his team, Ref thought he was being mocked.” . . . Bancks is an assistant coach with the Ice. . . .

In Medicine Hat, the Tigers turned the tables on the Moose Jaw Warriors and beat them, 6-0. . . . Playing in Moose Jaw on Friday, the Warriors had beaten the Tigers, 6-0. . . . Medicine Hat G Kenny Cameron stopped 36 shots for his first WHL shutout and his second career victory. . . . F Boston Leier led the Tigers last night with two goals, giving him 12, and an assist. . . . F Chad Labelle, playing his third game, scored his first WHL goal. . . . The Tigers continue to be without G Tyler Bunz, F Kale Kessy, F Hunter Shinkaruk and F Curtis Valk, all out with injuries. . . . The Tigers had Dawson MacAuley from the SJHL’s Yorkton Terriers backing up Cameron in both weekend games. . . . The Warriors had won six in a row. . . .

In Kamloops, F Jimmy Bubnick scored his 100th regular-season goal and set up two others as the Calgary Hitmen edged the Blazers, 5-4. . . . Kamloops D Austin Madaisky was ejected with a cross-checking major at 6:01 of the first period. . . . Calgary F Cody Sylvester scored two goals on the resulting PP, giving him 20 this season, and the Hitmen never trailed. . . . Kamloops did tie it on goals by F Colin Smith, his 30th, at 16:46 of the first and F Dylan Willick at 10:09 of the second. . . . Calgary F Victor Rask broke the 2-2 tie at 16:35 of the second. . . . Bubnick has 27 goals this season. . . . Willick finished with two goals; he’s got 25. . . . Calgary was 3-5 on the PP; Kamloops was 2-3. . . . Calgary F Alex Gogolev, who took the hit from Madaisky, finished the game. . . . The Blazers continue to lead the overall standings. They now are three points ahead of the Eastern Conference-leading Edmonton Oil Kings and the Tri-City Americans and Portland Winterhawks, who are tied atop the U.S. Division. . . . The Hitmen moved into fourth in the Eastern Conference, three points behind the Medicine Hat Tigers and one ahead of the Kootenay Ice. . . .

In Everett, F Ryan Chynoweth scored on a spin-o-rama in the shootout to give the Silvertips a 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Giants. . . . F Brendan Gallagher gave the Giants a 1-0 lead in the shootout. . . . F Kohl Bauml tied it for Everett. . . . Vancouver F Jordan Martinook had broken a 1-1 tie with two goals, giving him 34. . . . The Silvertips pulled even on two second-period goals by F Jordyn Boyd, who now has six scores. . . . Everett now is 2-8 in shootouts. . . . Everett G Kent Simpson stopped 39 shots through OT. . . . The Silvertips had F Michal Urbaniak make his WHL debut. Urbaniak, who turned 17 on Jan. 17, plays for the junior B North Van Wolf Pack. He has 12 points and 80 penalty minutes in 36 games. . . . Vancouver had a three-game winning streak come to an end. . . . The Giants went 4-1-1 in winning the season series with the Silvertips. . . .

In Kelowna, D Damon Severson opened the seventh round of the circus with a goal that gave the Rockets a 4-3 victory over the Red Deer Rebels. . . . F Shane McColgan, Kelowna’s third shooter, gave his side a 1-0 lead. . . . Red Deer F Charles Inglis answered with a goal to tie it all up. . . . The Rebels led this one 2-0, only to have the Rockets score three straight goals. . . . Kelowna F Brett Bulmer broke a 2-2 tie with his second goal of the game, and 24th of the season, at 5:00 of the third. . . . D Mathew Dumba pulled Red Deer even with his 17th goal at 19:28 of the third. . . . Red Deer G Deven Dubyk stopped 38 shots. Kelowna F Brett Lyon failed to score on Dubyk on a second-period penalty shot. . . . Red Deer D Devan Fafard, playing his 11th game this season and the 34th of his career, scored his first goal. . . . The Rebels fell one point further back in their attempt to get to the Eastern Conference’s last playoff spot. With 14 games remaining, they are nine points behind Brandon. . . . Kelowna is destined to finish fifth in the Western Conference. . . .

In Kennewick, Wash., F Brendan Shinnimin scored twice to help the Tri-City Americans to a 3-2 victory over the Spokane Chiefs. . . . It was the Americans’ 40th victory this season, the sixth straight season they have reached that milestone. The Americans have gotten there in each of head coach Jim Hiller’s three seasons with them. . . . The Chiefs led 2-0 before the game was six minutes old, with F Liam Stewart getting his 10th, on a PP, and F Marek Kalus getting his 17th. . . . Shinnimin got his 40th of the season, on the PP, at 14:01 of the first and then tied it at 14:55 of the second, on another PP. . . . D Derek Ryckman got the winner at 15:48 of the second. He has three snipes this season. . . . Shinnimin has matched his point total (96) from last season and has 299 for his career. . . . Tri-City F Patrick Holland had three assists and F Adam Hughesman drew two. Hughesman has 200 assists, the fourth Tri-City player to get there. . . . Spokane G Mac Engel stopped 31 shots, 12 more than Tri-City’s Ty Rimmer. . . . The Chiefs have lost four in a row for the first time this season and now trail the fourth-place Vancouver Giants by five points. Spokane does hold two games in hand. . . .

In Victoria, G Drew Owsley stopped 28 shots as the Prince George Cougars beat the Royals, 3-1. . . . The Cougars built up a 3-0 first period lead on an even-strength goal by D Dan Gibb, his first, a power-play score by F Caleb Belter, his fourth, and a shorthanded tally by F Greg Fraser, his 14th. . . . The latter two goals came at 16:39 and 18:55. . . . D Hayden Rintoul scored his 14th of the season at 19:22 of the first, on a PP, for the Royals. . . . Victoria G Jared Rathjen stopped all 17 shots he faced after relieving Keith Hamilton following Victoria’s third goal. . . .

Here’s the deal on the chase for the Western Conference’s last two playoff spots. . . . Seattle, with 14 games remaining, and Victoria (13) are tied for seventh, with 42 points. Everett (14) is ninth, with 41, and Prince George (15) is 10th, with 40. . . . The teams that finish seventh and eighth will draw the B.C. and U.S. Division winners in the first round.
———
SATURDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
None.
———
SATURDAY’S CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
None.
———
Kenn Oliver of the St. John’s Telegram has a piece right here on Brad Yetman, a former QMJHL player whose competitive career was ended by concussions. Yetman is 21 years of age.
———
Oliver also has a second concussion-related story right here. This one is about Ryan Graham, a former QMJHL player who isn’t sure how many concussions he suffered during his career. He suffered another one last seeing while playing for the Acadia Axemen, a Canadian university team. That one scared him.
———
Mike Raptis has an interesting story in today’s Vancouver Province about a minor hockey coach who admits that he “cuffed” a 12-year-old player. And now the Burnaby Minor Hockey Association is having fingers pointed at it and is facing accusations of being an old boys' club. Yikes! Not in minor hockey!!



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

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Björn Svensson (Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, 2003-06) was released from his tryout contract by Eisbären Berlin. He was pointless in six exhibition games for Eisbären during the tryout. . . .
F Justin Taylor (Red Deer, 2003-04) signed a two-month tryout contract with Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia, Austria Erste Bank Liga). He had 10 goals and 19 assists in 51 games with the Idaho Steelheads and Ontario Reign (both ECHL) last season.
———
On a day when Peter Chiarelli, the general manager of the Boston Bruins, said forward Marc Savard’s career may be over because of post-concussion syndrome, the OHL announced that all of its players will wear soft cap shoulder and elbow pads this season.
According to the OHL, its board of governors is adamant that stiffer penalties will be handed out to repeat offenders when it comes to checks to the head.
This all is most admirable and a definite step forward in the drive to cut down on concussions — and it is a move the WHL announced it was making on June 15.
However, as one Twitterer tweeted: “What about fists to the face/head? Where's that crackdown?”
———
The Kootenay Ice will have eight players off its roster attending NHL camps. That includes six drafted players — D Brayden McNabb and G Nathan Lieuwen (Buffalo), F Drew Czerwonka (Edmonton), F Cody Eakin (Washington), and F Max Reinhart and D Joey Leach (Calgary). As well, D James Martin (Calgary) and F Joe Antilla (San Jose) have accepted training camp invitations. . . . The Ice, the WHL’s reigning champion, opened training camp on Wednesday. Their annual Blue-White game ends camp on Sunday at noon.
———
D Ben Fanelli is returning to the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers after not playing at all last season. The Rangers will hold a news conference today with Fanelli in attendance. Fanelli, 18, hasn’t played since Oct. 31, 2009, when he suffered a fractured skull and various facial fractures after being hit from behind by D Mike Lambas of the Erie Otters.
Sunaya Sapurji of Yahoo! Sports has a good look at what Fanelli has been through — and the good things he has accomplished of late — right here.
———
JUST NOTES: The Tri-City Americans have signed D Clint Filbrandt, 16, who was a 10th-round pick in the 2010 bantam draft. Hehad 29 points and 86 penalty minutes with the CNHA Blazers of the Alberta Minor Midget league last season. Filbrandt attended the Americans’ rookie camp and now is in main camp. “Clint had an excellent rookie camp and continued his strong play into main camp,” Americans GM Bob Tory said in a news release. “He will participate in both the Everett and Tri-City tournaments and then return home to Calgary to play this season with his AAA Midget club.” . . . The Prince George Cougars have signed D Marc McNulty of Medicine Hat. The 6-foot-5, 181-pounder was a 10th-round bantam draft pick in 2010. He played last season with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Alberta Midget league. “He might be the most improved player in our entire camp,” Wade Klippenstein, the Cougars’ assistant general manager, said in a news release. “Initially, he was a 10th-round draft-pick. If the bantam draft was held again tomorrow, I guarantee you he wouldn’t be a 10th round pick.” McNulty will be in the Cougars’ lineup for games in St. Albert, Alta., this weekend. . . .
The Kamloops Blazers have signed F Devin Oakes, 16, and D Tyler Bell, 17, both of whom are listed players. Oakes, from Prince Rupert, B.C., played last season for the midget AAA Pursuit of Excellence prep team in Kelowna, putting up 24 points, including 10 goals, in 41 games. Bell, who is from Regina, is another listed player. Bell has played two seasons with the midget AAA Regina Pat Canadians. He had 22 points, including five goals, and 58 penalty minutes in 44 games last season. . . . G Jamie Tucker, who played last season with the Prince Albert Raiders, has cleared WHL waivers and will play this season with the BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies. Tucker, now 20, is from Victoria. . . .
TSN made it official on Wednesday. Dennis Beyak, a former radio voice of the Flin Flon Bombers, Saskatoon Blades, Victoria Cougars and Seattle Thunderbirds, will call the play of Winnipeg Jets games on TSN Jets and on Sports Radio 1290 in Winnipeg. . . . Beyak also did a turn as GM of the Tri-City Americans and the Thunderbirds. . . . Brian Munz, a former radio voice of the Prince Albert Raiders on CKBI, will call Jets games on Sports Radio 1290 when Beyak is providing the TV call. . . . Shane Hnidy (Swift Current, Prince Albert, 1991-96) has retired from playing and joined the Jets broadcast crew as an analyst. . . . The Victoria Royals drew a crowd of 1,756 fans to their intrasquad game Wednesday night at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
———
THE COACHING GAME:
The Seattle Thunderbirds have signed Dusty Imoo as their goaltending coach. Imoo played in the WHL (New Westminster, Lethbridge, Regina, 1987-91) before moving on to play in the IHL, ECHL and Japan for a total of 15 seasons. He also played for Japan in the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano. Imoo takes over from Paul Fricker in Seattle. . . .
The Victoria Times Colonist is reporting that owner Len Barrie is expected to name himself head coach of the BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies on Friday. Barrie stepped behind the bench late last season, with then-head coach coach Vic Gervais stepping down to assistant coach, a position he continues to hold.
———
Here’s a note from a story written by Sean Rooney of the Medicine Hat News:
“Though the Tigers don't release their training camp rosters publicly, they did cut a dozen or so players between Monday and Tuesday night and had 46 players between the two teams that played Tuesday. Most of the cuts were 15- and 16-year-olds.”
The Tigers don’t release their training camp rosters publicly? And the WHL office allows this to happen?
Hey, WHL, this is 2011. Isn’t it time all of your teams started to treat their fans with the respect that most businesses give to paying customers?
The Tigers don’t release their training camp rosters publicly? Do they have something to hide? You wouldn’t suppose one of your teams would have an undrafted European practising with it, do you? Nah, that would never happen.
———
F Trevor Moore, whose WHL rights are held by the Tri-City Americans, has committed to attend Denver U and play for the Pioneers beginning with the 2013-14 season. The 5-foot-6, 165-pound Moore will play this season for former WHL player/coach Drew Schoneck with the USHL’s Tri-City Storm. The Storm selected Moore with the eighth overall pick in the USHL’s 2011 futures draft. Moore, who was listed by the Americans, is from Thousand Oaks, Calif. He had 41 points in 35 games with the L.A. Selects last season.
———
Cathal Kelly of the Toronto Star has a call for action following Wednesday’s startling death of former WHLer/NHLer Wade Belak. That piece is right here.
———
F Matt Kassian hopes to crack the lineup of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild this season. He is an enforcer who played with the Vancouver Giants and Kamloops Blazers. He also is highly intelligent and great conversationalist. And, despite recent happenings, he isn’t about to change his game, nor does he feel there is a need to. Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal has that story right here.
———
Today’s good read comes from Tim Panaccio of csnphilly.com. He writes about former WHLer Todd Fedoruk and the demons he battles on a daily basis. Fedoruk, an NHL enforcer, didn’t play at all last season as he worked to regain his health. He will attend the Vancouver Canucks’ camp as a free agent. Panaccio’s story is right here.

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