Hockey and smokeless tobacco. . . . Desjardins to Canucks?

D Cody Carlson (Medicine Hat, Regina, Prince George, 2006-12) has signed a one-year contract with Peiting (Germany, Oberliga). Last season, with Strasbourg (France, Ligue Magnus), he had 18 points, including four goals, in 22 games. . . .
F Jakub Langhammer (Spokane, 2002-04) has signed a one-year contract with Eispiraten Crimmitschau (Germany, DEL2). Last season, with Hradec Kralove (Czech Republic, Extraliga), he had six points, four of them goals, in 33 games. On loan to Slavia Prague (Czech Republic, Extraliga), he had five points, including four goals, in 10 games.
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Tony Gwynn, one of the best hitters in Major League Baseball History, died this week at the age of 54.
He had fought a long battle with cancer, something he blamed on a smokeless tobacco habit.
Of course, chewing tobacco -- or using smokeless tobacco or snus -- has long been popular in baseball circles, although in recent years there has been a serious movement away from it.
However, because it has over the years been so associated with baseball, you might not see it as a hockey problem.
Well, you’d be wrong.
Randy Turner of the Winnipeg Free Press wrote a story in December that should be mandatory reading for all parents of junior hockey players or aspiring junior hockey players. (Turner’s story, headlined Hockey’s Disgusting Little Habit, is right here.)
In that story, Turner reported that half the players in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League were regular users. So were 40 per cent of the U of Manitoba Bisons and 40 per cent of the Transcona Railer Express of the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League.
This is rather startling when one considers the damage that can be done by this habit. If you don’t believe it, just go to Google and find a story or two about Tony Gwynn, a terrific baseball player, and an even better human being, who is gone far too soon.
Yes, there are users in the WHL, too. I don’t know what the percentage is, but if it’s 50 per cent in the MJHL, it would seem to be a safe bet that it’s in double figures in the WHL.
The WHL came out against all tobacco products a few years ago, and its rule against such products is posted in all dressing rooms. It reads:
“The WHL does not permit the use of tobacco products (including chewing tobacco) at any WHL events. This includes all practices, game situations and travel to and from games.”
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Adam Proteau of The Hockey News also has written about hockey and its smokeless tobacco problem. That column is right here.
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THE COACHING GAME:
The game of musical chairs NHL style took another turn on Friday with the news that Willie Desjardins turned down an offer to become head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Matthew Sekeres of Vancouver radio station Team 1040 AM tweeted Friday afternoon: "Was just told Desjardins spurned #Pens b/c offer was for 2 years only, no authority to hire own assts. Now expected to be hired by #Canucks."
There was immediate speculation that should the Vancouver Canucks hire Desjardins, he might be interested in having Mike Johnston, the GM/head coach of the Portland Winterhawks, as an assistant coach.
However, I’m thinking that Johnston won’t leave the Winterhawks for anything less than an NHL head-coaching position, not when you consider the freedom that he gets to run the Portland on-ice operation. Johnston has taken the Winterhawks to four-straight WHL finals and you know that owner Bill Gallacher is looking after his guy.
Then again . . . would you rather fly charter or ride a bus?
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Jeff Brown, a former NHL defenceman, is the new head coach of the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s. Brown had been general manager and head coach of the Indiana Ice, who are the USHL champions for 2013-14. . . . Brown played 747 NHL regular-season games over 13 seasons. That followed four seasons with the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves. . . . Brown takes over from Chris Byrne, who had been GM and head coach. Byrne left to scout for the Los Angeles Kings. . . . Pat Higgins, the assistant GM, has since been promoted to GM.
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The Central league’s Denver Cutthroats have signed Brad Smyth as their director of hockey operations and head coach. He had been working as the team’s general manager and assistant coach. . . . Derek Armstrong, who was the head coach last season, now is the Cutthroats’ president and general manager. . . . The Cutthroats reached the CHL final last season for the first time in franchise history.
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Roy Sommer will be back for another season as head coach of the Worcester Sharks, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s San Jose Sharks. He is preparing for his 19th season in the Sharks organization, his 17th as the head coach of the NHL team’s top developmental club. . . . David Cunniff won’t return for a 13th season as an assistant or associate coach with San Jose’s top developmental team. . . . According to a Worcester news release: “Charlie Townsend will return for a second season as the Worcester Sharks’ video coaching assistant, while development coaches Mike Ricci, Bryan Marchment, Corey Schwab, and Dirk Graham will all have a continued presence in Worcester during the 2014-15 season.”
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The Kelowna Rockets have placed F Marcus Mitchell on their protected list. Mitchell is a 1998-born player from Kelowna who played last season with the Midget Elite 15 team at the Pursuit of Excellence in Kelowna. He had 34 points, including 11 goals, in 37 games. . . . The Portland Winterhawks have added F Ezekiel (Zeke) Estrada, 16, to their protected list. A native of Homer, Alaska, Estrada headed south at the age of 10 to pursue a career in hockey. He played last season with the Los Angeles Jr. Kings midget AAA team, putting up 46 points, including 25 goals, in 18 games. . . . Mitchell and Estrada are being  advised by EA Sports Management. . . .

D Matt Thomas, 19, isn’t likely to be back with the Kamloops Blazers, who have dropped him from their protected list. Thomas, from Calgary, has seven assists in 132 career regular-season games. He had four assists in 55 games after being acquired last season from the Kootenay Ice. The Ice acquired F Tim Bozon and D Landon Cross, both 19 at the time, from the Blazers for Thomas, F Collin Shirley, 17, a 2014 third-round bantam draft pick and a fifth-round pick in 2015. . . . The Lethbridge Hurricanes are expected to announce a new deal with a local radio station at a Monday afternoon news conference. The Hurricanes and 94.1 CJOC didn’t renew their contract after last season. . . . F Luke Bertolucci, 19, of the Edmonton Oil Kings was involved in a BCHL trade on Friday. His junior A rights, along with future considerations, went from Salmon Arm to the Merritt Centennials, with the Silverbacks getting F Logan Mick, 19. Mick is the son of Troy Mick, the Silverbacks’ governor, president and GM. Logan spent last season with the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers.
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#WHL Giants talking with former #Canuck Tim Hunter about coach job, but also with ex-Americans boss Jim Hiller now as well. #Staytuned
— Steve Ewen (@SteveEwen) June 20, 2014

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Dominik Pacovsky (Kootenay, 2008-10) signed for the rest of the season with Lev Prague (Czech Republic, KHL). It's a two-way deal with him scheduled to join Lev today. This season with Sparta Prague (Czech Republic, Extraliga), he had five points, including three goals, in 13 games. Last season with Sparta, he had 26 points, 13 of them goals, in 37 games. . . .
F Alex Leavitt (Swift Current, Everett, 2003-05) signed a tryout contract with Aalborg (Denmark, AL-Bank Liga). The tryout runs until Nov. 1. He was released earlier by Oskarshamn (Sweden, Allsvenskan) after picking up three points, one of them a goal, in 10 games. . . .
F Erik Christensen (Kamloops, Brandon, 1999-2004) signed for the rest of this season with HV71 Jönköping (Sweden, SHL) after being released by Lev Prague on Thursday. He is to arrive in Jönköping on Thursday. With Lev this season, he had a goal and an assist in 12 games.
F Kris Beech (Calgary, 1996-2001) has signed a tryout deal with the Straubing Tigers (Germany, DEL). He played last season with Pardubice (Czech Republic, Extraliga), getting eight points, including two goals, in 21 games, and AIK Stockholm (Sweden, Elitserien), putting up five points, three of them goals, in 23 games. . . .
D Tomas Fojtik (Portland, 2003-04) has been released by the Slough Jets (England, Premier). He had three assists in 10 games. . . .
F Ned Lukacevic (Spokane, Swift Current, 2001-06) has been released by the Tohoku Free Blades Hachinohe (Japan, Asian HL). He had seven points, including two goals, in 10 games. . . . Lukacevic has since signed with the ECHL's Bakersfield Condors.
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1. The Kootenay Ice was looking for a defenceman who could play in its top four; the Kamloops Blazers were looking for draft picks.
So general managers Jeff Chynoweth (Ice) and Craig Bonner (Blazers) got together and swapped four players and three bantam draft picks on Tuesday.
The Ice got F Tim Bozon and D Landon Cross, both 19, with the Blazers landing D Matt Thomas, 18, F Collin Shirley, 17, and the three picks -- first- and fifth-round selections in 2015 and a third-rounder in 2014.
While Bozon, a third-round pick by the Montreal Canadians in the 2012 NHL draft who has signed with the Habs, is the biggest name in the deal, the swap's genesis came on the weekend when Ice general manager Jeff Chynoweth inquired about the availability of Cross.
Chynoweth told me via text yesterday afternoon that he made the first call, inquiring "about Cross."
"It just grew from there," Chynoweth said. "We thought why not ask about Bozon, thinking he would look very good playing with (Sam) Reinhart and (Jaedon) Descheneau."
As well, Chynoweth said, "Cross gives us much needed depth on our back end."
Bozon is coming off 71- and 91-point seasons and has seven points in 13 games this season. He is an interesting study because he was born in St. Louis, while his father, Philippe, was playing with the Blues, calls Switzerland home and plays internationally for France.
Bozon had great chemistry for most of the last two seasons with forwards Colin Smith and JC Lipon, both of whom have signed NHL deals and are in the AHL. The Blazers don't have anyone who has been able to fit that well with Bozon, who has played like it. With the Ice, Bozon will get a chance to revive his role as a triggerman, this time alongside Reinhart and Descheneau.
Cross, from Brandon, was a third-round pick by Kamloops in the 2009 bantam draft. In his third full WHL season, he has 24 points in 134 regular-season games. He has turned into a solid stay-at-home defender who should enjoy playing for Ice head coach Ryan McGill.
Shirley, from Saskatoon, had 23 points, including nine goals, in 60 games last season. This season, he has three points, two of them goals, in 11 games. He was the 17th overall selection in the 2011 bantam draft.
Thomas, who was listed by the Ice prior to last season, is from Calgary. He had two assists in 66 games last season and has one in 11 outings this season.
Here's a paragraph from the Blazers' news release, which sums up their reason for making this trade: "In acquiring a first-round pick in 2015 and a third-round pick in 2014, the Blazers recoup draft picks that were traded to acquire defenceman Joel Edmundson last season and (forward) Tyson Ness this season."
The Ice is off to a 6-5-2 start, and has scored 37 goals. Reinhart and Descheneau have accounted for 16 of those, and have combined for 42 points. Yes, Chynoweth and McGill will be eager to get a look at Bozon alongside those two.
The Blazers are 4-9-0 and in a definite rebuilding/reloading mode, although they will continue to pursue a Western Conference playoff spot.
The Ice next plays Friday against the visiting Portland Winterhawks, while the Blazers are at home to the Everett Silvertips on Saturday.
The Ice is scheduled to visit Kamloops on Dec. 6.
Meanwhile, the Ice has dropped D Clint Filbrandt, 18, from its roster. He is expected to end up with a junior A team. Filbrandt was acquired from the Tri-City Americans on May 14 for a fifth-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft.
Some Twittering on the Kamloops-Kootenay swap:
From Alan Caldwell (@smallatlarge): "I'm surprised Blazers are declaring themselves as sellers so early though. I didn't think they'd drop as much from last year as they have."
From Trevor Crawley (@tcrawls) of the Cranbrook Daily Townsman: "#FunFact: Tim Bozon is the 4th @WHLKootenayICE player whose father played in the NHL (Elynuik, Reinhart & Dirk).)
From Dan Russell (@DanRussellST): "Taking page out of brother Scott's book? Last yr D Musil signified rebuild mode in Oct for Van -Craig's T Bozon deal today says same in Kam?"
From Regan Bartel (@Reganrant), the radio voice of the Kelowna Rockets: "I won't bet against Chynoweth. I mean really, have the @WHLKootenayICE ever sucked? No! Plus the little engine that could has 3 WHL titles."
From Daniel Nugent-Bowman (@DNBsports) of the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix: "Spoke with Ice GM Jeff Chynoweth about the trade. Said talks started with Landon Cross and expanded from there."

2. How did Hamilton Burger keep his job for so long?

3. When the Kamloops Blazers played the Silvertips in Everett on Saturday night, it marked a return for Mark Ferner. Fired as the Silvertips' head coach last season, he now is the Blazers' associate coach. Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald checks in with Ferner right here.

4. As I stroll the streets of downtown Vancouver, I notice that most pedestrians have only one free hand, the other carrying either a phone or a cup of coffee. (Of course, some of the more highly skilled pedastrians fill both hands.) Hilary Stout of The New York Times has more right here on our love affair with coffee. This is interesting stuff.

5. Over at the Monday Morning Quarterback website, they are spending a lot of this week with the focus on concussions in football. You should check it out right here because it's important stuff.

6. Steve Miller, an assistant coach with the Denver University Pioneers for more than 19 seasons, is flying like an eagle (sorry!) to a USHL expansion franchise that will begin play in Madison, Wis., next season. He will be the general manager and head coach in Madison. Miller starts his new job on Jan. 1.

7. If you enjoy good hockey photos, check out this spot right here. You may even be interested in purchasing a photo or two. Yes, Chris Mast is involved.

8. F Zach Jones scored with 1:05 left in the third period Tuesday night, giving the visiting Calgary Hitmen a 2-1 victory over the Kelowna Rockets. Calgary G Chris Driedger stopped 38 shots. Attendance was 4,674. . . . In Lethbridge, the Portland Winterhawks scored three first-period goals and went on to a 3-2 victory over the Hurricanes. Portland, the WHL's defending champion, has won five straight games. . . . In Kennewick, Wash., F Phil Tot scored 34 seconds into the game and added an empty-netter as the Tri-City Americans dumped the Swift Current Broncos, 4-1. The Broncos went 0-5 on their U.S. Division swing and were outscored 24-10 in the process.

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Blazers swing big deal with Ice

By ADAM WILLIAMS
Daily News Sports Reporter
The Kamloops Blazers got younger Monday, sending first line-forward Tim Bozon and defenceman Landon Cross to the Kootenay Ice.
The trade of two prominent 19-year-olds could be seen as a sign that the focus is shifting more towards next season, although the club denies this. 
In return for Bozon and Cross the Blazers received forward Collin Shirley, defenceman Matt Thomas, a 2014 third-round pick and first- and fifth-round picks in the 2015 WHL bantam draft.
Bozon has played his entire WHL career in Kamloops and in 153 regular-season games he had 169 points, including 75 goals. Cross played 134 games for Kamloops, tallying three goals and adding 21 assists.
 Bozon told The Daily News that he knew a deal was coming for the last 10 days.
“It’s a weird feeling,” he said, “but like I told lots of people before, I expected that, that was the plan. . . . I knew that I was going [to be] part of a trade, myself and [general manager] Craig Bonner decided for both parties — the team and myself — it would be better if I move on. I didn’t know when, I was playing for the last 10 days knowing that it would be my last days in Kamloops . . . it’s pretty exciting but also sad to leave Kamloops.”
Bonner didn’t go as far as to say Bozon requested a trade, instead describing it as a mutual decision that was best for both parties. Bozon said through discussion with his agent and Bonner it was decided it would be best if he finished his season off elsewhere.
Bonner added that it was important to recoup some of the draft picks the Blazers have traded away in years gone by. With only seven defencemen on the roster it was also necessary to bring in another one as part of the deal.
With restrictions on import players, like Bozon, who plays internationally for France, including roster limits and trade restrictions, Bonner said the pool for a trade was already somewhat limited. Kootenay came forth with what he said was the best deal available at the time.
“Obviously our record isn’t where we want it to be and Tim being one of the guys — his play obviously changed without Colin Smith and JC Lipon on our team,” Bonner said of Bozon’s former linemates, both of whom are now playing professionally. “I just thought, for both parties, it was probably time to move on and look at some options.
“I could see in the way he was playing he just wasn’t having the success and playing the way we expected him to. It’s tough when you go from playing with Colin Smith and JC Lipon to younger players.”
Bozon’s play to this point in the season hasn’t lived up to seasons past. He has just three goals and four assists in 13 games, after seasons of 91 and 71 points. The Blazers are 4-9-0-0 and Bonner felt the team needed a change. He said dealing the 19-year-olds didn’t mean the team was giving up on the playoffs or signaling that its focus has shifted towards next season.
“We’re 4-9 right now so to say that things are going good now," Bonner said, "and we’re getting rid of [players] and just going for the future isn’t exactly a correct statement…Quite frankly I’m — and the organization’s — not happy with where we’re at, we feel a change is needed at this point.”
The change comes in the form of Shirley, 17, and Thomas, 18. Shirley has 26 points, including 11 goals, in 71 career WHL games with the Ice. Head coach Dave Hunchak said he sees Shirley as a high-end player who will be playing in a top-six role for the Blazers.
Thomas stands 6-foot-3, 192 pounds and will be given the opportunity to compete for a spot in the lineup.
Hunchak said the deal will also free up space for the likes of forwards Jesse Shynkaruk, Nathan Looysen and Eric Krienke to get more ice time; the deal is just as much about them. He said the coaching staff will be talking to the players about taking responsibility for this team and making use of the opportunity being given to them.
And he rejected the notion that his players might take Bozon’s departure as a sign that the Blazers were giving up on this season.
“Our expectation is to make the playoffs,” he said. “That’s never changed.”
Bozon has spoken to Kootenay already and has been told that it is looking for him to put up points and score goals, which shouldn’t be too hard considering he said the Ice plans to play him alongside centre Sam Reinhart. Reinhart, the Ice’s captain, is expected to be a high pick in the first round of next year’s NHL draft. He was tied for second in league scoring with 32 points headed into play on Tuesday.
Bozon added the transition will be easier with Cross being traded as well. The two came into the league together and Bozon said Cross is one of his best friends. Bozon was hoping he would be traded with another player, it was just good luck it was Cross.
Cross, from Brandon, has been one of the Blazers’ top defencemen this season, often playing in a shutdown role with Sam Grist.
Though happy to be moving on, Bozon leaves the Blazers with good memories. The Ice will visit Interior Savings Centre on Dec. 6 and Cross and Bozon will play what might be their final games in Kamloops.
“The last two years have been amazing,” Bozon said. “The organization was great, I’m so thankful for that, they helped me to reach my goals. . . . It’s going to be weird to be on the ice in a different jersey and not be able to be in the same dressing room. I’m still two months away from it. I love the fans there, they’re great, I have so many good memories, every time I score a goal, to share my goals with the fans that’s pretty amazing and I’m going to miss that for sure. . . . I’m looking forward to it.”

awilliams@kamloopsnews.ca
twitter.com/adamwilliams87

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Shaun Heshka (Everett, 2003-06) and F Tomas Vincour (Edmonton, Vancouver, 2007-10) each signed one-year contracts with Ak Bars Kazan (Russia, KHL). . . . Heshka had eight goals and 23 assists in 60 games helping Ässät Pori (Finland, SM-Liiga) win the Finnish championship. . . . Vincour had 18 goals and 21 assists in 53 games with the Texas Stars (AHL) and the Lake Erie Monsters (AHL) and two goals and two assists in 17 games with the Dallas Stars (NHL) and Colorado Avalanche (NHL) this season.
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Is the CHL’s decision to ban European goaltenders legal? Is it in violation of Canada’s Competition Act? Might it be a violation of human rights laws? Yahoo! Sports has an interesting piece right here that was written by Fraser Mackinnon Blair, who is a recent graduate of law school.
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Lucas Aykroyd, who does a lot of writing for iihf.com, has an interesting take right here on the CHL’s ban on European goaltenders. He says it’ll be good for the European goaltenders because history shows that the best ones develop at home. He’s got the names and numbers to back that up, too.
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F Justin Feser, who played out his major junior eligibility with the Tri-City Americans this season, has decided to attend St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N.S., and play for the X-Men. . . . Feser, who is from Red Deer, played five seasons with the Americans. This season, he had 106 points, 44 of them goals, in 72 games. He was selected the Western Conference’s player of the year.
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If you haven’t noticed, ESPN is becoming a whole lot more about the sizzle than about the steak. If you don’t believe that, read this piece right here. The network has dumped the Schwab. Yes, that Schwab. The guy you couldn’t stump.
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The Prince Albert Raiders have signed F Dylan Williamson, who was a fourth-round selection in the 2013 bantam draft. Williamson had 41 points, 23 of them goals, in 30 games with the Alberta bantam league’s Calgary Bisons.
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D Brennan Evans (Seattle, Kootenay, 1999-2003) scored the winning goal as the visiting Grand Rapids Griffins won the AHL championship with a 5-2 victory over the Syracuse Crunch on Tuesday night. . . . The Griffins won the series 4-2 after winning the first three games. . . . F Mitch Callahan (Kelowna, 2008-11) had a goal and an assist for the Griffins, while F Landon Ferraro (Red Deer, Everett, 2007-11) had two assists. F Triston Grant (Lethbridge, Vancouver, 2000-05) added an assist for Grand Rapids. . . . This is the Griffin’s first championship in the franchise’s 17-year history and the first title in Grand Rapids’ 27-year history in the pro game. . . . The Griffins are the Detroit Red Wings’ AHL affiliate; the Crunch is hooked up with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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Adrian Dater of the Denver Post reports that the Colorado Avalanche won’t be taking Portland Winterhawks D Seth Jones with the first pick in t he NHL draft on June 30. Straight goods or posturing. That story is right here.
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The high cost of playing hockey is going up and up and up, kind of like the price of gas. Don Campbell of the Ottawa Citizen has a piece right here on how much it’s going to cost your son to play in the Central Canadian Hockey League, a junior a league based in the Ottawa area. If you must know, the price is going to be $3,750 per player and that’s a 400 per cent increase. . . . Perhaps Hockey Canada should be as concerned with the money factor as it is with the impact of European goaltenders over here.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Mike Haviland is the new head coach of the AHL’s Hershey Bears. Haviland, 45, has been a pro coach for 14 seasons. He spent this season as associate coach with the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals. . . . Haviland replaces Mark French, whose contract wasn’t renewed after four seasons behind the bench of the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Washington Capitals. French has since signed on as head coach of the KHL’s Medvescak Zagreb, a Croatian team that is new to the KHL, having played in the Austrian league.

The NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes have extended the contracts of the coaching staff of their AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates. Head coach Ray Edwards and assistants John Slaney and Mike Minard. . . . Edwards, 42, is preparing for his fifth season as the head coach of the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate. He has been head coach for two seasons with each of the Pirates and, before that, the San Antonio Rampage. . . . Slaney is going into his third season as an assistant with the Pirates. He ended his pro career after the 2010-11 season when he played with Plzen HC in Czech Republic. . . . Minard is heading into his third season as the goaltending and video coach with the Pirates.

Matt Thomas, the head coach of the ECHL’s Stockton Thunder this season, is the new head coach of the U of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves. Thomas has coached in the ECHL for nine seasons, including the last four-plus with the Thunder. . . . With the Seawolves, he replaces Dave Shyiak, who was fired following the season, his eighth at the school.
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From Spencer Humphries (@shumper5), who completed his WHL eligibility this season with the Calgary Hitmen: “Its official, just signed my first Pro Contract! Ill be playing for Prague of the KHL this year. Leaving early July. #excited #tweetsfromCzech”
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From Regan Bartel (@reganrant): “After 13 seasons they aren’t tired of my act yet. AM1150 and #KelownaRockets have agreed on a new three-year radio deal.”


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