Ex-WHL goalie gets called to Rangers . . . Wheaties win clash of leaders . . . Toth wins one for Rebels

Incredible feeling! So glad we could be here to share this special moment with Mack pic.twitter.com/oOrFXAlg7P
— Denis Skapski (@skapper20) February 5, 2015

Five years after being seriously injured in a bus accident, Mackenzie Skapski has made it to the NHL. No, he didn’t get into a game with the New York Rangers on Wednesday night, but he was on the bench, backing up Cam Talbot. Skapski, 20, was recalled from the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack earlier in the day as Henrik Lundqvist was unable after taking a puck to the throat. . . . Skapski, who played for the Kootenay Ice (2010-14), was injured on Dec. 11, 2009, when the major midget Fraser Valley Bruins’ bus hit some black ice and rolled while en route to Prince George. . . . Paul Doyle of the Hartford Courant details Skapski’s climb in a November story that is right here.
---D Joshua Chapman of the OHL’s Sarnia Sting has drawn a 12-game suspension for a headshot on F Ben Fanjoy of the host Ottawa 67’s on Friday. Chapman elbowed Fanjoy to the head behind the Sarnia goal late in the third period of a 5-0 Ottawa victory. Fanjoy was injured on the play. Chapman, a repeat offender, is eligible to return on Feb. 27.
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Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet has filed 30 Thoughts and, as usual, it’s great reading. The latest edition is right here.
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Roy Sommer is the third coach in AHL history to get to 600 victories. He did it Wednesday night as his Worcester Sharks beat the host Lehigh Valley Phantoms, 4-3. . . . Only Fred (Bun) Cook (636) and Frank Mathers (610) have more victories than Sommer. . . . Sommer, now 57, played two seasons (1975-77) with the Calgary Centennials. He also was an assistant coach with the Prince Albert Raiders (1988-89). He is in his 17th season as an AHL head coach, the last nine with Worcester. . . . BTW, Regina Pats head coach John Paddock is fourth on the AHL list of coaching victories, with 589.
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WEDNESDAY’S GAMES:

In Moose Jaw, the Warriors erased a 2-0 deficit with four straight goals as they skated to a 4-3 victory over the Prince Albert Raiders. . . . F Kris Schmidli, with his 11th, and F Reid Gardiner, with No. 26, gave the visitors a 2-0 lead early in the second period. . . . The Warriors tied it before period’s end on PP goals from F Jack Rodewald, his 24th, and F Axel Blomqvist, his 19th. . . . F Brett Howden gave Moose Jaw its first lead with his 14th goal, on a PP, at 6:48 of the second. . . . D Austin Adam added insurance with his second goal of the season, a shorthanded empty-netter, at 18:21. . . . Gardiner got the Raiders to within one at 18:47, on a PP. . . . The Warriors were 3-for-3 on the PP, despite going into the game with the WHL’s poorest PP; the Raiders were 1-for-3. . . . Warriors G Brody Wilms stopped 27 shots to earn his second career WHL victory. That was 12 more saves than Prince Albert’s Rylan Parenteau. . . . Gardiner also had an assist, while F Craig Leverton and F Matteo Gennaro each had two assists for the Raiders. . . . F Brayden Point had two assists for the Warriors, while Rodewald, Howden and Blomqvist each had an assist to go with their goals. . . . The Warriors were without F Jesse Shynkaruk, who has been suspended for three games after taking an interference major and game misconduct for a hit on Brandon F John Quenneville on Saturday. Quenneville is sidelined with a concussion. . . . Moose Jaw also is without F Jamien Yakubowski, who may miss a couple of weeks with an undisclosed injury. . . . The Warriors (21-27-4), who are at home to Spokane on Friday when they retire Ryan Smyth’s No. 28, had lost their previous three games. The victory moved Moose Jaw to within five points of third-place Swift Current in the East Division. . . . The Raiders (21-30-1) have lost two in a row and are three points behind the Warriors. . . . Prince Albert will entertain Swift Current on Friday. . . . 

In Medicine Hat, F Rihards Bukarts scored his 20th goal and added two assists as the Brandon Wheat Kings doubled the Tigers, 6-3. . . . Brandon took a 2-0 lead on goals by D Ivan Provorov, his 12th, and F Tim McGauley, his 31st, in the first 9:16 of the game. . . . The Tigers tied it before the period ended, with F Dryden Hunt counting twice. . . . The Wheat Kings, who have beaten the Tigers three times this season, took control again in the second period when F Morgan Klimchuk, with his 20th, and F Braylon Shmyr, with his 13th, scored 22 seconds apart. . . . Hunt completed his hat trick with his 25th goal at 19:33, on a PP. . . . Brandon put it away in the third with PP goals by Bukarts, his 20th, and F Nolan Patrick, his 24th. . . . Brandon was 2-for-4 on the PP; the Tigers were 2-for-3. . . . The Wheat Kings now have four skaters with at least 20 goals. . . . Provorov, Klimchuk, Patrick and McGauley, who was playing his 200th game, all had two-point nights. . . . Tigers F Trevor Cox ran his WHL-leading point total to 87 with two assists. . . . The Wheat Kings (38-9-5) lead the Eastern Conference by eight points over the Tigers (35-13-3). . . . Brandon went into this one 8-0-1 in its last nine; the Tigers were 6-0-1 in their last seven. . . . The Tigers, who lead the Central Division by nine points over Red Deer, visit Lethbridge on Friday, while the Wheat Kings are in Cranbrook. . . .

In Kamloops, G Rylan Toth stopped 38 shots to help the Red Deer Rebels to a 3-2 victory over the Blazers. . . . The Blazers held a 20-10 edge in second-period shots and it was 13-3 in the third. . . . “Our goalie won us a game here tonight. He played outstanding,” Brent Sutter, the Rebels’ general manager and head coach, told the Red Deer Advocate. . . . Toth is believed to be the best goaltender with that surname to play in Alberta since Mike Toth minded the twine for the Drumheller Falcons back in the day. . . . Rebels F Conner Bleackley scored twice, giving him 26. He got his guys on the board at 6:57 of the first and F Riley Sheen, with his 16th, made it 2-0 at 10:01. . . . The Blazers, who got both their goals from F Cole Ully, would never get even. . . . Ully got them to within one at 13:21 of the first. . . . Bleackley stretched the lead to 3-1 at 9:27 of the second, on a PP. . . . Ully got Kamloops back to within one with his 27th goal, at 6:37 of the third. . . . Sheen also had an assist. . . . Kamloops G Connor Ingram stopped 20 shots. . . . Toth was the beneficiary of some big shot blocks, with Sheen and Cote both making key ones in the first period and F Preston Kopeck blocking one with 1.2 seconds left in the third period. . . . Kamloops was 0-for-4 on the PP. It finished the game on the power play and with Ingram on the bench for the extra attacker but wasn’t able to score. . . . The Blazers remain without injured import defencemen Michael Fora and Patrik Maier, both of whom may be ready for the weekend when Kamloops goes home-and-home with Kelowna. . . . The Rebels (28-15-8), who snapped a three-game losing skid (0-1-2), moved into second in the Central Division, a point ahead of Calgary. Red Deer is to play at Vancouver on Friday. . . . The Blazers (20-27-6) remain third in the B.C. Division, three points ahead of Vancouver and four ahead of Prince George. . . . Kamloops will play in Kelowna on Friday.
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The #OHL is now playing ads before showing their suspension videos. Today Ben Fanjoy's injury is brought to you by Ice Breakers. No shame.
— Sunaya Sapurji (@sunayas) February 4, 2015

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Do Silvertips belong with big boys? . . . Reinhart to play Russians. Again

F Chris St. Jacques (Medicine Hat, 1999-2004) has been released by Sterzing/Vipiteno (Italy, Serie A) by mutual agreement. He had two goals and a team-high 12 assists in 15 games. Last season, with the Bietigheim Steelers (Germany, DEL2), he had 61 points, including 24 goals, in 50 games.
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Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province sent out a couple of tweets on Monday afternoon:
“Talked to NHL scout last night who insists that Everett is right there with the Kelownas and the Brandons of #WHL upper echelon.
“Scout said Everett opponents are lucky to get seven or eight shots in a period, but Silvertips also get after it offensively, too.”
Ever since watching the Silvertips beat the host Kamloops Blazers 4-1 on Wednesday night, I have been thinking pretty much the same thing.
The Blazers were without two of their top offensive threats in Cole Ully and Jake Kryski, but still had their moments as they outshot the visitors, 31-29. But, other than a few loose patches in the second period, the Silvertips were in control, especially after scoring two goals six seconds apart to take a 4-1 lead early in the third period.
I was most impressed with Everett’s discipline, especially when it came to playing the man with the puck. It’s obvious that the Everett coaching staff -- head coach Kevin Constantine and assistants Mitch Love and Brennan Sonne -- have put an emphasis on separating the man from the puck, as opposed to trying to put the puck carrier into the fourth row of the seats.
There are some coaches who talk about the defensive game in terms of “angle, man, puck.” In other words, when you are closing on a puck carrier, you get the right angle, you play the man and you separate him from the puck.
However, far more teams focus on “finishing your check,” with the subhead being “as hard as you can.”
The Silvertips are by far the least penalized team in the WHL and it’s no wonder. They aren’t running at people; therefore, they don’t find themselves out of position as much as other teams, or facing as many odd-man rushes as some other teams.
The Everett players also are able, for the most part, to keep their sticks down, using them to play the puck, rather than hacking and whacking. Playing in this fashion also presents the referees with far fewer opportunities to call penalties.
At this level, when it comes to officiating, the bottom line is this -- some teams give the referees far more opportunities to call penalties than others. The Silvertips, it seems, are determined not to give them any opportunities at all.
And that’s just what happened Saturday when the Silvertips beat the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings, 3-0. For the first time in franchise history -- the Silvertips entered the WHL for the 2003-04 season -- the Silvertips weren’t assessed even one minor penalty.
The Silvertips go into this week having been given 103 penalty minutes in 14 games. The Prince Albert Raiders (184 in 17), Edmonton Oil Kings (190 in 17), Medicine Hat Tigers (208 in 15) and Kelowna Rockets (212 in 16) are next on the list of least-penalized teams.
One thing is for sure . . . if the Silvertips maintain this style of play into the spring, they will be a feared opponent in the playoffs.
Austin Lotz gives them first-class goaltending, while Kevin Davis, the 11th overall pick in the 2012 bantam draft, is growing into a star-calibre defenceman. He and Cole MacDonald are being used as the shut-down pair and both have enough offensive flair to get the transition game going after a turnover.
And don’t forget the presence of Russian F Nikita Scherbak, who had 78 points, including 35 goals, with a poor Saskatoon Blades team last season. He has 17 points, seven of them goals, in 11 games this season and gives Everett an exciting game-breaker who is able to bring fans out of their seats and score from anywhere in the offensive zone.
The Silvertips go into this week at 10-1-3, six points behind the Rockets (14-1-1), who have played two more games. The Wheat Kings (14-3-1) are back home after going 6-1-0 on a road swing that took them through the B.C. Division.
Everett is at home to the Red Deer Rebels on Wednesday, while the Rockets entertain the Victoria Royals. Brandon next plays Friday when Saskatoon comes calling.
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The Swift Current Broncos have released F Luca Leone, 18. He was pointless in seven games this season. . . . Over the previous two seasons, the Vancouver native had four goals and seven assists in 70 games with the Vancouver Giants. . . . The Broncos had acquired Leone and a sixth-round pick in the 2016 bantam draft from the Giants in May for D Bobby Zinkan. . . . The Giants released Zinkan earlier this season.
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The Kootenay Ice could have F Tim Bozon and F Sam Reinhart back in its lineup when it plays the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings on Friday night. Bozon, 20, has been out with an undisclosed injury, while Reinhart, 19, has yet to play since being returned by the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. Reinhart, who played in nine games with Buffalo, was the second overall selection in the NHL’s 2014 draft. . . . Reinhart also has been added to the WHL team that will play a touring Russian side in the annual Subway Super Series. He will be the WHL team’s captain as he takes part in the series for a third straight season. . . . The games will be played in Saskatoon on Nov. 10 and Brandon on Nov. 11. . . . While Bozon and Reinhart should return to the Ice on Friday, D Tanner Faith is out indefinitely with an undisclosed injury.
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The Montreal Canadiens have all but taken the fighting aspect out of their game. Sean Gordon of The Globe and Mail looks into why that has happened. That story is right here.
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Mike Toth, who once played goal for the AJHL’s Drumheller Falcons, is a sportscaster whom I quite enjoyed when he had a national audience. I really felt that he knew his audience and what it wanted -- news and highlights with some shtick, but not standup, and some editorializing. These days, he’s got his fingers in a few things, including a blog. In an entry that was posted on Friday, he takes a look at Rogers’ ad campaign that features Mark Messier. That essay is right here. . . . Here’s hoping Toth’s next target is Toyota and the drum-banging mom.
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Regina Pats F Dryden Hunt has been suspended for two games for a high hit on Saskatoon Blades D Adam Henry on Friday night. Hunt sat out a Saturday game and won’t play Friday against the visiting Calgary Hitmen. . . .
In other disciplinary measures, Calgary F Chase Lang drew three games under supplemental discipline for something that happened during a game in Moose Jaw on Saturday; Portland Winterhawks D Anton Cederholm was given a one-game suspension for a headshot major and game misconduct in a game against the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings on Sunday; and Prince George Cougars F Chase Witala got a two-game suspension for a cross-checking major and game misconduct in a Sunday game against the visiting Kamloops Blazers. . . .
Congrats to Chris Mast, who loves to photograph hockey as much, or more, than anyone. The CHL is into a promotional deal with Post Cereal that includes having player photos on cereal boxes and trading cards inside. Some of the photos used were taken by Mast, who can be found at Everett Silvertips games. . . . He says that he took the photos of Portland Winterhawks F Nic Petan and Calgary Hitmen F Jake Virtanen that you will find on boxes, and the shots of Petan and Brandon Wheat Kings F Jayce Hawryluk that were used for the cards. . . . If you want a taste of Mast’s work, visit mast images.com.

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Just a note for @TheWHL and others... #alternatenotassistants #petpeeve pic.twitter.com/GosVkZJG2V
— Bruce Luebke (@wheatkingsvoice) November 3, 2014

Hockey loses another friend . . . Pats sign, uhh, an assistant trainer

F David Stieler (Swift Current, 2006-08) has signed a one-year contract with Regensburg (Germany, Oberliga). Last season, with Skalica (Slovakia, Extraliga), he had 28 points, including 13 goals, in 54 games. . . .
F Dan DaSilva (Portland, 2002-05) has signed a one-year contract with the Augsburger Panther (Germany, DEL). Last season, with the Ontario Reign (ECHL), he had 26 points, seven of them goals in 14 games. In 61 games with the Worcester Sharks (AHL), he had 37 points, including 17 goals. . . .
F Matt Keith (Spokane, Red Deer, 1998-2003) has signed a two-year contract with the Braehead Clan Glasgow (Scotland, UK Elite). Last season, with Red Bull Salzburg (Austria, Erste Bank Liga), he had seven goals and eight assists in 53 games. . . .
F Luke Walker (Portland, 2007-10) has signed a one-year contract with the Graz 99ers (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). Last season, with Medveščak Zagreb (Croatia, KHL), he had a goal and two assists in 36 games. The general manager and head coach of Graz is Todd Bjorkstrand, the father of F Oliver Bjorkstrand of the Portland Winterhawks.
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Adam and Dale Hughesman, enjoying a father-son day.
(Photo: Tri-City Americans)

 Hockey lost another friend when Dale Hughesman died Thursday night after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Hughesman, who was 51, was the father of former Tri-City Americans F Adam Hughesman. Among so many other things, Dale also was heavily involved with the MJHL’s Selkirk Steelers, and had served as the franchise’s governor in recent years.
Funeral arrangements are pending.

Words can't describe how much I will miss my dad. Have a new guardian angel watching over our family! I love you so much and will continue
— Adam Hughesman (@Hughdog17) August 1, 2014

To make you proud in the way I carry myself and act in the future!You battled so hard and it's your time to rest Dad.See you again @hughey17
— Adam Hughesman (@Hughdog17) August 1, 2014

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John Fisher is the corporate secretary with the Portland Winterhawks’ Booster Club. I would suggest he also is the de facto director of communications because no one does more to keep the club’s members informed than he does.
On Friday, after I had written here about mental health awareness as an issue, he responded with this:
This is a subject very near and dear to me for almost 30 years in helping those teenagers who "manifest" mental health issues usually around 15 years of age ... As I have specialized in teenagers with Bipolar and/or Schizophrenia as well as all the related issues of these illnesses ...
Thank you Gregg Drinnan for posting and bringing to the forefront this most important issue as well as other "health matters" for children and teens in our favorite sport, including "concussion injuries."
I, too, have always taken the stance that "the stronger person” is the one who seeks out medical intervention and counseling ... Even if someone else "intervenes" on your behalf."
The stigma of Mental Health should never be a sign of any sort of weakness! In fact, most of "my kids" have "tested academically in the 90th percentile in most all subjects." They just have issues and frustrations applying their "God Given Smarts" in meaningful ways ...
So, being extremely "smart" does not make you immune to illnesses, including Mental Health issues ...
I say to those afflicted, BE STRONG AND SEEK OUT help and do not let any preconception of weakness stop you ... You are stronger than the illness by having a "support team!"
... And YOU MATTER ... YES YOU MATTER to so many ... Tomorrow will be a better day!
Mental Health assistance and crisis lines are available 24 Hours a Day Seven Days a Week (24/7) all across North America. A call to ANY Emergency Room can help you with immediate assistance and crisis line telephone numbers.
... YOU ARE NOT ALONE ... People are there to Help and Not to there to judge ... Just "pick up the phone."
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Back in the day, I quite enjoyed watching Mike Toth when he appeared on TSN and later on Sportsnet. It was the dry sense of humour and the fact that he didn’t make sports more than they are -- a game.
But . . . one day Toth was there, and the next day he wasn’t. That was four years ago.
What happened?
Toth answers that question, at least partially, right here. He also writes about having “struggled with depression my entire life.”
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The Lethbridge Hurricanes and former assistant coach Brad Lukowich have settled a lawsuit that was launched by Lukowich after he had been fired by the organization on Feb. 8. . . . A source told Taking Note a few weeks ago that the claim had been settled, with Lukowich getting paid out and also getting all fees and costs and an apology.
Carmela Gentile of Global News reports that “Lukowich was seeking $108,000 plus damages at the time the court documents were filed.”
Here is the complete news release that was issued Friday morning by the Hurricanes:
The Lethbridge Hurricanes Hockey Club and Mr. Brad Lukowich have settled Mr. Lukowich’s claim arising from his departure from the Lethbridge Hurricanes Hockey Club in February, to their mutual satisfaction.
Lukowich stated: “I appreciate the Hurricanes willingness to resolve these matters constructively. My wife Cara, our daughters and I have grown very fond of the city of Lethbridge and all it has to offer. My goal is still to teach and coach at the highest level possible the game that gave me so much so that I can give back. I look forward to the next opportunity to pursue that goal.”
Brad Robson, General Manager, stated: “Although we initially announced Brad was terminated for cause, it has subsequently been determined by the Lethbridge Hurricanes Hockey Club that his departure was not for cause. The Club extends their sincere appreciation for his services and wish him success. Brad's strength is his focus on player development. I expect to see him involved in hockey operations next season."
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Taking Note also has been told that Doug Soetaert and the Everett Silvertips have settled a breach of contract lawsuit that he filed March 14, 2012. . . . Soetaert, who was fired as Everett’s general manager on Feb. 2, 2012, and the Silvertips actually made it into the courtroom for a three-day trial last month. Apparently, the two parties got together and resolved things before Judge Bruce I. Weiss issued a decision.
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The NHL’s Ottawa Senators have promoted former WHL player/coach Bob Lowes to chief amateur scout. . . . Lowes joined the Senators as a part-time amateur scout in 2006. He has been a full-time scout since 2008. . . . According to a news release, “As chief amateur scout, he will provide direction to the entire amateur scouting staff as the group prepares for each year’s NHL draft.” . . . Lowes spent nine seasons as a head coach with the Brandon Wheat Kings and three with the Regina Pats. . . . The Senators also announced that they have hired Don Boyd, another former WHL coach (Regina, 1982-83), as a full-time amateur scout. He had been working for the Senators as a scouting consultant.
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The Regina Pats are rumoured to be close to signing a head coach; of course, they also are rumoured to be close to adding Lorne Molleken to their front office, too.
One thing they do have is an assistant trainer. The Vernon Morning News reported Friday morning that Gord Cochran, who has been with the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers since 2009, has signed on with the Pats. A native of Williams Lake, B.C., he had been the Vipers’ trainer/equipment manager.
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Jim Hiller, a former WHL head coach with the Chilliwack Bruins and Tri-City Americans, signed on earlier this week as an assistant coach with the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings. On Thursday, Hiller appeared on The Locker Room Show (610 KONA). That clip is right here, starting at about the 9:30 mark. (Stick tap to Locker Room co-host Craig West for the link.)
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Dave McLellan is the new GM/head coach of the junior B Nelson Leafs, who play in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. He replaces Matt Hughes, who signed on in May but left last weekend to coach at the Pursuit of Excellence in Kelowna. The Nelson Daily has more right here.
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So the Hurricanes acknowledge that they did not have cause to fire Brad Lukowich. I imagine he'll now be paid his contract as he should?
— Alan Caldwell (@smallatlarge) August 1, 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.