McCrimmon signs with Vegas; injuries take out Everett defenceman

F Colton Gilles (Saskatoon, 2004-08) has signed a one-year contract with Dinamo Riga (Latvia, KHL) after a successful tryout. Last season, with Banská Bystrica (Slovakia, Extraliga), he had six goals and five assists in 28 games. . . .

F Colin Long (Kelowna, 2005-09) has signed a one-year contract with Asiago (Italy, Alps HL). Last season, he had seven goals and 14 assists in 40 games with Asplöven Haparanda (Sweden, Allsvenskan). . . .

D Andrej Meszároš (Vancouver, 2004-05) has signed a one-year contract with Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia, KHL). Last season, with Sibir Novosibirsk (Russia, KHL), he had six goals and three assists in 28 games.

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Las Vegas NHL expansion team has hired Kelly McCrimmon as its assistant general manager per owner Bill Foley. Official announcement Tuesday.

— Steve Carp (@stevecarprj) August 2, 2016

Yes, the NHL’s Las Vegas franchise, which is to begin play in 2017-18, has hired Kelly McCrimmon as an assistant general manager. McCrimmon, the owner, general manager and head coach of the Brandon Wheat Kings, will work alongside Las Vegas general manager George McPhee. . . . McCrimmon is to be introduced at a news conference in Las Vegas today (Tuesday). At that point, perhaps he will enlighten folks as to his plans for the Wheat Kings, who are the WHL’s reigning champions. . . . Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal has a bit more right here.

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D Tristen Pfeifer revealed on Monday that he won’t be returning to the Everett Silvertips for a third season. “I am saddened to announce that I will not be returning to Everett next season because of health concerns,” he wrote on social media. “Would like to thank everyone who has supported me throughout my hockey career. A special thanks to the Silvertips organization, my coaches, the fans, the city, my billets, and most importantly the guys for making these last couple years unforgettable. I’m very blessed and grateful for my time as a Tip.” . . . Pfeifer, from Phoenix, played two seasons with Everett, but was limited by injuries — shoulder and concussions — to 49 games as a freshman and 60 games last season when he wasn’t able to play in the playoffs. . . . He totalled four goals and 18 assists in 109 regular-season games. . . . Pfeifer showed enough as an 18-year-old freshman that NHL Central Scouting ranked him No. 135 among North American skaters prior to the 2015 draft. However, he went undrafted. . . . Without Pfeifer, the Silvertips are left with three 20-year-olds on their roster — F Lucas Skrumeda, F Graham Millar and F Brandon Ralph.

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The Spokane Chiefs have signed F Carter Chorney, who was a second-round selection in the 2016 bantam draft. The 6-foot-0, 170-pounder is from Sherwood Park, Alta. Last season, he had 66 points, including 31 goals, in 36 games with the bantam AAA Sherwood Park Flyers. He added 14 points, six of them goals, in 10 playoff games.

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Got a tip or some information you feel could be useful to me, feel free to email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

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Mark Holick is the new head coach of HC Pustertal Wolfe, an Italian team that plays in the Alps HL out of Bruneck. . . . Holick, 47, is a native of Penticton, B.C., who has been coaching since 1994. He spent the previous three-plus seasons as head coach of the WHL’s Prince George Cougars. That relationship ended after the 2015-16 season, although Holick had one year left on his contract. This will be Holick’s first coaching assignment in Europe.

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Dustin Donaghy, a former WHLer, has joined the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers as an assistant coach. He will work alongside general manager/head coach Mike Vandekamp. Donaghy, 27, was with the Spokane Chiefs when they won the 2008 Memorial Cup. He also played in the WHL with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. . . . He went on to play five seasons in the Central league. . . . From Cranbrook, he has been living in Spokane. He has coaching experience at the Compete Hockey Academy in Spokane and the Coeur d’Alene Hockey Academy.

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The midget AAA Eastman Selects, who play out of Beausejour, Man., went 40-1-3 in 2015-16, the best record in franchise history, before losing to the second-place Winnipeg Wild in the league final. . . . So why did the Eastman Minor Hockey Association dump the general manager and the coaching staff. Well, it seems the board “has determined to go in a different direction.” . . . Terry Frey of The Carillon has the story right here.

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Matthew Tkachuk said he's healthy but needs some rest so he's staying off the ice at #NJEC pic.twitter.com/O8I9i7t5uE

— Adam Kimelman (@NHLAdamK) August 2, 2016

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Blazers' roster taking shape

By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
The Kamloops Blazers, their roster resting at 25, will trim a defenceman and a forward or two before opening the WHL’s regular season.
It doesn’t appear that they will be tinkering with their goaltending.
The Blazers went into their intrasquad game a week ago with four goaltenders on their roster. Immediately after the game, they chose to keep sophomore Taran Kozun, 19, and freshman Cole Kehler, while releasing Liam McLeod of Kamloops and Regina’s Cam Pateman, both 17.
Getting down to two goaltenders so quickly may have caught some observers by surprise. But head coach Dave Hunchak said it was the best move for all involved.
“We felt that committing a year’s school to guys when (Kehler) is already signed didn’t make any sense from an organization standpoint, or to those two other kids,” Hunchak said after the Blazers beat the visiting Vancouver Giants 4-3 in overtime on Sunday night. “We have to make decisions based on kids’ careers, and if we’re not sure if they’re going to be a part of our program for the long term, then we’re not going to bring them.”
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Kehler, meanwhile, was the story of Sunday’s victory. He stopped 41 shots, including 16 of 17 in the first period, as his teammates struggled against a strong Vancouver forecheck.
Kehler, who won’t turn 16 until Dec. 17, was a sixth-round selection by the Blazers in the WHL’s 2012 bantam draft.
Kehler is the youngest of three children; his father, Ernie, owns a John Deere dealership in Altona.
He had hoped to play midget AAA with the Morden-based Pembina Valley Hawks last season, but, he said, “they elected to go with an older goalie.” So he ended up playing high school hockey with the W.C. Miller Aces. His numbers weren’t much — 2-14-0, 5.00, .864 — but the team was only 4-17.
The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder arrived in Kamloops wanting “to make the team, obviously. That was a big goal for me . . . as a 16-year-old to come in and make the team.”
He did just that, thanks to a strong training camp.
“I had a good camp,” he said. “I felt I was very consistent.”
He admits to being “a little bit” surprised at the decision the team’s management made to get down to two goaltenders before the exhibition season had even begun.
“I felt I had some strong competition,” he said. “I think it shows that they have confidence in me and that they really like me.”
His strengths, he said, are “seeing the puck and being calm. I really think my mental toughness . . . to bounce back afer a goal.”
Had Kehler not stuck with the Blazers, he would have attended the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton.
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Meanwhile, McLeod has surfaced with the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers.
He is one of three goaltenders on general manager/head coach Mike Vandekamp’s roster, the others being Jayson Argue, a 20-year-old from Swan River, Man., who played 28 games in Nanaimo last season, and Connor LaCouvee, 19, from Qualicum Beach. He got into 20 games with the BCHL’s Cowichan Valley Capitals last season.
Last season, McLeod was 1-8-0, 4.69, .857 in 14 games with the BCHL’s Prince George Spruce Kings.
“The first thing with Liam, he’s 17 years old, and we wanted to have a look at him based on his age,” Vandekamp told Josh Aldrich of the Nanaimo Daily News. “I don’t know much about him yet, but he came to us from the Blazers. I know some people there, we talked about it and it made some sense to us to have a look at it as a possibility within our age categories of our roster.”
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The Blazers are at home to the Kelowna Rockets on Friday, 7 p.m., then meet the Giants at Burnaby’s Bill Copeland Arena on Sunday, 3 p.m.

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More on the Blades . . .

A statement issued Friday by the Saskatoon Blades.

OK. So the Saskatoon Blades have been sold. Well, they have been according to at least one report.
But, then again, Jack Brodsky, who is the WHL franchise’s majority owner, and Mike Priestner, the Edmonton-based auto dealer who may, or may not, be first in line, say a deal hasn’t been done.
Ahh, who to believe?
I’m thinking that we go with Brodsky and Priestner, who admit that they are talking. Priestner, in fact, has told Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix that he plans on checking back with Brodsky on Tuesday, this being a long weekend up here. (Unless I missed it, Brodsky has yet to indicate why he suddenly is interested in divesting himself of the franchise, which makes the situation all the more interesting.)
I have been told that a deal is close, which is hardly news. I also have been told that the sale price appears to be $9.8 million, and if that is the case it will make other WHL franchise owners beyond happy. That is about $3 million more than the Kamloops Blazers sold for in 2007.
Yes, Priestner was involved in that situation, too.
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What follows is from a story I wrote in early August of 2007:
River City Hockey Inc. (RCH), a five-man group led by Vancouver businessman Tom Gaglardi and including four ex-Blazers players, made an offer of $6.1 million July 18. Under the terms of that offer, the shareholders would be bought out, the coaching staff would be retained and remaining monies after all expenses had been paid would go to the Kamloops Blazers Sports Foundation. As is standard in a lot of deals such as this, the society would terminate other front-office employees — and be liable for any severance packages. Those people then would be allowed to re-apply for the positions.
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At the time, Priestner had hired former WHL commissioner Dev Dley, then a Kamloops-based lawyer, to represent him. (Dley now is a B.C. Supreme Court justice.)
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According to Dley, there would be minimum disruption to the organization under Priestner’s offer.
“He wants to keep the local shareholders involved so he will keep the shareholders intact,” said Dley, adding that Priestner would purchase 55 per cent of the franchise, leaving shareholders with 45. “The end result is that the community continues to own a portion of the team and there is a guarantee of money flowing into the foundation.
“It’s the best of both worlds . . . it’s the absolute best of both worlds.”
Dley added that what Priestner has done is "put a value on the team that is more than Gaglardi's people and then offered to buy the majority of the team."
Priestner’s offer, Dley said, also is worth “more (than RCH’s), and the actual details provide a much greater return to the community and on a longer term basis.”
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A week later, this appeared in a story in The Daily News:
RCH was rebuffed in an attempt to purchase the franchise for $6 million early last summer (2006). RCH, which wants to purchase 100 per cent of the operation, came back July 18 with a second offer, this one for $6,100,176.
Mike Priestner sent an offer to board members Friday — he calls it a partnership proposal — that would have him take over 51 per cent of the franchise, with the society retaining 49 per cent. Priestner is offering to pay $3,626,100, something that would place a value of $7,110,000 on the Blazers.
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Of course, the Gaglardi group ended up purchasing the Blazers, paying somewhere above $6 million for the franchise. Should the Blades sell for anywhere above $9 million, the value of all WHL franchise certainly would increase.
And you may recall that True North Sports & Entertainment, which owns the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets, was sniffing around not that long ago, apparently interested in purchasing a WHL franchise.
You have to wonder if they still would be interested if the price of poker now is approaching $10 million.
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A second group that is hoping to purchase the Saskatoon Blades is hoping that it still is in the running. That group includes, among others, former Blades players Kelly Chase, Rhett Warrener and Dave Chartier. . . . Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix has more right here.
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Kevin Mitchell of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix takes a look right here at the history of the Blades’ ownership and wonders why Jack Brodsky wants out and also ponders the future.
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F Liam Stewart of the Spokane Chiefs has been named to the preliminary roster of Great Britain’s U-20 team that will play in the IIHF Division 1, Group B world championship. Great Britain will be playing at home, with the tournament to be held in Dumfries, Dec. 9-15. . . . Stewart, the son of legendary rocker Rod Stewart and model/actress Rachel Hunter, is one of 18 forwards on the preliminary roster. . . . The complete roster is right here.
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THE COACHING GAME:
The BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers have added Dave Johnston and Brad Leeb to their coaching staff as assistants under GM/head coach Mike Vandekamp. . . . They will the void created when Michael Olson left after last season. . . . Leeb, who played four seasons with the Red Deer Rebels, retired after playing last season with the Coventry Blaze of the U.K.’s Elite league. . . . Josh Aldrich of the Nanaimo Daily News reports that Johnston also will be the assistant GM and director of business operations. . . . Aldrich has more right here.
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One of the big stories of the next few months is going to involve Russia and it’s suddenly very public campaign against gays. So how did Russia get there from there? Mariam Elder of BuzzFeed explains right here.
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To boycott or not to boycott the Sochi Olympic Winter Games over Russia’s anti-gay stance, that is the question. Dave Zirin, from grantland.com, states his case right here.


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Friday . . .

THE MacBETH REPORT: F Richard Mueller (Brandon, Saskatoon, Calgary, 1998-2003) has signed a two-year contract with the Kassel Huskies (Germany DEL). He had two goals and six assists in 23 games for the Hamburg Freezers (Germany DEL) this season. . . .
F Glen Goodall (Seattle, 1984-90) won’t be re-signed by Ingolstadt (Germany DEL) after 11 seasons with the club. Goodall, the team captain this season, had five assists in 35 games for Ingolstadt. He has played in Germany since 1993. Goodall holds the WHL career games played (399) and goals (262) records, and is fifth in assists (311) and second in points (573).
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Former NHLer Trevor Letowski has signed on as an assistant coach with the OHL’s Sarnia Sting. Letowski, whose NHL career featured 616 games, spent the last two seasons with Astana Barys of the Continental league. Letowski, 33, is a former Sting player. He replaces Greg Walters, who left his position as associate coach following the season. Walters had been with the Sting for eight years. Letowski, who doesn’t have any coaching experience, will work under GM/head coach Dave McQueen.
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Mike Vandekamp, who took a turn as head coach of the WHL’s Prince George Cougars, has moved on to coach in the Allan Cup tournament that opens Monday in Fort St. John, B.C., which just happens to be his hometown. Vandekamp, now the GM and head coach of the AJHL’s Grande Prairie Storm, is helping the host team, the Fort St. John Flyers. The Bentley Generals, under head coach Brian Sutter, are back to defend their Canadian senior hockey title.
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Freelance writer Scott Sepich, who often writes on the Portland Winterhawks for The Oregonian, takes a good look back and a glance into the future right here.
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WHL PLAYOFFS
THIRD ROUND
CONFERENCE FINALS
(Best-of-7)
(x — if necessary)
(All times local)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Calgary (1) vs. Brandon (2)
(Brandon leads series 1-0)
Friday: Brandon 4 at Calgary 2 (8,669)
Saturday: Brandon at Calgary, 7 p.m.
Tuesday: Calgary at Brandon, 6 p.m.
Wednesday: Calgary at Brandon, 6 p.m.
x-April 23: Brandon at Calgary, 6 p.m.
x-April 25: Calgary at Brandon, 5 p.m.
x-April 27: Brandon at Calgary, 6 p.m.
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WESTERN CONFERENCE
Tri-City (1) vs. Vancouver (5)
(Vancouver leads series 1-0)
Friday: Vancouver 4 at Tri-City 2 (3,899)
Saturday: Vancouver at Tri-City, 7:35 p.m.
Tuesday: Tri-City at Vancouver, 7 p.m.
Thursday: Tri-City at Vancouver, 7 p.m.
x-April 23: Vancouver at Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.
x-April 25: Tri-City at Vancouver, TBD
x-April 27: Vancouver at Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.
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FRIDAY:
In Calgary, the Brandon Wheat Kings fell behind 1-0 and then scored the next three goals as they beat the Hitmen, 4-2, in the Eastern Conference final opener. . . . Game 2 is scheduled for Calgary on Saturday. . . . Brandon has won six straight road games in these playoffs. . . . D Zak Stebner gave Calgary a 1-0 lead at 10:37 of the first period, on the PP. . . . Brandon F Toni Rajala tied it five minutes later, on the PP. . . . D Travis Hamonic gave Brandon its first lead at 2:37 of the second period and F Brayden Schenn got the eventual winner at 9:03 of the third. . . . Calgary F Joel Broda pulled his guys to within one at 17:41 of the third, but Brandon F Matt Calvert iced it with an empty-netter at 19:59. . . . Broda has nine goals in these playoffs, while Schenn has eight. . . . Brandon was 1-for-3 on the PP; Calgary has 1-for-2. . . . Brandon G Jacob DeSerres, who is from Calgary, stopped 33 shots. . . . Calgary G Martin Jones turned aside 26 shots. . . . Attendance was 8,669. . . . Referees Matt Kirk and Chris Savage handed out five minor penalties, three to Calgary. . . . Brandon was without D Darren Bestland (undisclosed) and D Ryley Miller (jaw), while Calgary was minus D Kyle Aschim (upper body).
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In Kennewick, Wash., Vancouver G Mark Segal stopped 42 shots to lead the Giants to a 4-2 victory over the host Tri-City Americans. . . . This was the opener of the Western Conference final, with Game 2 set for the Toyota Center on Saturday night. . . . Segal, much-maligned as the Vancouver weak link when these playoffs began, now is 9-2 in this postseason. . . . Vancouver is 6-0 on the road in the playoffs. . . . The Americans took a 2-1 lead into the second period after D Tyler Schmidt scored two PP goals, the first just 35 seconds into the game and the second at 19:29. . . . F James Henry got the Giants on the board at 16:42. . . . F Brendan Gallagher tied the game, with his 10th playoff goal, at 1:45 of the second and F Greg Lamoureux, who had one goal in 42 regular-season games, got his first WHL postseason score in his fourth game at 4:18 to put the visitors in front. . . . Vancouver F Tomas Vincour added a PP goal, his sixth, at 10:28 of the third. . . . Giants D Nolan Toigo set up three goals and was plus-3. . . . Tri-City F Adam Hughesman had two assists. . . . Tri-City G Drew Owsley stopped 19 shots. . . . The Americans were 2-for-9 on the PP; the Giants were 1-for-7. . . . Tri-City enjoyed a 5-on-3 PP late in the third period for 1:28 but only managed one shot on goal as the Giants tightened up defensively. . . . Attendance was 3,899.