Giants' radio voice off to NHL? ... Poole moves to Edge School ... Ex-WHLer head coach in RMJHL

My prayers go out to those dealing with the wildfires in the interior of BC. My home is your home #Blazernation pic.twitter.com/eDOQlxPgqT

— Dylan Ferguson (@dferg_98) July 18, 2017

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F Rhett Rachinski (Edmonton, 2007-12) has signed a one-year contract with the Guildford Flames (England, UK Elite). Last season, with the U of Alberta (Canada West), he had three goals and nine assists in 28 games. . . .

KHL News: The exhibition season began Tuesday night. The regular season starts Aug. 21. There won’t be any games from Jan 29 to Feb. 25 as the KHL takes its Olympics break. The last regular-season game is March 1. Each team plays 56 games.

F Mark Derlago (Brandon, 2003-07) has signed a one-year contract with the Nottingham Panthers (England, UK Elite). Last season, with the Nikko Icebucks (Japan, Asia HL), he had 26 goals and 32 assists in 48 games. He led the Icebucks in goals, assists and points, and was seven in the league’s scoring race. . . . Nottingham opens its exhibition schedule on Aug. 12.

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Steve Ewen of Postmedia reported Tuesday night that Brendan Batchelor has left the Vancouver Giants after four seasons as their radio voice. . . . According to Ewen, “Various sources suggest” that Batchelor will be the next radio play-by-play man for the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks. . . . TSN 1040 has had the Canucks’ radio rights, but Sportsnet 650 now has the contract and is putting together its on-air team. . . . “According to various sources,” Ewen reports, Batchelor “resigned from the WHL club on Monday and is refusing to say where he’s going, other than to admit he starts his new gig in August.” . . . Ewen’s story is right here.

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Shawn Martin has signed on with the AJHL’s Whitecourt Wolverines, as assistant general manager and associate coach. Martin, who is from Wainwright, Alta., was in his fourth season as GM/head coach of the SJHL’s La Ronge Ice Wolves when he was fired on Oct. 24. . . . Martin, 40, has been in the AJHL before, as an assistant coach with the Grande Prairie Storm, St. Albert Steel and Sherwood Park Crusaders. . . . In Whitecourt, Martin will work alongside veteran junior A GM/head coach Gord Thibodeau.

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James Poole is the new head coach of the midget prep team at Edge school in Calgary. Poole had been the general manager and head coach of the AJHL’s Calgary Canucks before leaving the organization over the weekend. . . . The Canucks were 37-19-4 under Poole last season, his only one with the organization. He spent five seasons with the AJHL’s Okotoks Oilers before joining the Canucks.

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Pat Bingham has signed on as the head coach of the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League’s Colorado Rampage. . . . Bingham has been with the Rampage organization for five years, serving as president, hockey director and the head coach of the 16-year-old AAA team. . . . A native of Vancouver, Bingham played in the WHL with the Kamloops Blazes and New Westminster Bruins (1985-89). . . . He has coached in the defunct Central and United leagues, as well as the AHL and ECHL.

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If you would like to contact Taking Note with information, have a question or just feel like commenting on something, feel free to send an email to greggdrinnan@gmail.com. I’m also on Twitter (@gdrinnan).

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While in #bdnmb recently visiting family, former #BWK great Billy D had a chance to visit Derlago Drive @JandGHomesLtd #BWKTop20 pic.twitter.com/ISV7r9iZ1O

— Brandon Wheat Kings (@bdnwheatkings) July 18, 2017

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Jesse Pearson was an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oil Kings last season, his playing career having been derailed by post-concussion syndrome.
But just the other day, the Oil Kings added Sean Brown to their coaching staff, filling a spot that had been held by Pearson.
So . . . whatever happened to Jesse Pearson?
“Things are going well, just working, trying to make money and figuring out classes for next semester,” Pearson, a 21-year-old native of Winnipeg, told me. “Nothing too exciting.”
Pearson actually has returned to Winnipeg where he plans to attend the U of Winnipeg.
Unfortunately, he still has remnants of post-concussion syndrome.
Asked if everything had cleared up, he replied: “No, not really. My head is good but, regardless, I'm always gonna have headaches that I can't get rid of sometimes.”
Pearson’s WHL career amounted to 53 games with the Oil Kings. He played 35 in 2008-09, sat out the 2009-10 season and played 18 games in 2010-11. His career ended after a fight with F Curt Gogol of the Chilliwack Bruins.
But Pearson has a championship ring, thanks to his stint on the coaching staff last season.
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Mark Ferner, the head coach of the Everett Silvertips, went to sleep Saturday night with a smile on his face. He woke up today and the smile was still there.
That’s because D Ryan Murray is to report to the Silvertips this week.
TSN reported Saturday that Murray will report despite concerns from his agent, Rick Valette. Yes, Valette was once the GM of the Prince Albert Raiders.
According to TSN, “Valette is concerned that if there is an NHL lockout that lasts several months, when and if the NHL season does begin, Murray will not be allowed to join the Blue Jackets.”
The Columbus Blue Jackets selected Murray with the second pick of the NHL’s 2012 draft.
Bob McKenzie of TSN reported earlier that “there is an agreement in principal between the NHL and the CHL that will allow players to join their NHL clubs should the season start late, but there may be a time limit involved.”
Valette is attempting to get a guarantee in writing that Murray will be allowed to move to the Columbus Blue Jackets whenever the NHL season gets started. That guarantee hasn’t been forthcoming, but Murray will head for Everett regardless.
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The Calgary Hitmen have five 20-year-olds on their roster after having released F Danny Gayle. Gayle, from Calgary, had 39 points, including 15 goals, in 61 games last season. In fact, he had career highs in goals, assists (24) and points. . . . Gayle played 34 games with the Moose Jaw Warriors in 2009-10 and was dealt to the Hitmen early in 2010-11. He has 70 points in 162 career regular-season games. . . . F Trevor Cheek, F Alex Gogolev, D Spencer Humphries, F Brooks Macek and F Cody Sylvester are the 20s remaining on Calgary’s roster. . . . Gogolev, who is from Moscow, would be a two-spotter (20-year-old import) should the Hitmen keep him. Cheek won’t turn 20 until Dec. 29.
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JUST NOTES: The Red Deer Rebels are down to 26 players after assigning two on Saturday night. G Grant Naherniak, 16, is from Moose Jaw and will join the midget AAA Moose Jaw Warriors. D Kevin Pochuk, 17, is from Winnipeg and is off to the MJHL’s Virden Oil Capitals. . . . Naherniak was a fifth-round pick in the 2011 bantam draft; Pochuk was taken in the fifth round of the 2010 bantam draft.
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The ECHL’s Elmira Jackals are looking for a head coach following the resignation of Pat Bingham on Saturday. . . . "Pat made this decision solely on what was best for his family,” Elmira GM Matt Hufnagel said in a news release. “An opportunity outside of professional hockey presented itself and he took it. While unfortunate that Pat won't be coaching the Jackals this season, we wish him, his wife, and his son the best," said Jackals general manager Matt Hufnagel.” . . . Bingham, 44, is a Vancouver native who played in the WHL with the Kamloops Blazers and New Westminster Bruins (1985-89). He was head coach of the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers in 2010-11 and the Jackals last season.

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Wednesday . . .

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Matt MacKay (Moose Jaw, Medicine Hat, Vancouver, Brandon, 2008-11) signed a one-year contract with Kölner Haie (Germany, DEL). He had 29 goals and 51 assists in 71 games with Vancouver Giants and Brandon Wheat Kings this season. Köln CEO Thomas Eichin: "Matt is a top talent. We are glad we were able to get him because he fits into our scheme. Young and hungry. He also has the right professional genes. His father was a very successful player." . .  . Matt's father Mark (Moose Jaw, 1984-1985), who is a Calgary-based player agent, played 12 seasons in Germany and made 50 appearances with the German national team. . . .
D Mike Egener (Calgary, 2000-04) signed a one-year contract with Esbjerg (Denmark, AL-Bank Liga). He had two goals and six assists in 44 games for the Florida Everblades (ECHL). Esbjerg head coach (and former N.Y. Islanders D) Tomas Jonsson: "He's a big, strong guy and he will help us a lot with the game in our own zone. We have long wished for a defenseman of that caliber and Mike comes with some power, so I very much look forward to working with him." . . .
F Garrett Bembridge (Saskatoon, 1997-2001) signed a one-year contract with Valpellice (Italy, Serie A). He had 25 goals and 17 assists in 48 games for Eispiraten Crimmitschau (Germany, 2.Bundesliga) this season. . . .
G Jeff Glass (Kootenay, 2002-05) signed a two-year contract extension with Barys Astana (Kazakhstan, KHL). He had a 2.95 GAA and a .911 save percentage in 23 games for Astana this season.
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JUST NOTES: D Tyler Bell, 17, has signed to play with the SJHL’s Estevan Bruins, unless he sticks with the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers. Bell spent the last two seasons with the midget AAA Regina Pat Canadians. Right now, he would seventh at best on the Blazers’ depth chart. . . . The Blazers, by the way, are expected to announce the signing of an assistant coach today. Head coach Guy Charron is heading into the second year of a two-year deal, so perhaps an extension will be in order for him. . . . Kamloops didn’t renew the contracts of assistants Scott Ferguson and Geoff Smith after last season ended. . . . Interesting goings-on in the NorPac Junior Hockey League where officials have suspended four of its 12 teams for next season. Matt Baldwin of the Whitefish Pilot has that story right here. . . . F Taylor Piller, who won four championships in as many SJHL seasons, has decided to attend Simon Fraser University and play hockey there. Piller won two championships with the Humboldt Broncos and two more with the La Ronge Ice Wolves. . . .
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THE COACHING GAME: Pat Bingham is the new head coach of the ECHL’s Elmira Jackals. Bingham (Kamloops, New Westminster, 1985-89) is the ninth head coach in franchise history. He spent the last four seasons on the coaching staff of the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers, taking over as head coach in November. . . . Former Prince George Cougars head coach Lane Lambert will be named today as an assistant coach by the NHL’s Nashville Predators. He has been the head coach of Nashville’s AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, for four seasons. . . . Former WHL D Ian Herbers, an assistant under Lambert for two seasons, is a candidate to take over as Milwaukee’s head coach. . . . Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post updates the situation involving the Regina Pats and contract negotiations with a few members of the organization. That piece is right here.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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Ex-WHLer gets AHL head-coaching job

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Duncan Milroy (Swift Current, Kootenay, 1998-2003) signed a contract (one year with a club option for another year) with the Krefeld Pinguine (Germany DEL) after obtaining his release from Mlada Boleslav (Czech Republic Extraliga). He had three goals and three assists in 20 games for Mlada Boleslav this season. Last season, Milroy had 12 goals and 24 assists in 74 games for Houston Aeros (AHL). . . .
G Ian Gordon (Swift Current, Saskatoon, 1992-95) signed a one-year contract extension with Ingolstadt (Germany DEL). He has a 2.49 GAA and a .924 save percentage in 16 games with Ingolstadt this season. This is Gordon's 11th season in the DEL.
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The Tri-City Americans have sold more than 2,500 season tickets for what is believed to be the first time in franchise history. The shut off season-ticket sales last week with the total at 2,525, which is up five per cent over last season. . . . Records kept by some of the team’s previous owners are a bit sketchy, but it’s believed that this constitutes a new high. . . . “Our staff has done a tremendous job developing a solid season-ticket base,” Americans’ governor/general manager Bob Tory said in a news release. “Credit also needs to go to our fans who have jumped on board and helped us enjoy some tremendous hockey.  And to our players, who have given more than just a solid on-ice effort, but have been actively involved in the community to add to the quality of life in the Tri-Cities.” . . . The Americans are in their 23rd season in the Tri-Cities. They are owned by Tory, Stu Barnes, Olaf Kolzig and Dennis Loman. . . . Last season, the team averaged 4,480 fans, its highest number since 1990-91. . . . The Americans meet the Bruins in Chilliwack on Friday, then hurry home to meet the Spokane Chiefs on Saturday and the Everett Silvertips on Sunday.
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The Calgary Hitmen have lost 12 straight games to equal a franchise record. In 1995-96, the Hitmen endured two 12-game losing streaks but that was their first season in the WHL. . . . The Hitmen next play Friday when they visit the Brandon Wheat Kings. . . . When Calgary lost 6-2 to the visiting Kootenay Ice on Sunday, it was without F Tyler Fiddler (upper body), D Jaynen Rissling (lower body) and D Alex Roach (leg). During the game, the Hitmen lost D Matt MacKenzie (flu) and D Peter Kosterman (injury), so moved F Cody Sylvester back to defence. . . .
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On Monday, the Regina Pats dealt G Dawson Guhle, 18, to the Red Deer Rebels for LW Lane Scheidl, 18. . . . Scheidl, from Saskatoon, was acquired by Red Deer from the Vancouver Giants. He has six points in 20 games this season with the Rebels. . . . Guhle was 1-1-1, 6.25, .825 with the Pats, who are going with Damien Ketlo, 19, and freshman Matt Hewitt, who turns 18 on Dec. 11. . . . The Pats actually issued a press release last week saying they had assigned Guhle to the SJHL’s Melville Millionaires, but it was pulled back a couple of hours later. Could be this deal has been in the works since then. . . . With Red Deer, Guhle will back up veteran Darcy Kuemper as the Rebels have assigned Bolton Pouliot, 16, to the midget AAA Calgary Royals. . . .
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The Kamloops Blazers swept the WHL’s player-of-the-week awards. . . . LW Brendan Ranford was named player of the week after picking up six points, including three goals, in two games. He became the first skater to 20 goals this season when he scored once in Sunday’s 3-1 victory over the visiting Everett Silvertips. . . . Kamloops G Jeff Bosch is the WHL nominee as the CHL’s goaltender of the week. He was 2-0-0 with a 0.50 GAA and a .984 save percentage last week.
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Pat Bingham (Kamloops, New Westminster, 1985-89) is the new head coach of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s New York Islanders. The Islanders fired head coach Scott Gordon on Monday, replacing him with Bridgeport head coach Jack Capuano. . . . Bingham, who is from Vancouver, has been an assistant coach with the Sound Tigers since 2007-08. He has been in the Islanders organization since 2005. He also has coached in the Central and United leagues and in the ECHL.
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The Moose Jaw Warriors were without two key performers when they dropped a 6-3 decision to the visiting Portland Winterhawks on Monday night. . . . F Quinton Howden sat out a one-game suspension for a cross-checking major he incurred in Saturday’s 3-0 victory over the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes. . . . The Warriors filled that spot with F Carter Hansen, the 10th overall pick in the 2010 bantam draft. He playes for the midget AAA Moose Jaw Generals. . . . The Warriors also were without D Dylan McIlrath, who suffered a right knee injury on Saturday. McIlrath was selected 10th overall by the New York Rangers in the 2010 NHL draft and the Rangers are flying him into the Big Apple on Wednesday where he is scheduled to undergo an MRI. . . . “I remember battling in the faceoff circle for the puck,” McIlrath told Matthew Gourlie of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald. “I watched the video and it looked like the guy fell on the outside of my right knee.” . . . .According to Gourlie, “When McIlrath went down he was in obvious distress and his pained scream could be heard all the way to the Civic Centre rafters.” . . . “I heard a noise you shouldn’t hear and went down in a lot of pain,” said McIlrath. “I knew right away it was pretty serious. I’m not the one to lay on the ice if it wasn’t serious.” . . . McIlrath actually is walking better and swelling has gone down, so he is thinking the injury may not be as bad as first feared. The MRI will reveal whether that is wishful thinking.
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As expected, the WHL doled out some suspensions Monday.
D Wes Vannieuwenhuizen of the Vancouver Giants got hit with seven games for that hit from behind on F Robin Soudek of the host Chilliwack Bruins on Thursday. The Bruins have yet to update the world on Soudek’s condition. . . . This was a nasty, nasty hit but, for whatever reason, was worth five games less than what F Brendan Shinnimin of the Tri-City Americans got for his hit on F Josh Nicholls of the Saskatoon Blades. . . . Shinnimin is eligible to return Saturday when the Americans play the Chiefs in Spokane. . . . Vannieuwenhuizen will be eligible to return Dec. 7 when the Giants are at home to the Kamloops Blazers.
Meanwhile, D Adrian Van de Mosselaer of the Edmonton Oil Kings got a two-game sentence for a kneeing major in Saturday’s 1-0 loss to the host Kootenay Ice; Moose Jaw Warriors F Quinton Howden got hit with one game for a cross-checking major in a 3-0 victory over the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes on Saturday; and, F Brad Ross of the Portland Winterhawks got two games for a game misconduct he picked up during a 5-4 loss to the Blades in Saskatoon on Friday. . . . It isn’t true that Ross got tossed so that he could go and sit with Shannon Tweed and Gene Simmons.
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F Igor Revenko of the Prince Albert Raiders is in Edmonton today to undergo an MRI. He felt a pop in his groin area in a recent game and tried to play through it, but with no luck. Revenko, 20, had 55 points, including 27 goals, last season and you can bet the struggling Raiders are feeling his absence. . . . Raiders D Nathan Deck also is said to be at least a week away from returning. . . . Revenko and Deck are two of the Raiders’ three 20-year-olds. . . . The Portland Winterhawks have their Teddy Bear Toss scheduled for Dec. 11 when the Prince George Cougars are in town. The Winterhawks say they already have sold nearly 8,000 tickets for that game. . . . The Spokane Chiefs have added D Tim Krzyzaniak, 18, to their roster. He has played two WHL games in his career — one in each of the last two seasons with the Brandon Wheat Kings. He is from Neepawa, Man., which is just north of Brandon. He had three points in 12 games with the MJHL’s Dauphin Kings this season. The Chiefs are with D Garrett Leedahl, who is hurt, and anticipate losing D Jared Cowen to Canada’s national junior team so have been looking for some depth. . . . The Chiefs are in for quite a weekend as they go on the road to play Seattle, Tri-City and Portland, in that order, starting Friday. . . . Cowen has been named captain of Team WHL for Wednesday’s Super Series game in Kamloops. F Chase Schaber of the Kamloops Blazers and F Curtis Hamilton of the Saskatoon Blades will serve as alternates. Calgary D Matt MacKenzie was to have been an alternate for both games, but he has the flu and has been replaced by D Alex Petrovic of the Red Deer Rebels. . . . The WHL also announced that Kamloops F Brendan Ranford will replace F Brendan Gallagher of the Vancouver Giants for the game in Kamloops. Gallagher will play in Prince George on Thursday. . . . F Cody Eakin of the Swift Current Broncos will wear the ‘C’ for Team WHL on Thursday in Prince George, with D Tyson Barrie of the Kelowna Rockets and F Brett Connolly of the hometown Cougars as the alternates. . . .
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In Moose Jaw, F Ty Rattie had two goals and two assists to lead the Portland Winterhawks to a 6-3 victory over the Warriors. . . . Rattie has 14 goals. He also has 38 points, just two behind Vancouver Giants F Craig Cunningham, who leads the league. . . . The Winterhawks scored three times in the second period after the teams played to a 2-2 draw in the opening 20 minutes. . . . Portland F Sven Bartschi had his 17th goal and an assist to run his points streak to 16 games. He has 33 points on the season. . . . Portland lost F Tayler Jordan to a charging major and game misconduct at 6:10 of the third period. . . . Portland is 4-1-0 on its East Division swing, which wraps up tonight in Brandon. Immediately after the game, most of the Winterhawks will start the 24-hour bus ride back to Portland. F Ryan Johansen, D Brett Ponich, Rattie and F Brad Ross, however, will miss the bus ride. Altogether now . . . awwwwww! They will fly to Prince George where they will play for Team WHL in Wednesday’s final game of the Subway Super Series. . . . Ross didn’t play last night in Moose Jaw. He drew a two-game suspension for receiving a game misconduct during Friday’s 5-4 loss to the Blades in Saskatoon. He served the first game of that suspension Saturday as the Winterhawks won 8-2 in Prince Albert.
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In Regina, F Hampus Gustafsson had a goal and two assists to lead the Brandon Wheat Kings to a 5-2 victory over the Pats. . . . Brandon acquired Gustafsson from the Pats earlier this season. . . . The Wheat Kings also got a goal and assist from F Jason Swyripa. . . . Brandon has won three straight and became the 17th of 22 teams to get to the .500 mark. . . . If you’re a Wheat Kings fan on the Brayden Schenn, well, the Los Angeles Kings made him a healthy scratch for a fifth straight game last night. . . . Jason Clermont, who caught the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ winning TD in Sunday’s thrilling victory over the B.C. Lions, and teammate Chris Getzlaf took part in the ceremonial faceoff prior to the game. . . . The Pats now head into the B.C. Division for a five-game tour that opens Friday in Vancouver.
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MONDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
Zero.
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WHL teams at .500 or better: 17-of-22 (.773).

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
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