THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Kirill Starkov (Red Deer, 2006-07) was released by Rögle Ängelholm (Sweden, Allsvenskan). He had three goals and 12 assists in 39 games for Rögle this season. . . .
F Petr Kalus (Regina, 2005-06) signed a contract for the rest of this season with MoDo Örnsköldsvik (Sweden, Elitserien). He had three goals and four assists in 30 games with Slavia Prague (Czech Republic, Extraliga) this season.
———
The Regina Pats will honour the memory of the late Rick Rypien on Friday night as they play host to the Swift Current Broncos.
It will be Rick Rypien Bobblehead Night, with a limited quantity of bobbleheads available for fans to purchase with a minimum donation of $2. All proceeds will go to KidSport, and there is a limit of one bobblehead per customer.
Rypien spent his entire WHL career with the Pats, serving as captain in 2004-05.
———
The Saskatoon Blades have signed D Nelson Nogier, a hometown boy who was a fourth-round selection in the 2011 WHL bantam draft. Nogier, the son of former WHL G Pat Nogier, has 14 points in 35 games with the midget AAA Saskatoon Contacts this season. . . .
———
D Tyler Stahl, who suffered a concussion on Oct. 1, is back on skates, although there is no timetable for his return to the Victoria Royals’ lineup. Stahl was injured on a hit from F Charles Inglis, then with the Prince George Cougars. Inglis drew a 10-game suspension for the hit. . . . Stahl, who turns 21 on Sunday, was back on the ice Tuesday, although he isn’t yet ready for contact. . . . He won’t play Friday and Saturday against the visiting Kamloops Blazers. . . .
———
In the BCHL, the Penticton Vees ran their winning streak to 26 games with a 9-0 victory over the Centennials in Merritt. The Vees are 38-3-2; the Centennials have the BCHL’s second-best record, at 26-13-7. Penticton G Michael Garteig (32-4, 1.97, .929) has put up three shutouts over his last four starts. . . . The Vees next play Friday against the visiting Salmon Arm SilverBacks.
———
WEDNESDAY’S GAMES:
In Calgary, F Brooks Macek scored three straight goals to help the Hitmen to a 7-2 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings. . . . Macek, who also had an assist, has 14 goals. His first career hat trick came in his 238th game. . . . The Hitmen have won nine of 10 and are tiede with the Saskatoon Blades for fifth in the Eastern Conference, one point behind the Kootenay Ice. . . . Calgary F Victor Rask had a goal, his 21st, and two assists. . . . Brandon G Corbin Boes made his first start since breaking a hand in a 7-3 loss to the host Edmonton Oil Kings on Dec. 8. . . . Boes was gone at 12:18 of the second, having given up five goals on 21 shots. . . . Bruce Luebke, the radio voice of the Wheat Kings on CKLQ, notes that it was “Brandon’s fifth loss by four or more goals in the last month.” . . . The Wheat Kings had beaten the Kootenay Ice 1-0 in Cranbrook on Tuesday night. . . .

In Lethbridge, the Hurricanes scored the game’s last three goals and beat the Kootenay Ice, 5-4. . . . Ice F Jesse Ismond scored shorthanded to give his side a 4-2 lead at 15:11 of the second period. . . . Lethbridge F Jaimen Yakubowski got the home side to within one at 17:47 of the second. . . . F Brody Sutter, with his 21st, tied it at 7:34 of the third and F Phil Tot won it, with his 10th, at 15:02. . . . The last two goals came via the PP as Lethbridge went 2-for-6. . . . Lethbridge G Liam Liston stopped 23 shots. . . . Ice F Sam Reinhart scored his 17th goal, which was his 41st point and set a franchise single-season record for a 16-year-old. The previous record had been held by D Steve McCarthy (1997-98). . . . The Ice was without F Max Reinhart, who blocked a shot Tuesday night against Brandon and is expected to be out at least a week. . . .

In Medicine Hat, F Hunter Shinkaruk struck for three goals to help the Tigers to a 6-5 victory over the Prince Albert Raiders. . . . Shinkaruk, who has 35 goals, also had an assist. . . . The Tigers were without F Emerson Etem, who is at home in California. He hadn’t had any time off since playing for the U.S. in the World Junior Championship. Etem left Sunday and should be back for a Friday game against the host Lethbridge Hurricanes. . . . F Mark McNeill had four goals and an assist for the Raiders. He’s got 22 goals. . . . Prince Albert F Justin Maylan drew four assists, while F Logan McVeigh had three. . . . The Raiders have lost six straight. . . .

In Edmonton, F Brendan Shinnimin scored with 32.2 seconds left in OT to give the Tri-City Americans a 5-4 victory over the Oil Kings. . . . The goal was the second of the game for Shinnimin, who has 29 this season. . . . The outcome left the Americans second in the overall standings, one point ahead of the Oil Kings and one behind the Kamloops Blazers. Kamloops dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to the Rockets in Kelowna, but the loser point kept them in top spot. . . . The Oil Kings, who had won three straight, took a 3-2 lead into the third period. . . . The Americans then got goals from Shinnimin and F Malte Stromwall in the period’s first five minutes. . . . D Martin Gernat of Edmonton forced OT with his eighth goal at 7:35. . . . Edmonton took three of the game’s five minor penalties. . . . The Americans were 1-for-3 on the PP; Edmonton was 0-for-2. . . . Oil Kings D Griffin Reinhart was back after having been out since Jan. 8 with an undisclosed injury. He scored back-to-back second-period goals, giving him 11. . . . Americans G Ty Rimmer stopped 42 shots, including 18 of 19 in the first period. Rimmer just happens to be from Edmonton. . . . Oil Kings G Laurent Brossoit stopped 39 shots. . . .

In Red Deer, F Charles Inglis had a goal and two assists as the Rebels doubled the Vancouver Giants, 4-2. . . . D Mathew Dumba added two assists for Red Deer. . . . Inglis broke a 2-2 tie at 9:22 of the second period. . . . Red Deer G Deven Dubyk stopped 29 shots. . . . Vancouver started Payton Lee, a 15-year-old from Cranbrook who had won his last two starts. But he gave up four goals on 30 shots through two periods and was replaced by Jackson Whistle, who stopped all 11 shots in faced in the third. . . . The Giants had F Brendan Gallagher (shoulder) and D David Musil (wrist) back after 10-day absences. . . .

In Everett, F Steven Kuhn had two goals and an assist as the Spokane Chiefs beat the Silvertips, 4-2. . . . F Josh Birkholz got Everett to within one at 3-2 at 15:58 of the third period. He’s got 21 goals. . . . Kuhn provided insurance with his 12th goal into an empty net at 19:59. . . . Spokane was 2-for-7 on the PP; Everett was 0-for-2. . . . The Chiefs have won four in a row to close to within a point of fourth-place Vancouver in the Western Conference. . . . Spokane and Everett have completed their season series, with the Chiefs holding an 8-1-1 edge. . . . The Silvertips now head for Prince George and a Friday-Saturday doubleheader with the Cougars. . . .

In Kelowna, the Rockets scored a 3-2 shootout victory over Kamloops, ending the Blazers’ nine-game winning streak. . . . F Brett Bulmer pulled the Rockets even at 11:10 of the third period. . . . F Zach Franko and D Myles Bell scored for Kelowna in the shootout. . . . Kamloops F Brandon Ranford scored his 25th goal of the season and the 100th of his career in the second period. . . . Kamloops G Cole Cheveldave stopped 34 shots, 11 more than Kelowna’s Adam Brown.
———
WEDNESDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
F Jordyn Boyd, Everett (double minor).
FCurtis Lazar, Edmonton.
———
The Under-20 Emirates Hockey League has dropped the puck on its first season. There are four teams, including the Dubai Mighty Camels. There’s more right here.


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.

Seattle’s Justin Hickman (9) celebrates the Thunderbirds’ first goal
— he scored it — of Saturday’s game against the visiting
Victoria Royals. The ice was pink for ‘Pink The Rink Night’.
(Photo by Kyle Scholzen/Seattle Thunderbirds)

SOME SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS:
In Kent, Wash., F Brendan Troock scored two third-period goals, the last one breaking a 4-4 tie at 17:03, as the Seattle Thunderbirds beat the Victoria Royals, 5-4. . . . That was Seattle’s first victory in four games this season. . . . Troock also had an assist. . . . Seattle G Calvin Pickard stopped 39 shots. . . . The Royals had erased a 4-2 deficit when F Kevin Sundher scored at 10:52 of the third period and F Austin Carroll counted at 13:30. . . . The ice in the ShoWare Center was pink as the T-Birds held their first ‘Pink The Rink Night’ in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Valley Medical's Glow Women's Health and Wellness Program. The first 3,000 fans received pink T-Birds baseball caps courtesy of Glow. The Seattle players wore pink skate laces and used pink tape on their sticks. . . .
The Regina Pats honoured the memory of the late Rick Rypien, a former team captain, prior to their Saturday night game with the visiting Prince George Cougars. Rypien’s mother, Shelly, handled the ceremonial faceoff and the Pats announced that their annual Unsung Hero Award has been renamed the Rick Rypien Award because, the club said in a news release, “he best exemplified hard work not just on the ice, but also what he meant to his teammates and all the work that Rick did in the community.” . . . On the ice, G Drew Owsley stopped 19 shots as the Cougars beat the Pats, 2-0. . . . Owsley has two shutouts this season and 11 in his career. . . . F Jordan Tkatch got the winner, his fourth goal in as many games. . . . The Cougars had lost two in a row; the Pats had won two straight. . . .
In Swift Current, G Jon Groenheyde stopped 21 shots to help the Broncos to a 6-3 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. It was Groenheyde’s first appearance with the Broncos since being acquired earlier in the week from the Edmonton Oil Kings. . . . This one was 3-3 with about eight minutes left in the third period when F Coda Gordon scored two goals 46 seconds apart for the Broncos. . . . Gordon, a 17-year-old freshman from Cochrane, Alta., has 10 points, including four goals, in six games. . . .
In Portland, G Brendan Burke, 16, stopped 26 shots in earning his first WHL victory as the Winterhawks beat the Prince Albert Raiders, 5-4. . . . Burke is the son of former NHL G Sean Burke. . . . Portland got nine points from the line of Sven Bartschi, Ty Rattie and Nic Petan. . . . Bartschi had two goals and two assists, Rattie drew three helpers and Petan had one of each. . . . Portland was 3-for-6 on the PP. . . .
In Saskatoon, the Blades beat the Edmonton Oil Kings 5-1 in a game that featured 116 minutes in penalties. . . . The Oil Kings took 60 of those minutes. . . . Saskatoon G Andrey Makarov stopped 33 shots. . . .
In Red Deer, the defending-champion Kootenay Ice improved to 4-1-2 as they beat the Rebels, 2-1. . . . G Nathan Lieuwen stopped 33 shots and F Elgin Pearce broke a 1-1 tie with his second goal of the season at 15:48 of the second period. . . . All three goals came via the PP; however, the Rebels failed to score on two power plays in the game’s last five minutes. . . . D Jagger Dirk drew assists on both Ice goals. . . .
In Vancouver, F Jayden Hart, a 17-year-old freshman from Spruce Grove, Alta., ended a six-round shootout with a goal that gave the Medicine Hat Tigers a 5-4 victory over the Giants. . . . Hart, whose older brother, Tyler, is a defenceman with the Giants, had scored his first WHL goal in the first period. . . . Vancouver tied the game 4-4 when F Jordan Martinook scored with 1.4 seconds left in the third period. . . . Medicine Hat F Emerson Etem scored the game’s first goal, his 11th of the season. Originally, he was credited with four goals in Friday’s 5-4 loss to the Royals in Victoria. However, on Saturday, the last of those goals was changed to F Hunter Shinkaruk, with Etem drawing an assist. . . . F Brendan Gallagher had two goals for the Giants, giving him four on the season. . . . Gallagher was stymied on a first-period penalty shot by G Kenny Cameron, who was making his first WHL start. . . . Medicine Hat F Cole Grbavac, the Tigers’ captain, was back in the lineup after not playing Friday because of what was termed a minor injury. . . .
In Spokane, F Anthony Bardaro had two goals and two assists to lead the Chiefs to a 5-1 victory over the Kelowna Rockets. . . . F Mitch Holmberg added two goals and an assist for the Chiefs. . . . The Rockets have lost two in a row after opening the season with three victories. . . . Kelowna managed just 12 shots on Spokane G Mac Engel -- three, four and five by period. . . . The Rockets a post about a minute into the game. The Chiefs then proceeded to get 15 shots on goal and score three times before Kelowna mustered its first shot on goal. . . . Spokane F Darren Kramer had three assists for the first three-point night of his career. Kramer, who led the WHL with 46 fights last season, is the Chiefs’ new captain. He was coming off his first two-goal game in Friday’s 6-4 loss to the Blazers in Kamloops. . . . Kramer, who totalled 14 points in 68 games last season, has seven points in four games this season. Oh, and he has been in two fights, the first with Kamloops D Tyler Hansen on Friday, the second last night with Kelowna F Tyrell Goulbourne.
———
Randy Starkman of the Toronto Star has spoken with Dr. Charles Tator, perhaps Canada’s most pre-eminent expert on concussions. Dr. Tator has some concerns with some of the information coming out of the clinic in Boston that is examing the brains of select dead athletes; in fact, Dr. Tator wonders if there isn’t some grandstanding taking place.
Starkman’s piece is right here.

A concerned hockey mom writes . . .

The issue of fighting in hockey, especially in major junior leagues and below, and whether it’s time for it to go away isn’t going to leave us any time soon.
In fact, there are those in the medical profession who wonder if government agencies will at some point have to get involved to bring the fighting to an end.
Here’s a letter from one of those medical professionals, a hockey mom who lives in B.C., and who deals a lot with Alzheimer’s patients.
(NOTE: The numbers in parentheses refer to notes that are referenced at the end of the letter.)
———
I believe it is time for the medical community to consider the evidence that we have and to act to pressurize this government to protect our children who play hockey.
Last year, the Western Hockey League, a junior league that has players aged 15-20, reported 100 concussions. A prospective study of concussions in junior hockey in Ontario (1) showed that concussions are under-reported in junior hockey, suggesting that this number is probably a lot higher. This study also found that 25 per cent of concussions were caused by fights.
We now have neuropathologic evidence of an early onset dementia (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy — CTE) in two NHL enforcers — Bob Probert and Reggie Fleming.
Clinically Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is characterized by memory disturbances, mood disorders, behavioural and personality changes, parkinsonism, and speech and gait abnormalities.
Dr. Ann C. McKee (2) reviewed 47 cases of neuropathologically verified CTE in the literature showing atrophy and neurofibrillary tangles in a characteristic pattern. Ninety per cent of cases in the review were in athletes — 85 per cent were boxers, 11 per cent were football players, one was a professional wrestler, and one a soccer player. They began their sporting activities between 11 and 19 years of age. They first had clinical symptoms between the ages of 25 to 76 years.
Of the football players, two committed suicide and two died in traumatic circumstances. A recent report in The Globe and Mail of brain pathology of four deceased CFL players reveals CTE in two and Parkinson’s disease and ALS in the other two (3).
In the hockey world people are shocked by the recent deaths of  five young “enforcers.”
Probert, 45, died of a heart attack, but was found to have CTE.
Derek Boogaard, 28, died of an overdose after struggling with chronic pain and memory loss.
Barry Potomski, 38, died of a heart attack.
Rick Rypien, 27, died last month, presumed from suicide.
On Wednesday, the apparent suicide death of  Wade Belak, 28, another enforcer, was reported.
The neuropathology is not yet available on the last four men, although researchers are in the process of examining Boogard’s brain.
Boogaard's challenges of substance abuse, memory lapses and depression are highly suggestive of the clinical histories of other athletes with documented CTE. Some NHL enforcers are coming forward to talk about their experiences of impaired memory and chronic headaches, disability and struggles with substance abuse. Marty McSorley is quoted as saying: “Then there are times when I'll walk into a room and I'll stand there and go 'Why am I here again?' — and you just don't know.” (4).
These are the facts we know.
What we don't know is how many concussions are required to cause CTE. We don't know if a young brain is more vulnerable. We don't know if seven concussions in a WHL career will be enough to set in place the cascade of damage that causes CTE.
I believe we don't need to know those facts to act and to push the provincial government to ban fighting in junior and recreational hockey and create increased accountability from the hockey system for head trauma to young athletes. This is a preventable dementia and we need to do what is necessary to prevent it.
The WHL has put in place new rules regarding hits to the head (and has moved to soften shoulder and elbow pads) and that is excellent news. However, there is no movement on banning fights. There is no way of knowing whether fighting or other causes of head trauma pose the bigger risk and I don't think it matters. We do know that the hockey players who have suffered most from this disease were enforcers and that 25 per cent of concussions in Jumior hockey are caused by fights. Fighting is gratuitous and preventable and the coaches and the referees, the fans, the parents and the whole WHL system are accountable for it.
Why is the provincial government not calling in child protection services to disallow adults from sending children out to fight against each other for the entertainment of a crowd?
Surely we need to step up and protect these children? Particularly as we are now aware of a very real risk of long-term devastating damage.
I am a hockey mom — I love the game, I love the kids who play it and I have loved my involvement with junior hockey. We owe it to all of our kids to ensure that they are safe when they go out on the rink.
———
(1) Echlin PS Neurosurg Focus. 2010 Nov;29(5) A prospective study of physician-observed concussions during junior ice hockey: implications for incidence rates.
(2) Ann C. McKee, MD, J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2009 July; 68(7): 709-735.  Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in Athletes: Progressive Tauopathy following Repetitive Head Injury
(3) Allan Maki, Globe and Mail, Tuesday, July 26, 2011 Donated brains of two former CFLers show signs of disease
(4) Globe and Mail March 2011 Young players poorly protected, Marty McSorley says.

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

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Quinn Hancock (Tacoma/Kelowna, Calgary, Prince George, 1994-1998) signed a one year contract with SønderjyskE Vojens (Denmark, AL-Bank Liga). He had four goals and 14 assists in 22 games with Graz 99ers (Austria, Erste Bank Liga) last season.
———
The body of former WHLer Rick Rypien (Regina, 2001-05) was discovered in his home near Coleman, Alta., early Monday afternoon. Rypien, 27, had signed with the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets earlier this summer.
The RCMP has said his death is not being treated as suspicious.
Rypien, a cousin to former NFL quarterback Mark Rypien, played parts of six season with the Vancouver Canucks. During his time in the Vancouver organization, he also played for the AHL’s Manitoba Moose, a team that was based in Winnipeg.
He twice took leaves of absence from the Canucks in order to deal with personal issues. He returned to the Moose in March after his most recent leave, one that lasted four months.
During his time with the Pats, he was one of the team’s most popular players.
When the news was confirmed Monday, Brent Parker, the Pats’ president, issued this release:
“The entire Regina Pats organization is deeply saddened to hear of the tragic news of the passing of former Regina Pats captain Rick Rypien. Rick was a tremendous friend, teammate and role model during his time in Regina and he epitomized everything we want our young men to be as people and as players. We would like to express our deepest sympathies to the Rypien family and all of his friends and teammates during this difficult time.”
———
Gary Lawless of the Winnipeg Free Press takes a look at the Rick Rypien story right here.
———
JUST NOTES: The Portland Winterhawks have signed F Joey Baker, 18, who played last season with the BCHL’s Trail Smoke Eaters. Baker was listed by the Winterhawks in September. He had 12 points in 57 games with Trail. . . . Alex Kermidas is the new equipment manager with the Spokane Chiefs. He was the assistant equipment manager with the AHL’s Binghamton Senators as they won the AHL championship in 2010-11. That was his second season with the Senators; the previous season he filled the same role under head coach Don Nachbaur, now the Chiefs’ head coach. . . . D Brendon Wall (Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Kelowna, 2007-11) will attend the U of British Columbia and play for the Thunderbirds this season. He started last season with the Kelowna Rockets and finished with the SJHL’s Melfort Mustangs.
———
THE COACHING GAME:
The Regina Pats have added Rob Muntain to their coaching staff. Muntain (Brandon, 1995-96) was named goaltender coach. He takes over from Ryan Cyr, whose contract wasn’t renwed after last season. Cyr had been there for four seasons and has since joined the Spokane Chiefs. Muntain has worked extensively with the Saskatchewan Hockey Association as head goaltending consultant. He is an officer with the Regina Police Service. . . .
Don Granato is the new head coach at USA Hockey's National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich.. He will guide the U.S. U-17 team this season. Granato has been in coaching since 1993. He spent last season scouting for the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks. Prior to that, he was head coach of the AHL’s Chicago Wolves (2008-10). Granato takes over from Ron Rolston, who left the NTDP after seven seasons to take over as head coach of the AHL’s Rochester Americans.

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