Tentative agreement in The Hat . . . Elite League loses Stingrays . . . Broncos forward retires

F Justin Kelly (Prince Albert, Spokane, Saskatoon, 1997-2002) signed a one-year extension with the Bietigheim Steelers (Germany, DEL2). Last season, he had 13 goals and 11 assists in 15 games. . . .
F Roman Pšurný (Medicine Hat, 2004-06) signed a one-year contract with Přerov (Czech Republic, 1. Liga). Last season, with Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic, Extraliga), he had five goals and an assist in 40 games.
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The Medicine Hat Tigers announced late Wednesday afternoon that they and SMG “have reached a tentative agreement on a framework of understanding for a lease agreement.” . . . SMG will manage the new Canalta Centre, which is scheduled for an August opening and in which the Tigers will play. . . . Having reached a tentative agreement, the Tigers went ahead and released their 2015-16 schedule yesterday and the team says that season-ticket information will be available in the near future. . . . On Monday, Bob Ridley, the legendary voice of the Tigers on CHAT radio, tweeted: “Just returned from 2 weeks r-ving with my wife. Wonderful time.” On Wednesday, the Tigers announced a tentative agreement on a lease. . . . Coincidence?
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The 2015 U-17 World Hockey Challenge will be held in the northeastern B.C. communities of Dawson Creek and Fort St. John, from Oct. 30 through Nov. 7. . . . The tournament will feature three Canadian teams -- Black, Red and White -- along with teams from the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden and the U.S. . . . The 2016 tournament is scheduled to be held in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
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Great Britain’s Elite League has lost a franchise with the collapse of the Hull Stingrays. Owner Bobby McEwan folded the team when he wasn’t able to find a buyer to take it off his hands. . . . The Elite League has admitted the Manchester Storm, thus staying at 10 teams. . . . There is more right here on the Stingrays’ situation.
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THE COACHING GAME:

The OHL’s Oshawa Generals have hired Bob Jones, 45, as their newest head coach. Jones, who had been an assistant coach with the Windsor Spitfires, replaces DJ Smith, who now is on staff with the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs. . . . Smith also had been a Windsor assistant coach when the Generals hired him. With Jones and Smith as assistant coaches, the Spitfires won the 2009 and 2010 Memorial Cup titles. . . . Smith and the Generals won the 2015 Memorial Cup last month. . . . Jones has coached in the OHL for 20 years, also working with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Brampton Battalion, Toronto St. Michael’s Majors and Sudbury Wolves.
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F Zac Mackay has chosen to retire, rather than return to the Swift Current Broncos for his 20-year-old season. Mackay, a fourth-round selection in the 2010 bantam draft, is from Swift Current. He had 37 points, including 19 goals, in 229 games with the Broncos. . . . The Broncos announced Mackay’s decision one day after they released three 20-year-olds — F Tanner LeSann, F Linden Penner and D Ayrton Nikkel, each of whom now is a free agent. . . . The Broncos roster now includes four 20-year-olds — G Landon Bow, D Griffin Foulk, D Dillon Heatherington and D Brent Lernout, although the latter two are expected to at least start the season the pro ranks.
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You no doubt are aware that Jordan Spieth won the U.S. Open golf title on Sunday. What you may not be aware is that Spieth became the next big thing in pro golf despite the fact that his parents wouldn’t allow him to focus strictly on golf when he was younger. Yes, Spieth played multiple sports. . . . For more, give this right here a read.
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I'm out. Out of the sports department, that is. After 15 years of covering the @Kelowna_Rockets & @TheWHL I'm sliding over to the news side

— Doyle Potenteau (@Doyle_Potenteau) June 25, 2015

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Odjick facing biggest fight . . . The photo that won't go away

Good day. Today's blog post is brought to you by . . .

F Jakub Klepiš (Portland, 2001-02) has signed a one-year contract with Färjestad Karlstad (Sweden, SHL). Last season, with Lev Prague (Czech Republic, KHL), he had 17 points, eight of them goals, in 38 games. He also played in the KHL’s All-Star Game. . . .
F Roman Pšurný (Medicine Hat, 2004-06) has been assigned on loan for the entire season by Litvinov to Karlovy Vary (both Czech Republic, Extraliga). Last season, with Litvinov, he had a goal and an assist in 32 games. He also played on loan with two Czech Republic, 1. Liga teams. He had five points, including three goals, in three games with Most, and eight points, three of the goals, in 10 games with České Budějovice.
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Like a nagging cough or a bad joke, it keeps showing up.
Such is life in the age of the Internet.
Yes, I’m referring to the photograph that is at the top of this piece.
The picture showed up on Twitter on Thursday afternoon, tweeted by friend Kevin Shaw of Regina.
It also made an appearance on this blog on March 20, 2009. Here’s some of what I wrote then:
“It wasn't an ad campaign. It was a one-shot deal. A gal named Ruth -- it was 20 years ago; sorry, I can't remember her last name -- was in promotions at CKCK Radio in Regina which, at the time, was down the hall from The Leader-Post. “CKRM had had the rights to the Pats' broadcasts for a long time, but CKCK Radio had them now. And Ruth thought it would be a fine idea if Peter Loubardias, who was handling the play-by-play, and his colour analyst (uhh, that would be me) posed for an ad that could be used in print publications like the newspaper and game programs.
“I seem to recall telling her that it was a great idea and would certainly be an attention grabber. Peter? Not so much. (If memory serves, a guy named Roger Millions was whispering in Ruth's ear through all of this, telling her what a great idea it was.)
“Anyway, we did the shot in the shower off the Pats' dressing room. Some of the players helped out. The water was turned on nice and hot to create the steamy background. We donned towels and away we went.
“And, yes, I have to say it is effective even today, some 20 years later (even if my first name is spelled incorrectly).”
If you are wondering the players in the background are Terry Hollinger (left), Jamie Heward and, I think, Cory Paterson.
I must admit that I chuckle every time I see the picture, if only because of the look of exasperation on Peter’s face.
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1. Former NHL enforcer Gino Odjick has been diagnosed with a terrible heart disease and says he may have only months, or even weeks, to live. Ed Willes of the Vancouver Province visited Odjick and filed this column.

2. For the first time this week there doesn’t appear to be any news on the WHL coaching front.

3. Finally, a day without any World Cup soccer on TV. Might be time to mow some grass and pull some weeks.

4. If you’re looking for a good baseball read, you can’t go wrong with Wild Pitches: Rumblings, Grumblings, and Reflections on the Game I Love. It’s a compilation of columns from ESPN baseball writer Jayson Stark, and it’s one of those books you can put down, pick up again and open anywhere. Enjoy!
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A tweet from Benny Walchuk (@BennyGX94Sports) informs all that the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League team that had been the Yorkton Harvest now is the Yorkton Rawtec Maulers. . . . My first weekend with the Regina Leader-Post, in the spring of 1983, I handled a midget AAA rewrite in which I referred to the Yorkton Parkland Maulers, as opposed to the Yorkton Parkland Mallers. At the time, the team was sponsored by the Parkland Mall. . . .
Walchuk also tweeted that the Terriers, who won the RBC Cup as national junior A champions, “loss is around the $35,000 mark” for the 2013-14 season. It would seem the one-time junior A franchise owner was correct when he said the perfect season was to lose Game 7 of the championship final at home. . . . Terriers president Dave Baron told Walchuk: “Any time you’re successful, it’s going to cost you a little bit of money. You have staff around for extra weeks, a few more weeks of broken sticks. Your ultimate goal is obviously to win the title and we did, but it cost us a little money to do that."
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THE COACHING GAME:
Jeff Dubois is the new general manager and head coach of the junior B Creston Valley Thunder Cats of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. He had been the head coach of the Castlegar-based Selkirk College Saints, who won the last two B.C. Intercollegiate League championships. . . . Dubois took over at Selkirk College in April 2012, meaning he won the league title in each of his two seasons there. He also was named the BCIHL’s coach of the year for each season. . . . His combined regular-season and playoff record for the two seasons is 48-6-1. . . . With the Thunder Cats, he takes over from Joshua Hepditch, who resigned in order to take over the Amherst Rambers of the junior A Maritimes Hockey League.
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#Canucks president Trevor Linden spoke today to Doug Lidster about possibly joining coaching staff. Will talk more next week.
— Iain MacIntyre (@imacVanSun) June 27, 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.

THE MacBETH REPORT:
G Ian Gordon (Swift Current, Saskatoon, 1992-95) announced his retirement through the Ingolstadt (Germany, DEL) website. Gordon had a 2.49 GAA and a .909 save percentage in 33 games for Ingolstadt this season. After five seasons in the AHL and IHL, Gordon headed for Germany, where he played 13 seasons in the DEL with Schwenningen and Frankfurt, and the past three seasons with Ingolstadt. He won a DEL championship with Frankfurt in 2003-04 and played in the DEL All-Star game in 2007-08 and 2008-09. . . .

F Roman Psurny (Medicine Hat, 2004-06) signed a one-year plus option contract extension with Litvinov (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He had five goals and nine assists in 42 games with Litvinov and had one goal and one assist during a three-game loan assignment to Slovan Ustecti Lvi (Czech Republic, 1. Liga) this season. . . .

F Mike Egener (Calgary, 2000-04) signed a one-year contract extension with the Coventry Blaze (England, UK Elite). He had three goals and 12 assists in 56 games with the Blaze this season.



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Here’s an ad that was posted on alberta.kijiji.ca on April 1:

Slightly worn out WHL franchise for sale. NO LEASING!!! Treated with care and appreciation in it’s first few years and left to crumble more recently.

Includes:
A fantastic place to practice and perform.
Minimal backseat driving.
A healthy schedule of roadtrips.

Requirements:
WHL/NHL regulations dictate a brand new paint job before it hits the ice again.
A caring/knowledgeable owner to get under the hood and find out why it’s been stuck in neutral the past few years(occasionally locks into reverse).
A driver without vision problems.
Just a few more parts to beef up horsepower, speed and a fresh set of tires for MORE TRACTION and dependability.
NO KEY JINGLERS!

If interested please contact current board of directors directly.
Sincerely,
Fans of the Lethbridge Hurricanes
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A few Memorial Cup-related thoughts from Rob Vanstone of the Regina Leader-Post:
“There is not a classier owner in junior hockey than Jack Brodsky, whose family has operated the Blades since 1976. If anyone deserves a Memorial Cup ring, it is Brodsky. But if the Blades capture major-junior hockey's greatest prize despite failing to register a single WHL playoff victory, it will not be the finest moment in CHL history. There has to be a better way.
“Here is one suggestion: Continue to rotate the host leagues. The champion of the host league earns a Memorial Cup berth, and some time off while a playoff is held to determine the other finalist. If the WHL is hosting, for example, the OHL and QMJHL champions would meet to determine the other Memorial Cup participant. A best-of-seven, Stanley Cup-style Memorial Cup championship series would ensue, with games being played in the home rinks of the two finalists. Such a format would ashcan the flawed host-team exemption and reward the fans of each league champion.
“Are there glitches in this proposal? Of course. The travel would be gruelling, although the NHL has overcome such obstacles when the New Jersey Devils have met the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks for Lord Stanley's grail. There is also the question of whether a Memorial Cup final could feasibly be held in a small centre such as Swift Current, where the Credit Union i-Plex seats 2,879. But, honestly, could this proposed format be any worse than the current blueprint?”
No, it couldn’t be worse.
Yes, it is time to go to a format that features two teams in a best-of-seven final for the Memorial Cup.
That is all.
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JUST NOTES:
The Seattle Thunderbirds will be without F Connor Honey for their next two games, including tonight’s Game 6 of a first-round series with the Kelowna Rockets. . . . Honey has been suspended for three games for a hit from behind on Kelowna D MacKenzie Johnston in Game 4 of that series. . . . Honey sat out Game 5, so has two games left to serve. . . . Johnston will be out for up to two months with a shoulder injury. . . .

The Chicago Blackhawks have assigned F Mark McNeill of the Prince Albert Raiders to the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs. McNeill had 67 points, including 25 goals, in 65 games this season. . . . He was the 18th overall selection in the NHL’s 2011 draft. . . .



F Nick Buonassisi, who finished his junior eligibility with the Brandon Wheat Kings last month, has joined the Central league’s Quad City Mallards. Buonassisi had 34 points in 69 games this season. . . . The Mallards are trailing the Fort Worth Brahmas 2-0 in a first-round best-of-seven series and have suffered two serious injuries. . . . The series resumes Wednesday in the Quad Cities.

THE COACHING GAME:
Danny Flynn is out as head coach of the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats, although he will stay on as the director of hockey operations. . . . The Wildcats were 42-33-3 this season, then were eliminated in five games by the Victoriaville Tigres in a first-round series. . . .


The U of Denver has fired George Gwozdecky, the long-time coach of the WCHA’s Pioneers. In his 19 years at Denver, he won two NCAA titles. Gwozdecky had one season left on a 12-year contract. . . . According to Mike Chambers of the Denver Post: “DU is the only Division I hockey team to have won 20 games in each of the past 12 seasons. However, the Pioneers recently lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in the past six years, part of the reason the sources said Gwozdecky was fired. An inability for the school and Gwozdecky to reach a contract extension also figured into the decision.” . . . Chambers’ complete story is right here. . . .

Keith Cassidy won’t be back as the general manager and head coach of the SJHL’s Estevan Bruins. Cassidy, 38, completed two seasons with the club and the board of directors chose not to exercise an option for a third season. . . . This season, the Bruins finished fifth in the Sherwood Division, sidelined the Kindersley Klippers in a survivor series and then lost a best-of-seven series to the Yorkton Terriers in five games. . . . Josh Lewis of the Estevan Mercury has more right here.
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The WHL’s first-round situation:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
FIRST ROUND
Edmonton (1) vs. Kootenay (8)
(Edmonton wins 4-1)
Saskatoon (2) vs. Medicine Hat (7)
(Medicine Hat wins 4-0)
Calgary (3) vs. Swift Current (6)
(Calgary wins 4-1)
Red Deer (4) vs Prince Albert (5)
(Red Deer wins 4-0)
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SECOND ROUND
Edmonton (1) vs. Medicine Hat (7)
Calgary (3) vs. Red Deer (4)
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WESTERN CONFERENCE
Portland (1) vs. Everett (8)
(Portland wins 4-2)
Kelowna (2) vs. Seattle (7)
(Seattle leads 3-2; Game 6 tonight in Kent, Wash.)
Kamloops (3) vs. Victoria (6)
(Kamloops wins 4-2)
Spokane (4) vs. Tri-City (5)
(Spokane wins 4-1)
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Two more Western Conference series ended last night, leaving only the Kelowna Rockets and Seattle Thunderbirds left to settle the issue.
The No. 7 Thunderbirds take a 3-2 edge into tonight’s home game against the No. 2 Rockets.
Should Seattle win, the second round will feature the No. 1 Portland Winterhawks against Seattle and the No. 3 Kamloops Blazers versus the No. 4 Spokane Chiefs.
Should Kelowna win tonight, Game 7 of that series will be played in the Little Apple on Wednesday.
Should Kelowna win that series, the Rockets would face Kamloops in the second round, with Portland meeting Spokane.
No matter which team the Winterhawks play, they’ll be in Portland on Friday and Saturday.
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MONDAY’S GAMES:
In Everett, F Oliver Bjorkstrand had two goals and two assists as the Portland Winterhawks dumped the Silvertips, 5-1. . . . Portland held a 52-13 edge in shots, including 20-4 in the second period and 15-1 in the third. . . . D Seth Jones had two Portland goals, his first of the series. . . . F Reid Petryk gave the Silvertips a 1-0 lead with a shorthanded goal at 2:14 of the first period. . . . Everett G Austin Lotz stopped 47 shots. . . .

In Victoria, F Kale Kessy scored three times to help the Kamloops Blazers to a 6-2 victory over the Royals. . . . Kessy leads the WHL with seven playoff goals. He also scored three times in Game 4, a 5-4 OT victory by the visiting Blazers. . . . Kessy played his first 284 regular-season and playoff games without a hat trick. He now has two in three game. . . . F Cole Ully and Kessy scored the game’s first two goals and the Blazers were never caught. . . . Kamloops F JC Lipon had a goal and two assists; he leads the playoff scoring race with 14 points. He was in on 14 of the Blazers’ 23 goals against the Royals. . . . D Joel Edmundson and F Brendan Ranford each had three assists for the Blazers. . . . D Keegan Kanzig scored one of Victoria’s goals. It was his first WHL goal, and came in his 143rd game, 133 of which are regular-season tilts.
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CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT (11):
D Jordan Fransoo, Victoria

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT (4):
None
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From Edmonton Oil Kings F Trevor Cheek (@trevorcheekAZDK): “Agreed to terms with the Avalanche. Could not be more excited! Still a lot of unfinished business to take care of this year!”

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.