New arena for Nanaimo? . . . Dillabaugh, Mast in demand? . . . Americans win another title

thank you so much everyone who helped and came out this weekend!! It means the world to us to see you out there!

— RD memorial (@RDMtournament) June 15, 2015

Most Fun I've Had In A Long Time, Thank You @RDMtournament Great Event And Better Cause 👍 @kellanlavallee @QuailLeroux78 @AaronMarkin

— Eric Callegari (@EricCallegari) June 15, 2015

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F Ryan Harrison (Prince Albert, Medicine Hat, Everett, 2007-13) signed a one-year contract with Olofström (Sweden, Division 2). This season, with the University of Calgary (CIS), he had three goals and 14 assists in 23 games. . . .
F Brennan Bosch (Medicine Hat, 2005-09) signed a one-year contract with Harzer Falken Braunlage (Germany, Oberliga). This season, Bosch captained the University of Saskatchewan Huskies (CIS). He had nine goals and 16 assists in 28 games. . . .
F Kevin Undershute (Medicine Hat, Portland, 2004-08) signed a one-year contract with Harzer Falken Braunlage (Germany, Oberliga). This season, with the Eston Ramblers (Sask Valley Hockey League), he had 53 points, 21 of them goals, in 21 games. He led the Ramblers in scoring and was sixth in the league. . . .
D Bohdan Višňák (Saskatoon, 2006-07) signed a one-year extension with Nice (France, Division 1). This season, he had one goal and eight assists in 24 games.
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Ever since the Chilliwack Bruins scurried across the Strait of Georgia to Victoria during the summer of 2011 and were re-born as the Royals, the WHL has yearned for a second team on Vancouver Island.
The natural choice is Nanaimo. The problem, of course, is that there isn’t an arena there that meets WHL requirements.
However, it seems there is a move afoot to build a new arena in Nanaimo.
Brian Martin, who owns the Howard Johnson Hotel and approximately eight acres of land there, is wanting to build a sports and entertainment complex in downtown Nanaimo. The total cost would be somewhere around $80 million.
The project would include a 5,000-seat arena.
Spencer Anderson of the Nanaimo Daily News has more right here.
Once a shovel goes into the ground on a new arena, the lineup to own the Nanaimo WHL franchise will form on the right.
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There also is a report that Surrey, B.C., wants to get involved in a public-private partnership that would result in a new arena next to the Scott Road SkyTrain Station. . . . Were that arena to be built to WHL standards, you are free to wonder whether the Vancouver Giants would be interested in moving from the aged Pacific Coliseum. . . . Michael Mui of 24 Hours Vancouver has more on a possible new arena right here.
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Elliotte Friedman of Hockey Night in Canada filed his latest 30 Thoughts on Sunday. This one includes mention of Kim Dillabaugh, who had a good run as the Kelowna Rockets’ goaltending coach, and Lyle Mast, the Tri-City Americans’ goaltending coach. . . . 30 Thoughts is right here.
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If the Tampa Bay Lightning is to win the Stanley Cup, it will have to go seven games to do it. If that happens, Stacy Roest would become the eighth former Medicine Hat Tigers player with at least one Stanley Cup ring. Roest, 40, is the Lightning’s director of player development. . . . There’s more right here. . . . With the AHL having been decided on Saturday night and the ECHL last night, the NHL is the last one standing. Of course, the Chicago Blackhawks can end it in Game 6 at home tonight.
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In the ECHL, the host Allen Americans scored two first-period goals 1:16 apart and went on to a 6-1 victory over the South Carolina Stingrays in Game 7 of the Kelly Cup final. . . . The Americans have won a championship each of the past three seasons. They won the last two Central league titles before the league was absorbed by the ECHL. . . . F Chad Costello (10:31) and F Vincent Arseneau (11:47) got the Americans off to a 2-0 lead and they never looked back. . . . The Americans’ lineup includes F Spencer Asuchak (Tri-City, Prince George, 2008-12) and F Dyson Stevenson (Regina, 2010-14). . . . Asuchak had 21 points, including 11 goals, in 25 playoff games, while Stevenson had eight points, three of them goals, in 23 games. . . . Attendance last night was 6,125. . . . The game sheet is right here. . . . Ryan Gerbosi of the Dallas Morning News has a gamer right here.
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Congrats to pal Mike Stothers on leading his @MonarchsHockey to the Calder Cup Championship! #jobwelldone #waytogoGoldie

— Don Nachbaur (@HCChiefs42) June 14, 2015

Congrats to my old liney Steve Martinson who directed his @AllenAmericans to the Kelly Cup. Special congrats to @Asuchak16

— Don Nachbaur (@HCChiefs42) June 15, 2015

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.

Tragedy on Shuswap Lake

The Saskatoon Blades have signed three of their 2013 bantam draft picks. . . . D Nolan Reid, the 41st overall selection, is from Deer Valley, Sask. He had 27 points in 30 games with a bantam team at Notre Dame last season. . . . F Parker Smyth, the 44th selection, had 32 points in 31 games with his hometown bantam AAA Red Deer Rebels Black. . . . F Luke Gingras, from Langley, B.C., was taken in the third round, 67th overall. He played for the bantam AAA Langley Eagles last season. . . . The Blades also trimmed two players with WHL experience from their camp roster — G Spencer Tremblay and F Daniel Wray. Tremblay, who turns 19 on Sept. 20, got into 20 games with the Moose Jaw Warriors in 2011-12. Last season, he played just five games — one with the MJHL’s Waywayseecappo Wolverines, three with the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats and one with the Red Deer Rebels. Wray, 18, had had one assist in 31 games with the Seattle Thunderbirds last season.
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The Kelowna Rockets have signed head coach Ryan Huska, 38, to a three-year contract extension that will kick in following the completion of the 2013-14 season. That means that Huska, who is going into his seventh season as the team’s head coach, is signed through 2016-17. He also served as an assistant coach with the Rockets, so is entering his 12th season with the organization.
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The OHL’s North Bay Battalion has signed Stan Butler, the director of hockey operations and head coach, to a five-year extension. Butler, 57, has been with the franchise since 1998-99. The Battalion is in its first season in North Bay, after 15 winters in Brampton. . . . Butler spent one season (1996-97) as head coach of the WHL’s Prince George Cougars.
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The Tri-City Americans have signed D Brendan O’Reilly, a 16-year-old training camp invitee from Southlake, Texas. O’Reilly, 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, was one of a team-record 14 American players to attend Tri-City’s training camp. . . . O’Reilly spent last season with the Victory Honda U-16 team in the Tier 1 Elite League. In 47 games, he had 20 points.
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The Regina Pats have signed F Sam Steel, the second overall pick in the 2013 bantam draft, to a WHL contract. Steel had a team-high 104 points, including 52 goals, in 31 games for the bantam AAA Sherwood Park, Alta., Flyers last season.
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F Ryan Harrison, who completed a five-year WHL career last season, has signed with the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones. Harrison, 21, is from Kelowna. He played 325 WHL games, split between the Prince Albert Raiders, Medicine Hat Tigers and Everett Silvertips. Last season, he had 32 points in 51 games with Everett.
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The Saskatoon Blades are working to get clearance to add Russian F Nikita Sherbak to their roster. While that goes on, all Sherbak can do is watch training camp and ride a stationary bike. Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix has more right here.
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What follows is a corrected version of something that appeared here yesterday. Mike Dyck won’t be running the bench when he joins the Kootenay Ice in December. Assistant coach Jay Henderson will be in charge, with Dyck assisting him. . . .
The Kootenay Ice has added Mike Dyck to its coaching staff. Dyck, a former head coach of the Lethbridge Hurricanes, will attend training camp and will return to the team to help first-year assistant Jay Henderson on the bench when head coach Ryan McGill serves as an assistant coach with Canada’s national junior team in December. . . . “With Ryan going to the World Juniors and this being Jay's first year coaching in the WHL,” Chynoweth said in a news release, “we felt another coach was needed during this time frame. We feel very fortunate to be able to add a coach with the experience that Mike has in the WHL." . . . Dyck spent five seasons as Lethbridge’s head coach, going 132-120-16 and reaching the WHL’s championship final in 2008. He also worked as an assistant coach with Lethbridge and the Vancouver Giants.
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Earlier this week, the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers revealed that they had made a profit of $22,165 for the 2012-13 season. That may not seem like much, but check out Josh Brown’s story from the Guelph Mercury right here for some of the details. . . . It’s the 18th season in a row in which the Rangers have shown a profit.
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Kevin Boutilier, a defenceman who played parts of two seasons with the Chilliwack Bruins, is missing and presumed drowned in the Narrows area of Shuswap Lake near Sicamous, B.C.
From the Kamloops Daily News:
Search and rescue crews were not able to find Kevin Boutilier, 25, after an incident Saturday afternoon.
A group of people were on a houseboat when one person's hat blew off, witnesses told police.
Some of them dove in to try to retrieve it, but ran into trouble as inclement weather pushed the boat away. More people jumped off the boat to come to their aid.
"Of the group in the water, one individual was last seen in distress and seen going under the surface several times and did not resurface in spite of one of his friends being alongside him who was attempting to assist him," Sgt. Dave Dubnyk of the Sicamous RCMP said.
Police are now looking at recovery efforts, but note that this area of the lake is very deep and the terrain at the bottom creates challenges for divers using sonar equipment.
The Calgary Sun has more right here.
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Wayne Chernecki (Winnipeg Jr. Jets, 1969-71) was one of the great players in the early days of the WHL. In 1970-71, he had 123 points, including 50 goals. . . . Chernecki died on Feb. 11 in Winnipeg of cancer. Paul Brett, a friend, remembers Chernecki right here.
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From Lukas Walter (@Lukaswalter9): “Would like to thank the @pdxwinterhawks for everything and wishing the team goodluck this year”
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From Scott Sepich (@SSepich): “Winterhawks players are tweeting farewells to Lukas Walter and Eric Walker, so it appears those 2 are out as 20-year-old options.”

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
Dusseldorf (Germany, DEL) announced the signings of F Colin Long (Kelowna, 2005-09) and F Ashton Rome (Moose Jaw, Red Deer, Kamloops, 2002-06) to one-year contract extensions. Long had eight goals and nine assists in 15 games and Rome had 13 goals and 12 assists in 33 games with Dusseldorf this season. Long, who missed the first part of the season with a concussion, also serves as an assistant coach. . . .

G Dusan Salficky (Tri-City, 1990-91) signed a one-year contract extension with Pardubice (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He had a 3.02 GAA and a .909 save percentage in 34 games with Pardubice this season.


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The Prince George Cougars have written an open letter that thanks “fans, volunteers, off-ice officials, billets, local media and corporate sponsors for their continued support in 2012-2013.”
More importantly, the letter, which is posted on the Cougars’ website, would seem to indicate that the franchise isn’t going anywhere.
“Our loyal season-ticket holders stuck with our team through thick and thin and we were so grateful to see your familiar faces at the CN Centre on a nightly basis,” the letter reads. “Your knowledge, and support of the Prince George Cougars has not gone un-noticed, and we can’t wait to welcome you back in September. You are a strong part of the fabric that holds our team together.”
There are numerous references to next season, including this as part of a thank you to sponsors: “We have some exciting plans for the 2013-2014 season, and we look forward to partnering up with the Prince George business community once again.”
The letter closes with: “ . . . we look forward to greater success both on and off the ice in 2013-2014 and beyond.”
Sorry, Chilliwack, but it looks like you will have to wait.
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I kept reading and hearing that the Regina Pats won the WHL’s bantam draft lottery on Wednesday.
But, really, they didn’t.
I mean, do you phone your neighbours and tell them that you won the lottery when, really, you got the second prize?
So the truth is that the Vancouver Giants won the draft lottery, which means they will have the first selection on May 2 in Calgary. (What, you expected the draft to be held over two days on a weekend in, say, Moose Jaw or Portland?)
The Giants will select first — hello, there, Tyler Benson — followed in order by Regina, the Prince George Cougars, Brandon Wheat Kings, Moose Jaw Warriors and Lethbridge Hurricanes. Those are the WHL’s six non-playoff teams.
The first-round order of selection following those picks is:
7. Everett Silvertips; 8. Seattle Thunderbirds; 9. Kootenay Ice; 10. Medicine Hat Tigers; 11. Victoria Royals; 12. Swift Current Broncos; 13. Prince Albert Raiders; 14. Red Deer Rebels;
15. Tri-City Americans; 16. Spokane Chiefs; 17. Saskatoon Blades; 18. Calgary Hitmen; 19. Kamloops Blazers; 20. Edmonton Oil Kings; 21. Kelowna Rockets; 22. Portland Winterhawks.
Keep in mind that the draft lottery only impacts the first round. Here’s the draft order for all subsequent rounds:
1. Vancouver; 2. Prince George; 3. Brandon; 4. Everett; 5. Seattle; 6. Regina; 7. Moose Jaw;
8. Lethbridge; 9. Kootenay; 10. Medicine Hat; 11. Victoria; 12. Swift Current; 13. Prince Albert; 14. Red Deer;
15. Tri-City; 16. Spokane; 17. Saskatoon; 18. Calgary; 19. Kamloops; 20. Edmonton; 21. Kelowna; 22. Portland.
Also keep in mind that the afore-mentioned draft order doesn’t include any selections that already have been traded.
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The WHL handed out some Eastern Conference awards. If you haven’t yet seen who got what, you are able to check it out at whl.ca. . . . It’s the Western Conference’s turn today. Yes, Travis Green of the Portland Winterhawks should be the conference’s coach of the year. But will he?
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Phil Andrews, the radio voice of the Regina Pats, reports via Twitter that F Chandler Stephenson “will join the AHL's Hershey Bears on Monday next week for the remainder of their season.” . . .
The Red Deer Rebels have added F Adam Musil and G Taz Burman to their roster. Musil, the brother of Edmonton Oil Kings D David Musil, was a first-round selection in the 2012 bantam draft, while Burman was taken in the second round. . . .
The Kamloops Blazers have added F Mitch Lipon, 16, to their roster for the remainder of the season. Lipon, a list player, is the brother of Kamloops F JC Lipon. Mitch played this season with the midget AAA Regina Pat Canadians, picking up 51 points in 44 games. . . .
F Colin Jacobs of the Prince George Cougars has joined the Rochester Americans, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. He was a fourth-round pick in the 2011 NHL draft, taken by the Sabres while he was with the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . .
Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald reports that the Everett Silvertips are likely to be without veteran F Ryan Harrison for the start of the playoffs. Harrison hasn’t played or practised since March 8, thanks to an undisclosed injury. . . . Everett F Logan Aasman (undisclosed) also is likely to miss at least the first two games. . . .
Not that there really was any doubt, but the Portland Winterhawks are expecting to have Mac Carruth in goal when they open against visiting Everett on Friday night. Carruth left a March 12 game with an undisclosed injury but it was never believed to be serious. . . . However, as Nick Patterson points out, Brendan Burke, Portland’s other goaltender, is 7-0-0 against the Silvertips this season. . . .
The Saskatoon Blades are likely to be without  F Erik Benoit (undisclosed) when they open tonight against the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers. He left a game on Friday and hasn’t practised. . . .
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The playoffs start tonight with the Medicine Hat Tigers in Saskatoon to play the Blades, and the Swift Current Broncos in Calgary to meet the Hitmen. . . . The other six series all open on Friday.
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The WHL’s first-round playoff matchups:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Edmonton (1) vs. Kootenay (8)
Saskatoon (2) vs. Medicine Hat (7)
Calgary (3) vs. Swift Current (6)
Red Deer (4) vs Prince Albert (5)

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Portland (1) vs. Everett (8)
Kelowna (2) vs. Seattle (7)
Kamloops (3) vs. Victoria (6)
Spokane (4) vs. Tri-City (5)
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From BCHL watcher Brian Wiebe (@Brian_Wiebe): “Head Coach/GM Jon Calvano no longer listed on @BCHLExpress website, only assistants listed. No idea what's up with Calvano.”


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Lotz to remember about this game

By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
The Kamloops Blazers had lots and lots of chances to score lots and lots of goals on Wednesday night at Interior Savings Centre.
However, goaltender Austin Lotz of the Everett Silvertips almost spoiled the night for the home boys because he made lots and lots of saves.
Lotz, a 17-year-old from St. Adolphe, Man., a community of about 1,000 people located

AUSTIN LOTZ

25 kilometres south of Winnipeg, finished with 65 saves, including all 29 he saw in the first period. But it went for naught as the Blazers emerged with a 4-3 WHL victory, thanks to three second-period goals and a game-winning penalty-shot score by left-winger Cole Ully in overtime.
Yes, it was one of those nights. You had to be there to believe it.
Somehow it was only fitting that it would end in some kind of strange fashion, in this case with a penalty shot.
The Silvertips were breaking out of their zone when a pass ended up in the feet of defenceman Cole MacDonald. Ully, a terrific skater, stole the puck and had open ice in front of him when defenceman Ben Betker made a diving attempt to stop him. Betker’s stick got caught up in Ully’s feet. He went down and was awarded a penalty shot.
A left-hand shot, Ully deked to his backhand and lifted the puck over a sprawling Lotz and into the net to end it. It was his second goal of the game and 16th of the season.
The Blazers, who won the game with their only shot of OT, finished with a 69-21 advantage on the shot clock.
The Silvertips set a franchise record in the opening period — most shots allowed, one period — as they were outshot, 29-6.
But . . . no matter. The visitors emerged with a 2-0 lead. And were it not for a goal post and a messed up 2-on-1 break it may have been 4-0.
Forward Reid Petryk scored the game’s first goal on Everett’s first shot — by that time, 4:00 into the first period — the Blazers had had four shots at Lotz.
When Everett defenceman Mirco Mueller beat Kamloops goaltender Cole Cheveldave from top of the right circle following a faceoff, at 14:46, the Blazers held a 20-4 edge in shots.
Left-winger Tim Bozon finally solved Lotz, but only after the goaltender had been knocked down by one of his teammates. Bozon then was able to lift the puck over the goaltender and into the net. It was 5:19 of the second period and the locals held a 36-7 edge on the shot clock.
Later, Kamloops got two goals 16 seconds apart, with Cole Ully banging in a rebound and fellow right-winger JC Lipon taking a Colin Smith pass and sliding it home. That was Lipon’s 23rd goal of the season, but his first since Nov. 30. He had played in five December games, before joining Canada’s national junior team, and six in January without scoring.
When the second period ended, the Blazers were outshooting the Silvertips, 50-11. Yes, 50-11!
Still, Everett didn’t quit and forward Ryan Harrison forced OT with a shorthanded breakaway goal — yes, it really was one of those nights — at 5:40 of the third period.
Lotz did set an Everett franchise record for most saves in a single game, smashing the old record of 55 that was set by Kent Simpson in a 3-1 loss to the host Portland Winterhawks on Jan. 6, 2012.
In the building, Lotz was named the third star — yes, third! — and received a rousing standing ovation from the fans as he came out to be acknowledged.
It has to be mentioned, too, that the Silvertips presented the Blazers with 12 power-play opportunities. Kamloops promptly went 0-for-12, including a combined 2:24 on two 5-on-3 advantages.
If you were wondering, the WHL record for most shots on goal in game is 85. It was set by the Brandon Wheat Kings in a 14-4 beating of the Regina Pats on March 12, 1979.
JUST NOTES: Attendance was 4,612. . . . The victory lifted the Blazers (31-14-5) to within four points of the idle Kelowna Rockets, who lead the B.C. Division and hold three games in hand. . . . The loser point moved Everett (20-26-3) four points clear of the eighth-place Seattle Thunderbirds in the Western Conference. . . . The Daily News Three Stars: 1. Lotz: 29 saves in first period; 2. Lotz: 18 saves in second; 3. Lotz: 18 saves in third. . . . The Blazers next play Friday when the Prince Albert Raiders pay their bi-annual visit. The Blazers also will retire the number (28) worn by D Scott Niedermayer during his career here. . . . The CHL released its top 10 yesterday and the Blazers now are an honourable mention after being ninth last week. The Blazers had been in the top 10 for 15 straight weeks. . . . The QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads are No. 1. WHL teams in the top 10 are the Portland Winterhawks (2), Kelowna Rockets (4), Edmonton Oil Kings (6) and Calgary Hitmen (10).

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
twitter.com/gdrinnan

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Alex Leavitt (Swift Current, Everett, 2003-05) signed a contract for the rest of this season with the Schwenninger Wild Wings (Germany, 2. Bundesliga). He had one goal and four assists in 13 games with Medvescak Zagreb (Croatia, Austria Erste Bank Liga) prior to his release on Tuesday. Wild Wings GM Stefan Wagner: "When he came on the market, we did not think twice. He has proven himself in this league and with this, we have another option in our attack." Leavitt led 2. Bundesliga in scoring and assists in 2010-2011, getting 32 goals and 55 assists for 87 points in 48 games for Ravensburg to win the scoring championship by 21 points. . . .
D Shaun Heshka (Everett, 2003-06) signed a two-year contract extension with Ässät Pori (Finland, SM-Liiga). Currently in his first season with Ässät, Heshka has four goals and seven assists in 21 games, which ranks him seventh amongst defencemen in league scoring. Ässät GM Mika Toivola: "We have been very pleased with Heshka's performance. He has brought versatility and puck skill to our defense corps, and experience and leadership to the dressing room."
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Jesse Wallin, removed as head coach of the Red Deer Rebels on Wednesday, met with the media in the Alberta city on Thursday.
“I had a lot to digest yesterday, but breaking the news to my kids was probably the toughest part of the day,” Wallin said in a story by Greg Meacham of the Red Deer Advocate. “I had a coach myself who once told me that you have a day to feel sorry for yourself, then you have to pick it up the next day and get back right after it, and that’s where I am today.”
Wallin, a hugely popular figure in the hockey world, admitted to being stunned by all the messages he received.
“I’ve been overwhelmed to the point of almost shock,” he said. “Friends and family, people from the community, fans, people from the hockey world, from within our league, former players and parents . . I’ve just been overwhelmed by the support I’ve received. I’m just really touched and really thankful for all of the support. I’m appreciative of every text, every phone call, every e-mail, ever message that came in.
“It makes you reflect. It’s really about the relationships. At the end of the day, that’s really what’s important — those relationships that you build along the way. That’s what you cherish when it’s all said and done and I’m just very thankful for that and very appreciative.”
What kind of a guy is Wallin? He picked up the tab.
At some point today, Meachem’s entire story should be available right here.
Read it and then ask yourself if you would be capable of handling the same situation with such grace.
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The Red Deer Rebels have added F Rhyse Dieno, 19, to their roster. Dieno, from Davidson, Sask., had been with the SJHL’s La Ronge Ice Wolves, for whom he had 21 points, including 12 goals, in 15 games. He also played for Team West, winning a silver medal at the World Junior A Challenge in Yarmouth, N.S., earlier this month. . . . Dieno has 12 points in 66 games with the Medicine Hat Tigers over the last two seasons.
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If there was any doubt that the Vancouver Giants are having one of those seasons, it ended Thursday with the announcement that F Marek Tvrdon, 19, is done for this season because of a blood clot in a shoulder.
“Marek had a small blockage isolated to a single vein in his left shoulder,” Scott Bonner, the Giants’ executive vice-president and general manager, said in a news release. “It was completely and rapidly dissolved and he is doing very well. Marek is under the excellent care of numerous specialists and he is recovering quickly. He will not be returning this season but he is expected to have a full recovery and future career as a hockey player.”
Tvrdon, a fourth-round selection by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2011 NHL draft, has 18 points, eight of them goals, in 18 games. Last season, he had 74 points, 31 of them goals, in 60 games.
This is the second time in three seasons that a shoulder problem has cost Tvrdon a big chunk of a season. His freshman season, 2010-11, was limited to 12 games as he underwent shoulder surgery.
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LW Tim Bozon of the Kamloops Blazers has chosen not to play for France in the IIHF U20 Division 1 Group A championship next month. That tournament, featuring Austria, Belarus, Denmark, France, Norway and Slovakia, is to be played in Amiens, France, Dec. 9-15.
“This was a difficult decision but I think I made the right choice for my future,” Bozon tweeted (in French) on Thursday afternoon. “I wish good luck to Team France U20.”
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Former WHLer Kris Versteeg, now of the Florida Panthers, has time on his hands, what with the NHL in lockout mode. So the Lethbridge native, who played in the WHL with Lethbridge, Kamloops and Red Deer (2002-06) has chosen to help his hometown U of Lethbridge Pronghorns. He’ll make his coaching debut tonight as the Pronghorns play host to the Mount Royal Cougars. Lethbridge head coach Greg Gatto (Portland, Regina, Spokane, Brandon, 1990-92) lost an assistant coach this week when Jeff Truitt signed on as associate coach with the Red Deer Rebels.
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F Travis Ewanyk of the Edmonton Oil Kings suffered a knee injury early in the second period of the WHL’s 1-0 shootout victory over the Russians in the Super Series game in Vancouver on Wednesday. Joanne Ireland of the Edmonton Journal reports that Ewanyk will undergo an MRI upon his return to Edmonton today. Despite the fact he couldn’t play, he accompanied Team WHL to Victoria and watched last night’s 5-2 series-ending loss. . . . Ewanyk played only 11 games in the 2011-12 regular season because of shoulder surgery. But he came back in time to get into 20 playoff games as the Oil Kings won the WHL title.
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Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald reports that Silvertips F Ryan Harrison has “a slight tear” in the meniscus of one knee. Head coach Mark Ferner told Patterson that Harrison could be out anywhere from one to eight weeks.
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TWEET OF THE DAY:
Sportstalk (@DanRussellCKNW): “Need 3 unanswered WHL goals in the third, and then need Russia to win first shootout to get my Happy Hour ‘double’ shootout! #slimodds”
Sportstalk host Dan Russell, with Russia leading 4-1 in last night’s Super Series game in Victoria.
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TWEET OF THE DAY II:
From Edmonton Oil Kings D Griffin Reinhart (@GriffinReinhart): “Some guy asked me to sign his bag of almonds and I did it. He then proceeded to say ‘hey man you just signed my nuts’ well done sir”

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Blazers run winning streak to 14

Colin Smith (9) stands to the left of celebrating teammates after his
shootout goal gave the Kamloops Blazers a 3-2 victory over the
host Everett Silvertips on Tuesday night.
(CHRISTOPHER MAST / MASTIMAGES.COM)

By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
Move over, 1986-87.
You’re outta here, 1989-90.
The 2012-13 edition of the Kamloops Blazers wrote its name in the franchise record book Tuesday night, beating the host Everett Silvertips 3-2 on a shootout goal by centre Colin Smith at Comcast Arena.
“It’s amazing,” offered Kamloops head coach Guy Charron. “We keep finding ways to win.”
This was the Blazers’ 14th consecutive WHL victory, erasing the record first established by the 1986-87 team and equalled in 1989-90. Mark Recchi, one of the team’s five co-owners, played 40 games with the Blazers in 1986-87; Darryl Sydor, another owner, played 67 games with the 1989-90 team.
The 1986-87 Blazers began their streak with a 7-6 victory over the visiting Portland Winterhawks on Oct. 21. They got to 13 with a 15-8 victory over the visiting Victoria Cougars on Nov. 21. The streak ended the next night with a 6-5 loss in Victoria. The Blazers finished 55-14-3, good for first place in the six-team West Division, but then lost a best-of-nine conference final to Portland in eight games.
In 1989-90, the streak also began on Oct. 21, this time with a 4-3 victory over the Chiefs in Spokane. On Nov. 18, the Blazers hit 13 in a row by beating the Tigers 5-1 in Medicine Hat. One night later, Kamloops was beaten 10-8 by the host Lethbridge Broncos. The Blazers went 56-16-0 to win the West Division and later beat Lethbridge 4-1 in the WHL’s championship final.
This season, the Blazers are 16-0-1. The only blemish is a 4-3 shootout loss to the Royals in Victoria on Sept. 28. Two nights later, the Blazers beat the host Royals 3-0 and Kamloops hasn’t looked back.
The Blazers already lead the B.C. Division by 15 points and are 11 points clear atop the Western Conference standings.
Smith was the only one of the shootout’s six particpants to score.
"It wasn't our best game, but the important thing is we found a way to win," Smith told Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald. "Any time you're able to put your stamp on things in club history, as much history as we have, it's something special for our group."
Kamloops head coach Guy Charron said Everett head coach Mark Ferner and his staff put together a game plan that often frustrated the Blazers. 
“I thought Everett played very well,” Charron said. “They really clogged up the neutral zone. It’s something no team had done to us before so credit to Mark.
“We got frustrated from it. . . . the kids were a little frustrated. We were constantly turning the puck over.”
"We can't be happy with the outcome, but we're definitely happy with the effort," Everett captain Ryan Murray told Patterson. "We did all the right things out there and I thought we played a great game. But when you're playing a team that good, even if you play a great game it still might not go your way."
Everett opened the scoring when forward Ryan Harrison scored while his side was enjoying a two-man advantage at 9:12 of the first period.
The Blazers had a golden opportunity to pull even at 18:19 when Dylan Willick was awarded a penalty shot. However, the veteran centre fired the puck over the Everett net.
The Blazers thought they had pulled even in the second period when left-winger Chase Souto tipped in a shot from defenceman Tyler Hansen. However, referee Mike Campbell ruled that the puck had been deflected by a high stick and video review upheld that decision.
Right-winger JC Lipon, who leads the WHL in goals (16) and points (40), pulled the Blazers even at 9:48 of the third period, only to have Everett forward Carson Stadnyk score 1:05 later.
Stadnyk, a 17-year-old freshman from Saskatoon, scored his first WHL goal in his 16th game this season.
Souto got the Blazers even again, scoring his second goal of the season at 14:39. Smith drew an assist on Souto’s goal to run his point streak to 17 games.
“When they scored the second goal, I thought, ‘Oh, maybe’,” Charron admitted. “But Souts came up with a big goal and we found a way in the shootout.”
Interestingly, Souto had been a healthy scratch from a couple of recent games.
"We knew they were going to get their opportunities, but at the same time I thought we did a good job just containing them and protecting the areas we need to protect," Ferner told Patterson.
"Our veterans were very good tonight, our rookies were very good. Obviously we were missing some key bodies and that did hurt us at the end. But the other guys stepped up. I thought we were good right from our goalie out."
The Blazers got a big game from their penalty killers and from goaltender Cole Cheveldave, who ran his record to 11-0-0.
“I know we gave up one (power-play goal), but two 5-on-3s. . . they did an exceptional job,” Charron said. “The penalty killers came through tonight, for sure.”
So did Cheveldave, who stopped 20 shots through overtime and three more in the shootout.
“He’s a big part of penalty kill,” Charron said. “He’s a big part of a lot of things.”
The Blazers are back in action Thursday when they meet the Rockets in Kelowna. Kamloops is at home to the Prince George Cougars on Friday. Game time at Interior Savings Centre is 7 p.m.
JUST NOTES: Attendance was 3,074. . . . The Blazers were 0-for-4 on the PP; the Silvertips were 1-for-8. . . . Everett G Austin Lotz stopped 26 shots. . . . F Aspen Sterzer was back with the Blazers after missing three games while attending a funeral in Calgary. . . . The Blazers scratched D Tyler Bell (undisclosed), F Mitch Friesen (undisclosed), D Jordan Thomson and F Aaron Macklin. . . . The Silvertips were without D Nick Walters (WHL suspension), F Josh Winquist (flu) and D Austin Adam (hand).

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The Moose Jaw Civic Centre goes into today with a 3-0 lead over the demolition crew.
The Crushed Can was to have been down by now but it just hasn’t happened.
The latest delay comes about after workers discovered a lot more rebar in the concrete than they had anticipated.
There’s more right here.
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The Victoria Royals have signed D Jack Walker, 16, to a WHL contract. Walker, from Edina, Minn., is the younger brother of Royals F Ben Walker, who is preparing for his second WHL season. . . . Jack played for the gold medal-winning U.S. team at the U-17 Five Nations tournament earlier this month in Chomutov, Czech Republic, earning one assist in four games. Barry Smith, a former head coach with the Kamloops Blazers, was the head coach of the U.S. team.
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JUST NOTES: G Luke Lee-Knight, 19, who played last season with the Prince Albert Raiders and Spokane Chiefs, is in camp with the Tri-City Americans. . . .  The AJHL’s Canmore Eagles – former WHLer Andrew Milne is their GM and head coach – have dealt G Michael Salmon (Seattle, Prince George, 2008-12) to the SJHL’s Notre Dame Hounds. Salmon, 20, is a native of Red Deer. . . . The Spokane Chiefs are keeping G Mac Engel (high ankle sprain) and F Marek Kalus (upper body) off the ice for now. . . . Jess Brown of the Spokane Spokesman-Review also reported that F Tanner MacMaster, the Chiefs’ first-round selection, 19th overall, in the 2011 bantam draft, didn’t report to camp. Neither did F Rhett Gardner, the Chiefs’ second-round selection in 2011. . . . The Red Deer Rebels have lost two players as F Marc Mackenzie, who will be 19 in November, and F Mason Burr, 18, have chosen to move on. Greg Meachem of the Red Deer Advocate reports that MacKenzie has returned to Kelowna-Okanagan College, while Burr has decided to leave hockey. Burr was a second-round selection in the 2009 bantam draft. Mackenzie, who is from Kelowna, started last season with the now-defunct Okanagan College Coyotes, joining the Rebels in time to play 31 games. . . . Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald reports that the Silvertips are without a couple of veterans early in camp. F Ryan Harrison, 20, is out with mononucleosis and may miss the start of the regular season. Of course, he also has four games left over from a suspension that he has yet to serve. F Kohl Bauml, meanwhile, is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. . . . The Silvertips also held G Austin Lotz (hamstring) out on Thursday.
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THE COACHING GAME:
The Regina Pats have signed assistant coaches Malcolm Cameron and Josh Dixon to one-year contract extensions that will take them through 2013-14. The contracts of general manager Chad Lang and head coach Pat Conacher also run through 2013-14. . . . All three coaches are heading into their second seasons in Regina. . . .
Former NHL D Jamie Heward has joined the Swift Current Broncos as an assistant coach and director of player development. Heward, who is from Regina and played four seasons with the Pats (1987-91), will work alongside GM/head coach Mark Lamb and assistant coach Darren Evjen in Swift Current. Heward, 41, retired after the 2008-09 season. . . . With Heward now under contract to Swift Current, perhaps his name no longer will surface in rumours every time the Pats are about to be sold. Then again, maybe not. . . .
The Red Deer Rebels chose not to renew the contract of assistant coach Chris Neiszner, leaving GM/head coach Jesse Wallin and assistant coach Bryce Thoma to run the club. Neiszner, who played four seasons (2001-05) with the Rebels, was on the coaching staff for two seasons. . . . The decision was made because owner Brent Sutter is back in the neighbourhood. “With Brent being back full-time we just felt that he's going to be able to be a lot more involved," Wallin told Red Deer media. "He'll be able to help me out with a lot of the GM duties and alleviate a lot of that, which will allow me to focus a lot more on the coaching side of things." . . . Troy Gillard at bigdrivesports.blogspot.ca reports that Neiszner now is working with Hockey Alberta. . . .
The Spokane Chiefs announced Thursday that Kevin Sawyer will serve as an interim assitant coach when head coach Don Nachbaur leaves for the World Junior Championship where he is to work as an assistant coach with Team Canada. With Nachbaur away, veteran assistant Jon Klemm will run the Chiefs. . . . Nachbaur, who is scheduled to leave the Chiefs on Dec. 8, might miss as many as 11 games. . . . The WJC will be held in Ufa, Russia, from Dec. 26 to Jan. 6. . . . Sawyer, who played three seasons with the Chiefs and was the team captain in 1993-94, is a familiar face around the Chiefs. He has been a guest coach in training camp for the past few seasons and will work with the club a lot between now and December. . . . Steve Spott (Kitchener Rangers) is Team Canada’s head coach, while the other assistants are Mario Duhamel (Drummondville Voltigeurs) and André Tourigny (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies).
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Gregg Doyel, a national columnist with CBSSports.com, has today’s good read. He chats with Scott Collie, a former football player whose son Austin is a receiver with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. On Sunday, Austin suffered his fourth concussion since November 2010. Read this to find out how a father feels when he sees his son go down again.
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By now, you are aware that David Branch, who heads up the OHL and the CHL, issued a statement on Wednesday regarding the upstart CHLPA. As expected, there weren’t any surprises in what was a brief and emotionless statement.
Later in the day, QMJHL commissioner Gilles Courteau, who is a CHL vice-president, issued a statement that just about knocked me off my chair. It didn’t appear to get much play, so in case you missed it, here it is, unedited and in its entirety:
“The Commissioner of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Gilles Courteau, wanted to correct the allegations made on various forums in the past several days. The QMJHL protests the lies and half-truths expressed on the treatment of our players, especially regarding the health, wellness and support. The great family of the QMJHL is outraged by these gratuitous and unfounded statements.
“We are always on the forefront of new initiatives and new trends in order to develop the sport of hockey. In recent years, we have been proactive in order to improve our support by the creation of numerous programs such as players support program, education programs, anti-doping programs and programs to fight against discrimination. In addition, we have added resources to ensure the implementation and enforcement of these programs within our teams.
“The QMJHL is a SCHOOL OF LIFE. For years we have worked tirelessly to adequately supervise athletes, particularly in terms of continuous academic achievement.
“Our role is to provide guidance to young people enabling them to pursue their passion and their sport while studying and developing as a citizen.
This is why there are mechanisms to expose and correct any inappropriate behaviour. In addition, the League has put in place a player support program to enable players to better manage the challenges they face and solve their personal problems before they become serious. This program provides personalized support in a timely manner or on a regular basis and this, in complete confidentiality.
“With respect to nutrition: All players benefit from the services of highly qualified personnel to educate them about the importance of a healthy and balanced diet. The teams provide the players with the services of a nutritionist to help them make the right choices in terms of nutrition.
“With respect to health: Teams hire certified individuals, such as physicians, athletic therapists, neuropsychologists and fitness coaches to ensure the players' health. In addition, the protection of our players continues to be a priority. For this reason, the League has put in place a concussion safety program to educate players as to the consequences of hits to the head.
“With respect to violence: The League has taken a series of measures aimed at preventing and countering violence occurring during games and has a zero tolerance policy with respect to gratuitous violence. These measures were developed based on the report of an Advisory Committee on Violence created in 2008 by the League Commissioner. On the other hand, the League adopted a widely publicized charter on the prevention of violence which now serves as a reference and awareness tool.
“With respect to education: While QMJHL student-athletes face a number of challenges, success in academics is no longer an exception but the norm among the 18 teams of the League. The motivation, the discipline and the efforts of the players, combined with the support extended by their teachers, the school advisors of their CEGEP, as well as the academic advisor of their team, can certainly explain the success witnessed these past years.
“With respect to grants: If the League supports its hockey players in pursuing their academic endeavours throughout their junior career, it also offers a generous scholarship program to those who wish to pursue professional or university education immediately following their hockey career.
“This program is recognized as one of the best among Canada's sports leagues. Each year, the League invests several hundred thousand dollars. Since the inception of the scholarship program, more than $8 million have been distributed.
For the 2010-11 season only, the League awarded close to half a million dollars in scholarships to some 129 former hockey players. With respect to the amounts granted to players: The teams cover the full amount of sport and education related costs, which represents amounts that reach several thousand dollars per player. For this reason they receive allocations and not wages during the season.
“With regard to the control of illicit substances: As part of the anti-doping policy, the League implemented a series of informational and educational programs in order to persuade players to avoid using illegal substances and methods. It also encourages the management staff to keep a watchful eye on its players and to protect their health and promote clean sport.
“With respect to traveling: We realize that sometimes during the season long trips are necessary, but they are infrequent. Our owners and managers often discuss this issue in order to find solutions to minimize the hardships for the players.
“The League is: A true school of life. It offers a real opportunity for young players to attain their dream of achieving the professional ranks, but first and foremost, it provides them with the support and the necessary academic tools so they can live fulfilling lives and contribute to the development of our society. Our role is to provide a living environment favourable to their development as an athlete and as a citizen.”
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As for the CHLPA, I have felt for some time now — likely since the CHL adopted its anti-doping policy — that something like this would show up sooner or later. Major junior players definitely need someone or an association to advocate on their behalf.
It’s just that when it happened I thought it would be a little more professional than what we have witnessed to this point.
In fact, what we have seen from the CHLPA to date hasn’t been much. Plain and simple, the ducks don’t seem to be in a row and they really needed to be before this production got to this stage.
I won’t argue with anyone who claims that major junior players should be better paid and that the education policy could have another year or two added to the option-to-use after a career ends.
As well, the anti-doping program got dropped on the players without their having any say.
There are all kinds of things like those that could be dealt with in one form or another, from working conditions (is it fair for players to have to play three games in less than 48 hours on occasion?) to the lack of an appeal process on matters of discipline.
And it’s great that all of these things and more are having some light shed on them these days.
But let me ask you this: If you had a son playing in the CHL, based on what you have seen and heard this week, would you want the CHLPA representing him?

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Jared Aulin (Kamloops, 1997-2002) signed a two-year contract extension with Örebro (Sweden, Allsvenskan). Aulin finished third in Allsvenskan scoring with 25 goals and 33 assists in 49 games this season. . . .
F Derek Ryan (Spokane, 2003-07) and D Harlan Pratt (Seattle, Red Deer, Prince Albert, Regina, Portland, 1994-99) each signed one-year contract extensions with Alba Volan Szekesfehervar (Hungary, Austria Erste Bank Liga). Ryan had 25 goals and 24 assists in 50 games, good enough for ninth place in the league scoring race, while Pratt had five goals and 14 assists in 48 games. Club director Gabor Ocskay: "Derek Ryan and Harland Pratt were the pillars of this year's team, and a similar role is expected in the 2012-13 season. We are delighted to have signed them." . . .
F Kirill Starkov (Red Deer, 2006-2007) signed a one-year contract with Oskarshamn (Sweden, Allsvenskan). He had three goals and 12 assists in 39 games with Rögle Ängelholm (Sweden, Allsvenskan) and four goals and five assists in six games with SønderjyskE Vojens (Denmark, AL-Bank Liga) this season.
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Shawn Mullin, the radio voice of the Swift Current Broncos, reports that a move is afoot to erect a monument alongside the Trans-Canada Highway that would be in memory of the four players who died there on Dec. 30, 1986 when the WHL team’s bus crashed while en route to Regina. There is more right here.
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So how were things in Chilliwack after the Bruins left town and the BCHL’s Chiefs moved into Prospera Centre. Well, they say they had 1,100 season-ticket holders and averaged 2,000 sold tickets per game. That’s enough for president Glen Ringdal to say the season with an unqualified success. Tyler Olsen of the Chilliwack Times has more right here.
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The Tri-City Americans and Spokane Chiefs open their second-round series on Friday in Kennewick, Wash. That game won’t be televised but the next three games definitely will be. The teams have announced that their flagship stations, KVEW/KXLY and KHQ/SWX, will carry Game 2 from Kennewick on Saturday and Games 3 and 4 from Spokane on Wednesday, April 11, and Friday, April 13. Kevin Uretsky will call the play with Kevin Sawyer handling the analysis. KVEW-TV’s My Network in the Tri-City area has the option on Games 5, 6 and 7, as well.
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Columnist John Blanchette of the Spokane Spokesman-Review takes a look at the move that put Eric Williams in as the Spokane Chiefs’ starter after two games of these playoffs. That piece is right here.
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The Prince George Cougars have signed D Sam Ruopp, who was a fourth-round pick in the 2011 bantam draft. Ruopp, from Zehner, Sask., is the younger brother of Prince Albert Raiders D Harrison Ruopp. . . . Sam played this season with the midget AAA Regina Pats Canadians, picking up 10 assists in 41 games.
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F Tyler Johnson of the Norfolk Admirals is the AHL’s player of the month for March. He had a league-high 22 points, 11 of them goals, and was plus-13 in 12 games. Johnson, in his first AHL season, is a product of the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs. . . . If you aren’t aware, the Admirals have won their last 23 games. That’s right . . . 23 straight games. . . . Johnson signed as a free agent with the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning.
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The Spokane Spokesman-Review reports that Vern Kneeshaw died Sunday at the age of 90. Kneeshaw was a goaltender with the 1948-49 Spokane Flyers, who won the U.S. national senior amateur championship. . . . Kneeshaw also was an off-ice official with the Spokane Chiefs. . . . According to the newspaper, “A memorial service for Kneeshaw will be held on Friday at 1 p.m. at the First Assembly of God church in Spokane.”
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THE COACHING GAME:
Former Everett Silvertips associate head coach coach Jay Varady has signed on for two more seasons with Les Ducs d’Angers of France’s Ligue Magnus. In his first season, Varady guided Les Ducs to an 18-8 record, second only to the rival Les Dragons de Rouen. . . . Angers won two playoff series, taking out Caen 3-0 and Briancon 3-1, before losing in four games (3-1) to Rouen.
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PLAYOFF ODDS AND ENDS:
The Spokane Chiefs and Tri-City Americans are about to go head-to-head for the sixth time, and the second time in as many years. The Chiefs won a second-round series in six games last season. . . . The teams staged one of the great series in WHL history in the spring of 2008 when the Chiefs won in seven games, five of which went into OT. And three of those went to double OT. . . . These teams are no strangers to extra time. A year ago, the last three games of that six-game series needed OT. In fact, 11 of the last 16 playoff games between these teams have gone to OT. So if you’re going to Friday’s opener, you best tell the babysitter that you’ll be late getting home. . . .
In Brandon, the Wheat Kings are into the second round for the eighth time in 11 seasons. This time, they’ll meet the Edmonton Oil Kings in a series that opens Friday in the Alberta capital. Amazingly, this will be the first playoff meeting – at least in a best-of series – between these teams. Brandon and Edmonton were in the league from 1967 through 1976, after which the Oil Kings relocated to Portland. They never once met in the playoffs during that time. . . . Brandon and Edmonton did play in one of those round-robin series in 1978-79. The Flin Flon Bombers moved to Edmonton for that season and the Oil Kings were eliminated after a first-round round-robin series in which Brandon (7-1) and Saskatoon (3-5) advanced and Edmonton was eliminated. (That’s right it was a double home-and-home round-robin!). . . . By the next season, the Oil Kings were the Great Falls Americans, who lasted 28 games before folding. . . .
F Ryan Harrison of the Everett Silvertips took a charging major and game misconduct in Game 4 of their series loss to the visiting Tri-City Americans on March 28. His suspension now has been set at four games, so he will miss the first four games of next season, assuming he is back in the WHL. . . . Harrison, an NHL free agent, is finishing up the season with the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters, who are affiliated with the Colorado Avalanche. . . . Shaw-TV announced Tuesday that its series of choice in the second round will feature the Moose Jaw Warriors and Medicine Hat Tigers. That series opens Friday at Mosaic Place in Moose Jaw.
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And now for something completely different . . .
Taliah Aquilini and her soon-to-be ex-husband, Franceso, are well on their way to a divorce. Francesco, of course, owns the Vancouver Canucks. Taliah says that Canucks fans needn’t worry about any of this harming their beloved team. That story is right here. . . . Meanwhile, if you haven’t seen it already, there is something right here about a couple of hockey players’ girlfriends having some kind of scrap. . . . Only in Vancouver, you say. You may be right. . . .

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Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald reports that the Everett Silvertips are disputing the lawsuit that has been brought against them by former general manager Doug Soetaert. That story is right here.
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Former NFL quarterback Mark Rypien is 49 years of age and already he is experiencing memory loss.
Nathan Fenno of the Washington Times has more right here.
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Lorne Molleken will be back behind the bench of the Saskatoon Blades next season. Molleken, who is the Blades’ general manager and head coach, has told Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix that he will reassess his position(s) after the 2012-13 season, which means after the 2013 Memorial Cup. The Blades will be the tournament’s host team.
Molleken also told Nugent-Bowman that the roster of next season’s team will bear little resemblance to the Saskatoon roster that lost in four games to the Medicine Hat Tigers this week.
That story is right here.
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THE COACHING GAME:
The QMJHL’s Cape Breton Screaming Eagles have announced that they won’t bring back assistant coach Kevin Higo, whose two-year contract is to expire on July 31. Higo, from Lethbridge, was an assistant coach with the Moose Jaw Warriors for two seasons (2008-10). . . .
Victor Gervais (Seattle, 1986-90) is the new GM/head coach of the junior B Westshore Wolves, a new club in the Vancouver Island junior league. Gervais has spent the last five seasons with the BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies. This season, he was GM and assistant coach, with Len Barrie as majority owner and head coach. . . . The Wolves will play out of Victoria’s Bear Mountain Arena, which also is home to the Grizzlies. . . .
The U of Alberta Golden Bears have redone their organizational tree. No longer will they have a head coach and an assistant coach; instead, there will be a general manager and a head coach. Stan Marple, the interim head coach last season, will be the first GM, while the search is on for a coach. Evan Daum has that story in the Edmonton Journal right here.
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D Morgan Rielly isn’t yet ready to return to the Moose Jaw Warriors’ lineup; in fact, it sounds as though he may not play for a couple of weeks, although he has been practising for 10 days. Rielly, who had major knee surgery on Dec. 1. He visited with his Vancouver surgeon this week and Alan Millar, the Warriors’ director of hockey operations, told Matthew Gourlie of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald that Rielly is “week-to-week.” Millar told Gourlie: “The appointment with the surgeon went very well. (Rielly) continues to be on pace to have a chance to play somewhat ahead of schedule. I know there was a lot of speculation and some reports that he would be in the line-up (tonight). He will not be in the line-up. He will not play at all in this series.” . . . The Warriors take a 3-1 series lead over the Regina Pats into Game 5 in Moose Jaw tonight.
Gourlie’s story, and there’s more to it, is right here.
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Is Saskatoon, a city that would be home to an NHL franchise, a good sports town, or not? Les MacPherson, a columnist with the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, tackles that question right here.
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D Duncan Siemens of the Saskatoon Blades will finish his season with the Lake Erie Monsters, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche. Siemens was selected by Colorado with the 11th pick of the 2011 NHL draft. . . .
D Josh Caron of the Everett Silvertips, who signed a free-agent deal with the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, is expected to join the AHL’s Houston Aeros for the remainder of the season. . . . Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald reports that F Ryan Harrison has been invited to join the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters, and D Brennan Yadlowski may hook up with the ECHL’s Colorado Eagles.
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Richard Doerksen, the WHL’s vice-president, hockey, was busy again on Thursday.
He hit Everett F Ryan Harrison with a ‘tbd’ suspension for a charging major and game misconduct in Game 4 against the visiting Tri-City Americans on Wednesday. Assuming that Harrison, 19, is back in the fall, the start of his season almost certainly will be delayed. . . .
F Max Reinhart of the Kootenay Ice was hit with a one-game suspension for a game misconduct he took against the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings on Wednesday. Reinhart didn’t play last night as the Oil Kings completed a sweep of the defending-champion Ice. . . .
Ice D Spencer Wand also sat out last night’s game after being suspended for a game following a pregame violation on Wednesday. . . .
Regina Pats F Dyson Stevenson won’t play tonight in Game 5 against the host Moose Jaw Warriors. He incurred a one-game suspension after taking a clipping major and game misconduct in Game 4 in Regina on Wednesday. He has a team-high three goals and is tied with F Jordan Weal for the team lead in points, with five. . . .
And, finally, Regina president Brent Parker was fined $2,500 for “inappropriate behaviour” after Wednesday’s 5-4 overtime loss to the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors.
Glenn Reid of CBC Regina tweeted: “GM Brent Parker fined $2500 for inappropriate conduct. I thought he was screaming at me for a second there (Wednesday) night.”
Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post reported that Parker “punched a hole in the door of the video replay booth inside the press box” after the game and “also became involved in a heated verbal confrontation with the off-ice officials who were inside the booth.”
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Harder had a busy time of it. He also spoke with Wayne Gretzky, whose good friend, Pat Conacher, is in his first season as the Regina Pats’ head coach. That story is right here.
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Bill Graveland of The Canadian Press reports on a WHL player who received probation and community service after pleading guilty to charges from a high-speed car crash in which his girlfriend was killed. That story is right here.
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THURSDAY’S WHL GAMES:
(If you want WHL facts and stats, get on Twitter and follow @WHLFacts)
In Winnipeg, the Brandon Wheat Kings got a goal at 8:26 of OT to beat the Calgary Hitmen 3-2 and win a first-round series in five games. . . . The Wheat Kings played their home games in Winnipeg because the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair is in Westman Place in Brandon. . . . The Wheat Kings actually scored twice on the game-winning play. F Paul Ciarelli fired a shot that hit the cross-bar in the back of the net. As one of the referees waved it off, F Darian Dziurzynski, who turns 21 today, banged in the rebound. . . . Originally credited to Dziurzynski, the goal was later changed to Ciarelli. . . . The Hitmen killed off a Brandon power play just before the winning goal and, in fact, came close to winning when G Corbin Boes made a tremendous glove save off F Jimmy Bubnick. . . . It is the eighth time in the last 11 seasons that Brandon has moved into the second round. . . . Boes finished with 42 saves. . . . Ciarelli scored at 4:14 of the third period to forge a 2-2 tie. Those were his first two goals of the series. . . . Dziurzynski and Jens Meilleur each had two assists for Brandon as they figured in both Ciarelli goals. . . . The Hitmen played all five games without F Victor Rask (leg), who scored 33 goals in the regular season. . . . Attendance was 4,002. . . . You can bet this series victory meant just a little bit more to Brandon owner/general manager Kelly McCrimmon. His brother, Brad, would have been 53 on Thursday. Brad was the head coach of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, the KHL team that was wiped out in a plane crash on Sept. 7. . . . The Wheat Kings will be back in Westman Place for the second round. Brandon will face the Edmonton Oil Kings next, if the Moose Jaw Warriors eliminate the Regina Pats. The Warriors take a 3-1 lead in that series into Game 5 tonight in Moose Jaw. . . .

In Cranbrook, F Rhett Rachinski scored the game’s last two goals as the Edmonton Oil Kings beat the Kootenay Ice 3-1 and swept the defending champions from the playoffs. . . . Edmonton has won its last 15 games. . . . Rachinski broke a 1-1 tie with his first goal of the series at 14:09 of the second period and added an empty-netter at 19:23 of the third. . . . The Oil Kings, in their fifth season in the WHL, won a series for the first time. They went in having been swept from the first round in both of their appearances. . . . Ice G Nathan Lieuwen stopped 25 shots, while Laurent Brossoit of Edmonton turned aside 14. . . . The biggest story of the two games in Cranbrook may well have been the attendance — 2,293 on Wednesday and 2,146 last night. Those are the two smallest Rec-Plex playoff crowds in franchise history. . . . The highlight for the fans may have been when Marian Dixon shot a puck from the far blue-line through a hole in a sheet of plywood and won a truck from Denham Ford. . . . A Thursday night tweet from Edmonton D Griffin Reinhart: “Best comment on the ice goes to my little bro Sam saying ‘If you touch me I'm telling mom’ when we were in a scrum.” . . .

In Kelowna, F Ty Rattie scored four times as the Portland Winterhawks beat the Rockets 5-3 to sweep that first-round series. . . . The Winterhawks will meet the Kamloops Blazers in the second round. That series will open with Games 1 and 2 in Portland’s Veterans’ Memorial Coliseum on April 6 and 7. . . . Rattie scored his club’s first three goals, giving Portland 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 leads. . . . He later added an empty-netter for his 10th goal in the four games. He also had three assists. . . . Interestingly, in the four games in this series, Rattie had one-, two-, three- and four-goal games. . . . Last spring, Rattie finished the playoffs with nine goals in 17 games. . . . He actually outscored the Rockets, 10-9, in the four games. . . . Portland F Sven Baertschi had two assists. . . . Linemates Rattie, Baertschi and Marcel Noebels, who had one helper, each was plus-4.
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THURSDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
None.
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THURSDAY’S CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
F Curtis Lazar, Edmonton.

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