Hitmen closing in on GM/head coach? ... Calgary signs draft pick ... Ex-WHLers in NHL coaching mix

F Ian McDonald (Tri-City, 2000-06) has signed a one-year contract with Gherdëina Selva Val Gardena (Italy, Alps HL). Last season, with Corona Brașov (Romania, MOL Liga), he had 26 goals and 36 assists in 38 games. He led his team in assists and was fourth in the league’s scoring race. . . .

F Martin Erat (Saskatoon, Red Deer, 1999-2001) has signed a one-year extension with Kometa Brno (Czech Republic, Extraliga). Last season, he had 13 goals and 23 assists in 39 games. . . .

F Jared Aulin (Kamloops, 1997-2002) has signed a one-year extension with Rapperswil-Jona (Switzerland, NL B). Last season, he had 19 goals and 35 assists in 47 games. . . .

F Brett Sonne (Calgary, 2004-10) has signed a one-year contract with Angers (France, Ligue Magnus). Last season, he had 10 goals and 21 assists in 37 games with Herlev (Denmark, Metal Ligaen). . . . Angers’ head coach is Brett’s older brother, Brennan (Everett, Red Deer, Edmonton, 2005-08; assistant coach Everett, 2014-17).

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Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

To all who took the time to offer congratulations after Taking Note was awarded a Paul Carson Award for a third straight year, thank you so much. It really means a lot.

There is no doubt in my mind that the best part of social media — like Facebook and Twitter — is the way it allows people to be in touch and to stay in touch. Once again, this all was proof of that.

Thanks again.

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The Calgary Hitmen have signed F Ryder Korczak to a WHL contract. He was a second-round selection in the WHL’s 2017 bantam draft. Last season, he had 27 goals and 56 assists in 30 games with the bantam AA Yorkton Terriers. He also played two games with the midget AAA Yorkton Maulers, recording two assists. . . . His older brother, Kaedan, was a first-round selection by the Kelowna Rockets in the 2016 bantam draft. Kaedan, a defenceman, played four regular-season and five playoff games with Kelowna last season.

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Meanwhile, the Hitmen continue their search for a general manager and a head coach.

They need a GM after the parent Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation moved Mike Moore, who also had been vice-president of business operations, to vice-president and alternate governor on May 15. Moore, a veteran of 20 seasons in the WHL, 10 of them with Calgary, had been the GM through four seasons.

The Hitmen need a head coach because Mark French, who signed a multi-year extension a year ago, left late last month to take over as head coach of the Fribourg-Gottéron Dragons of Swizerland’s NL A. French had spent three seasons as Calgary’s head coach.

There has been speculation that the Hitmen have shown interest in having Tim Hunter fill both positions. Hunter, 56, is preparing for his fourth season as the head coach of the Moose Jaw Warriors, who announced on June 2 that he had signed a contract extension, the length of which wasn’t revealed.

It’s doubtful that the Warriors would release Hunter from his contract were he to move to another coaching position, but they almost certainly would let him go were he to take a GM/head coach job.

Hunter has some history with Calgary, having played nine full seasons (1983-92) and parts of two others with the Flames, who, like the Hitmen, are controlled by CSEC.

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Former WHL/NHL tough guy Rudy Poeschek now is facing a charge of failing to appear in court after missing a June 2 court date at which he was to have been tried on a charge of breaching probation. A warrant has been issued for his arrest. . . . Tim Petruk of Kamloops This Week has more right here.

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As you were laying in bed last night, you were wondering: Whatever happened to Peter Pocklington? . . . Well, the man who traded Wayne Gretzky — or did he sell him? — from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings is living in Palm Desert, Calif., and continuing to ponder ways to make money. Marty Klinkenberg has a look at Pocklington right here.

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If you’re a regular here, and even you aren’t, feel free to contribute to the feeding of the Drinnan family by making a donation to the cause. You are able to do so by clicking on the DONATE button and going from there.

BTW, if you want to contact me with some information or just feel like commenting on something, you may email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

I’m also on Twitter (@gdrinnan).

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The NHL’s Minnesota Wild are searching for an assistant coach to replace former NHL hitter Scott Stevens, who left the team after the season. According to Michael Russo of the Minneapolis StarTribune, Bob Woods, a former WHL player who did a turn as the Saskatoon Blades’ GM/head coach, “is the likely frontrunner.” . . . That’s because Woods has a long history with Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau, having coached alongside him with the AHL’s Hershey Bears and the NHL’s Washington Capitals and Anaheim Ducks. . . . Woods spent last season as an assistant coach with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, but they have a new general manager (Jason Botterill) and a new head coach (Phil Housley) so change is in the wind. . . . Russo also speculates that a couple of other former WHLers — Ryan McGill and Dean Chynoweth — may be in the mix in Minnesota. McGill is the head coach of the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack. Chynoweth didn’t coach last season after spending the previous season as the head coach of the San Antonio Rampage, the Colorado Avalanche’s AHL affiliate. . . . According to Russo, Boudreau wants “a former defenceman with NHL experience.” McGill and Chynoweth both played and coached in the NHL.

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Back on the ice for the first time since ACL surgery in February. #RoadToRecovery pic.twitter.com/u8EQpPSh2F

— Jake Leschyshyn (@JakeLeschyshyn7) June 17, 2017

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.

Scooter on Memorial Cup format ... Warriors set hockey operations ... Ex-WHLer suffers two strokes

F Dominic Zwerger (Spokane, Everett, 2013-17) has signed a three-year contract with Ambri-Piotta (Switzerland, NL A). This season, he had 28 goals and 47 assists in 67 games with Everett. . . . Zwerger is Austrian but qualifies as a non-import because he played minor hockey in Switzerland. . . .

F Dane Byers (Prince Albert, 2001-06) has signed one-year contract with the Manchester Storm (England, UK Elite). This season, with Cologne (Germany, DEL), he had seven goals and five assists in 49 games. He plans on studying for his MBA at the University of Salford while playing for the Storm.

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With the on-going debate about the Memorial Cup and its format, it’s only fitting that Taking Note should hear from Dean (Scooter) Vrooman, who was there in 1983 when the four-team tournament, featuring a host team, first was held.

Here’s Scooter:

“Since Portland was the first host team in 1983 and won it, I remember all the angst about how that would

DEAN VROOMAN

destroy the tournament, but it should be pointed out that only seven host teams have won the Cup in the 35 years of this format without also winning their league championship.

“And Windsor was the first team in 35 years of this format to win the Cup without winning at least one playoff series.

“The host team had lost its opening game six straight years from 2009-14 until Quebec beat Kelowna 4-3 in 2015. Red Deer also lost its first game in 2016.

“So, overall, one could argue the teams that ‘earn their way in’ have done very well in this format.

“Every time a host team wins, the format will come into question — but the very small crowds in Hull, Que., at the 1982 Cup (the last three-team tournament) was what really motivated Brian Shaw to champion the host team format, both from a financial standpoint and from the atmosphere standpoint.

“He felt that the event was worthy of bigger crowds and most of the time during this 35-year run that has happened. The atmosphere has been really good.”

Vrooman, now the Portland Winterhawks’ director, sponsorship sales and service, was a long-time radio voice of the team.

Shaw was the co-owner and general manager of the Winterhawks at the time and he really championed the move from a three-team tournament to a four-team affair that provides automatic entry to a host team.

One other thing that has to be remembered in discussing the Memorial Cup and its format is this: After the 2013 tournament was held in Saskatoon, each of the WHL’s teams received $148,913, a figure that was $118,477 following the 2016 event in Red Deer.

If you are thinking about a new format, you need to take that into consideration because that, as much as anything, is why it won’t change in the near future.

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Warriors unveil new look jerseys for 2017-2018. pic.twitter.com/nYGO56Scff

— Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) June 2, 2017

The Moose Jaw Warriors have signed general manager Alan Millar and head coach Tim Hunter to what a news release says are “multi-year” contract extensions. . . . The Warriors didn’t release any information as to length of contracts or when they might expire. A source familiar with the situation told Taking Note late in the regular season that the board of directors of the community-owned team had agreed to terms with Millar on a five-year extension but had yet to announce it. . . . Millar is entering his eight season with the Warriors. . . . Hunter, 56, has been the Warriors’ head coach for three seasons. He has 14 years as an NHL assistant coach on his resume. He also was an assistant coach with Canada’s national junior team at the 2017 World Junior Championship and will be back in that role for the 2018 tournament. . . . The Warriors are 110-83-23 under Hunter, having made the playoffs each of the past two seasons. They lost in the second round of the playoffs last season and to the Swift Current Broncos in seven games in this season’s first round. Moose Jaw had gone 42-21-9 in the regular season, good for second in the East Division, five points ahead of the Broncos. . . . The Warriors also announced contract extensions to assistant coaches Mark O’Leary and Scott King, Doug Gasper, the director of scouting, and Brooke Kosolofski, the head athletic therapist. . . . The Warriors also have hired Tanner Arnold as equipment manager. He spent the past two seasons as the trainer/equipment manager with the SJHL’s Flin Flon Bombers.

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The Tri-City Americans have signed F Isaac Johnson, 18, to a WHL contract. Johnson, from Andover, Minn., played this season with the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers, scoring 14 goals and adding 14 assists in 47 games. . . . NHL Central Scouting has the 6-foot-2, 175-pound Johnson ranked No. 97 among North American skaters for this month’s NHL draft.

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The Lethbridge Hurricanes have signed F Noah Boyko, who was the 16th overall selection in the WHL’s 2017 bantam draft. Boyko, from St. Albert, Alta., had 25 goals and 27 assists in 36 regular-season games with the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers of the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League this season. He added seven goals and 11 assists in 14 playoff games as the Rangers won the provincial title. He then recorded six goals and four assists in five games at the Western Canadian championship.

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F Michael Spacek of the Red Deer Rebels has signed a three-year entry-level deal with the Winnipeg Jets, who selected him in the fourth round of the NHL’s 2015 draft. The contract has an annual average value of US$833,300. . . . Spacek, 20, had a team-high 85 points, including 30 goals, in 59 games with the Rebels this season. In two seasons with them, he had 139 points, 48 of them goals, in 120 games. . . . A native of Czech Republic, he finished this season with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose, earning one assist in four games. . . . He also played for Czech Republic in three straight World Junior Championships. . . . Because he was drafted out of Czech Republic, he is eligible to play in the Jets’ system in 2017-18, or he could return to the WHL as a two-spotter — a 20-year-old import.

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A group that includes former Moose Jaw Warriors F Ryan Smyth has purchased the AJHL’s Spruce Grove Saints. The AJHL announced Thursday that its board of governors has unanimously approved the sale. . . . Darren Myshak had owned the Saints fo rthe past 14 seasons. . . . The new ownership group, known as Silent Ice, also includes Lindsey and Dan Leckelt, owners of Silent-Aire, an engineering and manufacturing company. Silent Ice also owns the senior AAA Stony Plain Eagles. Smyth, who played three seasons (1992-95) with the Warriors before going on to play 1,270 regular-season NHL games, is the Eagles’ captain. . . . Smyth will be the Saints’ president and is looking for a general manager and head coach after it was revealed that Mike Ringrose “has decided to leave the Saints to pursue other opportunities” after just one season. . . . Smyth also announced that Steven Goertzen (Seattle, 2001-04) is on board as hockey skills development coach. Goertzen is a native of Stony Plain.

Meanwhile, the AJHL’s board of governors also approved the sale of the Drayton Valley Thunder from a community group to a group that includes Cindy and Monte Waronek and Judy Sweet, all of whom, according to a news release, “are longtime residents and business owners in Drayton Valley.” . . . You have to wonder if Ringrose might surface with the Vancouver Giants, who have an opening for an assistant coach. Vancouver head coach Jason McKee spent 10 seasons with the Saints, and Ringrose was there for six of them.

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After a tough day following his initial stroke, hearing that ex Leaf  Bob McGill doing a little better in hospital.

— Lance Hornby (@sunhornby) June 1, 2017

Bob McGill, a former WHL defenceman, revealed via Twitter on Thursday morning that he has suffered a stroke. . . . Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun later reported that McGill “is in a Peterborough-area hospital after suffering a blood clot-related stroke.” According to Hornby, “McGill, 55, fell ill Wednesday at his cottage, according to friends. He tweeted about his condition early Thursday, wryly noting he ‘survived 705 NHL games and 190 fights, but in for my toughest fight now,’ while confirming the clot and the stroke.” . . . Later Thursday, Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star reported that McGill suffered two strokes — one at his cottage and another while in hospital. . . . McGill, a native of Leduc, Alta., played two seasons (1979-81) with the Victoria Cougars, totalling eight goals, 54 assists and 525 penalty minutes in 136 games. . . . The Toronto Maple Leafs selected him in the second round of the NHL’s 1980 draft. He went on to play 705 NHL games, splitting them between Toronto, the Chicago Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings, New York Islanders and Hartford Whalers. He finished his NHL career with 17 goals, 55 assists and 1,766 penalty minutes in 705 games. . . . McGill spent a lot of this season on the broadcast crew for the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.
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If you’re a regular here, and even you aren’t, feel free to contribute to the feeding of the Drinnan family by making a donation to the cause. You are able to do so by clicking on the DONATE button and going from there.

BTW, if you want to contact me with some information or just feel like commenting on something, you may email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

I’m also on Twitter (@gdrinnan).

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The Swift Current Broncos have signed Dave Rathjen as their goaltending coach. Rathjen actually joined the Broncos late this season on an interim basis through the end of the playoffs. Rathjen is a former WHL goaltender, having played 11 games with the Tri-City Americans in 1997-98. . . . From Penticton, B.C., he owns and operates Above the Crease Goaltending LTD.

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DAVID WILKIE

Former WHL D David Wilkie has been named head coach of the USHL’s Omaha Lancers. Wilkie played for the Lancers and was part of their championship team in 1990-91. . . . Wilkie, 43, has spent the past seven seasons coach with the Omaha AAA Hockey Club. Most recently, he has been its director of hockey operations and the head coach of the U-18 and U-16 teams. . . . Wilkie also has coaching experience as an assistant with the U of Nebraska-Omaha in 2007-08 and as head coach of the ECHL’s Augusta Lynx in 2002-03. . . . He split four WHL seasons (1990-94) between the Seattle Thunderbirds, Kamloops Blazers and Regina Pats. He was part of the Blazers’ 1992 Memorial Cup-winning team.

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Scott Atkinson is the new head coach of the BCHL’s Salmon Arm Silverbacks. He also will work as the assistant general manager, alongside Troy Mick, the organization’s president and GM. . . . Atkinson, from Calgary, had been coaching at the Edge School in Calgary since 2009. Prior to that, he was the head coach of the U of Calgary Dinos in U Sports’ Canada West conference. He also spent 11 seasons as the head coach at Mount Royal College in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference. . . . In Salmon Arm, he takes over from Misko Antisin, who stepped down at season’s end. Antisin started the season as the head coach of the Steamboat, Colo., Wranglers of the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League, but returned to Salmon Arm in November when head coach Brandon West was fired.

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Former NHL D Moe Mantha has signed on as the new general manager and head coach of the NAHL’s Brookings Blizzard. He replaces Dan Daikawa, the head coach for the past three seasons whose contract wasn’t renewed. . . . Mantha played 12 seasons in the NHL. He has coached with the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires and Saginaw Spirit. . . . This season, he coached the French River Rapids of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League while scouting for Saginaw.

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.

Warriors GM says he received apology . . . Burke joins new club . . . Hurricanes drop veteran forward

It's 2016 people... Stop playing Cotton-Eye Joe. Seriously. Stop it.

— Sunaya Sapurji (@sunayas) November 15, 2016

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D Giffen Nyren (Moose Jaw, Kamloops, Calgary, 2006-10) has signed a contract for the rest of this season with Dijon (France, Ligue Magnus). This season, he was pointless in one game with the Colorado Eagles (ECHL). . . .

F Martin Šagát (Kootenay, 2003-05) has signed a contract for the rest of this season with Slavia Prague (Czech Republic, 1. Liga). Last season, he had four goals and seven assists in 36 games with the Herning Blue Fox (Denmark, Metal Ligaen). . . .

F Kirill Starkov (Red Deer, 2006-07) has signed a tryout contract with La Chaux-de-Fonds (Switzerland, NL B). Last season, he had 13 goals and 21 assists in 44 games with Red Ice Martigny (Switzerland, NL B). He was the team captain. . . . 

A completely random note: La Chaux-de-Fonds lost to Ajoie in a shootout 3-2 (4-3 in the SO) Sunday. The shootout went 23 rounds. IIHF.com indicates that this is a men's international record. The NHL record is 20 rounds.

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Looking forward to spending some time in Moose Jaw this winter cheering on the Warriors! @MJWARRIORS pic.twitter.com/BXm9SyCJzb

— Shawna Burke (@BurkeShawna) November 15, 2016

Peter Anholt, the general manager of the Lethbridge Hurricanes, has apologized for comments he made last week, according to Alan Millar, the general manager of the Moose Jaw Warriors.

Anholt traded high-scoring F Brayden Burke to the Warriors on Tuesday. Later, when asked why he moved Burke, Anholt made a number of statements for which he later was fined $1,000 by the WHL.

While Anholt and Burke haven’t spoken, Millar said that an apology has been issued.

“The apology came from my discussion with Peter,” Millar said. “Peter put a note in writing to me and Brayden and his family, and we’ve left it at that.”

Anholt couldn’t be reached for confirmation on Monday night.

As for further comment, Millar said: “We’re going to move onward and upward. I’m not going to try and

figure out why Pete made those comments. I’m not going to know what’s going on in Lethbridge. I’m going to worry about the Moose Jaw Warriors. I’m going to worry about Brayden Burke. I’m going to go to bat . . . I’m going to defend our player . . . We’re very comfortable with the trade we made. We’re very comfortable with the homework that we did.

“I’ve been in this game a long time. I understand when things aren’t going well, we can go off the handle a little bit and make comments. I might have made a few to the referee supervisor who was here the other night. It’s a competitive game, emotions run high.”

Burke also was present at the media availability in Moose Jaw, but if there were questions about Anholt’s comments directed his way they were edited from the video that was posted on the Warriors’ website.

“I’m really excited,” Burke said. “They’ve got a really good team here. I think i can come in and help and hopefully we can get a long playoff push and win some hockey games.”

Burke had 23 points, including 19 assists, at the time of the trade. Last season, he finished third in the WHL scoring race, with 109 points, including 82 assists.

“They’ve got a lot of guys that can score here,” he said. “Hopefully, I can set them up and be a good 200-foot player.”

Head coach Tim Hunter said it could be that he doesn’t find a firm spot for Burke in the lineup until F Brett Howden returns from a shoulder injury. He is listed as day-to-day.

“We’ll see,” Hunter said. “We have to find some chemistry . . . on where he’s going to fit . . . whether he’s going to play left wing or right wing . . . he’s played both (and) he’s comfortable at both spots.

“But he’s going to be a difference-maker for us.”

Moose Jaw has played two games without Burke, who was acquired on Tuesday but didn’t join the team until Sunday. The Warriors lost both games at home — 5-4 to the Regina Pats and 8-7 to the Red Deer Rebels.

The Warriors next play Thursday when they meet the Blades in Saskatoon. 

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@110PercentPod @WHLHurricanes @PeterAnholt Need to start a fund for Peter's fine. Totally agree with him putting the comment out there.

— Paul Figler (@RDFigs19) November 15, 2016

The Lethbridge Hurricanes have dropped F Jesse Zaharichuk, 19, from their roster.

“He admittedly isn’t committed enough . . .,” general manager Peter Anholt told the podcast 110 Percent (Hurricanes This Week) on Monday.

Anholt said Zaharichuk has been “assigned” to the AJHL’s Drumheller Dragons. “I don’t know if that’s

where he’ll end up,” Anholt said. “But he won’t be back with us.”

Zaharichuk had 17 points, including eight goals, in 17 games this season. A native of Sherwood Park, Alta., Zaharichuk also has played with the Kamloops Blazers and Kootenay Ice. In 125 regular-season games, he has 73 points, 23 of them goals.

Anholt had little to say about his decision to trade F Brayden Burke, 19, the team’s leading scorer, to the Moose Jaw Warriors last week.

“I don’t think we have to talk about the Burke trade,” Anholt said. “I think there’s been enough said about that . . . and enough repercussions.”

If you’re a regular here, you’re aware that the WHL fined Anholt $1,000 for comments he made following the trade. On the podcast, Anholt explained his comments this way: “You don’t trade your 100-point guy and not have to say something about it. We’ll just leave it at that.”

In exchange for Burke, who finished third in the WHL scoring race last season, the Hurricanes acquired F Ryan Bowen, a second-round selection in the 2017 bantam draft and a conditional third-round pick in the 2019 draft. Bowen has a shoulder injury and it’s hoped that he will be in the Lethbridge lineup for weekend games.

As well, D Brady Reagan, who was suspended by the team on Oct. 28 for “violating team rules,” is expected to be back in the lineup on Wednesday against the visiting Kootenay Ice. Reagan, 19, will have sat out six games.

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Yes, it’s early, but there are indications that the Regina Pats are in the infancy of one of those seasons. They are 14-0-3 and continue to be the only one of the CHL’s 60 teams not have lost a game in regulation time. They have won 10 in a row. They have yet to lose in regulation time. . . . Kevin Shaw, who is the go-to guy when it comes to Pats stats, writes: “The last time the Pats won 10 straight games happened in the 1985-86 season. The streak started with a 6-4 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings on Oct. 13, 1985 and was ended by the Moose Jaw Warriors on Nov. 11, 1985.” . . . Shaw has a whole lot more on the Pats right here.

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The ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears have signed Drake Berehowsky as head coach, replacing Anthony Noreen, who was fired on Monday. This is the second stint with Orlando for Berehowsky, 44. He was the franchise’s first head coach, in 2012-13. Between then an now, he has worked as the head coach of the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes and with the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves. He was in his second season as the Wolves’ associate coach when the Solar Bears called. . . . Orlando (5-5-1) is tied for fourth in the seven-team South Division, four points out of third place. . . . Noreen, 33, was in his second season with the Solar Bears after four seasons as GM/head coach of the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms.

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Misko Antisin has been named the interim head coach of the BCHL’s Salmon Arm Silverbacks. He is expected to be in that position for the remainder of this season, replacing Brandon West, who was fired last week. . . . Antisin was an assistant coach with the Silverbacks for the previous two seasons. He moved to Steamboat Springs, Colo., prior to this season, and was the general manager/head coach of a Tier 3 franchise that the Silverbacks purchased. . . . The Silverbacks, who won two games over the weekend with assistant coaches Brooks Christensen and Darrell Hay in charge, will have Antisin behind the bench on Thursday when they meet the host Surrey Eagles.

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JUST NOTES:

Victoria F Matt Phillips picked up his 50th goal and 100th point with the Royals during Saturday’s 5-1 loss to the visiting Tri-City Americans. He is the 18th player in franchise history with at least 100 points. . . . Phillips also set a Royals record as the quickest sniper to score 50 goals. He did in 93 games. F Oscar Moller did it in 86 games with the Chilliwack Bruins (remember them?), who morphed into the Royals. . . . 

F Dylan Stewart, 19, no longer is with the Kootenay Ice. The team tweeted Monday that the parties “have mutually agreed to part ways.” Stewart, from Edmonton, had two goals and four assists in 19 games this season. He was a fifth-round pick by the Prince Albert Raiders in the 2012 WHL bantam draft. He was dealt to the Ice, along with a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2017 bantam draft, for F Drew Warkentine on Oct. 21, 2015. . . . He has 23 points, including 12 goals, in 143 career games. . . . The Ice now is carrying 22 players, including two goaltenders and seven defencemen. . . .

Patrick Conway’s regular team-by-team look at the KHL is right here. He also has news of the KHL and possible contraction.

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Just settled a divorce over visitation of a parrot. Neither may teach it negative phrases about the other. I went to law school for this.

— Michael Adler (@madler9000) November 14, 2016

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MONDAY’S GAMES:

No Games Scheduled.

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TUESDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Calgary at Everett, 7:05 p.m.

Prince George at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.

Medicine Hat at Kootenay, 7 p.m.

Seattle at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.

Red Deer at Swift Current, 7 p.m.

Prince Albert at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.

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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.

Rasmussen, Ams edge Winterhawks . . . Broncos win again in B.C. . . . Peckford spins record for Royals

First @NHL shootout attempt ☑️
First shootout game-winner ☑️

This @BraydenPoint19 kid is good. #FLAvsTBL pic.twitter.com/IMDf4S6V6V

— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) October 19, 2016

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Tim Hunter, the head coach of the Moose Jaw Warriors, has been named head coach of Team WHL for the two-game series against a Russian side that is scheduled for next month. . . . Steve Hamilton, the head coach of the Edmonton Oil Kings, has been named assistant coach. . . . The games are scheduled for Prince George on Nov. 7 and Edmonton on Nov. 8. . . . Brian Cheeseman, Edmonton’s athletic therapist, will work both games for Team WHL. Chico Dhanjal, the Prince George Cougars’ equipment manager, will join Cheeseman in Prince George, with Edmonton equipment manager Rogan Dean doing the same in Edmonton.

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If you are going to attend a Kelowna Rockets home game you should be prepared to pay $15 to park at Prospera Place, an increase of $5 over last season. According to a report by infotel.ca that is right here, RG Properties, which manages the facility, chose to raise the price. 

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The NHL season is up and running and that means Elliotte Friedman is back with his always-readable 30 Thoughts. He filed on Tuesday and the top focuses on the Edmonton Oilers and the commotion raised this week when a day off got moved from Monday to Wednesday. It’s all right here.

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In an OHL trade of note completed on Tuesday evening, the Windsor Spitfires have acquired D Sean Day, 18, from the Mississauga Steelheads in exchange for selections in the league’s draft. . . . From a Windsor news release: “In addition to the 18-year-old defenceman, Windsor gets Barrie’s third-round selection in 2019 and Mississauga’s sixth in 2017. Headed the other way is Niagara’s second-round pick in 2018, Sarnia’s second in 2017, Windsor’s fifth-round pick in 2019 and Windsor’s third in 2020.” . . . Day was a third-round selection by the New York Rangers in the NHL’s 2016 draft. He was the fourth player in OHL history to be granted exceptional status, allowing him to play regularly as a 15-year-old. The others? John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad and Connor McDavid. . . . In 183 regular-season games over four seasons with the Steelheads, Day had 25 goals and 54 assists.

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

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TUESDAY’S GAMES:

Sorry Winterhawk fans: @Reedy_Scott told us tonight that as of now he's 100% headed to college to join @GopherHockey next year.

— Guy Flaming (@TPS_Guy) October 19, 2016

At Portland, F Michael Rasmussen scored his WHL-leading 11th goal to break a 3-3 tie and give the

MICHAEL RASMUSSEN

Tri-City Americans a 4-3 victory over the Winterhawks. . . . Rasmussen got the winner at 8:19 of the third period as the Americans overcame a 3-1 deficit. . . . F Keegan Iverson’s first of two goals gave Portland a 1-0 lead at 8:04 of the first period. . . . Tri-City tied it on F Keltie Jeri-Leon’s first goal at 15:42. . . . Portland regained the lead 17 seconds later when F Brendan De Jong got his third goal. . . . Iverson scored on a PP at 19:45 for a 3-1 lead. . . . Tri-City D Juuso Valimaki got a PP goal to pull his guys to within one at 2:50 of the second period. . . . F Vladislav Lukin’s sixth goal got Tri-City even at 11:36. . . . F Kyle Olson had two assists for the winners, while Valimaki added an assist to his goal. . . . The Winterhawks got three assists from F Skyler McKenzie. . . . Portland F Cody Glass had two assists, allowing him to keep pace with Regina F Sam Steel atop the WHL points derby. Each has 19 points. . . . G Rylan Parenteau stopped 38 shots in his third straight start since being acquired by the Americans from the Prince Albert Raiders. . . . Portland got 35 stops from G Cole Kehler. . . . The Winterhawks were 1-4 on the PP; the Americans were 1-7. . . . The Americans improved to 6-4-0. . . . The Winterhawks (8-4-0) had won their previous three games. . . . The victory was No. 499 as a WHL head coach for Tri-City’s Mike Williamson. . . . Announced attendance: 3,228.

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At Prince George, F Tyler Steenbergen’s second goal of the game, 59 seconds into OT, gave the Swift

TYLER STEENBERGEN

Current Broncos a 5-4 victory over the Cougars. . . . The Broncos (8-2-1) are 2-0-0 on a B.C. Division swing and Steenbergen has four goals in the two games, giving him nine on the season. . . . Swift Current is 6-0-1 in its last seven games. . . . The Cougars (10-2-1) have points in their last three (2-0-1). . . . When F Justin Almeida scored a PP goal at 6:52 of the third period, the Cougars held a 4-2 lead. . . . The Broncos tied it on goals 53 seconds apart by F Lane Pederson, on a PP at 10:32, and F Calvin Spencer, at 11:25. . . . The Broncos got two assists from each of F Aleksi Heponiemi, D Colby Sissons and D Artyom Minulin, while F Glenn Gawdin had a goal and an assist. . . . D Tate Olson had a goal and an assist for the Cougars. . . . G Taz Burman blocked 30 shots for the Broncos, while Ty Edmonds stopped 28 at the other end. . . . Swift Current was 2-2 on the PP; Prince George was 2-4. . . . Announced attendance: 2,565.

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At Regina, F Sam Steel, who is tied for the WHL’s points lead, had two goals as the Pats bounced the

SAM STEEL

Lethbridge Hurricanes, 6-1. . . . The Pats took control of this one with the game’s first four goals, the latter two of those just 57 seconds apart late in the first period. . . . Steel, who has nine goals, scored the game’s first goal and the last one. The second one was a shorthanded effort. . . . F Filip Ahl helped Regina with two goals, giving him six, and an assist, with F Dawson Leedahl and D Chase Harrison each adding two assists. . . . G Tyler Brown stopped 22 shots for the Pats, who won 7-2 in Lethbridge on Saturday. . . . Lethbridge starter Stuart Skinner was beaten four times on 14 shots in the first period. Ryan Gilchrist came on in relief and stopped 21 of 23 shots over the last two periods. . . . Regina was 0-3 on the PP; Lethbridge was 0-8. . . . Including last spring’s playoffs, Regina has won six in a row from Lethbridge. . . . Steel has a WHL-leading 19 points in eight games. In his third season, he now has 143 points, including 49 goals, in 146 games. . . . The Pats (7-0-3) remain the only one of the CHL’s 60 teams not to have lost a game in regulation time. . . . Lethbridge (5-4-2) has lost three in a row ((0-2-1). . . . The Hurricanes were without F Egor Babenko, who is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. . . . Announced attendance: 3,548.

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At Spokane, F Kailer Yamamoto had a goal and an assist to help the Chiefs to a 2-1 victory over the

KAILER YAMAMOTO

Everett Silvertips. . . . Yamamoto scored his seventh goal at 9:20 of the first period and F Jaret Anderson-Dolan made it 2-0 at 16:18. . . . F Tanner Wishnowski, acquired this week from the Kelowna Rockets, had the secondary assist on each goal. . . . Everett F Patrick Bajkov got Everett on the board at 16:01 of the second period. . . . G Dawson Weatherill stopped 26 shots for Spokane, five more than Everett’s Carter Hart. . . . The Silvertips (8-2-1) had won their previous four games. The Silvertips had been 5-0-1 on the road. They may not admit it, but there has to be some tiredness creeping into their game. They played four games in five nights last week. They are in Kelowna tonight and in Victoria on Saturday. . . . The Chiefs (3-4-2) had lost three in a row (0-1-2). . . . The Chiefs were 0-2 on the PP; the Silvertips were 0-3. . . . Announced attendance: 3,183.

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With an assist, Ryan Peckford has now set the NEW FRANCHISE RECORD with six points (1g-5a) tonight!

— Victoria Royals (@victoriaroyals) October 19, 2016

At Victoria, F Ryan Peckford skated his way into the Royals’ record book as they roared to a 9-3 victory over the Saskatoon Blades. . . . Peckford had a goal and five assists, giving him a franchise-

RYAN PECKFORD

record six points. . . . Last season, as a freshman, Peckford had eight goals and three assists in 62 games. This season, the native of Stony Plain, Alta., has a goal and eight assists in 11 games. . . . Five players had shared the Royals’ single-game record of five points. . . . The Royals tied a franchise record for most goals in a game — as the Chilliwack Bruins (remember them?), they beat the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes 9-2 on Feb. 2, 2010. . . . Cleve Dheensaw of the Victoria Times Colonist also reported: “Two other franchise records were tied. Peckford matched the standard for most points in a period with four, previously accomplished by forward Oscar Moller in the third period at Tri-City on Oct. 19, 2007, when the franchise was the Bruins, and by defenceman Chaz Reddekopp in the third period in Everett on Dec. 17, 2014. Peckford and Phillips also tied the team record for most assists in a period with three each to match Reddekopp’s trio from that game in Everett two years ago.” . . . The Royals took control if this game with five first-period goals, the seventh time in franchise history they have done that. . . . F Regan Nagy had two goals and an assist for the Royals, with D Ryan Gagnon and F Matt Phillips adding three assists each. Phillips also hit a post on a first-period penalty shot. . . . Victoria was 3-6 on the PP; Saskatoon, now 1-1-0 in the B.C. Division, was 1-4. . . . G Griffen Outhouse stopped 20 shots for the winners. . . . G Brock Hamm of the Blades blocked 26. . . . The Royals (6-5-0) have won two in a row. . . . Saskatoon (5-3-1) had been 4-0-1 in its previous five games. . . . F Caleb Fantillo, acquired last week from the Medicine Hat Tigers, made his Saskatoon debut. . . . Announced attendance: 3,082.

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WEDNESDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Swift Current at Kamloops, 7 p.m.

Everett at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.

Kootenay at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.

Lethbridge at Moose Jaw, 7 p.m.

Saskatoon vs. Vancouver, at Langley, B.C., 7 p.m.

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Wheaties even series . . . Ice get past Hitmen . . . Stadnyk sinks Chiefs

D James Bettauer (Chilliwack, Prince Albert, Medicine Hat, 2008-09, 2010-12) has signed one-year extension with Augsburger Panther (Germany, DEL). This season, with Augsburg, he had nine goals and 17 assists in 50 games. The contract contains a summer opt-out clause should Bettauer sign a North American contract. Bettauer has dual Canadian-German citizenship.
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FRIDAY’S GAMES:

In Brandon, F John Quenneville had a goal and three assists to lead the Wheat Kings to an 8-1 victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings. . . . Edmonton had won the series opener, 4-1, on Thursday night. . . . The next three games will be played in Edmonton, starting on Sunday. Games 4 and 5 are to be televised by Sportsnet. . . . On Friday, Brandon scored the game’s first seven goals. . . . F Tyler Coulter opened the scoring 36 seconds into the first period. One night earlier, Edmonton scored its first goal 11 seconds into the game. . . . F Tim McGauley had two goals and an assist for Brandon, with F Jayce Hawryluk scoring twice. D Ivan Provorov had three assists. . . . Brandon got a goal and an assist from each of D Eric Roy, F Rihards Bukarts and Coulter. . . . Brandon D Colton Waltz had one assist and was plus-4. . . . G Jordan Papirny stopped 33 shots for Brandon. Edmonton starter Tristan Jarry was beaten five times on 29 shots before being relieved by Patrick Dea with 14:08 left in the third. Dea gave up three goals on 12 shots. . . . Dea did turn aside Hawryluk on a penalty shot. . . . Brandon was 3-for-6 on the PP; Edmonton was 0-for-6. . . . Attendance was 4,102, which is 1,016 more than attended the opener.

In Regina, F Pavel Padakin scored two goals to help the Pats to a 4-2 victory over the Swift Current Broncos. . . . Game 2 of the series is scheduled for tonight in Regina. . . . Broncos F Glenn Gawdin got the game’s first goal, at 2:01 of the first period. . . . Regina F Patrick D’Amico tied it at 12:38. . . . Padakin gave the Pats a 3-1 lead with goals 59 seconds part late in the first period. . . . The Broncos got back to within one on F Jay Merkley’s goal at 10:53 of the second. . . . The score stayed at 3-2 until Regina F Braden Christoffer scored an empty-netter at 19:42 of the third. . . . Each team was 0-for-1 on the PP. . . . Regina G Daniel Wapple stopped 35 shots, including 17 of 18 in the first period. . . . Swift Current’s Landon Bow turned aside 28 shots. . . . Attendance was 5,361.

In Calgary, F Jaedon Descheneau’s shorthanded goal stood up as the winner as the Kootenay Ice beat the Calgary Hitmen, 4-3. . . . Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday in Calgary and will be televised by Shaw. . . . Ice F Luke Philp broke a 2-2 tie with his second goal, at 17:17 of the second period. . . . Descheneau scored his shortie at 9:57 of the third. . . . Philp and D Tyler King gave the visitors a 2-0 lead before the first period was 15 minutes old. . . . Calgary D Jake Bean scored a PP goal at 19:44 of the first and F Kenton Helgesen tied it at 4:23 of the second. . . . Calgary F Connor Rankin got his side’s final goal, at 13:07 of the third. . . . Bean was playing his first game since suffering a wrist injury on Feb. 28 in Kelowna. He missed the last nine games of the regular season. . . . Philp also had an assist, and F Austin Vetterl had two of them. . . . D Radel Fazleev had two assists for Calgary. . . . Ice G Wyatt Hoflin turned aside 29 shots, two more than Calgary’s Brendan Burke. . . . The Ice was 1-for-3 on the PP; the Hitmen were 1-for-4. . . . The Hitmen had won their last five games of the regular season, the last two of which were against the Ice. . . . Attendance was 8,256.

In Victoria, F Brandon Magee scored three times in the second period as the Royals got past the Prince George Cougars, 5-3. . . . They’ll play Game 2 in Victoria tonight. . . . The Cougars got first-period PP goals from D Tate Olson and F Chase Witala to take a 2-0 lead. . . . Magee tied it with goals at 4:59 and 5:59 of the second. . . . Victoria F Greg Chase gave his guys their first lead at 12:20 and Magee filled his hat at 18:44. . . . Cougars F Kody McDonald cut the deficit to one with a PP goal at 6:32 of the third. . . . Victoria F Taylor Crunk scored an empty-netter at 19:27. . . . D Joe Hicketts and F Alex Forsberg, who began his career with the Cougars, each had two assists. . . . F Brad Morrison had two assists for Prince George. . . . Victoria G Coleman Vollrath stopped 28 shots, eight more than Prince George’s Ty Edmonds. . . . The Cougars were 3-for-4 on the PP; the Royals were 0-for-3. . . . Attendance was 4,629.

In Kelowna, G Jackson Whistle stopped 18 shots for the first shutout of these playoffs, as the Rockets dumped the Tri-City Americans, 6-0. . . . Game 2 is scheduled for Kelowna tonight. . . . Whistle’s shutout came in his first career playoff start. . . . F Rourke Chartier scored the game’s first goal, at 2:06 of the first period. . . . Chartier scored twice, getting the second one while shorthanded in the third period. F Nick Merkley also scored a shorthanded goal. . . . Chartier also had an assist, while Merkley had two of them. . . . Rockets D Madison Bowey had a goal and an assist, and was plus-4. . . . Tri-City G Eric Comrie stopped 24 shots. . . . Kelowna was 0-for-4 on the PP; Tri-City was 0-for-5. . . . Attendance was 5,369.

In Everett, F Carson Stadnyk scored three goals early in the third period as the Silvertips erased a 1-0 deficit and beat the Spokane Chiefs, 5-1. . . . They’ll play Game 2 in Everett tonight. . . . Spokane F Liam Stewart scored the game’s first goal, at 13:55 of the second period. . . . Everett scored five goals on 12 third-period shots. . . . Stadnyk tied it 17 seconds into the third, then gave his guys the lead at 1:34. He completed the hat trick at 4:03. . . . He scored three times in 3:46. The WHL playoff record for fastest three goals by one player is 2:39 by F Doug Saunders of the Kamloops Jr. Oilers. He did it on April 14, 1984, in the third period of a 10-5 victory over the host Portland Winter Hawks. . . . Stadnyk also drew an assist on F Ivan Nikolishin’s first of two PP goals in the latter half of the third period. . . . Everett was 2-for-8 on the PP; Spokane was 0-for-4. . . . The Chiefs took 87 of the 156 penalty minutes that were handed out, with 138 of those coming after Everett went ahead 3-1. . . . Everett G Carter Hart stopped 22 shots, five fewer than Spokane’s Garret Hughson. . . . Attendance was 3,358.
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Condolences to former Portland Winterhawks head coach Mike Johnston on the death of his mother. Johnston is in his first season as head coach of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins.
From a Penguins’ news release:
“Sheila Margaret (Mickey) Johnston . . . passed away Friday in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. She was 81.
“Funeral services will be held Tuesday.
“Mike will coach both games this weekend, then travel to Nova Scotia for the funeral.”
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Former Brandon Wheat Kings D Don Dietrich has been to the top of the world — well, kind of — and back, and he loved every minute of it. There’s more right here from the Winnipeg Free Press.
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Tim Hunter, the head coach of the Moose Jaw Warriors, has been named head coach of the Canadian U-18 team that will play in the IIHF World championship that runs April 16-26 in Lucerne and Zug, Switzerland. . . . Hunter, 54, has just completed his first season with the Warriors. A former NHL player and NHL assistant coach, he will be making his first appearance behind a Team Canada bench. . . . His assistant coaches will be Ian Herbers, a former WHLer who is the head coach of the CIS-champion U of Alberta Golden Bears, and Louis Robitaille, an assistant coach with the QMJHL’s Drummondville Voltigeurs.
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“As a former NHL player, Sheldon Kennedy spent eight years skating for three teams, but his true life’s work has been focused on being a champion for millions of abuse survivors,” reads a news release issued by the University of Guelph on Friday. “It is because of his ability to stand up in the face of adversity and create positive change that the University of Guelph and College of Business and Economics will recognize him with the Lincoln Alexander Outstanding Leader Award on May 27.” . . . The complete news release is right here.
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Rudy Poeschek, a former NHLer who played in the WHL with the Kamloops Jr. Oilers/Blazers (1983-87) has been charged with assault, driving while prohibited and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle. . . . Tim Petruk of Kamloops This Week has more right here.
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Fight in the first. Puck in the face in the second #hockey pic.twitter.com/g9eRIoW6gt
— Ryan Olsen (@rolsen94) March 28, 2015

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