Raiders, Warriors deal . . . Which WHL coach "is as funny as funny can be"?

G Kristofer Westblom (Kelowna, 2004-08) has been released by Gap (France, Ligue Magnus). Last season, with the Brampton Beast (CHL), he was 3.22 and .903 in 41 games.
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THE DEAL: The Prince Albert Raiders get F Colton McCarthy, 18, from the Moose Jaw Warriors for a sixth-round selection in the 2016 bantam draft.
THE SKINNY: McCarthy was born in Moose Jaw, but calls Salmon Arm, B.C., home. He has played two seasons in Moose Jaw. He had six goals and five assists in 63 games last season, after earning six points, two of them goals, in 39 goals as a freshman.
THE ANALYSIS: McCarthy, at 6-foot-0 and 190 pounds, brings some grit and some size to the right side of the Raiders’ forward ranks. He scored 22 goals in 32 junior B games with the Nelson Leafs and the Raiders would like to see a bit more of that scoring touch.
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It’s not that long ago when the issue of concussions in sport seemed to be a North American problem. Now, though, it is getting international attention. . . . Professor Willie Stewart, an expert who advises the International Rugby Board, has told the Daily Mail: “In just 12 months sports concussion has moved from an almost exclusively American sports issue to one that is now a major issue for global sport.” . . . Sports fans in Britain began to take notice when Ben Robinson, 14, died after sustaining a concussion after being allowed to continue playing with a concussion. “The most noticeable change since the start of the Mail on Sunday Concussion Campaign, has been the fact ‘The Elephant in the Room’ has escaped,” Robinson’s father, Peter, told the Mail on Sunday. “Concussion is now in the public domain and no longer controlled by sporting bodies. Phrases such as ‘Concussion can be fatal’ and ‘If in doubt sit them out’ can be mentioned without feeling we have to produce a death certificate to justify it.” . . . Sam Peters of the Daily Mail has more right here.
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“Another NFL season begins,” writes Gary Mihoces of USA TODAY, “and the concussion carousel already is spinning.” . . . According to Mihoces, “The NFL reports it has averaged 247 concussions per season (preseason and regular season) over the past three years. Last year's total of 228 was down 13 percent from 2012.” . . . His complete story is right here.
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Today is the first Sunday of the NFL’s 2014 season, and perhaps you are wondering: Is it wrong to watch football? . . . That is a question posed to Chuck Klosterman, The Ethicist, at The New York Times. . . . A letter writer asked The Ethicist: “Is it unethical to support a league that seems to know it is detrimental to the health of its participants?” . . . Read The Ethicist’s response right here, then ask yourself this: Is it unethical to watch a game in which teenagers are allowed to punch each other in the face?
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The Medicine Hat Tigers were without G Jared Rathjen when they beat the Calgary Hitmen 4-2 in High River, Alta., on Saturday night. Apparently, Rathjen, 20, isn’t injured. . . . “He’s not injured. He’s just not healthy,” Shaun Clouston, the Tigers’ general manager and head coach, told Ryan McCracken of the Medicine Hat News. “He’s got a further evaluation, he just hasn’t been cleared.” . . . Uhh, OK. Thanks for clearing that up. . . . G Marek Langhamer, the Czech 20-year-old, was to play last night. He will go to camp with the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes and could play in their organization. The Tigers, then, are likely to open the season with Rathjen, who was acquired from the Victoria Royals over the summer, and Nick Schneider, 17, as their goaltenders. . . . Assuming that Rathjen regains his health, that is.
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Steve O’Rourke used to play for the Tri-City Americans. These days, the 40-year-old is an assistant coach with the Red Deer Rebels. This weekend, he was back in Kennewick, Wash., with the Rebels, who are playing in the Red Lion Hotel tournament. Annie Fowler of the Tri-City Herald reminisces with O’Rourke right here. . . . WARNING: This story includes this potentially myth-busting quote from O’Rourke, in reference to Rebels owner/GM/head coach Brent Sutter: “Brent is as funny as funny can be. It’s always a good time around the office, the dressing room and the bus.”
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The Kamloops Blazers have named Peter Soberlak as their mental performance coach. Soberlak, 45, is a Kamloops native who had been working with the Kelowna Rockets. He played with the Blazers as a 16-year-old (1985-86), before being dealt to the Swift Current Broncos early the next season. He was on the Broncos’ bus that crashed on Dec. 30, 1986, and later was on the Swift Current team that won the 1989 Memorial Cup. These days, Soberlak is the chair of the physical education department at Thompson Rivers U in Kamloops. He has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UBC and a master’s degree in sport and exercise psychology at Queen’s U in Kingston, Ont. . . . I wrote this piece right here on Soberlak three years ago.
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The Moose Jaw Warriors have signed F Tanner Jeannot, a 17-year-old from Oxbow, Sask. Jeannot, a list player, had 36 points, including 15 goals, with the midget AAA Yorkton Harvest last season. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder was the Harvest’s rookie of the year, most dedicated player and scholastic player of the year. . . . Jeannot made his WHL debut on Saturday night, going pointless in Moose Jaw's 5-2 victory over the visiting Swift Current Broncos.
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The Seattle Thunderbirds and CBS Radio Seattle have signed a three-year agreement that covers all regular-season and playoff games, which will be heard on 1090 The Fan and streamed at 1090TheFan.com. The deal also includes a weekly 30-minute Coach’s Show that will feature Thunderbirds head coach Steve Konowalchuk. The plan is to run the show on Tuesdays, starting at 6 p.m. . . . F Stelio Mattheos of Winnipeg, who was the first pick in the 2014 bantam draft, made his WHL debut with the Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday night. Mattheos recorded two assists as the Wheat Kings got past the visiting Regina Pats, 8-6. . . . Last night, Regina F Sam Steel scored twice as the host Pats beat the Wheaties, 4-1. Steel had two goals and an assist, giving him 10 points, including six goals, in three exhibition games. . . . F Jansen Harkins, who has nine points in three exhibition games, didn’t play last night as his Prince George Cougars beat the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings, 4-2. . . . F Ty Mappin was in Saskatoon’s lineup for the first time as the Blades beat the Prince Albert Raiders, 4-0, in Warman, Sask. Mappin, the seventh overall pick in the 2011 bantam draft by the Everett Silvertips, suffered a brain injury in the Blades’ intrasquad game on Aug. 24. The Blades acquired him from Everett over the off-season.
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Picture of the day. Check out the last names on the back of these jerseys pic.twitter.com/L5ABNJDuzR
— Matt Barber (@dixiefriedsport) September 6, 2014

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Giants down to three 20s. . . . A retirement in P.A.

D Ray Macias (Kamloops, 2002-07) has signed a two-week tryout contract with Székesfehérvár (Hungary, Erste Bank Liga). Last season, with the Braehead Clan Glasgow (Scotland, UK Elite), he had two goals and three assists in eight games. . . .
F Martin Podlešák (Tri-City, Lethbridge, 2000-02) was granted his release by the Nottingham Panthers (England, UK Elite) for personal reasons. Last season, with Hradec Králové (Czech Republic, Extraliga), he had three goals and four assists in 23 games. He also had a goal in three games with Litoměřice (Czech Republic, 1. Liga). . . .
F Clinton Pettapiece (Tri-City, Medicine Hat, 2003-06) was released by Tingsryd (Sweden, Allsvenskan). Last season, with the Dordrecht Lions (Netherlands, Eredivisie), he had 61 points, including 22 goals, in 36 games. . . .
F Tomáš Troliga (Calgary, 2003-04) signed a one-year-plus-option contract with Hradec Králové (Czech Republic, Extraliga) after a successful tryout. Last season, with Dukla Trenčín (Slovakia, Extraliga), he had 24 points, including 13 goals, in 46 games.
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The Vancouver Giants have settled on their three 20-year-olds, at least for now. They placed F Travis McEvoy on waivers on Tuesday, leaving them with F Matt Bellerive, F Joel Hamilton and F Dalton Sward. . . . McEvoy, from Thorsby, Alta., has 49 points, 23 of them goals, in188 regular-season WHL games. He played 111 of those with the Giants, after starting his career with 77 games with the Saskatoon Blades. . . . Bellerive, from North Vancouver, is with the Giants for a second go-round. He played 98 games with them through the end of 2011-12, when he was dealt to the Red Deer Rebels. Last season, the Rebels traded him to the Kamloops Blazers, who sent him to the Giants this summer. In 227 games, he has 97 points, 43 of them goals. . . . Hamilton put up 46 points, including 13 goals, in 70 games with the Giants last season. From Cochrane, Alta., he played his first two seasons with Red Deer, recording 57 points, 14 of them goals, in 114 games. . . . Sward, from Abbotsford, is entering his fifth sesaon with the Giants. He has 96 points, including 48 goals, in 237 games.
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The Swift Current Broncos released veteran F Justin Spagrud, 19, on Tuesday. Spagrud, from Gull Lake, which is just west of Swift Current, was pointless in 39 games last season. In 2012-13, he had three goals and two assists in 39 games.
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F Carson Perreaux, who turns 20 on Dec. 28, has left the Prince Albert Raiders, choosing to end his WHL career in order “to pursue education and work opportunities,” according to a news release. . . . In 186 games with the Raiders, the Brandon native had 58 points, including 32 goals. . . . “He’s decided it’s time for him to step away,” Raiders GM Bruno Campese told Andrew Schopp of the Prince Albert Daily Herald. “He’s been a great citizen. He and his family have been very dedicated to the Raiders organization and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.” . . . The Raiders, who now are carrying 29 players, still have four 20-year-olds on their roster -- F Calder Brooks, F Dakota Conroy, F Jayden Hart and D Sawyer Lange. . . . The Raiders also are down to two goaltenders -- Nick McBride, 17, and Rylan Parenteau, who turns 18 on Nov. 6. McBride, from Maple Ridge, B.C., was 12-7-2/2.95/.908 as a freshman last season. Parenteau, from Saskatoon, has played 69 minutes with the Raiders over the last two seasons.
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The Kamloops Blazers have signed F Garrett Pilon, 16, who has been returned to the midget AAA Saskatoon Contacts. . . . The 5-foot-10, 165-pound Pilon, the son of former NHL/WHL D Rich Pilon (Prince Albert, 1985-88), was a seventh-round pick in the 2013 bantam draft. Last season, Garrett had 29 points, including 10 goals, in 43 games with the contacts.
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If you were one of the viewers who stayed up into the wee hours of Tuesday morning to watch No. 6 Milos Raonic and No. 11 Kei Nishikori play in the U.S. Open, Juan Jose Vallejo of Rolling Stone has his take right here.
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Magnus Carlsen is a 23-year-old Norwegian who already is being billed as perhaps the best chess player in history. He’s in St. Louis these days and Dave McKenna of Deadspin takes a look right here.
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Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix reports that F Ty Mappin, who suffered a brain injury last week, has resumed skating but hasn’t been cleared for contact. . . . The Blades released F Nick Gomerich, 18, on Tuesday. Last season, as a freshman, he had five points in 44 games. From Nanaimo, B.C., he was a sixth-round pick in the 2011 bantam draft. . . . The SJHL’s Notre Dame Hounds have added Bear Trapp to their staff as an assistant coach. He will work alongside GM/head coach Clint Mylymok. Trapp is the son of former WHL F Doug Trapp (Regina, 1982-85) and the grandson of former WHL coach and longtime scout Barry Trapp.


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Warriors do right thing . . . Hay returns with victory

The Moose Jaw Warriors have made a substantial donation to Journey To Hope, in memory of Ethan Williams, a 16-year-old prospect who committed suicide on July 29 in Winnipeg.
The Warriors donated the proceeds ($2,000) from their intrasquad game, as well as the gate from their Tuesday night exhibition game against the visiting Swift Current Broncos.
Journey To Hope is a Moose Jaw-based organization that provides support to those who have been impacted by suicide.
"Journey to Hope is all about suicide awareness and prevention,” Della Ferguson of Journey To Hope told Matthew Gourlie of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald. “We do the fundraising, but the next step is where the work begins really. It's about doing awareness work in schools and we've done awareness work with seniors. We've done training for councilors and school workers in all forms of suicide awareness and prevention in our community."
A fifth-round selection in the 2012 bantam draft, Williams was to have attended the Warriors’ training camp. It would have been his third preseason camp.
Considering what happened to Williams, Warriors general manager Alan Millar told Gourlie that the Warriors now are working in the area of mental health awareness.
"With what happened to Ethan, we did have some discussions with some of the young guys who are in our organization who knew him well," said Millar. "We've had some discussion with Sask. Mental Health and some other people. We feel that some type of orientation seminar looking at the big picture would be beneficial. It's something we've talked about for awhile."
Gourlie’s story is right here.
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An email with a link to a video arrived in my Inbox.
Here’s the intro:
" ‘Be a man’ is something we've all heard at one time or another, even a few of the women reading this right now. Being a ‘man’ in that sense means something completely different to me (and maybe you, too) than what that phrase implies.
“I can't even begin to describe the toll that the concept of masculinity has taken on my life. And it's felt everywhere. It's time we make changes, starting from within ourselves.”
The video, from upworthy.com, is right here. Take three minutes and give it a watch.
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 F Lukáš Vantuch (Calgary, Lethbridge, 2005-07) has been released from a tryout by Dusseldorf (Germany, DEL). Last season, with Liberec (Czech Republic, Extraliga), he had a goal and four assists in 31 games. On loan to Sparta Prague (same), he had one assist in five games and he was pointless in two games with Benátky nad Jizerou (Czech Republic, 1. Liga). . . .
F Zach Hamill (Everett, 2003-08) has signed a one-year contract with HPK Hämeenlinna (Finland, Liiga). Last season, he had three goals and six assists in 21 games with the Utica Comets (AHL) 21 GP, 3+6. He also played 13 games with Barys Astana (Kazakhstan, KHL), scoring once and adding two assists.
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If you haven’t seen them yet, Alan Caldwell, over at Small Thoughts At Large, has created WHL team depth charts that feature only signed players. As usual, he has done a terrific job of providing even more roster-based information for WHL fans. . . . Check it out by clicking on the link over there on the right.
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Head coach Don Hay was back behind the Kamloops Blazers’ bench on Friday night for the first time since the final game of the 1995 Memorial Cup tournament. The Blazers won the Memorial Cup, and last night they beat Hay’s former team, the Vancouver Giants, 5-4 in a shootout. . . . The Blazers erased a 4-2 deficit midway through the third period in winning their exhibition debut. Hay spent the previous 10 seasons as the Giants’ head coach. . . . Veteran F Cole Ully led Kamloops with a goal and two assists.
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The Kamloops Blazers have signed G Connor Ingram, 17, who was placed on the club’s protected list in September after last year’s training camp. From Imperial, Sask., Ingram played for the midget AAA Prince Albert Mintos, who won the national title. During the regular season, he was 16-4-3/1.98/.928. . . . He was in goal for the final game of the national tournament, stopping 60 shots as the Mintos won in triple OT. . . . Ingram was credited with the victory as the Blazers beat the visiting Vancouver Giants 5-4 in a shootout last night. He stopped eight of 10 shots through OT and added two more shootout saves. . . . Ingram is one of three goaltenders left in camp with the Blazers, along with veteran Bolton Pouliot, 20, and Cole Kehler, who turns 17 on Dec. 17. Kehler got into 11 games with the Blazers last season, but spent most of his winter at OHA in Penticton, B.C.
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Rory Boylen of The Hockey News has an interesting piece right here about some kids in Montreal who were playing street hockey until a neighbour called the cops. Presumably, the neighbour would rather the kids were keying cars and smashing windows.
---Here’s an interesting note from Matthew Gourlie of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald involving Tuesday’s rookie game between the host Warriors and the Swift Current Broncos, which went into OT:
“After regulation time, the Zamboni came out and did a dry scrape of the ice. It's basically the same thing they would do before a shootout, except they do the entire ice surface. After that full scrape, the ice wouldn't be touched before a potential shootout. The NHL will adopt the change this upcoming season. The WHL is doing it as a trial during the pre-season. Tuesday's experiment was not positive. It took nearly 12 minutes to do the dry scrape — two-thirds of a normal intermission — and they played 34 seconds of overtime. It would be one thing in an NHL rink where they have two Zambonis and could do the dry scrape in little more than five minutes, but the dry scrape Tuesday took entirely too long.”
Gourlie is right. Twelve minutes of intermission leading into OT is far too long, especially with the beer concessions closed.
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F Reid Duke reported to the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Friday and is expected to play in an exhibition game today against the Pats in Regina. Duke, the fifth overall selection in the 2011 bantam draft, didn’t report to training camp. . . . It isn’t known why the Calgary native didn’t report for the start of his third WHL season; it also isn’t known if he asked to be traded. . . . General manager Brad Robson is quoted in a news release as saying: “The hockey club, Reid Duke, his family and agent came to an agreement beneficial to both sides.”.
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The Edmonton Oil Kings have signed three players -- F Kobe Mohr, 15; D Brayden Gorda, 15; and F Tyson Gruninger, 16. . . . Mohr was the 20th overall selection in the 2014 bantam draft. From Lloydminster, Alta., he had 63 points, including 29 goals, in 26 games with the bantam AAA Lloydminster Heat last season. . . . Gorda, from Edmonton, was a third-round pick in the 2014 bantam draft. He had 26 points, including six goals, in 33 games with the bantam AAA Edmonton Maple Leaf Athletic Club. . . . Gruninger, from Drayton Valley, Alta., put up 54 points, 30 of them goals, in 37 games with a minor midget team in Leduc, Alta., last season. He was placed on the Oil Kings’ protected list in March.
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F Ty Lewis, 16, had his training camp with the Brandon Wheat Kings come to an end Thursday night when he broke a bone in his left forearm. Lewis, who is from Brandon, was a third-round pick by the Wheat Kings in the 2013 bantam draft. . . . The Saskatoon Blades have lost F Ty Mappin to a brain injury. Mappin, who was hurt Sunday, may return to the ice on Tuesday. . . .
D Joshua Smith, who turns 20 on Oct. 2, is in camp with the Portland Winterhawks after playing 93 games with the Prince George Cougars over four seasons. Smith, from Lacombe, scored one goal in that time. So guess who scored Portland’s first preseason goal? You got it. Smith opened the scoring on Friday and the Winterhawks went on to a 7-5 victory over the Spokane Chiefs at a preseason tournament in Everett. . . . Other 20-year-olds on Portland’s roster are F Adam de Champlain, F Trace Elson, D Josh Hanson and F Trent Lofthouse . . .
Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald notes that “Twitter reports suggest D Tristen Pfeifer, F Nik Malenica and F Gunnar Wegleitner have signed with the Silvertips.” All three are undrafted list players. Pfeifer, 18, is from Phoenix where he played last season for the U-18 Junior Coyotes. Malenica, who turns 17 on Oct. 11, is from Nanaimo and played the last two seasons for the major midget North Island Silvertips. Wegleitner, a 16-year-old from Vancouver, played for the major midget Greater Vancouver Canadians. . . . F Carson Bolduc, 18, who chose not to report to the Kamloops Blazers and was said to be evaluating his future, is in camp with the BCHL’s Salmon Arm SilverBacks. Bolduc is from Salmon Arm. . . . 
F David Robinson (Chilliwack, 2007-10) will attend UBC and play for the Thunderbirds after spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach with the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers. Also checking in with the Thunderbirds will be F Adam Rossignol (Kootenay, Swift Current, Regina, Portland, 2010-14). . . . Adam McKinnon is the Victoria Royals new manager of communications and hockey operations co-ordinator. He replaces Corey St. Laurent, who is leaving to join Hockey Canada. McKinnon spent two seasons in media and community relations with the ECHL’s Victoria Salmon Kings and also helped set up the Royals’ communication department before returning to Camosun College.

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A happy Chiefs' head coach

With most WHL training camps rolling and more to start this week, Alan Caldwell over there at Small Thoughts at Large is endeavouring to keep rosters up to date. . . . Feel free to pay a visit to his site for roster info.
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The Victoria Royals open their main camp today without Czech F Jiri Fronk, 19, who was selected in the 2013 CHL import draft. Cleve Dheensaw of the Victoria Times Colonist reports that Fronk wants to play for the Royals, but there is a problem in gaining his release. That story is right here.
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Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald reports that the Everett Silvertips scrimmaged Sunday without three forwards – Manraj Hayer, Ty Mappin and Jujhar Khaira. “Hayer and Mappin are nursing minor injuries,” Patterson writes, “(while) Khaira is home preparing for camp with the NHL's Edmonton Oilers.” . . . Patterson also reported that F Alec Mehr has left Everett’s camp. Mehr, a 16-year-old from Los Angeles, was a 12th-round selection by the Silvertips in the WHL’s 2012 bantam draft. “It looks like the Tips weren't able to sign the promising 16-year-old forward from California,” notes Patters, “at least not for now. I'm told it wasn't for a lack of trying.”
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I was told Sunday that F Rob Trzonkowski of the Vancouver Giants suffered a shoulder separation during camp on Saturday. Trzonkowski, is coming off a knee injury that ended his 2012-13 season in January. He moved to the Giants from the Kamloops Blazers in a deal last season that had F Kale Kessy move to the Blazers.
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G Andy Desautels, who played last season with the Prince Albert Raiders, is leaving the WHL for the BCHL. As he tweeted Sunday afternoon: “I am very excited to say that I will be joining the West Kelowna Warriors of the BCHL this season. Can't wait to get the season going!” The Warriors obtained his rights from the SJHL’s Flin Flon Bombers on Saturday.
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F Mitch Holmberg, 20, scored three times as Team Red doubled Team White 4-2 in the Spokane Chiefs’ annual Red-White game on Sunday. The game was played before 2,972 fans.
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F Mason Blacklock has committed to Michigan Tech. A 19-year-old from Surrey, B.C., Blacklock was an eighth-round selection by the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the WHL’s 2009 bantam draft. He split last season between the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers, Surrey Eagles and Vernon Vipers.
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If you are wondering where the next WHL franchise may end up, you should stroke Yakima, Wash., off the list. Dave Thomas of the Yakima Herald-Republic has more right here.
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Robert Lipsyte, the ombudsman at ESPN, has weighed in with his first piece involving the network’s decision to separate itself from the PBS documentary Frontline. That piece is right here.
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From Spokane Chiefs head coach Don Nachbaur (@HCChiefs42): “Nothing better than seeing @D_Nachbaur fire a rocket top shelf for the GWG in the PG Coliseum. #Sweet #inmyhouse #Cents”
F Daniel Nachbaur, Don’s son, scored the winner as the BCHL’s Merritt Centennials beat the host Spruce Kings 5-2 on Sunday night. Don Nachbaur is a member of the Prince George Sports Hall of Fame.

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The Vancouver Giants played their intrasquad game on Wedneseay night in Ladner, B.C. There were six former players acting as coaches and there were times when they had to help restore order — there were seven scraps and a near brawl. The Giants, it seems, are bound and determined to be tougher than they were last season. Steve Ewen of The Province was there and his report is right here.
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JUST NOTES: The Victoria Royals have signed D Joe Hicketts, the 12th overall selection in the 2011 WHL bantam draft. Hicketts, from Kamloops, was in the Royals’ main camp and now is in main camp. He is expected to play in the Royals’ first exhibition game tonight in Kamloops. Hicketts captained the bantam AAA Jardine’s Blazers last season, putting up 57 points in 50 regular-season games. He has been short listed by Hockey BC for the team that will play at the U-16 Western Branch Challenge in Moose Jaw, Oct. 27-30. . . . The Prince George Cougars have signed Wade Klippenstein, their assistant general manager and director of player personnel, to a two-year extension. Presumably, that takes him through 2013-14. . . .
Shawn Mullin, the radio voice of the Swift Current Broncos, tweeted this on Thursday morning: “The @SCBroncos have only sold 1,232 season tickets so far. That’s over 200 less than at this point last year. Scary numbers I’d say.” . . . Scary? He’s not kidding. . . . The Saskatoon Blades have signed F Landyn Hickmott, the 66th pick in the 2011 bantam draft. From Mission, B.C., Hickmott was Saskatoon’s first pick in the draft. He had 163 points in 65 games with Mission’s bantam AA team last season. . . . Saskatoon also signed F Ryan Graham, who was taken in the fifth round of the 2011 bantam draft. He had 24 points in 33 games with the bantam AAA Calgary Royals last season. . . . Thanks to the Medicine Hat Tigers for posting their roster on their website. The Tigers, you should know, are down to 39 players. . . .
G Chris Driedger of the Calgary Hitmen is out for up to four weeks with a high ankle sprain. Driedger, 17, was acquired from the Tri-City Americans in July and is expected to scrap for playing time with Brandon Glover, 19, and 20-year-old Michael Snider. . . . The Everett Silvertips have signed F Ty Mappin and F Dawson Leedahl, a pair of 2011 bantam draft picks. Mappin was the seventh overall selection after picking up 71 points, including 37 goals, in 33 games with the bantam AAA Red Deer Rebels. Leedahl, the 40th overall pick, had 127 points, 56 of them goals, in 54 games with the bantam AA Saskatoon Maniacs. The 5-foot-11, 175-pounder also piled up 196 penalty minutes.
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The Kelowna Rockets and the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints are having quite a dance over F Zemgus Girgensons. . . . Ryan Clark has the latest on his blog, Slightly Chilled, over there on the right.
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Kelly Friesen of Yahoo! Sports takes a look a 10 new faces in the WHL this season, all of them worth keeping an eye on. That piece is right here.
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Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix reports that F David Greyeyes, now 20, will attempt to resume his hockey career this season.
“Constant headaches and hardly being able to exert any physical energy without vomiting were all side effects from a serious concussion he sustained in training camp with the Prince George Cougars in 2009,” Nugent-Bowman writes. “The hit from behind, administered by a teammate, quelled what was a budding career.”
The complete story is right here.
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Rob Vanstone of the Regina Leader-Post is of the opinion that fighting in hockey has outlived its usefullness.
His column is right here.
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Roy MacGregor of The Globe and Mail offers up his thoughts on the  crisis that has wrapped its tentacles around the game of hockey. That piece is right here.
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We go back to March 24, 1997, for today’s good read. Michael Farber of Sports Illustrated takes a look at hockey’s enforcers in a story headlined: The World Job In Sports. . . . Pour a cup of coffee and give this a read. It’s right here.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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