Oil Kings make decision . . . Sawchenko wins but streak ends

Bobby Orr anyone! This terrific photo has been making the rounds on the
Internet. It features Victoria Royals D Joe Hicketts airborne as he tucks the
puck past Portland Winterhawks G Brendan Burke during a Monday game.
The host Royals won the game, 6-2.
Photo: Jonathon Howe, one lion photography (onelionphotography.com)

The Edmonton Oil Kings have released Russian D Marsel Ibragimov, 17, a freshman who played in one regular-season game. The Oil Kings released Ibraginov in order to get down to the limit of two imports, meaning they chose to keep veteran forwards Mads Eller, 19, and Edgars Kulda, who turns 20 on Nov. 13. . . . With Ibragimov on waivers, any WHL team can claim him, but only the Kootenay Ice and Swift Current Broncos are carrying one import. . . . However, there is speculation that F Tim Bozon, 20, may be on the verge of rejoining the Ice. Bozon, a third-round selection by Montreal in the NHL's 2013 draft, was in camp with the Canadiens and then assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs. . . . The Ice also is carrying just two 20-year-olds, so would have room for Bozon in that department, too. . . . Bozon, of course, is back in the game after almost losing his life to Neisseria meningitis in March.
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In Moose Jaw, Warriors G Zach Sawchenko had his shutout streak snapped, but his 17 saves helped the Warriors to a 3-1 victory over the Kootenay Ice on Thursday night. Sawchenko, who was coming off back-to-back shutouts, had his streak end at 229 minutes 10 seconds when Ice F Luke Philp scored a shorthanded goal at 18:14 of the third period. G Keelan Williams made his first WHL start for Kootenay and was the game's first star, with 35 saves. . . . The Ice scratched F Vine Loschiavo, a 16-year-old freshman from Winnipeg, who left Wednesday's game in Regina after taking a heavy check. . . . Before the game, the Warriors released F Ethan Lazaro, 17. He was a seventh-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft. From St. Albert, Alta., Lazaro, who didn't get into any games with the Warriors this season, is expected to play in the AJHL. . . .
In Saskatoon, the Tri-City Americans scored the game's last four goals and beat the Blades, 5-3. According to Les Lazaruk, the long-time radio voice of the Blades, the Americans snapped a 10-game winless skid in Saskatoon that dated to Feb. 27, 1996. . . . F Parker Bowles had a goal and two assists for the Americans. . . . For the first time in franchise history, the Blades have started a season with six straight losses.
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Over the past couple of years, the OHL, under commissioner David Branch, has acted to squeeze fighting out of the game. As Jim Parker of the Windsor Star writes right here, “The heavyweight appears to be fast losing his place in the Ontario Hockey League.“
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Brain injuries have claimed another hockey career with the news Thursday that Simon Fraser University F Trevor Milner has retired from the B.C. Intercollegiate League team “due to concussion-like symptoms.” . . . “I'm sad to leave a sport I love and have played for so long, most of all I miss the camaraderie amongst the guys on the team and going out every game competing together,” Milner said in a news release. “It’s frustrating to stop playing due to concussions because they are somewhat invisible injuries. However, I understand that the implications of further concussions could be drastic to my personal health and that it’s in my best interest to help out the team in other ways than playing.” . . . Milner, 24, is from North Vancouver. He played junior A with the SJHL’s Notre Dame Hounds and played in 55 games over three seasons at SFU. . . . The complete news release is right here.
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Veteran D Tyler Bell, who played two games with the Lethbridge Hurricanes this season, may be about to join the MJHL's Steinbach Pistons. Bell, 20, last played for the Hurricanes on Sept. 20. He has 38 career points, 10 of them goals, in 196 regular-season WHL games. He also played with the Kamloops Blazers and Moose Jaw Warriors. . . . Lethbridge gave up a third-round pick in the 2013 bantam draft to get Bell from the Warriors in November. . . . In Steinbach, Bell would join D Landon Cross, 20, with whom he played in Kamloops. . . . Without Bell, the Hurricanes would be down to three 20-year-olds -- D Nick Walters, F Zane Jones and F Riley Sheen. . . .
The Prince George Cougars got their roster down to 24 on Thursday by released F Lance Yaremchuk, 18, and D Raymond Grewal, 19. Yaremchuk will join the SJHL's Flin Flon Bombers, while Grewal, who has been out with a concussion, will play for the BCHL's Prince George Spruce Kings. Grewal is from Prince George. The Cougars are carrying 14 forwards and eight defencemen. . . .
The Portland Winterhawks have dropped D Joshua Smith and F Travis McEvoy, both 20, from their roster. Smith had one assist in eight games, while McEvoy was pointless in five. . . . It would seem that the Winterhawks have something brewing because they are left with two 20-year-olds -- F Miles Koules and D Josh Hanson -- and that's one under the maximum. . . .
F Eric Krienke, who was released this week by the Kamloops Blazers, has joined the AJHL’s Okotoks Oilers. Krienke was a ninth-round pick by the Blazers in the 2011 bantam draft. . . . The Spokane Chiefs and Seattle Thunderbirds will play each other three times in six days, starting tonight in Spokane. They meet Tuesday in Kent, Wash., and again Wednesday in Spokane. . . . Meanwhile, the Portland Winterhawks meet the Silvertips in Everett tonight. That will be Everett’s fourth game against Portland in its first six games this season. This will be the fourth game between the two in 14 days.
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'Hi Garry?Doug Wilson with the Sharks here.We told @25mueller to move out of the hotel tonight' #17:54 #pptime #no3europrobleminEverett
— james stucky (@jamesstucky) October 9, 2014

Thomson leaves Blazers; Hurricanes get Bell

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Adam Rehak (Medicine Hat, 2011-12) has been released by Meran/Merano (Italy, Austria Nationalliga). He had 12 points, including seven goals, in 12 games.
———
D Jordan Thomson, the fourth overall selection in the 2011 bantam draft, has left the Kamloops Blazers and returned to his home in Wawanesa, Man., which is located just southeast of Brandon.
"Everything is all right," Thomson told me Tuesday evening. "(I) just need to clear my head."
Thomson has seven assists in 20 games this season. Last season, as a 16-year-old rookie, he had 14 points, two of them goals, in 47 games.
Earlier in the day, the Blazers issued a news release that stated Thomson had returned home "for an undetermined time due to a personal matter."
“At this point it’s all about Jordan," head coach Dave Hunchak told Adam Williams of the Kamloops Daily News last night. "We support him and he’s gone home in the best interests of him. We’re here for him 110 per cent and are going to support him.”
Hunchak said the team is taking a "week-to-week" approach with Thomson.
His departure leaves the Blazers with six defenceman on their 21-man roster.
The Blazers (6-12-3) are at home to the Medicine Hat Tigers (14-3-3) tonight.
———
First, the Lethbridge Hurricanes added a victory; then they added a defenceman.
After winning 5-3 in Moose Jaw to end a 10-game losing skid last night, the Hurricanes announced that they have acquired D Tyler Bell, 19, from the Warriors for a third-round 2014 bantam draft pick.
It seems that the general managers, Alan Millar of the Warriors and Lethbridge's Brad Robson, struck up a conversation during the game.
“It was discussed during the game and looked at seriously in the second intermission and then we completed it right afterwards,” Millar told Katie Brickman of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald.
The Hurricanes have been playing with six defencemen since last week when D Ryan Pilon left the team and returned home to await a trade.
The Warriors acquired Bell last season as part of a deal in which D Joel Edmundson moved to the Kamloops Blazers. Bell, from Regina, has five points, one of them a goal, in 23 games this season. In 146 career games, he has 26 points, including five goals.
Bell, who is expected to join his new club Thursday, will bring a physical presence to the Lethbridge back end.
———
The Red Deer Rebels have promoted Shaun Sutter to assistant general manager and director of player personnel. He had been working as the Rebels' senior scout since 2011. . . . Sutter played four WHL seasons (Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Calgary, 1997-2001) and was a fourth-round pick by the Calgary Flames in the 1998 NHL draft. He played eight seasons of pro hockey and also worked as an assistant coach with the Regina Pats (2009-11). . . . He is the son of former NHL player and coach Brian Sutter.
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D Dalton Thrower, the captain of the Vancouver Giants, was on the ice Tuesday. Thrower has missed two games after taking a headshot from F Mitch Moroz of the Edmonton Oil Kings on Nov. 5. Thrower was wearing a non-contact jersey at yesterday's practice. It isn't known if he will play Friday against the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province also reports that F Tyler Benson, the first overall selection in the 2013 bantam draft, skated with the Giants yesterday. Benson, who plays for the Pursuit of Excellence in Kelowna, is scheduled to make his WHL debut on Saturday against the visiting Tri-City Americans. . . . Andy Neal reports on his blog, Neal's Notes, that the Victoria Royals were missing five players when they practised on Tuesday. D Joe Hicketts, D Jordan Fransoo and D Keegan Kanzig didn't skate, nor did F Jack Walker and F Brandon Magee. All are believed to be injured with the exception of Magee. Head coach Dave Lowry told Neal that Magee was given a "maintenance day." . . . The Royals are home to the Seattle Thunderbirds for a Friday-Saturday doubleheader. . . . D Eric Roy may not play for the Brandon Wheat Kings tonight when they meet the visiting Saskatoon Blades. Rob Henderson of the Brandon Sun reports that Roy was injured while blocking a shot on Monday and didn't practice Tuesday. G Curtis Honey, who has missed five games with an undisclosed injury, also sat out practice.
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TUESDAY:
In Prince Albert, the Raiders ended a three-game losing skid with a 4-1 victory over the Saskatoon Blades. . . . Raiders G Nick McBride, making his first career start at home, stopped 28 shots. . . . Blades G Alex Moodie, making his fifth straight start, stopped 42 shots. . . . Saskatoon D Ayrton Nikkel returned after missing seven games with an undisclosed injury. . . . Earlier in the day, the Raiders removed F Lance Yaremchuk, 17, from their roster. A native of Prince Albert, he had three points, including a goal, in eight games. He was a sixth-round selection in the 2011 bantam draft. . . .

In Moose Jaw, the Lethbridge Hurricanes snapped their 10-game losing skid with a 5-3 victory over the Warriors. . . . F Axel Blomqvist scored the Hurricanes' first three goals, the third one forging a 3-3 tie at 16:55 of the second period. . . . F Russ Maxwell broke the tie at 17:24. . . . Blomqvist has eight goals. . . . F Josh Uhrich scored his fourth goal of the season for the Warriors and also added an assist. He has one goal in each of his last four games. . . . Moose Jaw lost F Jack Rodewald to a broken jaw in the second period. According to Katie Brickman of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald he "was injured in a collision midway through the second period. . . . He returned to the bench, but left and did not return." Rodewald went for X-rays and his jaw was found to be broken in two places. He is to have surgery today. Rodewald, who was playing in his 150th career game, had career highs in goals (9), assists (8) and points (17) in 24 games. . . .

In Prince George, F Miles Koules scored twice to lead the Medicine Hat Tigers to a 6-1 victory over the Cougars. . . . Koules has six goals this season. . . . The Tigers scored the game's last five goals, four of them in the third period. . . . The Cougars were playing their fourth game in five nights in four different cities. . . . Tigers G Daniel Wapple stopped 39 shots, 18 of them in the second period. . . . Medicine Hat D Matt Staples, who went into the game with two assists in 17 games, had his first WHL goal and an assist. He's a sophomore from Coppell, Texas. . . . Prince George D Joseph Carvalho left late in the second period after taking a shot high, perhaps off his face. He didn't return. . . . The Tigers are 7-0-1 in their last eight games. . . .

In Portland, the Winterhawks got five first-period goals from five different scorers en route to a 10-2 victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . The Winterhawks, who lost two home games in a row during parent's weekend, now have won two straight. . . . Seattle now has lost five in a row. . . . After the first period, the Thunderbirds had been outscored 15-4 in their last four periods in Portland. . . . F Paul Bittner led Portland with his first WHL three-goal game and his first four-point outing. He wound up plus-5, as did D Derrick Pouliot, who had a goal and an assist. . . .Portland F Nic Petan had a goal and two assists. He leads the WHL in assists (31) and is second in points (43). He is eight points behind Spokane F Mitch Holmberg. . . . Portland twice has scored 10 goals against Seattle this season. On Sept. 28, the Winterhawks beat visiting Seattle, 10-4. . . . Seattle D Evan Wardley completed his four-game WHL suspension by sitting out this game. . . . Prior to the game, the Thunderbirds released F Erik Benoit, 20. That leaves them with F Seth Swenson and F Mitch Elliot as their 20-year-olds, meaning there is room for one more. Benoit had eight points, three of them goals, in 19 games with Seattle. . . . The Winterhawks are alone atop the overall standings, three points ahead of the Medicine Hat Tigers and Everett Silvertips, both of whom are 14-3-3.
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From Lethbridge G Chris Tai (@chrisstopper95), who turned aside 36 shots and was the game's first star as the Hurricanes ended a 10-game losing skid: "So that's what winning feels like."
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From Ryan Bittner (@17Bittner): "So proud of me little big brother @unclebittsy_7 and getting his first hat trick in the WHL! #SoProud"
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From Prince George F Zach Pochiro (@Z_Pochiro): “Shoutout to @joecarvalho27 for blocking a shot with his face today. Kids a warrior #getbetter”

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Blazers make big move

By MARK HUNTER
Daily News Sports Reporter
The Kamloops Blazers traded away part of their future for some veteran leadership on Thursday.
The Blazers acquired defenceman Joel Edmundson, 19, from the Moose Jaw Warriors, along with a fourth-round pick in the 2015 WHL bantam draft. Kamloops gave up defenceman Tyler Bell, 18, forward Jayden Halbgewachs, 15, and a first-round pick in 2015.
Edmundson was to fly into Kamloops last night and is expected to play tonight, 7 o’clock, against the Prince George Cougars at Interior Savings Centre.
“He’s a veteran guy, a drafted player,” said Blazers head coach Guy Charron. “We’ve added more experience at the back end.”
At 6-foot-4 and 208 pounds, Edmundson will bring size to a Blazers’ defence corps that already includes 19-year-olds Tyler Hansen, who goes 6-foot-3 and 202 pounds, and the 6-foot-4, 200-pound Sam Grist.
Edmundson is in his third WHL season, and has picked up eight points, six of them assists, and 70 penalty minutes in 29 games. Last season, he played in 56 games, scoring four goals, assisting on 19 others and earning 91 penalty minutes.
After his first season, 2010-11, the St. Louis Blues selected the Brandon native in the second round, 46th overall, of the NHL draft.
And while he isn’t known for his offensive side, Edmundson stands to see some time on the power play, according to Charron.
“He’s got a great shot,” Charron said. “Right now, we’ve experimented with everyone at the top end of the power play, so I’m sure he’ll get an opportunity.”
The trade shows that the Blazers are all-in this season. Kamloops is 22-7-3 and tied for first in the 22-team WHL with the Portland Winterhawks, who hold four games in hand.
But Kamloops gave up a lot to get Edmundson, who, if he signs with the Blues, likely wouldn’t return next season.
Bell, a Regina native, was in his second season with the Blazers, and was taking on a bigger role all the time. Through 29 games, he had a goal and three assists, to go along with 36 penalty minutes. As a rookie in 2011-12, Bell had 12 points, 11 of them assists, and was plus-19 in 54 games.
On top of Bell, Kamloops basically gave up two first-round picks, with Halbgewachs, a native of Emerald Park, Sask., having been its first-round pick, 19th overall, in May’s draft. Halbgewachs is in his first season with the midget AAA Regina Pat Canadians, and has eight goals and six assists in 19 games.
“Through our evaluation, we feel we have good, young prospects,” Charron said. “But getting a chance to get a veteran player like (Edmundson) will only make us better.”
The WHL’s Christmas trade moratorium will run Dec. 16-26.
———
Forwards Charles Inglis and Chase Souto sat out Thursday’s practice as they recover from a bug that is going through the Kamloops dressing room.
“We’ve got quite a few guys who are sick,” Charron said. “No use being here to spread the germs.”
The coach said he wasn’t sure if either would be available tonight, but seemed optimistic.
“Usually the guys who have been sick have had a 24- or 48-hour thing,” Charron said. “We’re hopeful they’re ready to go (tonight).”
To help fill out the roster, the Blazers had Devin Oakes, a list forward who plays for the junior B Kamloops Storm, at practice. He will be back with the Storm for its game against the host Princeton Posse tonight.
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Cougars head coach Dean Clark announced that former NHLer Todd Harkins will serve as an assistant coach for a few weeks after Christmas.
Harkins, who coached the Vancouver Northwest Giants to the 2011 B.C. Major Midget League title, will replace Jason Becker temporarily. Becker, the head coach of Team Pacific, will be in Quebec for the 2013 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, which ends Jan. 4.
Harkins, whose 10-year NHL career included stops with the Calgary Flames and Hartford Whalers, will start his tenure with the Cougars on Dec. 28, when they play the Royals in Victoria.
Harkins’ son, Jansen, was selected in the first round, second overall, by the Cougars in May’s bantam draft. He currently plays for Vancouver Northwest, with which he has 30 points in 17 games.
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Ryan Hanes, a former Blazers forward, will be making his second appearance in Kamloops with the Cougars, and will be sporting an ‘A’ on his jersey.
Hanes, a 20-year-old Kamloops native, was named an assistant captain Wednesday, after Cougars captain Brock Hirsche retired due to shoulder programs. Hirsche was replaced as captain by defenceman Daniel Gibb, with Hanes taking on the vacant assistant-captain role.
Hanes, who scored in the Cougars’ 5-4 shootout loss in Kamloops on Nov. 17, has four goals in eight games with Prince George.
He started the season with the Blazers, but got caught up in the 20-year-old numbers game and was released. He spent a stretch with the BCHL’s Cowichan Valley Capitals, before the Cougars picked him up last month.


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Blazers take bite out of Tigers

By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
Guy Charron played hurt on the weekend.
Just don’t ask the head coach of the Kamloops Blazers if he had ribs for Thanksgiving dinner.
Charron took a puck in the ribs in practice more than a week ago, but a couple of weekend victories, the latest by a 4-1 count over the Medicine Hat Tigers on Saturday night at Interior Savings Centre, had him feeling better on Monday.
After being struck by the puck, Charron actually felt OK. But a couple of nights later he was having trouble sleeping and, while wrestling with a pillow, heard a POP!
It was the snapping of a rib. Apparently, the puck had softened the rib to the point where the tossing and turning in bed was enough for it to break.
Of late, though, Charron has been sleeping like a baby.
That’s what coaching a WHL team that is 5-0-1 will do for you, especially after a pair of weekend victories in which your guys were convincingly better than the other guys.
On Friday, the Blazers beat the Seattle Thunderbirds, 7-2. The Thunderbirds, the WHL’s biggest team, had problems with the Blazers’ speed. The Blazers caused havoc in Seattle’s zone, with the Thunderbirds’ defenders spending a lot of time chasing their tails.
On Saturday, it was much the same story. According to the blog Small Thoughts At Large, which charts these things, the Tigers’ defencemen are second only to Seattle in terms of size. And the Blazers gave them fits all night.
“We gave up 13 scoring chances,” Charron said on Monday evening. “Five of them were on the power play and four of them on the rush. We played a good game.
“We didn’t generate as much as we would have liked but we didn’t get a lot of power plays. Our chances were off the rush and from offensive zone play, which is the strength of our team.”
The Blazers’ play in the Tigers’ zone was especially solid.
“We found it very difficult to get out of our own end at times,” Shaun Clouston, the Tigers’ general manager and head coach, told Darren Steinke of the Medicine Hat News. “We finally got things going a little bit later in the third.”
The Blazers got a nine-point night from their top line, as centre Colin Smith and wingers Tim Bozon and JC Lipon each picked up three points.
Lipon scored twice, the last one into an empty net, and actually vaulted into a tie for the WHL points lead, with 12. Smith drew three assists, giving him 11 points in the early season, while Bozon had a goal and two helpers. He has 10 points, five of them goals.
The other goal came from freshman defenceman Jordan Thomson, who may have provided fans with a glimpse of things to come. He had struggled on Friday, as did others on the back end, but the Kamloops defenders, led by sophomore Tyler Bell, who was terrific, were much improved against the Tigers.
“When we know we had a difficult game that way,” Charron said, “we address it as much as possible the next day. That’s why it’s good not to play back-to-back.”
The Blazers spent their second straight weekend without veteran Tyler Hansen (concussion). However, Hansen, who was injured on Sept. 22, has been cleared to return. He skated on Monday, but without contact. He is unlikely to play Wednesday, but may be back Friday.
“It’s not his injury,” Charron said. “It’s more conditioning.”
The Blazers were off Sunday and then got down to the work of preparing for two more home games. They will entertain the Victoria Royals on Wednesday night, with the Spokane Chiefs here Friday.
The Royals won two of three on the weekend, including their third straight victory over the Vancouver Giants. With all of that the Royals (6-2-0) lead the Western Conference by one point over the Blazers.
JUST NOTES: Attendance on Saturday was 4,372. . . . F Miles Koules scored for the Tigers late in the second period, cutting their deficit to 2-1. . . . Kamloops G Cole Cheveldave stopped 21 shots, while Medicine Hat’s Dawson MacAuley turned aside 33. . . . Thomson’s goal was his first of the season and second of his career. He scored once in a 6-3 loss to the visiting Calgary Hitmen on Dec. 30. That was during a four-game stay after Christmas. . . . The Daily News Three Stars: 1. Bell: Took charge in own zone; 2. Lipon: Physical, feisty, a force; 3. Thomson: Composed, and a goal. . . . Lipon was named the WHL’s player of the week after he put up seven points in the Blazers’ two games. . . . D Austin Madaisky is one of 10 defencemen on the roster of the Springfield Falcons, who open the AHL regular season on Friday.


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Hansen back on feet after scary incident

Tyler Hansen of the Kamloops Blazers will be fine
after a scary incident in Kelowna
on Saturday night.
(Murray Mitchell / Kamloops Daily News files)

By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
Tyler Hansen didn’t think it would be proper decorum to stand up in Kelowna General Hospital and celebrate a victory by his Kamloops Blazers over the host Rockets on Saturday night.
So when he heard the final score — Blazers 3, Rockets 2 — he just quietly cheered to himself.
Earlier in the evening, the veteran Kamloops defenceman had found himself on a stretcher and in an ambulance for the first time in his life.
That happened after he took a late second period hit to the head on what all involved, including Hansen, say was a freaky play without any intent to injure.
Hansen, 19, said he was involved in a puck battle along the boards and ended up in a position with his head sticking out. At that point, one of the Rockets who was in pursuit of the puck made contact with Hansen’s head “and kind of gave me some serious whiplash.”
Hansen fell to the ice and stayed there.
“I tried to get up for a second,” he said Monday afternoon while his teammates practised at Interior Savings Centre, “but I just didn’t have a lot of movement and my body felt kind of weird. It felt tingly . . . a tingling feeling throughout my body. The main thing was my neck was just really sore.
“So I knew something was wrong and I decided to stay down.”
Later, Hansen said, a doctor told him it was “a really bad stinger,” similar to an injury common among football players, especially when they take a direct hit to a shoulder.
Colin Robinson, the Blazers’ trainer, tended to Hansen before a stretcher was brought out.
“The next thing I knew there was all this stuff going on,” Hansen said. “It was all precautionary but I’m glad they took those necessary steps to make sure I was fine.”
Never before had Hansen found himself strapped to a stretcher or in an ambulance.
“That was a first time for me,” he said. “What a different experience. It was a little bit scary. Yes, it was frightening.
I’m just glad they took me to the hosptial and checked me out and made sure there was nothing serious going on.”
While in hospital, Hansen underwent X-rays, all of which were negative, and was placed in a neck brace. That brought back memories of teammate Austin Madaisky, who spent weeks in a neck brace after suffering a broken vertebra in a game on Feb. 4, 2011.
“I don’t know how he was in that for a long time,” Hansen said with a rueful chuckle. “I was in it for two to three hours and I was already sick of that thing.”
Prior to being released from hospital, Hansen spoke with a doctor who instructed him to stand up.
“I was a little bit hesitant because I was in a neck brace for about three hours,” Hansen related. “But I stood up and started moving my neck and I felt that as I moved it the stronger and the better it felt. He told me just not to be scared and not to be hesitant and I knew then that I would be fine.”
As he watched his teammates skate yesterday, Hansen said he was feeling “a lot better,” but admitted that he was “a little sore and a little foggy.”
He underwent concussion testing on Monday morning and is doubtful for this weekend’s games — the Blazers are to play the Royals in Victoria on Friday night and Sunday afternoon.
“We’ll see about this weekend,” Hansen said, “but hopefully next weekend for sure.”
Meanwhile, Tyler Bell, Hansen’s defence partner, was back on the ice yesterday after leaving Friday’s 6-5 overtime victory over visiting Kelowna in the first period with a sore right knee. Bell didn’t play Saturday but should be in the lineup in Victoria.
Goaltender Cole Cheveldave, who left after two periods Friday after being run into by Kelowna forward Colton Sissons, is to be re-evaluated on Wednesday.
With Cheveldave not able to practise, the Blazers had local minor hockey products Ty Hamer-Jackson and Bailey De Palma join Taran Kozun on the ice. Hamer-Jackson backed up Kozun in Kelowna on Saturday.
JUST NOTES: The Blazers revealed yesterday afternoon that LW Brendan Ranford, 20, will leave this week to attend training camp with the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs. Ranford, who has one goal in two games, was to have attended the parent Montreal Canadiens’ camp on a tryout basis before the NHL imposed a lockout on the NHLPA. . . . The Blazers will leave for Victoria on Friday morning and play that night at 7. Sunday’s game is to start at 1 p.m. . . . The Blazers will appear four times on Shaw TV this season — Oct. 5, versus Seattle; Dec. 12, at Edmonton; Feb. 1, vs. Spokane; and, March 8, vs. Kelowna. The three home games are all Friday nights.

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Blazers banged up and 2-and-0

The Kamloops Blazers, wearing their latest third jerseys, celebrate Friday's
6-5 overtime victory over the visiting Kelowna Rockets. The Blazers
beat the Rockets 3-2 in Kelowna on Saturday night.
(Doyle Potenteau / DubNation)

By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
Guy Charron, the head coach of the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers, never went to medical school.
But you couldn’t fault him if he spent Sunday studying Gray’s Anatomy or on his laptop at WebMD.com.
After all, Charron’s Blazers may be 2-0 but they are without starting goaltender Cole Cheveldave and their shutdown defensive pairing of Tyler Bell and Tyler Hansen.
Despite the adversity and despite trailing 2-0 heading into the third period on Saturday night in Kelowna, the Blazers came back to beat the Rockets, 3-2, on a late power-play goal by Matt Needham. One night earlier, the Blazers twice coughed up two-goal leads before scoring a 6-5 overtime victory over the Rockets.
Cheveldave and Bell both went down Friday night and neither played in the rematch.
Cheveldave suffered what is believed to be a knee injury when he was run into by Kelowna forward Colton Sissons in the second period. The sophomore goaltender is to be re-evaluated Wednesday.
“Cheveldave is better than first expected,” Charron stated.
Bell left in the first period with a knee injury after taking a hit from behind from Kelowna forward Henrik Nyberg. Bell was in for some treatments on Sunday and is thought to be the least-injured of the trio.
Hansen left Saturday’s game on a stretcher and was taken to hospital after becoming involved in some incidental contact and falling head-first into the boards. X-rays were taken, but all came back negative. He was released from hospital before midnight and returned to Kamloops with Blazers goaltender coach Dan De Palma.
Hansen met with trainer Colin Robinson on Sunday and then was to see a doctor. Hansen is expected to be checked for concussion today.
“Hansen . . . wasn’t hit from behind,” Charron explained. “It was a collision or contact from behind and could have been worse than what it is. From what we could see, it was accidental . . . just a freaky thing.”
The Blazers don’t play again until Friday when they meet the Royals (2-0) in Victoria. Bell may be the closest of the three to playing, but at this point, as Charron said, “We don’t know.”
What he does know is that his team is proving that it is never out of a game.
Twice in the exhibition season, the Blazers won games after being down three goals.
On Saturday, the Rockets took a 2-0 lead on goals by Zach Franko, at 13:10 of the first period, and Slovakian Filip Vasko, at 14:21 of the second. Vasko, a sophomore forward who was scratched on Friday, scored his first WHL goal after going goal-less in 51 games last season.
“Our concern,” Charron said, “was let’s make sure they don’t get the third one.”
In the third period, he said, “We went after them. The third period was our best period. Realistically, they only had two scoring chances in the third period. We dominated the third period pretty well and it allowed us to come back.”
The Blazers outshot their hosts 14-4 in the third period and had the period’s only three goals.
Dylan Willick got the Blazers rolling at 5:23 of the third period, with Brendan Ranford tying it at 9:38.
Kelowna’s Colton Heffley was penalized for roughing at 17:56, and Needham got the winner, his second goal in two games, at 19:27. Needham was alone at the top of the crease when Colin Smith found him with a centring pass out of a corner.
The Blazers, who were 3-for-11 on the power play one night earlier, were 1-for-2 this time.
“We’re a team that it’ll be tough to put us completely out of a game,” Charron said. “We have the ability to come back.”
Kamloops goaltender Taran Kozun, 18, stopped 27 shots in earning his third WHL victory. He was 1-1 last season when he was assigned to the SJHL’s Nipawin Hawks.
“He played well,” Charron said. “He made some good saves. He looked in control. He was controlling his rebounds. He covered when he need to.”
Charron also had kind words for Kelowna goaltender Jordon Cooke, who also made 27 saves.
“He made some real good saves,” Charron said. “This guy was unbelievable.”

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Bozon no joke to Rockets

Kelowna goaltender Jordon Cooke makes this save off Kamloops left-winger
Tim Bozon, who went on to score three times, including the OT winner.
(Doyle Potenteau / DubNation)

By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
Knock! Knock!
Who’s there?
It’s Tim Bozon at the backdoor and he just scored.
Oh, look, he did it again!
And now he’s at the front door and he’s scored again.
Bozon, the WHL Western Conference’s rookie of the year last season, scored three times Friday night at Interior Savings Centre, his third goal giving the Kamloops Blazers a 6-5 victory over an overly aggressive squad of Kelowna Rockets.
Bozon scored two backdoor power-play goals — the home boys were 3-for-11 with the man advantage — and then fought off two defenders and beat Rockets goaltender Jordon Cooke with a wrist shot from 30 feet out in the slot at 2:49 of extra time.
“We work a lot on the power play with the boys in practice,” Bozon said, referring to himself and linemates Colin Smith and JC Lipon.”We stay longer on the ice in practice and work on those plays. I know it’s going to work. We’ve just got to keep working on it because it’s important.
“Tonight, if we don’t have the power play, we’re probably down.”
Bozon scored 36 times last season; this was the first three-goal night of his brief WHL career.
The victory may have been a costly one for the Blazers, who watched as defenceman Tyler Bell and goaltender Cole Cheveldave both left with injuries.
Bell departed late in the first period after being hit from behind by Kelowna forward Henrik Nyberg, who then fell on him. Bell appeared to injure his right knee. He did return to the bench for the last two periods but didn’t play again.
Cheveldave stopped 23 of 26 shots through two periods but was replaced by Taran Kozun to start the third period. Kamloops head coach Guy Charron would only allow that Cheveldave had a “lower body injury.” The sophomore goaltender may have been injured at 12:08 of the second period when Kelowna centre Colton Sissons crashed into him in the crease.
The Rockets, meanwhile, lost forward J.T. Barnett on his first shift. He threw a check deep in the Kamloops zone, was slow going to the bench and didn’t return. Kelowna head coach Ryan Huska said Barnett “tweaked a knee.” It was the same knee Barnett, then with the Everett Silvertips, injured while stretching prior to a game last season at ISC.
None of the three is expected to play in tonight’s rematch in the Little Apple.
If there was a message from this game it was sent by Charron, who let the WHL’s other 21 teams know that his team is coming at you.
The Blazers frequently used four forwards on their power play. And, on the one PP opportunity in OT, he again put four forwards on the ice.
“Our depth is up front,” Charron said. “This is where the strength of our team is — the offence. If you have the puck, they can’t score. Consequently, if you have those kind of players on the ice, chances are you will have the puck.”
Of course, as Charron pointed out, “The way our defence played tonight, I’m not sure any of those guys deserved an opportunity to play in those situations.”
Smith’s line had a big night, finishing with 10 points. Smith had a goal and three assists and Lipon had three helpers. Centre Matt Needham and defenceman Landon Cross also scored for Kamloops. Cross, who had six points in 46 games last season, also picked up two assists.
The Rockets got goals from Ryan Olsen, Tyson Baillie, Nyberg, Myles Bell and Dylen McKinlay. The last two scored at 13:30 and 15:13 of the third period to erase a 5-3 deficit and force OT.
In the end, though, the Rockets were done in by their propensity for penalties.
“For us,” Huska said, “that was the problem with our game. I liked the way we played a lot of other parts of it. I thought we were physical, I thought we skated and I thought 5-on-5 we were pretty good. We took too many penalties against a good power play.”
Charron agreed.
“To me, that’s the difference in the game,” he said. “We had so many power plays and that’s what allowed us to win the hockey game, as far as I’m concerned.
“It wasn’t our play by any means.”
JUST NOTES: Attendance was 5,239. . . . Kelowna was 1-for-5 on the PP. . . . Kozun stopped six of eight shots and got the victory. . . . Cooke turned aside 29 shots. . . . The game was preceded by the hoisting of the 2012 B.C. Division pennant into the ISC rafters. . . . The Daily News Three Stars: 1. Bozon: Loves to score; 2. Smith: One of WHL’s best; 3. Cooke: Got his guys a point. . . . This was the first time the Rockets had provided the opposition in the Blazers’ home-opener. The Blazes will return the favour for the first time tonight in Kelowna. . . . The Blazers next play at home on Oct. 5 against the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . Kelowna D Mitchell Chapman, 20, is expected to miss the first month of the season with an ankle injury. . . . F Brock Balson, 19, who was released by the Blazers this week, is back with the BCHL’s Salmon Arm SilverBacks. Balson was released by the Prince Albert Raiders prior to the start of last season. He joined the SilverBacks, put up 19 points in 20 games, and then signed on with his hometown Blazers. He had six points in 42 games last season with the Blazers. . . . Former Kamloops F Ryan Hanes, 20, scored all three of his club’s goals as the Cowichan Valley Capitals dropped a 4-3 BCHL decision to the Nanaimo Clippers last night.

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By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
A year ago, the position most worth watching as the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers prepared for the start of the season was goaltending.
This time around, with main camp having started on Sunday at the McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre, the goaltending is pretty much settled, Cole Cheveldave having seized the throne last season. Cheveldave, 19, is back, of course, and he is THE MAN in the crease. Taran Kozan, 18, is expected to serve as backup, although it could be that Braden Krogfoss, 17, applies a little pressure on him.
This time around, the big show will be on defence where the depth chart may be 10 skaters deep.
“There are some real quality young guys coming in,” said Dave Hunchak, the Blazers’ associate coach who handles the team’s back end.
Right now, the roster features six defencemen who were here last season, including Austin Madaisky, 20. Should Madaisky end up here again, he would be the horse on defence. But he is under contract to the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets.
“It’s really not in our control,” Hunchak said. “With what Columbus’s plans are, if a lockout happens he’ll end up probably going to Springfield’s camp and sort it out from there. That’s not until late September.”
The Springfield Falcons are the Blue Jackets’ AHL affiliate, which is where Madaisky likely would play under normal circumstances. However, if the NHL locks out the NHLPA on Sept. 15, perhaps Columbus would find itself with a glut of defencemen in Springfield, meaning Madaisky could end up back in Kamloops.
“If there is no lockout,” Hunchak said, “he’ll go to Columbus and we’ll go from there.”
Still, the Blazers have five other veterans back there – Tyler Hansen and Marek Hrbas, both 19, and Tyler Bell, Landon Cross and Brady Gaudet, all 18.
At a glance, there are four newcomers, two of them born in 1995 and the other two in 1996, pushing for spots.
Josh Connolly of Prince George, who missed most of last season with a concussion, and Ryan Rehill of Edmonton, who travelled with the Blazers in last season’s late going, are the older two. Jordan Thomson of Wawanesa, Man., the fourth overall pick in the 2011 bantam draft, and Connor Clouston of Medicine Hat, the son of Tigers’ GM/head coach Shaun Clouston, are the pups.
“You’ve got Connolly, who’s 17 and ready to step in. He’s a smart player,” Hunchak said. “You’ve got Thompson . . . you’ve got Rehill . . . you’ve got Clouston . . . you’ve got a lot of guiys to pick and choose from.
“And with the unknown with Madaisky it’s goiing to be a challenge to see exactly how we’re going to figure out the back end.”
Connolly, a third-round selection in the 2010 bantam draft, is a puck-mover who is the younger brother of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brett Connolly. During his WHL career with the Prince George Cougars, it often was said the Brett’s conditioning was suspect. He fixed that last summer, by spending a lot of time in Toronto working with former NHL’er Gary Roberts, who is a conditioning guru. This summer, Josh joined them.
“He’s trained very hard,” Hunchak said. “He looks to be in excellent shape. He’s a special player. He sees the game differently than a lot of guys do. At times, I know he’s going to make my hair turn grey because he does things so nonchalant at times but he makes it look so easy.”
Connolly had 27 points in 30 games as a 15-year-old with the major midget Cariboo Cougars in 2010-11. Last season, the concussion limited him to 12 games in which he put up 15 points.
Rehill, who won’t turn 17 until Nov. 7, was taken in the sixth round of the 2010 bantam draft. Last season, he had 18 points in 18 games with the midget AA South Side Athletic Club, and added four points in 12 games with the midget AAA Maple Leaf Athletic Club squad. After his season ended in Edmonton, he skated with the Blazers, who see him as a shutdown-type guy.
“I think he’s quicker (than last season),” Hunchak said. “He’s more confident with his play right now. He’s a guy who at some point is going to have to assert himself as a shutdown player.  That’s the type of player he’s going to have to be in our league. He has to model himself after a guy like Tyler Hansen or Tyler Bell.
“We’ll have those chats as camp goes on and as camp gets deeper we look to see him improve.”
If there is a veteran defenceman under the microscope, it is Brady Gaudet, 18, who was the 10th overall pick in the 2010 bantam draft. The Blazers had hoped Gaudet, from Redvers, Sask., would be the guy to run their power play, but he struggled last season and played just 49 games as he missed eight games with a concussion and was a healthy scratch on 15 occasions.
“He’s come back in better shape. He’s had a good start to camp,” Hunchak said. “We’ll let the cards fall where they may.”
As Hunchak put it: “Veterans are going to get pushed and that’s the kind of competition we want.”
JUST NOTES: The Blazers wrapped up rookie camp on Saturday and took 33 of those players to main camp, swelling that roster to 63. That number will be trimmed to about 40 before Tuesday’s Blue-White game (Interior Savings Centre, 7 p.m.). . . . A few more players will be reassigned after that game as the Blazers prepare to meet the visiting Victoria Royals on Thursday. . . . Training camp shifts to the ISC today with scrimmages at 9 and 10:30 a.m., and noon. . . . Veteran F Dylan Willick (lower body) skated Sunday but didn’t scrimmage.

Main Training Camp Roster (63)
(x – veteran; y – injured; year of birth in parentheses)
 Goal (6) — Carson Bogdan (96),Regina; x-Cole Cheveldave (93), Calgary; Cole Kehler (97), Altona, Man.; Taran Kozun (94), Nipawin, Sask.; Braden Krogfoss (95), Cloverdale; Ryan Ternes (97), Calgary.
Defence (21) — Gordie Ballhorn (97), Wetaskiwin, Alta.; x-Tyler Bell (94), Regina; Mitchell Brennan (97), Calgary; Connor Cloutson (96), Medicine Hat; Josh Connolly (95), Prince George; x-Landon Cross (94), Brandon; Steven Fehr (97), Abbotsford; Mackenzie Ferner (95), Vernon; Jaiden Focht (96), Saskatoon; x-Brady Gaudet (94), Redvers, Sask.; Connor Hamonic (96), Winnipeg; x-Tyler Hansen (93), Magrath, Alta; x-Marek Hrbas (93), Plzen, Czech Republic; Riley Hummitsch (96), Anaheim Hills, Calif.; x-Austin Madaisky (92), Surrey; Cole Catskill (96), Kamloops; Mark O’Shaughnessy (97), North Vancouver; Cameron Reagan (97), Sherwood Park, Alta.; Ryan Rehill (95), Edmonton; Jordan Thomson (96), Wawanesa, Man.; y-Calen Whitworth (97), Surrey.
Forwards (36) — x-Brock Balson (93), Kamloops; Spencer Bast (97), Macklin, Sask.; Josh Blanchard (96), Kelowna; x-Tim Bozon (94), Lugano, Switzerland; Nick Chyzowski (97), Kamloops; x-Jordan DePape (92), Winnipeg; Rylan Freed (96), Melfort, Sask.; Mitch Friesen (96), Surrey; Charlie Garlicky (97), Edmonton; Brayden Gelsinger (95), Regina; Jayden Halbgewachs (97), Emerald Park, Sask.; Ezra Hall (96), Winnipeg; Tyler Jeanson (97), Graysville, Man.; Jeran Knorr (97), Kelowna; Laramie Kostelansky (97), Fort Macleod, Alta.; Eric Krienke (96), Calgary; Paulsen Lautard (95), Midway; x-J.C. Lipon (93), Regina; Mitchell Lipon (96), Regina; Aaron Macklin (95), High River, Alta.; Tyson McLellan (96), San Jose, Calif.; Kyler Nachtigall (96), Calgary; x-Matt Needham (95), Penticton; y-Devin Oakes (95), Prince Rupert; x-Brendan Ranford (92), Edmonton; Jesse Shynkaruk (96), Saskatoon; Devin Sideoff (97), Summerland; Brodie Smith (97), Parksville; x-Colin Smith (93), Edmonton; x-Chase Souto (94), Yorba Linda, Calif.; Josh Stang (97), Macklin, Sask.; x-Aspen Sterzer (94), Canal Flats; Evan Tordiff (96), Fort Smith, NWT; x-Rob Trzonkowski (94), Calgary; x-Cole Ully (95), Calgary; x-Dylan Willick (92), Prince George.


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ASK THE COMMISSIONER:
Here is one from a reader of the blog . . .
Dear Commissioner Gordon: Why is it that as I sit in Portland, Oregon USA and look at the website of the Portland Winterhawks, the first two ads I see are for ‘Canada's Best Selling and Most Durable Diesel Pickup Truck’? Aside from the fact that they have the wrong country listed (from my perspective), I would think the team doesn't like this, the sponsor doesn't like this and the fan doesn't like this.
———
Mike Johnston, the general manager and head coach of the Portland Winterhawks, was good enough to answer a couple of questions regarding his organization having lost Garry Davidson, its director of player personnel, to the Everett Silvertips earlier this month.
Davidson, who had been with the Winterhawks since the ownership change took place in 2008, replaced the fired Doug Soetaert as Everett’s general manager.
Johnston confirmed that the Winterhawks were compensated by the Silvertips, but he added that the compensation “is confidential.”
The Winterhawks will have received a bantam draft pick or picks as the WHL doesn’t allow anything else to be used as compensation in these situations.
One supposes we will have to wait until the draft before finding out what it was that Portland received.
I also asked Johnston via email why the Winterhawks would allow Davidson to join another team, and a division rival at that, before the draft?
Johnston replied:
“We decided to let Garry go at this time to allow him the opportunity to be a GM in the league. He has worked very hard to help us rebuild things in Portland.
“Garry was the first person I hired and I felt I owed him the chance to run his own program. I also felt confident that our rankings for this year’s draft were in order and our area scouts had a good handle on where their guys fit in.”
With Davidson in Everett, Johnston said that Matt Bardsley, the Winterhawks’ director of hockey operations, will lead the Winterhawks into the draft. Bardsley also will attend the upcoming provincial camps.
Portland’s plan, according to Johnston, is to “hire a full time director of player personnel later in May.”
 ———
JUST NOTES:
D Morgan Rielly of the Moose Jaw Warriors was back on the ice Wednesday, although he won’t play until perhaps early April. Rielly, who will be an early first-round selection in the NHL’s 2012 draft, had knee surgery on Dec. 1 after being injury Nov. 6. Matthew Gourlie of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald reports that Rielly “spent most of Wednesday’s practice sitting on the bench, but would go for brief skates between drills where he showed his puck skills haven’t picked up any rust. He had a brace on his injured knee and was clearly lacking his usual explosive speed.” . . . According to Gourlie, “Rielly will return to Vancouver on March 28 where he will meet with his surgeon and some of the people who were part of his rehabilitation.” . . . “I don’t know what they’re going to say,” Rielly told Gourlie. “They might say ‘you have to wait another eight months’ or they might say I’m ready to go.”
———
In Kamloops on Wednesday night, the Blazers were leading Victoria 4-3 when Royals F Robin Soudek took an instigating minor for starting a scrap with D Tyler Bell. . . . Why is it that seemingly every time a player levels another player with a really good check, there is a fight? In this instance, Bell had hit F Steven Hodges with a tremendous check that was completely legal. . . . Never mind that his team was down a goal. Never mind that Kamloops already had scored three PP goals. Never mind that the Royals are hanging on to a playoff spot by the narrowest of margins. None of that mattered as Soudek went right after Bell, even though Hodges wasn’t injured. . . . The Blazers scored 11 seconds after Soudek was penalized and this one was over for all intents and purposes. . . . So often now we seem to see this kind of a play, be it in the NHL or at the major junior level. And you have to ask why? When did a good, hard bodycheck become the impetus for a fight?
———
In the QMJHL, D Connor Rogers of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles had been hit with a 10-game suspension after a kneeing incident on Saturday. Rogers will be eligible to return for Cape Breton’s final regular-season game, on March 17. . . . Rimouski Oceanic F Jean-François Plante was injured on the play but it’s not yet known how long he will be out.
———
WEDNESDAY’S GAMES:
In Saskatoon, D Macoy Erkamps broke a 2-2 tie at 6:48 of the third period and the Lethbridge Hurricanes went on to beat the Blades, 3-2. . . . Lethbridge F Nick Buonassisi had tied the score 2-2 at 5:01. . . . Buonassisi has 15 goals; Erkamps has two. . . . F Ryan Olsen scored both Saskatoon goals, giving him 10. . . . Saskatoon F Jesse Paradis played in his 300th regular-season game. . . . Lethbridge G Damien Ketlo stopped 41 shots, three more than Saskatoon’s Andrey Makarov. . . . The Hurricanes are 19 points out of a playoff spot with 11 games left. . . . The Blades are sixth in the Eastern Conference, three points behind the Kootenay Ice and a point up on the Regina Pats. . . .

In Regina, the Pats scored the game’s first two goals and hung on to beat the Kootenay Ice, 2-1. . . . F Jordan Weal scored his 35th, shorthanded, at 5:15 of the second and F Lane Scheidl got his 25th on a PP at 8:06 of the third. . . . Weal drew an assist on Scheidl’s goal. . . . The Ice got close when F Brock Montgomery got his 19th at 18:52 of the third. . . . That goal kept Regina G Matt Hewitt from his fifth shutout of the season, something that would have tied a franchise single-season record. . . . Warren Fisher has held that record since 1967-68. . . . Hewitt finished with 31 saves, eight more than the Ice’s Nathan Lieuwen. . . . The Pats had beaten the Ice 4-2 in Cranbrook on Saturday. . . . Regina was without D Brandon Davidson, thanks to an undisclosed injury. Before the game, he tweeted: “Tough to sit out tonight but better safe than sorry.” . . . Ice D Jeff Hubic served a one-game suspension for a hit that injured Davidson on Saturday night. Hubic was back in the Ice’s lineup last night. . . . Regina had D Colby Williams of the midget AAA Regina Pat Canadians in the lineup. . . . The Pats are seventh in the Eastern Conference but now are just a point behind the Saskatoon Blades. . . . The Ice fell a point behind the Calgary Hitmen who won and moved past Kootenay. . . .

In Swift Current, F Mark McNeill and F Anthony Bardaro scored in the circus and the Prince Albert Raiders beat the Broncos, 3-2. . . . F Levi Bews matched McNeill’s goal, but Bardaro scored and the Broncos couldn’t equalize. . . . Bardaro had forced OT with his 27th goal at 19:50 of the third period. . . . The Broncos now are 15 points out of a playoff spot with 10 games remaining. . . . The Raiders have been eliminated from the playoff hunt. They are 26 points back with 12 games remaining. . . .

In Calgary, D Brock Sutherland had a goal and two assists to lead the Hitmen to a 5-3 victory over the Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . Sutherland scored his second goal of the season to give the Hitmen a 4-1 lead at 19:02 of the second. . . . Calgary F Jimmy Bubnick got his 28th, and the 101st of his career, into an empty net. . . . F Riley Sheen scored his first WHL goal for Medicine Hat. It came in his 40th game, 36 of which he has played this season. . . . The Tigers continue to be without G Tyler Bunz, D Kale Kessy and F Hunter Shinkaruk, all of whom are injured. Medicine Hat dressed 17 skaters, one under the maximum. . . . The Hitmen won their fourth in a row and now are just two points behind the third-place Tigers in the Eastern Conference. Calgary holds a game in hand. . . .

In Edmonton, G Jordon Cooke turned aside 43 shots to lead the Kelowna Rockets to a 6-4 victory over the Oil Kings. . . . F Carter Rigby and F Cody Chikie both scored twice for the Rockets. Rigby has 19 goals; Chikie has 15. . . . Edmonton F Kristians Pelss scored his 21st goal, shorthanded, at 11:17 of the first period. . . . Chikie broke the tie at 6:48 of the second, with Rigby scoring at 8:55 on the PP and Chikie again on the PP at 10:32 for a 4-1 lead. . . . Pelss, with his 22nd, and F Michael St. Croix, with this 39th, got Edmonton to within one before the second ended. . . . F Brett Bulmer, with his 26th, and Rigby gave Kelowna a 6-3 lead in the third. . . . Edmonton head coach Derek Laxdal yanked his starting goaltender for the third straight game. This time, starter Tristan Jarry gave way to Laurent Brossoit with the visitors leading 3-1. . . . “I feel like Mike Keenan,” Laxdal told Dave (Crash) Cameron of the Edmonton Sun. . . . Edmonton F Henrik Samuelsson took a kneeing major and game misconduct. That is his second major penalty in just over a month. He served a one-game suspension for a charging major he incurred on Jan. 15 in Calgary. . . .

In Kamloops, the Blazers scored the game’s last four goals, three of them via the PP, as they beat the Victoria Royals, 6-3. . . . F Tim Bozon scored twice, giving him 30 goals, and D Bronson Maschmeyer added two, giving him a dozen. . . . The victory allowed the Blazers to move back to the top of the WHL’s overall standings, one point ahead of the Portland Winterhawks, who had leap-frogged the Blazers with an 8-1 victory over the visiting Prince George Cougars on Tuesday. . . . The Blazers were able to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season. . . . The Royals were leading 3-2 when Maschmeyer scored on the PP at 18:37 of the second period. . . . Bozon’s 30th, at 1:37 of the third, also came on the PP, as did Maschmeyer’s second goal, at 6:20. . . . Kamloops F Chase Schaber returned from a one-game absence with a leg injury. . . . Kamloops G Cam Lanigan left this one at 4:19 of the second period after the Royals scored to go ahead 3-2. Lanigan was caught in traffic at the net and appeared to suffer an injury to his upper right leg. He was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure but head coach Guy Charron said he would be OK. . . . Kamloops F Brendan Ranford ran his point streak to 11 games with an assist. He has 18 points over that span. . . . The Blazers now have three 30-goal men, with Ranford and F Colin Smith, who had three assists, there, too.
———
WEDNESDAY’S CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
F Lane Scheidl, Regina.
D Damon Severson, Kelowna.
D Jesse Zgraggen, Victoria.
———
WEDNESDAY’S CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
None.
———
TWEET OF THE NIGHT:
From F Brody Sutter, the captain of the Lethbridge Hurricanes, following a 3-2 victory over the Blades in Saskatoon: “Happy bus back to LethVegas after possibly the stupidest one game trip of my career. #7hourhappybus.”
Yes, the Hurricanes made a one-game trip to Saskatoon.
———
For today’s good read, we turn to Harvey Araton of The New York Times, who writes about the relationship between the late Gary Carter and the team he managed at Palm Beach Atlantic University. That piece is right here.


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Blazers strike early and often in beating Seattle

Dylan Willick and the Kamloops Blazers had lots to smile about Friday
as they whipped Seth Swenson and the Seattle Thunderbirds.
(Photo by Murray Mitchell / Kamloops Daily News)

By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor

Well, that didn’t take long.
The Kamloops Blazers, obviously not big on suspense, scored twice in the game’s first 32 seconds and four times in the opening 6:02 as they took apart the Seattle Thunderbirds to the tune of 7-1 on Friday night at Interior Savings Centre.
Seattle goaltender Calvin Pickard, in his first start since the WHL’s trade deadline came and went he didn’t get a change of address, was dissected by the Blazers like a Grade 12 biology student with a frog.
0:19 — The first time the Blazers got into Seattle’s zone, winger J.C. Lipon scored from the slot.
0:32 — On the Blazers’ second foray into enemy territory, forward Chase Schaber beat Pickard from the slot. (Seattle took its time out at this point, and when is the last time that happened so early in a game?)
5:03 — While killing a penalty, Colin Smith and Brendan Ranford played pitch and catch, with Smith finishing off what turned into a 2-on-1 break.
6:02 — It was almost a carbon copy of the first two goals with Ranford finding himself with room in the slot and whipping a shot past Pickard, who was in the tunnel leading to the Seattle dressing room before the home boys had finished celebrating.
There was blood in the water and the Blazers were having a feeding frenzy.
Kamloops did take its foot off the pedal — at that stage, it was headed for a 40-0 victory — and cruised home with its 30th victory of the season.
The Blazers (30-10-3) remain second in the Western Conference, three points behind the Tri-City Americans (33-8-0), who pounded the Giants 11-4 in Vancouver last night. The Blazers, of course, beat the visiting Americans 3-2 on Wednesday night.
“We played the best team in Canada on Wednesday. . . . this team was on a four-game skid,” explained Lipon, who finished with two goals. “The mentality was to go into this game thinking Tri-City and not let up . . . not sink to their level, make them play with us.
“We came out hot.”
Boy, did they!
Defenceman Bronson Maschmeyer gave the Blazers a 5-0 lead in a first period in which they enjoyed a 16-11 edge in shots.
Dave Sutter, Seattle’s Swiss defender, scored for his side at 6:21 of the second, before Lipon, with his 15th, and Dylan Willick, with his 20th, wrapped up the scoring in the third.
“Our game plan was to have a good start,” Kamloops head coach Guy Charron said. “They had acquired some people at the trade deadline so we felt they would probably have some enthusiasm for the game. We went after them and were able to capitalize early and that really changed the tempo.”
That doesn’t mean that it all was peaches and cream for the Blazers. Their second period wasn’t anything about which to write home.
“It’s learning what winning teams need to do,” Charron said. “Hopefully, we can continue learning without getting hurt from it. . . . we can’t have the kind of period we did in the second.”
The Blazers played the first 13:31 of the second period without even one shot on goal, a stretch that included all of one power play and the first 1:23 of another.
“We didn’t give up a whole lot but we got into a few penalties,” Lipon said. “Some of the guys, including myself, were getting creative and getting away from the game plan. But once we started chipping pucks again it was good.”
The key, Lipon said, is to be consistent, no matter the calibre of the opposition.
“You have to beat the best,” he said, “and you have to beat the lower guys, too. The thing is to stick to the systems all the time, no matter who you’re playing. That’s what we’re trying to build. We have to be a 60-minute team. That’s what’s going to take us far.”
The Thunderbirds (16-22-1), who now have lost five in a row, are seventh in the Western Conference, meaning if the playoffs were to start today they would face the Blazers.
At this point, Kamloops is 2-0 against Seattle, with a 15-3 edge in goals, having also won here 8-2 on Nov. 26.
While Seattle plays the Portland Winterhawks in Kent, Wash., tonight, the Blazers will be at home to the Everett Silvertips, which means former Kamloops player/coach Mark Ferner will be at the ISC. Everett’s roster also includes ex-Blazers J.T. Barnett and Josh Caron, however neither played in a 4-3 overtime victory over the visiting Spokane Chiefs last night. Apparently, both were healthy scratches.
JUST NOTES: Attendance was 4,053. . . . The Blazers now have four 20-goal scorers on their roster, with Willick having joined Smith (23), Ranford (22) and F Tim Bozon (20). . . . Kamloops G Cole Cheveldave stopped 23 shots in improving to 22-5-3. . . . Pickard was beaten four times on nine shots, while Daniel Cotton gave up three goals on 19 shots. . . . The Daily News Three Stars: 1. Lipon: He lit the fuse; 2. Smith: Three more points and blocking shots; 3. D Tyler Bell, Kamloops: Keeps getting better. . . . Seattle had two forwards — Seth Swenson and Dillon Wagner — in its lineup for the first time. The Thunderbirds acquired Swenson, 18, and two first-round bantam draft picks from Portland for F Marcel Noebels on Tuesday. Seattle later claimed Wagner, 20, off waivers from Portland. . . . The Thunderbirds had room for Wagner after D Kyle Verdino, 20, retired. He is believed to have suffered three concussions this season.
——————————
Ryan Hanes, a winger in his third season with the Kamloops Blazers, sat out his eighth straight WHL game on Friday.
   Instead of being in uniform, Hanes watched from the catwalk leading to the press box at Interior Savings Centre as the Blazers beat the Seattle Thunderbirds, 7-1
   Hanes is recovering from injuries, including a concussion, suffered on Dec. 23 when he was involved in an altercation at Cactus Jack’s Saloon in downtown Kamloops.
   The Blazers have said that Hanes was in the wrong place at the wrong time and that he won’t be disciplined.
   Hanes, a 19-year-old from Kamloops, has yet to comment on what happened.
   Last night, during the first intermission, he said: “I can’t comment. I’d like to but I can’t.”
   Hanes, who has career highs in goals (5), assists (9) and points (14), said he isn't close to returning. He has ridden a stationary bike and will continue to do so, but hasn't been cleared to resume skating.
— GREGG DRINNAN

Bell tolls once in Blazers victory

Alex Forsberg of the Prince George Cougars does a little high-stepping as he
tries to avoid a pair of Kamloops Blazers on Friday night.
(Photo by Murray Mitchell / Kamloops Daily News)

By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor

Ask not for whom the Bell tolled.
On Friday night at Interior Savings Centre, he tolled for the Kamloops Blazers.
Defenceman Tyler Bell, a 17-year-old from Regina in his first WHL season, broke a 3-3 tie at 2:19 of the third period and the Blazers won their season-high fifth straight game, beating the Prince George Cougars, 5-4.
The victory allowed the Blazers (19-7-1) to stay atop the B.C. Division, one point ahead of the Vancouver Giants (18-10-2), who beat the Pats 4-1 in Regina. Kamloops is second in the Western Conference, a point behind the Tri-City Americans (20-7-0).
The Blazers are at home again tonight as they meet the Victoria Royals for the fourth time since Nov. 25. The Blazers are 4-0 against the Royals this season, including three victories in the last week.
Last night, the Royals (12-15-2) snapped a six-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over the Rockets in Kelowna.
The Blazers and Rockets were locked in a 3-3 game — with goaltenders Cam Lanigan of Kamloops and Drew Owsley making some stellar saves — when Bell struck for his first WHL goal.
Bell said he just wanted to “get it on net.”
“It was a tight game and I couldn’t risk getting a blocked shot,” Bell said. “I saw an opening so I just shot it.
“It was a pretty good shot. I got all of it. It was pretty exciting . . . I was pretty excited.”
The goal, coming in his 15th game, also allowed Bell to keep up with his roommate, fellow-defenceman Landon Cross, a 17-year-old from Brandon. Cross scored his first goal Wednesday, in the Blazers’ 6-5 overtime victory in Victoria.
“In the house, he was beaking me a bit,” Bell said with a laugh. “We’re roomates and he was beaking me a bit with the billets.”
Left-winger Brendan Ranford extended the Blazers’ lead to 5-3 at 13:11, only to have centre Troy Bourke pull the Cougars to within one at 15:20.
Despite some late pressure from the Cougars, and three late faceoffs in the Kamloops zone, the Blazers were able to prevail.
Lanigan, who had sat and watched Cole Cheveldave start the last seven games, finished with 25 saves, none bigger than the one he made on left-winger Spencer Asuchak, who is from Kamloops, from eight feet with 1:01 left in the third period.
This was Teddy Bear/Toque Toss night and left-winger Tim Bozon, the Swiss freshman, unleashed the blizzard of stuffed toys at 12:54 of the first period.
Chase Souto and Matt Needham also scored for the Blazers, who led 2-1 and 3-2 at the breaks.
Alex Forsberg Jake Mykitiuk and Asuchak also scored for the Cougars (8-18-2), who play in Kelowna tonight.
“The Cougars came off a week off and I have to give them credit,” Kamloops head coach Guy Charron said. “They play a certain way that makes it tough to capitalize. We were somewhat sluggish . . . we weren’t at the top of our game.
“We were making mistakes against a team that was playing pretty structured. They stayed with their plan . . . and made it tough on us.
But we found a way somehow and that’s one of those things that we’ve been doing lately.”
Bell agreed with his coach.
“We seemed sluggish in the first period,” he said. “Not using it as an excuse, but it was a long trip to Victoria. We were a little heavy (in the first period).
“But we settled own and we pulled it out, and that’s all that matters.”
———
Kamloops right-winger Jordan DePape, who had shoulder surgery four weeks ago, reports from Winnipeg that “things are going pretty well.”
He checks in with a physiotherapist every two weeks to learn new exercises and said he can feel his shoulder getting stronger.
“I am working out all through the week with a trainer — mostly legs,cardio and core,” he said.
He has been told that, if all goes well, he will be able to skate 12 weeks after surgery and is hoping to play after 16 weeks, which would be early March.
With the Blazers heading into the East Division next week, he will meet the team in Regina and travel with them from most of the six-game swing.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said.
JUST NOTES: Attendance was 4,086. . . . Owsley finished with 27 saves. . . . Kamloops was 2-for-4 on the power play; the Cougars were 1-for-3. . . . Prince George had to scratch G Devon Fordyce (knee), so had Jake Mattes of the junior B Chase Heat on the bench backing up Owsley. Mattes is from Kamloops. . . . The Daily News’ Three Stars: 1. D Austin Madaisky, Kamloops: Steadying influence back there; 2. Needham: Regaining form he showed late last season; 3. D Jesse Forsberg, Prince George: Panic? What’s that?
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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Taking Note on Twitter

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Björn Svensson (Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, 2003-06) was released from his tryout contract by Eisbären Berlin. He was pointless in six exhibition games for Eisbären during the tryout. . . .
F Justin Taylor (Red Deer, 2003-04) signed a two-month tryout contract with Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia, Austria Erste Bank Liga). He had 10 goals and 19 assists in 51 games with the Idaho Steelheads and Ontario Reign (both ECHL) last season.
———
On a day when Peter Chiarelli, the general manager of the Boston Bruins, said forward Marc Savard’s career may be over because of post-concussion syndrome, the OHL announced that all of its players will wear soft cap shoulder and elbow pads this season.
According to the OHL, its board of governors is adamant that stiffer penalties will be handed out to repeat offenders when it comes to checks to the head.
This all is most admirable and a definite step forward in the drive to cut down on concussions — and it is a move the WHL announced it was making on June 15.
However, as one Twitterer tweeted: “What about fists to the face/head? Where's that crackdown?”
———
The Kootenay Ice will have eight players off its roster attending NHL camps. That includes six drafted players — D Brayden McNabb and G Nathan Lieuwen (Buffalo), F Drew Czerwonka (Edmonton), F Cody Eakin (Washington), and F Max Reinhart and D Joey Leach (Calgary). As well, D James Martin (Calgary) and F Joe Antilla (San Jose) have accepted training camp invitations. . . . The Ice, the WHL’s reigning champion, opened training camp on Wednesday. Their annual Blue-White game ends camp on Sunday at noon.
———
D Ben Fanelli is returning to the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers after not playing at all last season. The Rangers will hold a news conference today with Fanelli in attendance. Fanelli, 18, hasn’t played since Oct. 31, 2009, when he suffered a fractured skull and various facial fractures after being hit from behind by D Mike Lambas of the Erie Otters.
Sunaya Sapurji of Yahoo! Sports has a good look at what Fanelli has been through — and the good things he has accomplished of late — right here.
———
JUST NOTES: The Tri-City Americans have signed D Clint Filbrandt, 16, who was a 10th-round pick in the 2010 bantam draft. Hehad 29 points and 86 penalty minutes with the CNHA Blazers of the Alberta Minor Midget league last season. Filbrandt attended the Americans’ rookie camp and now is in main camp. “Clint had an excellent rookie camp and continued his strong play into main camp,” Americans GM Bob Tory said in a news release. “He will participate in both the Everett and Tri-City tournaments and then return home to Calgary to play this season with his AAA Midget club.” . . . The Prince George Cougars have signed D Marc McNulty of Medicine Hat. The 6-foot-5, 181-pounder was a 10th-round bantam draft pick in 2010. He played last season with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Alberta Midget league. “He might be the most improved player in our entire camp,” Wade Klippenstein, the Cougars’ assistant general manager, said in a news release. “Initially, he was a 10th-round draft-pick. If the bantam draft was held again tomorrow, I guarantee you he wouldn’t be a 10th round pick.” McNulty will be in the Cougars’ lineup for games in St. Albert, Alta., this weekend. . . .
The Kamloops Blazers have signed F Devin Oakes, 16, and D Tyler Bell, 17, both of whom are listed players. Oakes, from Prince Rupert, B.C., played last season for the midget AAA Pursuit of Excellence prep team in Kelowna, putting up 24 points, including 10 goals, in 41 games. Bell, who is from Regina, is another listed player. Bell has played two seasons with the midget AAA Regina Pat Canadians. He had 22 points, including five goals, and 58 penalty minutes in 44 games last season. . . . G Jamie Tucker, who played last season with the Prince Albert Raiders, has cleared WHL waivers and will play this season with the BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies. Tucker, now 20, is from Victoria. . . .
TSN made it official on Wednesday. Dennis Beyak, a former radio voice of the Flin Flon Bombers, Saskatoon Blades, Victoria Cougars and Seattle Thunderbirds, will call the play of Winnipeg Jets games on TSN Jets and on Sports Radio 1290 in Winnipeg. . . . Beyak also did a turn as GM of the Tri-City Americans and the Thunderbirds. . . . Brian Munz, a former radio voice of the Prince Albert Raiders on CKBI, will call Jets games on Sports Radio 1290 when Beyak is providing the TV call. . . . Shane Hnidy (Swift Current, Prince Albert, 1991-96) has retired from playing and joined the Jets broadcast crew as an analyst. . . . The Victoria Royals drew a crowd of 1,756 fans to their intrasquad game Wednesday night at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
———
THE COACHING GAME:
The Seattle Thunderbirds have signed Dusty Imoo as their goaltending coach. Imoo played in the WHL (New Westminster, Lethbridge, Regina, 1987-91) before moving on to play in the IHL, ECHL and Japan for a total of 15 seasons. He also played for Japan in the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano. Imoo takes over from Paul Fricker in Seattle. . . .
The Victoria Times Colonist is reporting that owner Len Barrie is expected to name himself head coach of the BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies on Friday. Barrie stepped behind the bench late last season, with then-head coach coach Vic Gervais stepping down to assistant coach, a position he continues to hold.
———
Here’s a note from a story written by Sean Rooney of the Medicine Hat News:
“Though the Tigers don't release their training camp rosters publicly, they did cut a dozen or so players between Monday and Tuesday night and had 46 players between the two teams that played Tuesday. Most of the cuts were 15- and 16-year-olds.”
The Tigers don’t release their training camp rosters publicly? And the WHL office allows this to happen?
Hey, WHL, this is 2011. Isn’t it time all of your teams started to treat their fans with the respect that most businesses give to paying customers?
The Tigers don’t release their training camp rosters publicly? Do they have something to hide? You wouldn’t suppose one of your teams would have an undrafted European practising with it, do you? Nah, that would never happen.
———
F Trevor Moore, whose WHL rights are held by the Tri-City Americans, has committed to attend Denver U and play for the Pioneers beginning with the 2013-14 season. The 5-foot-6, 165-pound Moore will play this season for former WHL player/coach Drew Schoneck with the USHL’s Tri-City Storm. The Storm selected Moore with the eighth overall pick in the USHL’s 2011 futures draft. Moore, who was listed by the Americans, is from Thousand Oaks, Calif. He had 41 points in 35 games with the L.A. Selects last season.
———
Cathal Kelly of the Toronto Star has a call for action following Wednesday’s startling death of former WHLer/NHLer Wade Belak. That piece is right here.
———
F Matt Kassian hopes to crack the lineup of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild this season. He is an enforcer who played with the Vancouver Giants and Kamloops Blazers. He also is highly intelligent and great conversationalist. And, despite recent happenings, he isn’t about to change his game, nor does he feel there is a need to. Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal has that story right here.
———
Today’s good read comes from Tim Panaccio of csnphilly.com. He writes about former WHLer Todd Fedoruk and the demons he battles on a daily basis. Fedoruk, an NHL enforcer, didn’t play at all last season as he worked to regain his health. He will attend the Vancouver Canucks’ camp as a free agent. Panaccio’s story is right here.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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Taking Note on Twitter

Blazers trim roster to 29

Following their intrasquad game on Tuesday night, the Kamloops Blazers trimmed 17 players from their roster.
D MacKenzie Ferner (Vernon, B.C.), F Mitch Friesen (Surrey, B.C.), F Brayden Gelsinger (Regina), F Eric Krienke (Calgary), G Braden Krogfoss (Cloverdale, B.C.), G Scott Lapp (Surrey, B.C.), F Matt McLeod (Saskatoon), F Kyler Nachtigall (Calgary), F Tre Potskin (Prince George) and F Evan Tordiff (Fort Smith, N.W.T.) are expected to play for midget AAA teams this season.
D Tyson Harvey (Nanaimo, B.C.) and F Diego Cuglietta (Kamloops) will play for the junior B Kamloops Storm of the Kootenay International junior league, with F Jared Marchi (Kimberley, B.C.) joining his hometown Dynamiters, who play in the KIJHL.
D Braden Pears (Duncan, B.C.), D Ryan Rehill (Edmonton), F Cam Rowat (Souris, Man.) and G Troy Trombley (Sherwood Park, Alta.) will be joining junior A teams.
With those players having been assigned, the Blazers’ roster is down to 29 players — 16 forwards, 10 defencemen and three goaltenders.
It is fair to say that there haven’t been any surprises in the Blazers’ camp, which wrapped up with the intrasquad game.
The three goaltenders still standing are Cam Lanigan, 19, who has played in 90 regular-season WHL games with the Edmonton Oil Kings and the Blazers but who has a lot to prove after a horrible finish to last season; G Cole Cheveldave, the AJHL’s rookie of the year with the Drumheller Dragons last season; and, Taran Kozun, who starred with the midget AAA Prince Albert Mintos. Cheveldave is 18; Kozun is 17.
The Blazers will open the exhibition season on Friday against the visiting Victoria Royals. The six exhibition games will determine the pecking order for the goaltenders come the regular-season opener on Sept. 24 when the Prince George Cougars come calling.
One of the remaining 10 defencemen, Jordan Thomson, is the only 15-year-old still on the roster. The fourth overall pick in the 2011 bantam draft, he will be heading home to Wawanesa, Man., sometime during the long weekend.
The Blazers are carrying six veteran defencemen, with three rookies looking for spots — Tyler Bell of Regina and Landon Cross of Regina both are 17, while Josh Connolly of Prince George is 16. Connolly is the younger brother of Prince George Cougars star Brett Connolly.
The Blazers will have two defencemen — Josh Caron (Minnesota) and Austin Madaisky (Columbus) — going to pro camp, so they may carry Bell, Cross and Connolly for a while.
Of the 16 remaining forwards, 10 are veterans, while Matt Needham (13 games) and Aspen Sterzer (10) got a taste of the WHL with the Blazers last season.
Swiss F Tim Bozon, Dallas Calvin of Trail, B.C., Devin Oakes of Prince Rupert, B.C., and Cole Ully of Calgary are the other newcomers still on the roster.
Needham (elbow) and veteran F Jordan DePape (hip flexor) didn’t play in the intrasquad game, while veteran F J.C. Lipon left in the third period with an injury to his left leg.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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Taking Note on Twitter

Wednesday . . .

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Matt MacKay (Moose Jaw, Medicine Hat, Vancouver, Brandon, 2008-11) signed a one-year contract with Kölner Haie (Germany, DEL). He had 29 goals and 51 assists in 71 games with Vancouver Giants and Brandon Wheat Kings this season. Köln CEO Thomas Eichin: "Matt is a top talent. We are glad we were able to get him because he fits into our scheme. Young and hungry. He also has the right professional genes. His father was a very successful player." . .  . Matt's father Mark (Moose Jaw, 1984-1985), who is a Calgary-based player agent, played 12 seasons in Germany and made 50 appearances with the German national team. . . .
D Mike Egener (Calgary, 2000-04) signed a one-year contract with Esbjerg (Denmark, AL-Bank Liga). He had two goals and six assists in 44 games for the Florida Everblades (ECHL). Esbjerg head coach (and former N.Y. Islanders D) Tomas Jonsson: "He's a big, strong guy and he will help us a lot with the game in our own zone. We have long wished for a defenseman of that caliber and Mike comes with some power, so I very much look forward to working with him." . . .
F Garrett Bembridge (Saskatoon, 1997-2001) signed a one-year contract with Valpellice (Italy, Serie A). He had 25 goals and 17 assists in 48 games for Eispiraten Crimmitschau (Germany, 2.Bundesliga) this season. . . .
G Jeff Glass (Kootenay, 2002-05) signed a two-year contract extension with Barys Astana (Kazakhstan, KHL). He had a 2.95 GAA and a .911 save percentage in 23 games for Astana this season.
———
JUST NOTES: D Tyler Bell, 17, has signed to play with the SJHL’s Estevan Bruins, unless he sticks with the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers. Bell spent the last two seasons with the midget AAA Regina Pat Canadians. Right now, he would seventh at best on the Blazers’ depth chart. . . . The Blazers, by the way, are expected to announce the signing of an assistant coach today. Head coach Guy Charron is heading into the second year of a two-year deal, so perhaps an extension will be in order for him. . . . Kamloops didn’t renew the contracts of assistants Scott Ferguson and Geoff Smith after last season ended. . . . Interesting goings-on in the NorPac Junior Hockey League where officials have suspended four of its 12 teams for next season. Matt Baldwin of the Whitefish Pilot has that story right here. . . . F Taylor Piller, who won four championships in as many SJHL seasons, has decided to attend Simon Fraser University and play hockey there. Piller won two championships with the Humboldt Broncos and two more with the La Ronge Ice Wolves. . . .
———
THE COACHING GAME: Pat Bingham is the new head coach of the ECHL’s Elmira Jackals. Bingham (Kamloops, New Westminster, 1985-89) is the ninth head coach in franchise history. He spent the last four seasons on the coaching staff of the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers, taking over as head coach in November. . . . Former Prince George Cougars head coach Lane Lambert will be named today as an assistant coach by the NHL’s Nashville Predators. He has been the head coach of Nashville’s AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, for four seasons. . . . Former WHL D Ian Herbers, an assistant under Lambert for two seasons, is a candidate to take over as Milwaukee’s head coach. . . . Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post updates the situation involving the Regina Pats and contract negotiations with a few members of the organization. That piece is right here.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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Taking Note on Twitter