Brandon d-man injured with Kings . . . Pats, Chiefs swing deal . . . Four WHL teams in Top 10

President of @BladesHockey @Hogle reppin the jerseys wore on Sunday for Gordie Howe appreciation @CKOMNews #yxe pic.twitter.com/qRBBJpVGML

— JT Marshall (@jtmarshallCKOM) September 21, 2016

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The Saskatoon Blades will be without F Ryan Graham (leg) and F Cam Hebig (undisclosed) for the immediate future. . . . Hebig, 19, put up 69 points, including a team-leading 26 goals, in 59 games last season. He has played 198 regular-season games with his hometown team over the past three seasons. . . . Graham, 20, had 46 points, 22 of them goals, in 71 games. He is heading into his fifth season with the Blades. Graham is one of three 20-year-olds on the roster, joining F Jesse Shynkaruk and D Bryton Sayers. . . . The Blades open the season against the host Swift Current Broncos on Friday. . . .

Vancouver Giants F Alec Baer (shoulder) didn’t play in the exhibition season and is practising in a non-contact sweater. F Tyler Benson of the Giants also has a shoulder injury. He is with the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers but didn’t play Wednesday as the Oilers rookies took on the U of Alberta Golden Bears in an annual matchup. . . . The Giants are at home in the Langley Events Centre to the Everett Silvertips on Friday. . . .

F Lane Zablocki of the Regina Pats didn’t play in an exhibition game because of a shoulder injury. But he is expected to be in the lineup Friday as the Pats open the season against the visiting Prince Albert Raiders. Last season, as a freshman, he had 37 points, including 18 goals, in 72 games. He added seven goals in 12 playoff games.

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D Kale Clague of the Brandon Wheat Kings was injured while playing for the Los Angeles Kings in a rookie game against the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday. It doesn’t sound like the injury is serious, but, at the same, he apparently will miss some time. Here is Mike Stothers, who coached the Kings team, in conversation with Kings Insider Jon Rosen: “It’s a lower-body injury . . . I don’t think it’s going to be bad. But it is going to be bad, because he’s a young guy and he’s going to miss a little bit of time, I would imagine. You never want to see a young kid get hurt. You don’t want to see anybody get hurt. . . . But I think he’ll be OK, shortly.” . . . Clague, 18, was a second-round pick by the Kings in the 2016 NHL draft. He had 43 points, including 37 assists, in 71 games with Brandon last season. In 21 playoff games, he added 14 points, six of them goals.

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The Regina Pats have acquired D Tyler Jubenvill, who will turn 17 on Nov. 30, from the Spokane Chiefs for a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2018 bantam draft. Jubenvill, from Gilbert Plains, Man., was a ninth-round selection by the Chiefs in the 2014 draft, but has committed to the NCAA’s Bemidji State Beavers. Last season, with the MJHL’s Winkler Flyers, the 5-foot-10, 180-pounder had four goals and 27 assists in 57 games. He has returned to the Flyers this season. . . . Earlier, the Pats rolled the dice on a couple of other players believed going the NCAA route. They acquired the rights to F Nick Henry from the Everett Silvertips earlier this year and have since signed him. They selected F Bryan Lockner in the third round of the 2015 draft and also were able to sign him. . . . Also on Wednesday, the Pats dropped F Jake Elmer, who will turn 18 on Dec. 31, from their roster. He is expected to report to the AJHL’s Grande Prairie Storm. The Calgary native was pointless in 17 games with the Pats last season. He also got into 20 games with the Storm, recording a goal and three assists.

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Rob Vanstone, in the Regina Leader-Post: “Fighting in hockey is pointless, Part 2,378,119: Jayce Hawryluk suffered a broken hand in a fight during a rookie game with the NHL’s Florida Panthers. If not for hockey’s backwards culture, the 19-year-old Hawryluk — who had 106 points, including 47 goals, in 58 games with the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings last season — would have more opportunities to use his hands to impress the Panthers’ brass with his abundant offensive skills. . . .Who says that nobody gets hurt in a hockey fight?”

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The CHL’s first ratings of the 2016-17 season — as voted on by a panel of anonymous NHL scouts — were released on Wednesday afternoon and the OHL’s London Knights, the defending Memorial Cup champions, are in the No. 1 slot. . . . There are four WHL teams in the top 10: 3. Brandon Wheat Kings; 4. Seattle Thunderbirds; 8. Victoria Royals; 10. Regina Pats. . . . The Kelowna Rockets got an honourable mention. . . . Keep in mind, however, that there isn’t much on which to base these rankings this early in the season. . . . Uhh, the visiting Knights lost 4-1 to the Sarnia Sting on Wednesday night. The Sting received an honourable mention in the rankings.

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Commissioner Gilles Courteau says the QMJHL has changed the rules regarding its draft lottery — there now will be five teams in the lottery, rather than two. With 16 of the league’s 18 teams qualifying for the playoffs, the lottery now will include the two non-playoff teams as well as the three lowest qualifiers. 

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As you no doubt will be aware, the legendary Vin Scully will walk away from his one-of-a-kind broadcast career after calling the play of the game between his Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants on Oct. 2. . . . What you may not know is that there is a line between Scully and the WHL. Mike Benton, who is preparing for his second season as the voice of the Everett Silvertips, grew up worshiping at the Scully shrine and, at one point, had the opportunity to job shadow his hero. . . . Benton writes about all of that right here.

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If you are a regular in these parts, you know how I feel about organ donations and you also know why I feel the way I do. When I was hired as sports editor of Kamloops Daily News, Susan Duncan was the editor. Almost three months ago, she became a kidney donor. On Wednesday, she and Lloyd Garner, the recipient of that kidney, appeared on The Jim Harrison Show on Radio NL in Kamloops. . . . The story of how she came to give him a kidney is rather amazing. . . . Take 12 minutes and give it a listen right here.

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

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Former NHL F Ethan Moreau has joined the Niagara U Purple Eagles as an assistant coach under head coach David Burkholder. . . . Moreau played 15 seasons in the NHL. After retiring, Moreau spent three seasons (2012-15) as a pro scout with the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens. Last season, he was a development coach at the HarborCenter Academy Hockey in Buffalo. . . . From a Purple Eagles news release: “Among current NCAA Division I hockey coaches, only three played more games at the NHL level than Moreau: Boston University assistant coach Scott Young, Michigan State assistant coach Kelly Miller, and Michigan head coach Red Berenson.”

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Congrats to @WHLPats trainer @gdmayer27 on 20yrs in @TheWHL Many long days & nights of tape, ice, scolding, therapy & mentoring! #grump #MVP

— Brent Parker (@Patguy65) September 22, 2016

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WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY GAMES:

No Games Scheduled.

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FRIDAY GAMES (all times local):

Kootenay at Calgary, 7 p.m.

Kelowna at Kamloops, 7 p.m.

Medicine Hat at Lethbridge, 7 p.m.

Brandon at Moose Jaw, 7 p.m.

Edmonton at Red Deer, 7 p.m.

Prince Albert at Regina, 7 p.m.

Saskatoon at Swift Current, 7 p.m.

Everett at Vancouver, 7:30 p.m.

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

There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.

Chaos by the Creek returns to Regina . . . Victoria and Vancouver combine to bid on 2019 WJC

Grant me a few minutes for some editorial comment on some sporting news from Thursday. If you aren’t aware, I spent 17 years (1983-2000) at the Regina Leader-Post, the last 12 as sports editor.

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Back in the day, the late Bob Hughes, the longtime sports editor of the Regina Leader-Post, would write about the Saskatchewan Roughriders using the placeline CHAOS-BY-THE-CREEK.

As the Roughriders stumbled and bumbled their way from one season to the next, not far from Wascana Creek, Hughes would write often about what he referred to as the Reign of Error and the

Perhaps the Saskatchewan Roughriders could purchase the
Regina Leader-Post building and turn it into a dormitory.
(Photo by Terry Massey)

Loyal Disorder of Rider Priders.

In those days, the Roughriders, a community-owned CFL team, were operated mostly by volunteers. As an organization, nobody seemed to know what they had there or, if they did, they didn’t know how to harness it.

In those days, they held telethons to save the team. Players, coaches, board members . . . they all appeared on camera and basically begged for alms to keep the team from sinking under the weight of its debt.

It wasn’t until 1989 when, under head coach John Gregory, the Roughriders won the Grey Cup — the team’s first since 1966 — that the province of Saskatchewan was covered in joy.

It was after that Grey Cup triumph that the Roughriders’ brand really took off — the Green Bay Packers of the CFL, they were called — until it became something that many NHL teams envied.

All of that came undone this week. There is no joy in Mudville now, only embarrassment. You can bet that Rider Nation is feeling green as members wonder why they keeping forking over the green if it is going to be spent in such a fashion.

Obviously, things are out of control in Regina where the Roughriders were fined $60,000 by the CFL and lost in excess of $26,000 from their 2016 salary cap for assorted roster violations (aka cheating).

According to the CFL, the Roughriders “were in violation of policies which prohibit practising with ineligible players, players participating in practice who are on the six-game injured list and having free agents practise with players who are under contract. Each of these actions constitute a violation of CFL bylaws.”

Justin Dunk of 3downnation.com reported that the team was paying the extra players and had them staying in two Regina houses.

The Roughriders, you understand, didn’t get caught in some accidental mess. No. The amount of planning that will have had to go into this scheme would have been huge. A lot of thought will have been put into this program of cheating by the creek.

(Keep in mind that the Roughriders were fined $15,000 last week for violating the national/international ratio during a 40-27 loss to the visiting B.C. Lions on July 16.)

Also yesterday, Chris Jones, who is the general manager, head coach and vice-president of football operations, refused to take personnel department-related questions at a media briefing. Jones, who has complete control over the football operation, apparently will address these issues today (Friday).

Oh, it also was revealed Thursday that the team, which, remember, is community-owned, has started requiring fans to sign in if they hope to watch practice. It seems that team officials — please try not to laugh — feel someone “leaked” information to the Ottawa Redblacks prior to a July 22 game in Regina. Yes, the Roughriders, who are 1-5, won that game for their only victory this season. No jokes please. But next thing you know the Roughriders will be charging fans to watch practice.

Still, with a glorious, new taxpayer-funded stadium — one with which not all Saskatchewan citizens are enamoured — preparing for its opening, one might be excused for thinking the once-Jolly Green Giants might be at least a little concerned with public relations.

As it is, the CFL’s flagship franchise has turned into a national embarrassment in the seven months of Jones’ reign.

The likes of Al Ford, Phil Kershaw, Gregory, Dave Ridgway, Glen Suitor, Ray Elgaard, Bobby Jurasin, Dick Rendek, Don Narcisse, Roger Aldag, Bob Poley, Eddie Lowe, Tom Shepherd and so many others, along with the members of Rider Nation, deserve so much better.

(Check out this Hughes column right here, from Aug. 18, 1984.)

leaderpost.com/sports/football/cfl/saskatchewan-roughriders/the-daily-bob-hughes-column-aug-18-1984

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F Lauris Dārziņš (Kelowna, 2004-06) has signed a one-year extension with Dinamo Riga (Latvia, KHL). Last season, he had 10 goals and 18 assists in 59 games.

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The Victoria Times Colonist reportsd on Thursday that “Victoria and Vancouver are putting together a joint bid for the 2019 world junior hockey championship.” . . . Hockey Canada has established an Aug. 31 deadline for bids, with a host city to be announced on Dec. 1. The 2019 WJC is to open on Dec. 26, 2018. . . . Edmonton, with a brand new arena, is expected to bid, while the Ontario cities of London and Windsor may combine on a joint bid. . . . According to the Times Colonist, “The B.C. bid would see preliminary pool games played at Victoria’s Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre and at Vancouver venues, with the semifinals and final in Vancouver, likely at Pacific Coliseum or Rogers Arena.” . . . This combined bid likely means neither the Vancouver Giants nor the Victoria Royals will make a bid on the 2018 Memorial Cup. To date, the Regina Pats are the only WHL team to have said they will bid to play host the tournament that will celebrate the Memorial Cup’s 100th anniversary. . . . The Times Colonist story is right here.

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The Lethbridge Hurricanes have scheduled their annual general meeting of shareholders for Sept. 19. A year ago, the franchise was in disarray, with Ron Robison, the WHL commissioner, having

recommended that shareholders sell the franchise, and the shareholders, in turn, voting not to do that. After a successful 2015-16, the Hurricanes are expected to announce a profit at the annual meeting. One would assume that general manager Peter Anholt, who guided the franchise to and then through last season, will be granted at least one standing ovation. . . . At the AGM, the shareholders will bid farewell to board members Rick Braden, Dave Olson and Blair Sanderson. . . . And, hey, if you have ever wanted to own a piece of a major junior team, here’s a note from the Hurricanes: “If you’re not a shareholder, but would like to become one, individual shares are available for purchase for $100 at the Hurricanes office located at the ENMAX Centre. Shares purchased prior to Aug. 29 will be put forth for approval at the next board of directors meeting on that date.”

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F Casey Pierro-Zabotel, a former WHL scoring champion, has signed a one-year deal with the ECHL’s Colorado Eagles. Pierro-Zabotel, 27, helped the Allen Americans to the ECHL title last season, picking up 47 points in 58 regular-season games and adding 16 more in 24 playoff games. . . . He led the WHL in assists (79) and points (115) in 2008-09.

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The QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs fired general manager Darrell Young on Thursday. In a news release, president Trevor Georgie, who has taken over as GM on an interim basis, said only that “we have decided to part ways with Darrell Young and wish him well in his future endeavours.” . . . Danny Flynn is the Sea Dogs’ head coach; he is a former GM of the Moncton Wildcats. . . . Young had been the Saint John GM since March 1, 2014.

I've seen dumb but this has to be one of the dumbest I've seen. Darrell Young, GM of @SJSeaDogs was released today. Has built a top end team

— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) August 11, 2016

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The BCHL has confirmed that the Cowichan Valley Capitals have a new majority owner. Ray Zhang, who is from Beijing, has taken over the franchise in a deal that concluded last week. . . . “This transaction is the first time someone from China has purchased an overseas hockey franchise,” Zhang said in a BCHL news release.“It will open a door for hockey families in China to learn about Canadian hockey first hand. This link to Canadian hockey will prove valuable to encourage all of our young hockey players in China.” . . . Zhang and his family will be moving to Duncan. A source has told Taking Note that there almost certainly will be a Zhang on the Capitals’ roster this season.

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As you may be aware, Vin Scully is into his final season as a play-by-play voice for baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers. To settle in for an evening of listening to him is to spend time in sporting heaven. The other day he enlightened his viewing audience with a story about how he came to know of the bombing of Pearl Harbour. This, friends, is Vin Scully at his best and it’s right here.

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

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The senior Lacombe Generals have brought in a pair of former WHLers as their coaches. Curtis Austring, 33, will be the head coach, with Ken Richardson as the assistant. . . . Austring, from Stewart Valley, Sask., played four seasons in the WHL (Kamloops, Regina, Medicine Hat, 1999-2003). Austring played four seasons at the U of Saskatchewan and has spent the past eight seasons playing for the Generals. . . . Richardson, 43, is from Peace River, Alta. He played with Regina and Red Deer (1991-94). . . The Generals are preparing for their first season in Lacombe, after relocating from Bentley. They are the reigning Allan Cup champions.

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pic.twitter.com/B4u5Qs94pb

— HerbBrooksFoundation (@HerbBrooksFDN) August 11, 2016

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Glass on waivers, or not? . . . Merry Christmas for Lernout, Ully . . . and for Broncos' radio voice

There were conflicting reports Friday as to whether G Jeff Glass (Kootenay, 2002-05) was placed on waivers by Lada Togliatti (Russia, KHL) after his interview on the status of the KHL was published in The Hockey News. This season, in 10 games, Glass is 1-6-0, 3.66, .880. . . . Later Friday it became evident there were conflicting reports as to whether Glass was on waivers. It wasn’t on Friday’s waiver wire per the KHL’s Russian-language website. Still, some reports had him on waivers. There also were harsh comments by former KHL president Medvedev so the KHL powers weren’t happy with that interview. Per @SlavaMalamud, Medevdev said: "Let Glass run off and play in a water-mill league somewhere." . . .
F Marcel Hossa (Portland, 1998-2001) was one of four players assigned by Dinamo Riga (Latvia, KHL) to Liepāja (Latvia, Virslīga) after clearing waivers. This season, Hossa, the team captain, had seven goals and nine assists in 38 games with Dinamo Riga. . . . Per the KHL website, the contract between Hossa and Dinamo Riga was terminated by mutual agreement. . . . Dinamo Riga is having financial issues, so the move was possibly related to that. Dinamo waived three others players along with Hossa. . . .
F Alex Gogolyov (Calgary, Victoria, 2011-13) has been released by Lada Togliatti and has signed to two-way contract with Dynamo Moscow (both Russia, KHL). This season, with Lada's farm club Ariada Volzhsk (Russia, Vysshaya Liga), he had four goals and five assists in 21 games. . . .
G Ville Kolppanen (Lethbridge, 2009-10) was placed on waivers by Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk (Russia, KHL). In 20 games, he was 2-13-4, 3.52, .897. . . . Kolppanen, Dan Sexton and Tim Stapleton refused to practice or play over non-payment of salary. . . . On Friday, Stapleton was traded to Metallurg Magnitogorsk for Yevgeni Grigorenko. . . .
D Tomas Slovak (Kelowna, 2001-03) was released by Hradec Králové (Czech Republic, Extraliga) at his request. He had two goals and 15 assists in 30 games. . . .
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In yesterday’s piece on the WHL playoffs, I erred by using the word ‘re-seed’ in referring to the second round.
Instead, the WHL is using hard brackets, meaning first-round winners within each bracket play each other in the second round with home-ice advantage going to the team with the most regular-season points.
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Merry Christmas to D Brett Lernout of the Swift Current Broncos and F Cole Ully of the Kamloops Blazers, both of whom have signed three-year NHL deals. . . . Lernout, 19, signed with the Montreal Canadiens, who selected him in the third round of the NHL’s 2014 draft. . . . Lernout has 18 points, including eight goals, in 34 games this season. From Winnipeg, he had 22 points, eight of them goals, in 72 games last season. . . . Ully, 19, signed with the Dallas Stars, who selected him in the fifth round of the 2013 NHL draft. He is from Calgary. This season, he has 48 points, including 16 goals, in 35 games. He missed three games with an illness. Last season, he finished with 72 points, 30 of them goals, in 69 games.
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Belarus has won the IIHF U20 World championship Division I Group A title in Asiago, Italy. That means Belarus will advance to play with the big boys next season. There is more on the Asiago tournament right here.
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If you haven’t seen it yet, the Pittsburgh Penguins have done up a terrific Christmas (Vacation) video. It’s right here.
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Vin Scully -- yes, that Vin Scully -- had a bit of a scare the other day during a shopping trip to his favourite Costco. Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times has that story right here.
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Danny Watkins of West Kelowna, B.C., really hadn’t played a lot of football when the Philadelphia Eagles made him a first-round selection in the NFL’s 2011 draft. Really, though, all he wanted to be was a firefighter. . . . Emily Kaplan of the Monday Morning Quarterback website has his story right here, and it’s a great read.
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If you are into Christmas music, as I am, you will love this piece right here from Deadspin. The gang over there has ranked the top Christmas songs. Hint: Silent Night is No. 1. . . . Note that they didn’t include any Christmas tunes from after 1960, and that means that Fairytale of New York isn’t included. It’s by The Pogues, featuring Kirsty MacColl, and if you haven’t heard/seen it, check it out right here. It’s top five material, for sure.
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THE BLOG:

On Friday, someone dubbed it The Technology Fund. Whatever it is, it’s special. As of late Friday, the blog master’s computer fund was at $1,280. . . . If you would like to help, click on the donate button, and thank you in advance. . . . Yes, we are almost there!
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Erin and I were thrilled to welcome Audrey Blair Mullin yesterday at 10:27am. She's 8lbs, 8 ounces and amazing. pic.twitter.com/ojoZhFW3DP
— Shawn Mullin (@shawnmullin) December 19, 2014

There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.

Warriors prospect dies at 16 . . . Former WHL assistant coach to Canucks

F Garrett Festerling (Portland, Regina, 2003-07) has signed a three-year contract extension with the Hamburg Freezers (Germany, DEL). Festerling now is under contract with Hamburg through the 2017-18 season. Last season, in 53 games, he had eight goals and team-leading 29 assists. . . .
F Owen Fussey (Calgary, Moose Jaw, 1999-2003) has signed a one-year contract with the Guildford Flames (England, Premier). Fussey didn’t play the last two seasons. In 2011-12, with the Coventry Blaze (England, UK Elite), he had 68 points, including 37 goals, in 60 games. He led the Blazers in goals.
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ETHAN WILLIAMS
(Moose Jaw Warriors photos)

F Ethan Williams, a fifth-round selection by the Moose Jaw Warriors in the 2012 WHL bantam draft, has died. Williams, who was from Winnipeg, would have turned 17 on Aug. 22.
“Our entire organization is very saddened with the news of Ethan Williams’ passing,” Warriors general manager Alan Millar said in a news release. “Ethan was a fine young man, and a very talented hockey player. Our thoughts and prayers are with Chris and Shannon and the entire Williams family during this difficult time.”
Williams, 5-foot-11 and 165 pounds, signed with the Warriors after their 2012 training camp, and he played one game with them in 2012-13. During that 2012 camp, he scored a goal in his first WHL exhibition game, against the Swift Current Broncos.
In his draft season, Williams had 71 points, 25 of them goals, with a bantam AAA team at the Pursuit of Excellence in Kelowna.
Last season, he had eight points, four of them goals, in 23 games with the midget AAA Winnipeg Thrashers.
Williams still was on the Warriors’ protected list and had been expected to attend training camp next month.
“Ethan has all the tools needed to play in the WHL and a great chance to hone those skills to advance to the highest level,” former NHL and WHL forward Darcy Tucker said of Williams shortly after the 2012 bantam draft. “Ethan can use his body, skating ability and hands to create scoring chances almost at will. We are very happy for Ethan’s success, and will be following him closely this season as he progresses.”
Tucker is a partner in Turning Point Sports Management, the firm that represented Williams at the time.
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The NHL’s Vancouver Canucks will have a new video coach when the new season arrives. A source has told Taking Note that the Canucks have signed Ben Cooper as their video coach. He will work with Willie Desjardins, the Canucks’ new head coach. . . . Cooper has been coaching a varsity team at the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton, B.C., and also was scouting for the Lethbridge Hurricanes. . . . Before that, he was an assistant coach with the WHL’s Victoria Royals. He also has extensive video experience with Hockey Canada.
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Former WHL head coach Jim Hiller has signed on as an assistant coach with the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings. Hiller, 45, spent the past five seasons as head coach of the Tri-City Americans, but his contract wasn’t renewed after last season. He was the CHL and WHL coach of the year in 2011-12. Hiller also was head coach of the Chilliwack Bruins for three seasons. . . . As an NHL player, Hiller played 21 regular-season and two playoff games with the Red Wings in 1992-93. . . . Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press has more right here.
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Levi Moon finished his second season of bantam hockey and walked away from the game. He decided he was going to be a baseball player. Moon, 18, attended the Badlands Baseball Academy in Oyen, Alta., and soon he’s off to Niagara County Community College in Sanborn, N.Y., on a baseball scholarship. His father, Cam, is the radio voice of the Red Deer Rebels. . . . Danny Rode of the Red Deer Advocate has more right here.
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The Prince George Cougars have named Bob Simmonds as their director of scouting. Simmonds, who spent 37 years with the RCMP before retiring, works out of Edmonton. He has been part of the Cougars’ scouting staff for seven seasons. . . . Bill Horton of St. Paul, Minn., has been promoted to director of U.S. scouting. Horton, 27, is preparing for his second season with the Cougars. . . . Cougars GM Todd Harkins also announced the addition of Trevor Sprague of Prince George and Tom Hengen of Vancouver to the scouting staff. Sprague, the head coach of the major midget Cariboo Cougars, will work as a travelling scout, while Hengen will focus on B.C.’s Lower Mainland. Sprague had been scouting for the Portland Winterhawks. Hengen is the father of Michael Hengen, the Cougars’ new assistant coach. Tom spent the past six seasons as head scout for the BCHL’s Penticton Vees.
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With the news that Vin Scully will return in 2015 for a 66th year calling baseball games, the Los Angeles Times took a look at his movie appearances. That piece is right here.
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Thoughts and prayers go out today to the friends, family and teammates of Ethan Williams. Gone far too soon... #RIPEthan
— Mike Fraser (@MikeFraser29) July 30, 2014

There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.

The Major League Baseball season is soon to start, which means it won’t be long before we are once again treated to Vin Scully calling the play of games involving the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Lyle Spencer of mlb.com chatted with Scully the other day and has a great read right here. It includes an anecdote about the time Scully and Jackie Robinson donned ice skates.
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Thanks to those folks who responded to my query of yesterday. It turns out that Matt Fonteyne is Val Fonteyne’s grandson. . . . Matt, a forward, signed with the Everett Silvertips on Tuesday. . . . Val played 820 NHL games and garnered only 26 penalty minutes. He also played 149 games in the WHA, compiling all of four penalty minutes. . . . He had 229 points in the NHL and 61 in the WHA. . . . Val was a star with the Seattle Americans and Totems of the professional Western Hockey League in the mid-1950s before going on to play in the NHL. . . . Oh, how I remember those photos — black-and-white, of course — in The Hockey News, back in the days of the Original Six when a young fan was on a first-name basis with every player on every roster.
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The Swift Current Broncos have added F Dakota Odgers, G Travis Child and D Zack Gonek to their roster. . . . Odgers, from Spy Hill, Sask., is a son of former WHLer/NHLer Jeff Odgers. Dakota had 47 points in 38 games with the midget AAA Yorkton Harvest. He was a second-round selection in the 2011 bantam draft. . . . Gonek, from St. Albert, Alta., played for the midget AAA St. Albert Raiders. He was the 13th overall pick in the 2011 bantam draft. . . . Child, from Killam, Alta., went 5-4-10, 4.82, .893 with the midget AAA Camrose Vikings. He was a second-round selection in the 2012 bantam draft.
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I don't know that it has been officially announced, but judging from Twitter on Wednesday, the NHL’s Ottawa Senators have signed Portland Winterhawks D Troy Rutkowski, 20, to a three-year, entry-level contract. Rutkowski was selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL’s 2010 draft, but never signed a contract. This season, he has 61 points, including 20 goals, in 69 games.
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The Spokane Chiefs and Tri-City Americans will meet in the first round of the WHL playoffs, but they don’t yet know who will have home-ice advantage. But because of the arena scheduling situation in Spokane, the series will begin with Games 1 and 2 in Spokane on March 22 and 23. . . . The series then will move to Kennewick, Wash., for Games 3 and 4 and, if necessary, 5 on March 26, 28 and 30. . . . A sixth game would be played in Spokane on April 2. The site of Game 7, set for April 3, will depend on which team finishes fourth in the Western Conference. . . . The arena in Spokane will be home to one of the NCAA women’s basketball regional tournaments, with games on March 30 and April 1. . . . The Chiefs hold a two-point lead over the Americans with each team having three games remaining. They will play each other in Spokane on Friday and in Kennewick on Saturday. On Sunday, the Americans wrap it up in Everett, while the Chiefs are to play in Portland. . . . Should the Chiefs and Americans end up tied for fourth, the first tiebreaker is victories. At the moment, Spokane has the edge, 42-40.
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Sorry, fans of the Portland Winterhawks.
You aren’t going to be given the opportunity to applaud WHL commissioner Ron Robison on Sunday as your favourite hockey team is presented with the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as regular-season champions.
The presentation will take place prior to the Winterhawks’ final regular-season game, against the Spokane Chiefs.
However, it won’t be the commissioner doing the presenting. Instead, it will be Richard Doersken, who is the WHL’s vice-president, hockey. Doerksen will do the honours following the presentation of the team’s individual awards.
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With the CIS championship to be held this weekend in Saskatoon, individual awards were handed out on Wednesday.
Former Kelowna Rockets F Lucas Bloodoff, who has played three seasons for the Saint Mary’s U Huskies, has been named the CIS player of the year. Bloodoff, who played four seasons (2006-10) with the Rockets, led the Atlantic conference in scoring, with 38 points, including 20 goals.
Former WHL G Kurtis Mucha (Portland, Kamloops, 2005-10) was named the CIS’s goaltender of the year. In his third season with the U of Alberta Golden Bears, who are the championship tournament’s top seed, Mucha led the CIS in GAA (1.30) and save percentage (.936), while going 13-2. He also became the first goaltender in Canada West history to be credited with scoring a goal. Late in the season, he put together a string of five straight shutouts as part of a shutout streak that lasted 335 minutes 6 seconds.
F Jordan Hickmott, a product of the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers, Prince Albert Raiders and Edmonton Oil Kings (2006-11), was named the most sportsmanlike player. He led the Golden Bears in goals (15) and points (35), while taking just two minor penalties in 28 regular-season games.
The All-Canadian first team included Mucha, Bloodoff and U of Manitoba F Blair Macaulay (Saskatoon, Tri-City, 2005-09).
On the second team: D Jesse Craige, Alberta (Lethbridge, Chilliwack, 2006-10); Andrew Clark, Acadia (Brandon, 2005-09); and Kyle Bortis, Saskatchewan (Swift Current, Calgary, 2005-09).
The all-rookie team included D Neil Manning, UBC (Vancouver, 2007-12); D Lane Werbowski, Toronto (Tri-City, Edmonton, 2007-10); and F James Henry, Manitoba (Vancouver, Moose Jaw, 2007-12).
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The matchups, if the WHL playoffs opened today:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Edmonton (1) vs. Kootenay (8)
Saskatoon (2) vs. Medicine Hat (7)
Calgary (3) vs. Swift Current (6)
Red Deer (4) vs Prince Albert (5)

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Portland (1) vs. Everett (8)
Kelowna (2) vs. Seattle (7)
Kamloops (3) vs. Victoria (6)
Spokane (4) vs. Tri-City (5)
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WEDNESDAY’S GAMES:
In Brandon, G Corbin Boes stopped 25 shots to help the Wheat Kings to a 4-1 victory over the Prince Albert Raiders. . . . The Wheat Kings had lost four in a row at home. . . . The Raiders have lost six straight. . . . F Marek Kalus had two assists for Brandon. . . . The Wheat Kings had F Jesse Gabrielle, a 15-year-old from the Minnesota high school ranks, in the lineup for the first time. . . . Brandon was without F Jayce Hawryluk, who suffered an undisclosed injury in practice on Tuesday. . . . The Raiders remain fifth in the Eastern Conference, two points ahead of the Swift Current Broncos. Each team has two games remaining. . . . The Raiders go home-and-home with the Saskatoon Blades; the Broncos will do the same with the Regina Pats. . . .

In Lethbridge, the Hurricanes scored the game’s last two goals and beat the Kootenay Ice, 4-2. . . . F Graham Hood, who was honoured before the game for having played in 300 regular-season games, broke a 2-2 tie with his 11th goal at 4:23 of the third period.. . . D Lenny Hackman added insurance at 7:51. That was his first WHL goal. It came in the 70th game of his freshman season. . . . The Ice had beaten the visiting Hurricanes 3-1 on Tuesday, eliminating Lethbridge from the playoff picture. . . . Lethbridge G Christopher Tai stopped 27 shots as starter Ty Rimmer as given a rare night off. It was Tai’s 11th appearance this season. . . . Kootenay G Wyatt Hoflin, who last started on Jan. 30, turned aside 34 shots. . . . The Ice scratched F Brock Montgomery with an undisclosed injury, and lost D Tanner Muth to an undisclosed injury during the first period. . . . The loss means the Ice will finish seventh or eighth in the Eastern Conference, meaning a first-round engagement with Edmonton or Saskatoon.
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CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT:
D Harrison Ruopp, Prince Albert

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT:
None

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Andrej Stastny (Vancouver, 2010-11) signed a two-year contract with Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia, KHL) after a successful try-out. He had 11 goals and 18 assists in 50 games with Dukla Trencin (Slovakia, Extraliga) last season. Stastny has one goal and one assist in the three exhibition games Slovan has played so far this pre-season. . . .
F Bruno Mraz (Brandon, 2011-12) signed a three-year contract with Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia, KHL). He had two goals and 16 assists in 63 games with the Brandon Wheat Kings last season. . . .
D David Hajek (Spokane, 1998-99) signed a try-out contract with Pirati Chomutov (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He had one goal and 10 assists in 44 goes with Orli Znojmo (Czech Republic, Austria Erste Bank Liga) last season.
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By the way, it would appear that F Dominik Volek won’t be back with the Regina Pats this season. He signed over the summer with Färjestad and is in camp with that organization now. Teams began working out Wednesday and if you click on right here you will find a couple of photos of Volek with the J20 team.
Volek, now 18, had 32 points, including 14 goals, in 70 games with the Pats as a freshman last season.
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Nine WHLers are on the 22-player roster of the Canadian team that will play at the Memorial for Ivan Hlinka tournament.
Making the grade were G Eric Comrie, Tri-City Americans; D Madison Bowey, Kelowna Rockets; D Kayle Doetzel, Red Deer Rebels; D Josh Morrissey, Prince Albert Raiders; D Shea Theodore, Seattle Thunderbirds, F Morgan Klimchuk, Regina Pats; F Curtis Lazar, Edmonton Oil Kings; F Nic Petan, Portland Winterhawks; and F Sam Reinhart, Kootenay Ice.
Those WHLers who attended the camp but aren’t on the final roster are G Tristan Jarry, Edmonton Oil Kings; D Dillon Heatherington, Swift Current Broncos; F Carter Hansen, Moose Jaw Warriors; and F Matt Needham, Kamloops Blazers.
The tournament opens Monday in Breclav, Czech Republic, and Piestany, Slovakia, and runs through Aug. 18. There is no TV or radio coverage.
Canada and Czech Republic will play an exhibition game in Piestany on Saturday. Canada then opens tournament play against Switzerland on Aug. 13.
Canada, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland will play out of Piestany, with Finland, Russia, Czech Republic and the U.S. in Breclav.
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Shane Pilling has signed with the AJHL’s Brooks Bandits. Pilling, 19, played the last two seasons with the Prince George Cougars. He was a fourth-round selection by the Cougars in the 2008 bantam draft. Last season, he had one assist and 14 penalty minutes in 24 games with Prince George. He had eight points, including one goal, in 56 games in 2010-11.
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If you watched that women’s soccer game from the London Olympics on Monday, you may be interested in some good reading.
Bruce Arthur of the National Post has his take right here.
George Johnson of the Calgary Herald was there, too, and his piece is right here.
Cathal Kelly of the Toronto Star writes that this may have been “the best game of women’s football ever played.” But . . . yes, there was a but. Kelly’s piece is right here.
Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times has his take on proceedings right here.
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Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated, who is perhaps the U.S.’s top soccer writer, waves the Stars and Stripes right here, and even takes a moment to criticize Canadian captain Christine Sinclair. “Sinclair had a terrific game,” Wahl writes. “It was unfortunate that she decided to lash out afterward.”
To which I say, oh but for the shoe to have been on the other foot in this one. Gee, had the game gone the other way in this fashion I wonder if Hope Solo, for one, may have “decided to lash out” if it had gone the other way.
Consider that Wahl also writes:
“Sinclair's third goal, in the 73rd minute, gave Canada a 3-2 lead and set the stage for the most controversial moment U.S. Soccer has seen in a long time. Seven minutes later, Canadian goalkeeper McLeod leaped to make a save and came to the ground with the ball. She carried the ball around her box, waved her teammates downfield and . . . waited. The whistle blew. Norwegian referee Christiana Pedersen ruled that McLeod had violated Law 12, which awards an indirect free kick if the goalkeeper ‘takes more than six seconds while controlling the ball with her hands before releasing it from her possession.’
“It's exceedingly rare for the violation to be called at the elite level. The only previous incident I could track down took place in the Premier League in 2002, when referee David Elleray blew his whistle on Bolton's Jussi Jasskelainen against Newcastle United. (Alan Shearer tied the game on the ensuing free kick sequence.)”
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A great tweet from Neate Sager of Yahoo! Sports (@neatebuzzthenet):
“Canadians sent 7400 cans of maple syrup to Norway in 2006 to thank a coach who helped our skier. We’d like them back, please. #olympics #ref”
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Then there’s this from Ed Willes (@willeson sports) of the Vancouver Province:
“The Americans have also turned the ‘72 basketball final into a five-decade epic so YOU’LL PARDON US IF WE’RE PISSED. #olympics”
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And, finally, if you haven’t seen this Vin Scully clip from Monday’s game between the host Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies, take a couple of minutes and give it a look. . . . This is Scully at his best.


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VIN SCULLY

Every once in a while, you find a real nugget on the Internet.
I mean, a really big chunk of gold.
In this instance, the link arrived via email, sent by Cam Moon, the former WHL goaltender who is the radio voice of the Red Deer Rebels.
Moon, believe it or not, may be a bigger fan of baseball than he is of hockey. Seriously!
Anyway . . . he sent me a link that I am going to share with you. But I am warning you. To enjoy this one, you will need at least three cups of coffee and a headset.
Written and prepared by Daniel Riley, this piece appeared in the October 2011 issue of GQ magazine. It is an interactive story about and with Vin Scully, the greatest play-by-play voice of them all.
There are links to Scully’s actual call  of Sandy Koufax’s perfect game on Sept. 9, 1965, Henry Aaron’s 715th home run on April 8, 1974, Kirk Gibson’s home run on Oct. 15, 1988, and Bill Buckner’s boot on Oct. 25, 1986.
More than that, though, there are conversations with Scully as he reminisces and it doesn’t get any better than that. Chances are you will do what I did — give it all a read and a listen and then file it away for later enjoyment.
Check it all out right here. And you can thank Cam Moon later.
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There is a story in Friday’s Globe and Mail that is headlined: Americans consider ban on fighting in junior ranks, hope Canada follows suit.
Written by Allan Maki, it contains this quote from Jim Johannson, USA Hockey’s assistant executive director of hockey operations:
“Whatever we do there’ll be a fight in junior hockey next season. But if kids are in this level of hockey and fighting x amount of times, then what’s going on? We have a responsibility to safeguard the game at the minor levels. This is not the NHL, and that’s not a criticism of the NHL. These are kids under 20 playing hockey.”
Hallelujah! Someone with some authority understands that it is the responsibility of the adults who are in charge of hockey at this level to safeguard the players.
It seems that during the World Junior Championship there were meetings held that involved USA Hockey, Hockey Canada, the Canadian Hockey League and the Canadian Junior Hockey League.
According to Maki, USA Hockey has since held winter meetings and “recommended that fighting be eliminated at the Tier I, II and III levels.”
If the recommendation is adopted — there will be a vote in June — the ban could be in place for next season.
Unfortunately, this isn’t likely to happen in Canada. Well, it isn't going to happen this season or next. But it is going to happen. The writing is on the wall and sooner or later it is going to happen.
Maki quotes Bob Nicholson, the president of Hockey Canada, as saying: “We want to remove fighting from the game, but we don’t want to create other violent acts that may occur. We’ll work hand in hand with USA Hockey.”
Ahh, yes, the creation of “other violent acts” excuse, the thinking being that if players aren’t allowed to punch themselves in the face they’ll hack themselves to death with their sticks.
And then there’s WHL commissioner Ron Robison, who fell back on the old excuse that his league is developing players for the NHL “and we have an understanding to mirror their rules.”
Which, of course, is so much bunkum. For starters, the WHL has no-touch icing; the NHL doesn’t.
“From a WHL/CHL perspective,” Robison told Maki, “we feel strongly our role is to prepare players for the next level and as long as fighting is an element of that, we need to prepare the players so they can protect themselves.”
That ignores the fact that if major junior hockey outlawed fighting, players wouldn’t need to fight to protect themselves.
It also seems that a whole lot of European and NCAA players who have advanced to the NHL are having success while not having done a whole bunch of fighting. Pavel Datsyuk and Jonathan Toews seem to be making out OK, don’t they?
Of course, Robison has yet to explain how a league that cracked down on headshots as this season started continues to allow its players to punch each other silly.
In Maki’s story, Robison makes the claim that fighting in the WHL is down 10 per cent over a year ago. Maki doesn’t cite any statistics.
But using figures available at hockeyfights.com, it is easy to calculate that fighting in the WHL is on pace to be down less than six per cent.
There were 1,713 fights in 792 games last season. This season, in 529 games, there have been 1,079 fights. That computes to 1,616 fights over an entire season. That would be a reduction of 5.7 per cent.
With the flood of information that has come to light involving brain trauma and concussions and CTE, any hockey league that employs teenagers and continues to allow fighting — and features more than 1,600 fights in a season — should be embarrassed by such numbers.
Let us not forget that there were more than 100 concussions in the WHL last season, a number that resulted in the WHL taking injuries under cover this season and announcing player absences as being due to upper- and lower-body injuries. NHL teams, meanwhile, now are reporting when players are out with concussions.
The WHL’s latest injury report, released Tuesday, lists 49 players as being out with upper-body injuries.
Maki’s complete story is right here.
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Meanwhile, in a story at cbc.ca, Gov. Gen. David Johnston says that fighting shouldn’t be part of the game.
"What other sports say (fighting) is a part of the game?” said Johnston, who played hockey at Harvard. “Least of all in this game, because the essence of this game is the speed and the skill and playmaking. . . .
"If we want our children, both our boys and girls, to be playing this game we don't want them to be subjecting themselves to concussions and so on."
That story is right here.
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Shawn Mullin, the radio voice of the Swift Current Broncos on The Eagle 94.1 FM, reported Thursday that D Jordan Evans, 19, won’t play again this season.
Evans, from Drumheller, Alta., hasn’t played since Oct. 1.
“At the time,” Mullin reported, “(Evans) apparently took the concussion test and didn’t seem to have one. They thought maybe he had a virus. Since that time he has continued to have concussion-like symptoms and there is apparently not much improvement.
“Evans now is back home in Alberta and his season is apparently done. Given his age and history of concussions this could also mark the end of his WHL career if not his hockey career.”
Evans was in his fourth season in Swift Current. He was pointless in five games this season, but had seven minutes in penalties, five of those coming from a fight with F Dyson Stevenson of the Regina Pats on Sept. 23.
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The Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association is taking body checking out of the game in the rec levels starting next season.
Paul Woods, the executive director of Hockey Winnipeg, has told Doug Lunney of the Winnipeg Sun that “it’s probably long overdue.”
Here’s more from Woods:
“I would like to see it personally. If it’s going to advance the safety of the game and allow some kids to participate in the game a little bit longer, then I would say it would have to be a positive.
“Some of those (negative) comments are coming from traditionalists who don’t want to let the sport go. They feel it’s a man’s game. They grew up in that environment and they’re still holding on to that.”
Woods points out that there are players who leave the game as youngsters and return to recreational leagues in their 20s. So why not make the environment safer in an attempt to keep the children safe and in the game?
Lunney’s story is right here.
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Sharp-eyed hockey fans may recognize Doug Lunney’s name. A goaltender, he played in the WHL with the Prince Albert Raiders, Kelowna Wings and Winnipeg Warriors (1982-84).
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Canalta Cup

The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League has cut a 10-year deal with Canalta Hotels that has resulted in the junior A league renaming its championship trophy.
The SJHL champion now will win the Canalta Cup.
According to a news release, the deal calls for the hotel chain to “contribute more than $600,000 in partnership revenue” over the 10 years.
Established in 1979, Canalta Hotels has six hotels in five Saskatchewan markets — Humboldt, Melfort, Moosomin, Tisdale and Weyburn — with construction underway in Esterhazy and Shaunavon.
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The OHL has suspended Stan Butler, the head coach of the Brampton Battalion, for eight games. Butler’s crime? He picked up a double game misconduct for abuse of an official after a 2-1 victory over the visiting Sudbury Wolves on Sunday.
Butler is said to have berated referee Mike Marley on the ice and in a corridor in the arena. Butler felt that an instigating penalty should have been given to a Sudbury player following a fight in the third period.
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The Prince Albert Raiders will induct ex-players Robin Bartel and Dean McAmmond, along with builder Gerry Bergen, into their Wall of Honour this season. They will be honoured prior to a Feb. 25 game against the visiting Kootenay Ice. . . . Bartel played three seasons (1979-82) with the Raiders, playing in three Centennial Cup championship games and winning two of them. (The Centennial Cup now is the RBC Cup, which goes to the junior A champion.). . . . Dean McAmmond played 217 games with the Raiders over three-plus seasons (1989-93). A wonderful skater, he left Prince Albert as part of a seven-player trade with the Swift Current Broncos in January 1993. Before leaving, he was the Raiders rookie of the year (1989-90) and playoff MVP (1992). . . . Bergen, a long-time volunteer, has worked as a goal judge, penalty box attendant, spotter, timekeeper and scorekeeper. He also has been the off-ice co-ordinator, managing 14 volunteers. . . . Bartel and McAmmond will be the 13th and 14th former players to be inducted, while Bergen is to be the ninth volunteer. The Wall of Honour is located in the History and Heroes section of the Art Hauser Centre by the Raiders dressing room.
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JUST NOTES: The Portland Winterhawks have signed F Adam De Champlain, a 10th-round selection in the 2009 bantam draft, who is with the AJHL’s Camrose Kodiaks. De Champlain, 17, has 14 points, including eight goals, in 38 games. . . . Regina Pats F Chandler Stephenson, who has missed 14 games with a sprained knee, is expected to return tonight against the visiting Swift Current Broncos. . . .
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If you have followed the BCHL over the years, you may want to go on over to bchl.ca and vote on the players of the decades.
There’s a link on the right-hand side, near the top of the website. Click on there and have some fun

There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.