Cancer claims former WHLer . . . OHL franchise sells in bankruptcy court . . . Broncos, Rebels deal

G Juha Metsola (Lethbridge, 2007-09) signed a one-year contract with Amur Khabarovsk (Russia, KHL). Last season, with Tappara Tampere (Finland, Liiga), he had a 1.91 GAA and .936 SP in 57 games. He led the league in SP, was named to the Liiga all-star team and won the Urpo Ylönen Award as the Liiga’s best goaltender. . . .
F Vitali Karamnov (Everett, 2007-08) signed a one-year contract with Sokol Krasnoyarsk (Russia, Vysshaya Liga). Last season, he was pointless in two games with Sibir Novosibirsk (Russia, KHL), and had five goals and eight assists in 38 games with Yermak Angarsk (Russia, Vysshaya Liga).
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Cody Smuk, who played with the Chilliwack Bruins, Lethbridge Hurricanes and Moose Jaw Warriors (2006-10) died Thursday morning in a Saskatoon hospital. He was 26 and from Saskatoon. Smuk had been diagnosed with testicular cancer in May 2014. . . . He finished his WHL career with 72 points, 23 of them goals, in 271 games. He then went on to play four seasons with the U of Saskatchewan Huskies, last playing in 2013-14. . . . Matthew Gourlie of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald has more right here.
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The OHL’s Erie Otters have sold for US$7.225 million in a bankruptcy court-ordered auction. JAW Hockey Enterprises LP, fronted by James A. Waters, was the only bidding party. . . . Waters has said he has no intentions of moving the franchise. . . . Roy Mlakar, who is a former president of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, is to oversee the Otters. . . . Valerie Myers of GoErie.com has more right here.
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Los Angeles Kings F Jarret Stoll made a plea deal with prosecutors and a felony cocaine charge he was facing has been dismissed. Stoll, who played with the WHL’s Kootenay Ice (1998-2002), pleaded guilty to two misdemeanours and now has 120 days to complete 32 hours of community service. . . . Stoll pleaded guilty to provoking commission of breach of peace and trespass. . . . He had been arrested in Las Vegas on April 17 for possession of cocaine and MDMA. . . . Stoll, 33, will be an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday. . . . Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times has the story right here.
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Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star takes a look right here at the NHL’s expansion plans and why they don’t include a second team in the Toronto area.
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THE TRADE WIRE:

The Swift Current Broncos have acquired F Scott Feser, 20, from the Red Deer Rebels for a fourth-round pick in the 2017 bantam draft. Feser, from Red Deer, had 41 points, including 16 goals, in 72 games with the Rebels last season. In 158 WHL games, he has 77 points, 32 of them goals. . . . “He’s a strong two-way player who will bring us veteran leadership.” Mark Lamb, the Broncos general manager and head coach, said in a news release. “He takes faceoffs, kills penalties and can play the power-play. We’re really happy to get him.” . . . Feser was an eighth-round pick by the Rebels in the 2010 bantam draft. . . . Feser joins G Landon Bow and D Griffin Foulk as the Broncos’ likely 20-year-olds at this point. . . . The Rebels’ roster now includes three 20-year-olds — D Kayle Doetzel, F Wyatt Johnson and F Preston Kopeck. The Rebels are the host team for the 2016 Memorial Cup tournament.

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An ex-player's point of view . . . Raiders point finger at BCHL's Vipers . . . Skinner stands tall in hometown

F Vitali Karamnov (Everett, 2007-08) was reassigned by Sibir Novosibirsk (Russia, KHL) to Yermak Angarsk (Russia, Vysshaya Liga). He was pointless in two games during his recall with Novosibirsk. In seven games with Angarsk, he has two assists. . . .
D Renat Mamashev (Moose Jaw, 2000-01) has signed a one-year contract with Sibir Novosibirsk (Russia, KHL). Mamashev was in training camp with New Jersey (NHL), but was never offered a contract. Last season, with Traktor Chelyabinsk (Russia, KHL), he was pointless in four games; he had one assist in two games with Chelmet Chelyabinsk (Russia, Vysshaya Liga); and he had 12 points, five of them goals, in 32 games with Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. . . .
F Lukáš Vantuch (Calgary, Lethbridge, 2005-07) has been released by Landshut (Germany, DEL2). He was under contract through Nov. 4. He had three assists in six games. Last season, with Landshut, he had 49 points, including 17 goals, in 53 games.
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THE EMAIL BAG:

When all is said and done, the class-action lawsuit that was filed against the CHL on Friday may well come down to the legality of the drafts that are held by the CHL's three leagues -- the OHL, QMJHL and WHL -- and the legality of their standard player contracts.
For now, though, people are talking about the money. The lawsuit claims that CHL players are underpaid in that they don't earn the minimum wage, whatever that might be in each jurisdiction. The CHL, meanwhile, claims that its players are student-athletes and that there is far more to their pay than money.
On Tuesday, I received an email from a former WHL player who has taken advantage of his education package. Here are a few thoughts from this player, who I found to be mature beyond his years when he was in the WHL:
"I don't see why the CHL can't pay the players a bit more. When I was 16, I got $160 a month, so $40 a week. C'mon. Really? I would like to see a breakdown of something like $200 a month for gas (or make it dependent on which city you play in, Seattle driving vs. Moose Jaw driving is obviously way different).
"Players don't get a per diem on the road so give them like $200 a month for food/snacks on the long bus trips, and then, say, $200 a month for entertainment (movies and other stuff).
"I'd start 16-year-olds at $600 a month and then go up $100 per age so 20-year-olds get $1,000 a month.
"As has been documented, junior life isn't always that great if you aren't a top NHL prospect. You miss out on a lot of family/life events, deal with crappy coaches, stress . . . all that stuff. I feel there should be more compensation to put up with that or at least enough to break even and not have to constantly go to parents for money . . . especially when the owners make lots of money.
"I know some teams lose money for sure, so they would have to do a revenue-sharing model of some sort like the NHL, which would piss off the successful owners.
"I was fortunate. Once my gas money was up, my parents gave me a MasterCard and I'd fill up the tank with their money. They'd let me use it for some meals and whatnot once my monthly stipend was gone.
"I'm sure if increased wages come up then the CHL will want to scrap the education packages (which truly are amazing and helpful), but then the CHL vs. NCAA tilts towards the NCAA possibly?
"It's a tough subject to figure out IMO. The players need more money to live. They don't need thousands of dollars a month, just give them enough so they can enjoy life as teenagers and not always have to awkwardly ask people for money and whatnot.
"I don't know where this will go, but for anyone to deny that $160 a month is enough to live on and enjoy your time is delusional."
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F Colton McCarthy, 18, left Prince Albert last week and the Raiders are claiming that there was some tampering involved. Head coach Cory Clouston is saying that the BCHL's Vernon Vipers were involved in McCarthy's decision. "If that happens in our league, it's tampering," Clouston said on radio station CKBI's Faceoff. . . . Mark Ferner, the Vipers' GM and head coach, told Jeff D'Andrea of panow.com that he had talked with Raiders GM Bruno Campese. . . . D'Andrea's story is right here.
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TUESDAY'S REPORT:

In Regina, the Portland Winterhawks scored two PP goals and another shorthanded as they beat the Pats, 3-1. . . . The Winterhawks were 2-4 on the PP. . . . F Skyler McKenzie gave the visitors a 2-0 lead with his first goal, shorthanded, at 12:30 of the first period. . . . McKenzie ended up with a charging major at 19:49 of the third period. . . . The Winterhawks are 2-1-0 on their East Division swing. . . . The Winterhawks, who play the Broncos tonight in Swift Current, may be in a bit of a quandary with their goaltending. Starter Brendan Burke left in the third period last night after appearing to tweak something while make a save. Bolton Pouliot, who came over from Kamloops last week, came off the bench to finish up. Aden Hill, Portland's other goaltender, showed up on the injured list Tuesday; he's out week-to-week with an undisclosed injury. . . . Burke finished with 24 saves on 25 shots and was selected as second star. Pouliot, who came on at 3:42 of the third period, stopped 10 shots. . . .

In Prince Albert, the Raiders scored the game's last three goals and beat the Kootenay Ice, 3-2. . . . F Jayden Hart got the winner at 13:43 of the third period. . . . The Ice led 2-0 on F River Beattie's first goal at 8:10 of the first period. . . . Raiders G Nick McBride stopped 28 shots. . . . The Raiders have won two straight after losing five in a row. . . . The Ice remains without F Tim Bozon, who is sidelined with an undisclosed injury, but did get F Vince Loschiavo back after a four-game absence with an undisclosed injury. . . . With F Colton McCarthy and F Dakota Conroy having left the team, Raiders head coach Cory Clouston had to do some line juggling. Left with 11 forwards, he also had to move a defenceman up front. . . . Jeff D’Andrea of panow.com has the game story right here . . .

In Edmonton, G Stuart Skinner stopped 47 shots through OT and added three more in the shootout as the Lethbridge Hurricanes got past the Oil Kings, 2-1. . . . Skinner, who is from Edmonton, won't turn 16 until Nov. 1. He was the 17th overall selection in the 2013 bantam draft. . . . Edmonton had won four in a row. . . . The Hurricanes snapped a six-game losing skid. . . . F Tyler Wong of Lethbridge broke a scoreless tie at 1:50 of the third. . . . Edmonton F Andrew Koep tied it with his sixth goal of the season at 10:53. . . . Lethbridge F Jamal Watson scored in the shootout to win it.
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Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald reports that the Silvertips are without F Dawson Leedahl (knee). He has had an MRI and the team is awaiting the results. According to Patterson, Leedahl will be out either four to six weeks or four to six months. He’s a big part of the Silvertips’ shutdown line. . . . The Medicine Hat Tigers came out winners on Friday at the Chamber of Commerce’s Business Awards gala. The Tigers were presented with the the 2014 Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce Southeast Alberta Shines Award, an award that used to be known as the Tourism Award of Distinction. The award, according to a news release, “recognizes a business, organization or group that has demonstrated outstanding achievement in putting Medicine Hat and/or Southeast Alberta 'on the map' as a great place to live, work and/or visit.” Dave Andjelic, the Tigers’ senior director, marketing and public relations, accepted the award on behalf of the organization.
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A 6 year old today told me I look like Justin Bieber... Not sure whether to take that as a compliment or an insult
— Isaac Schacher (@ShockDoctor27) October 21, 2014

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Michal Psurny (Medicine Hat, Kootenay, 2005-06) signed a one-year contract extension with Manchester Phoenix (England, Premier). He had 43 goals and 46 assists in 52 games to lead the Phoenix in scoring this season. Psurny was fifth in league scoring and was named to the
Premier League's second all-star team. . . .
F Vitali Karamnov (Everett, 2007-08) signed a two-year contract with Sibir Novosibirsk (Russia, KHL). He had two goals and two assists in 37 games with Lev Prague (Czech Republic, KHL) this season. . . .
F Zdenek Blatny (Seattle, Kootenay, 1998-2001) signed a one-year contract with Orli Znojmo (Czech Republic, Austria Erste Bank Liga). He had eight goals and eight assists in 33 games for Vienna Capitals (Austria, Erste Bank Liga) this season.
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"If you are reading this, I am dead." . . . Peter Worthington, one of the greats of Canadian journalism, wrote his own obituary. It’s right here and it’s worth a read.
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There was a shakeup in the office of the Regina Pats on Tuesday as owner Russ Parker announced that his son, Brent, is stepping down as governor and president. . . . General manager Chad Lang, who joined the Pats over the summer of 2010, has had the titles of governor and senior vice-president added to his portfolio. . . . Cliff Mapes remains as vice-president of business operations. . . . Brent Parker had been in the Pats' front office for 18 years, ever since Russ and Diane Parker purchased the franchise in 1995. According to a Pats news release: "(Brent) Parker will assist in the transition with respect to organizational structure over the next few weeks with an anticipated full departure from the organization being early in June."
Why is Parker leaving?
"It has been an accumulation of many, many things," he told a news conference. "The last five years have been the hardest for me personally, from my diagnosis of cancer five years ago to illnesses, accidents and deaths of some of our former players and close friends. That was on top of the daily - and yes I do mean daily - battles that we have with our building partner." The building partner? That would be Evraz Place, which runs the Brandt Centre, the facility the Pats call home."
Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post has more right here.
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Russ Parker says he and his wife, Diane, aren't yet ready to sell the Regina Pats. However, he admits that the day will come when that will happen. Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post has that story right here.
When that day does arrive, you have to wonder if the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders might be a potential buyer? Hey, why not? NHL teams already own WHL franchises in Edmonton and Calgary, and one day the Winnipeg Jets' owners are likely to own one, too. So why not have the country's most-popular CFL team involved in the WHL at the ownership level? And just think of the outdoor games they could play host to once the new football stadium has been built.
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The Prince Albert Raiders have re-signed general manager Bruno Campese and Dale Derkatch, the director of player personnel, to new contracts, each one calling for two years plus an option. . . . Campese has been with the Raiders since 2007, first as head coach, then as general manager and head coach, then as general manager. . . . Derkatch, a former WHL star with the Regina Pats, has been with the Raiders through three bantam drafts.
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The Prince George Cougars have signed F Kody McDonald, the 24th overall selection in the 2013 bantam draft, to a WHL contract. Playing for the bantam AAA team at the Pursuit Of Excellence in Kelowna, he had 124 points, including 45 goals, in 47 games. McDonald, from Lethbridge, is the third player from Turning Point Sports Management’s stable to sign since the draft.
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So much for the Wenatchee Wild moving to the BCHL. The Wild, which has been embroiled in a battle for a new lease in Wenatchee, is on the move, but not to the BCHL. Instead, the NAHL franchise is relocating to Hidalgo, Texas, where it will operate as the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees starting next season. . . . In a news release, team president Bill Stewart said he expects head coach Bliss Littler and his staff to be part of the relocation. . . . The Wild will play out of State Farm Arena, a facility that seats 5,500 for hockey. . . . According to the Wild news release, "A presentation to and final approval by the USA Hockey junior council is expected in June."
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The Vancouver Giants announced Tuesday that Bruce Allen, a well-known manager in the entertainment business, has bought into the ownership group. As well, the Giants announced that they have signed three 2013 bantam draft picks – F Tyler Benson, F Matt Barberis and D Ryley McKinstry. . . . Benson was the first overall pick in the draft after putting up 146 points, including 57 goals, in 33 games with the Alberta Major Bantam League’s Edmonton South Side Athletic Club Southgate Lions. . . . Barberis, from Surrey, B.C., was another first-round pick, taken 20th overall. He had 48 points in 58 games with the Burnaby Winter Club Bruins. . . . McKinstry, from Calgary, was selected with the 23rd pick. He had 36 points in 29 games with the bantam AAA Calgary Bisons. . . . Elliott Pap of the Vancouver Sun has more on all of this right here. He also touches on how the Giants aren't interested in having Benson apply for exceptional status, but majority owner Ron Toigo wants to see the five-game rule bumped to 10 games. As things now stand, a 15-year-olds is only allowed to play five games before his club team has its season end.
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Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province starts a dispatch on Bruce Allen joining the Vancouver Giants ownership group with:
Bruce Allen is a minority owner with the Vancouver Giants now. He’s certainly not a silent partner, though.
"I just think there’s been an alienation for a lot of hockey fans from that organization up the street," Allen said at the official announcement Tuesday.
There’s more right here.
It’s interesting that Allen talks about team owners being in the entertainment business and how he feels he can make a difference from that angle. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in terms of the Giants as an entertainment vehicle.
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The Tri-City Americans have dealt D Clint Filbrandt, 18, to the Kootenay Ice for a fifth-round selection in the 2015 bantam draft. From Calgary, Filbrandt was a 10th-round pick in the 2010 bantam draft. The 5-foot-11, 175-pounder had three points and 17 penalty minutes in 31 games as a freshman this season. . . . "With an abundance of defencemen signed for the upcoming season, I wanted to give Clint an opportunity to continue to play in the WHL," Tri-City general manager Bob Tory said in a news release. . . . "With the uncertain future of Tanner Muth and whether he will able to return to our club next year we felt it was important to add another defenceman with WHL experience," Ice GM Jeff Chynoweth said in a news release. "Defencemen are tough to come by at all levels and this trade will give Clint an opportunity to be an everyday player with our club."
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The Augusta RiverHawks of the Southern Professional Hockey League have ceased operations. "We, as an organization, have not received any positive information concerning the replacement of the ice system at the James Brown Arena," the team said in a news released. "A May 12th deadline was communicated to the building manager back at the end of March or the beginning of April. We also have not received any information concerning monetary compensation for the loss of the Arena for the eight games that were to be played in the James Brown Arena in March of this year. We are taking a leave from League play with the approval from the League's governors for one season. Hopefully, something can be done in the greater CSRA to bring hockey back the following year. We will retain our franchise."
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The OHL’s London Knights have been selected as the host team for the 2014 Memorial Cup. The OHL’s selection committee chose London over the Barrie Colts and Windsor Spitfires. . . . The 2014 tournament will run May 16-25 at Budweiser Gardens. . . . The Knights won the Memorial Cup as the host team in 2005. . . . The decision means that the Knights will appear in three straight Memorial Cup tournaments. They lost in the final of the 2012 tournament, will compete in the 2013 affair in Saskatoon and now will be the host team in 2014.
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THE COACHING GAME:
The MJHL's Swan Valley Stampeders have signed Erik Peterson as their new general manager and head coach. Peterson, who is from Dauphin, Man., has spent the past 10 seasons coaching in Denmark. As a player, he won MJHL titles with the Dauphin Kings and Winnipeg South Blues. He replaces Dwayne Kirkup, who left the Stampeders to take over as GM and head coach of the MJHL's Neepawa Natives. . . .
Chad Kletzel is leaving the Kootenay Ice after one season as an assistant coach under head coach Ryan McGill. . . . "With the impending birth of their first child, Chad has decided to return to Lethbridge to resume his teaching career," Jeff Chynoweth, the Ice’s president, governor and general manager, said in a news release.

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Dylan Stanley (Tri-City, 2000-05) signed a one-year contract with EV Bozen 84 Bolzano (Italy, Serie A2). He had 18 goals and 34 assists in 21 games with Bad Nauheim (Germany, Oberliga) last season. . . .
D Benn Olson (Kamloops, Seattle, 2004-08) signed a one-year contract with the Coventry Blaze (England, UK Elite). Olson played with four teams last season, getting one goal in 17 games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL), one goal in nine games with the Ontario Reign (ECHL), and going pointless in one game with the Houston Aeros (AHL) and 11 games with the Alaska Aces (ECHL). . . .
F Wacey Rabbit (Saskatoon, Vancouver, 2001-07) signed a one-year contract with Lørenskog (Norway, GET-Ligaen). He had two goals and 12 assists in 71 games with the San Antonio Rampage (AHL) and four assists in three games with the Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL) last season. . . .
F Vitali Karamnov (Everett, 2007-08) signed a one-year contract with Lev Prague (Czech Republic, KHL). He had 17 goals and 10 assists in 53 games with VMF St. Petersburg (Russia, Vysshaya Liga) last season. . . .
F Igor Valeyev (Lethbridge, Saskatoon, Swift Current, 1998-2000) signed a one-year contract with Buran Voronezh (Russia, Vysshaya Liga). He had seven goals and seven assists in 30 games for Kazzinc-Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk (Kazakhstan, Russia Vysshaya Liga) and one assist in one game with Kazzinc-Torpedo-2 Ust-Kamenogorsk (Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Vysshaya Liga) last season.
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Cascadia Sports Systems of Port Moody, B.C., has finished installing new acrylic glass in Credit Union Centre, the home of the Saskatoon Blades and the host building for the 2013 Memorial Cup.
Mal Paterson, co-owner of Cascadia Sports Systems, tells Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix that the key to his company's design is that each pane of glass is eight feet wide, doubling the conventional width. Paterson said the posts that divide the glass can bend up to five feet.
The buildings in Calgary, Edmonton, Portland and Vancouver also feature acrylic glass.
Nugent-Bowman’s story is right here.
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F Scott MacDonald, who played one season with the Chilliwack Bruins (2008-09) and two with the Everett Silvertips (2009-11), will play next season with the UBC Thunderbirds under head coach Milan Dragicevic. MacDonald had 66 points in 192 regular-season WHL games before playing last season with the USHL’s Waterloo Black Hawks, who lost the championship final to the Green Bay Gamblers. He had 31 points in 49 regular-season games with Waterloo.
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THE COACHING GAME:
The ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads are poised to introduce Brad Ralph as their new head coach on Saturday. He will replace Hardy Sauter who was let go after the season. Ralph has spent the last two seasons as head coach of the Southern Professional league’s Augusta RiverHawks. . . .
Fred Harbinson, the general manager and head coach of the BCHL’s Penticton Vees, has agreed to a five-year contract extension that takes him through 2018-19. Harbinson led the Vees to a BCHL-record 54 victories and the RBC Cup last season. . . . Harbinson has completed five seasons with the Vees. . . . Last season, the club set BCHL records for victories (54) and points (110). . . . Harbinson told Fraser Rodgers, the team’s radio voice, that assistant coaches Steve Cawley, Mike Hengen and Matt Sells will be back for 2012-13. . . .
Bill Bestwick, who was out of hockey last season and calls it the worst winter of his life, is back, this time as head coach of the BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies. The team also has a new majority owner, meaning that Len Barrie is out.
Mario Annicchiarico of the Victoria Times Colonist has more right here.
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This is just too good to pass up. The crazy bunch at MAD magazine has prepared a plaque just in case Roger Clemens gets elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. It is right here.
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TWEET OF THE DAY:
From former Edmonton Oil Kings F Tyler Maxwell (@KingMaxymus23): “Goodbye California. I am leaving you for Austria. Maybe when I get back I will run for Governor.”
Maxwell, who played out his junior eligibility last season with the WHL-champion Oil Kings, has signed with Red Bull Salzburg, the Austrian league team that is coached by Pierre Pagé.

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