The Regina Pats got their roster down to 28 players on Wednesday by dropping veteran forwards Kirt Hill and Ryan DePape, both of them 20 years of age. GM Brent Parker told the Regina Leader-Post’s Greg Harder that the Pats will hang on to their WHL rights in the hopes of trading them. Hill is out with a broken thumb suffered in a training camp bout with F Scott Doucet, who has nailed down one of the Pats’ three 20-year-old spots. The other two belong to D Victor Bartley and F Michael MacAngus. . . .
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I spent a few years in Regina as sports editor of The Leader-Post and I must admit I really miss Brent Parker. He is one person involved in the WHL who gets it. Yes, he does. Parker knows that, first and foremost, he is in the entertainment business, meaning his No. 1 priority is to sell tickets and put bums in the seats. Which is why when someone like The Leader-Post’s Greg Harder asks him a question, there always is a ready answer. . . . Parker is of the opinion that his roster includes four capable goaltenders — Linden Rowat, Jeff Bosch, Damien Ketlo and Derek Tendler. The Calgary Hitmen had goaltender woes in last season’s playoffs and now have a veteran defenceman — Alex Plante, 19 — who wants out. So, Harder asked the obvious question. “Everybody is starting to poke around to see what’s out there,” Parker replied, admitting at the same time that he has chatted with Calgary GM Kelly Kisio. “I made a call to Kis. It wasn’t anything more than the normal course of conversation with teams. I asked him what the situation was (with Plante), what happened, but more out of curiousity. I don’t think those are good situations for anybody when guys aren’t happy and want out.” . . . As for trading away Hill or DePape, Parker told Harder: “I’m not going to hold them up (for ransom). Hopefully we’ll be able to pick something up, even if it’s a conditional draft pick. At some point in time we may have to put them on waivers (which would make them free agents) but that’s not going to happen any time soon.”
———
Former Saskatoon Blades C Jason Christie has stepped down as director of hockey operations and head coach of the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies in order to become an assistant coach with the IHL’s Chicago Wolves. During his playing career, Christie played under Don Granato, the Wolves’ new head coach, with the ECHL’s Columbus Chill and Peoria Rivermen. In fact, Christie was a playing assistant coach for Granato in 1999-2000. . . . Maggie Thach of the Salt Lake Tribune reports that Kevin Colley will be introduced as the Grizzlies’ new head coach on Thursday. Colley, 29, was an assistant in Utah last season.
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It’s official. Brian Kilrea, the winningest head coach in major junior hockey history, has said that this will be his final season behind the bench. Kilrea, 74, will stay on as GM at least through 2009-10. Don Campbell of the Ottawa Citizen has the story, and more, right here.
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The Chilliwack Bruins appear to have settled on their two goaltenders, having reassigned G Luke Siemens, 16, to the junior B Summerland Sting of the Kootenay International Junior league. Siemens was a seventh round pick of the Bruins in the 2007 bantam draft. . . . Siemens’ departure leaves sophomore Mark Friesen, 18, and Lucas Gore, who turns 18 on Oct. 22, as the two goaltenders left in camp. Gore spent last season with the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers. . . . Matt Esposito, 19, started last season as the No. 1 goaltender but lost the spot to Friesen later in the season. Esposito chose not to report to the Bruins this season. . . . The Bruins also reassigned three 1993-born palyers to their midget teams — D Mitch Topping (Red Deer), G Cole Holowenko (Penticton, B.C.) and F Tim Traber (Quesnel, B.C.).
———
Former WHL D Kalvin Sagert, who played out his eligibility last season with the Prince George Cougars, has accepted an invitation to the Edmonton Oilers’ rookie evaluation camp. Should the 6-foot-2, 220-pounder end up being offered a contract, he’ll have a decision to make because he had committed to attend Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ont., and play for the Thunderwolves. . . . Also in the Oilers’ camp will be two former WHL teammates of Sagert’s — G Devan Dubnyk, a first-round draft pick by Edmonton in 2004, and D Jesse Dudas, who was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets but never signed.
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The Everett Silvertips’ roster is at 24 players and GM Doug Soetaert says he is prepared to open the season with what he has. The roster doesn’t include veterans Tyler Kieffer and Jordan Mistelbacher, who were sent home over the long weekend for violating team rules. Mistelbacher, 18, is from Winnipeg and is scheduled to play on the Minnesota Wild’s prospects team at a tournament in Traverse City, Mich., later this month. Kieffer, 19, is form Stillwater, Minn. . . . Considering that Everett has something like a dozen rookies on that 24-player roster, you’ve got to think that Kieffer and Mistelbacher will be back once Soetaert feels they’ve done their penance. . . . Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald reports that the Silvertips are on the verge of signing D Brenden Stephen, 18, who is from Vanderhoof, B.C. Stephenm who stands 6-foot-7, got into seven games with Everett last season.
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The Medicine Hat Tigers got their roster down to 36 players by moving three players. F Carson Cooper, 16, has gone back to the midget AAA Medicine Hat Tigers, while G Addison Herosian, 17, of Winnipeg and F Andrew Herle, 17, of Wilkie, Sask., also were released. . . . The Tigers are expected to make more cuts before week’s end as they would like to be down to about 30 players before playing in the Saskatoon Blades’ weekend tournament.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Trade
The Prince George Cougars have dealt Colin Haas, a 19-year-old centre from Plano, Texas, to the Seattle Thunderbirds for right-winger Isak Quakenbush, 18, from Fairbanks, Alaska. This is a deal that gets both players closer to home!!! . . . Seriously, Haas had eight points, including three goals, and 37 penalty minutes in 65 games with the Cougars last season. Quakenbush got into 61 games with the Thunderbirds and had five points, three of them goals, and 57 penalty minutes.
Blazers prepping for weekend
By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
Barry Smith’s whistle got a workout Tuesday.
The Kamloops Blazers’ head coach got down to serious business — not that he hasn’t been serious before this — as his WHL team began to get into what will be its routine this season.
With school back in, the Blazers were on the Interior Savings Centre ice surface for an afternoon practice. When they are at home this season, they are scheduled to be on the ice from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Yesterday’s session, which actually went until 4:30 p.m., was interrupted frequently by whistles as Smith got down to coaching.
“Quit trying to be so (bleeping) fancy,” he yelled on one occasion.
Another time, it was: “Get it to the net . . . find a way to get it to the net.”
After another stoppage, he yelled: “That’s a weak-ass play.”
Later, after an especially soft attempt at clearing a puck from the defensive zone, Smith blew the play dead and addressed the guilty party: “Unless you’re going to score 50 goals that puck had better be out.”
The Blazers, who are 1-1 in the exhibition season, are preparing for a weekend home-and-home series with the Chilliwack Bruins. They will play here on Friday night and in the ’Wack on Saturday. Game time both nights is 7 o’clock.
The Bruins went 2-1 at the Everett Silvertips tournament on the weekend.
The Blazers’ roster is at 29, including three goaltenders and 17 forwards.
Smith said the Blazers plan to maintain the “status quo for a while” because they will lose four players to pro camp over the next few days.
p p p
Centre Scott Wasden, 20, has left the club to attend the funeral of his cousin, Cpl. Dustin Wasden, who was killed while on duty in Zharey District of Afghanistan on Aug. 20. The funeral is to be this afternoon at Bourdages Cameron Memorial Arena in Spiritwood, Sask.
Shortly after rejoining the Blazers, Scott Wasden will leave for Traverse City, Mich., where he will play for the Minnesota Wild prospects in an eight-team tournament, Sept. 13-17. Wasden will be there on a tryout basis.
p p p
Blazers RW Brady Calla, 20, will play for the Florida Panthers at a rookie tournament in Kitchener, Sept. 12-15.
Also on Florida’s 22-man roster are LW Kenndal McArdle, RW Michal Repik, D Keaton Ellerby, D Colby Robak and G Tyler Plante, all of whom played in the WHL. The Blazers acquired Calla from the Moose Jaw Warriors last season in exchange for Ellerby.
Calla, a third-round selection by Florida in the NHL’s 2006 draft while he was with the Everett Silvertips, has signed with the Panthers. Calla, 20, is expected to open the season with the AHL’s Rochester Americans.
p p p
RW Tyler Shattock, 18, leaves the Blazers on Sept. 11 to join the San Jose Sharks’ rookie team. The Sharks will play the Anaheim Ducks’ prospects in Las Vegas on Sept. 16. The Sharks’ team plans to practise in Las Vegas, Sept. 14 and 15.
Shattock, who wasn’t selected in the NHL’s 2008 draft, took part in a San Jose developmental camp earlier in the summer.
p p p
D Nick Ross, 19, will join the Phoenix Coyotes’ rookie team for two games against the visiting Los Angeles Kings prospects, Sept. 16 and 17.
Ross, taken 30th overall by Phoenix in the 2007 draft while with the Regina Pats, has signed with the Coyotes.
If Ross doesn’t make the Coyotes’ roster, he will be returned to the Blazers.
p p p
JUST NOTES: Kamloops general manager Craig Bonner watched the Blazers fall 4-1 to the Vancouver Giants in Ladner on Friday. He spent Saturday at the Everett Silvertips tournament and Sunday in Edmonton at the Oil Kings’ tournament. All told, he got a look at 11 of the WHL’s other 21 teams. . . . C Colin Smith, the Blazers’ first pick in the 2008 bantam draft, returned home to Edmonton after Saturday’s 4-2 victory over the visiting Giants. Bonner ran into Smith and his father Sunday at the Oil Kings’ tournament. . . . RW Jimmy Bubnick (shoulder) practised yesterday but was wearing a yellow (no conact) jersey. . . . Brian Kilrea, the head coach of the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s and the winningest coach in major junior history, appears poised to announce that he will retire after this season. He is 74 years of age.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
Daily News Sports Editor
Barry Smith’s whistle got a workout Tuesday.
The Kamloops Blazers’ head coach got down to serious business — not that he hasn’t been serious before this — as his WHL team began to get into what will be its routine this season.
With school back in, the Blazers were on the Interior Savings Centre ice surface for an afternoon practice. When they are at home this season, they are scheduled to be on the ice from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Yesterday’s session, which actually went until 4:30 p.m., was interrupted frequently by whistles as Smith got down to coaching.
“Quit trying to be so (bleeping) fancy,” he yelled on one occasion.
Another time, it was: “Get it to the net . . . find a way to get it to the net.”
After another stoppage, he yelled: “That’s a weak-ass play.”
Later, after an especially soft attempt at clearing a puck from the defensive zone, Smith blew the play dead and addressed the guilty party: “Unless you’re going to score 50 goals that puck had better be out.”
The Blazers, who are 1-1 in the exhibition season, are preparing for a weekend home-and-home series with the Chilliwack Bruins. They will play here on Friday night and in the ’Wack on Saturday. Game time both nights is 7 o’clock.
The Bruins went 2-1 at the Everett Silvertips tournament on the weekend.
The Blazers’ roster is at 29, including three goaltenders and 17 forwards.
Smith said the Blazers plan to maintain the “status quo for a while” because they will lose four players to pro camp over the next few days.
p p p
Centre Scott Wasden, 20, has left the club to attend the funeral of his cousin, Cpl. Dustin Wasden, who was killed while on duty in Zharey District of Afghanistan on Aug. 20. The funeral is to be this afternoon at Bourdages Cameron Memorial Arena in Spiritwood, Sask.
Shortly after rejoining the Blazers, Scott Wasden will leave for Traverse City, Mich., where he will play for the Minnesota Wild prospects in an eight-team tournament, Sept. 13-17. Wasden will be there on a tryout basis.
p p p
Blazers RW Brady Calla, 20, will play for the Florida Panthers at a rookie tournament in Kitchener, Sept. 12-15.
Also on Florida’s 22-man roster are LW Kenndal McArdle, RW Michal Repik, D Keaton Ellerby, D Colby Robak and G Tyler Plante, all of whom played in the WHL. The Blazers acquired Calla from the Moose Jaw Warriors last season in exchange for Ellerby.
Calla, a third-round selection by Florida in the NHL’s 2006 draft while he was with the Everett Silvertips, has signed with the Panthers. Calla, 20, is expected to open the season with the AHL’s Rochester Americans.
p p p
RW Tyler Shattock, 18, leaves the Blazers on Sept. 11 to join the San Jose Sharks’ rookie team. The Sharks will play the Anaheim Ducks’ prospects in Las Vegas on Sept. 16. The Sharks’ team plans to practise in Las Vegas, Sept. 14 and 15.
Shattock, who wasn’t selected in the NHL’s 2008 draft, took part in a San Jose developmental camp earlier in the summer.
p p p
D Nick Ross, 19, will join the Phoenix Coyotes’ rookie team for two games against the visiting Los Angeles Kings prospects, Sept. 16 and 17.
Ross, taken 30th overall by Phoenix in the 2007 draft while with the Regina Pats, has signed with the Coyotes.
If Ross doesn’t make the Coyotes’ roster, he will be returned to the Blazers.
p p p
JUST NOTES: Kamloops general manager Craig Bonner watched the Blazers fall 4-1 to the Vancouver Giants in Ladner on Friday. He spent Saturday at the Everett Silvertips tournament and Sunday in Edmonton at the Oil Kings’ tournament. All told, he got a look at 11 of the WHL’s other 21 teams. . . . C Colin Smith, the Blazers’ first pick in the 2008 bantam draft, returned home to Edmonton after Saturday’s 4-2 victory over the visiting Giants. Bonner ran into Smith and his father Sunday at the Oil Kings’ tournament. . . . RW Jimmy Bubnick (shoulder) practised yesterday but was wearing a yellow (no conact) jersey. . . . Brian Kilrea, the head coach of the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s and the winningest coach in major junior history, appears poised to announce that he will retire after this season. He is 74 years of age.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
A couple of late notes ...
Joe Pelletier has posted the Greatest Photo in Hockey History over at www.greatesthockeylegends.com. . . . Scoot on over and take a look. . . . Tough to argue with any of them but I still say I would move No. 13 up, way up, like maybe even to No. 2.
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If you were wondering, the WHL’s board of governors is next scheduled to gather on Oct. 15 in Calgary. (The general managers are to meet on Oct. 14.) Gotta think that’s the earliest possible date for a transfer in ownership of the Portland Winter Hawks.
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If you were wondering, the WHL’s board of governors is next scheduled to gather on Oct. 15 in Calgary. (The general managers are to meet on Oct. 14.) Gotta think that’s the earliest possible date for a transfer in ownership of the Portland Winter Hawks.
Tuesday's game
The Calgary Hitmen scored five PP goals as they opened their exhibition season with a 6-3 victory over the Red Deer Rebels on Tuesday.
Tuesday’s Game
Red Deer 3 at Calgary 6 — RD: Willie Coetzee 2, Colin Archer; Calg: Jason MacDonald 2, Matt Mackenzie, Ian Duval, Bostjan Golicic, MacKenzie Royer.
Tuesday’s Game
Red Deer 3 at Calgary 6 — RD: Willie Coetzee 2, Colin Archer; Calg: Jason MacDonald 2, Matt Mackenzie, Ian Duval, Bostjan Golicic, MacKenzie Royer.
Tuesday . . .
The WHL has doled out its first discipline of the season. The Regina Pats have been fined $500 for “initiating a multiple-fight situation versus Edmonton” on Sunday during a game in the Oil Kings’ tournament. Two Regina players — F Matt Delahey and F Garrett Mitchell — each drew a one-game suspension “for suspequent fight” from that game. . . . As well, Chance Lund of the Seattle Thunderbirds has been suspended for one game for a cross-checking major and game misconduct against the Portland Winter Hawks on Sunday.
———
THE 2008-09 STANDINGS
Fines paid by teams this season, showing number of fines and total amount paid:
Regina 1/$500
———
LAST SEASON’S STANDINGS
Here’s an unofficial look at fines paid by teams last season, showing number of fines and total amount paid:
Regina 8/$4,500
Saskatoon 6/$3,500
Moose Jaw 3/$3,250
Portland 4/$1,000
Edmonton 2/$750
Lethbridge 1/$500
Brandon 1/$250
Chilliwack 1/$250
Everett 1/$250
Medicine Hat 1/$250
Prince George 1/$250
Seattle 1/$250
Spokane 1/$250
TOTALS 31/$15,250
———
Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province reports that the Vancouver Giants are having a 2007 Memorial Cup ring made up for former captain Milan Lucic, who now plays for the NHL’s Boston Bruins. The home belonging to Lucic’s parents was broken into in July and he lost his ring and three tournament watches. GM Scott Bonner already has replaced one of the watches and Ewen reports the Giants have placed an order for another ring.
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As reported last week by Jessica Brown of the Spokane Spokesman-Review, the Spokane Chiefs have signed Leigh Mendelson as assistant coach under head coach Hardy Sauter. The move became necessary when Sauter was promoted to replace head coach Bill Peters, now the head coach of the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs. Mendelson spent last season as an assistant coach with the USHL’s Omaha Lancers, who won that league’s regular-season and playoff championship. He has extensive junior A experience in the U.S., and also has coached in the ECHL and in Europe. . . . Single-game tickets to home games for the Memorial Cup-champion Chiefs go on sale Thursday.
———
The Brandon Wheat Kings will unveil their new website on Friday. It’ll be right there at www.wheatkings.com. . . . No one works harder than Rick Dillabough and his crew at putting fannies in the seats and this new website will be one more example of that. Part of the plan is to have regular on-line play chats. The first one is scheduled for Sept. 15 when fans will be able to visit with Matt Calvert.
———
F Stepan Novotny, whom the Kelowna Rockets selected in the CHL’s 2008 import draft, arrived in the Okanagan city on Saturday. One look at Prospera Place and he told Doyle Potenteau of the Kelowna Daily Courier: “This is the best rink I’ve ever been in. I know I’m going to be at home here.” . . . Novotny, who is from the Czech Republic, spent last season with the USHL’s Indiana Ice, totaling 11 points in 44 games. Before that, he played at Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Faribault, Minn. Novotny, 18 on Sept. 21, is eligible for the NHL’s 2009 draft. “He’s a skilled player who’s been in North America the last two years, so we think he won’t need that extra time to make the transition to our style of hockey (like most Europeans),” Rockets president and general manager Bruce Hamilton said. “We feel he can step up and play on one of our top two lines.” . . . Novotny may end up playing alongside centre Colin Long and left-winger Jamie Benn.
———
The Prince Albert Raiders are without F Jordan Hickmott, 18, who was acquired from the Medicine Hat Tigers over the summer. He hasn’t skated since having surgery on a toe last week. . . . Prince Albert veteran F Jordan Trach (concussion) is listed as week-to-week. He was injured in camp. . . . The Raiders also are without F Brent Martin (back). He came over from the Lethbridge Hurricanes last season in the deal that had D Jeff May going the other way.
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The Saskatoon Blades have released F Kevin Philip, 18. Philip, who goes about 6-foot-7 and 245 pounds, is from Victoria. He joined the Blades last season but suffered a broken jaw and was limited to 36 games. He had four points and 44 penalty minutes. . . . The departure of Philip left the Blades’ roster at 34, including three 1993s, who are too young to play regularly this season.
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Ray Ferraro, who holds the WHL’s single-season goal-scoring record, is leaving Rogers Sportsnet for TSN where he will work as an NHL analyst. Ferraro had been an analyst on Sportsnet’s Edmonton Oilers telecasts. His spot on that crew will be taken by former Oilers forward Louie DeBrusk.
———
The Seattle Thunderbirds will play at least eight games at KeyArena before making the move to the brand new Kent Events Center. Single-game tickets for those eight game go on sale Wednesday at 10 a.m. . . . The Thunderbirds still aren’t sure when they will open in Kent. They new facility is scheduled to be completed on Jan. 2. The Thunderbirds have home games scheduled for Dec. 27, 28 and 30 — so one of those games just might be the first game in the new barn. You bet that the Seattle brass is hoping to open in Kent on Dec. 27 — on a night when the Portland Winter Hawks will provide the opposition. The Spokane Chiefs will visit on Dec. 28, with the Chilliwack Bruins there on Dec. 30.
———
The Lethbridge Hurricanes are down to 28 bodies on their roster, including three goaltenders. The starter, of course, will be Juha Metsola, the 19-year-old sophomore from Finland. The two vying for the backup spot are Brandon Anderson, 16, from Langley, B.C., and Michael Tadjdeh, 17, of Calgary. Anderson was the 50th pick in the 2997 bantam draft. . . . The Hurricanes also signed four players as their camp ended — D Cody Castro, 16, of Peoria, Ariz., F Ryon Moser, 16, of Calgary, D Derek Ryckman, 16, of Red Deer, and F Philip Tot, 15, of Calgary. . . . The Hurricanes took Ryckman with the 199th pick of the 2007 draft and then took Moser at No. 207 and Castro at No. 229. . . . Tot was Lethbridge’s first-round pick in the 2008 bantam draft and is the only 1993-born player still with the Hurricanes. He is likely to play in the Saskatoon tournament this weekend.
———
You may be interested to know that Barry Smith is making US$1.25 million to coach this season. That would be the Barry Smith who is head coach of SKA St. Petersburg of the Continental Hockey League. Kamloops Blazers head coach Barry Smith is believed to be making slightly less than that.
———
THE 2008-09 STANDINGS
Fines paid by teams this season, showing number of fines and total amount paid:
Regina 1/$500
———
LAST SEASON’S STANDINGS
Here’s an unofficial look at fines paid by teams last season, showing number of fines and total amount paid:
Regina 8/$4,500
Saskatoon 6/$3,500
Moose Jaw 3/$3,250
Portland 4/$1,000
Edmonton 2/$750
Lethbridge 1/$500
Brandon 1/$250
Chilliwack 1/$250
Everett 1/$250
Medicine Hat 1/$250
Prince George 1/$250
Seattle 1/$250
Spokane 1/$250
TOTALS 31/$15,250
———
Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province reports that the Vancouver Giants are having a 2007 Memorial Cup ring made up for former captain Milan Lucic, who now plays for the NHL’s Boston Bruins. The home belonging to Lucic’s parents was broken into in July and he lost his ring and three tournament watches. GM Scott Bonner already has replaced one of the watches and Ewen reports the Giants have placed an order for another ring.
———
As reported last week by Jessica Brown of the Spokane Spokesman-Review, the Spokane Chiefs have signed Leigh Mendelson as assistant coach under head coach Hardy Sauter. The move became necessary when Sauter was promoted to replace head coach Bill Peters, now the head coach of the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs. Mendelson spent last season as an assistant coach with the USHL’s Omaha Lancers, who won that league’s regular-season and playoff championship. He has extensive junior A experience in the U.S., and also has coached in the ECHL and in Europe. . . . Single-game tickets to home games for the Memorial Cup-champion Chiefs go on sale Thursday.
———
The Brandon Wheat Kings will unveil their new website on Friday. It’ll be right there at www.wheatkings.com. . . . No one works harder than Rick Dillabough and his crew at putting fannies in the seats and this new website will be one more example of that. Part of the plan is to have regular on-line play chats. The first one is scheduled for Sept. 15 when fans will be able to visit with Matt Calvert.
———
F Stepan Novotny, whom the Kelowna Rockets selected in the CHL’s 2008 import draft, arrived in the Okanagan city on Saturday. One look at Prospera Place and he told Doyle Potenteau of the Kelowna Daily Courier: “This is the best rink I’ve ever been in. I know I’m going to be at home here.” . . . Novotny, who is from the Czech Republic, spent last season with the USHL’s Indiana Ice, totaling 11 points in 44 games. Before that, he played at Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Faribault, Minn. Novotny, 18 on Sept. 21, is eligible for the NHL’s 2009 draft. “He’s a skilled player who’s been in North America the last two years, so we think he won’t need that extra time to make the transition to our style of hockey (like most Europeans),” Rockets president and general manager Bruce Hamilton said. “We feel he can step up and play on one of our top two lines.” . . . Novotny may end up playing alongside centre Colin Long and left-winger Jamie Benn.
———
The Prince Albert Raiders are without F Jordan Hickmott, 18, who was acquired from the Medicine Hat Tigers over the summer. He hasn’t skated since having surgery on a toe last week. . . . Prince Albert veteran F Jordan Trach (concussion) is listed as week-to-week. He was injured in camp. . . . The Raiders also are without F Brent Martin (back). He came over from the Lethbridge Hurricanes last season in the deal that had D Jeff May going the other way.
———
The Saskatoon Blades have released F Kevin Philip, 18. Philip, who goes about 6-foot-7 and 245 pounds, is from Victoria. He joined the Blades last season but suffered a broken jaw and was limited to 36 games. He had four points and 44 penalty minutes. . . . The departure of Philip left the Blades’ roster at 34, including three 1993s, who are too young to play regularly this season.
———
Ray Ferraro, who holds the WHL’s single-season goal-scoring record, is leaving Rogers Sportsnet for TSN where he will work as an NHL analyst. Ferraro had been an analyst on Sportsnet’s Edmonton Oilers telecasts. His spot on that crew will be taken by former Oilers forward Louie DeBrusk.
———
The Seattle Thunderbirds will play at least eight games at KeyArena before making the move to the brand new Kent Events Center. Single-game tickets for those eight game go on sale Wednesday at 10 a.m. . . . The Thunderbirds still aren’t sure when they will open in Kent. They new facility is scheduled to be completed on Jan. 2. The Thunderbirds have home games scheduled for Dec. 27, 28 and 30 — so one of those games just might be the first game in the new barn. You bet that the Seattle brass is hoping to open in Kent on Dec. 27 — on a night when the Portland Winter Hawks will provide the opposition. The Spokane Chiefs will visit on Dec. 28, with the Chilliwack Bruins there on Dec. 30.
———
The Lethbridge Hurricanes are down to 28 bodies on their roster, including three goaltenders. The starter, of course, will be Juha Metsola, the 19-year-old sophomore from Finland. The two vying for the backup spot are Brandon Anderson, 16, from Langley, B.C., and Michael Tadjdeh, 17, of Calgary. Anderson was the 50th pick in the 2997 bantam draft. . . . The Hurricanes also signed four players as their camp ended — D Cody Castro, 16, of Peoria, Ariz., F Ryon Moser, 16, of Calgary, D Derek Ryckman, 16, of Red Deer, and F Philip Tot, 15, of Calgary. . . . The Hurricanes took Ryckman with the 199th pick of the 2007 draft and then took Moser at No. 207 and Castro at No. 229. . . . Tot was Lethbridge’s first-round pick in the 2008 bantam draft and is the only 1993-born player still with the Hurricanes. He is likely to play in the Saskatoon tournament this weekend.
———
You may be interested to know that Barry Smith is making US$1.25 million to coach this season. That would be the Barry Smith who is head coach of SKA St. Petersburg of the Continental Hockey League. Kamloops Blazers head coach Barry Smith is believed to be making slightly less than that.
Quinn's the man
From tsn.ca:
It appears that Pat Quinn will once again be standing behind the bench for Team Canada.
According to a report in the Hamilton Spectator, the former Toronto Maple Leafs head coach will be named as the head coach of Canada's national junior hockey team for the upcoming world junior championship, held in Ottawa.
Quinn has twice been head coach for Canada's Olympic hockey team, winning a gold medal in 2002 and finishing out of the medals in 2006. Most recently, Quinn coached Canada's under-18 team to a gold medal at last year's world championship. Quinn has also won a silver medal at the 2006 Spengler Cup.
Quinn will replace Benoit Groulx, who recently signed on to be head coach of the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League.
It appears that Pat Quinn will once again be standing behind the bench for Team Canada.
According to a report in the Hamilton Spectator, the former Toronto Maple Leafs head coach will be named as the head coach of Canada's national junior hockey team for the upcoming world junior championship, held in Ottawa.
Quinn has twice been head coach for Canada's Olympic hockey team, winning a gold medal in 2002 and finishing out of the medals in 2006. Most recently, Quinn coached Canada's under-18 team to a gold medal at last year's world championship. Quinn has also won a silver medal at the 2006 Spengler Cup.
Quinn will replace Benoit Groulx, who recently signed on to be head coach of the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League.
Monday, September 1, 2008
More from the weekend . . .
THE MacBETH REPORT: F Joni Lindlöf (Kelowna/Lethbridge) has been released by Tappara Tampere (Finland SM-Liiga) after an unsuccessful tryout. He was with TuTo Turku (Finland Mestis) last season, getting 17 goals and 15 assists in 45 games. . . . F Ondrej Fiala (Everett/Saskatoon) has signed with Spartak Moscow (Continental Hockey League).
———
It has been confirmed that Mike Johnston, who will be the GM and head coach of the Portland Winter Hawks, and Travis Green, the future assistant coach, took in at least part of the Everett tournament over the weekend. Also on hand was Garry Davidson, who is expected to be the Winter Hawks’ head scout. . . . Davidson, of course, used to be in on the ownership of the BCHL’s Salmon Arm SilverBacks and was disliked pretty much throughout the WHL because he (along with fellow owner Andy Murray, now the head coach of the NHL’s St. Louis Blues) was recruiting against the WHL. . . . It all makes one wonder just how wide open will be the WHL arms that welcome Davidson into the fold. . . . I also understand that Ty Davidson, Garry’s son and a former junior A coach, will be on the Portland scouting staff.
———
The Regina Pats have signed two players from Saskatchewan to WHL contracts. . . . D Tyler Borstmayer of St. Brieux was the 39th pick in the 2008 bantam draft. The 6-foot-5, 187-pound Borstmayer had 60 points with a Tisdale bantam team last season. . . . D Andrew Rieder of Regina was invited to camp last season and was invited back. Rieder, 16, spent last season with the midget AAA Regina Pat Canadians. . . . F Myles Bell, the Pats’ first pick in the 2008 draft, has been reassigned to the midget AAA Calgary Flames.
———
The Pats went 3-0 in the Edmonton tournament. They beat Prince George Cougars, 4-2, on Monday. Regina D Victor Bartley had a goal and seven assists in the three games.
———
The Kelowna Rockets cut two goaltenders Monday and are left with two freshmen — Adam Brown and Dylan Tait — behind veteran starter Torrie Jung. . . . The Rockets dropped Daniel Salamandyk, 18, and Patrick Fairclough, 16. Salamandyk was a seventh-round pick by the Kootenay Ice in the 2007 bantam draft. The Ice dealt him to the Rockets two seasons ago in a trade that had LW Clayton Bauer go to Kootenay. . . . Salamandyk is headed for UBC. . . . Fairclough was a 10th-round selection by the Rockets in 2007. . . . Brown, the son of veteran NHL assistant coach Newell Brown, is a native of Yorba Linda, Calif., who was selected by the Lethbridge Hurricanes in one of the WHL showcase drafts in Anaheim. Brown will turn 17 on Oct. 12. . . . Tait, a fifth-round pick in the 2006 draft, turns 17 on March 1.
———
D Alex Plante, 19, has asked the Calgary Hitmen for a trade. Considering that Plante was a first-round pick by the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL’s 2007 draft, you’ve got to think there would be some interest. . . . Plante is from Brandon. When asked by the Brandon Sun’s Rob Henderson if he was interested, Wheat Kings owner/GM/head coach Kelly McCrimmon chose not to comment. . . . Is he interested? Of course he is. And with 20 returnees on his roster, you just know he could put something together that would pique the interest of Calgary GM Kelly Kisio.
———
It has been confirmed that Mike Johnston, who will be the GM and head coach of the Portland Winter Hawks, and Travis Green, the future assistant coach, took in at least part of the Everett tournament over the weekend. Also on hand was Garry Davidson, who is expected to be the Winter Hawks’ head scout. . . . Davidson, of course, used to be in on the ownership of the BCHL’s Salmon Arm SilverBacks and was disliked pretty much throughout the WHL because he (along with fellow owner Andy Murray, now the head coach of the NHL’s St. Louis Blues) was recruiting against the WHL. . . . It all makes one wonder just how wide open will be the WHL arms that welcome Davidson into the fold. . . . I also understand that Ty Davidson, Garry’s son and a former junior A coach, will be on the Portland scouting staff.
———
The Regina Pats have signed two players from Saskatchewan to WHL contracts. . . . D Tyler Borstmayer of St. Brieux was the 39th pick in the 2008 bantam draft. The 6-foot-5, 187-pound Borstmayer had 60 points with a Tisdale bantam team last season. . . . D Andrew Rieder of Regina was invited to camp last season and was invited back. Rieder, 16, spent last season with the midget AAA Regina Pat Canadians. . . . F Myles Bell, the Pats’ first pick in the 2008 draft, has been reassigned to the midget AAA Calgary Flames.
———
The Pats went 3-0 in the Edmonton tournament. They beat Prince George Cougars, 4-2, on Monday. Regina D Victor Bartley had a goal and seven assists in the three games.
———
The Kelowna Rockets cut two goaltenders Monday and are left with two freshmen — Adam Brown and Dylan Tait — behind veteran starter Torrie Jung. . . . The Rockets dropped Daniel Salamandyk, 18, and Patrick Fairclough, 16. Salamandyk was a seventh-round pick by the Kootenay Ice in the 2007 bantam draft. The Ice dealt him to the Rockets two seasons ago in a trade that had LW Clayton Bauer go to Kootenay. . . . Salamandyk is headed for UBC. . . . Fairclough was a 10th-round selection by the Rockets in 2007. . . . Brown, the son of veteran NHL assistant coach Newell Brown, is a native of Yorba Linda, Calif., who was selected by the Lethbridge Hurricanes in one of the WHL showcase drafts in Anaheim. Brown will turn 17 on Oct. 12. . . . Tait, a fifth-round pick in the 2006 draft, turns 17 on March 1.
———
D Alex Plante, 19, has asked the Calgary Hitmen for a trade. Considering that Plante was a first-round pick by the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL’s 2007 draft, you’ve got to think there would be some interest. . . . Plante is from Brandon. When asked by the Brandon Sun’s Rob Henderson if he was interested, Wheat Kings owner/GM/head coach Kelly McCrimmon chose not to comment. . . . Is he interested? Of course he is. And with 20 returnees on his roster, you just know he could put something together that would pique the interest of Calgary GM Kelly Kisio.
WHL's weekend
Tonight’s Game
Red Deer at Calgary, Centennial Arena, 6 p.m.
———
Monday’s Games
Edmonton Tournament
Regina 4, Prince George 2 — Reg: Graham Hood, Jeff Dort, Koltyn Miller, Scott Doucet; PG: Dana Tyrell, Art Bidlevskii.
Edmonton 5, Medicine Hat 4 — Edm: Brent Raedeke, Cam Maclise, Drew Nichol, Dylan Wruck, Jeff Lee; Med. Hat: John Stampohar, Joey Frazer, Tristan King, Josh Koper.
———
Sunday’s Games
Saskatoon 2 at Prince Albert 6 — Sask: Charles Inglis, Duncan Siemens; PA: Zak Stebner 2, Bryce Lamb, Dustin Cameron, Mike Small, Jordan Kochan.
Everett Tournament
Tri-City 3, Spokane 1 — TC: Justin Feser 2, Drew Hoff; Spok: Jared Cowen.
Seattle 4, Portland 3 — Sea: Lindsey Nielsen, Spencer Edwards, David Richard, Brendan Dillon; Port: Ty Rattie 2, Killian Hutt.
Chilliwack 3, Everett 2 — Cwk: Jesse Craige, Alexander Wiklund, Jadon Potter; Evt: Zach Dailey, Kellan Tochkin.
Edmonton Tournament
Prince George 3, Swift Current 1 — PG: Art Bidlevskii Corey Tyrell, Brett Connolly; SC: Dillon Wagner.
Regina 5, Edmonton 4 — Reg: Jordan Eberle 2, Clarke Breitkreuz, Koltyn Miller, Matt Strueby; Edm: Adrian Van de Mosselaer 2, Brett Breitkreuz, Brent Raedeke.
———
Saturday’s Games
Vancouver 2 at Kamloops 4 — Vcr: Casey Pierro-Zabotel, Mitch Czibere; Kam: C.J. Stretch 2, Tyler Shattock, Brendan Ranford.
Everett Tournament
Portland 5, Spokane 3 — Port: Killian Hutt 2, Travis Ehrhardt, Colin Reddin, Oliver Gabriel; Spok: Mike Aviani, T.C. Cratsenberg, Tyler Johnson.
Tri-City 5, Chilliwack 3 — TC: Blair Macauley 2, Jason Gardiner, Jarret Toll, Brendan Shinnimin; Cwk: Ryan Howse, Chris Collins, Partik Bhungal.
Everett 7, Seattle 3 — Evt: Tyler Maxwell 3, Shane Harper, Kellan Tochkin, Kyle Beach, Ryan White; Sea: Jeremy Boyer, Matt Betker, Mike Krgovich.
Edmonton Tournament
Regina 6, Medicine Hat 4 — Regina: Kyle Mulder 3, Victor Bartley, Dominic Favreau, Brett Leffler; Med. Hat: Mike Forsyth, Thomas Frazee, Joey Frazer, Tristan King.
Swift Current 4, Edmonton 3 — SC: Jordan Peddle, Dale Weise, Christian Magnus, Michael Hay; Edm: Craig McCallum, Shayne Neigum, Clayton Cumiskey.
Red Deer at Calgary, Centennial Arena, 6 p.m.
———
Monday’s Games
Edmonton Tournament
Regina 4, Prince George 2 — Reg: Graham Hood, Jeff Dort, Koltyn Miller, Scott Doucet; PG: Dana Tyrell, Art Bidlevskii.
Edmonton 5, Medicine Hat 4 — Edm: Brent Raedeke, Cam Maclise, Drew Nichol, Dylan Wruck, Jeff Lee; Med. Hat: John Stampohar, Joey Frazer, Tristan King, Josh Koper.
———
Sunday’s Games
Saskatoon 2 at Prince Albert 6 — Sask: Charles Inglis, Duncan Siemens; PA: Zak Stebner 2, Bryce Lamb, Dustin Cameron, Mike Small, Jordan Kochan.
Everett Tournament
Tri-City 3, Spokane 1 — TC: Justin Feser 2, Drew Hoff; Spok: Jared Cowen.
Seattle 4, Portland 3 — Sea: Lindsey Nielsen, Spencer Edwards, David Richard, Brendan Dillon; Port: Ty Rattie 2, Killian Hutt.
Chilliwack 3, Everett 2 — Cwk: Jesse Craige, Alexander Wiklund, Jadon Potter; Evt: Zach Dailey, Kellan Tochkin.
Edmonton Tournament
Prince George 3, Swift Current 1 — PG: Art Bidlevskii Corey Tyrell, Brett Connolly; SC: Dillon Wagner.
Regina 5, Edmonton 4 — Reg: Jordan Eberle 2, Clarke Breitkreuz, Koltyn Miller, Matt Strueby; Edm: Adrian Van de Mosselaer 2, Brett Breitkreuz, Brent Raedeke.
———
Saturday’s Games
Vancouver 2 at Kamloops 4 — Vcr: Casey Pierro-Zabotel, Mitch Czibere; Kam: C.J. Stretch 2, Tyler Shattock, Brendan Ranford.
Everett Tournament
Portland 5, Spokane 3 — Port: Killian Hutt 2, Travis Ehrhardt, Colin Reddin, Oliver Gabriel; Spok: Mike Aviani, T.C. Cratsenberg, Tyler Johnson.
Tri-City 5, Chilliwack 3 — TC: Blair Macauley 2, Jason Gardiner, Jarret Toll, Brendan Shinnimin; Cwk: Ryan Howse, Chris Collins, Partik Bhungal.
Everett 7, Seattle 3 — Evt: Tyler Maxwell 3, Shane Harper, Kellan Tochkin, Kyle Beach, Ryan White; Sea: Jeremy Boyer, Matt Betker, Mike Krgovich.
Edmonton Tournament
Regina 6, Medicine Hat 4 — Regina: Kyle Mulder 3, Victor Bartley, Dominic Favreau, Brett Leffler; Med. Hat: Mike Forsyth, Thomas Frazee, Joey Frazer, Tristan King.
Swift Current 4, Edmonton 3 — SC: Jordan Peddle, Dale Weise, Christian Magnus, Michael Hay; Edm: Craig McCallum, Shayne Neigum, Clayton Cumiskey.
Blazers needed that victory
By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
It may have been only an exhibition game but as far as head coach Barry
Smith is concerned it was an important victory.
The Kamloops Blazers beat the Vancouver Giants 4-2 on Saturday night at
Interior Savings Centre — before an announced crowd of 900 close friends and
relatives — to split a weekend WHL exhibition series. The Giants had won 4-1
in Ladner on Friday in the exhibition opener for both teams.
Smith, in his first season with the Blazers, was well aware that his team
had won just one of its previous 20 regular-season, playoff and exhibition
games.
“That was a win this team needed,” he said. “That’s what I told them
tonight. I said, ‘You know what? That team over there doesn’t have a lot of
respect for you. A lot of teams in this league don’t have a lot of respect
for you from last season. You have to earn it.’
“We earned a little bit tonight. We have to earn more.”
Goaltender Jon Groenheyde, 17, was the main reason for that, turning aside
40 shots as the Blazers were outshot, 42-22, including 14-4 in the third
period.
“Groenheyde played well,” Smith said. “He kept us in it. He made some big
saves.”
On Friday, sophomore James Priestner, 17, went the distance and Smith had
said he was “just OK.” Veteran Justin Leclerc, 19, has yet to play but will
get time this weekend against the Chilliwack Bruins.
Smith said he is comfortable with his three goaltenders and is not in a
hurry to make a move.
“We’re OK with (having three) right now,” Smith said. “We’ve still got three
weeks to go but we’re prepared to go with three goaltenders.”
One night earlier, the Giants had been credited with outshooting the Blazers
19-3 in the third period, something Smith wrote off as a figment of
someone’s imagination. Saturday, however, he said “they did have 43 shots.”
“And we took too many penalties,” he added. “Too many penalties . . . lazy,
soft penalties. We have to work through that.”
The Giants ended up 1-for-9 on the power play, while the Blazers went
0-for-5.
“Our penalty killers did a pretty good job,” Smith said. “We got in shooting
lanes, got some up-ice pressure, got a shorthanded goal. So we did some good
things there.”
The shorthanded goal was the game’s highlight, with centre C.J. Stretch
breaking a 2-2 tie with his second goal of the game. The goal came off the
third period’s opening faceoff, with Stretch, who also had an assist, poking
the puck straight ahead, splitting the defence and going in to beat
goaltender Kraymer Barnstable with a deke to the backhand.
Right-winger Tyler Shattock added a goal and two helpers, with freshman
Brendan Ranford getting the game’s last goal.
Centres Casey Pierro-Zabotel, the local lad who will go to camp with the
NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, and Mitch Czibere replied for Vancouver.
JUST NOTES: After the game, C Colin Smith, the Blazers’ first pick in the
2008 bantam draft, headed home to Edmonton. At 15, he is too young to play
regularly until his minor hockey team’s season is over. “We wanted to get
him into two games,” head coach Smith said of player Smith, who goes about
5-foot-6 and 130 pounds. “His size isn’t going to matter . . . not the way
he plays. He needs to get stronger for when he has to battle when he has the
puck.” . . . D Nick Beveridge, 15, returned to his Lower Mainland home after
Friday’s game. He was a second-round pick in the 2008 bantam draft. . . .
Kamloops now has 29 players in camp, including nine defencemen and 17
forwards. . . . F Uriah Machuga, 16, turned in a solid effort for Kamloops,
just a couple of days after signing with the team. “He was a good surprise
for me,” Barry Smith said. “His habits were in the right place. He made some
good little chips . . . he was strong on pucks. He went to some hard areas
to make some plays and he used his skill.” . . . Kamloops RW Jimmy Bubnick
(shoulder), who didn’t play either weekend game, practised with his
teammates Monday. . . . The Blazers were off Sunday and practised Monday
morning. Today, with school in, they will begin their regular practice
schedule of 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. . . . The Blazers play home-and-home with the
Chilliwack Bruins this weekend, meeting here on Friday, 7 p.m., and at
Prospera Centre on Saturday, 7 p.m.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
Daily News Sports Editor
It may have been only an exhibition game but as far as head coach Barry
Smith is concerned it was an important victory.
The Kamloops Blazers beat the Vancouver Giants 4-2 on Saturday night at
Interior Savings Centre — before an announced crowd of 900 close friends and
relatives — to split a weekend WHL exhibition series. The Giants had won 4-1
in Ladner on Friday in the exhibition opener for both teams.
Smith, in his first season with the Blazers, was well aware that his team
had won just one of its previous 20 regular-season, playoff and exhibition
games.
“That was a win this team needed,” he said. “That’s what I told them
tonight. I said, ‘You know what? That team over there doesn’t have a lot of
respect for you. A lot of teams in this league don’t have a lot of respect
for you from last season. You have to earn it.’
“We earned a little bit tonight. We have to earn more.”
Goaltender Jon Groenheyde, 17, was the main reason for that, turning aside
40 shots as the Blazers were outshot, 42-22, including 14-4 in the third
period.
“Groenheyde played well,” Smith said. “He kept us in it. He made some big
saves.”
On Friday, sophomore James Priestner, 17, went the distance and Smith had
said he was “just OK.” Veteran Justin Leclerc, 19, has yet to play but will
get time this weekend against the Chilliwack Bruins.
Smith said he is comfortable with his three goaltenders and is not in a
hurry to make a move.
“We’re OK with (having three) right now,” Smith said. “We’ve still got three
weeks to go but we’re prepared to go with three goaltenders.”
One night earlier, the Giants had been credited with outshooting the Blazers
19-3 in the third period, something Smith wrote off as a figment of
someone’s imagination. Saturday, however, he said “they did have 43 shots.”
“And we took too many penalties,” he added. “Too many penalties . . . lazy,
soft penalties. We have to work through that.”
The Giants ended up 1-for-9 on the power play, while the Blazers went
0-for-5.
“Our penalty killers did a pretty good job,” Smith said. “We got in shooting
lanes, got some up-ice pressure, got a shorthanded goal. So we did some good
things there.”
The shorthanded goal was the game’s highlight, with centre C.J. Stretch
breaking a 2-2 tie with his second goal of the game. The goal came off the
third period’s opening faceoff, with Stretch, who also had an assist, poking
the puck straight ahead, splitting the defence and going in to beat
goaltender Kraymer Barnstable with a deke to the backhand.
Right-winger Tyler Shattock added a goal and two helpers, with freshman
Brendan Ranford getting the game’s last goal.
Centres Casey Pierro-Zabotel, the local lad who will go to camp with the
NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, and Mitch Czibere replied for Vancouver.
JUST NOTES: After the game, C Colin Smith, the Blazers’ first pick in the
2008 bantam draft, headed home to Edmonton. At 15, he is too young to play
regularly until his minor hockey team’s season is over. “We wanted to get
him into two games,” head coach Smith said of player Smith, who goes about
5-foot-6 and 130 pounds. “His size isn’t going to matter . . . not the way
he plays. He needs to get stronger for when he has to battle when he has the
puck.” . . . D Nick Beveridge, 15, returned to his Lower Mainland home after
Friday’s game. He was a second-round pick in the 2008 bantam draft. . . .
Kamloops now has 29 players in camp, including nine defencemen and 17
forwards. . . . F Uriah Machuga, 16, turned in a solid effort for Kamloops,
just a couple of days after signing with the team. “He was a good surprise
for me,” Barry Smith said. “His habits were in the right place. He made some
good little chips . . . he was strong on pucks. He went to some hard areas
to make some plays and he used his skill.” . . . Kamloops RW Jimmy Bubnick
(shoulder), who didn’t play either weekend game, practised with his
teammates Monday. . . . The Blazers were off Sunday and practised Monday
morning. Today, with school in, they will begin their regular practice
schedule of 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. . . . The Blazers play home-and-home with the
Chilliwack Bruins this weekend, meeting here on Friday, 7 p.m., and at
Prospera Centre on Saturday, 7 p.m.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
Hall hoping for quick recovery
By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
The form chart says the earliest that centre Mark Hall will rejoin the WHL’s
Kamloops Blazers is sometime in March.
Don’t bother trying to tell that to him, though.
“The regular recovery is six to eight months,” said Hall, who will undergo
surgery this week to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his
right knee. “My goal is to be back for the end of January or the start of
February and go from there.”
Hall was injured in the Blazers’ workout room on Aug. 20, two days before
the start of training camp.
“I was doing a little workout and my knee popped,” said Hall on Saturday
night after watching the Blazers post a 4-2 exhibition victory over the
Vancouver Giants at Interior Savings Centre. “It buckled . . . collapsed on
me . . . I couldn’t get up. I didn’t hear anything; I just felt it.”
At first, the Blazers said Hall had a sprained medial collateral ligament
(MCL), but . . .
“There was swelling,” Hall said of the first knee injury of his career. “It
was decided to get an MRI. Then came the news.”
Hall said the MRI showed some previous damage “that maybe was the start of
something and this kind of finished ’er off.”
When first told of the injury’s seriousness, Hall said, “I was pretty
disappointed. I didn’t know what to do. But I thought about it and there’s
not much I can do now. It happened . . . it happened . . . and now I have to
move on.”
The plan, then, is to have surgery and jump into rehab. Or, as Hall puts it,
“Rehab like crazy and, hopefully, six to eight (months) turns into four to
five.
“I’ll be around the team and do whatever I can to help the guys out. But
it’s going to be a new experience. It’s going to be tough sitting up there
watching the guys go to work every night.”
The 18-year-old Hall was the only Kamloops native on last season’s roster.
The 5-foot-8, 185-pounder has 15 points, six of them goals, and 94 penalty
minutes in 99 games with the Blazers over the last two seasons. Obviously,
he’s not going to score a lot, but he will do his utmost to drive the
opposition batty.
“I don’t have any advice for him,” said defenceman Mark Schneider, who
fought through three separate injuries (wrist, face, knee) last season. “I
feel for him. It’s a tough injury. I can kind of relate to it, but I can’t.
He’s a good guy and he’ll work hard to get back in the lineup.
“We desperately need him.”
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
Daily News Sports Editor
The form chart says the earliest that centre Mark Hall will rejoin the WHL’s
Kamloops Blazers is sometime in March.
Don’t bother trying to tell that to him, though.
“The regular recovery is six to eight months,” said Hall, who will undergo
surgery this week to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his
right knee. “My goal is to be back for the end of January or the start of
February and go from there.”
Hall was injured in the Blazers’ workout room on Aug. 20, two days before
the start of training camp.
“I was doing a little workout and my knee popped,” said Hall on Saturday
night after watching the Blazers post a 4-2 exhibition victory over the
Vancouver Giants at Interior Savings Centre. “It buckled . . . collapsed on
me . . . I couldn’t get up. I didn’t hear anything; I just felt it.”
At first, the Blazers said Hall had a sprained medial collateral ligament
(MCL), but . . .
“There was swelling,” Hall said of the first knee injury of his career. “It
was decided to get an MRI. Then came the news.”
Hall said the MRI showed some previous damage “that maybe was the start of
something and this kind of finished ’er off.”
When first told of the injury’s seriousness, Hall said, “I was pretty
disappointed. I didn’t know what to do. But I thought about it and there’s
not much I can do now. It happened . . . it happened . . . and now I have to
move on.”
The plan, then, is to have surgery and jump into rehab. Or, as Hall puts it,
“Rehab like crazy and, hopefully, six to eight (months) turns into four to
five.
“I’ll be around the team and do whatever I can to help the guys out. But
it’s going to be a new experience. It’s going to be tough sitting up there
watching the guys go to work every night.”
The 18-year-old Hall was the only Kamloops native on last season’s roster.
The 5-foot-8, 185-pounder has 15 points, six of them goals, and 94 penalty
minutes in 99 games with the Blazers over the last two seasons. Obviously,
he’s not going to score a lot, but he will do his utmost to drive the
opposition batty.
“I don’t have any advice for him,” said defenceman Mark Schneider, who
fought through three separate injuries (wrist, face, knee) last season. “I
feel for him. It’s a tough injury. I can kind of relate to it, but I can’t.
He’s a good guy and he’ll work hard to get back in the lineup.
“We desperately need him.”
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
More from Sunday (and Saturday) . . .
The Everett Silvertips, who went 1-2 in their weekend tournament, sent home two veterans – D Tyler Kieffer, 19, and LW Jordan Mistelbacher, 18 – on Sunday because of “a violation of team rules,” writes the Everett Herald’s Nick Patterson. According to Patterson, “Everett general manager Doug Soetaert declined further comment, both on the nature of the rules violation and on whether Kieffer or Mistelbacher would be invited back sometime in the future.” . . . With those two gone, and the reassigning of D Gabe Minville, 16, the Silvertips’ roster is down to 24 players, including two goaltenders and 14 forwards. . . . Everett lost its last game in the tournament, 3-2, to the Chilliwack Bruins. “Everett suffered a blow to its momentum,” Patterson writes, “when, leading 2-1 early in the second period, star winger Kyle Beach was a given a game misconduct for fighting – all fighting majors result in a game misconduct during the preseason – after being baited by Chilliwack 16-year-old Tyler Stahl.” File that one under the more things change . . .
---
D Victor Bartley had a goal and four assists Saturday as the Regina Pats opened the Edmonton tournament with a 6-4 victory over the Medicine Hat Tigers. The Pats got three goals from F Kyle Mulder, 17, in that victory.
---
The Tri-City Americans went 3-0 at the Everett tournament by beating the Spokane Chiefs, 3-1, on Sunday. Spokane got the game’s first goal, from D Jared Cowen, but the Americans got the last three, including two from F Justin Feser.
---
If you zip on over to GreatestHockeyLegends.com, you can check out the greatest pictures in NHL history, Nos. 4 through 20. The latest entry is No. 4 – The Stare. It also might have been titled The Glower. . . . There are some wonderful photos there and the only placement I would disagree with is No. 13. That is the photo of Boston goaltender Jim Henry, who almost appears to be bowing before greatness, shaking hands with a bloodied Maurice Richard. That photo, more than any other, I think shows what hockey is all about – a hard-fought battle followed by a handshake. Great stuff!
---
The Vancouver Giants are down to three goaltenders after releasing Mark Segal on Sunday, which just happened to be his 17th birthday. That leaves the Giants with three goaltenders – veteran Tyson Sexsmith, 19, who likely will miss the start of the WHL season as he goes to camp with the NHL’s San Jose Sharks; Kraymer Barnstable, 18, who backed up last season; and Jamie Tucker, 17, a fourth-round pick in the 2006 bantam draft. . . . The Giants are down to 32 players.
---
The Brandon Wheat Kings got their roster down to 31 players on Sunday, with 20 of those WHL veterans. As well, five of the 31 – forwards Daniel Bartek, Matt Lowry and Andrew Clark and defencemen Chad Erb and Matt McCue – are 20-year-olds. . . . Brandon has 18 players left who are from Manitoba. Will have to check and see if the Tri-City Americans – aka Winnipeg Americans – have more. . . . F Aaron Lewadniuk had a goal and two assists and then scored the shootout winner in Brandon’s intrasquad game on Sunday. F Brayden Schenn had a goal and two assists for the losing side. . . . I just checked and the roster the Americans’ took into the Everett tournament included 15 players from Winnipeg and one from Grosse Isle, Man., which is in the Interlake area, north of the Manitoba capital.
---
D Victor Bartley had a goal and four assists Saturday as the Regina Pats opened the Edmonton tournament with a 6-4 victory over the Medicine Hat Tigers. The Pats got three goals from F Kyle Mulder, 17, in that victory.
---
The Tri-City Americans went 3-0 at the Everett tournament by beating the Spokane Chiefs, 3-1, on Sunday. Spokane got the game’s first goal, from D Jared Cowen, but the Americans got the last three, including two from F Justin Feser.
---
If you zip on over to GreatestHockeyLegends.com, you can check out the greatest pictures in NHL history, Nos. 4 through 20. The latest entry is No. 4 – The Stare. It also might have been titled The Glower. . . . There are some wonderful photos there and the only placement I would disagree with is No. 13. That is the photo of Boston goaltender Jim Henry, who almost appears to be bowing before greatness, shaking hands with a bloodied Maurice Richard. That photo, more than any other, I think shows what hockey is all about – a hard-fought battle followed by a handshake. Great stuff!
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The Vancouver Giants are down to three goaltenders after releasing Mark Segal on Sunday, which just happened to be his 17th birthday. That leaves the Giants with three goaltenders – veteran Tyson Sexsmith, 19, who likely will miss the start of the WHL season as he goes to camp with the NHL’s San Jose Sharks; Kraymer Barnstable, 18, who backed up last season; and Jamie Tucker, 17, a fourth-round pick in the 2006 bantam draft. . . . The Giants are down to 32 players.
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The Brandon Wheat Kings got their roster down to 31 players on Sunday, with 20 of those WHL veterans. As well, five of the 31 – forwards Daniel Bartek, Matt Lowry and Andrew Clark and defencemen Chad Erb and Matt McCue – are 20-year-olds. . . . Brandon has 18 players left who are from Manitoba. Will have to check and see if the Tri-City Americans – aka Winnipeg Americans – have more. . . . F Aaron Lewadniuk had a goal and two assists and then scored the shootout winner in Brandon’s intrasquad game on Sunday. F Brayden Schenn had a goal and two assists for the losing side. . . . I just checked and the roster the Americans’ took into the Everett tournament included 15 players from Winnipeg and one from Grosse Isle, Man., which is in the Interlake area, north of the Manitoba capital.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Some Sunday odds and ends . . .
From the Saturday column in the Vancouver Sun by Dr. Sport (Greg Douglas), who is tight with Vancouver Giants owner Ron Toigo: “Mike Johnston, former Canucks' assistant coach under Marc Crawford, followed 'The Crow' to Los Angeles and was dismissed this summer as part of the Kings' coaching housecleaning. Within the next week or so, Johnston will be named GM and head coach of the WHL Portland Winter Hawks once the league approves purchase of the franchise by Calgary oilman Bill Gallacher.” . . . A spy reports that Johnston and Travis Green, who will be Johnston's assistant coach, took in some of the Everett tournament over the weekend.
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Cody Beach, the 16-year-old brother of Everett Silvertips agitator Kyle Beach, is in camp with the Calgary Hitmen. So what was it like growing up in the Beach household? "There's always fighting in the family, and he's usually the winner," Cody tells Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Sun. "Hopefully, that'll change one day." Cody, a third-round pick in the 2007 bantam draft, goes 6-foot-4 and 173 pounds. . . . Kyle showed that he’s in midseason form on Saturday when he put up a Gordie Howe hat trick as the Silvertips dumped the Seattle Thunderbirds, 7-4. He scored late in the first period, drew an assist on earlier goal, and got an automatic game misconduct for a second-period bout with Seattle D Sena Acolatse.
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It’s doubtful that any WHL prospect got the positive reviews to match the ones earned by F Shane McColgan, the Kelowna Rockets’ first pick, 13th overall, in the 2008 bantam draft. The 15-year-old from Manhattan Beach, Calif., left little doubt that were it not for being too young, he could step into the Rockets’ lineup right now. “I felt fine out there; the speed was good and I didn’t feel out of place,” McColgan told the Kelowna Daily Courier’s Doyle Potenteau after the club’s Saturday intrasquad game. “But it was hard to play with some of the guys, simply for the fact that we’ve only had a few practices together, not a full season. The game was a little sloppy, but it was all right. I just tried putting my head down and started making passes, trying to respect some of the veterans by passing to them. We had some chances, but it didn’t go our way.” . . . McColgan is likely to get some time with the Rockets in December when they have players away at national junior team camps. . . . By the way, Team Black won that intrasquad game, 4-2. The prize? Team Black was given Sunday off, while Team White was on the ice at 9:15 a.m.
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And how about Kelowna D Kyle Verdino, a sophomore from Phoenix? A defenceman last season, the Rockets are moving him into the forward ranks. He says that last season he weighed 242 pounds and that he now is down to 205. “Compared to last season, I feel really, really good,” Verdino told Potenteau. “I was 242 pounds last season and now I’m down to 205. So it’s been a big change for me, losing that weight in that short period of time. But, hey, I’m loving it.” . . . Verdino turns 17 on Oct. 27.
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F Tyler Maxwell, a Californian who signed with Everett earlier in the week, had three goals Saturday as the Silvertips beat the Seattle Thunderbirds, 7-4. He had a hat trick by the midpoint of the game, by which time the hosts held a 7-1 lead.
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With Michael Maniago, 20, choosing to return to school rather than continue with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, who is fighting for the backup goaltender’s job behind Finnish starter Juha Metsola? The Lethbridge Herald reports that there are four other goaltenders in camp -- Michael Tadjdeh, 17, from Calgary; Brandon Anderson, a 16-year-old from Langley, B.C.; Zach Weissbach, 16, of Sherwood Park, Alta.; and, Alex Wakaluk, 15, of Bellevue, Alta. Wakaluk is the son of former NHL goaltender Darcy Wakaluk, a veteran WHL goaltending coach who now works with the Calgary Hitmen.
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D Alex Plante, 19, who was the 15th pick in the first round of the NHL’s 2007 draft has asked the Calgary Hitmen to move him, according to John Down of the Calgary Herald. "He wants to play hockey but not for the Hitmen," Calgary GM Kelly Kisio told Down. Plante, 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, is coming off an injury-filled season and didn’t report to Calgary’s camp when it opened on Saturday. "I guess after last season, he just wants a change of scenery," Kisio said. Plante had 38 points in 2006-07, after which he was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers. Last season, limited to just 36 regular-season games, he had two points. "You sit back and scratch your head and wonder what you have to do to make kids happy," Kisio told Down. "We played him with Karl Alzner so he could have a big draft year, then he gets hurt and has trouble getting back into game shape and we're getting blamed for it." . . . Plante is the son of former Brandon Wheat Kings D Cam Plante and the brother of former Wheat Kings G Tyler Plante.
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Cody Beach, the 16-year-old brother of Everett Silvertips agitator Kyle Beach, is in camp with the Calgary Hitmen. So what was it like growing up in the Beach household? "There's always fighting in the family, and he's usually the winner," Cody tells Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Sun. "Hopefully, that'll change one day." Cody, a third-round pick in the 2007 bantam draft, goes 6-foot-4 and 173 pounds. . . . Kyle showed that he’s in midseason form on Saturday when he put up a Gordie Howe hat trick as the Silvertips dumped the Seattle Thunderbirds, 7-4. He scored late in the first period, drew an assist on earlier goal, and got an automatic game misconduct for a second-period bout with Seattle D Sena Acolatse.
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It’s doubtful that any WHL prospect got the positive reviews to match the ones earned by F Shane McColgan, the Kelowna Rockets’ first pick, 13th overall, in the 2008 bantam draft. The 15-year-old from Manhattan Beach, Calif., left little doubt that were it not for being too young, he could step into the Rockets’ lineup right now. “I felt fine out there; the speed was good and I didn’t feel out of place,” McColgan told the Kelowna Daily Courier’s Doyle Potenteau after the club’s Saturday intrasquad game. “But it was hard to play with some of the guys, simply for the fact that we’ve only had a few practices together, not a full season. The game was a little sloppy, but it was all right. I just tried putting my head down and started making passes, trying to respect some of the veterans by passing to them. We had some chances, but it didn’t go our way.” . . . McColgan is likely to get some time with the Rockets in December when they have players away at national junior team camps. . . . By the way, Team Black won that intrasquad game, 4-2. The prize? Team Black was given Sunday off, while Team White was on the ice at 9:15 a.m.
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And how about Kelowna D Kyle Verdino, a sophomore from Phoenix? A defenceman last season, the Rockets are moving him into the forward ranks. He says that last season he weighed 242 pounds and that he now is down to 205. “Compared to last season, I feel really, really good,” Verdino told Potenteau. “I was 242 pounds last season and now I’m down to 205. So it’s been a big change for me, losing that weight in that short period of time. But, hey, I’m loving it.” . . . Verdino turns 17 on Oct. 27.
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F Tyler Maxwell, a Californian who signed with Everett earlier in the week, had three goals Saturday as the Silvertips beat the Seattle Thunderbirds, 7-4. He had a hat trick by the midpoint of the game, by which time the hosts held a 7-1 lead.
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With Michael Maniago, 20, choosing to return to school rather than continue with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, who is fighting for the backup goaltender’s job behind Finnish starter Juha Metsola? The Lethbridge Herald reports that there are four other goaltenders in camp -- Michael Tadjdeh, 17, from Calgary; Brandon Anderson, a 16-year-old from Langley, B.C.; Zach Weissbach, 16, of Sherwood Park, Alta.; and, Alex Wakaluk, 15, of Bellevue, Alta. Wakaluk is the son of former NHL goaltender Darcy Wakaluk, a veteran WHL goaltending coach who now works with the Calgary Hitmen.
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D Alex Plante, 19, who was the 15th pick in the first round of the NHL’s 2007 draft has asked the Calgary Hitmen to move him, according to John Down of the Calgary Herald. "He wants to play hockey but not for the Hitmen," Calgary GM Kelly Kisio told Down. Plante, 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, is coming off an injury-filled season and didn’t report to Calgary’s camp when it opened on Saturday. "I guess after last season, he just wants a change of scenery," Kisio said. Plante had 38 points in 2006-07, after which he was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers. Last season, limited to just 36 regular-season games, he had two points. "You sit back and scratch your head and wonder what you have to do to make kids happy," Kisio told Down. "We played him with Karl Alzner so he could have a big draft year, then he gets hurt and has trouble getting back into game shape and we're getting blamed for it." . . . Plante is the son of former Brandon Wheat Kings D Cam Plante and the brother of former Wheat Kings G Tyler Plante.
Keeping Score
Are we lucky, or what? Swimming star Michael Phelps is writing a book — Built to Succeed — and it will be in the stores just in time for Christmas. . . . Mike Lupica, in the New York Daily News: “I keep hearing that it's the country's duty to spend more money on the Olympics, so the U.S. can hold its place in the medal count. If somebody has to fund Olympic athletes, let the people at NBC do it, they've got more riding on the Olympics than anybody.” . . . Are you listening, CTV/TSN/CBC? . . . Bob Molinaro, in the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot: "Katie Hoff, with her three swimming medals, and Michael Phelps, with his eight golds, call the same Baltimore suburb home. If Towson, Md., were a country, it would rank among the top 20 medal winners."
Cam Hutchinson, in the Saskatoon StarPhoenix: “Fans are extremely grateful the (Saskatchewan Roughriders) have lifted television blackouts this season, but many of them are now calling for a Rod Black out.” . . . One more from Hutchinson: “My initial reaction after reading of sadness in St. Louis after the international bowling museum and hall of fame announced it was leaving for Arlington, Texas: Oh, spare me.” . . . You have to know that Larry Popein is thrilled for old friends Andy Bathgate and Harry Howell these days, what with the New York Rangers having announced that they will raise their numbers (9 and 3, respectively) into the Madison Square Garden rafters on Feb. 2. Popein, who lives in our fair city, was teammates with both gents with the Rangers. . . .
This week’s big e-mail lottery win? According to a note in my inbox, it was “Three Hundred Thousand Great British Pounds and a brand new Peugeot 407 Car.” . . . And this just in: “This email is to notify you that you have won an Award Sum of 1,000,000.00 (One Million euro) in an E-mail program held in Den Haag, The Netherlands.” Thanks to Dr. Mark Harris for that one, but is it email or E-mail?
Former major league pitcher Hideki Irabu is in trouble with the law in Japan after he told police he put away 20 mugs of beer before getting into it with a restaurant manager. “Apparently,” noted Dwight Perry in the Seattle Times, “he went berserk when they wouldn’t let him bring in another relief pitcher.” . . . One more from Perry: “Jericho Scott, 9, has been banned from pitching in the Youth Baseball League of New Haven, Conn., AP reported, because he can throw a 40-mph fastball. In other Jericho Scott news, he’s reportedly dating a Chinese gymnast.” . . . Greg Cote, in the Miami Herald: "(Usain Bolt) is the fastest thing out of Jamaica since bales of marijuana in speedboats." . . . Smooth move by Steve Passmore in chasing down that would-be purse thief on Victoria Street, tackling and holding him until police arrived. Let’s be honest, though. The perp should be embarrassed to have lost a foot race to an old goaltender. And a tip of the cap to the RCMP for not charging Passmore with holding.
The Chicago Bears have named Kyle Orton their starting quarterback over Rex Grossman, bringing this response from Steve Rosenbloom of ChicagoSports.com: "Truth is, everybody will play quarterback this year, because the Bears' offensive line is expected to be brought up on manslaughter charges." . . . Charles Barkley doesn’t think any NBA superstars will be signing to play in Europe anytime soon. "First of all,” says Sir Charles, “I think Kobe (Bryant) and LeBron (James) have too much time on their hands. These guys want to be the best players in the world. I've been on TNT for years, and no one's ever asked me, ‘Who won the championship in Greece last year?' " . . . Mike Bianchi, in the Orlando Sentinel: “I love girls in bikinis as much as the next guy, but enough with NBC’s beach volleyball coverage already. You’d think this was a real sport or something. And, by the way, why is beach volleyball in the Olympics? What next — skimboarding, body-surfing, sand-castle building?”
Big news in Prince George this week as the 2009 World Baseball Challenge, which is scheduled for July 17-25 at Prince George Citizen Field, revealed that it will have a squad from the Cuban Baseball Federation taking part in the six-team event. Baseball fans in Prince George are hoping for a matchup of veteran pitchers Fidel Castro and Jim Swanson. . . . . When the NFL season gets rolling, J.T. O’Sullivan will be the San Francisco 49ers’ starting quarterback, with Alex Smith in reserve. O’Sullivan will earn US$645,000 this season; Smith will make $10.3 million. . . . Chris Ferrell of the San Antonio Express-News has a quickie quiz for you: "Conspiracy theorists will have an easier time discovering: (a) Official Chinese government documents proving that some members of its women's gymnastics team were too young to compete in the Olympics; (b) Exactly what happened in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963."
The New York Mets and Yankees are working on dueling concerts. The Mets want to have Billy Joel bring down the final curtain at Shea Stadium, while the Yankees are working to have Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney do the same at Yankee Stadium. One can be excused for having assumed that the Steinbrenners would bring back Frank Sinatra for the last show. . . . Ian Hamilton, in the Regina Leader-Post: “Citing irreconcilable differences, former tennis star Pam Shriver has filed for divorce from one-time James Bond George Lazenby. In court documents, she calls him The Spy Who Doesn’t Love Me.” . . . And another social note from Hamilton: “Laura Andrassy got a $107-million US divorce settlement from golfer Greg Norman last month. Now she reportedly wants some of the money Norman earned when he and his new wife, Chris Evert, sold the rights to the photos of their June wedding. Andrassy’s demand officially qualifies her as a golf bag.”
Bobby Ackles was one of my favourite all-time sporting people and I finally got around to reading his book — The Water Boy. Not surprisingly, it’s an excellent read. Ackles names names, meaning you will come to understand, for example, why the Arizona Cardinals are, well, the Arizona Cardinals. This book also should be required reading for anyone involved with any sports franchise that charges admission to its game because Ackles spells out what’s important and what isn’t when it comes to selling your team to the ticket-buying public. . . . Jerry Crowe of the Los Angeles Times wonders: “Have the Olympics ended yet for West Coast viewers?” . . . Crowe also points out that Lakers head coach Phil Jackson, who received an honourary doctorate at the U of North Dakota on Monday, now is Dr. Phil. . . . “Speaking of nicknames,” Crowe adds, “he is LeBronze James no more.” . . . Headline at TheOnion.com: Michael Phelps returns to his tank at Sea World.
Gregg Drinnan is sports editor of The Daily News. He is at gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca. Keeping Score appears Saturdays.
Cam Hutchinson, in the Saskatoon StarPhoenix: “Fans are extremely grateful the (Saskatchewan Roughriders) have lifted television blackouts this season, but many of them are now calling for a Rod Black out.” . . . One more from Hutchinson: “My initial reaction after reading of sadness in St. Louis after the international bowling museum and hall of fame announced it was leaving for Arlington, Texas: Oh, spare me.” . . . You have to know that Larry Popein is thrilled for old friends Andy Bathgate and Harry Howell these days, what with the New York Rangers having announced that they will raise their numbers (9 and 3, respectively) into the Madison Square Garden rafters on Feb. 2. Popein, who lives in our fair city, was teammates with both gents with the Rangers. . . .
This week’s big e-mail lottery win? According to a note in my inbox, it was “Three Hundred Thousand Great British Pounds and a brand new Peugeot 407 Car.” . . . And this just in: “This email is to notify you that you have won an Award Sum of 1,000,000.00 (One Million euro) in an E-mail program held in Den Haag, The Netherlands.” Thanks to Dr. Mark Harris for that one, but is it email or E-mail?
Former major league pitcher Hideki Irabu is in trouble with the law in Japan after he told police he put away 20 mugs of beer before getting into it with a restaurant manager. “Apparently,” noted Dwight Perry in the Seattle Times, “he went berserk when they wouldn’t let him bring in another relief pitcher.” . . . One more from Perry: “Jericho Scott, 9, has been banned from pitching in the Youth Baseball League of New Haven, Conn., AP reported, because he can throw a 40-mph fastball. In other Jericho Scott news, he’s reportedly dating a Chinese gymnast.” . . . Greg Cote, in the Miami Herald: "(Usain Bolt) is the fastest thing out of Jamaica since bales of marijuana in speedboats." . . . Smooth move by Steve Passmore in chasing down that would-be purse thief on Victoria Street, tackling and holding him until police arrived. Let’s be honest, though. The perp should be embarrassed to have lost a foot race to an old goaltender. And a tip of the cap to the RCMP for not charging Passmore with holding.
The Chicago Bears have named Kyle Orton their starting quarterback over Rex Grossman, bringing this response from Steve Rosenbloom of ChicagoSports.com: "Truth is, everybody will play quarterback this year, because the Bears' offensive line is expected to be brought up on manslaughter charges." . . . Charles Barkley doesn’t think any NBA superstars will be signing to play in Europe anytime soon. "First of all,” says Sir Charles, “I think Kobe (Bryant) and LeBron (James) have too much time on their hands. These guys want to be the best players in the world. I've been on TNT for years, and no one's ever asked me, ‘Who won the championship in Greece last year?' " . . . Mike Bianchi, in the Orlando Sentinel: “I love girls in bikinis as much as the next guy, but enough with NBC’s beach volleyball coverage already. You’d think this was a real sport or something. And, by the way, why is beach volleyball in the Olympics? What next — skimboarding, body-surfing, sand-castle building?”
Big news in Prince George this week as the 2009 World Baseball Challenge, which is scheduled for July 17-25 at Prince George Citizen Field, revealed that it will have a squad from the Cuban Baseball Federation taking part in the six-team event. Baseball fans in Prince George are hoping for a matchup of veteran pitchers Fidel Castro and Jim Swanson. . . . . When the NFL season gets rolling, J.T. O’Sullivan will be the San Francisco 49ers’ starting quarterback, with Alex Smith in reserve. O’Sullivan will earn US$645,000 this season; Smith will make $10.3 million. . . . Chris Ferrell of the San Antonio Express-News has a quickie quiz for you: "Conspiracy theorists will have an easier time discovering: (a) Official Chinese government documents proving that some members of its women's gymnastics team were too young to compete in the Olympics; (b) Exactly what happened in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963."
The New York Mets and Yankees are working on dueling concerts. The Mets want to have Billy Joel bring down the final curtain at Shea Stadium, while the Yankees are working to have Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney do the same at Yankee Stadium. One can be excused for having assumed that the Steinbrenners would bring back Frank Sinatra for the last show. . . . Ian Hamilton, in the Regina Leader-Post: “Citing irreconcilable differences, former tennis star Pam Shriver has filed for divorce from one-time James Bond George Lazenby. In court documents, she calls him The Spy Who Doesn’t Love Me.” . . . And another social note from Hamilton: “Laura Andrassy got a $107-million US divorce settlement from golfer Greg Norman last month. Now she reportedly wants some of the money Norman earned when he and his new wife, Chris Evert, sold the rights to the photos of their June wedding. Andrassy’s demand officially qualifies her as a golf bag.”
Bobby Ackles was one of my favourite all-time sporting people and I finally got around to reading his book — The Water Boy. Not surprisingly, it’s an excellent read. Ackles names names, meaning you will come to understand, for example, why the Arizona Cardinals are, well, the Arizona Cardinals. This book also should be required reading for anyone involved with any sports franchise that charges admission to its game because Ackles spells out what’s important and what isn’t when it comes to selling your team to the ticket-buying public. . . . Jerry Crowe of the Los Angeles Times wonders: “Have the Olympics ended yet for West Coast viewers?” . . . Crowe also points out that Lakers head coach Phil Jackson, who received an honourary doctorate at the U of North Dakota on Monday, now is Dr. Phil. . . . “Speaking of nicknames,” Crowe adds, “he is LeBronze James no more.” . . . Headline at TheOnion.com: Michael Phelps returns to his tank at Sea World.
Gregg Drinnan is sports editor of The Daily News. He is at gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca. Keeping Score appears Saturdays.
Saturday summary
If you're interested, here is Saturday's Vancouver at Kamloops summary:
GIANTS 2 at BLAZERS 4
First Period
1. Vancouver, Pierro-Zabotel 1 (Kudrna, S.Schneider) 15:41
2. Kamloops, Stretch 1 (Machuga, Shattock) 17:02
3. Kamloops, Shattock 1 (Rowley, M.Schneider) 19:57 (pp)
Penalties -- Smith Kam (double high-sticking) 1:58, Stretch Kam (goaltender
interference) 9:43, Hanes Kam (high-sticking) 11:16, S.Schneider Vcr
(tripping) 12:07, Kudrna Vcr (hooking) 17:44.
Second Period
4. Vancouver, Czibere 1 (Parker, Cloud) 7:22
Penalties -- Ross Kam (checking from behind) 0:48, Machuga Kam (hooking)
4:28, Pierro-Zabotel Vcr, Saip Kam (roughing) 5:43, Gallagher Vcr (kneeing)
12:07, Vanniewenhuizen Vcr, Shattock Kam (roughing) 13:23, Rowley Kam
(slashing) 19:04.
Third Period
5. Kamloops, Stretch 2, 0:07 (sh)
6. Kamloops, Ranford 1 (Shattock, Stretch) 16:10
Penalties -- Underwood Kam (hooking) 9:37, Bouma Vcr (tripping) 12:03, Berube
Vcr (cross-checking) 12:29, Henry Vcr, Berube Vcr, Wray Kam (majors, game
misconducts), Hanes Kam (elbowing, fighting, game misconduct) 17:01.
Shots on goal by
Vancouver 20 8 14 -- 42
Kamloops 13 5 4 -- 22
Goal (shots-saves) -- Vancouver: Jamie Tucker (15-13), Kraymer Barnstable
(10:56 of 2nd); Kamloops: Jon Groenheyde.
Power plays (goals-chances) -- Vancouver: 1-9; Kamloops: 0-5.
Referee -- Steve Papp. Linesmen -- Six were used, two each period.
Attendance -- 900.
GIANTS 2 at BLAZERS 4
First Period
1. Vancouver, Pierro-Zabotel 1 (Kudrna, S.Schneider) 15:41
2. Kamloops, Stretch 1 (Machuga, Shattock) 17:02
3. Kamloops, Shattock 1 (Rowley, M.Schneider) 19:57 (pp)
Penalties -- Smith Kam (double high-sticking) 1:58, Stretch Kam (goaltender
interference) 9:43, Hanes Kam (high-sticking) 11:16, S.Schneider Vcr
(tripping) 12:07, Kudrna Vcr (hooking) 17:44.
Second Period
4. Vancouver, Czibere 1 (Parker, Cloud) 7:22
Penalties -- Ross Kam (checking from behind) 0:48, Machuga Kam (hooking)
4:28, Pierro-Zabotel Vcr, Saip Kam (roughing) 5:43, Gallagher Vcr (kneeing)
12:07, Vanniewenhuizen Vcr, Shattock Kam (roughing) 13:23, Rowley Kam
(slashing) 19:04.
Third Period
5. Kamloops, Stretch 2, 0:07 (sh)
6. Kamloops, Ranford 1 (Shattock, Stretch) 16:10
Penalties -- Underwood Kam (hooking) 9:37, Bouma Vcr (tripping) 12:03, Berube
Vcr (cross-checking) 12:29, Henry Vcr, Berube Vcr, Wray Kam (majors, game
misconducts), Hanes Kam (elbowing, fighting, game misconduct) 17:01.
Shots on goal by
Vancouver 20 8 14 -- 42
Kamloops 13 5 4 -- 22
Goal (shots-saves) -- Vancouver: Jamie Tucker (15-13), Kraymer Barnstable
(10:56 of 2nd); Kamloops: Jon Groenheyde.
Power plays (goals-chances) -- Vancouver: 1-9; Kamloops: 0-5.
Referee -- Steve Papp. Linesmen -- Six were used, two each period.
Attendance -- 900.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Saturday . . .
At some point Friday night, someone in the WHL office got together a roundup of exhibition games. That is a definite improvement over what has happened in the past.
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The Moose Jaw Warriors inducted Kent Hayes and Mike Keane into the Warriors & Legends Hall of Fame on Friday night. Both were original Warriors in 1984. The first two inductees, a year ago, were Troy Edwards and Mark MacKay. . . . Keane, of course, went on to win three Stanley Cups and now, at the age of 41, plays for the AHL’s Manitoba Moose in his hometown of Winnipeg. . . . Matthew Gourlie of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald reports that Keane offered this: “To the future Moose Jaw Warriors: you don¹t know it yet, but you’re playing in the best city in Canada. You’re surrounded by great people who will take care of you.”
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A note from Joe Pelletier, over at GreatestHockeyLegends (www.greatesthockeylegends.com):
“GreatestHockeyLegends.com 's countdown of the 20 greatest photos in hockey history has reached the final five.
“Photo No. 5 shows Gordie Howe answering fan mail in the hospital. He is there with a fractured skull, courtesy of the famous and controversial collision with Toronto's Teeder Kennedy. Howe's career was almost over before it began.
“But Howe came back, and became the greatest player not only of his day, but perhaps of all time. I think that is why I like the photo so much. Hockey players put their bodies through the most amazing
physicality and abuse, but they always come back. No other photo captures that quite like this one.
“Tune into the final of GreatestHockeylegends.com 's greatest photos of all time.”
---
Take a moment today and remember Killer Kowalski, who died today in Boston at the age of 81. Now there was wrestler . . . You likely knew that his given name was Edward Walter Spulnik and that he grew up in Windsor.
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The Moose Jaw Warriors inducted Kent Hayes and Mike Keane into the Warriors & Legends Hall of Fame on Friday night. Both were original Warriors in 1984. The first two inductees, a year ago, were Troy Edwards and Mark MacKay. . . . Keane, of course, went on to win three Stanley Cups and now, at the age of 41, plays for the AHL’s Manitoba Moose in his hometown of Winnipeg. . . . Matthew Gourlie of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald reports that Keane offered this: “To the future Moose Jaw Warriors: you don¹t know it yet, but you’re playing in the best city in Canada. You’re surrounded by great people who will take care of you.”
---
A note from Joe Pelletier, over at GreatestHockeyLegends (www.greatesthockeylegends.com):
“GreatestHockeyLegends.com 's countdown of the 20 greatest photos in hockey history has reached the final five.
“Photo No. 5 shows Gordie Howe answering fan mail in the hospital. He is there with a fractured skull, courtesy of the famous and controversial collision with Toronto's Teeder Kennedy. Howe's career was almost over before it began.
“But Howe came back, and became the greatest player not only of his day, but perhaps of all time. I think that is why I like the photo so much. Hockey players put their bodies through the most amazing
physicality and abuse, but they always come back. No other photo captures that quite like this one.
“Tune into the final of GreatestHockeylegends.com 's greatest photos of all time.”
---
Take a moment today and remember Killer Kowalski, who died today in Boston at the age of 81. Now there was wrestler . . . You likely knew that his given name was Edward Walter Spulnik and that he grew up in Windsor.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Friday's stuff . . .
A couple of former WHLers — D Tyson Marsh and D Patrick Wellar — have signed with the ECHL’s Reading Royals, who are affiliated with the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. Marsh played last season with the ECHL’s Columbia Inferno and the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs, while Wellar was with the Inferno and the Marlies. Wellar, who played with the Portland Winter Hawks and Calgary Hitmen, is starting his first season as a pro, while Marsh also is a fifth-year pro. He played for the Vancouver Giants.
———
It’s business as usual in Portland while the WHL continues to do whatever it is it has to do regarding the sale of the Winter Hawks franchise. The Winter Hawks, who announced the signing of 2008 first-round bantam pick F Ty Rattie early in the week, also have signed D Tyler Wotherspoon. He was the first selection in the 2008 draft’s second round. Wotherspoon, 6-foot-0 and 180 pounds, is from Surrey, B.C., where he played for the bantam AAA Cloverdale Colts, who are coached by Darryl Erickson, a Portland scout.
———
The Brandon Wheat Kings have opened camp with one import — veteran F Daniel Bartek, 20 — on hand. Bartek, a two-spotter as an import and a 20-year-old, is one of five 20-year-olds in Brandon’s camp, the others being forwards Andrew Clark and , and defencemen Chad Erb and Matt McCue. . . . Belarus D Kirill Gotovets, 17, was taken by Brandon in the 2008 CHL import draft but is expected to attend Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Faribault, Minn. Russian LW Maksim Mayorov, 19, will go to camp with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets so Brandon will wait to see to where he is assigned. Mayorov signed a three-year deal with Columbus on Friday.
———
Heard from long-time friend Gord Hahn on Friday. What a great chat we had! Honda worked as a trainer/equipment manager with the Brandon Wheat Kings and Swift Current Broncos for a lot of years before leaving the game — well, as much as a guy can leave the game — and working for the City of Swift Current. But he now is a little bit retired — he works at a golf course and has a lawn-maintenance business — and talking about being a season-ticket holder and just going to the rink and enjoying some hockey. . . . Sounds like a plan to me. . . . But something tells me if someone should need a pair of skates sharpened. . . .
———
Everett signed three 1991-born players Friday, just in time for them to take part in the Silvertips’ preseason tournament. F Ryan White of Parker, Colo., played for the midget AA Colorado Thunderbirds last season, while D Drew McDermott of Saskatoon was with the midget AAA Prince Albert Mintos. C Tyler Maxwell, a 17-year-old from Manhattan Beach, Calif., played for the midget AAA Los Angeles Jr. Kings last season.
———
OK. . . . It’s rant time. . . . And this is an annual event. . . . Considering the technology available, the WHL should be absolutely embarrassed that it can’t get exhibition game results and goal scorers — in fact, complete summaries — up on its website shortly after games end. . . . It’s 10:45 p.m. PT and the WHL website shows three final results, all from the Everett tournament, on its exhibition schedule and results page. That’s it. . . . And, no, I won't rant on this again. Not until next August.
———
What follows, is what I was able to put together by visiting various team websites and, I’m sorry, but I’m not going to be doing that every night through the exhibition season. . . . And a plug to Dave Sheldon of the Vancouver Giants for putting period-by-period updates of the Kamloops at Vancouver game. Thanks, big guy!
———
FRIDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: F Kruise Reddick scored three times and set up two others as the Tri-City Americans dumped the Portland Winter Hawks 6-2 at the Everett tournament. . . . F Kevin Sundher, 16, scored three times to lead the Chilliwack Bruins to a 4-2 victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds in Everett. Sundher was the seventh overall pick in the 2007 bantam draft. . . . Seattle actually led 2-0 before Sundher scored three times in a span of seven minutes 13 seconds early in the second period. . . .
———
Vancouver 4, Kamloops 1, at Ladner — Kam: Alex Rodgers; Vcr: Chris Cloud, James Wright, Lane Scheidl, Craig Schira.
Everett Tournament
Chilliwack 4, Seattle 2 — Cwk: Kevin Sundher 3, Dylen McKinlay; Sea: David Richard, Jeremy Boyer.
Tri-City 6, Portland 2 — TC: Kruise Reddick 3, Justin Feser, Joel Ridgeway, Brooks Macek. Port: Ty Rattie, Colin Reddin.
Spokane 4, Everett 2 — Spok: Mitch Holmberg, Levko Koper, Dustin Donaghy, Seth Compton; Evt: Tyler Kieffer 2.
———
It’s business as usual in Portland while the WHL continues to do whatever it is it has to do regarding the sale of the Winter Hawks franchise. The Winter Hawks, who announced the signing of 2008 first-round bantam pick F Ty Rattie early in the week, also have signed D Tyler Wotherspoon. He was the first selection in the 2008 draft’s second round. Wotherspoon, 6-foot-0 and 180 pounds, is from Surrey, B.C., where he played for the bantam AAA Cloverdale Colts, who are coached by Darryl Erickson, a Portland scout.
———
The Brandon Wheat Kings have opened camp with one import — veteran F Daniel Bartek, 20 — on hand. Bartek, a two-spotter as an import and a 20-year-old, is one of five 20-year-olds in Brandon’s camp, the others being forwards Andrew Clark and , and defencemen Chad Erb and Matt McCue. . . . Belarus D Kirill Gotovets, 17, was taken by Brandon in the 2008 CHL import draft but is expected to attend Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Faribault, Minn. Russian LW Maksim Mayorov, 19, will go to camp with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets so Brandon will wait to see to where he is assigned. Mayorov signed a three-year deal with Columbus on Friday.
———
Heard from long-time friend Gord Hahn on Friday. What a great chat we had! Honda worked as a trainer/equipment manager with the Brandon Wheat Kings and Swift Current Broncos for a lot of years before leaving the game — well, as much as a guy can leave the game — and working for the City of Swift Current. But he now is a little bit retired — he works at a golf course and has a lawn-maintenance business — and talking about being a season-ticket holder and just going to the rink and enjoying some hockey. . . . Sounds like a plan to me. . . . But something tells me if someone should need a pair of skates sharpened. . . .
———
Everett signed three 1991-born players Friday, just in time for them to take part in the Silvertips’ preseason tournament. F Ryan White of Parker, Colo., played for the midget AA Colorado Thunderbirds last season, while D Drew McDermott of Saskatoon was with the midget AAA Prince Albert Mintos. C Tyler Maxwell, a 17-year-old from Manhattan Beach, Calif., played for the midget AAA Los Angeles Jr. Kings last season.
———
OK. . . . It’s rant time. . . . And this is an annual event. . . . Considering the technology available, the WHL should be absolutely embarrassed that it can’t get exhibition game results and goal scorers — in fact, complete summaries — up on its website shortly after games end. . . . It’s 10:45 p.m. PT and the WHL website shows three final results, all from the Everett tournament, on its exhibition schedule and results page. That’s it. . . . And, no, I won't rant on this again. Not until next August.
———
What follows, is what I was able to put together by visiting various team websites and, I’m sorry, but I’m not going to be doing that every night through the exhibition season. . . . And a plug to Dave Sheldon of the Vancouver Giants for putting period-by-period updates of the Kamloops at Vancouver game. Thanks, big guy!
———
FRIDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: F Kruise Reddick scored three times and set up two others as the Tri-City Americans dumped the Portland Winter Hawks 6-2 at the Everett tournament. . . . F Kevin Sundher, 16, scored three times to lead the Chilliwack Bruins to a 4-2 victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds in Everett. Sundher was the seventh overall pick in the 2007 bantam draft. . . . Seattle actually led 2-0 before Sundher scored three times in a span of seven minutes 13 seconds early in the second period. . . .
———
Vancouver 4, Kamloops 1, at Ladner — Kam: Alex Rodgers; Vcr: Chris Cloud, James Wright, Lane Scheidl, Craig Schira.
Everett Tournament
Chilliwack 4, Seattle 2 — Cwk: Kevin Sundher 3, Dylen McKinlay; Sea: David Richard, Jeremy Boyer.
Tri-City 6, Portland 2 — TC: Kruise Reddick 3, Justin Feser, Joel Ridgeway, Brooks Macek. Port: Ty Rattie, Colin Reddin.
Spokane 4, Everett 2 — Spok: Mitch Holmberg, Levko Koper, Dustin Donaghy, Seth Compton; Evt: Tyler Kieffer 2.
Friday's games
FRIDAY
Vancouver 4, Kamloops 1, at Ladner — Kam: Alex Rodgers; Vcr: Chris Cloud, James Wright, Lane Scheidl, Craig Schira.
Everett Tournament
Chilliwack 4, Seattle 2 — Cwk: Kevin Sundher 3, Dylen McKinlay; Sea: David Richard, Jeremy Boyer.
Tri-City 6, Portland 2 — TC: Kruise Reddick 3, Justin Feser, Joel Ridgeway, Brooks Macek. Port: Ty Rattie, Colin Reddin.
Spokane 4, Everett 2 — Spok: Mitch Holmberg, Levko Koper, Dustin Donaghy, Seth Compton; Evt: Tyler Kieffer 2.
Vancouver 4, Kamloops 1, at Ladner — Kam: Alex Rodgers; Vcr: Chris Cloud, James Wright, Lane Scheidl, Craig Schira.
Everett Tournament
Chilliwack 4, Seattle 2 — Cwk: Kevin Sundher 3, Dylen McKinlay; Sea: David Richard, Jeremy Boyer.
Tri-City 6, Portland 2 — TC: Kruise Reddick 3, Justin Feser, Joel Ridgeway, Brooks Macek. Port: Ty Rattie, Colin Reddin.
Spokane 4, Everett 2 — Spok: Mitch Holmberg, Levko Koper, Dustin Donaghy, Seth Compton; Evt: Tyler Kieffer 2.
Blazers lose game; Hall gone for 5-6 months
By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
Barry Smith got his introduction to life on the road in the WHL on Friday night.
“I’ll tell you one thing, don’t go by shots on goal,” Smith, the first-year head coach of the Kamloops Blazers, said by phone after a 4-1 exhibition loss to the Vancouver Giants in Ladner. “In the third period they said it was 19-3 for them, and they never came out of their end.
“Oh my gawd, it was a joke. They didn’t even come out of their end.”
Yes, Smith liked what he saw of his club over the last 20 minutes.
“We played well in the third period,” he said. “Guys were forechecking hard. I didn’t think we threw enough pucks to the net or went to the hard areas to get some scoring opportunities. We pressured, we pressured, we pressured . . . but we didn’t get enough pucks to the net.
“Still, that’s how we have to go for three periods (tonight).”
The Blazers play host to the Giants tonight, 7 o’clock, at Interior Savings Centre in the second of six exhibition games.
Last night, the Giants got out to a 1-0 lead when veteran Chris Cloud skated out from behind the Blazers’ net and beat goaltender James Priestner at 1:42 of the first period.
Forward Alex Rodgers pulled the Blazers even at 1:02 of the second, tipping in a shot by defenceman Nick Ross.
However, centre James Wright restored Vancouver’s lead on a power play at 3:10. And the Giants took a 3-1 lead at 19:07 when Wright corraled a Priestner clearance attempt and found Lane Scheidl in front for an easy tip in.
Scheidl, a third-round pick in the 2007 bantam draft, is one of eight 16-year-olds still with the Giants. Head coach Don Hay has said he may keep as many as five of them.
Vancouver defenceman Craig Schira closed out the scoring with 4:21 to play.
“In the first period,” Smith said, “I thought we were watching a bit. . . . We came out strong but then we got running around a bit and they scored a goal and kind of took it to us at the end.
“In the second, we settled down and got into more of a rhythm. We got the goal by going to the net, getting traffic, doing the hard things.
“In the third period I thought we were excellent. I was happy with our play. That’s where we needed to be. When I heard him announce (the shots as) 19-3, I was, like, WHAT?!”
Smith, who spent the last five seasons as an assistant coach with the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks, said he saw improvement as the game went on and that was important to him.
“I did see improvement and that’s what you’re looking for in these games,” he said. “We made three mistakes — three unforced errors — and they ended up in the back of our net.”
According to the shot clock, the Giants held a 43-12 edge and Smith said Priestner, a sophomore, was “just OK . . . just OK.”
Veteran Tyson Sexsmith went the distance in goal for Vancouver. He made two superb saves — coming across to stone Shayne Wiebe and hugging a post on Kenton Dulle — with Vancouver up 3-1 late in the third period.
Like Smith, the Blazers’ two Slovakians — defenceman Michal Siska and centre Dalibor Bortnak — made their WHL debuts.
“Siska was good,” Smith said. “I liked him. He made a couple of mistakes but stepped up and made some big hits.
“Bortnak hung on to the puck and didn’t create much. I think for him it’s a little tougher trying to figure out where eveyone’s going and where they’re moving.”
p p p
The Blazers learned Friday that veteran centre Mark Hall, 18, has a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee. Hall, who is from Kamloops, will have surgery — likely next week — and will miss most of the season.
“It’s not good,” Kamloops general manager Craig Bonner said. “He’s out five to six months. I had that twice and that’s what it took me.”
JUST NOTES: There was one fight in the game with Blazers LW Matt Wray taking on Cloud. . . . G Jon Groenheyde is scheduled to start for the Blazers tonight. . . . Without Hall, the Blazers’ roster stands at 31, including D Nick Beveridge and C Colin Smith, both of whom are 15 years of age and too young to stay. . . . Vancouver went into last night’s game with 36 players in camp. . . . G Lucas Gore of Kamloops went the distance for Chilliwack as the Bruins dumped the Seattle Thunderbirds 4-2 at the Everett tournament. Gore stopped 27 shots. The Bruins got three goals from F Kevin Sundher, the seventh overall pick in the 2007 bantam draft.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
Daily News Sports Editor
Barry Smith got his introduction to life on the road in the WHL on Friday night.
“I’ll tell you one thing, don’t go by shots on goal,” Smith, the first-year head coach of the Kamloops Blazers, said by phone after a 4-1 exhibition loss to the Vancouver Giants in Ladner. “In the third period they said it was 19-3 for them, and they never came out of their end.
“Oh my gawd, it was a joke. They didn’t even come out of their end.”
Yes, Smith liked what he saw of his club over the last 20 minutes.
“We played well in the third period,” he said. “Guys were forechecking hard. I didn’t think we threw enough pucks to the net or went to the hard areas to get some scoring opportunities. We pressured, we pressured, we pressured . . . but we didn’t get enough pucks to the net.
“Still, that’s how we have to go for three periods (tonight).”
The Blazers play host to the Giants tonight, 7 o’clock, at Interior Savings Centre in the second of six exhibition games.
Last night, the Giants got out to a 1-0 lead when veteran Chris Cloud skated out from behind the Blazers’ net and beat goaltender James Priestner at 1:42 of the first period.
Forward Alex Rodgers pulled the Blazers even at 1:02 of the second, tipping in a shot by defenceman Nick Ross.
However, centre James Wright restored Vancouver’s lead on a power play at 3:10. And the Giants took a 3-1 lead at 19:07 when Wright corraled a Priestner clearance attempt and found Lane Scheidl in front for an easy tip in.
Scheidl, a third-round pick in the 2007 bantam draft, is one of eight 16-year-olds still with the Giants. Head coach Don Hay has said he may keep as many as five of them.
Vancouver defenceman Craig Schira closed out the scoring with 4:21 to play.
“In the first period,” Smith said, “I thought we were watching a bit. . . . We came out strong but then we got running around a bit and they scored a goal and kind of took it to us at the end.
“In the second, we settled down and got into more of a rhythm. We got the goal by going to the net, getting traffic, doing the hard things.
“In the third period I thought we were excellent. I was happy with our play. That’s where we needed to be. When I heard him announce (the shots as) 19-3, I was, like, WHAT?!”
Smith, who spent the last five seasons as an assistant coach with the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks, said he saw improvement as the game went on and that was important to him.
“I did see improvement and that’s what you’re looking for in these games,” he said. “We made three mistakes — three unforced errors — and they ended up in the back of our net.”
According to the shot clock, the Giants held a 43-12 edge and Smith said Priestner, a sophomore, was “just OK . . . just OK.”
Veteran Tyson Sexsmith went the distance in goal for Vancouver. He made two superb saves — coming across to stone Shayne Wiebe and hugging a post on Kenton Dulle — with Vancouver up 3-1 late in the third period.
Like Smith, the Blazers’ two Slovakians — defenceman Michal Siska and centre Dalibor Bortnak — made their WHL debuts.
“Siska was good,” Smith said. “I liked him. He made a couple of mistakes but stepped up and made some big hits.
“Bortnak hung on to the puck and didn’t create much. I think for him it’s a little tougher trying to figure out where eveyone’s going and where they’re moving.”
p p p
The Blazers learned Friday that veteran centre Mark Hall, 18, has a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee. Hall, who is from Kamloops, will have surgery — likely next week — and will miss most of the season.
“It’s not good,” Kamloops general manager Craig Bonner said. “He’s out five to six months. I had that twice and that’s what it took me.”
JUST NOTES: There was one fight in the game with Blazers LW Matt Wray taking on Cloud. . . . G Jon Groenheyde is scheduled to start for the Blazers tonight. . . . Without Hall, the Blazers’ roster stands at 31, including D Nick Beveridge and C Colin Smith, both of whom are 15 years of age and too young to stay. . . . Vancouver went into last night’s game with 36 players in camp. . . . G Lucas Gore of Kamloops went the distance for Chilliwack as the Bruins dumped the Seattle Thunderbirds 4-2 at the Everett tournament. Gore stopped 27 shots. The Bruins got three goals from F Kevin Sundher, the seventh overall pick in the 2007 bantam draft.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
Friday . . .
THE MacBETH REPORT: Garth MacBeth, who keeps an eye on the European scene on our behalf, never rests. The first part of today’s report arrived at 1:37 a.m. . . . D Steve Makway (Kootenay/Tri-City) has been released by KooKoo Kouvola (Finland Mestis). The club said that Makway "did not meet expectations." He had three assists and six penalty minutes in four exhibition games. . . . F K.C. Timmons (Tri-City) signed with Smoke Eaters Geleen (Netherlands). He had eight goals and 12 assists in 70 games with Manchester and Coventry (UK Elite Hockey League) last season. As a side note, Geleen named its team after the Trail Smoke Eaters.
---
Two of my favourite nicknames in all of sports belong to the Trail Smoke Eaters and the Kimberley Dynamiters. Those are awesome nicknames.
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Like most, if not all, WHL teams, the Edmonton Oil Kings have more than three players scrapping for the three available 20-year-old spots. The battle in Edmonton has lost one combatant as F J.P. Szaszkiewicz has chosen to attend the U of Alberta and play for the Alberta Golden Bears. . . . The 20-year-olds remaining with the Oil Kings are D Cameron Cepek, F Brenden Dowd, F Brandon Lockerby and F Jeff Lee.
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The Prince George Cougars have signed D Shane Pilling, the 69th selection in the 2008 WHL bantam draft. Pilling, from Lethbridge, had 20 points in 33 games with the bantam AAA Lethbridge Val Matteotti Golden Hawks last season. The 5-foot-8, 145-pound Pilling added six points in five playoff games. He will return home from the Cougars’ camp to play in the midget AAA ranks.
---
Can't mention Shane Pilling without wondering if he is related to former Regina Pats head coach Gregg Pilling. But we won't get into Gregg Pilling stories today. Not enough time.
---
Drew Wilson, the radio voice of the Prince Albert Raides, drops us a line so that we can let you know that 900 CKBI – “The station that Morley Jaeger built,” Wilson writes – is carrying all Raiders preseason games, starting Sunday night at 6:30 when the despised Saskatoon Blades are at the Art Hauser Centre. . . . You have to love radio stations that make the commitment to follow their teams right from the first puck drop of the exhibition season. . . . Wilson also notes that “We are also launching a weekly Raider-WHL talk show Monday nights at 6 p.m. . . . The Insider's Report.” The new show begins Sept. 15.
---
Two of my favourite nicknames in all of sports belong to the Trail Smoke Eaters and the Kimberley Dynamiters. Those are awesome nicknames.
---
Like most, if not all, WHL teams, the Edmonton Oil Kings have more than three players scrapping for the three available 20-year-old spots. The battle in Edmonton has lost one combatant as F J.P. Szaszkiewicz has chosen to attend the U of Alberta and play for the Alberta Golden Bears. . . . The 20-year-olds remaining with the Oil Kings are D Cameron Cepek, F Brenden Dowd, F Brandon Lockerby and F Jeff Lee.
---
The Prince George Cougars have signed D Shane Pilling, the 69th selection in the 2008 WHL bantam draft. Pilling, from Lethbridge, had 20 points in 33 games with the bantam AAA Lethbridge Val Matteotti Golden Hawks last season. The 5-foot-8, 145-pound Pilling added six points in five playoff games. He will return home from the Cougars’ camp to play in the midget AAA ranks.
---
Can't mention Shane Pilling without wondering if he is related to former Regina Pats head coach Gregg Pilling. But we won't get into Gregg Pilling stories today. Not enough time.
---
Drew Wilson, the radio voice of the Prince Albert Raides, drops us a line so that we can let you know that 900 CKBI – “The station that Morley Jaeger built,” Wilson writes – is carrying all Raiders preseason games, starting Sunday night at 6:30 when the despised Saskatoon Blades are at the Art Hauser Centre. . . . You have to love radio stations that make the commitment to follow their teams right from the first puck drop of the exhibition season. . . . Wilson also notes that “We are also launching a weekly Raider-WHL talk show Monday nights at 6 p.m. . . . The Insider's Report.” The new show begins Sept. 15.
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