By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
The conflict in Afghanistan has touched the Kamloops Blazers’ dressing room.
Cpl. Dustin Wasden, one of three Canadian soldiers killed west of Kandahar city on Wednesday, was a first cousin to Scott Wasden, a 20-year-old centre who finished last season as the WHL team’s captain.
“He was a great guy who always wanted to make a difference,” Wasden said Thursday.
Cpl. Wasden, a combat engineer, and two other soldiers were killed, and another soldier was wounded, when a roadside bomb exploded near their vehicle. All four were members of the 12 Field Squadron, 1 Combat Engineer Regiment based in Edmonton. While in Kandahar, they were attached to the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry battle group.
Scott Wasden said he was close to Cpl. Wasden, 25, and last saw him last summer. Scott said his cousin leaves his wife, Shannon, and their young daughter, Makayla.
Cpl. Wasden was from Leoville, Sask., a small community near Spiritwood, which is about 150 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.
“I knew him very well,” said Scott, who is from Westbank. “We spent lots of family holidays together and Christmases. . . he was just a great guy to be around.”
Wasden thought his cousin had been in Afghanistan for “about six months or so.” He said that he would think of Cpl. Wasden whenever he heard news out of Afghanistan.
“Yeah . . . yeah, I would. It’s just kind of unbelievable,” Scott said. “You know there’s a risk of him being in the line of fire but you don’t think it’s going to happen to him.”
Cpl. Wasden, Scott said, had been in the military “for a few years.”
“He was a great guy who always wanted to make a difference,” Scott said. “He thought by being a soldier and going (to Afghanistan) for his country . . . he thought he was helping out. That was a way he thought would make the world a better place.
“This sure puts a little perspective on things.”
Wasden, who will be at Interior Savings Centre today for the opening of training camp, said he will leave the team to attend his cousin’s funeral. Arrangements are pending.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Blazers' roster has openings
By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
The Kamloops Blazers, with new ownership firmly ensconced, along with a new general manager, new head coach and two new assistant coaches, open training camp this morning at Interior Savings Centre.
The $6.1-million question, however, is how many new players will be on the roster when the WHL team opens the season at home to the Everett Silvertips on Sept. 19?
The Blazers are coming off an abysmal season. First, there was the major change, as the franchise went from public to private ownership. Then, players watched as first the general manager/head coach and then two assistant coaches lost their jobs. And, finally, the team lost 18 of its last 19 games, the last four of those in a four-game first-round playoff sweep at the hands of the Tri-City Americans.
And now the Blazers are preparing for a new season. But just how “new” will they be?
As Matt Recchi, the Blazers’ director of player personnel, put it: “There’s a lot of openings and there’s going to be a big push.”
The Blazers are deep in goal with Justin Leclerc, who was their best player last season, sophomore James Priestner and Jon Groenheyde the top three on the depth chart.
At the same time, the roster includes only four veteran defencemen, with two of those – Mark Schneider and Kurt Torbohm – having played in 69 games combined. One defenceman who could earn a spot is Linden Saip, a 17-year-old from Delta who got a taste of the WHL with the Vancouver Giants last season.
Up front, once centre Mark Hall returns from a knee sprain, the Blazers will have 10 veterans on their roster, but those 10 players combined for only 100 WHL goals last season. And 21 of those came from winger Kenton Dulle, now 20. That doesn’t include a dozen off the stick of winger Brady Calla, who has signed with the NHL’s Florida Panthers and is expected to play in their organization, likely with the AHL’s Rochester Americans.
Yes, there definitely are openings on this hockey club.
So . . . who might end up filling some of those holes and which players might fans want to keep an eye on for the next few days?
The first player Recchi pointed to was centre Brendan Ranford, the Blazers’ first-round pick in the 2007 bantam draft.
”He is a highly skilled, highly competitive young man,” Recchi said. “He goes to the net all the time – that’s a big part of his game, to go straight to the net.”
Ranford, 16, went to the net enough last season that he won the Alberta Midget Hockey League’s scoring title as a 15-year-old. Playing for the Edmonton CAC Canadians, the 5-foot-9, 160-pounder had 79 points, including 33 goals, in 35 games. He added 15 points in 12 playoff games.
”He’s got lots of skill and lots of character and we’re looking for big things out of him,” Recchi said.
Despite all of that, Recchi added, Ranford, a nephew to former NHL goaltender Bill Ranford, is only an “average” skater.
”That’s one thing he’s going to have to continue to work on,” Recchi said. “But his skills and grit and determination . . . that’s what will set him apart from most players.”
Then there’s centre Grayson Downing, a fourth-round selection in the 2007 bantam draft.
”He has a real good two-way game with some skill,” Recchi said of Downing, who is from Abbotsford. “Lots of heart . . . real good determination. He looks to be a promising young player.”
Downing had 40 points in 32 games last season with the major midget Fraser Valley Bruins.
Defenceman Daniel Medland-Marchen, 16, had six points and 101 penalty minutes with the major midget Okanagan Rockets last season. A second-round pick in the 2007 draft, the 6-foot-1, 175-pounder suffered a broken collarbone in the first period of the Blazers’ intrasquad game a year ago.
”He looks really good,” Recchi said. “He’s a big strong defenceman who can really skate and really shoots the puck hard. He’s in great shape. He’s somebody to watch.
”He will play more of a defensive-type game; he’s a hard-hitting, stay-at-home defensive-type guy.”
Recchi also is looking forward to seeing Stefan Gonzales, a 6-foot-1, 170-pound defenceman from the Lower Mainland. Gonzales, 16, had 11 points and 62 penalty minutes with the major midget Valley West Hawks.
”He’s a big kid who is a good skater,” Recchi said of the 2007 sixth-round pick. “He tried out for the B.C. under-17 team, but didn’t make it. He’s a big, competitive guy who skates well . . . a puck mover.”
Among the Blazers¹ California contingent will be defenceman Brandon Underwood, who goes 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds.
”He’s kind of an unknown to me,” Recchi said, “and I’m really wanting to see him. He comes in with some notoriety as a big kid who has good skill but plays real physical.
”I look for him to push guys (on defence).”
Underwood, 16, is a list player who spent last season with the midget AAA Los Angeles Jr. Kings.
And then there’s Colin Smith, the Blazers’ first-round pick, seventh overall, in the 2008 bantam draft who because of his age is only eligible to play five games this season as long as his minor hockey team is still playing.
”He’s only 15 but he’s going to be a lot of fun to watch,” Recchi said of the Edmonton native who had 106 points, including 36 goals, in 33 games with the Edmonton CAC bantam AAA team last season. “He’s got talent, grit and determination, and he goes to the net.”
Of course, Smith is 5-foot-8 and 135 pounds.
”He’s a little bugger,” Recchi said with a chuckle, “but, man, he can play.”
JUST NOTES: The younger hopefuls have been split into three teams and will
practice this morning at 9:30, 10:45 and noon. . . . A one-hour goaltending
session is set for 1 p.m. . . . The two veteran teams will practise at 2:15
and 4 p.m. . . . The three freshman teams scrimmage at 6, 7:15 and 8:30 p.m.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
Daily News Sports Editor
The Kamloops Blazers, with new ownership firmly ensconced, along with a new general manager, new head coach and two new assistant coaches, open training camp this morning at Interior Savings Centre.
The $6.1-million question, however, is how many new players will be on the roster when the WHL team opens the season at home to the Everett Silvertips on Sept. 19?
The Blazers are coming off an abysmal season. First, there was the major change, as the franchise went from public to private ownership. Then, players watched as first the general manager/head coach and then two assistant coaches lost their jobs. And, finally, the team lost 18 of its last 19 games, the last four of those in a four-game first-round playoff sweep at the hands of the Tri-City Americans.
And now the Blazers are preparing for a new season. But just how “new” will they be?
As Matt Recchi, the Blazers’ director of player personnel, put it: “There’s a lot of openings and there’s going to be a big push.”
The Blazers are deep in goal with Justin Leclerc, who was their best player last season, sophomore James Priestner and Jon Groenheyde the top three on the depth chart.
At the same time, the roster includes only four veteran defencemen, with two of those – Mark Schneider and Kurt Torbohm – having played in 69 games combined. One defenceman who could earn a spot is Linden Saip, a 17-year-old from Delta who got a taste of the WHL with the Vancouver Giants last season.
Up front, once centre Mark Hall returns from a knee sprain, the Blazers will have 10 veterans on their roster, but those 10 players combined for only 100 WHL goals last season. And 21 of those came from winger Kenton Dulle, now 20. That doesn’t include a dozen off the stick of winger Brady Calla, who has signed with the NHL’s Florida Panthers and is expected to play in their organization, likely with the AHL’s Rochester Americans.
Yes, there definitely are openings on this hockey club.
So . . . who might end up filling some of those holes and which players might fans want to keep an eye on for the next few days?
The first player Recchi pointed to was centre Brendan Ranford, the Blazers’ first-round pick in the 2007 bantam draft.
”He is a highly skilled, highly competitive young man,” Recchi said. “He goes to the net all the time – that’s a big part of his game, to go straight to the net.”
Ranford, 16, went to the net enough last season that he won the Alberta Midget Hockey League’s scoring title as a 15-year-old. Playing for the Edmonton CAC Canadians, the 5-foot-9, 160-pounder had 79 points, including 33 goals, in 35 games. He added 15 points in 12 playoff games.
”He’s got lots of skill and lots of character and we’re looking for big things out of him,” Recchi said.
Despite all of that, Recchi added, Ranford, a nephew to former NHL goaltender Bill Ranford, is only an “average” skater.
”That’s one thing he’s going to have to continue to work on,” Recchi said. “But his skills and grit and determination . . . that’s what will set him apart from most players.”
Then there’s centre Grayson Downing, a fourth-round selection in the 2007 bantam draft.
”He has a real good two-way game with some skill,” Recchi said of Downing, who is from Abbotsford. “Lots of heart . . . real good determination. He looks to be a promising young player.”
Downing had 40 points in 32 games last season with the major midget Fraser Valley Bruins.
Defenceman Daniel Medland-Marchen, 16, had six points and 101 penalty minutes with the major midget Okanagan Rockets last season. A second-round pick in the 2007 draft, the 6-foot-1, 175-pounder suffered a broken collarbone in the first period of the Blazers’ intrasquad game a year ago.
”He looks really good,” Recchi said. “He’s a big strong defenceman who can really skate and really shoots the puck hard. He’s in great shape. He’s somebody to watch.
”He will play more of a defensive-type game; he’s a hard-hitting, stay-at-home defensive-type guy.”
Recchi also is looking forward to seeing Stefan Gonzales, a 6-foot-1, 170-pound defenceman from the Lower Mainland. Gonzales, 16, had 11 points and 62 penalty minutes with the major midget Valley West Hawks.
”He’s a big kid who is a good skater,” Recchi said of the 2007 sixth-round pick. “He tried out for the B.C. under-17 team, but didn’t make it. He’s a big, competitive guy who skates well . . . a puck mover.”
Among the Blazers¹ California contingent will be defenceman Brandon Underwood, who goes 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds.
”He’s kind of an unknown to me,” Recchi said, “and I’m really wanting to see him. He comes in with some notoriety as a big kid who has good skill but plays real physical.
”I look for him to push guys (on defence).”
Underwood, 16, is a list player who spent last season with the midget AAA Los Angeles Jr. Kings.
And then there’s Colin Smith, the Blazers’ first-round pick, seventh overall, in the 2008 bantam draft who because of his age is only eligible to play five games this season as long as his minor hockey team is still playing.
”He’s only 15 but he’s going to be a lot of fun to watch,” Recchi said of the Edmonton native who had 106 points, including 36 goals, in 33 games with the Edmonton CAC bantam AAA team last season. “He’s got talent, grit and determination, and he goes to the net.”
Of course, Smith is 5-foot-8 and 135 pounds.
”He’s a little bugger,” Recchi said with a chuckle, “but, man, he can play.”
JUST NOTES: The younger hopefuls have been split into three teams and will
practice this morning at 9:30, 10:45 and noon. . . . A one-hour goaltending
session is set for 1 p.m. . . . The two veteran teams will practise at 2:15
and 4 p.m. . . . The three freshman teams scrimmage at 6, 7:15 and 8:30 p.m.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
Thursday . . .
So much for former NHLer Jon Klemm as an assistant coach with the Spokane Chiefs. It turns out that he has signed to play in Germany with the Straubing Tigers (DEL). Will have to check my list to see else might be a candidate. . . . Hey, just trying to help . . .
---
Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News and Observer reports that C Zach Boychuk, the Lethbridge Hurricanes’ sniper, is ahead of schedule as he recovers from surgery on his left wrist. In fact, Boychuk, who was taken by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first-round of the 2008 NHL draft, will go to camp with the Hurricanes and take part in skating drills. "He probably won't be able to handle the puck or shoot the puck, but he can get in all the skating drills," GM Jimmy Rutherford told Alexander. ". . . We're really excited about him. He has such a high skill level." . . . Boychuk will be returned to the Hurricanes at some point, but there still isn’t a date set for his return to contact.
---
Former NHL D Jeff Beukeboom, 43, has joined the OHL’s Barrie Colts as an assistant coach. Beukeboom, who retired in 1999, played 15 NHL seasons. He has coaching experience as an assistant with the AHL’s Toronto Roadrunners. Drake Berehowsky, another former NHL defenceman, also is on the Colts’ coaching staff, working under head coach Marty Williamson.
---
Eric Duhatschek of The Globe and Mail tackles the story of Stefan Legien in a column that is on that paper’s website. Legien is the 19-year-old second-round NHL draft pick who has said he is quitting hockey and won't be reporting to the Columbus Blue Jackets. . . . Duhatschek points out that what seems to have a 24/7 hockey regimen is putting a lot of strain on teenagers in our society. He also notes that no less an authority than Wayne Gretzky has long been a proponent of having young athletes play as many sports as possible. . . . It does seem that more and more teenagers are walking away from hockey, saying they’ve had enough and that they want to try something else in life. Hopefully, the pooh-bahs who run the game at the lower levels are noticing. . . . Duhatschek’s column is right here.
---
Annie Fowler reports in the Tri-City Herald that the city of Kennewick, Wash., is spending almost $300,000 on improvements to the Toyota Centre, the home of the Americans. The improvements include new rink boards and new glass. The boards, Americans’ GM Bob Tory told Fowler, “will be the same as in Pittsburgh at Mellon Arena. We thank the city and the venue for taking the initiative for getting this done.” . . . According to Fowler: “The old tempered glass is being replaced with Plexiglas with stanchions between the panes. When players collide along the boards, the boards and glass will absorb most of the impact, making it safer for the players.” As well, steps are being taken to improve ice conditions.
---
Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News and Observer reports that C Zach Boychuk, the Lethbridge Hurricanes’ sniper, is ahead of schedule as he recovers from surgery on his left wrist. In fact, Boychuk, who was taken by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first-round of the 2008 NHL draft, will go to camp with the Hurricanes and take part in skating drills. "He probably won't be able to handle the puck or shoot the puck, but he can get in all the skating drills," GM Jimmy Rutherford told Alexander. ". . . We're really excited about him. He has such a high skill level." . . . Boychuk will be returned to the Hurricanes at some point, but there still isn’t a date set for his return to contact.
---
Former NHL D Jeff Beukeboom, 43, has joined the OHL’s Barrie Colts as an assistant coach. Beukeboom, who retired in 1999, played 15 NHL seasons. He has coaching experience as an assistant with the AHL’s Toronto Roadrunners. Drake Berehowsky, another former NHL defenceman, also is on the Colts’ coaching staff, working under head coach Marty Williamson.
---
Eric Duhatschek of The Globe and Mail tackles the story of Stefan Legien in a column that is on that paper’s website. Legien is the 19-year-old second-round NHL draft pick who has said he is quitting hockey and won't be reporting to the Columbus Blue Jackets. . . . Duhatschek points out that what seems to have a 24/7 hockey regimen is putting a lot of strain on teenagers in our society. He also notes that no less an authority than Wayne Gretzky has long been a proponent of having young athletes play as many sports as possible. . . . It does seem that more and more teenagers are walking away from hockey, saying they’ve had enough and that they want to try something else in life. Hopefully, the pooh-bahs who run the game at the lower levels are noticing. . . . Duhatschek’s column is right here.
---
Annie Fowler reports in the Tri-City Herald that the city of Kennewick, Wash., is spending almost $300,000 on improvements to the Toyota Centre, the home of the Americans. The improvements include new rink boards and new glass. The boards, Americans’ GM Bob Tory told Fowler, “will be the same as in Pittsburgh at Mellon Arena. We thank the city and the venue for taking the initiative for getting this done.” . . . According to Fowler: “The old tempered glass is being replaced with Plexiglas with stanchions between the panes. When players collide along the boards, the boards and glass will absorb most of the impact, making it safer for the players.” As well, steps are being taken to improve ice conditions.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
More from Wednesday . . .
D Victor Bartley will open camp with the Regina Pats. Bartley has been hoping to land a pro contract and, while that still may happen, it looks more and more as though he’ll be with the Pats. Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post has the latest right here.
———
The Saskatoon Blades ending up shifting the location of their training camp at the last moment. The Blades normally train in Martensville, but ongoing building renovations prevented their return. So, they shifted to Dalmenny. But hot weather caused ice problems there, and now the Blades’ training camp home is in Aberdeen, about 30km northeast of the city.
———
With Benoit Groulx having signed with the AHL’s Rochester Americans, Hockey Canada will be looking for a head coach for the national junior team. The assistant coaches are Willie Desdjardins of the Medicine Hat Tigers and Dave Cameron of the OHL’s Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors. . . . Desjardins told the Medicine Hat News on Wednesday night that he hasn’t heard a thing.
———
The Saskatoon Blades ending up shifting the location of their training camp at the last moment. The Blades normally train in Martensville, but ongoing building renovations prevented their return. So, they shifted to Dalmenny. But hot weather caused ice problems there, and now the Blades’ training camp home is in Aberdeen, about 30km northeast of the city.
———
With Benoit Groulx having signed with the AHL’s Rochester Americans, Hockey Canada will be looking for a head coach for the national junior team. The assistant coaches are Willie Desdjardins of the Medicine Hat Tigers and Dave Cameron of the OHL’s Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors. . . . Desjardins told the Medicine Hat News on Wednesday night that he hasn’t heard a thing.
Blazers lose two to knee injuries, another quits hockey
By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
As the Kamloops Blazers prepare to open training camp Friday at Interior Savings Centre, the names of three veteran players are missing from the WHL team’s training camp roster.
Forwards Mark Hall, 18, and Richard Vanderhoek, 17, are nursing knee injuries and are being evaluated by medical people.
Defenceman Darcy Huisman, 19, has told the Blazers that he is quitting hockey.
Hall, who is preparing for his second full season with the Blazers, appears to have sprained a knee during a skating session on Tuesday. He was the lone Kamloops native on last season’s roster. A pest and an agitator, he had 12 points, including five goals, and 68 penalty minutes in 67 games.
“A bunch of them were out Tuesday and he tweaked his knee,” Blazers general manager Craig Bonner said, adding that the injury was diagnosed as a first-degree sprain to the MCL (medial collateral ligament).
The MCL is one of the four major ligaments in the knee; it is located on the inside of the knee.
Bonner said that means Hall is likely to be sidelined for two weeks but that he doesn’t need surgery, “just rest.”
Vanderhoek, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound forward from Langley, suffered a knee injury at home. Bonner wasn’t yet sure just how it happened.
“It’s not looking good,” Bonner said. “He’s going to get a second opinion.”
The original diagnosis was a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament). Like the MCL, the ACL is one of the knee’s four major ligaments and is the one most frequently injured by athletes.
If the second diagnosis confirms the original, Matt Recchi, the Blazers’ director of player personnel, said: “He’s going to be six to eight months, best case scenario.”
Vanderhoek, whom the Blazers selected with the 122nd pick of the 2006 bantam draft, spent most of last season with the BCHL’s Surrey Eagles, for whom he had 10 points in 32 games. He was pointless in six regular-season games with the Blazers and, although he was on the roster, didn’t get into any playoff games.
Meanwhile, Huisman, 19, has decided to quit the game.
“He came in and talked to (head coach Barry Smith) a couple of days ago,” Bonner said, “and expressed that he was really struggling with if he wanted to play anymore. Barry told him to take the night to think about it. He did. He came back and said he just wasn’t enjoying the game anymore and was going to hang up the skates.
“It’s better for us to know that now than down the road. We want guys who are totally committed and if his head’s not totally here we don’t want him. But give him credit for having the guts to come in and tell us that.”
Huisman, from Smithers, was added to the Blazers’ list while with the BCHL’s Prince George Spruce Kings in 2006-07. Last season, his first in the WHL, he had 11 points and 55 penalty minutes in 63 games.
Bonner said he asked Huisman if he wanted a trade or to be released to a junior A team.
“He expressed to us that he no longer wants to play hockey,” Bonner said.
Huisman, who has returned to Smithers, couldn’t be reached for comment last night.
Bonner said he expects Slovakian newcomer Michal Siska to slide right into Huisman’s spot on the depth chart.
“Siska will replace him quite nicely,” Bonner said of the 30th selection in the CHL’s 2008 import draft.
Siska, 18, arrived last week and has been skating in preparation for camp.
“He’s a very good skater, good agility, good foot speed, ability to turn,” Smith said when asked for a snap assessment. “He plays everything with his head up. Looks like a solid puck-moving guy.”
At the same time, Smith allowed that “we haven’t done anything that really allows him to be creative . . . but I think he is pretty creative and he’s got good hands.”
The key to Siska’s adjustment, Smith suggested, may be that “he speaks pretty good English and is willing to get involved with the guys. That’ll make his transition easier, too.”
The Blazers’ other selection in the 2008 import draft, 17-year-old centre Dalibor Bortnak, was scheduled to arrive last night.
Bortnak is fresh off the under-18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament where he led the Slovakian team with four points in three games.
“I haven’t heard anything bad about him,” Smith said. “He might be a little tired with all that and the travel but he’ll come around.”
JUST NOTES: The Hockey News posted a ranking of WHL team logos on its website Wednesday. The Blazers’ logo ranked fourth of teams, behind the Seattle Thunderbirds, Spokane Chiefs and Red Deer Rebels. “It’s hard to find something classic that came from the 1980s, but the Blazers did it with their ‘B’,” THN wrote. . . . Members of the Blazers’ scouting staff are due to arrive today. They will have an evening gathering at Recchi’s home and then be at ISC on Friday at 7 a.m. . . . Friday’s camp schedule opens with practice sessions at 9:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m., and noon. Scrimmages go at 6, 7:15 and 8:30 p.m. . . . There’s more WHL news at gdrinnan.blogspot.com.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
Daily News Sports Editor
As the Kamloops Blazers prepare to open training camp Friday at Interior Savings Centre, the names of three veteran players are missing from the WHL team’s training camp roster.
Forwards Mark Hall, 18, and Richard Vanderhoek, 17, are nursing knee injuries and are being evaluated by medical people.
Defenceman Darcy Huisman, 19, has told the Blazers that he is quitting hockey.
Hall, who is preparing for his second full season with the Blazers, appears to have sprained a knee during a skating session on Tuesday. He was the lone Kamloops native on last season’s roster. A pest and an agitator, he had 12 points, including five goals, and 68 penalty minutes in 67 games.
“A bunch of them were out Tuesday and he tweaked his knee,” Blazers general manager Craig Bonner said, adding that the injury was diagnosed as a first-degree sprain to the MCL (medial collateral ligament).
The MCL is one of the four major ligaments in the knee; it is located on the inside of the knee.
Bonner said that means Hall is likely to be sidelined for two weeks but that he doesn’t need surgery, “just rest.”
Vanderhoek, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound forward from Langley, suffered a knee injury at home. Bonner wasn’t yet sure just how it happened.
“It’s not looking good,” Bonner said. “He’s going to get a second opinion.”
The original diagnosis was a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament). Like the MCL, the ACL is one of the knee’s four major ligaments and is the one most frequently injured by athletes.
If the second diagnosis confirms the original, Matt Recchi, the Blazers’ director of player personnel, said: “He’s going to be six to eight months, best case scenario.”
Vanderhoek, whom the Blazers selected with the 122nd pick of the 2006 bantam draft, spent most of last season with the BCHL’s Surrey Eagles, for whom he had 10 points in 32 games. He was pointless in six regular-season games with the Blazers and, although he was on the roster, didn’t get into any playoff games.
Meanwhile, Huisman, 19, has decided to quit the game.
“He came in and talked to (head coach Barry Smith) a couple of days ago,” Bonner said, “and expressed that he was really struggling with if he wanted to play anymore. Barry told him to take the night to think about it. He did. He came back and said he just wasn’t enjoying the game anymore and was going to hang up the skates.
“It’s better for us to know that now than down the road. We want guys who are totally committed and if his head’s not totally here we don’t want him. But give him credit for having the guts to come in and tell us that.”
Huisman, from Smithers, was added to the Blazers’ list while with the BCHL’s Prince George Spruce Kings in 2006-07. Last season, his first in the WHL, he had 11 points and 55 penalty minutes in 63 games.
Bonner said he asked Huisman if he wanted a trade or to be released to a junior A team.
“He expressed to us that he no longer wants to play hockey,” Bonner said.
Huisman, who has returned to Smithers, couldn’t be reached for comment last night.
Bonner said he expects Slovakian newcomer Michal Siska to slide right into Huisman’s spot on the depth chart.
“Siska will replace him quite nicely,” Bonner said of the 30th selection in the CHL’s 2008 import draft.
Siska, 18, arrived last week and has been skating in preparation for camp.
“He’s a very good skater, good agility, good foot speed, ability to turn,” Smith said when asked for a snap assessment. “He plays everything with his head up. Looks like a solid puck-moving guy.”
At the same time, Smith allowed that “we haven’t done anything that really allows him to be creative . . . but I think he is pretty creative and he’s got good hands.”
The key to Siska’s adjustment, Smith suggested, may be that “he speaks pretty good English and is willing to get involved with the guys. That’ll make his transition easier, too.”
The Blazers’ other selection in the 2008 import draft, 17-year-old centre Dalibor Bortnak, was scheduled to arrive last night.
Bortnak is fresh off the under-18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament where he led the Slovakian team with four points in three games.
“I haven’t heard anything bad about him,” Smith said. “He might be a little tired with all that and the travel but he’ll come around.”
JUST NOTES: The Hockey News posted a ranking of WHL team logos on its website Wednesday. The Blazers’ logo ranked fourth of teams, behind the Seattle Thunderbirds, Spokane Chiefs and Red Deer Rebels. “It’s hard to find something classic that came from the 1980s, but the Blazers did it with their ‘B’,” THN wrote. . . . Members of the Blazers’ scouting staff are due to arrive today. They will have an evening gathering at Recchi’s home and then be at ISC on Friday at 7 a.m. . . . Friday’s camp schedule opens with practice sessions at 9:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m., and noon. Scrimmages go at 6, 7:15 and 8:30 p.m. . . . There’s more WHL news at gdrinnan.blogspot.com.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
Time to impress the new coach
By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
The Barry Smith era officially begins Friday morning when the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers open training camp at Interior Savings Centre.
No one knows how long the Smith era will last but one thing is for certain — a player, freshman or veteran, never will have a better opportunity than now to impress the Blazers’ new head coach and his two assistants, Scott Ferguson and Geoff Smith, both of whom also are newcomers.
“It’s all about that first impression, too,” Barry Smith said Wednesday. “For me, everybody does come in with a clean slate. I’ve watched games and I have an idea of how players play.
“But every year, especially at this age, you can come in and really improve or you can come in and decide you’re really going to do the right things or you can come in and say, ‘This is who I am and I can do it.’ ”
Smith signed a three-year con tract with the Blazers and was introduced as head coach on July 3.
He has watched some video since then, but admits that what he knows about players who will be in camp he has learned primarily from seeing them in person.
Any preconceived notions he may have, he said, have come from watching the players during the Blazers’ recent hockey school and around the dressing room and in the weight room over the last few days.
“I’ve seen the players around here and what they’ve done,” he said. “And I would have to say that 99 per cent of the guys have come with a new attitude. It’s going to change and I think it’s going to change for the better. They look like they’re all willing to do the things we want to do and they’re willing to buy in.”
After the attitude change, Smith said, “Then it’s the ability to play or not. A guy can work his butt off and do all the right things but he may not fit into the mix because of his ability to play or not play.”
This is an organization that has had more than its share of turmoil over the last few seasons, but last winter was especially hectic, what with an ownership change and a coaching change that followed.
This also is a team that lost 18 of its last 19 games, including four straight first-round playoff games, so there is a lot of room for improvement.
Having said that, however, Smith said that last season is but a distant memory.
“For sure it is . . . for me it is,” he stated. “I’ve stressed what I want to do and the habits we want to create and the culture we want to create. I may come in and say ‘Geez, the guys aren’t in as good of shape as I wanted them to be,’ but that’s probably going to be the case a little bit because they don’t know what my expectations are.
“A year from now, there’s no excuses. A year from now, you know what I want, you know what our expectations are.”
One thing Smith said he has noticed is an air of enthusiasm as players have reported back.
“I’ve seen a lot of excitement out there,” Smith said. “I think the guys are excited to be here. For the most part, I’m real happy with the work ethic and how hard guys are willing to work. Maybe the conditioning could come a little farther for me, but we’ll take care of that . . . that can be rectified quick enough.
“But I think most guys really worked hard this summer after I talked to them.”
One thing that will be hard for players to do is match the excitement level of the new head coach. An assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks organization for the last nine years, he is anxious to get started.
“I’m very excited,” he said. “The last few days have been watching guys come in and meeting the players and designing practices.
“The real McCoy starts on Friday and I’m pumped.”
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
Daily News Sports Editor
The Barry Smith era officially begins Friday morning when the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers open training camp at Interior Savings Centre.
No one knows how long the Smith era will last but one thing is for certain — a player, freshman or veteran, never will have a better opportunity than now to impress the Blazers’ new head coach and his two assistants, Scott Ferguson and Geoff Smith, both of whom also are newcomers.
“It’s all about that first impression, too,” Barry Smith said Wednesday. “For me, everybody does come in with a clean slate. I’ve watched games and I have an idea of how players play.
“But every year, especially at this age, you can come in and really improve or you can come in and decide you’re really going to do the right things or you can come in and say, ‘This is who I am and I can do it.’ ”
Smith signed a three-year con tract with the Blazers and was introduced as head coach on July 3.
He has watched some video since then, but admits that what he knows about players who will be in camp he has learned primarily from seeing them in person.
Any preconceived notions he may have, he said, have come from watching the players during the Blazers’ recent hockey school and around the dressing room and in the weight room over the last few days.
“I’ve seen the players around here and what they’ve done,” he said. “And I would have to say that 99 per cent of the guys have come with a new attitude. It’s going to change and I think it’s going to change for the better. They look like they’re all willing to do the things we want to do and they’re willing to buy in.”
After the attitude change, Smith said, “Then it’s the ability to play or not. A guy can work his butt off and do all the right things but he may not fit into the mix because of his ability to play or not play.”
This is an organization that has had more than its share of turmoil over the last few seasons, but last winter was especially hectic, what with an ownership change and a coaching change that followed.
This also is a team that lost 18 of its last 19 games, including four straight first-round playoff games, so there is a lot of room for improvement.
Having said that, however, Smith said that last season is but a distant memory.
“For sure it is . . . for me it is,” he stated. “I’ve stressed what I want to do and the habits we want to create and the culture we want to create. I may come in and say ‘Geez, the guys aren’t in as good of shape as I wanted them to be,’ but that’s probably going to be the case a little bit because they don’t know what my expectations are.
“A year from now, there’s no excuses. A year from now, you know what I want, you know what our expectations are.”
One thing Smith said he has noticed is an air of enthusiasm as players have reported back.
“I’ve seen a lot of excitement out there,” Smith said. “I think the guys are excited to be here. For the most part, I’m real happy with the work ethic and how hard guys are willing to work. Maybe the conditioning could come a little farther for me, but we’ll take care of that . . . that can be rectified quick enough.
“But I think most guys really worked hard this summer after I talked to them.”
One thing that will be hard for players to do is match the excitement level of the new head coach. An assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks organization for the last nine years, he is anxious to get started.
“I’m very excited,” he said. “The last few days have been watching guys come in and meeting the players and designing practices.
“The real McCoy starts on Friday and I’m pumped.”
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
More from Tuesday . . .
TSN.ca is reporting that Benoit Groulx is to be named head coach of the AHL’s Rochester Americans, who are affiliated with the NHL’s Florida Panthers. Groulx, 40, was head coach of the QMJHL’s Gatineau Olympiques and also head coach of Canada’s national junior team.
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The Spokane Chiefs didn’t hire an assistant coach on Wednesday, but they did sign Chris Moulton, their director of scouting/player personnel, to a new three-year contract. He has filled that role with the Chiefs since before 2005-06. . . . They do still need an assistant coach after Cam Severson, who was on the verge of taking the job, decided to play another season in Europe. Hey, what about former Chiefs D Jon Klemm? He almost ended up with the Kootenay Ice last season before playing another season of pro.
———
Jim Swanson, the sports editor of the Prince George Citizen, has lots of Cougars news in Thursday’s paper. The Cougars unveiled a new logo and some promotions on Wednesday. Swanson also talked with owner Rick Brodsky about the financial side of things. Swanson also has a training camp advance, including news on something of a clash between D Art Bidlevskii and his dogs. This link right here will take you to the Brodsky story and you can surf to the others from there.
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And what to make of F Stefan Legein, a second-round NHL draft pick, who apparently has told the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets that he through with hockey? Legein, the 37th pick in the 2007 NHL draft, also played for Team Canada as it won the 2008 World Junior Championship. He had 37 points in 30 games with the OHL’s Niagara IceDogs last season. . . . By the sounds of Doug Woods, Legein’s agents, the decision may not be etched in stone. . . . "He's looking at things and assessing a lot of things right now," Woods told the Columbus Dispatch. "I don't know which way it's going to go, but we'll find out something. Look, he's a kid with an enormous amount of talent. He's got all the talent and skill in the world. A lot of other people have the skill to be a great doctor, and they decide they don't want to be a doctor. Stefan felt that he wasn't quite ready to attend camp. He's a 19 year old who maybe has to grow up a little.”
And therein lies the rub. Far too often we forget that these players still are teenagers. They are young people trying to find their ways through their teenage years and into adulthood and sometimes they encounter speedbumps.
———
The Spokane Chiefs didn’t hire an assistant coach on Wednesday, but they did sign Chris Moulton, their director of scouting/player personnel, to a new three-year contract. He has filled that role with the Chiefs since before 2005-06. . . . They do still need an assistant coach after Cam Severson, who was on the verge of taking the job, decided to play another season in Europe. Hey, what about former Chiefs D Jon Klemm? He almost ended up with the Kootenay Ice last season before playing another season of pro.
———
Jim Swanson, the sports editor of the Prince George Citizen, has lots of Cougars news in Thursday’s paper. The Cougars unveiled a new logo and some promotions on Wednesday. Swanson also talked with owner Rick Brodsky about the financial side of things. Swanson also has a training camp advance, including news on something of a clash between D Art Bidlevskii and his dogs. This link right here will take you to the Brodsky story and you can surf to the others from there.
———
And what to make of F Stefan Legein, a second-round NHL draft pick, who apparently has told the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets that he through with hockey? Legein, the 37th pick in the 2007 NHL draft, also played for Team Canada as it won the 2008 World Junior Championship. He had 37 points in 30 games with the OHL’s Niagara IceDogs last season. . . . By the sounds of Doug Woods, Legein’s agents, the decision may not be etched in stone. . . . "He's looking at things and assessing a lot of things right now," Woods told the Columbus Dispatch. "I don't know which way it's going to go, but we'll find out something. Look, he's a kid with an enormous amount of talent. He's got all the talent and skill in the world. A lot of other people have the skill to be a great doctor, and they decide they don't want to be a doctor. Stefan felt that he wasn't quite ready to attend camp. He's a 19 year old who maybe has to grow up a little.”
And therein lies the rub. Far too often we forget that these players still are teenagers. They are young people trying to find their ways through their teenage years and into adulthood and sometimes they encounter speedbumps.
Wednesday . . .
THE MacBETH REPORT: F Marc Desloges (Seattle/Everett/Swift Current) signed a four-week tryout contract with Passau (Germany Oberliga). He was with the University of British Columbia last season.
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The Oregonian, Portland’s daily newspaper, has another non-denial denial from Winter Hawks ownership regarding the impending sale of the franchise. That story is right here. . . . At this point in time, there doesn't seem to be anything out there to indicate that this deal won’t go through.
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The WHL had said it would reveal Tuesday just which three teams are interested in playing host to the 2010 Memorial Cup tournament. That didn’t happen, but now is likely to happen Thursday. . . . The deadline to express that interest to the WHL office was Friday. The Brandon Wheat Kings have stated that they will bid on the tournament, with the support of the province of Manitoba and the city of Brandon. The Kelowna Rockets have said they are interested but only if things don’t go right with the Brandon bid. The identity of a third team isn’t known.
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The Hockey News has ranked the logos of all the WHL teams. Take a look right here.
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JUNIOR JOTTINGS: F Shane McColgan, the 13th pick in the WHL’s 2008 bantam draft, won’t take part in the Kelowna Rockets’ rookie camp but will be at main camp. Lorne Frey, the Rockets’ assistant GM and director of player personnel, told Warren Henderson of the Capital News that McColgan has been fighting a virus for a lot of the summer and has lost 14 pounds. McColgan spent last season with the midget AAA Los Angeles junior Kings. . . . F Michael Proudley has left the Chilliwack Bruins and is likely to play somewhere in the MJHL. Proudley, a 19-year-old from Winnipeg, played the last two seasons with the Bruins. He had three points and 27 penalty minutes in 55 games last season. “He’s going to stay back home and play junior A, probably in Manitoba,” Chilliwack GM Darrell May told Eric J. Welsh of the Chilliwack Progress. “He didn’t think that his role on the team would be what it needs to be, and we agreed. So he decided that, rather than do what he did last year, he’d just stay home.”
---
The Oregonian, Portland’s daily newspaper, has another non-denial denial from Winter Hawks ownership regarding the impending sale of the franchise. That story is right here. . . . At this point in time, there doesn't seem to be anything out there to indicate that this deal won’t go through.
---
The WHL had said it would reveal Tuesday just which three teams are interested in playing host to the 2010 Memorial Cup tournament. That didn’t happen, but now is likely to happen Thursday. . . . The deadline to express that interest to the WHL office was Friday. The Brandon Wheat Kings have stated that they will bid on the tournament, with the support of the province of Manitoba and the city of Brandon. The Kelowna Rockets have said they are interested but only if things don’t go right with the Brandon bid. The identity of a third team isn’t known.
---
The Hockey News has ranked the logos of all the WHL teams. Take a look right here.
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JUNIOR JOTTINGS: F Shane McColgan, the 13th pick in the WHL’s 2008 bantam draft, won’t take part in the Kelowna Rockets’ rookie camp but will be at main camp. Lorne Frey, the Rockets’ assistant GM and director of player personnel, told Warren Henderson of the Capital News that McColgan has been fighting a virus for a lot of the summer and has lost 14 pounds. McColgan spent last season with the midget AAA Los Angeles junior Kings. . . . F Michael Proudley has left the Chilliwack Bruins and is likely to play somewhere in the MJHL. Proudley, a 19-year-old from Winnipeg, played the last two seasons with the Bruins. He had three points and 27 penalty minutes in 55 games last season. “He’s going to stay back home and play junior A, probably in Manitoba,” Chilliwack GM Darrell May told Eric J. Welsh of the Chilliwack Progress. “He didn’t think that his role on the team would be what it needs to be, and we agreed. So he decided that, rather than do what he did last year, he’d just stay home.”
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Tuesday . . .
Some notes from the Tri-City Americans. . . . D Scott Macaulay, 18, will play for the MJHL’s Winnipeg Saints in order to maintain his NCAA eligibility. Macaulay was acquired in June from the Swift Current Broncos for a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2009 bantam draft. He is the younger brother of Americans F Blair Macaulay, 20. . . . Attempts continue to obtain a release for Russian D Bogdan Kiselevich, the 60th selection in the CHL’s 2008 import draft. Kiselevich, 18, won’t join the Americans unless/until he is able to get a release from Severstal Cherepovets, the team he last played for in Russia. . . . LW Adam Hughesman, 17, is rehabbing a knee after having offseason surgery. The Americans say he has been cleared for skating and will practise with the team but that he won’t see contact before Sept. 10. . . . Sophomore RW Petr Stoklasa is due to arrive Friday from his home in Czech Republic. . . . RW Colan Jackson, 18, won’t be joining the Americans, choosing instead to play for the MJHL’s Selkirk Steelers. Jackson, who is from Winnipeg, signed with the Americans last summer. He played for the midget AAA Winnipeg Thrashers. . . . F Jaden Schwartz, an eighth-round pick in the 2007 bantam draft, is returning for another season with the Hounds at Athol Murray College of Notre Dame in Wilcox, Sask., although the Americans continue to talk with him and his family. Schwartz has made a verbal commitment to Colorado College, which is the same school that his brother Rylan, an 18-year-old centre, will attend. Rylan was selected by the Spokane Chiefs with the 69th pick of the 2005 bantam draft. . . . F Joe Colborne, the Boston Bruins‚ first-round pick in the 2008 NHL draft, is on Tri-City’s college list. He will attend Denver U this season, the same school that D T.J. Fast, who finished up his junior eligibility with the Americans last season, attended.
———
The Americans have signed a new three-year TV deal with KVEW-42 ABC to show up to 11 games each season. The TV station also holds an option on playoff games.
According to a press released: “All games will be televised live on KAPP's digital channel 35.2, KVEW's digital channel 42.2 and their 'My Network' channel 280 on Charter basic cable.”
Here is a tentative telecast schedule:
Sept. 20: vs. Kelowna
Oct. 18: vs. Spokane
Nov. 8: at Spokane
Nov. 28: vs. Spokane
Dec. 27: at Spokane
Jan. 17: vs. Spokane
Jan. 24: at Spokane
Feb. 21: vs. Spokane
Feb. 28: at Spokane
March 13: at Spokane
March 14: vs. Spokane
(NOTE: Gee, do you think there’s a Tri-City/Spokane rivalry goin’ on down there?)
———
The Spokane Chiefs have added an athletic therapist and equipment manager to their organization. . . . Todd Daniels is the athletic therapist and conditioning coach. According to the Chiefs, Daniels was the head trainer for the U.S. men’s alpine ski team from 2006 through April 2008. . . . Coberly spent six seasons as an assistant equipment manager with the Central league’s Oklahoma City Blazers before spending one season each as the equipment manager with the ECHL’s Memphis Riverkings and Dayton Bombers. . . . I posted here a couple of days ago that the Chiefs were expected to name former WHLer Cam Severson as an assistant coach. The Spokane Spokesman-Review’s Jessica Brown reports that “the Chiefs were going through the process with Severson (but he) has decided to play overseas.”
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If you are in the Spokane area on Sunday, you may want to check out the Chiefs’ annual Red and White game at the Spokane Arena. Game time is 1 p.m. . . . While there, you can get your photo taken with the Memorial Cup. It’s all free, courtesy of Action Sports Images, and your photos will be available for download at actionsportsimages.smugmug.com.
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B.C. Hockey has revealed the names of the 21 players shortlisted for Team Pacific’s roster for the 2009 U-17 World Hockey Challenge. The WHC is scheduled for Port Alberni, Dec. 29 through Jan. 4. . . . The shortlist is right here.
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The Regina Pats without D Victor Bartley? It just may happen. Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post has the story right here.
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The Saskatoon Blades have held their last three training camps in Martensville, but ongoing arena renovations forced a move to the Dalmeny and District Community Centre, about 20km northwest of Saskatoon. And now a Prairie heat wave — Martha and the Vandellas will sing the anthem to open camp — is raising havoc with ice conditions. So if you’re planning on attending, best check with the Blades on the schedule. . . . RW Kirk Belyk, 19, has been released by the Blades. The Saskatoon native had seven points in 51 games last season.
———
Norm Johnston, a veteran junior A GM/head coach who spent one season as head coach of the Regina Pats, is the new head coach of the midget AAA Regina Pat Canadians. Johnston took the SJHL’s Flin Flon Bombers to the Centennial Cup in 1993.
———
A hot rumour has there being some big news out of Prince George sometime this week, maybe even Wednesday, with the Cougars said to be ready to unveil a new logo and some new-look jerseys.
———
The Americans have signed a new three-year TV deal with KVEW-42 ABC to show up to 11 games each season. The TV station also holds an option on playoff games.
According to a press released: “All games will be televised live on KAPP's digital channel 35.2, KVEW's digital channel 42.2 and their 'My Network' channel 280 on Charter basic cable.”
Here is a tentative telecast schedule:
Sept. 20: vs. Kelowna
Oct. 18: vs. Spokane
Nov. 8: at Spokane
Nov. 28: vs. Spokane
Dec. 27: at Spokane
Jan. 17: vs. Spokane
Jan. 24: at Spokane
Feb. 21: vs. Spokane
Feb. 28: at Spokane
March 13: at Spokane
March 14: vs. Spokane
(NOTE: Gee, do you think there’s a Tri-City/Spokane rivalry goin’ on down there?)
———
The Spokane Chiefs have added an athletic therapist and equipment manager to their organization. . . . Todd Daniels is the athletic therapist and conditioning coach. According to the Chiefs, Daniels was the head trainer for the U.S. men’s alpine ski team from 2006 through April 2008. . . . Coberly spent six seasons as an assistant equipment manager with the Central league’s Oklahoma City Blazers before spending one season each as the equipment manager with the ECHL’s Memphis Riverkings and Dayton Bombers. . . . I posted here a couple of days ago that the Chiefs were expected to name former WHLer Cam Severson as an assistant coach. The Spokane Spokesman-Review’s Jessica Brown reports that “the Chiefs were going through the process with Severson (but he) has decided to play overseas.”
---
If you are in the Spokane area on Sunday, you may want to check out the Chiefs’ annual Red and White game at the Spokane Arena. Game time is 1 p.m. . . . While there, you can get your photo taken with the Memorial Cup. It’s all free, courtesy of Action Sports Images, and your photos will be available for download at actionsportsimages.smugmug.com.
---
B.C. Hockey has revealed the names of the 21 players shortlisted for Team Pacific’s roster for the 2009 U-17 World Hockey Challenge. The WHC is scheduled for Port Alberni, Dec. 29 through Jan. 4. . . . The shortlist is right here.
———
The Regina Pats without D Victor Bartley? It just may happen. Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post has the story right here.
———
The Saskatoon Blades have held their last three training camps in Martensville, but ongoing arena renovations forced a move to the Dalmeny and District Community Centre, about 20km northwest of Saskatoon. And now a Prairie heat wave — Martha and the Vandellas will sing the anthem to open camp — is raising havoc with ice conditions. So if you’re planning on attending, best check with the Blades on the schedule. . . . RW Kirk Belyk, 19, has been released by the Blades. The Saskatoon native had seven points in 51 games last season.
———
Norm Johnston, a veteran junior A GM/head coach who spent one season as head coach of the Regina Pats, is the new head coach of the midget AAA Regina Pat Canadians. Johnston took the SJHL’s Flin Flon Bombers to the Centennial Cup in 1993.
———
A hot rumour has there being some big news out of Prince George sometime this week, maybe even Wednesday, with the Cougars said to be ready to unveil a new logo and some new-look jerseys.
Monday, August 18, 2008
More from Monday . . .
From the department of terrific ideas: The WHL will open the regular season Sept. 18 with the Memorial Cup-champion Spokane Chiefs meeting the Kootenay Ice in Cranbrook. Jeff Bromley of the Kootenay News Advertiser reports that the game is being played in honour of the late Ed Chynoweth, the former WHL president who owned the Ice. Kootenay, it turns out, was going to open by going home-and-home with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. But that was before the WHL came forward with an idea. “(The league) came to us as a family and said they’d like to do a tribute to Ed, in his memory,” Jeff Chynoweth, one of Ed’s two sons and the Ice’s general manager, told Bromley. “They wanted the first winners of the Ed Chynoweth Cup (WHL championship trophy), the Spokane Chiefs, against a big rival, which is also Ed’s team. So really, it’s a tribute to Ed.” . . . The game will be televised live by the folks at Shaw.
———
A source familiar with the WHL's West Division says the Spokane Chiefs are expected to name former WHLer Cam Severson as their assistant coach. He would replace Hardy Sauter, who was promoted to head coach after Bill Peters signed with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs. Severson, who turned 30 on Friday, concluded his WHL playing career with the Chiefs in 1998-99. A native of Canora, Sask., he also played for the Kamloops Blazers, Swift Current Broncos, Lethbridge Hurricanes and Prince Albert Raiders. Severson, who lives in Spokane, spent the last two seasons playing in Germany..
———
D Bo Montgomery has told Corey Atkinson of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald that he won’t be returning to the Portland Winter Hawks. Instead, he has committed to attend the U of Regina and play for the Cougars. Montgomery, an 18-year-old from Moose Jaw, said he heard from the Regina Pats, but declined their offer. . . . You can read Atkinson’s story right here.
———
And while you’re on the Times-Herald’s website, check out the last in the courtroom drama involving the multiplex referendum. Yes, there was action in a Regina courtroom on Monday, and the story is right here. . . . And don’t forget to read the comments, which include a critique of both lawyers. Great entertainment!
———
A source familiar with the WHL's West Division says the Spokane Chiefs are expected to name former WHLer Cam Severson as their assistant coach. He would replace Hardy Sauter, who was promoted to head coach after Bill Peters signed with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs. Severson, who turned 30 on Friday, concluded his WHL playing career with the Chiefs in 1998-99. A native of Canora, Sask., he also played for the Kamloops Blazers, Swift Current Broncos, Lethbridge Hurricanes and Prince Albert Raiders. Severson, who lives in Spokane, spent the last two seasons playing in Germany..
———
D Bo Montgomery has told Corey Atkinson of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald that he won’t be returning to the Portland Winter Hawks. Instead, he has committed to attend the U of Regina and play for the Cougars. Montgomery, an 18-year-old from Moose Jaw, said he heard from the Regina Pats, but declined their offer. . . . You can read Atkinson’s story right here.
———
And while you’re on the Times-Herald’s website, check out the last in the courtroom drama involving the multiplex referendum. Yes, there was action in a Regina courtroom on Monday, and the story is right here. . . . And don’t forget to read the comments, which include a critique of both lawyers. Great entertainment!
Monday . . .
There is an interesting comment, this one from leftybch, on the oregonlive.com blog that concerns itself mostly with the Portland Winter Hawks. And it, perhaps more than anything else I’ve read, seems to sum up the feeling of Winter Hawks’ fans:
“Well . . . is the next gut wrencher for the fans the threat of losing the franchise to Nanaimo??? I can't take this . . . Not at my age. My hope, I guess, is that the league seems to be big on having a franchise in Portland. The white board is already speculating about another "Toigo deal", with Portland winding up with an expansion franchise instead of the Hawks. If that happened it would be time for me to hang it up. Will there ever be any stability in Portland? .....To hell with all of this drama. Just sign me as disgusted!!”
Bill Gallacher, who is heading up the attempt to purchase the Winter Hawks, also is a senior partner in the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers, thus the comment about “losing the franchise to Nanaimo.” Fans need to be aware, however, that Vancouver Island is not the escape route for the WHL that it perhaps appeared to be not all that long ago. The WHL has been adamant that it would not go to Vancouver Island if it would only have one team there. That, of course, means it would need teams in Nanaimo and Victoria. For starters, despite lots of conversation over the last few years, Nanaimo doesn’t have a facility that would meet WHL requirements (of course, neither does Moose Jaw, but that’s another story, perhaps for another courtroom, isn’t it?). And, secondly, the ECHL’s Victoria Salmon Kings appear to have done a decent job of establishing themselves in that marketplace. Last season, according to www.mib.org, the Salmon Kings averaged 4,871 fans per home regular-season game.
So it’s most unlikely that Gallacher, or anyone else for that matter, would purchase the Winter Hawks and then take them elsewhere. In the world of the WHL, you learn never to say never, but in this case . . .
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And then there was the comment left on one the entries on this blog . . .
“We have three season tickets, which we have not yet renewed, because we've been very disgusted with how the current owners are handling things. Also, we were not completely convinced that the Hawks would even play this year. We will call and renew all three the minute the official announcement that the sale is complete comes.”
You have to wonder if the rose bushes in Portland are full of hockey fans who feel like this?
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THE MacBETH REPORT: F Justin Mapletoft (Red Deer) signed with Villach (Austria Erste Bank
Liga). He was with Binghamton (AHL) last season. . . . F Ben Clymer (Seattle) signed with Dynamo Minsk (Continental Hockey League). He was with Hershey (AHL) last season.
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THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING: The 2008 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge will hit the WHL in late November. A touring Russian side will meet the WHL all-stars on Nov. 26 in Swift Current and Nov. 27 in Prince Albert. . . . The two QMJHL games will be played in Sydney, N.S. (Nov. 17) and Saint John, N.B. (Nov. 19), with the OHL games scheduled for Guelph (Nov. 20) and St. Catharines (Nov. 24). . . . From a Canadian perspective, the games are looked at as a scouting tool for the national junior team, which is why Hockey Canada head scout Al Murray is involved with CHL general managers in picking the teams. . . . Rogers Sportsnet will televise all six games. . . . CHL teams lost two of the six games last winter to watch their overall record in this series slip to 25-5.
“Well . . . is the next gut wrencher for the fans the threat of losing the franchise to Nanaimo??? I can't take this . . . Not at my age. My hope, I guess, is that the league seems to be big on having a franchise in Portland. The white board is already speculating about another "Toigo deal", with Portland winding up with an expansion franchise instead of the Hawks. If that happened it would be time for me to hang it up. Will there ever be any stability in Portland? .....To hell with all of this drama. Just sign me as disgusted!!”
Bill Gallacher, who is heading up the attempt to purchase the Winter Hawks, also is a senior partner in the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers, thus the comment about “losing the franchise to Nanaimo.” Fans need to be aware, however, that Vancouver Island is not the escape route for the WHL that it perhaps appeared to be not all that long ago. The WHL has been adamant that it would not go to Vancouver Island if it would only have one team there. That, of course, means it would need teams in Nanaimo and Victoria. For starters, despite lots of conversation over the last few years, Nanaimo doesn’t have a facility that would meet WHL requirements (of course, neither does Moose Jaw, but that’s another story, perhaps for another courtroom, isn’t it?). And, secondly, the ECHL’s Victoria Salmon Kings appear to have done a decent job of establishing themselves in that marketplace. Last season, according to www.mib.org, the Salmon Kings averaged 4,871 fans per home regular-season game.
So it’s most unlikely that Gallacher, or anyone else for that matter, would purchase the Winter Hawks and then take them elsewhere. In the world of the WHL, you learn never to say never, but in this case . . .
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And then there was the comment left on one the entries on this blog . . .
“We have three season tickets, which we have not yet renewed, because we've been very disgusted with how the current owners are handling things. Also, we were not completely convinced that the Hawks would even play this year. We will call and renew all three the minute the official announcement that the sale is complete comes.”
You have to wonder if the rose bushes in Portland are full of hockey fans who feel like this?
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THE MacBETH REPORT: F Justin Mapletoft (Red Deer) signed with Villach (Austria Erste Bank
Liga). He was with Binghamton (AHL) last season. . . . F Ben Clymer (Seattle) signed with Dynamo Minsk (Continental Hockey League). He was with Hershey (AHL) last season.
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THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING: The 2008 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge will hit the WHL in late November. A touring Russian side will meet the WHL all-stars on Nov. 26 in Swift Current and Nov. 27 in Prince Albert. . . . The two QMJHL games will be played in Sydney, N.S. (Nov. 17) and Saint John, N.B. (Nov. 19), with the OHL games scheduled for Guelph (Nov. 20) and St. Catharines (Nov. 24). . . . From a Canadian perspective, the games are looked at as a scouting tool for the national junior team, which is why Hockey Canada head scout Al Murray is involved with CHL general managers in picking the teams. . . . Rogers Sportsnet will televise all six games. . . . CHL teams lost two of the six games last winter to watch their overall record in this series slip to 25-5.
Sunday . . . or early Monday
Jason Vondersmith of the Portland Tribune has written a story on the impending sale of the Winter Hawks. He spoke with Jack Donovan, one of the Winter Hawks' three owners, and got something of a non-denial denial that has more holes in it than cheesecloth. That story is right here. . . .
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It is going to be most interesting to see how quickly the WHL is able to perform its ‘due diligence’ on Bill Gallacher and the people who are wanting to purchase the Winter Hawks. With the Winter Hawks opening training camp Friday, time, as Danny Gallivan used to say, is of the essence.
But I am told that the Gallacher group has an entire team of hockey people ready to go -- from general manager to equipment manager. All it needs is the go-ahead from the WHL board of governors.
Having been around the WHL for more than 30 years, I have seen a lot of owners come and go and I have watched as a lot of different things have happened to a lot of different franchises.
But never have I experienced anything close to the passionate reaction there has been since the headline ‘Winter Hawks sold . . . almost!’ appeared on this blog late Friday night.
I have heard from numerous Winter Hawks fans, all of them hoping that Gallacher’s group is riding a white horse. Since at least the middle of last season, Winter Hawks fans have been afraid that they were going to lose their franchise. So terrified were they that some were absolutely convinced the team might end up in Salem, Ore., never mind that there isn’t anything there that even resembles a hockey arena.
Should the Gallacher bunch get speedy approval from the WHL, it will be interesting what kind of business is done at the ticket window in the immediate aftermath.
One has to think that Portland fans would be far more patient with new ownership than they would be with the status quo.
---
These are tortured fans and they want off the rack.
One e-mailer wrote: “The entire organization deserves so much better, and I think that this new group could really run the team like a professional franchise, and not so mom and pop.”
Another obviously tortured soul had all of this to say:
“We have lived through at least a dozen rumors of Paul Allen bringing NHL hockey to town since the Rose Garden was built in the mid-90's - and I'm pretty sure he is worth as much as all the WHL and NHL owners combined. Yet, I have yet to see the ‘Portland Buckaroos’ suit up against the Red Wings. In addition, several times we have been ‘on the verge’ of a Major League Baseball franchise, only to have no stadium
built to house them. The most recent occurring when the governor vetoed a deal that would have had a free $300 million stadium built in exchange for the rights to build a casino near the airport (I guess casinos are only okay when the community is not allowed to benefit from them).
“Finally, less than two years ago, Paul Allen was ‘definitely’ going to sell the Portland Trail Blazers, having defaulted on the loans (that’s funny, a guy worth $50 billion defaulting on a $50 million loan) for the Rose Garden. Then, the Blazers get the No. 1 pick (Greg Oden) and, magically, Paul Allen is not selling the team and once again owns the Rose Garden.
”So what I am saying here is this . . . when it comes to sports franchise rumors in Portland, don't believe it until the keys are in the new owners' hands.”
And here’s my favourite, just a quick one-liner from a Winter Hawks’ fan upon hearing of the impending sale: “I’m as happy as a little girl . . .”
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Take a few moments and surf on over to Great Hockey Legends and enjoy some of the photos that are being posted there. Gotta love the one of Bobby Clarke, but the one of Mr. Hockey and 99 is absolutely priceless.
---
The WHL is expected to announce today that the 2008 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge series will be stopping in Prince Albert and Swift Current late in November. This is a six-game series with two games played host to by each major junior league. One of the OHL games will be played in St. Catharines, Ont.; one of the QMJHL games is scheduled for Saint John, N.B.
---
Moises Mendoza of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer takes a look at billet families who are being left behind as the Seattle Thunderbirds make the move to Kent, Wash. That story is right here.
---
It is going to be most interesting to see how quickly the WHL is able to perform its ‘due diligence’ on Bill Gallacher and the people who are wanting to purchase the Winter Hawks. With the Winter Hawks opening training camp Friday, time, as Danny Gallivan used to say, is of the essence.
But I am told that the Gallacher group has an entire team of hockey people ready to go -- from general manager to equipment manager. All it needs is the go-ahead from the WHL board of governors.
Having been around the WHL for more than 30 years, I have seen a lot of owners come and go and I have watched as a lot of different things have happened to a lot of different franchises.
But never have I experienced anything close to the passionate reaction there has been since the headline ‘Winter Hawks sold . . . almost!’ appeared on this blog late Friday night.
I have heard from numerous Winter Hawks fans, all of them hoping that Gallacher’s group is riding a white horse. Since at least the middle of last season, Winter Hawks fans have been afraid that they were going to lose their franchise. So terrified were they that some were absolutely convinced the team might end up in Salem, Ore., never mind that there isn’t anything there that even resembles a hockey arena.
Should the Gallacher bunch get speedy approval from the WHL, it will be interesting what kind of business is done at the ticket window in the immediate aftermath.
One has to think that Portland fans would be far more patient with new ownership than they would be with the status quo.
---
These are tortured fans and they want off the rack.
One e-mailer wrote: “The entire organization deserves so much better, and I think that this new group could really run the team like a professional franchise, and not so mom and pop.”
Another obviously tortured soul had all of this to say:
“We have lived through at least a dozen rumors of Paul Allen bringing NHL hockey to town since the Rose Garden was built in the mid-90's - and I'm pretty sure he is worth as much as all the WHL and NHL owners combined. Yet, I have yet to see the ‘Portland Buckaroos’ suit up against the Red Wings. In addition, several times we have been ‘on the verge’ of a Major League Baseball franchise, only to have no stadium
built to house them. The most recent occurring when the governor vetoed a deal that would have had a free $300 million stadium built in exchange for the rights to build a casino near the airport (I guess casinos are only okay when the community is not allowed to benefit from them).
“Finally, less than two years ago, Paul Allen was ‘definitely’ going to sell the Portland Trail Blazers, having defaulted on the loans (that’s funny, a guy worth $50 billion defaulting on a $50 million loan) for the Rose Garden. Then, the Blazers get the No. 1 pick (Greg Oden) and, magically, Paul Allen is not selling the team and once again owns the Rose Garden.
”So what I am saying here is this . . . when it comes to sports franchise rumors in Portland, don't believe it until the keys are in the new owners' hands.”
And here’s my favourite, just a quick one-liner from a Winter Hawks’ fan upon hearing of the impending sale: “I’m as happy as a little girl . . .”
---
Take a few moments and surf on over to Great Hockey Legends and enjoy some of the photos that are being posted there. Gotta love the one of Bobby Clarke, but the one of Mr. Hockey and 99 is absolutely priceless.
---
The WHL is expected to announce today that the 2008 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge series will be stopping in Prince Albert and Swift Current late in November. This is a six-game series with two games played host to by each major junior league. One of the OHL games will be played in St. Catharines, Ont.; one of the QMJHL games is scheduled for Saint John, N.B.
---
Moises Mendoza of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer takes a look at billet families who are being left behind as the Seattle Thunderbirds make the move to Kent, Wash. That story is right here.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Keeping Score
Dylan Armstrong, the pride of Kamloops, may be the second Armstrong to reach the moon. At least, that's where he looked to be headed as the men’s shot put ended at the Beijing Games yesterday. If you weren’t able to watch, you missed a tremendous showing by Armstrong, who came this close ( ) to winning a bronze medal. And now Armstrong will begin preparations for what has been his ultimate goal all along – the 2012 Summer Games in London. He is going to put out fair city on his broad shoulders and take us along with him and, yes, it’s going to be one heckuva ride.
There is sad news from Beijing, courtesy of Andy Borotwitz of BorowitzReport.com: “A member of the U.S. Olympic diving team was disqualified from competition today when it was learned that he did not have a sufficiently compelling human storyline to exploit on the NBC telecast of the worldwide sporting event. Tracy Klujian, the expelled diver, was not raised by a single mother, never had a career-threatening injury, and did not overcome a personal tragedy of any kind . . . According to sources close to the diving team, Mr. Klujian had concealed the fact that he comes from an intact middle-class family who never lost their home to a flood, tornado, or typhoon . . . ‘Tracy did his best to hide his background from team officials,’ one source said. ‘But when the truth came out, he was finished.’ “ . . . Markus Rogan, an Olympic swimmer from Austria, talked to The Associated Press about the red-hot Speedo LAZR suits: “I tested it. I threw it in the pool and it didn’t move at all, so I’ll still have to swim.”
NBC-TV is getting ripped, again, for its decision to tape delay so much of its Olympics coverage. As David Thomas of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram wrote: “If I have it figured correctly, when it’s noon here, it’s 1 a.m. tomorrow at the Olympics and sometime last night on NBC.” . . . One more
from Thomas: “Says Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski to a European journalist: ‘We have an expression that when you have a really good team, you play for the name on the front of the uniforms, not the name on the back.’ So, the Redeem Team is playing for Nike?” . . . Jerry Crowe, in the Los Angeles Times: “When Michael Phelps overtook Mark Spitz, Carl Lewis, Larysa Latynina and Paavo Nurmi to become the most decorated athlete in Olympic history, it
would have been nice to see it unfold as it was happening rather than three hours later. Thanks for nothing, NBC.” . . . So let’s just give the gold medal for Olympian coverage to CBC-TV, shall we?
David Letterman, on the hot topic surrounding the Beijing Olympics: “Are you excited about the Summer Olympics? Of course, they’re being held in China, in Beijing, and everybody in Beijing already has Olympic fever. Or as it’s also known, bronchial asthma.” . . . Fark.com has the Olympic spirit, witness this headline: Neither Hamm will compete until they are cured. . . . Our Olympic team may be struggling to win medals, but all the athletes have tried their hardest and there is nothing more Canadian than that, eh? . . . According to the New York Post, Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band will provide the halftime entertainment at the Super Bowl in Tampa on Feb. 1. Which means that former Daily News publisher Dale Brin somehow will find a
way to be there.
Thomas Bonk, in the Los Angeles Times: “As part of Bill Self’s 10-year deal to continue to coach basketball at the University of Kansas, there’s a ‘retention payment’ of $500,000 due Self every year he stays on. Oh, he also gets 50 free tickets to every home game . . . as if he couldn’t afford
them.” . . . Former NHL and WHL star Theo Fleury made his pro baseball debut on Aug. 9 as the Calgary Vipers split a Golden league doubleheader with the Yuma Scorpions. Fleury singled on a 2-0 count in his only plate appearance in the opener. He started the nightcap in left field and went
0-for-2, striking out twice. And, no, he didn’t cross-check or spear anyone. . . . Cam Hutchinson of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, with some CFL travel tips: “Three things a visiting CFL player can do for excitement in Regina: 3. Water sliding at the Seven Oaks Inn; 2. Side stepping goose poop in
Wascana Park; 1. Reminiscing with the locals about the good old days when the Rolling Stones came to town.”
If you do anything this weekend, go to washingtonpost.com and read a column by Sally Jenkins that was headlined Dissonance Strikes A Chord. It appeared in the Washington Post of Aug. 9. This, folks, is gritty, gutsy stuff. . . . Elliott Harris, in the Chicago Sun-Times: “Whatever the opposite of human growth hormone is, that sure looks like what some female Olympic gymnasts
must be on.” . . . Gregg Easterbrook, over at ESPN.com: “Olympic officials forbid French athletes to wear badges that said ‘for a better world’, ruling this violated strictures against political statements. Apparently the notion that the world should be ‘better’ is too controversial for the Olympics! Then again -- in a better world, there would be no bribes.” . . . Social note: Former Kootenay Ice centre Jarret Stoll, now with the L.A. Kings, is engaged to Rachel Hunter, who may be best known as Rod Stewart¹s ex-wife. . . . Stoll, who will be forever young, is 26; she is 38.
Janice Hough, the Left Coast Sports Babe: “Manny Ramirez says he is happy as a Dodger and wants to stay in Los Angeles forever. Doesn’t this sound like Elizabeth Taylor on one of her honeymoons?” . . . Mike Finger, in the San Antonio Express-News: “U.S. Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger said that with Tiger Woods not competing, Europe should be considered the favorites in next month’s event. Frankly, Azinger is missing out on an obvious opportunity. Woods’ absence leaves a perfect chance to add the one American with the swing and the track record of intimidating foreign competitors -- Charles Barkley.” . . . This week’s e-mail take included US$1.2 million, courtesy of Mrs. T. Groenwoud, the Award Co-ordinator at some lotto website. . . . The way I hear it, the real MVP at last week’s under-15 national basketball championships was TRU sports information guru Larry Read.
You realize, of course, that Week 1 of the NFL schedule calls for the New York Jets to visit the Miami Dolphins. Chad Pennington versus Brett Favre. How did the schedule maker know? . . . Pennington, who was picked up by the Dolphins after being Favred by the Jets, is keeping the seat warm for rookie Chad Henne. And as Greg Cote pointed out in the Miami Herald: “Chads haven’t gotten this much attention in South Florida since the 2000 presidential election.” . . . Favre made his debut as the Green Bay Packers’ starting quarterback in 1992. Between then and the end of the 2007 season, the Chicago Bears had 20 starting QBs.
Aramark, a company based in Philadelphia, is responsible for the food in the athletes’ village at the Beijing Games. According to The New York Times, Aramark says it will go through more than 35,000 pounds of duck, 14,000 pounds of tofu, 150,000 pounds of beef, one million apples, 20.1 million servings of rice and 743,000 potatoes. . . . Dwight Perry, in the Seattle Times: “So just how big is JaMarcus Russell, the Raiders’ 6-foot-5, 270-pound quarterback? He beeps while backing up from centre.” . . . The first sign that Christmas is just around the corner -- Leonard Maltin’s 2009 book of movie and video reviews is on the shelves. . . . Which means your Daily News Christmas Cheer Fund is three months from liftoff. . . . The second sign that Christmas is almost here? The Wish Book arrived at Sears on Wednesday. . . . Happy shopping!
Gregg Drinnan is sports editor of The Daily News. He is at gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca. Keeping Score appears Saturdays.
There is sad news from Beijing, courtesy of Andy Borotwitz of BorowitzReport.com: “A member of the U.S. Olympic diving team was disqualified from competition today when it was learned that he did not have a sufficiently compelling human storyline to exploit on the NBC telecast of the worldwide sporting event. Tracy Klujian, the expelled diver, was not raised by a single mother, never had a career-threatening injury, and did not overcome a personal tragedy of any kind . . . According to sources close to the diving team, Mr. Klujian had concealed the fact that he comes from an intact middle-class family who never lost their home to a flood, tornado, or typhoon . . . ‘Tracy did his best to hide his background from team officials,’ one source said. ‘But when the truth came out, he was finished.’ “ . . . Markus Rogan, an Olympic swimmer from Austria, talked to The Associated Press about the red-hot Speedo LAZR suits: “I tested it. I threw it in the pool and it didn’t move at all, so I’ll still have to swim.”
NBC-TV is getting ripped, again, for its decision to tape delay so much of its Olympics coverage. As David Thomas of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram wrote: “If I have it figured correctly, when it’s noon here, it’s 1 a.m. tomorrow at the Olympics and sometime last night on NBC.” . . . One more
from Thomas: “Says Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski to a European journalist: ‘We have an expression that when you have a really good team, you play for the name on the front of the uniforms, not the name on the back.’ So, the Redeem Team is playing for Nike?” . . . Jerry Crowe, in the Los Angeles Times: “When Michael Phelps overtook Mark Spitz, Carl Lewis, Larysa Latynina and Paavo Nurmi to become the most decorated athlete in Olympic history, it
would have been nice to see it unfold as it was happening rather than three hours later. Thanks for nothing, NBC.” . . . So let’s just give the gold medal for Olympian coverage to CBC-TV, shall we?
David Letterman, on the hot topic surrounding the Beijing Olympics: “Are you excited about the Summer Olympics? Of course, they’re being held in China, in Beijing, and everybody in Beijing already has Olympic fever. Or as it’s also known, bronchial asthma.” . . . Fark.com has the Olympic spirit, witness this headline: Neither Hamm will compete until they are cured. . . . Our Olympic team may be struggling to win medals, but all the athletes have tried their hardest and there is nothing more Canadian than that, eh? . . . According to the New York Post, Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band will provide the halftime entertainment at the Super Bowl in Tampa on Feb. 1. Which means that former Daily News publisher Dale Brin somehow will find a
way to be there.
Thomas Bonk, in the Los Angeles Times: “As part of Bill Self’s 10-year deal to continue to coach basketball at the University of Kansas, there’s a ‘retention payment’ of $500,000 due Self every year he stays on. Oh, he also gets 50 free tickets to every home game . . . as if he couldn’t afford
them.” . . . Former NHL and WHL star Theo Fleury made his pro baseball debut on Aug. 9 as the Calgary Vipers split a Golden league doubleheader with the Yuma Scorpions. Fleury singled on a 2-0 count in his only plate appearance in the opener. He started the nightcap in left field and went
0-for-2, striking out twice. And, no, he didn’t cross-check or spear anyone. . . . Cam Hutchinson of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, with some CFL travel tips: “Three things a visiting CFL player can do for excitement in Regina: 3. Water sliding at the Seven Oaks Inn; 2. Side stepping goose poop in
Wascana Park; 1. Reminiscing with the locals about the good old days when the Rolling Stones came to town.”
If you do anything this weekend, go to washingtonpost.com and read a column by Sally Jenkins that was headlined Dissonance Strikes A Chord. It appeared in the Washington Post of Aug. 9. This, folks, is gritty, gutsy stuff. . . . Elliott Harris, in the Chicago Sun-Times: “Whatever the opposite of human growth hormone is, that sure looks like what some female Olympic gymnasts
must be on.” . . . Gregg Easterbrook, over at ESPN.com: “Olympic officials forbid French athletes to wear badges that said ‘for a better world’, ruling this violated strictures against political statements. Apparently the notion that the world should be ‘better’ is too controversial for the Olympics! Then again -- in a better world, there would be no bribes.” . . . Social note: Former Kootenay Ice centre Jarret Stoll, now with the L.A. Kings, is engaged to Rachel Hunter, who may be best known as Rod Stewart¹s ex-wife. . . . Stoll, who will be forever young, is 26; she is 38.
Janice Hough, the Left Coast Sports Babe: “Manny Ramirez says he is happy as a Dodger and wants to stay in Los Angeles forever. Doesn’t this sound like Elizabeth Taylor on one of her honeymoons?” . . . Mike Finger, in the San Antonio Express-News: “U.S. Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger said that with Tiger Woods not competing, Europe should be considered the favorites in next month’s event. Frankly, Azinger is missing out on an obvious opportunity. Woods’ absence leaves a perfect chance to add the one American with the swing and the track record of intimidating foreign competitors -- Charles Barkley.” . . . This week’s e-mail take included US$1.2 million, courtesy of Mrs. T. Groenwoud, the Award Co-ordinator at some lotto website. . . . The way I hear it, the real MVP at last week’s under-15 national basketball championships was TRU sports information guru Larry Read.
You realize, of course, that Week 1 of the NFL schedule calls for the New York Jets to visit the Miami Dolphins. Chad Pennington versus Brett Favre. How did the schedule maker know? . . . Pennington, who was picked up by the Dolphins after being Favred by the Jets, is keeping the seat warm for rookie Chad Henne. And as Greg Cote pointed out in the Miami Herald: “Chads haven’t gotten this much attention in South Florida since the 2000 presidential election.” . . . Favre made his debut as the Green Bay Packers’ starting quarterback in 1992. Between then and the end of the 2007 season, the Chicago Bears had 20 starting QBs.
Aramark, a company based in Philadelphia, is responsible for the food in the athletes’ village at the Beijing Games. According to The New York Times, Aramark says it will go through more than 35,000 pounds of duck, 14,000 pounds of tofu, 150,000 pounds of beef, one million apples, 20.1 million servings of rice and 743,000 potatoes. . . . Dwight Perry, in the Seattle Times: “So just how big is JaMarcus Russell, the Raiders’ 6-foot-5, 270-pound quarterback? He beeps while backing up from centre.” . . . The first sign that Christmas is just around the corner -- Leonard Maltin’s 2009 book of movie and video reviews is on the shelves. . . . Which means your Daily News Christmas Cheer Fund is three months from liftoff. . . . The second sign that Christmas is almost here? The Wish Book arrived at Sears on Wednesday. . . . Happy shopping!
Gregg Drinnan is sports editor of The Daily News. He is at gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca. Keeping Score appears Saturdays.
Friday late . . . or early Saturday
THE MacBETH REPORT: Garth MacBeth, the man who keeps both eyes on the European and Asian scene for us, continues his ‘Outta Work Tour’, but that doesn’t keep him from reporting to us. . . . F Kyle Bruce (Kamloops/Prince Albert/Vancouver) signed with the Manchester Phoenix (UK Elite Hockey League). He was with Wichita (Central Hockey League) last season. The Manchester press release calls the signing "the final piece in the Phoenix roster" and Phoenix head coach Tony Hand says "Kyle will bring us the power forward element I've been looking for." . . . F Ryan Menei (Moose Jaw/Saskatoon) signed with Asiago (Italy Serie A). He was with Mississippi (ECHL) last season. . . . F Lance Monych (Brandon) signed with Tilburg (Netherlands). He played with Stockton (ECHL), Mississippi (ECHL) and Norfolk (AHL) last season.
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The Cape Breton Post is reporting that one game in the 2008 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge will be played at Harbour Station in Saint John, N.B. That is the home arena of the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs. A formal announcement is to be made Monday afternoon in Saint John. This game will be the second of the two games played host to by the QMJHL. The OHL also will name two sites, while the WHL has announcements scheduled for Monday in Prince Albert and Swift Current. . . . CHL teams are 25-5 against the Russians in the five seasons this series has been alive.
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The Brandon Wheat Kings are the only team that has confirmed an interest in playing host to the 2010 Memorial Cup tournament. It is believed that two other teams have informed the WHL of their interest, but no one has stepped forward. The WHL has said it will reveal the identity of the interested teams on Tuesday. . . . One of the teams is believed to be the Kelowna Rockets, who played host to the 2003 championship tournament. In fact, the Rockets won the tournament that spring and what a show it was! . . . According to the Brandon Sun, “an unnamed American team . . . perhaps Seattle” is the other interested franchise. That makes sense because the Thunderbirds are moving into a new building – the Kent Events Center – early in 2008-09. . . . Bruce Hamilton, Kelowna’s governor and general manager, sounds as though he would step aside shoud the Wheat Kings get an improved facility out of their bid. “Our team likely will submit our name again, to make sure there’s enough competition,” Hamilton told The Sun. “But yes, I would support Brandon, as long as they are getting their building upgraded ... I have had conversations with (Brandon owner/GM/head coach Kelly McCrimmon) and I really believe it would be a great thing for that community ... The only pressure he has is he better win!”
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A word of warning to hockey players in the Kelowna area. Regan Bartel, the radio voice of the Rockets and the proud owner of the blog Regan’s Rant, has spies throughout the area. As he reported Friday: “Ryan Getzlaf loves Walmart. The Anaheim Duck forward has been spotted twice in the Kelowna Walmart over the last two weeks. My brother-in-law saw Getzlaf there last Friday and my cousin, who was visiting from Williams Lake, saw the power forward there on Thursday. I assured both of them that the former Calgary Hitmen is not a greeter there.” . . . Please allow the spelling police to point out to Regan that it’s “Wal-Mart.” . . . Regan, y’er welkum.
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And now for an Olympic moment. . . . Chris Dilks, over at the westerncollegehockey blog, started an entry Friday by pointing out that the American team in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament had a tough go of it and can finish no higher than seventh.
And then he wandered off into a rant:
“Canada and Russia are playing in the final. A loaded Team Canada, with Harvard recruit Louis Leblanc and former Michigan State recruit Matt Duchene, should come out (on top) in the final, which should lead to the usual chest-thumping north of the border.
“Incidentally, if you ever wondered why Canadians act like they do when it comes to hockey, look no further than their absolutely pathetic showing so far in the Summer Olympics. Canada has a whopping zero medals, just behind international athletic powerhouse Mongolia, who took home their first ever Summer Olympic gold in Barbecue.
”That reminds me of last July. My dad and I were driving through Windsor while they were hosting the Canadian Olympic trials and this conversation took place:
”Me: They're hosting the Canadian Olympic Trials over there
”Dad: Oh, so that's a pretty big deal
”Me: Maybe for them...”
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Chris didn’t point out exactly what Canadian Olympic Trials were being held in Windsor. We do know, however, that it had nothing to do with one of those stuff-your-face-with-hot dogs (or oysters, hamburgers, wings, your favourite foodstuff) contests that have become oh, so popular in the Excited States. . . . What Chris doesn’t seem to remember is that it wasn’t that long ago when Canada wasn’t on top of the international hockey world. It has taken a plan and some hard work to get to where we now are on the international scene. USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program should work so well. . . . As for the chest-thumping, well, there's no need to go there, is there?
---
The Cape Breton Post is reporting that one game in the 2008 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge will be played at Harbour Station in Saint John, N.B. That is the home arena of the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs. A formal announcement is to be made Monday afternoon in Saint John. This game will be the second of the two games played host to by the QMJHL. The OHL also will name two sites, while the WHL has announcements scheduled for Monday in Prince Albert and Swift Current. . . . CHL teams are 25-5 against the Russians in the five seasons this series has been alive.
---
The Brandon Wheat Kings are the only team that has confirmed an interest in playing host to the 2010 Memorial Cup tournament. It is believed that two other teams have informed the WHL of their interest, but no one has stepped forward. The WHL has said it will reveal the identity of the interested teams on Tuesday. . . . One of the teams is believed to be the Kelowna Rockets, who played host to the 2003 championship tournament. In fact, the Rockets won the tournament that spring and what a show it was! . . . According to the Brandon Sun, “an unnamed American team . . . perhaps Seattle” is the other interested franchise. That makes sense because the Thunderbirds are moving into a new building – the Kent Events Center – early in 2008-09. . . . Bruce Hamilton, Kelowna’s governor and general manager, sounds as though he would step aside shoud the Wheat Kings get an improved facility out of their bid. “Our team likely will submit our name again, to make sure there’s enough competition,” Hamilton told The Sun. “But yes, I would support Brandon, as long as they are getting their building upgraded ... I have had conversations with (Brandon owner/GM/head coach Kelly McCrimmon) and I really believe it would be a great thing for that community ... The only pressure he has is he better win!”
---
A word of warning to hockey players in the Kelowna area. Regan Bartel, the radio voice of the Rockets and the proud owner of the blog Regan’s Rant, has spies throughout the area. As he reported Friday: “Ryan Getzlaf loves Walmart. The Anaheim Duck forward has been spotted twice in the Kelowna Walmart over the last two weeks. My brother-in-law saw Getzlaf there last Friday and my cousin, who was visiting from Williams Lake, saw the power forward there on Thursday. I assured both of them that the former Calgary Hitmen is not a greeter there.” . . . Please allow the spelling police to point out to Regan that it’s “Wal-Mart.” . . . Regan, y’er welkum.
---
And now for an Olympic moment. . . . Chris Dilks, over at the westerncollegehockey blog, started an entry Friday by pointing out that the American team in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament had a tough go of it and can finish no higher than seventh.
And then he wandered off into a rant:
“Canada and Russia are playing in the final. A loaded Team Canada, with Harvard recruit Louis Leblanc and former Michigan State recruit Matt Duchene, should come out (on top) in the final, which should lead to the usual chest-thumping north of the border.
“Incidentally, if you ever wondered why Canadians act like they do when it comes to hockey, look no further than their absolutely pathetic showing so far in the Summer Olympics. Canada has a whopping zero medals, just behind international athletic powerhouse Mongolia, who took home their first ever Summer Olympic gold in Barbecue.
”That reminds me of last July. My dad and I were driving through Windsor while they were hosting the Canadian Olympic trials and this conversation took place:
”Me: They're hosting the Canadian Olympic Trials over there
”Dad: Oh, so that's a pretty big deal
”Me: Maybe for them...”
---
Chris didn’t point out exactly what Canadian Olympic Trials were being held in Windsor. We do know, however, that it had nothing to do with one of those stuff-your-face-with-hot dogs (or oysters, hamburgers, wings, your favourite foodstuff) contests that have become oh, so popular in the Excited States. . . . What Chris doesn’t seem to remember is that it wasn’t that long ago when Canada wasn’t on top of the international hockey world. It has taken a plan and some hard work to get to where we now are on the international scene. USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program should work so well. . . . As for the chest-thumping, well, there's no need to go there, is there?
Friday, August 15, 2008
Winter Hawks sold . . . almost!
The Portland Winter Hawks have been sold, subject to WHL approval.
Two sources told me Friday that the deal is done and all that is needed is approval from the WHL board of governors.
One source told me that Bill Gallacher, a Calgary-based businessman who is a senior partner in the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers, heads up a group that has purchased the WHL franchise from Jim Goldsmith, Jack Donovan and John Bryant.
Another source said he understands “a sale of the club is imminent, subject to approval from the league, of course.”
Negotiations ran into a bit of a speed bump this week when the Canadian dollar took a small hit on the money markets. That problem has been cleared up and a sale price of about C$7.5 million has been agreed upon. That price was $7.1 million before a currency adjustment was made this week.
That would be a record price for a WHL franchise. The Kamloops Blazers were sold last summer for a price that ended up being around C$6.1 million. The last expansion franchise, which was sold to the NHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings two years ago, carried a C$4 million price tag.
“The money is changing hands Wednesday,” the source said.
Goldsmith, Donovan and Bryant bought the Winter Hawks two years ago from a group headed by Ken Hodge, the team’s long-time head coach and/or general manager. The Winter Hawks have had the WHL’s poorest record over the last two seasons.
“Gallacher is legitimately a billionaire – that’s with a B,” one of the sources said. “He’ll be the wealthiest guy in the league. He’s a very sharp guy.”
Asked where Gallacher made his money, the source said: “Oil . . . oil sands operation . . . conventional oil and oil sands.”
According to one bio available on the Internet, Gallacher is the “sole partner at Avenir (Capital Corporation)” and the president and CEO of Avenir Diversified Income Trust. “He is an entrepreneur in the energy industry with the start-up of a number of junior energy companies in Calgary including Winfield Energy Ltd., Peak Energy Services Ltd., Highland Energy Ltd., Maxim Power Group, Atlas Energy Ltd., Avenir Diversified Income Trust, Peregrine Energy Ltd. and Mahalo Energy Ltd. Mr. Gallacher has been instrumental in structuring and developing these companies and brings experience in the oil and gas financial markets and corporate structuring.”
The last two groups to have owned the Winter Hawks have complained about their lease. Goldsmith, Donovan and Bryant were especially vociferous about what they felt was an onerous lease. One of the sources said that won’t be a problem with Gallacher.
“There will be a new lease within 10 days,” the source said, adding that “they want to play all their games in the Rose Garden.”
The Winter Hawks are scheduled to play a handful of games in the Rose Garden this season, with the rest in Memorial Coliseum. After this season, it’s expected the Winter Hawks will move all of their games into the Rose Garden.
With someone like Gallacher – who obviously has money and something of a hockey background – purchasing the franchise, one would think the WHL will approve this in a hurry. Especially, with the way things have fallen apart in Portland over the last two years. According to one source, the Winter Hawks’ debts are well into seven figures.
Now it would seem to be a matter of the WHL doing its due diligence, something one would expect to be done in a big, big hurry, what with the state of the Portland franchise and the lateness of the year.
Last summer, the Kamloops Blazers Sports Society voted on Aug. 23 to sell its franchise to Tom Gaglardi, Shane Doan, Jarome Iginla, Mark Recchi and Darryl Sydor. The WHL’s board of governors approved the sale on Oct. 10 and the deal closed on Oct. 23.
Gallacher wants to take over as soon as possible – like yesterday – especially with the Winter Hawks opening training camp on Aug. 23.
“I would think the league would like to move the present ownership out of there,” one source suggested, “so you wouldn’t think they will turn the sale down. But you never know . . . it’s the WHL.”
It’s believed that everyone on the hockey-side of the operation will be replaced.
Mike Johnston, a former NHL assistant coach under head coach Marc Crawford with the Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings, will be the Winter Hawks’ general manager and head coach.
Former NHLer Travis Green, who played in the WHL with the Medicine Hat Tigers and Spokane Chiefs, will be the assistant general manager/assistant coach.
Ken Stickney, the chief executive officer of Mandalay Sports Entertainment, will be the Winter Hawks’ president and run the business side. “He will concentrate on turning Portland around from a ticket-selling perspective,” one of the sources said.
It’s also interesting to note that Gallacher’s son Benjamin, a defenceman who turns 16 on Sept. 11, was selected by the Medicine Hat Tigers with the 91st pick of the 2007 WHL bantam draft. Ironically, that selection was made with a pick acquired from the Winter Hawks.
Two sources told me Friday that the deal is done and all that is needed is approval from the WHL board of governors.
One source told me that Bill Gallacher, a Calgary-based businessman who is a senior partner in the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers, heads up a group that has purchased the WHL franchise from Jim Goldsmith, Jack Donovan and John Bryant.
Another source said he understands “a sale of the club is imminent, subject to approval from the league, of course.”
Negotiations ran into a bit of a speed bump this week when the Canadian dollar took a small hit on the money markets. That problem has been cleared up and a sale price of about C$7.5 million has been agreed upon. That price was $7.1 million before a currency adjustment was made this week.
That would be a record price for a WHL franchise. The Kamloops Blazers were sold last summer for a price that ended up being around C$6.1 million. The last expansion franchise, which was sold to the NHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings two years ago, carried a C$4 million price tag.
“The money is changing hands Wednesday,” the source said.
Goldsmith, Donovan and Bryant bought the Winter Hawks two years ago from a group headed by Ken Hodge, the team’s long-time head coach and/or general manager. The Winter Hawks have had the WHL’s poorest record over the last two seasons.
“Gallacher is legitimately a billionaire – that’s with a B,” one of the sources said. “He’ll be the wealthiest guy in the league. He’s a very sharp guy.”
Asked where Gallacher made his money, the source said: “Oil . . . oil sands operation . . . conventional oil and oil sands.”
According to one bio available on the Internet, Gallacher is the “sole partner at Avenir (Capital Corporation)” and the president and CEO of Avenir Diversified Income Trust. “He is an entrepreneur in the energy industry with the start-up of a number of junior energy companies in Calgary including Winfield Energy Ltd., Peak Energy Services Ltd., Highland Energy Ltd., Maxim Power Group, Atlas Energy Ltd., Avenir Diversified Income Trust, Peregrine Energy Ltd. and Mahalo Energy Ltd. Mr. Gallacher has been instrumental in structuring and developing these companies and brings experience in the oil and gas financial markets and corporate structuring.”
The last two groups to have owned the Winter Hawks have complained about their lease. Goldsmith, Donovan and Bryant were especially vociferous about what they felt was an onerous lease. One of the sources said that won’t be a problem with Gallacher.
“There will be a new lease within 10 days,” the source said, adding that “they want to play all their games in the Rose Garden.”
The Winter Hawks are scheduled to play a handful of games in the Rose Garden this season, with the rest in Memorial Coliseum. After this season, it’s expected the Winter Hawks will move all of their games into the Rose Garden.
With someone like Gallacher – who obviously has money and something of a hockey background – purchasing the franchise, one would think the WHL will approve this in a hurry. Especially, with the way things have fallen apart in Portland over the last two years. According to one source, the Winter Hawks’ debts are well into seven figures.
Now it would seem to be a matter of the WHL doing its due diligence, something one would expect to be done in a big, big hurry, what with the state of the Portland franchise and the lateness of the year.
Last summer, the Kamloops Blazers Sports Society voted on Aug. 23 to sell its franchise to Tom Gaglardi, Shane Doan, Jarome Iginla, Mark Recchi and Darryl Sydor. The WHL’s board of governors approved the sale on Oct. 10 and the deal closed on Oct. 23.
Gallacher wants to take over as soon as possible – like yesterday – especially with the Winter Hawks opening training camp on Aug. 23.
“I would think the league would like to move the present ownership out of there,” one source suggested, “so you wouldn’t think they will turn the sale down. But you never know . . . it’s the WHL.”
It’s believed that everyone on the hockey-side of the operation will be replaced.
Mike Johnston, a former NHL assistant coach under head coach Marc Crawford with the Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings, will be the Winter Hawks’ general manager and head coach.
Former NHLer Travis Green, who played in the WHL with the Medicine Hat Tigers and Spokane Chiefs, will be the assistant general manager/assistant coach.
Ken Stickney, the chief executive officer of Mandalay Sports Entertainment, will be the Winter Hawks’ president and run the business side. “He will concentrate on turning Portland around from a ticket-selling perspective,” one of the sources said.
It’s also interesting to note that Gallacher’s son Benjamin, a defenceman who turns 16 on Sept. 11, was selected by the Medicine Hat Tigers with the 91st pick of the 2007 WHL bantam draft. Ironically, that selection was made with a pick acquired from the Winter Hawks.
Thursday . . .
It's official. The Brandon Wheat Kings want to play host to the 2010
Memorial Cup tournament. . . . Brandon, if you weren't aware, is the only
city to have had teams reach the finals of the Stanley Cup, Allan Cup and
Memorial Cup -- and not win one of them! . . . The Wheat Kings announced
Thursday that they will bid to play host to the 2010 MC. That news came on
the heels of an announcement by Brandon city council, saying it will spend
$2.5 million to upgrade the Keystone Centre and toss in $400,000 to cover
half of the bid's profit guarantee. The province of Manitoba had already
agreed to match the city's effort. . . . According to the Brandon Sun, "The
Keystone Centre will need to install a JumboTron, build seven luxury suites,
and upgrade dressing rooms and press boxes in Westman Communications Group
Place, the facility's main arena." . . . WHL commissioner Ron Robison
appeared in front of Brandon city council Thursday to help pitch the bid
idea. . . . He later told The Sun that two other unnamed WHL teams have
expressed an interest in playing host to the 2010 Memorial Cup. . . .
According to the newspaper, Robison "told city council that he believed
Brandon would be the 'leading candidate' if Westman Place were to be brought
up to standards." . . . The WHL's deadline for bidders is today (Aug. 15),
with the finalists to be revealed on Aug. 28. . . . Bidders will make
presentations to the WHL board of governors on Oct. 15 and the successful
bid will be revealed that same day.
---
David Crompton of the Penticton Herald reports that F Curtis McKenzie, 17,
has decided to stay with the BCHL¹s Penticton Vees, rather than report to
the WHL's Red Deer Rebels. McKenzie, who had 13 points and 81 penalty
minutes in 49 games last season, was selected by Red Deer with the 90th pick
of the 2006 bantam draft. . . . At the same time, the Vees acquired the
rights to F David Andreassen, 20, from the AJHL's Camrose Kodiaks in
exchange for the playing rights to a pair of WHLers -- F Matt Schmermund, 20,
of the Porltand Winter Hawks and F Dustin Donaghy, 19, of the Spokane
Chiefs. . . . Also, D James Bettauer, 17, has chosen to join the WHL¹s
Chilliwack Bruins. He spent last season with the Vees, earning three assists
in 42 games.
---
The Tri-City Americans have named F Taylor Procyshen, 20, as the 20th team
captain in the franchise's 21-year history. Procyshen, who is going into his
fourth season in Kennewick, Wash., is perhaps the most under-rated player in
all of the WHL. He has 131 points in 187 career regular-season games and has
had back-to-back 30-goal seasons. "Unselfishness, co-operation, positive
attitude and hustle -- these are attributes you look for in a captain,"
Americans GM Bob Tory said in a press release. "Taylor exemplifies
everything a team would want in a captain. He has earned this honor." . . .
The Americans open their rookie camp on Wednesday, the annual Todd Klassen
Memorial Classic goes Aug. 23 and main camp opens Aug. 24.
---
THE MacBETH REPORT: F Ryan Keller (Saskatoon) re-signed for two years with
Espoo Blues (Finland SM-Liiga). He had 22 goals and 22 assists in 47 games
for Espoo last season. . . . G Wade Flaherty (Seattle/Spokane/Victoria) and
F Adam Taylor (Kootenay) signed with the China Sharks, who are based in
Shanghai (Asian Hockey League). Flaherty was with Rockford (AHL) and Taylor
with Rochester (AHL) last season. Flaherty also will serve as the Sharks¹
goaltending coach. Former Seattle T-Birds play-by-play announcer Chris
Collins is the general manager of the Sharks.
---
F Zack Smith of the Swift Current Broncos has signed a three-year contract
with the NHL's Ottawa Senators. Smith, 20, captained the Broncos last season
and was a third-round pick by Ottawa in the NHL's 2008 entry draft. He spent
four seasons with the Broncos -- he led the team with 69 points in 72 games
last season -- and is eligible to return for another go-round.
---
Bill Wilms of Delta finished at 16-over 232 and won the Super Senior¹s
division by retrogression at the B.C. senior men's golf championship at
Summerland Golf and Country Club. Wilms has served as the analyst on
Vancouver Giants games and on Shaw Cable telecasts of WHL games. No word on
whether Joey Kenward was caddying for him.
---
F Jon (Nasty) Mirasty is going to camp with the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets.
The former WHL enforcer has his own website -- www.jonmirasty.com. With Nasty
in camp, Columbus head coach Ken Hitchcock ought to be good for a decent
quote or two more than usual.
---
The Kamloops Blazers have signed F Ryan Hanes, a local product who played
last season with the Kamloops-based Thompson Blazers, a major midget team.
He was the 99th selection in the WHL's 2007 bantam draft.
---
Jason Vondersmith of the Portland Tribune has an update on a few players as
the Winter Hawks prepare for camp. That includes veteran D Bo Montgomery who
won't be returning and who GM Ken Hodge has been attempting to deal to the Regina Pats . . . You can find that story right here.
---
Former Kamloops C Jarret Lukin was involved in an ECHL deal Thursday, going
from the Florida Everblades to the Dayton Bombers. Lukin, D Steve Czech, LW
Mike McLean and G Future Considerations went to Dayton for C Yannick Tifu.
"A request was made from Tifu's agent to be traded and we obliged," Dayton
head coach Bill McDonald explained in a press release. "Tifu will be going
to a great organization in Florida and hopefully the move will benefit his
career. In return, we targeted quality players that are young with good
character, and that's exactly what we got with Czech, Lukin and McLean. They
will be a great addition to the nucleus of our team." . . . Lukin had 30
points in 72 games last season. He joined Florida late in 2006-07 after a
positive test for cocaine resulted in his leaving the U of Calgary
Dinosaurs.
Memorial Cup tournament. . . . Brandon, if you weren't aware, is the only
city to have had teams reach the finals of the Stanley Cup, Allan Cup and
Memorial Cup -- and not win one of them! . . . The Wheat Kings announced
Thursday that they will bid to play host to the 2010 MC. That news came on
the heels of an announcement by Brandon city council, saying it will spend
$2.5 million to upgrade the Keystone Centre and toss in $400,000 to cover
half of the bid's profit guarantee. The province of Manitoba had already
agreed to match the city's effort. . . . According to the Brandon Sun, "The
Keystone Centre will need to install a JumboTron, build seven luxury suites,
and upgrade dressing rooms and press boxes in Westman Communications Group
Place, the facility's main arena." . . . WHL commissioner Ron Robison
appeared in front of Brandon city council Thursday to help pitch the bid
idea. . . . He later told The Sun that two other unnamed WHL teams have
expressed an interest in playing host to the 2010 Memorial Cup. . . .
According to the newspaper, Robison "told city council that he believed
Brandon would be the 'leading candidate' if Westman Place were to be brought
up to standards." . . . The WHL's deadline for bidders is today (Aug. 15),
with the finalists to be revealed on Aug. 28. . . . Bidders will make
presentations to the WHL board of governors on Oct. 15 and the successful
bid will be revealed that same day.
---
David Crompton of the Penticton Herald reports that F Curtis McKenzie, 17,
has decided to stay with the BCHL¹s Penticton Vees, rather than report to
the WHL's Red Deer Rebels. McKenzie, who had 13 points and 81 penalty
minutes in 49 games last season, was selected by Red Deer with the 90th pick
of the 2006 bantam draft. . . . At the same time, the Vees acquired the
rights to F David Andreassen, 20, from the AJHL's Camrose Kodiaks in
exchange for the playing rights to a pair of WHLers -- F Matt Schmermund, 20,
of the Porltand Winter Hawks and F Dustin Donaghy, 19, of the Spokane
Chiefs. . . . Also, D James Bettauer, 17, has chosen to join the WHL¹s
Chilliwack Bruins. He spent last season with the Vees, earning three assists
in 42 games.
---
The Tri-City Americans have named F Taylor Procyshen, 20, as the 20th team
captain in the franchise's 21-year history. Procyshen, who is going into his
fourth season in Kennewick, Wash., is perhaps the most under-rated player in
all of the WHL. He has 131 points in 187 career regular-season games and has
had back-to-back 30-goal seasons. "Unselfishness, co-operation, positive
attitude and hustle -- these are attributes you look for in a captain,"
Americans GM Bob Tory said in a press release. "Taylor exemplifies
everything a team would want in a captain. He has earned this honor." . . .
The Americans open their rookie camp on Wednesday, the annual Todd Klassen
Memorial Classic goes Aug. 23 and main camp opens Aug. 24.
---
THE MacBETH REPORT: F Ryan Keller (Saskatoon) re-signed for two years with
Espoo Blues (Finland SM-Liiga). He had 22 goals and 22 assists in 47 games
for Espoo last season. . . . G Wade Flaherty (Seattle/Spokane/Victoria) and
F Adam Taylor (Kootenay) signed with the China Sharks, who are based in
Shanghai (Asian Hockey League). Flaherty was with Rockford (AHL) and Taylor
with Rochester (AHL) last season. Flaherty also will serve as the Sharks¹
goaltending coach. Former Seattle T-Birds play-by-play announcer Chris
Collins is the general manager of the Sharks.
---
F Zack Smith of the Swift Current Broncos has signed a three-year contract
with the NHL's Ottawa Senators. Smith, 20, captained the Broncos last season
and was a third-round pick by Ottawa in the NHL's 2008 entry draft. He spent
four seasons with the Broncos -- he led the team with 69 points in 72 games
last season -- and is eligible to return for another go-round.
---
Bill Wilms of Delta finished at 16-over 232 and won the Super Senior¹s
division by retrogression at the B.C. senior men's golf championship at
Summerland Golf and Country Club. Wilms has served as the analyst on
Vancouver Giants games and on Shaw Cable telecasts of WHL games. No word on
whether Joey Kenward was caddying for him.
---
F Jon (Nasty) Mirasty is going to camp with the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets.
The former WHL enforcer has his own website -- www.jonmirasty.com. With Nasty
in camp, Columbus head coach Ken Hitchcock ought to be good for a decent
quote or two more than usual.
---
The Kamloops Blazers have signed F Ryan Hanes, a local product who played
last season with the Kamloops-based Thompson Blazers, a major midget team.
He was the 99th selection in the WHL's 2007 bantam draft.
---
Jason Vondersmith of the Portland Tribune has an update on a few players as
the Winter Hawks prepare for camp. That includes veteran D Bo Montgomery who
won't be returning and who GM Ken Hodge has been attempting to deal to the Regina Pats . . . You can find that story right here.
---
Former Kamloops C Jarret Lukin was involved in an ECHL deal Thursday, going
from the Florida Everblades to the Dayton Bombers. Lukin, D Steve Czech, LW
Mike McLean and G Future Considerations went to Dayton for C Yannick Tifu.
"A request was made from Tifu's agent to be traded and we obliged," Dayton
head coach Bill McDonald explained in a press release. "Tifu will be going
to a great organization in Florida and hopefully the move will benefit his
career. In return, we targeted quality players that are young with good
character, and that's exactly what we got with Czech, Lukin and McLean. They
will be a great addition to the nucleus of our team." . . . Lukin had 30
points in 72 games last season. He joined Florida late in 2006-07 after a
positive test for cocaine resulted in his leaving the U of Calgary
Dinosaurs.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Wednesday . . .
Jeff Bromley over at Ice Chips reports that Steve Da Silva, who captained the Kootenay Ice last season as a 20-year-old, will join the San Jose Sharks for rookie camp and that Ice LW Kevin King, 18, will go to camp with the Minnesota Wild rookies. . . . Andy Kemper at After The Whistle has Portland Winter Hawks G Kurtis Mucha getting a look-see from the Phoenix Coyotes. The
Phoenix rookies will play two games against the Los Angeles Kings’ prospects on Sept. 16 (6 p.m.) and 17 ( 2 p.m.), at Jobing.com Arena. Plans are for Coyotes head coach Wayne Gretzky to be behind the bench, too. The other goaltender will be Joel Gistedt out of Frolunda in Sweden. He was the 36th pick in the NHL’s 2007 draft. Other WHLers on the Phoenix roster: Colin Long
(Kelowna), Daine Todd (Medicine Hat), Tyler Johnson (Spokane), John Flatters (Saskatoon), Nick Ross (Kamloops) and Michael Stone (Calgary).
---
The Swift Current Broncos have scheduled a news conference for Monday afternoon “to announce a major hockey event planned for Swift Current.” The Prince Albert Raiders also have scheduled a newser for Monday. . . . Hmmm! Gotta think the Russians are coming! The Russians are coming! . . . The CHL again is playing host to the six-game ADT Canada-Russia Challenge and it could be that Prince Albert and Swift Current will play host to the two WHL games.
---
James Shewaga, the sports editor at the Brandon Sun, reports that the Wheat Kings are hoping to bit on the 2010 Memorial Cup. The province of Manitoba already has agreed to back the bid, while city officials will hold a special open meeting today to test the waters. The deadline for bids to be in to the WHL is Friday.
---
Former Kootenay D Steve McCarthy had signed with Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the Contintenal league but it apparently didn’t work out. The New York Times hockey blog (slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com) reports that he now seems likely to sign with SKA St. Petersburg, another Continental league team. St. Petersburg is coached by former NHL assistant coach Barry Smith. Igor Larionov is the team’s manager.
---
Dan Kinvig of the Abbotsford News put together a good story on Brandon Regier, a 16-year-old first-round bantam pick who signed with the Brandon Wheat Kings a year ago but now has chosen to put the game behind him. . . . Regier was the 17th pick in the 2007 bantam draft and got into four WHL games last season. . . . "It's never been my favourite thing to do in the world," Regier told Kinvig of playing hockey. "Everyone's telling me they hope I change my mind. But I haven't been on the ice since March, and I haven't missed it at all." . . . Regier added: "I'm just a kid -- my mind can change at any moment. I'm not going to promise I'm never going to play hockey again, but for now, I really don't want to. Right now, I don't think I'll regret it. People who make it to the NHL want to be there (at the rink) every second of the day." . . . A tip of the cap to Regier for following his heart. There isn’t any sense committing to the grind of the WHL and a hockey career if you know going in that you aren’t going to enjoy it. . . . His brother, Jeff, a 17-year-old defenceman, got into 41 games with the Everett Silvertips last season. . . . Kinvig’s entire story is right here.
---
Darryl Williams, who played for the Victoria Cougars in the mid-1980s, is the Vancouver Canucks' newest assistant coach. He will be primarily responsible for the video work. Williams spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach with the QMJHL's St. John's Fog Devils. . . . Canucks general manager Mike Gillis fired assistants Mike Kelly and Barry Smith shortly after taking over from the fired Dave Nonis. Former WHLer Ryan Walter was hired to fill one of the vacancies, and now Williams has filled the other. . . . Smith has signed a three-year deal as head coach of the Kamloops Blazers. Kelly hasn't found coaching work and is back home in Prince Edward Island.
Phoenix rookies will play two games against the Los Angeles Kings’ prospects on Sept. 16 (6 p.m.) and 17 ( 2 p.m.), at Jobing.com Arena. Plans are for Coyotes head coach Wayne Gretzky to be behind the bench, too. The other goaltender will be Joel Gistedt out of Frolunda in Sweden. He was the 36th pick in the NHL’s 2007 draft. Other WHLers on the Phoenix roster: Colin Long
(Kelowna), Daine Todd (Medicine Hat), Tyler Johnson (Spokane), John Flatters (Saskatoon), Nick Ross (Kamloops) and Michael Stone (Calgary).
---
The Swift Current Broncos have scheduled a news conference for Monday afternoon “to announce a major hockey event planned for Swift Current.” The Prince Albert Raiders also have scheduled a newser for Monday. . . . Hmmm! Gotta think the Russians are coming! The Russians are coming! . . . The CHL again is playing host to the six-game ADT Canada-Russia Challenge and it could be that Prince Albert and Swift Current will play host to the two WHL games.
---
James Shewaga, the sports editor at the Brandon Sun, reports that the Wheat Kings are hoping to bit on the 2010 Memorial Cup. The province of Manitoba already has agreed to back the bid, while city officials will hold a special open meeting today to test the waters. The deadline for bids to be in to the WHL is Friday.
---
Former Kootenay D Steve McCarthy had signed with Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the Contintenal league but it apparently didn’t work out. The New York Times hockey blog (slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com) reports that he now seems likely to sign with SKA St. Petersburg, another Continental league team. St. Petersburg is coached by former NHL assistant coach Barry Smith. Igor Larionov is the team’s manager.
---
Dan Kinvig of the Abbotsford News put together a good story on Brandon Regier, a 16-year-old first-round bantam pick who signed with the Brandon Wheat Kings a year ago but now has chosen to put the game behind him. . . . Regier was the 17th pick in the 2007 bantam draft and got into four WHL games last season. . . . "It's never been my favourite thing to do in the world," Regier told Kinvig of playing hockey. "Everyone's telling me they hope I change my mind. But I haven't been on the ice since March, and I haven't missed it at all." . . . Regier added: "I'm just a kid -- my mind can change at any moment. I'm not going to promise I'm never going to play hockey again, but for now, I really don't want to. Right now, I don't think I'll regret it. People who make it to the NHL want to be there (at the rink) every second of the day." . . . A tip of the cap to Regier for following his heart. There isn’t any sense committing to the grind of the WHL and a hockey career if you know going in that you aren’t going to enjoy it. . . . His brother, Jeff, a 17-year-old defenceman, got into 41 games with the Everett Silvertips last season. . . . Kinvig’s entire story is right here.
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Darryl Williams, who played for the Victoria Cougars in the mid-1980s, is the Vancouver Canucks' newest assistant coach. He will be primarily responsible for the video work. Williams spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach with the QMJHL's St. John's Fog Devils. . . . Canucks general manager Mike Gillis fired assistants Mike Kelly and Barry Smith shortly after taking over from the fired Dave Nonis. Former WHLer Ryan Walter was hired to fill one of the vacancies, and now Williams has filled the other. . . . Smith has signed a three-year deal as head coach of the Kamloops Blazers. Kelly hasn't found coaching work and is back home in Prince Edward Island.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Quiet Tuesday . . .
Randy Merkley is the new radio voice of the WHL’s Chilliwack Bruins. He takes over from Dave Sheldon, who has moved on to the Vancouver Giants. Merkley is no stranger to the WHL as he has called games for the Regina Pats and Moose Jaw Warriors.
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THE COACHING GAME: The New York Islanders have signed Scott Gordon to replace the fired Ted Nolan as head coach. Gordon had been head coach of the AHL’s Providence Bruins. They are expected to promote assistant Rob Murray to head coach. . . . Still nothing from the AHL’s Rochester Americans, who are without a head coach. They are affiliated with the NHL’s Florida Panthers.
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THE COACHING GAME: The New York Islanders have signed Scott Gordon to replace the fired Ted Nolan as head coach. Gordon had been head coach of the AHL’s Providence Bruins. They are expected to promote assistant Rob Murray to head coach. . . . Still nothing from the AHL’s Rochester Americans, who are without a head coach. They are affiliated with the NHL’s Florida Panthers.
New head coach retires Blazers' lounge act
By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
Veteran players walking into the Kamloops Blazers’ dressing room at Interior Savings Centre are going to realize in a hurry that it’s a new dawn.
That’s because the players’ lounge is gone.
The room in which the WHL team’s players used to watch a little TV, catch some R and R, and chat about whatever it is that teenage boys chat about now belongs to the head coach.
“The players have enough room,” Barry Smith, the Blazers’ new head coach, said Tuesday afternoon from behind the desk in his new office. He was smiling when he said it but it was of THOSE smiles.
Some of this, you can bet, is out of necessity. After all, Dean Clark, the previous head coach, also was the general manager and he had a room in the team’s office upstairs at Interior Savings Centre, space that now belongs to GM Craig Bonner. The office in the dressing room area was shared by the assistant coaches, as it now is by assistants Scott Ferguson and Geoff Smith.
You can bet, however, that there also is something of a message in turning a lounge into the head coach’s office.
Smith has been delivering part of that message this week during the Blazers’ hockey school, what with Ferguson, Geoff Smith and a few veteran players in the roles of instructors.
“It was good to have hockey school this week,” Barry Smith said. “I think I’ve gotten across to my assistants and some of the players who are working here what I expect and how I expect it to be run, and the guys got to get a feel for what my drills are, how I want them run, what we’ll be doing.”
And make no mistake about it . . . things will be done Smith’s way.
He and Bonner have taken over a team that was in a state of disarray when the 2007-08 season ended. You may recall that the Blazers lost 18 of their last 19 games, including being swept from the first round of the playoffs by the Tri-City Americans.
“This year,” Smith said, “it’s going to be different.”
And, of course, the difference starts with the lounge that used to be.
And it will continue in training camp, which opens Aug. 22. Unlike recent years, there won’t be a rookie camp and a main camp. Rather, all players will be on the ice every day. They may not be on the ice together, but they’ll be in camp together — there won’t be any separation of youth and experience.
“We’ll see the young kids the first two or three days,” Smith said, “and we’ll get a good chance to see who will move on. They’ll play four or five games . . . we want to see them play. We’ll give them a little bit of a teaching base but we want to see them play.
“The veteran guys . . . we’ll start right into systems play with them. There’ll be some evaluation drills that we want to see. The first couple of days they’re not going to scrimmage; it’ll be more teaching the systems . . . teaching the systems, teaching hard work and evaluation drills.”
During camp, Smith, who spent the last nine years in the Vancouver Canucks organization, said the first thing he will be looking for in players is “skill and skating ability.”
“We need a good skating team — it doesn’t have to be a great skating team, just a good skating team — for the system I’m going to play,” he said.
That system?
“Puck pressure team play . . . offensively and defensively . . . up and down the ice,” he replied.
Players and any fans who are in attendance during camp can also expect to see a lot of Smith.
“Oh yeah . . . oh yeah,” he replied when asked if he would be on the ice. “I want to be the voice right from the beginning. There will be times when I will watch part of a game from upstairs then come down to the bench. I think you learn a lot from being on the bench, (seeing) how guys react, who the leaders are, who’s saying what things, what they say.
“But I’ll be on the ice every day. I like to run the practice. I want to make sure everyone knows just what my expectations are.”
And when he isn’t on the ice, chances are the players will be able to find Smith in his office.
You know . . . the room that used to be the players’ lounge.
Yes, things have changed in Blazerville.
BLAZER BITS: F Michal Siska, the 30th pick in the CHL’s 2008 import draft, arrived in Kamloops last night. Siska, 18, had 18 points, including 15 assists, with Zvolen of Slovakia’s under-20 league last season. . . . C Dalibor Bortnak, the Blazers’ other import selection, is playing with Slovakia at the under-18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament and will report to Kamloops upon its conclusion.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
Daily News Sports Editor
Veteran players walking into the Kamloops Blazers’ dressing room at Interior Savings Centre are going to realize in a hurry that it’s a new dawn.
That’s because the players’ lounge is gone.
The room in which the WHL team’s players used to watch a little TV, catch some R and R, and chat about whatever it is that teenage boys chat about now belongs to the head coach.
“The players have enough room,” Barry Smith, the Blazers’ new head coach, said Tuesday afternoon from behind the desk in his new office. He was smiling when he said it but it was of THOSE smiles.
Some of this, you can bet, is out of necessity. After all, Dean Clark, the previous head coach, also was the general manager and he had a room in the team’s office upstairs at Interior Savings Centre, space that now belongs to GM Craig Bonner. The office in the dressing room area was shared by the assistant coaches, as it now is by assistants Scott Ferguson and Geoff Smith.
You can bet, however, that there also is something of a message in turning a lounge into the head coach’s office.
Smith has been delivering part of that message this week during the Blazers’ hockey school, what with Ferguson, Geoff Smith and a few veteran players in the roles of instructors.
“It was good to have hockey school this week,” Barry Smith said. “I think I’ve gotten across to my assistants and some of the players who are working here what I expect and how I expect it to be run, and the guys got to get a feel for what my drills are, how I want them run, what we’ll be doing.”
And make no mistake about it . . . things will be done Smith’s way.
He and Bonner have taken over a team that was in a state of disarray when the 2007-08 season ended. You may recall that the Blazers lost 18 of their last 19 games, including being swept from the first round of the playoffs by the Tri-City Americans.
“This year,” Smith said, “it’s going to be different.”
And, of course, the difference starts with the lounge that used to be.
And it will continue in training camp, which opens Aug. 22. Unlike recent years, there won’t be a rookie camp and a main camp. Rather, all players will be on the ice every day. They may not be on the ice together, but they’ll be in camp together — there won’t be any separation of youth and experience.
“We’ll see the young kids the first two or three days,” Smith said, “and we’ll get a good chance to see who will move on. They’ll play four or five games . . . we want to see them play. We’ll give them a little bit of a teaching base but we want to see them play.
“The veteran guys . . . we’ll start right into systems play with them. There’ll be some evaluation drills that we want to see. The first couple of days they’re not going to scrimmage; it’ll be more teaching the systems . . . teaching the systems, teaching hard work and evaluation drills.”
During camp, Smith, who spent the last nine years in the Vancouver Canucks organization, said the first thing he will be looking for in players is “skill and skating ability.”
“We need a good skating team — it doesn’t have to be a great skating team, just a good skating team — for the system I’m going to play,” he said.
That system?
“Puck pressure team play . . . offensively and defensively . . . up and down the ice,” he replied.
Players and any fans who are in attendance during camp can also expect to see a lot of Smith.
“Oh yeah . . . oh yeah,” he replied when asked if he would be on the ice. “I want to be the voice right from the beginning. There will be times when I will watch part of a game from upstairs then come down to the bench. I think you learn a lot from being on the bench, (seeing) how guys react, who the leaders are, who’s saying what things, what they say.
“But I’ll be on the ice every day. I like to run the practice. I want to make sure everyone knows just what my expectations are.”
And when he isn’t on the ice, chances are the players will be able to find Smith in his office.
You know . . . the room that used to be the players’ lounge.
Yes, things have changed in Blazerville.
BLAZER BITS: F Michal Siska, the 30th pick in the CHL’s 2008 import draft, arrived in Kamloops last night. Siska, 18, had 18 points, including 15 assists, with Zvolen of Slovakia’s under-20 league last season. . . . C Dalibor Bortnak, the Blazers’ other import selection, is playing with Slovakia at the under-18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament and will report to Kamloops upon its conclusion.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
Monday, August 11, 2008
Monday . . .
Big, big news out of Brandon. . . . The Wheat Kings have signed F Aaron Lewadniuk, a former MJHL rookie of the year who spent last season with the USHL’s Omaha Lancers. As a freshman with the MJHL’s Winkler Flyers, Lewadniuk, 19, had 87 points in 61 games. Last season, with Omaha, he had 54 points in 58 games. Lewadniuk was selected by Portland in the sixth round of the 2004 bantam draft. After he committed to the Bemidji State Beavers, the Winter Hawks dealt him to Brandon for a conditional draft pick. . . . The Wheat Kings also have signed F Klarc Wilson of Edmonton, who was the 13th pick in the 2008 bantam draft. . . . However, RW Brandon Regier, Brandon’s first pick in the 2007 bantam draft, won’t be in camp. Regier signed with the Wheat Kings prior to last season, but didn’t show up for a prospects’ camp this spring and now apparently has decided to stay home in Abbotsford, B.C., and concentrate on his education.
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JUNIOR JOTTINGS: G Chet Pickard of the Tri-City Americans has signed a three-year contract with the Nashville Predators, who selected him in the first round, 18th overall, of the 2008 NHL draft. Pickard, who turns 19 on Nov. 29, was the WHL’s top goaltender last season as he led the Americans to the regular-season championship. He will be in Nashville’s camp when it opens Sept. 19, but is expected to return to the Americans and will be one of the candidates for Canada’s national junior team. . . . Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province had a recent chat with Paul Fenton, the assistant GM of the Nashville Predators. Fenton told Ewen that the Chilliwack Bruins shouldn’t count on Mark Santorelli, the WHL’s reigning scoring champion, opening the season with them. It seems the Predators plan on starting Santorelli, 20, with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals. Santorelli was a fourth-round pick by the Predators in the NHL’s 2007 draft. "We see him as a good fit with his brother," Fenton told Ewen. F Mike Santorelli had 42 points in 90 games with Milwaukee last season. . . . Ewen also spoke with Fenton about Vancouver Giants D Jon Blum, 19. With the Predators being so deep in young defencemen, you can bet on Blum spending this season with the Giants. In fact, he is expected to be the team captain.
———
Former Brandon LW Brian Propp has been dropped as the analyst on Philadelphia Flyers’ radio broadcasts. Anthony SanFilippo of the Delaware County Times reports that Propp has been replaced by former NHL D Chris Therien and that it’s all mutual decision. Propp apparently is involved in some business dealings that are eating into his time in a big way. . . . Russian F Mikhail Fisenko, taken by the Vancouver Giants in the CHL’s 2008 import draft, was on the ice Monday in Delta. . . . .The MJHL is looking for a “creative individual to fill the role of Media Relations Officer for the 2008 - 2009 season.” It’s a part-time paid position.
———
JUNIOR JOTTINGS: G Chet Pickard of the Tri-City Americans has signed a three-year contract with the Nashville Predators, who selected him in the first round, 18th overall, of the 2008 NHL draft. Pickard, who turns 19 on Nov. 29, was the WHL’s top goaltender last season as he led the Americans to the regular-season championship. He will be in Nashville’s camp when it opens Sept. 19, but is expected to return to the Americans and will be one of the candidates for Canada’s national junior team. . . . Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province had a recent chat with Paul Fenton, the assistant GM of the Nashville Predators. Fenton told Ewen that the Chilliwack Bruins shouldn’t count on Mark Santorelli, the WHL’s reigning scoring champion, opening the season with them. It seems the Predators plan on starting Santorelli, 20, with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals. Santorelli was a fourth-round pick by the Predators in the NHL’s 2007 draft. "We see him as a good fit with his brother," Fenton told Ewen. F Mike Santorelli had 42 points in 90 games with Milwaukee last season. . . . Ewen also spoke with Fenton about Vancouver Giants D Jon Blum, 19. With the Predators being so deep in young defencemen, you can bet on Blum spending this season with the Giants. In fact, he is expected to be the team captain.
———
Former Brandon LW Brian Propp has been dropped as the analyst on Philadelphia Flyers’ radio broadcasts. Anthony SanFilippo of the Delaware County Times reports that Propp has been replaced by former NHL D Chris Therien and that it’s all mutual decision. Propp apparently is involved in some business dealings that are eating into his time in a big way. . . . Russian F Mikhail Fisenko, taken by the Vancouver Giants in the CHL’s 2008 import draft, was on the ice Monday in Delta. . . . .The MJHL is looking for a “creative individual to fill the role of Media Relations Officer for the 2008 - 2009 season.” It’s a part-time paid position.
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