Thursday . . .

Jim Thomson, a former NHL enforcer, tells Sean Fitz-Gerald of the National Post that it’s time for fighting in hockey to come to an end. Thomson, with five children, is a recovering alcoholic who is afraid for his future and wonders how much blows to the head have had to do with all that he has gone through since his career ended. That story is right here.
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Eric Welsh of the Chilliwack Progress has the latest on that city and the situation involving a possible hockey team for the 2011-12 season. It may or may not be the Quesnel Millionaires. That story is right here.
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In the QMJHL, the host Saint John Sea Dogs got the winning goal at 12:17 of the third period as they opened the championship final with a 2-1 victory over the Gatineau Olympiques. . . . Former WHL G Jacob DeSerres made 22 saves for the winners. . . . .Game 2 is Saturday in Saint John.
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In the OHL, the visiting Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors beat the Owen Sound Attack 6-2 to take a 2-0 lead in that best-of-seven final. . . . .Game 3 is tonight in Mississauga. . . . St. Mike’s is the host team for the Memorial Cup so both teams will play in the tournament.
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JUST NOTES: You have to wonder how thrilled the head coaches of the Kootenay Ice and Portland Winterhawks are to have to attend a news conference today. Kris Knoblauch of the Ice and Mike Johnston of the Winterhawks, along with two players from each team, will attend the WHL’s news conference in advance of Game 1 of the championship final. . . . Can’t believe either coach is very happy about having to put players through this on a game day. . . . D Ryan Button, who went from the Prince Albert Raiders to the Seattle Thunderbirds on Jan. 10, signed a three-year deal with the NHL’s Boston Bruins. According to capgeek.com, the deal calls for an AHL salary of US$60,000 in each season, with NHL salaries of $585,000, $610,000 and $660,000. His signing bonus if $180,000 over three years. . . .
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THE COACHING GAME: Willy Palov of the Halifax Chronicle-Herald reports that “the Halifax Mooseheads will introduce Dominique Ducharme as their new head coach at a news conference Friday. Majority owner Bobby Smith was flying from Phoenix to Halifax on Thursday to get here in time for the introduction and didn’t want to tip his hand about who is getting the job. But other informed sources confirmed Ducharme is the guy.” Ducharme has been an assistant coach with the Montreal Juniors for the last three seasons. . . . The OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds made it official Thursday when they introduced Mike Stapleton as their new head coach. A former Soo assistant, he spent this season as an assistant with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch.
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The more of these stories that surface, the scarier it gets. Richard Scott had what The Globe and Mail’s James Mirtle refers to as a “short, brutal and fight-filled career with the New York Rangers.” Concussions forced Scott out of the game at the age of 25. He suffered head injuries in December 2003 that prevent him from doing manual labour today. Now he wants to help researchers learn more about these head injuries. . . . Mirtle’s story is right here, and it’s worth noting that Johnny Bower, Bobby Baun and Gordie Howe are involved, too.
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And, finally, if you haven’t seen this it lasts less than a minute and is worth a look.
A team of BCHL players recently returned from Russia, where they played a handful of games. During one of the games, a fan somehow made his way onto the ice. No, he didn’t get a cheery welcome. Check it out right here.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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