The winner of the Jessamine County Fair demolition derby in Nicholasville, Ky., stands accused of getting wrecked — really wrecked — during the competition. It seems that the long arm of the law reached out for David L. Warner Jr. right after the derby and charged him with driving under the influence. Yes, DUI during the derby. Warner told WKYT-TV: “I mean, I'm not denying I wasn't drinking by no means, but I was not drunk. I was under the limit.” . . . As Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal pointed out: “Well, at least it's not the same old clichés we hear from every other star athlete after a triumphant performance.” . . . David Braley owns two CFL teams, the B.C. Lions and Toronto Argonauts. They are a combined 1-9. . . . Perhaps he should buy another team, say the Vancouver Island Raiders. . . .
A Monday tweet from sports writer Ryan Clark of the Fargo, N.D., Forum: “Glad to see football will be back but if a lockout meant keeping Brett Favre in retirement then I really wonder if anyone won today.” . . . With the Pittsburgh Pirates floating in the rarified air near the top of the NL Central, Jack Finarelli, the Sports Curmudgeon, noted: “In other news, six pigs called approach control to request landing clearance at Pittsburgh International Airport.” . . . Former NFL head coach Brian Billick, now an analyst with Fox-TV, was asked by the St. Paul Pioneer Press why he isn't expecting to be offered a coaching job. His response: “They're looking for young and cheap, and I'm neither.” . . .
Steve Seibel, Kamloops' contribution to the international world of basketball officiating, is packing his bags. Again. He's off to the Tuto Marchand Cup in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil, Aug. 24-26. And then, from Aug. 30 to Sept. 11, he'll be in Mar del Plata, Argentina, at the FIBA Americas Championship that will feature 10 teams, including Canada. . . . The FIBA Americas event is an Olympic qualifier. . . . The Dominican Republic's men's team will be in both of those competitions. Its head coach? None other than John Calipari, the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats. . . . After Yao Ming, the Houston Rockets' 7-foot-6 centre, announced his retirement from the NBA, comedy writer Jerry Perisho wrote: “What is a huge foreigner who barely speaks English supposed to do now, I mean, besides becoming governor of California?” . . . Elli Terwiel's pursuit of a spot on the Canadian national women's ski team takes her to a Canadian Alpine Ski Team camp in New Zealand this weekend. Terwiel, who skis out of Sun Peaks, has been training with the B.C. men's team on Mt. Hood in Oregon. . . .
A tweet from former Kamloops Blazers goaltender Jeff Bosch after the club dealt defenceman Brandon Underwood to the Regina Pats on Thursday: “Good Luck to my ex teamate @BUND3RWOOD in Regina next year, one of the true gems in the WHL . . . Things are looking up in Reg now.” . . . There are rumblings that Elin Nordegren is dating an American financier. As Steve Schrader of the Detroit Free Press explained: “So Tiger might still be sidelined, but she isn't.” . . . Greg Cote, in the Miami Herald: “In Minneapolis, former Heat player Michael Beasley was found in possession of 16.2 grams of marijuana. Seldom a good sign when your career scoring average is exceeded by your career grams-per-possession average.” . . . After the NBA office laid off 114 employees, Seattle Times reader Bill Littlejohn claimed: “And that's just LeBron's posse.” . . . Don't be surprised if winger J.T. Barnett of the Blazers goes to camp with the NHL's New Jersey Devils in September. . . .
Len Berman of ThatsSports.com, with his take: “The NBA fired 11 per cent of its work force. Then they issued a press release saying, 'The layoffs are not a direct result of the lockout.' I have to check the rule book. I think that's the definition of double drivel.” . . . Former Blazers defenceman Chad Starling, who will be 31 in September, has signed on for his fourth season with the ECHL's Ontario Reign and his eighth straight in the league. Thanks to a groin injury, he played in only 14 games last season and has since twice undergone surgery. But the 6-foot-6 Starling, who was named to the ECHL's all-decade team last season, says he now is ready for what will be his 11th season of pro hockey. . . . Alex Rodriguez, the New York Yankees' third baseman, is on the shelf after a knee injury. “While he's out of action,” writes Brad Dickson of the Omaha World-Herald, “Cameron Diaz called up some guy from the minors.” . . . Scott Ostler, of the San Francisco Chronicle: “Reggie Bush's family took back a copy of Reggie's 2005 Heisman Trophy from a San Diego sports museum. The best place to display that hardware is at the Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum.” . . . Ostler continues: “Meanwhile, a copy of O.J. Simpson's Heisman is proudly displayed at USC's Heritage Hall, along with other O.J. memorabilia. But no gloves.” . . .
Ian Hamilton, in the Regina Leader-Post: “Tennis legends John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg recently announced the launch of a line of underwear. If sales don't go well, the partnership could be brief. . . . If tennis players can get into that racket, should Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier team up to sell boxers?” . . . Just the other day someone streaked during an ice show in Sun Valley, Idaho. “The streaker has been described as a man in his mid-20s,” wrote Tony Evans of Ketchum's Idaho Mountain Express, “but no one interviewed for this story could provide a description of his face.”
Catharine Pendrel of Kamloops will compete in the UCI Mountain Bike and Trial World Championships in Champéry, Switzerland, from Aug. 31 through Sept. 4. Pendrel, the 2010 World Cup champion, won her third Canadian elite championship earlier this month. At present, Pendrel is second in the World Cup standings. . . . Whenever I watch Slap Shot - yes, it was on again in the wee hours the other day - I find myself wondering why Paul Newman wasn't at least nominated for an Oscar for best actor. The field in 1977? Woody Allen (Annie Hall), Richard Burton (Equus), Richard Dreyfuss (The Goodbye Girl), Marcello Mastroianni (A Special Day) and John Travolta (Saturday Night Fever). . . . Come on! Who was better? Newman or Travolta. . . . The winner, by the way, was Dreyfuss. . . . Sports Business Journal reported this week that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman's income “topped” US$7.5 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010. I just want you to know that works out to $20,547.95 per day. Now go out and enjoy your day.

Gregg Drinnan is sports editor of The Daily News. Email him at gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca, follow him at twitter.com/gdrinnan, or visit his blog at gdrinnan.blogspot.com. Keeping Score appears sporadically throughout the summer.

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Zdenek Blatny (Seattle, Kootenay, 1998-2001) signed a tryout contract with Graz 99ers (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). He had two goals and four assists in six games with the Hannover Indians (Germany, 2.Bundesliga), one assist in four games with Kosice (Slovakia, Extraliga), and one goal and nine assists in 12 games with Dukla Trencin (Slovakia, Extraliga) last season.

Is everyone going across the pond?

THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Daryl Boyle (Brandon, 2004-08) signed a one-year contract with the Augsburger Panther (Germany, DEL). He had one goal and four assists in five games with the Alaska Aces (ECHL) and one goal and four assists in 26 games with the Peoria Rivermen (AHL) last season. . . .
F Gasper Kopitar (Portland, 2009-11) signed a tryout contract with Södertälje J20 (Sweden, J20 SuperElit). He had one goal in two games with the Winterhawks and 12 goals and 12 assists in 55 games with Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) last season. . . .
F Casper Carning (Vancouver, 2010-11) signed a one-year contract with Kungälv (Sweden, Division 1). He had two assists in six games with the GIants, 14 goals and 29 assists in 31 games with Frölunda J20 Gothenburg (Sweden, J20 SuperElit), no points in eight games with Frölunda Gothenburg (Sweden, Elitserien), and one goal and one assist in two games on loan with Kungälv last season. . . .
D Brent Sopel (Saskatoon, Swift Current, 1993-97) signed a two-year contract with Metallurg Novokuznetsk (Russia, KHL). He had two goals and five assists in 71 games with the Atlanta Thrashers and Montreal Canadiens last season. . . .
D Harlan Pratt (Seattle, Red Deer, Prince Albert, Regina, Portland, 1994-99) signed a one-year contract with Szekesfehervar (Hungary, Austria Erste Bank Liga). He had five assists in 40 games for Tingsryd (Sweden, Allsvenskan) last season. . . .
G Todd Ford (Swift Current, Prince George, Vancouver, 2000-04) signed a one-year contract with Heilbronner Falken (Germany, 2.Bundesliga). He had a 2.94 GAA and a .886 save percentage in 13 games with the Hershey Bears (AHL) and a 2.74 GAA and a .901 save percentage in 22 games with the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL) last season.
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Former WHL scoring champion Brian Varga is the new GM of the Medicine Hat Minor Hockey Association. Varga, 50, played four WHL seasons (1978-82), the first three with the Regina Pats and the last one with the Medicine Hat Tigers. He won the 1981-82 scoring title, with 187 points. And, although his name is missing from the WHL Guide recap on 1981-82, he actually finished sixth that season, with 156 points. . . . Varga is a long-time Medicine Hat minor hockey coach and volunteer. "When they decided a long time ago to have a GM within minor hockey,” Varga told Darren Steinke of the Medicine Hat News, “I thought that maybe some day I could do that job. It has been on my mind for quite a while. . . . It is something where maybe I can give back to the community again too by being in that role."
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Chris Peters over at the United States of Hockey has taken a good look at the beating that NCAA hockey has taken over the last little while. If you missed it, a number of high-profile players who had committed to one school or another have de-committed and now are headed to OHL teams. What does it all mean? Check out Peters’ piece right here.
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THE COACHING GAME:
From the department of horrible timing comes news that the Mississippi RiverKings, who moved from the Central League to the Southern Professional league over the summer, fired head coach Paul Gardner on Thursday. He had taken over from Kevin Kaminski early in the 2010-11 season. "I was told that because of moving to the SPHL, they were going in a different direction," Gardner told Chris Van Tuyl of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "Very shocked. The hardest thing about it is having to tell the kids, and the kids haven't stopped crying. That's the difficult part of the whole thing." . . . As for finding work in the coaching game at this late date, Gardner said: "I think that would be difficult. The majority of the coaches are hired now. I emailed my agent and that's exactly what he said, 'Why did they wait until now?' " . . .
Steve Chapman, the president of the ECHL’s Gwinnett Gladiators, has revealed that his search for a head coach is down to a shortlist that contains three names -- Leigh Mendelson, Steve Weeks and John Wroblewski. . . . Mendelson is a former Spokane Chiefs assistant coach. Last season, he was on staff with the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies. . . . The Gladiators need a head coach to replace Jeff Pyle, now head coach of the AHL’s Texas Stars.
———
Various reports — and I think TSN’s Farhan Lalji was first with it — have former NHLer Ryan Walter to be named president of the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat on Tuesday.
This is a rather interesting move.
Walter, you may recall, was dismissed as an assistant coach by the Vancouver Canucks after the 2009-10 season. He spent two seasons on the coaching staff. The Heat, which plays in Canucks’ territory in what is generically known as the Lower Mainland, is the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Calgary Flames.
The Flames have signed F Ben Walter, Ryan’s son, to a two-year contract and chances are he will start the season with the Heat.
Cam Tucker of the Abbotsford Times has more right here on the Heat, including a bit of news on the deficit the team ran last season, which the city and taxpayers have to cover.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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Taking Note on Twitter

News and notes . . .

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Justin Mapletoft (Red Deer, 1996-2001) signed a one-year contract with the Schwenninger Wild WIngs (Germany, 2.Bundesliga). He had 16 goals and 19 assists in 52 games with the Straubing Tigers (Germany, DEL) last season. . . .
D Stepan Novotny (Kelowna, Swift Current, 2008-11) signed a two-year contract with Lev Poprad (Slovakia, KHL) after a successful tryout. He had 22 goals and 18 assists in 58 games with the Broncos last season.
———
JUST NOTES: Dan O’Connor is the new radio voice of the Prince George Cougars. A 26-year-old from Tsawwassen, O’Connor takes over from Andy Neal as director of broadcasting and corporate sales. He spent the last four seasons with the SJHL’s Battlefords North Stars. Neal and his family are relocating to Victoria. . . . The Calgary Hitmen have claimed F Kenton Miller, 20, off waivers from the Spokane Chiefs. Miller, from Redvers, Sask., had 28 points, including 10 goals, in 55 games last season. His departure leaves the Chiefs with four 20-year-olds on their roster — D Corbin Baldwin, F Darren Kramer, F Steven Kuhn and F Matt Marantz. The Hitmen also show four 20s on their roster — Miller, along with F Jimmy Bubnick, D Ben Wilson and G Mike Snider. . . .
Former Brandon Wheat Kings G Rick Knickle (1977-80) is the Phoenix Coyotes’ new director of amateur scouting. He replaces Keith Gretzky, who reportedly is to join the scouting staff of the Boston Bruins. The Coyotes also named veteran scout Glen Zacharias as their western amateur scout. . . . The Colorado Avalanche has signed Saskatoon Blades D Duncan Siemens to a three-year contract. The Avs selected Siemens with the 11th pick of the 2011 NHL draft. . . .
The 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will be held at Prospera Place in Kelowna on Feb. 1, with the skills competition and 3-on-3 challenge on Jan. 31. . . . The Swift Current Broncos have signed F Cavin Leth to a WHL contract. Leth was the 39th overall selection in the 2011 bantam draft. He had 45 points, including 28 goals, and 120 penalty minutes in 32 games with the bantam AAA Lethbridge Val Matteoti Golden Hawks last season. That selection had been acquired by the Broncos from Kootenay in the blockbuster January deal that had F Cody Eakin move to the Ice. . . .
———
The Canucks won Game 3, 4-3, on Wednesday, to sweep the three-game Ted Hargraves Cup series with the Bruins at the BC Hockey under-17 camp in Salmon Arm.
F Nick Hermary, with two, F Dexter Dancs and F Nick Petan, with his third goal in three games, scored for the winners. F Austin Ferguson, F Matt Needham and F Brandon Potomak replied for the Bruins.
After the victory, Bruins coach Brandon West, who will work as an assistant with the BCHL’s Westside Warriors this season, was heard to tell his guys: “Congrats boys. You are the only Canucks team to win a trophy.”
The BC Hockey evaluation staff will short-list about 20 players over the next two weeks. Those players will be closely watched and 11 of them will be selected, along with 11 players from Alberta, to play for Team Pacific at the U-17 World Hockey Challenge in Windsor, Ont.
Hockey Canada announced Wednesday that is has moved the 2012 WHC from Winnipeg to the Windsor region. The 10-team event, which features 27 games, is scheduled to run Dec. 29 through Jan. 4. The tournament will be centred in the WFCU Centre, the home of the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires, but games will played throughout the region. With the shifting of the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg, Hockey Canada and True North Sports and Entertainment, the owner of the Jets, felt it best to move the tournament.
———
ON THE MOVE: G John Gibson has decided not to attend Michigan and play for the Wolverines, Instead, he is expected to join the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers. Gibson, from Pittsburgh, was selected by the Anaheim Ducks with the 39th pick of the NHL’s 2011 draft. . . . D Connor Murphy, who went 20th overall to the Phoenix Coyotes in that draft, was headed to Miami of Ohio where he would play for the RedHawks. But Murphy, who is from Dublin, Ohio, has changed his mind and now apparently is headed to the OHL’s Sarnia Sting. . . . Earlier in the week, the Saginaw Spirit landed D Jamieson Oleksiak, who was taken 14th overall by the Dallas Stars in 2011, as he left Northeastern University after one year there. . . . There also are reports that Sarnia will be getting F Reid Boucher, a New Jersey Devils’ draft pick (99th overall, 2010). Boucher, from Grand Ledge, Mich., had said he would attend Michigan State in 2012-13. . . . The New York Rangers have signed F J.T. Miller, the 15th pick in the 2011 NHL draft. And, rather than attend the U of North Dakota and play for the Fighting Sioux, he is expected to end up with the OHL’s Plymouth Whalers. Miller was drafted after playing last season with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, so could be assigned by the Rangers to the AHL. It is more likely, however, that he will play for Plymouth.
———
The Dallas Stars are one of eight NHL teams who will take part in the annual prospects tournament in Traverse City, Mich. This year’s edition runs from Sept. 10-14.
Included on the Stars roster are a number of players who were in the WHL last season — F Matt Fraser (Kootenay), F Scott Glennie (Brandon), F Cole Grbavac (Medicine Hat), F Matej Stransky (Saskatoon), D Jace Coyle (Medicine Hat), D Brenden Dillon (Seattle) and D Alex Theriau (Medicine Hat). Of that group, Fraser, Coyle and Dillon have used up their junior eligibility.
———
John Sharp of the Peoria, Ill., Journal Star reports that Gov. Pat Quinn signed a law Thursday that “helps educate people about concussions while making it harder for student-athletes to slip by and return to the playing field before they are ready.”
Sharp continues: “Quinn signed HB200 during a ceremony at Soldier Field in Chicago. The new law requires athletes to receive written clearance from a licensed health professional before returning from a concussion. It also ensures that student-athletes, parents and coaches are able to identify signs of a concussion through increased education. . . .
“The new law makes a set of guidelines, adopted by the Illinois High School Association in April, mandatory for all elementary, middle, junior high and high schools. Those guidelines specify when a student-athlete can return from a post-concussion injury.”
Sharp’s story is right here.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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Taking Note on Twitter

Blazers deal Underwood to Pats

BRANDON UNDERWOOD

By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor

Brandon Underwood knew from looking at the Kamloops Blazers’ depth chart that someone was going to go.
Little did he know that someone would be him.
The Blazers, with a glut of experienced defencemen, dealt Underwood, a 19-year-old from San Marcos, Calif., to the Regina Pats on Thursday, getting back a fourth-round selection in the 2012 WHL bantam draft.
When the Blazers acquired Marek Hrbas, 18, from the Edmonton Oil Kings in late June, it left Kamloops with seven experienced defencemen, six of whom played regularly on a team that went 29-37-6 last season and missed the playoffs.
“It’s a business and you know in the back of your head that you can get traded any time,” Underwood said. “When the Blazers acquired (Hrbas) I knew someone was on their way out. I felt like someone was going to go; I didn’t think it was going to be me but . . .”
Underwood admitted he was taken aback when first told of the trade. By late afternoon, however, excitement had taken over.
“I was in shock a bit earlier but the dust has settled,” he said. “I’m excited. It’s always good to be wanted. I’m not going to lie. I really like Kamloops and met so many great people there . . . I couldn’t have asked for a better three years. Kamloops is like a second home to me.
“But you have to take things in stride and look at the positives. (The Pats) are excited to have me and I’m excited for the fresh start.”
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Underwood had 10 assists and 97 penalty minutes in 58 games last season. He also was minus-2 — an improvement from minus-18 the previous season — on a team that struggled defensively. He missed the first two games of the season with a concussion, served two one-game WHL suspensions, and then lost 10 late-season games to a knee injury.
In his three seasons with the Blazers, Underwood totalled 17 points, including two goals, and 271 penalty minutes in 149 games.
“I do think the Blazers will have a good team this season,” Underwood said, “and I kind of wish I would have been able to win there because I feel as if the city deserves it and the team deserves it. But it just hasn’t worked out.”
With Underwood’s departure, the Blazers’ roster includes only four players who saw playing time in 2008-09, his first season here. Left-winger Brendan Ranford played 66 games that season, while defenceman Josh Caron played in 21 games, centre Colin Smith eight and winger Ryan Hanes five.
“I wish them the best,” Underwood said, before adding, with a chuckle, “except when they come to Regina.”
Yes, Underwood has been hearing about Regina and winter. In fact, he said, he already is “trying to mentally prepare.”
When the WHL schedule was released, Underwood, like all Western Conference players, checked to see when the Blazers would make their East Division swing.
“I looked at the schedule and I was thinking, ‘Oh, we have to go to Saskatchewan in December,’ ” he said. “Now I guess I’m going to be there the whole time.
“I know it’s not warm there but . . . there were a few times in Kamloops when my hair froze . . . that was pretty bad. But I’ve heard Saskatchewan is not too warm.”
With the Pats, who went 23-39-10 and also missed the playoffs, Underwood joins an organization that is flat-out rebuilding. Pat Conacher, formerly the Victoria Royals’ assistant GM/assistant coach, was hired as Regina’s head coach earlier this week. The depth chart shows Underwood as one of two 19-year-old defencemen, the other being Richard Blidstrand. The Pats also have two 20-year-old defencemen in veterans Art Bidlevskii and Brandon Davidson.
The Blazers are left with six veterans on the back end — Caron and Bronson Maschmeyer, both 20, Austin Madaisky, 19, Hrbas and Tyler Hansen, both 18, and sophomore Brady Gaudet, 17.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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Taking Note on Twitter

Canucks up 2-0 on Bruins!

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Marcel Hossa (Portland, 1998-2001) signed a one-year contract with Spartak Moscow (Russia, KHL). He had 16 goals and 15 assists in 51 games with Ak Bars Kazan (Russia, KHL) last season.
F Ian McDonald (Tri-City, 2000-06) signed a one-year contract with Eaters Geleen (Netherlands, Eredivisie). He had 12 goals and 17 assists in 34 games with the Nottingham Panthers (UK, Elite) and one goal and five games in 10 games with Elmira Jackals (ECHL) last year.
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F David Rutherford (Vancouver, Spokane, 2004-08) has signed with the ECHL’s Florida Everblades. Rutherford spent the last two seasons with the Central league’s Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs. He helped the Mudbugs to the 2010-11 playoff championship, after which the franchise folded.
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THE COACHING GAME:
A few signings that were mentioned here earlier in the week were announced Tuesday. . . . The Regina Pats introduced Pat Conacher as their new head coach on Tuesday. Conacher, who replaces Curtis Hunt, had been the assistant GM/assistant head coach with the Victoria Royals. The Pats have yet to sign an assistant coach, while the Royals obviously now are in the market for one. . . . The Regina Leader-Post’s Craig Slater has more on the Conacher signing right here. . . .  Of course, this means that the Royals are in the market for an assistant coach. Cleve Dheensaw of the Victoria Times Colonist has that story right here. . . . The BCHL’s Westside Warriors signed Rylan Ferster as their GM and head coach, and gave him a three-year contract. He takes over from Darren Yopyk, who has joined the scouting staff of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild. . . . In the college world, Western Michigan University has signed former NHL coach Andy Murray as its head coach. He got a five-year deal. Murray takes over from Jeff Blashill, who now is an assistant coach with the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings. . . .
Spencer Carbery is the new head coach of the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays. He was an assistant with the Stingrays last season. Carbery takes over from Cail MacLean, who signed on as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat.
———
BC Hockey is holding its U17 provincial camp this week in Salmon Arm, which means the competition for the Ted Hargraves Cup is rolling. . . . In the first game, on Monday, the Canucks beat the Bruins, 3-2, in a shootout. F Curtis Lazar and F Nick Petan gave the Canucks a 2-0 second-period lead, with F Riley Hunt and F Sam Reinhart, the latter early in the third, pulling the Bruins even. The Canucks took the shootout, 2-0, on goals by F Chase Witala and Petan. . . . On Tuesday, the Canucks went to 2-0 with a 4-2 victory over the Bruins. Petan, F Dryden Hunt, D Joseph Carvalho and F Ryan Forbes scored for the Canucks, with Riley Hunt and Jackson Houck replying for the Bruins. Carvalho broke a 2-2 tie at 3:30 of the third period, with Forbes adding an empty-netter. The teams were tied 2-2 after one period and played through a scoreless second period. . . . They’ll play again today at 2 p.m., at the Sunwave Centre.
David Michaud, the assistant director of operations, reports from the camp:
“There are 41 players in camp. We will shortlist 20 or so and will eventually take that down to the 11 players who will combine with 11 players from Alberta to play for Team Pacific at the 2012 World Hockey Challenge.”
As an added note, Hockley Canada is expected to announce one of these days that the WHC is being moved from Winnipeg to Windsor, Ont., thanks to the rebirth of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets.
———
JUST NOTES: Kelly Moore, a former radio voice of the Kamloops Blazers, is heading back to Winnipeg. Moore, the program director at CJKC-FM (Country 103) in Kamloops, is going back to Winnipeg to work for CJOB as part of its coverage of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets. Even though it didn’t get the play-by-play rights to the Jets, CJOB apparently is beefing up its hockey coverage. Moore was the radio voice of the Jets for their last two NHL seasons before they relocated to Phoenix. He also called the play for the AHL’s Manitoba Moose before returning to Kamloops to help Country 103 get off the ground. . . . Marc Paquet is the Everett Silvertips’ new athletic therapist. Paquet, 24, has a masters of education in kinesiology from Bowling Green State University. He spent the last two years at Bowling Green, where he was the supervising athletic trainer for men's soccer and softball and an assistant to men's hockey and football. He replaces Chris Walker, who left for the AHL. . . . The Edmonton Oil Kings have signed F Cole Benson, an Edmonton native who was the 178th pick in the 2010 bantam draft. Benson, 5-foot-7 and 148 pounds, played last season with the midget AAA South Side Athletic Club team, putting up 32 points, including 12 goals, in 29 regular-season games.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
     
Taking Note on Twitter

Lots of news . . .

THE MacBETH REPORT:
G Tyler Weiman (Tri-City, 2000-04) signed a one-year contract with the Augsburger Panther (Germany, DEL). He had a 2.62 GAA and a .909 save percentage in 29 games with the Manitoba Moose (AHL) last season. . . .
D Tomas Kudelka (Lethbridge, 2005-07) signed a one-year contract with Vitkovice (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He was pointless in nine games with Pardubice (Czech Republic, Extraliga) and had one goal and five assists in 43 games with TPS Turku (Finland, SM-Liiga) last season. . . .
F Bud Holloway (Seattle, 2003-08) signed a one-year contract with Skellefteå (Sweden, Elitserien). He had 28 goals and 33 assists in 78 games with the Manchester Monarchs (AHL) last season. . . .
D Gord Baldwin (Medicine Hat, 2004-07) signed a one-year contract with Mlada Boleslav (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He had two goals and 11 assists in 75 games with the Abbotsford Heat (AHL) last season.
———
The Regina Pats will introduce Pat Conacher as their head coach this afternoon.
The Pats issued a news release late Monday afternoon indicating they will hold a press conference this afternoon. Later, a few Internet reports indicated Conacher, the assistant general manager and assistant coach with the Victoria Royals, had signed with the Pats.
Early Monday evening, two sources familiar with the situation confirmed Conacher’s signing. He will replace Curtis Hunt, who was fired last month despite having a year left on his contract last month.
That means each of the 22 WHL teams now has a head coach under contract, with the Pats being the fourth team to make a change this summer.
The Everett Silvertips lost Craig Hartsburg to the NHL’s Calgary Flames, and replaced him with Mark Ferner, who had been with the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers.
The Moose Jaw Warriors, who fired Dave Hunchak after last season, now have former NHL defenceman Mike Stothers as head coach. Stothers spent last season as an assistant coach with the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers. Hunchak has since signed on as associate coach with the Kamloops Blazers.
The Seattle Thunderbirds hired former WHL forward Steve Konowalchuk, who had been an assistant coach with the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche. With the Thunderbirds, he replaces Rob Sumner.
Conacher, a 52-year-old native of Edmonton, played in the WHL with the Billings Bighorns and Saskatoon Blades before going on to a professional career that included 521 NHL games split among the New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, Los Angeles Kings, Calgary Flames and New York Islanders.
He has head-coaching experience with the AHL’s Utah Grizzlies and San Antonio Rampage. Conacher spent last season as general manager/head coach Marc Habscheid’s right-hand man with the Chilliwack Bruins, who relocated to Victoria earlier this summer.
Just last week, the Royals signed Ben Cooper as an assistant coach. He had been a video coach with Hockey Canada for the previous three years.
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Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Post-Dispatch reported Sunday that Tyler Wright (Swift Current, 1989-93) is about to be promoted by the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets.
According to Portzline, Wright, who has been the team’s development coach for three seasons, is soon to be promoted to director of amateur scouting and will share that title with Paul Castron, who has been there for five years.
There will be more changes coming, too, as the Blue Jackets have yet to replace Don Boyd, who was dropped as director of player personnel, and Bob Strumm, the former director of pro scouting who was relieved of his duties after the season.
———
Two new chapters to the Boogaard situation were penned on Monday.
Late Monday night, Michael Russo of the Minneapolis StarTribune posted to his blog an email he received from Ryan Boogaard, who is younger than his late brother, Derek, but older than Aaron. That posting is right here.
Earlier in the day, Aaron Boogaard appeared in court on charges relating to Derek’s death on May 13. He did not enter a plea and is to return to court on Aug. 17.
The StarTribune’s story on that appearance is right here.
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Now a few words about a story that will take place today.
Forward Kris Draper of the Detroit Red Wings is expected to announce his retirement today, bringing to an end a 20-year career.
It says something that Draper was a member of four Stanley Cup-championship teams in Detroit.
But what always struck me the most about Draper was that he played the game the right way. A wonderful skater, he played whatever role was requested of him, and he played hard and within the rules.
More players should fashion themselves after Draper.
———
D Jamieson Oleksiak, all 6-foot-7 and 240 pounds of him, has left Northeastern University, where he spent one season, to sign with the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit. He was the 14th overall selection in the NHL’s 2011 draft, taken by the Dallas Stars.
Oleksiak, who is from Toronto but has dual U.S.-Canadian citizenship, will attend the Canadian national junior team’s development camp in August.
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It would seem that Kamloops Blazers F Dylan Willick was rather fit when he showed up at the development camp of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild earlier this month.
In the fitness testing, Willick did 41 metronome pushups, which is a timed sequence involving doing a pushup every three seconds or so.
 In the last three NHL combines, only two players have bettered that number — G Mike Morrison (45) of the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers and F Max Le Sieur (42) of the QMJHL’s Shawinigan Cataractes topped it at this year’s predraft combine. In 2009, F Kyle Palmieri of the U.S. U18 NTDP team also did 41.
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The Portland Winterhawks revealed Monday that they will play 14 home games at the Rose Garden this season, with the other 22 scheduled for Memorial Coliseum.
However, you shouldn’t take that to the bank.
With the NBA presently in lockout mode, those numbers could change.
“If the current NBA labor dispute extends into the scheduled start of basketball season,” the Winterhawks’ news release reads, “the Winterhawks could move games to the Rose Garden. Should that be the case, the Winterhawks will announce those changes as those games approach.”
In other words, stay tuned.
———
Travis Hunington is the new radio voice of the Everett Silvertips.
Huntington, 28, is coming off four seasons with the now-defunct Bossier-Shreveport, La., Mudbugs, who folded after winning the Central league’s 2010-11 championship.
Huntington, a native of Platteville, Colo., will work as the Silvertips’ director of broadcasting and public relations. He replaces Jon Rosen, whose last day with the Silvertips is today.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Ken Pearson, who resigned Monday as GM/head coach of the SJHL’s Battlefords North Stars, has a two-year deal as GM/head coach of the MJHL’s Winkler Flyers. Pearson spent the last three seasons with the North Stars after joining them from the MJHL’s Winnipeg South Blues in April 2008. . . . Pearson has two children who live in Emerson, Man., which is 56 km south east of Winkler, so this move will allow them to see more of each other. . . . In Winkler, Pearson will replace John Marks, who left last week to sign on with the USHL’s Fargo Force. . . . Pearson is a veteran coach who actually is returning to Winkler for a third time. He was on the Flyers’ coaching staff (1996-98) and was GM/head coach for a time after that. He also has extensive scouting experience. . . .
There are reports that Ron Rolston will be the next head coach of the Rochester Americans, the AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. He is the head coach of USA Hockey’s U-18 national development team. . . . He is a brother to NHLer Brian Rolston. . . .
A Monday afternoon tweet from Michael Russo of the Minneapolis StarTribune: “Per sources, ex #NHL dman Mike Van Ryn is leading contender to be John Torchetti's top asst in Houston.” . . . The Houston Aeros are the AHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild.
Former NHL head coach Andy Murray will be the next head coach of the Western Michigan University Broncos. He is reported to have signed a five-year contract. . . . The Broncos have needed a head coach since earlier this month when Jeff Blashill signed on as an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings. . . .
Jim Madigan, who has been an NHL scout for the last 19 years, is expected to be named Northeastern’s head coach today. Numerous reports having him replacing Greg Cronin, who now is an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Madigan is a former Northeastern player (1981-85). He spent 13 years scouting with the New York Islanders, before moving over to the Pittsburgh Penguins. After playing, he worked for six seasons as an assistant coach at Northeastern.
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Take two minutes out of your day and take a look at this Lethbridge TV feature on Tri-City Americans prospect Tyler Mrkonjic. You won’t be sorry you did.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
     
Taking Note on Twitter

Jim Murray's Thoughts on the Future of Sports Journalism

Dallas Woodburn, a Murray Scholar,
at Jim Murray's typewriter.

This week, the Jim Murray Memorial Foundation will be in Missoula, Montana, for the inaugural Sportswriters' Classic Golf Tournament, which is scheduled for July 29. It is to benefit both the foundation and the University of Montana School of Journalism.
Raising money to fund journalism scholarships at 30 of the best journalism schools in the country is our goal. Next month we'll be announcing this year's class of "Murray Scholars."
If you would like to help, visit the JMMF website and make a donation. Help us make sure that Jim's vision of the future of sports journalism doesn't come true. 

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9, 1978, SPORTS
Copyright 1978/THE TIMES MIRROR COMPANY

JIM MURRAY

A Peek at 1984

   They changed the phone system and numbers at The Los Angeles Times for the first time since the days of the crank telephone the other day. It's all in the name of automation, but you'll pardon all of us ink-stained wretches if it makes us a little nervous. I mean, today the phones, tomorrow the staff. 1984 is a little nearer. Big Brother is coming. If they automate the phones, when will they automate the stories? What will become of Hildy Johnson? Will Grantland Rice be made out of tin in the future? Damon Runyon a data bank? Richard Harding Davis just a lot of circuitry with a passport?
   A computer programmed to crank out sports stories is just a couple of transistors away. Of course, it will have to be programmed. First, if they listen to us, it will have to learn a few basics. Such as the questions:
   "What kind of a pitch did he hit?" Which must be asked of a pitcher who has just lost a World Series game in the bottom of the 12th, 1-0. The computer must be programmed to duck as it asks it. Otherwise, the paper is stuck with the biggest hunk of scrap metal this side of the stretch at Indy.
——————
   The computer will have to learn to enter the dressing room of a fighter who has just been carried in with (1) a broken nose, (2) broken ribs, (3) black eyes, (4) dented Adam's apple which will make him sound like a ransom call the rest of his life, (5) hemorrhages on both arms, (6) blood trickling out of his ear, (7) teeth trickling out of his mouth. It will have to ask: "Did he hurt you at any time, Bat?" If the fellow is still conscious, or at least alive, teach your computer to lean down and ask, "Would you like to fight him again?"
   Your computer will have to learn to be resourceful. Look for the pithy quote even when you don't get it from the athlete. If a golfer shoots 80 and says, "I kept hitting it into sand traps," you quote him for the headline, 'Needed Camel, Not a Caddy' Says One-Putt Of His 80. The quote will make all the anthologies, and within a week, One-Putt will think he actually said it.
   When you go into the locker room with a guy who just went 0 for 5 and struck out in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded and he says, "Get outta here, you four-eyed hunk of tin before I take a can opener and make you look like a totaled Toyota!" you make a few subtle changes. Your headline: 'Feeling So Strong it Frightens Me,' Says Slugger, Despite 0 for 5.
——————
   Your story quotes the guy, "Tomorrow we turn these guys into pumpkins. Hope he throws me that knuckler one more time. He'll be eating it for a week.”
   Stories without quotes will be even easier. Just keep a stock of standing headlines. "Rams Blow Super Bowl to Minnesota Again" is good any December. Even the story accompanying it will just need blanks to be filled in: "The Los Angeles Rams blew their chances for the Super Bowl again this year when the Minnesota Vikings defeated them because of (choose one) a blocked field goal, intercepted pass, rainstorm, sunshine, heavy overcast, superior coaching, or all six."
   And with baseball, remember that the fans like figures, and give them to them: "The Los Angeles Dodgers drew their 4 millionth fan, sold their 16 millionth hot dog, tapped their 5 millionth barrel of beer, sold their 3 millionth bobble-head doll and had their 2,709th straight overflowing parking lot yesterday. The message board saluted the 2 millionth septuagenarian couple from Nepal, welcomed the 150,000th Rotary club, and announced that next Saturday will be 'Mafia Night,' with everyone carrying a violin case or horse's head to be admitted free."
   Basketball will be no problem. Keep this standing story: The (leave blank name of franchise) today signed All-American center Tom (Treetop) Tarheeler, the all-time Atlantic Coast Conference scorer with 1,000 points a game, to a multiyear, no-cut contract believed to call for Thode Island, downtown Dallas, parts of Wilshire Boulevard and the mineral rights to the Gulf of Mexico.
   "The deal also includes his parole officer, the judge who validated the three previous contracts he put his 'X' on and the playground director who taught him not to bite people on court."
   Auto racing? Easy. Just remember death is a mar in auto racing. As in, "Leadfoot Lonergan won the 57th running of the Fireball 500 today in a race marred by the death of . . ." You just have to fill in the number of drivers and/or spectators.
   In bullfighting, remember death is not a mar, it's a must. If the bull doesn't die, well, he gets bad notices.
   Don't worry about statistics. Just feed your machine a daily diet of bubble-gum cards and it will know more sports trivia than a Boston cop.
   After a year or so on the beat, though, your machine will begin to act strange. It will keep its hat on in the office. It will begin to drink. It will begin to speak of the home team as "we." It will get sick of people asking, "What's wrong with the Rams?" It will start to complain about box lunches, the Ram offense, and the amount of space it gets for its story. Its mate may start to hope the home team doesn't make the playoffs so it can stay home for Christmas for a change.
   And then will come the day when it will start to write about a mark being set for right-handed, half-Portuguese, half-Italian third basemen, about the "Z-outs" run by the tight ends, and it will start storing up non-winning fractions in dual meets — and you'll know it's the beginning of the end.
   When it starts to write, "Outlined against a blue-grey October sky . . ." or "Give me a handy guy like Sande," then you'll know it's time to go to the graduating class of Princeton and wait for the first kid out of English Lit., and say, "Do you know who Ty Cobb was?" And if he says, "Who?" grab him. You'll know you have yourself the perfect computer for the year 2000.

Reprinted with permission by the Los Angeles Times.
 
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Jim Murray Memorial Foundation | P.O. Box 995 | La Quinta | CA | 92247

Ferster back in BCHL

The BCHL's Westside Warriors are expected to announce in the next few days that they have hired Rylan Ferster as their new general manager and head coach.
Ferster will replace Darren Yopyk, who spent two seasons with the Warriors. Yopyk has taken a scouting job with the NHL’s Minnesota Wild.
Ferster, a veteran of the BCHL coaching wars, spent last season s GM/head coach of the junior B Revelstoke Grizzlies of the Kootenay International junor league. Of late, he has been working in Kelowna at the Pursuit of Excellence alongside former WHL player/coach Troy Mick.
Ferster is no stranger to the BCHL, having spent seven seasons, over two stints, with the Salmon Arm SilverBacks. He also has coached the Victoria Grizzlies.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
     
Taking Note on Twitter

THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Tomas Slovak (Kelowna, 2001-03) signed a tryout contract with Dynamo Minsk (Belarus, KHL). He had three assists in 21 games with Avtomobilist Ekaterinburg (Russia, KHL) and three goals and six assists in 10 games with Chomutov (Czech Republic, 1.Liga) last season. Dynamo opened training camp for the upcoming season on Friday.
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The Lethbridge Giants won the Canadian Big League baseball title Saturday, beating the Cape Breton McNally Dodgers 12-2 in the 2011 championship game at New Waterford, N.S. . . . F Russ Maxwell of the Lethbridge Hurricanes had an RBI double in a seven-run fourth, while D Tyler Hansen of the Kamloops Blazers capped off that outburst with a two-run home run. . . . Next up for the Giants? The Big League World Series in Easley, S.C., July 27 through Aug. 3.
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F Jon (Nasty) Mirasty is off to Russia. Seriously. Mirasty (Prince Albert, Tri-City, Moose Jaw, 2000-02) has signed a one-year deal with Chekhov Vityaz. Last season, Mirasty, 29, played with three teams in three different leagues, totallying one goal, one assist and 159 penalty minutes in 43 games with the AHL-Syracuse Crunch, ECHL-Elmira Jackals and CHL-Fort Wayne Komets. . . . Mirasty’s agent, Eric Beman, has told Lindsay Kramer of the Syracuse Post-Standard that F Jeremy Yablonski, another tough cookie, also is signing with Chekhov Vityaz. Yablonski (Edmonton, Kootenay, Seattle, 1997-2001) played 17 games with the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers last season, earning two assists and taking 48 penalty minutes. . . . Kramer’s blog entry is right here.
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Vincent A. Musetto has retired, ending a 40-year career at the New York Post. Why should you care? Because he wrote one of the great headlines in newspapering history — Headless Body in Topless Bar. . . . Check this out right here, and be sure to read the comments for more great headlines and some chuckles.
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Today’s good read comes from Lindsay Kines of the Victoria Times Colonist, who is one of Canadian journalism’s best kept secrets. In this piece, he talks with former WHLer/NHLer Geoff Courtnall about the impact that mental health has had on him and his family. Archie Courtnall, the family patriarch, committed suicide when Geoff was about to turn 16. Geoff and Russ both have had to deal with depression. . . . Kines’ story is right here.
———
The third annual Courtnall Celebrity Classic golf tournament and gala was held in Victoria this weekend, The Courtnalls have raised more than $2 million, all of which goes to mental health causes with the Victoria Hospitals Foundation.
As someone whose late mother battled depression throughout the latter half of her life, I applaud the work the Courtnalls have done and the willingness of Geoff and Russ to share their story with Lindsay Kines.
My mother once tried to commit suicide by walking into the Assiniboine River at Brandon. Only her size — she was a slight woman and she got stuck in the mud before she was able to venture too far — and a couple with two young children who were having a riverside picnic were able to lead her to safety.
Mental health is something that doesn’t get near the attention it should — there are a whole lot of folks who deal with depression, anxiety and other such mental illnesses on a daily basis, and many of them try to cope on their own.
It’s great to see people like the Courtnalls working to help in this area.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
     
Taking Note on Twitter

Scouting moves in Regina, Red Deer

As expected, Aaron Boogaard, the younger brother of the late Derek Boogaard, was charged Friday and is to appear in Henneping County District Court on Monday.
The Minneapolis StarTribune reported: “Aaron Boogaard, 24, was charged with third-degree sale of a controlled substance, a felony, and interference with a death, a gross misdemeanor.”
Boogaard, who was arrested Wednesday in Minneapolis, was released to his family on Friday.
This has been a tragic story from the outset — Derek died on May 13 — and it seems it is only going to get worse.
Consider this paragraph from the StarTribune’s story:
“A toxicologist found traces of Percocet, OxyContin and oxycodone along with alcohol in Derek Boogaard's body, making it difficult to say which substance killed him. That's the only reason, (Hennepin County Attorney Mike) Freeman said, that Aaron Boogaard wasn't charged with murder or manslaughter.”
The StarTribune’s story is right here, and it contains more details than previously published about the timeline leading up to Derek’s death.
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Veteran scout Dale McMullin has left the Red Deer Rebels and signed on as the Regina Pats’ director of scouting. McMullin, a former WHL sniper (Brandon, 1970-76), had been with the Rebels for nine seasons and had been their Senior Scout. . . . In Regina, McMullin replaces Todd Ripplinger, whose contract wasn’t renewed. Ripplinger has since joined the Vancouver Giants as director of player development. . . . The Rebels have hired Shaun Sutter as their Senior Scout. He spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach with the Pats. Sutter played in the WHL (Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Calgary, 1997-2001). Shaun’s father, Brian, is a former NHL and WHL player and coach.
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THE COACHING GAME:
The NHL’s Winnipeg Jets have hired Pascal Vincent, 39, as an assistant coach. He has spent the last 12 seasons coaching in the QMJHL. Last season, he was the general manager and head coach of the Montreal Juniors. . . .
The NHL’s Montreal Canadiens have signed Randy Cunneyworth and Randy Ladouceur, both former NHL players, as assistant coaches. Both were with the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs last season, Cunneyworth as head coach and Ladouceur as assistant. . . . The Canadiens also named Clement Jodoin as head coach of the Bulldogs. A veteran coach, Jodoin spent the last four seasons as head coach of the QMJHL’s Rimouski Oceanic. . . .
The Southern Professional league’s Mississippi Surge is looking for a head coach. Former NHLer Tim Kerr, who owns the Surge, announced Friday that head coach Steffon Walby won’t be back.
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JUST NOTES: The Everett Silvertips lost athletic trainer Chris Walker on Friday when he left for a job with an undisclosed AHL team. The Silvertips’ news release didn’t specify his destination. Walker, 30, had been with the Silvertips for four seasons. . . . Andy Neal is leaving the Prince George Cougars, who now need a play-by-play voice who also does corporate sales and media relations. Neal and his family are moving to Victoria. According to the Prince George Citizen, Neal “has accepted a position as a broadcaster with the Victoria Royals.” . . . F Marcus Watson (Prince George, 2007-09) will attend Nipissing University in North Bay, Ont., and play for the Lakers. According to hockeydb.com, Watson, from San Jose, played only 27 games over the last two seasons. He got into 16 games with the AJHL’s Grande Prairie Storm in 2009-10 and then played last season in the ECHL with the Stockton Thunder (nine games) and Las Vegas Wranglers (two games). . . . The Dallas Stars have signed Les Jackson, their director of scouting and player development, to a two-year extension. Jackson, one of hockey’s good guys, has been with the Stars since 1985, except for two years (1998-2000) when he was assistant GM with the Atlanta Thrashers (remember them?). Avid WHL fans may also remember that Jackson once was the head coach of the WHL’s Great Falls Americans (remember them?).
———
A note to yesterday’s post referred to Troy Bulmer having won the Saskatchewan men’s amateur golf championship.
Darren Zary of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix has that story right here and it’s one that is well worth reading.
In August, Bulmer and his father, Rod, were driving south through North Dakota en route to North Carolina when their vehicle was struck by a pair of tornadoes. Rod, who had won the Saskatchewan men’s amateur title in 1984, was killed, while Troy was seriously injured.
This story is definitely worth reading.
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If you haven’t already seen them, the Winnipeg Jets unveiled their new logos on Friday. In this instance, the Jets revealed three logos, two of which would appear to have a strong militaristic bent.
But, hey, fans were lined up to purchase merchandise as the announcement was made, so obviously these are a smash hit in Winnipeg and that’s all that counts.
What I want to know, however, is this: Why did they stop at three? Why not a dozen, as in one for each month of the year? Or, six . . . one for each month of the NHL's regular season?

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
     
Taking Note on Twitter

Machacek to Thunderbirds; Royer to Americans

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Lynn Loyns (Spokane, 1997-2001) signed a one-year contract with Villach (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). He had six goals and 11 assists in 21 games for Val Puisteria (Italy, Serie A) last season. . . .
F Shay Stephenson (Red Deer, 2000-04) and younger brother D Logan Stephenson (Tri-City, 2001-06) signed tryout contracts with Jesenice (Slovenia, Austria Erste Bank Liga). Shay did not play last
season while Logan had two goals and three assists in 43 games for the Adirondack Phantoms (AHL). In 2009-10, Shay had six goals and 13 assists in 36 games with the Las Vegas Wranglers (ECHL) and four goals and two assists in seven games for Vålerenga Oslo (Norway, Get Ligaen).
———
Travel with Katy Perry or do play-by-play of the Victoria Royals’ games? Dave Sawchuk chose the former and now Marlon Martens will be doing the latter. Cleve Dheensaw of the Victoria Times Colonist has that story right here.
———
John Scott of the Chicago Blackhawks has had a tough time coming to grips with the death of close friend Derek Boogaard. Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune takes a look at their relationship right here.
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Meanwhile, the Minneapolis StarTribune reported Thursday afternoon that Aaron Boogaard (Calgary, Tri-City, 2002-07) has been arrested “on suspicion of prescription fraud/possession of prescription pills, police said.” Aaron is Derek’s younger brother. The newspaper reported that police have until today at noon to charge him and that charges are expected to be laid this morning. The StarTribune story is right here.
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The Tri-City Americans picked up the rights to F MacKenzie Royer, 19, after he was dropped by the Moose Jaw Warriors. Royer, a second-round bantam draft selection by the Calgary Hitmen in the 2007 bantam draft, put up 11 points in 35 games last season — 16 with the Hitmen and 19 with the Warriors.
———
The Lethbridge Hurricanes have traded D Cason Machacek, 20, to the Seattle Thunderbirds for a sixth-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft. Machacek, from Lethbridge, had six assists and 183 penalty minutes in 65 games last season. He is preparing for his fourth WHL season, having started with the Kootenay Ice. He was dealt to Lethbridge 20 games into the 2009-10 season. . . . In 205 regular-season games, he has 24 points, four of them goals, and 401 penalty minutes. . . . Lethbridge is left with three 20-year-olds on its roster — F Cam Braes, F Austin Fyten and F Brody Sutter. . . . The Thunderbirds now show Machacek, F Burke Gallimore, D Ryan Button and D Erik Bonsor as their 20s.
———
THE COACHING GAME: The ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays are in the market for a head coach after Cail MacLean left to work as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat. MacLean, 34, spent two seasons as South Carolina’s head coach, going 88-48-18. Troy Ward, now the Heat’s head coach, was the head coach of the ECHL’s Trenton Titans, MacLean was his captain.
———
Congrats to John Greenough for his victory in the CPGA of Saskatchewan Zone Championship at Swift Current-Elmwood on Wednesday. Greenough won the three-round affair by six shots, finishing at 8-under thanks in no small part to a course-record 10-under 61 in the first round. . . . Greenough, an old acquaintance from the days when he kicked around a ball a bit bigger than a golf ball on the east side of Regina, is the golf operations manager at Deer Valley Golf Club, which is located a couple of drives northwest of Regina. . . . His late father, Mark, was one of Saskatchewan’s best amateur golfers, which means the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. . . . Well done, John!
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
     
Taking Note on Twitter

Hitmen get goalie; Royals get assistant coach

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Petr Vala (Seattle, 1997-98) signed a one-year contract with Zell am See (Austria, Nationalliga). He had seven goals and two assists in 35 games with Dukla Trencin and Zilina (both Slovakia, Extraliga) last season. . . .
D Darcy Werenka (Lethbridge, Brandon, 1989-1993) signed a one-year contract with Rouen (France, Ligue Magnus). He had 10 goals and 20 assists in 54 games for Graz 99ers (Austria, Erste Bank Liga) last season. . . .
F Adam Hobson (Spokane, 2002-07) signed a one-year contract with Borås (Sweden, Allsvenskan). He had four goals and 11 assists in 35 games for Rögle (Sweden, Allsvenskan) last season. . . .
D Ryan Constant (Kelowna, 2003-04) signed a one-year contract with Milano Rossoblu (Italy, Serie A2). He had 11 goals and 23 assists in 52 games for the Stockton Thunder (ECHL) last season.
———
One of the highlights of doing this blog is hearing, unsolicited, from so many people. Such was the case over the last couple of days following my mention of the passing of Ralph Borger, the former owner of the MJHL’s St. Boniface Saints. He died Sunday at the age of 81.
Shortly after that post, I heard from Dale Hughesman, who is involved in the ownership of the MJHL’s Selkirk Steelers and is the father of Tri-City Americans F Adam Hughesman.
Dale played for the Saints and sent along this anecdote . . .
I was fortunate to play on Ralph's 1981 St. Boniface Saints MJHL championship team, along with some pretty good  players including Mike Ridley and Darren Boyko.
We won Manitoba and were playing the mighty Prince Albert Raiders (coached by Terry Simpson) . . . I think 11 players from that team went on to pro, including Dave Tippett, James Patrick, Robin Bartell, Bill Watson . . .
Ralph thought it would be a good idea to move our team into the Birchwood Inn (now the Holiday Inn) on Portage Avenue in Winnipeg. At the time, the hotel was one of the classiest places in town and we had the whole seventh floor.
The games were being played at the Winnipeg Arena, which was in close proximity to the hotel.
I can't remember the game but we lost and we ended up in the lounge as Ralph wasn't around but our coach, Joe Cyr, was and he didn't seem to mind us being there.
Well, one thing led to another and we closed the place down and, of course, charged the entire bill to Ralph's account. He was a very frugal man and we knew this would drive him nuts. But at that point
we didn't mind.
Believe it or not, we never heard a word about that night. We thought we had gotten away with murder . . .
Skip ahead 25 years to the night Ralph was inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame. We were there as we had just bought the Selkirk Steelers. Most of us had played on that team and we were there to honour Ralph.
The induction dinner was at the Birchwood (Ralph's hotel).
Ralph got up to do his speech and did the usual thank yous and so on.
At the end of the speech, he said: "Oh and one more thing . . . I would like to ask the Selkirk Steelers table to stand up as four of them at that table played on the 1981 championship team."
As we stood up, Ralph reached into a pocket and pulled out a receipt that was about five-feet long and unrolled it in front of the entire room.
He looked at us and said: "Oh, by the way, there is an outstanding bill at the desk in the lounge for about $700. . . . if you guys would kindly look after that before you leave."
It was 25 years later and he did know . . .
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The Calgary Hitmen have acquired G Chris Driedger, 17, from the Tri-City Americans in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2012 banta draft.
Driedger, from Winnipeg, was 6-6-1, 3.50, .881 last season, his first in the WHL, as he backed up Drew Owsley with the Americans. Driedger was one of four WHL goaltenders invited to Hockey Canada’s goaltending camp this season.
The deal leaves the Hitmen with three goaltenders as Driedger joins Mike Snider, 20, and Brandon Glover, who turns 19 on Aug. 21, on their roster. . . . Snider has been with the Hitmen since 2008-09, when he got into 12 games. Last season, he was 10-25-3, 3.54, .883 in 41 appeareances. . . . Glover was acquired last season from the Moose Jaw Warriors. In 31 games with Calgary, he was 9-16-2, 3.54, .891.
By moving Driedger, the Americans cleared the way for highly touted Eric Comrie, 16, to back up Owsley. Comrie, from Newport Beach, Calif., was the 13th overall pick in the 2010 bantam draft.
———
THE COACHING GAME:
The WHL’s Victoria Royals have hired Ben Cooper as an assistant coach. Cooper has been with Hockey Canada, where he has done extensive video work. He has been the video coach with the national junior team for three years, the U18 team at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament for two years, the U18 team at the 2011 world championship, the men’s world championship team in 2009 and the 2010 men’s Olympic team. He also has served as an assistant coach with the SAIT Trojans. . . . 
Is there a coach out there who will made a bigger move in terms of mileage than Mark Morrison? The Winnipeg Jets have hired Morrison as assistant coach for their AHL affiliate, which is located in St. John’s Nfld. Morrison, 48, spent the last five seasons as head coach of the ECHL’s Victoria Salmon Kings, who now are defunct. . . . Morrison will work alongside St. John’s head coach Keith McCambridge. . . .
The AHL’s Rockford IceHogs have promoted assistant coach Ted Dent to head coach. The IceHogs are affiliated with the Chicago Blackhawks. Dent, an assistant coach in Rockford for the last four seasons, replaces Bill Peters, a former Spokane Chiefs head coach, who left to sign as an assistant with the Detroit Red Wings. Peters was Rockford’s head coach through three seasons. . . .
Eric Rud has stepped down as GM/head coach of the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers to return to Colorado College as an assistant coach with the Tigers. Earlier, he spent five seasons on the Tigers’ coaching staff. He also played at Colorado College. . . .
Kevin Dean has signed on as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Providence Bruins. Dean, a defenceman as a player, was head coach of the ECHL’s Trenton Devils last season. Dean, 42, will work alongside Providence head coach Bruce Cassidy.
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JUST NOTES: F Shayne Wiebe (Kamloops, Brandon, 2007-11) has signed an AHL deal with the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets. Their AHL affiliate will operate out of St. John’s, Nfld. Wiebe, who captained the Brandon Wheat Kings last season, finished with 65 points, including 44 goals, in 72 games. After Brandon’s season ended, he joined the AHL’s Connecticut Whale but got into just one game. . . . The U of Calgary Dinos have four former WHLers set to join them for 2011-12. Three of the four — F Tyler Fiddler (Calgary Hitmen), F Max Ross (Lethbridge Hurricanes) and F Taylor Stefishen (Prince George Cougars) — all played in the WHL last season. F David Robinson (Chilliwack Bruins) joined the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers in 2009-10 and helped them two a pair of BCHL titles and one national championship.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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Taking Note on Twitter

THE MacBETH REPORT:
G Barry Brust (Spokane, Calgary, 2000-04) signed a one-year contract with the Straubing Tigers (Germany, DEL). He had a 2.53 GAA and a .925 save percentage in 52 games for the AHL-champion Binghamton Senators last season. . . .
D Lawrence Nycholat (Swift Current, 1996-2000) signed a one-year contract with the Krefeld Pinguine (Germany, DEL). He had five goals and 23 assists in 32 games for the Hershey Bears (AHL) last season. . . .
F Scott King (Kelowna, 1996-97) signed a one-year contract with the Hannover Scorpions (Germany, DEL). He had seven goals and 15 assists in 49 games with Adler Mannheim (Germany, DEL) last season. . . .
G Rastislav Stana (Moose Jaw, Calgary, 1998-2000) signed a two-year contract with CSKA Moscow (Russia, KHL). He had a 2.24 GAA and a .917 save percentage in 26 games with Severstal Cherepovets (Russia, KHL) last season.
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I was saddened to read that Ralph Borger, who for years owned the MJHL’s St. Boniface Saints and was a driving force behind that junior A league, died on Sunday, 18 days past his 81st birthday. . . . Back in the day, when I was at the Winnipeg Tribune, I got to know the always-smiling Ralph and always enjoyed his company. And no one was more supportive of the MJHL than was Ralph. . . . Oh, those were some kind of meetings with Ralph and Ben Dzikowicz in attendance! . . . For more on Ralph and his contributions to hockey, check out this right here. . . . You have to know that hockey is better for this man having taken a huge interest in it.
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Alan Caldwell over there at Small Thoughts At Large has done up his annual study of the WHL teams and mileage they will accumulate in the approaching season. Yes, the Prince George are No. 1 on the bus parade. . . . Check it out via the link over there on the right.
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The Vancouver Giants have added veteran WHL scout Todd Ripplinger to their front office. Ripplinger, whose contract wasn’t renewed by the Regina Pats last month, is the Giants’ new director of player development. Ripplinger had been Regina’s director of scouting since 1997. . . . The Giants also extended the contracts of director of player personnel Jason Ripplinger and scouting director Terry Bonner, both of whom have been with the club since Day 1. . . . Yes, the Ripplingers are brothers. . . . Terry Bonner is the father of Giants general manager Scott Bonner and Kamloops Blazers GM Craig Bonner.
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F Kevin King (Kootenay, 2006-11) has signed with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch. He had 76 points, including 33 goals, in 68 games with the Ice last season, then added 16 points in 19 playoff games as the Ice won the WHL championship. He had 227 points in 335 games with the Ice over five seasons. . . . Mark Holick, a former Ice head coach, is heading into his second season as the Crunch’s head coach.
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Ben Pherson of the Rochester, Minn., Post-Bulletin offers up his opinion of what’s going on with NCAA hockey. That is right here, and he doesn’t think this is such a good idea.
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Mark Driver of the Providence Journal checks in with old friend Ed Staniowski, whose goaltending helped the Regina Pats win the 1974 Memorial Cup at the Corral in Calgary. Staniowski certainly has had an interesting time since his hockey career came to an end. That story is right here.
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JUST NOTES: F Marcel Noebels of the Seattle Thunderbirds has signed a three-year deal with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers. From Germany, he was a fourth-round pick in the 2011 NHL draft. Last season, his first in the WHL, Noebels had 54 points, including 28 goals, in 68 games. . . . The MJHL’s Selkirk Steelers have acquired the rights to F David Conrad (Spokane, Tri-City, 2008-11) in a deal with the Winnipeg Saints. Conrad, from Winnipeg, is a 20-year-old. He had 24 points in 69 games with Tri-City last season. . . . G Julien LaPlante, who lost his scholarship to Union College, because he didn’t tell the coaching staff he had played 20 minutes in an exhibition game for the Portland Winterhawks, will attend Providence College. There’s more right here.
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THE COACHING GAME: Former NHL player John Marks is the new director of hockey operations and head coach of the USHL’s Fargo Force. He spent last season as head coach of the MJHL’s Winkler Flyers. With the Force, he takes over from Jason Herter, who left for an assistant coaching role with the U of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. Marks was attractive to the Force at least in part because he played and coached at the U of North Dakota. . . . Former WHL coach Jeff Truitt is one the move again. But this time he is at least staying in Texas. Truitt, a former assistant and head coach with the Kelowna Rockets, stepped down as director of hockey operations with the Moose Jaw Warriors a year ago to become an assistant coach with the San Antonio Rampage, then the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes. But the Coyotes have moved their affiliation from San Antonio to the Portland, Me., Pirates, with the Florida Panthers now the Rampage’s parent club. Truitt, who just last week was working the Coyotes’ development camp, was named Monday as an assistant coach with the Texas Stars, who are hooked up with the NHL’s Dallas Stars. Glen Gulutzan, who was the Texas head coach last season, has moved up as head coach in Dallas. Last week, Texas named Jeff Pyle its new head coach. . . .
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By now you likely have heard that former WHL and NHL star Joe Sakic scored a $1-million hole in one on Sunday. If you haven’t seen it, the video is right here, and it is outstanding. I can’t ever recall seeing the normally reserved Sakic celebrate like that after scoring a goal.
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Today’s good read comes from Adrian Dater of SI.com. . . . Get yourself a double-double and check out this story right here. It’s all about Tim Horton and Tim Hortons.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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Taking Note on Twitter

New Season With Music Begins at Del Mar Racetrack     

Del Mar, where the likes of Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Betty
Grable and Harry James once hung out.

Where the turf meets the surf. Still heard through the loudspeakers and sung by attendees at Del Mar as if Bing Crosby were still with us and doing the crooning.
The house for the sport of kings plays host to what is sure to be a great season of racing and after-race concert series, all of which kicks off Wednesday, July 20, and runs through Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011.

Concert Schedule:
July 22: G-Love & Special Sauce
July 29: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Aug. 5: The Bravery
Aug. 6: Weezer
Aug. 12: Jimmy Eat World
Aug. 19: Devo
Aug. 26: The Airborne Toxic Event
Sept. 2: Fitz and the Tantrums
Sept. 4: Ben Harper at Del Mar

Now . . . enjoy Jim Murray's 1988 column on Del Mar music!

Jim Murray

December 30, 1988

A Little Music Would Not Hurt Del Mar

   Bing Crosby, Pat O'Brien and a few of their cronies opened it as kind of their very own horse parlor. It wasn't really meant for the general public.
   It was opened in the no-man's land, the (then) still virginal territory between the beginning-to-boom marketing areas of Los Angeles and San Diego.
  They built a gorgeous, postal-card clubhouse, a cross between a Spanish mission and a 1930s movie palace, and a good time was had by all.
  It didn't cost all that much to build a race track of one's own in the Depression-gripped 1930s, a time when movie people alone had a corner on most of the money earned in this country. Steel mills might be shutting down, soup kitchens might be opening up, but people still found dimes to go to the Saturday matinees and dream.
  Money was never really the point of the Del Mar race track, camaraderie was. Which was a good thing because money was not flowing. A track 110 miles from the horseplayers put too great a strain on their love for longshots. The year Del Mar opened, its daily average attendance was 4,654 and the handle was $101,104 a day. That same year, Santa Anita was averaging 18,541 a day and a handle of $653,820. Hollywood Park was to draw 16,708 a day and a handle of $499,882.
  But Del Mar made up in charm what it lacked in coin. It came to be serenaded as the "Saratoga of the West." Where the surf met the turf. But it was not so stuffy as its Eastern counterpart; you didn't have to wear a hat or carry a parasol at Del Mar, and it had amenities the New York track couldn't offer. The Pacific Ocean on its home stretch, for example.
  You could find Harry James and Betty Grable there almost any afternoon when they were two of the biggest names in show business. Crosby and Bob Hope were on the road to Del Mar constantly. Jimmy Durante bet there. So did, of all people, J. Edgar Hoover, at a time when he was America's invisible government. It was the FBI director's favorite recreation spot.
  As the megalopolis to the north and the mini-megalopolis to the south grew, so did Del Mar. But not disproportionately. The handle crept from $2,224,301 its first year to $23,846,789 the year after the Second World War. It hit $166,033,640 last year. Bing and Pat's little hideaway horse parlor became very big business indeed.
  It has never been thought of as such. It has been run by the 22nd Agricultural District as a cross between a public library and crap game. Bing bowed out because he always hankered to own a big league baseball team, and when the chance came up, in those more puritanical times, he had to make a choice between owning the Pittsburgh Pirates and owning a race track. Or even a race horse.
  The track was operated for about 20 years by the Texas megabucks combine of Clint Murchison and Sid Richardson, proceeds to a charity called Boys Inc.
  But Del Mar is 50 years old. Its picturesque grandstand is considered seismically unsafe. It must be replaced. By whom and with what has become a major issue in San Diego County. Estimated cost: $75 million to $100 million.
  There are three groups bidding for the next 20-year lease to operate the track: (1) The entrenched management now operating the club under lease, who propose two decades more of status quo with the grandstand to be built if and when revenues warrant it; (2) John Brunetti, operator of Hialeah Race Track in Florida, who proposes addition of a 10th race daily to up the take, and (3) A joint venture group consisting of the Ogden Corporation, a concessionaire and airline maintenance conglomerate, and James Nederlander, a theater magnate, who propose to build the new grandstand at their own expense.
  The rub? Ogden-Nederlander want to use the facility in the off-season for "entertainment and non-racing events." Opponents hiss: "Rock concerts!" Ogden-Nederlander counter: "Bolshoi Ballet!"
  Ogden-Nederlander foresee a kind of Hollywood Bowl South. Opponents see motorcycle gangs.
  Is it time for Bing's dark-eyed little senorita to shuck the lace-mantilla past and join the world of commerce and contracts? Will it be like his other little crony lawn party, the golf tournament, which is now an AT&T extravaganza?
  On the face of it, it looks like a match race between Man o' War and a claimer. The private-sector option promises the massive and necessary construction at no cost to the taxpayers — and at no great damage to the neighborhood.
  "Who ever heard of Nureyev breaking up a neighborhood?" demands Neil Papiano, lawyer for the Ogden-Nederlander group. "Is the Boston Pops going to pollute the air? People don't come on motorcycles to see La Boheme."
  His position and the position of his clients (Nederlander himself is a resident of nearby Carlsbad) is that the facility needs the transfusion from the private sector to even survive.
  "Our plan is to upgrade the facility at no cost to the state, the taxpayer, the community. So far as we know, there are no other funds ready for this purpose. These are stands which were thrown together as a tribute to palship by Crosby and his buddies a half-century ago. The facilities are outmoded, even dangerous, but the present operators offer no proposal for restoration other than to trust the matter to the state. Our proposal requires no legislative approval, no expenditure of state funds, no gubernatorial signature.
  "The plain facts of the matter would seem to be that there are no funds available from the state for the project, that the reality is the new grandstand is going to be built by private funds or it is not going to be built at all. We see a symphonies-by-the-sea program as a valuable adjunct to the racing program and an essential support to the race
track."
  In short, a little night music would seem to be in prospect for Bing's playhouse by the sea. It's hard to believe Der Bingle could object to that — where the blue of the night meets the gold of the day.

Reprinted with permission by the Los Angeles Times
 
Follow the Jim Murray Memorial Foundation on Facebook and find event photos, upcoming events and past Mondays With Murray posts.

Jim Murray Memorial Foundation | P.O. Box 995 | La Quinta | CA | 92247

THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Kevin Seibel (Prince George, Swift Current, Vancouver, 1998-2004) signed a one-year contract with Rødovre (Denmark, AL-Bank Liga). He had seven goals and 14 assists in 51 games for the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs and Odessa Jackalopes (both Central Hockey League) last season. . . .
F Stepan Novotny (Kelowna, Swift Current, 2008-11) signed a tryout contract with Lev Poprad (Slovakia, KHL). He had 22 goals and 18 assists in 58 games with Swift Current last season. . . .
D Mike Wilson (Swift Current, 2005-08) signed a one-year contract
with Starbulls Rosenheim (Germany 2.Bundesliga). He had one goal and 19 assists in 62 games for the Victoria Salmon Kings (ECHL) last season.
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Former WHL D Ray Maluta (Flin Flon Bombers, 1970-74) won’t be returning as head coach of the U.S. sled hockey team. Leo Roth of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle has more right here.
———
The world of NCAA hockey is in something of a state of flux these days. Pat Borzi has the latest right here in The New York Times.
———
Danny Martin of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner has more on the NCAA hockey situation right here.
———
While some NCAA schools and conferences are jockeying for position, another school — Minnesota State-Moorehead — is working to raise funds in order to start men’s and women’s hockey programs. There’s more on that from the Forum of Fargo-Moorhead right here.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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Taking Note on Twitter

Big weekend in Shaunavon

Dave Sheldon is leaving the AHL’s Abbotsford. Sheldon has been the Heat’s play-by-play man and director of communications for two years. He has WHL ties, having called the play for the Chilliwack Bruins, Everett Silvertips and Vancouver Giants. . . . Cam Tucker of the Abbotsford Times has more right here.
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D David Dotan, who is from Richmond, B.C., has decided to attend Simon Fraser U and play hockey there. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Dotan played 45 games with the Prince Albert Raiders (2007-09) before playing for the BCHL’s Burnaby Express and the AJHL’s Spruce Grove Saints.
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They’re throwing a party in Shaunavon, Sask., this weekend and well they should. The good citizens there are opening their $14-million recreation complex — the Crescent Point Wickenheiser Centre. . . . If you have ever lived on the Prairies, you know the value of such a facility to a community like Shaunavon. . . . Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post has more right here.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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Taking Note on Twitter

Jenny's back on the block

How bad are the mosquitoes in Edmonton these days? “You have to be careful when coaching third base at our ball park that you don’t put on the hit and run at the wrong time because you were slapping a mosquito on the indicator sign,” Edmonton Capitals manager Orv Franchuk told Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun. . . . “I’ve never seen anything like it,” Eskimos GM Eric Tillman told Jones. “The next thing that’s going to pop up on our injury report is malaria. It’s like we’re practising in a jungle!” . . . The skeeters were so bad on Thursday that the Eskimos moved their practice inside. . . . Those mosquitoes likely have more bite than the 0-2 B.C. Lions, who are in Edmonton tonight. . . .
Here’s one from blogger R.J. Currie: “The Daily Mail reports the Seattle Mariners are one of the teams planning to have nut-free games this year. I thought they did that when they released Milton Bradley.” . . . With the Dodgers having filed for bankruptcy protection, ABC-TV’s Jimmy Kimmel offered: “I don’t know how an organization that sells a beer for $12 runs out of money, but they did.” . . . Comedy writer Jim Barach noted: “Who knew that the old Dodgers mantra of ‘Wait ’til next year!’ would have to do with trying to meet payroll?” . . . Iowa Speedway, the site of a recent IndyCar race, is known for its really bumpy corners. When the Des Moines Register asked driver Danica Patrick about her propensity for taking those corners at full throttle, she replied: “That took some ovaries to do.” . . .
A Tuesday tweet from the PGA of B.C., during a tournament in Pemberton: “Bear on the 4th hole just ripped apart a players bag at Big Sky in Assistants Championship.” . . . Which goes to prove the golf adage that some days you eat the bear and other days the bear eats your bag. . . . Having baseball’s all-star game decide home-field advantage in the World Series, notes Len Berman of thatssports.com, “makes as much sense as moving the Super Bowl to the home city of one of the teams based on the Pro Bowl! They’ve gotta change this.” . . . The man has a point. . . .
It’s almost as if the rats are deserting a sinking ship. First, it was Jeff Marek leaving Hockey Night in Canada for Sportsnet and now Pierre LeBrun has bailed for TSN. Marek used to be on HNIC’s iDesk, while LeBrun, who will continue to work for ESPN.com, was part of the After 40 Minutes gang. . . . And, if you missed it, Rogers Sportsnet cut ties with hockey play-caller Peter Loubardias on Wednesday. No explanation given. . . . Loubardias was the TV voice of the Calgary Flames and also handled the Memorial Cup for Sportsnet. . . . Say it ain’t so, J-Lo! Say it ain’t so! . . . It’s a wonder that the Internet didn’t implode from all the bad jokes after J-Lo and her third husband, ol’ what’s his name, announced they had visited Splitsville. . . .
Ty Davidson and the Golden Rockets are hoping the DeFrias brothers from Kamloops will burn up the KIJHL in the fall. Brett, a defenceman, had 32 points in 43 games with the Rockets last season. The other day, Davidson acquired Colten, a forward, from the Kelowna Chiefs. He had 36 points, including 22 goals, in 34 games last season. . . . In Saskatchewan, where it’s all Roughriders all the time, they have unveiled Darian’s Darios, a cereal named after QB Darian Durant. . . . “To boost first-week sales for the cereal,” writes Dave Deibert of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, “grocery stores around the province were offering a Roughriders special: 13 boxes for the price of 12.” . . .
Our man Dylan Armstrong got some publicity in Toronto on Tuesday, before winning the National Track League shot putting title there the next evening. “Press has been crazy,” he said via text on Tuesday evening. “Did Canada AM on CTV at studio. Was really good.” . . . Armstrong was in Victoria on July 2 to honour old friend Gary Reed, Canada’s best-ever 800-metre man and an Olympian. A lot of Reed’s friends gathered for a retirement dinner; they also named the Victoria Track Classic’s main event The Gary Reed 800m. . . . Mike Bianchi, in the Orlando Sentinel: “Did you see where Greg Anderson, Barry Bonds’ personal trainer, has been barred from coaching a youth league baseball team in the San Francisco area? Too bad because he would have given a whole new meaning to the term ‘juice boxes.’ ” . . .
Catharine Pendrel, the reigning World Cup champion who trains in Kamloops, is in Canmore today for the Canadian cross-country mountain bike championships. She will be working to keep rival Marie-Hélène Prémont from her seventh Canadian elite title, which would tie Alison Sydor’s record. . . . Ron Judd, in the Seattle Times: “Weather records indicate Seattle has been getting wetter and warmer, which at least ought to provide some new material for people who gripe that it’s only been getting richer and ruder.” . . . Jeff Speedy, a former interim athletic director and women’s basketball coach at TRU, will be back on campus later this year. He is bringing his U of New Brunswick Varsity Reds to the annual BDO Canada preseason tournament. . . .
In case you missed it, the legendary Joey Chestnut won the Nathan’s hot dog-eating contest on July 4. The inaugural women’s title went to Sonya (The Black Widow) Thomas. He downed 62 hot dogs in 10 minutes; she handled 40. . . . The Left Coast Sports Babe would like to see a division for super models. “The winner would be the first to finish a cocktail weiner,” she scribbled. . . . Pat Hickey, in the Montreal Gazette: “It’s comical to see Matthew Hulsizer pop up as the possible owner of the St. Louis Blues. Here’s a guy who was only willing to put up $70 million of his own money to buy the Phoenix Coyotes and now he’s going to pony up $165 million for the Blues?” . . .
You may not be interested in hearing this but quarterback Brett Favre is said to be thinking about playing some more football. Here’s Greg Couch of FanHouse.com: “Brett Favre is like a piece of gum you’ve chewed too long and can’t find a place to spit out. Once you finally do — thank God! — you accidentally step in it and can’t get it off your shoe.” . . . During the second round of last week’s John Deere Classic, John Daly came up with a 13 on the par-3 fourth hole. “Two-putted,” he explained. “(I missed a) 20-footer for 12.” . . . Hey, golfers, have you heard about the Rupert Murdoch Invitational? Comedy writer Alan Ray explains it: “Not a lot of good golfers involved. Mostly a bunch of hackers.”

Gregg Drinnan is sports editor of The Daily News. He is at gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca, twitter.com/gdrinnan, and gdrinnan.blogspot.com. Keeping Scoreappears sporadically over the summer months.

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Sean Selmser (Moose Jaw, Red Deer, 1991-95) signed a one-year contract with Dornbirn (Austria, Nationalliga). He had 16 goals and 25 assists in 58 games for the Coventry Blaze (UK Elite) last season. . . .
D Mark Isherwood (Medicine Hat, 2005-10) signed a one-year contract with Cortina (Italy, Serie A). He had 15 goals and 20 assists in 70 games for the ECHL-champion Alaska Aces last season. Isherwood was also named to the ECHL All-Rookie team. . . .
D Vladimir Mihalik (Red Deer, Prince George, 2005-07) signed a one-year contract with Lev Poprad (Slovakia, KHL). He had one goal and eight assists in 66 games with the Norfolk Admirals (AHL) last season.
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Peter Loubardias hasn’t had time to change the message on his voice mail, which indicates that he is employed by Rogers Sportsnet.
Unfortunately, that no longer is true.
Loubardias, who knows as much, if not more, about major junior hockey than anyone else in this country, lost his job Wednesday.
Loubardias, 43, told Vicki Hall of the Calgary Herald that he is “devastated. Heartbroken. Hurt.”
Major junior hockey has no greater friend — or fan — than Loubardias, who was Sportsnet’s play-by-play voice at the Memorial Cup. He also called the play of Calgary Flames’ games for three seasons.
But you can bet that not getting to call games at the Memorial Cup has cut him to the bone.
"I have treasured the opportunity to cover eight Memorial Cups," he told Hall. "That's hard for me to even talk about. I have been so lucky to be involved with the national broadcast of that tournament.
"To think next year in Shawinigan that's going to be somebody else, that one really hurts. That one really stings."
Hall’s complete story is right here.
What is rather strange about the Loubardias story is that Bruce Dowbiggin, who keeps an eye on the sports media for The Globe and Media, wrote Wednesday that there is a “shortage of available sports TV talent.”
Scott Woodgate, Rogers’ vice-president of news and information, told Dowbiggin: “There are all these rumours of an implosion at Sportsnet. I don’t know where they’re coming from. We’re building our team at the moment. We haven’t got enough people to do all the things we want to do.”
You figure it out!
———
Back in the day, I spent a couple of WHL seasons working alongside Loubardias on broadcasts of Regina Pats’ games.
I don’t know what amazed me more — his photographic memory (I don’t know that he ever misidentified a player, and he knew every player on both teams) or his love for the game of junior hockey.
I would suggest that the number of hockey games he saw over the course of any one season rivalled the total witnessed by any NHL scout.
———
F Brendan Ranford of the Kamloops Blazers acknowledges that he fought weight and conditioning problems in the second half of last season. There’s more on his story right here.
The Blazers will open 2011-12 by playing four straight home games. Ranford will miss the first three of those as he completes a WHL-issued suspension. You may recall that he drew a six-game suspension after cross-checking linesman Kris Hartley in a late-season game.
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F Max Reinhart of the Kootenay Ice has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the NHL’s Calgary Flames. Reinhart had 79 points, including 34 goals, in 71 games with the WHL-champion Ice last season. He had 27 points, 15 of them goals, in 19 playoff games. He was Calgary’s first selection in the 2010 NHL draft — the Flames didn’t have a first- or second-round pick, and took him in the third round (64th overall). . . . He is one of three brothers expected to play in the WHL in 2011-12. . . . Griffin, a defenceman, is heading into his second season with the Edmonton Oil Kings. . . . Sam, a forward, will join Max with the Ice.
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F Craig Cunningham, who played out his WHL eligibility last season, has signed a three-year entry-level deal with the Boston Bruins. They selected him in the fourth round of the 2010 NHL draft. He played more than four seasons with the Vancouver Giants before he was traded to the Portland Winterhawks in December. . . . Cunningham finished his WHL career with 264 points in 330 regular-season games. Over his last four seasons, he played in 67, 72, 72 and 71 games.
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D Josh Hanson of the Portland Winterhawks is the lone WHL player (and one of three CHLers) to have been selected to play for the U.S. U-18 team at the 2011 Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament in Breclav, Czech Republic, and Piestany, Slovakia, from Aug. 8-13. . . . He had three points in 43 games with Portland last season. . . . Canada’s selection camp runs July 30 through Aug. 2.
———
THE COACHING GAME:
The yet-to-be nicknamed AHL team in St. John’s, Nfld., has named Keith McCambridge (Swift Current, Kamloops, 1991-95) as its head coach. McCambridge was an assistant coach with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose for the last two seasons. Prior to that, he spent two seasons as head coach of the ECHL’s Anchorage Aces. . . . With the relocation of the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg, the Moose has moved to St. John’s, Nfld. The Moose will be the AHL affiliate to the Jets.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
     
Taking Note on Twitter