Taking Note

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.
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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
     
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