Saturday, July 23, 2011

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.
———
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.
———
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.
———
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.
———







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

  © Design byThirteen Letter

Back to TOP