Taking Note

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Ryan Stone (Brandon, 2001-05) signed a one-year contract with TPS Turku (Finland, SM-Liiga). He had 11 goals and 14 assists in 51 games with the Abbotsford Heat (AHL) last season. . . .
F Jamie Lundmark (Moose Jaw, Seattle, 1998-2001) signed a one-year contract with Dinamo Riga (Latvia, KHL). He had six goals and 12 assists n 34 games with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) and three goals and seven assists in 18 games with Timrå (Sweden, Elitserien) last season. . . .
F Jordan Knackstedt (Red Deer, Moose Jaw, 2004-08) signed a one-year contract with Bolzano (Italy, Serie A). He had 12 goals and 14 assists in 66 games with the Providence Bruins and Rochester Americans (both AHL) last season.
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Post-concussion syndrome has halted the career of yet another hockey player. Dave Scatchard (Portland, 1993-96) revealed Monday via Twitter that his career is over.
Randy Starkman of the Toronto Star talked with Scatchard and began his story like this:
Hockey journeyman Dave Scatchard can’t push his three young kids on the swing because of post-concussion symptoms.
He can’t remember anything from his final hockey game in April, when he was knocked unconscious for five minutes by a late hit while playing for the AHL’s Peoria Rivermen and woke up frightened in an ambulance because he didn’t know where he was.
Starkman’s complete story is right here.
Scatchard offers up some interesting thoughts on the late Rick Rypien and on concussions in hockey. But it is the last paragraph of Starkman’s piece that is the most haunting.
He quotes Scatchard, whose decision was made while at the Mayo Clinic, as saying:
“That’s something that the doctors at the Mayo Clinic are going to try to work with me on to see if we can get some of the symptoms to go away. I don’t know the treatment yet, but he promised me that he’d try to figure out something that could help me with that.”
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JUST NOTES: The Edmonton Oilers have added Duane Sutter to their staff of pro scouts. Sutter (Lethbridge, 1976-80) had been the Calgary Flames director of player personnel (2008-11). He was relieved of his duties following last season. He is the father of F Brody Sutter of the Lethbridge Hurricanes. . . . The Brandon Wheat Kings announced Monday that they have received transfers for their two selections in the 2011 CHL import draft. Swiss F Alessio Bertaggia and Slovkian F Bruno Mraz are expected to arrive in Brandon this week and should be on the ice when training camp begins next week.
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THE COACHING GAME:
J.P. Hoornstra of the San Bernardino Sun reports that the ECHL’s Ontario Reign was “set to extend an offer to Jason Christie to become the team's next head coach Monday, according to sources with knowledge of the discussions.” . . . Christie (Saskatoon, 1986-90) was the Central league’s coach of the year last season while with the Bloomington Prairie Thunder. . . . The Reign is looking to replace Karl Taylor, who now is an assistant coach with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. . . . Hoornstra’s story is right here.
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And now for something completely different. . . .
If you haven’t yet heard about what happened to outfielder Matt Holliday of the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night, check it out right here.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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