F Riley Armstrong (Kootenay, Everett, 2002-04) signed a contract with SaiPa Lappeenranta (Finland, SM-Liiga). He had three goals and four assists in nine games with the Elmira Jackals (ECHL) and one goal and two assists in five games with the Binghamton Senators (AHL) this season. The contract is for the rest of the season but there is an opt-out clause which can be exercised during the next two weeks.
———
For a taste of some hockey Christmas spirit, head on over to Joe Pelletiers’s Greatest Hockey Legends — the link is over there on the right — and check out some of his recent postings. . . . You will especially enjoy the posting “Merry Christmas from the Montreal Canadiens” — even if you’re not a fan of the Habs.
———
F Adam Lowry of the Swift Current Broncos is scheduled to have surgery this morning to repair a fractured wrist. It isn’t yet known how long he will be out. “We don’t know all the details yet so I’m not sure how it will affect our thinking towards the deadline,” Mark Lamb, the Broncos’ GM/head coach, told me in a text message on Monday afternoon.
Shawn Mullin, the radio voice of the Broncos on The Eagle 94.1 FM, tweeted: “Apparently Lowry got hurt in Game 4 of the season but tests were not conclusive until now. It's amazing Lowry played this well (point per game, PP, PK, big hits, fighting, made super series) all with a fractured wrist. A huge loss!”
Mullin had some spare time on his hands Monday — LOL! He was stuck in an airport due to travel delays — and was able to post some thoughts on the Lowry injury and what it means to the Broncos.
———
The Everett Silvertips have brought back G Andy Desautels, 17, to ride shotgun with Kent Simpson while Austin Lotz is with Team West at the U-17 World Hockey Challenge in the Windsor area. Desautels, who was with the Silvertips for a while last season, has been with the SJHL’s Flin Flon Bombers, going 9-4-1, 3.35, .903. Everett selected him in the fifth round of the 2009 bantam draft. . . The Silvertips meet the host Seattle Thunderbirds tonight in Kent, Wash.
———
There was an interesting debate taking place on the Portland Winterhawks forum at OregonLive.com on Monday night.
It seems the Winterhawks are promoting themselves in a TV commercial that has caused some controversy.
While I haven't seen it, according to one Portland fan, “The commercial featured footage of Hawks players delivering hard hits/checks or clearly getting the better of a foe in a fight.
“The ‘tag line’ . . . at the end of the commercial was ‘Season's Beatings from the Winterhawks’.”
Seriously! Season’s Beatings.
At a time of year when police forces and support groups all say there is an increase in domestic abuse, we have a WHL team wishing folks “Season’s Beatings.”
Now that is an interesting marketing strategy.
———
The Brandon Wheat Kings have brought in F Tim McGauley, 16, from the midget AAA Notre Dame Hounds. The Wheat Kings have three players away with F Mark Stone (Canada) and F Alessio Bertaggia (Switzerland) at the World Junior Championship and D Ayrton Nikkel at the U-17 World Hockey Challenge. . . . McGauley was a first-round pick by the Saskatoon Blades in the 2010 bantam draft. Brandon acquired his rights in the Brayden Schenn deal that was made prior to the last trade deadline. . . . McGauley has 35 points, including 22 goals, in 25 games with the Hounds. . . . The Wheat Kings are at home to the Regina Pats on Wednesday.
———
D Jordan Thomson, 15, is expected to make his WHL debut with the Kamloops Blazers tonight against the Giants in Vancouver. Thomson, the fourth overall selection in the 2011 bantam draft, will stay with the Blazers through Jan. 2. They play four games between tonight and New Year’s Day. . . . Thomson has 15 points, including 12 assists, in 20 games with the midget AAA Southwest Cougars, who play out of Souris, Man.
———
With G Andrey Makarov (Russia) at the World Junior Championship, the Saskatoon Blades will go with Adam Todd, who has gotten into only six games to this point, and Alex Moodie, 16, who has been brought in from the midget AAA Winnipeg Wild. . . . Todd is 1-2-1, 5.15, .852. . . . Moodie was a fifth-round pick in the 2010 bantam draft. He is 15-0-1, 1.87 with the Wild. . . . The Blades are at home to the Edmonton Oil Kings tonight, then go home-and-home with the Prince Albert Raiders.
There has never been a subscription fee for this blog, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much.
Posts
