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| Sven Baertschi of the Calgary Flames shows off the puck with which he scored his first NHL goal on Sunday. (Photo courtesy a huge Baertschi fan) |
F Vaclav Varada (Tacoma/Kelowna, 1994-96) has been loaned to Slovan Ustecti Lvi (Czech Republic 1.Liga) by Trinec (Czech Republic, Extraliga) for the remainder of this season. Varada had six goals and seven assists in 16 games for Trinec; he did not play a game for Trinec until early January due to injury. Trinec's season ended last week with their loss to Zlin in the quarterfinals, three games to two. Varada will join Slovan for their best-of-seven semi-final series against Dukla Jihlava, which begins today in Ustecti Lvi. . . .
F Keegan Dansereau (Calgary, Swift Current, 2003-09) signed a one-year contract with Mörrum (Sweden, Division 1). He had two goals in one game for the Horse Lake Chiefs (Alberta, North Peace Senior Hockey League) this season. Dansereau played for Mörrum in 2010-11, getting 32 goals and 25 assists in 37 games.
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Attention Chilliwack hockey fans!
You likely don’t pay attention to such things — after all, you have no reason to — but the WHL regular season is into its last week.And guess what?
Yes, the first rumour surfaced on Monday.
“Hearing Cougars to Chilliwack again,” reported a source with knowledge of the situation.
So, folks, here we go again. The silly season has started.
We know that after the Bruins were taken away from Chilliwack — you perhaps know that they now are the Victoria Royals — almost a year ago, there were strong rumours that the Cougars could be headed south.
Well, I can tell you that Cougars owner Rick Brodsky seriously considered relocation and there was some communication with Moray Keith, who had been one of the Bruins’ owners. However, nothing came of it.
We will have to wait and see if they do the dance again this spring or summer.
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F Sven Baertschi of the Portland Winterhawks scored his first NHL goal Sunday as the Calgary Flames scored a 4-3 victory over the host Minnesota Wild.
Baertschi, the WHL’s only two-point-per-game player, remains with the Flames, who brought him in him Wednesday under emergency recall rules. The Flames had nine players out with injuries on Sunday. Baertschi is allowed to stay with them until two of those injured players are cleared to return.
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D Joe Morrow of Portland has a career-high 64 points. That is the highest total by a Portland defenceman since Andrew Ference put up 68 in 1997-98. The Winterhawks won the Memorial Cup that season. . . . Portland F Nic Petan scored four goals in Saturday’s 11-3 victory over the host Seattle Thunderbirds. It was the first time in Winterhawks history that a 16-year-old had scored four goals in one game.
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The Tri-City Americans have added yet another youngster to their roster. D Clint Filbrandt, 16, played for the midget AAA Calgary Northstars this season.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Shawn Mullin, the radio voice of the Swift Current Broncos, reported last night that “Swift Current Minor Hockey has relieved Jason Johns of his duties as Head Coach/Manager of the Midget AAA Legionnaires. There aren’t many more details to share than that. The board will begin the search for a new coach immediately.”
There is a link to Mullin’s blog over there on the right.
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Doug Lunney of the Winnipeg Sun is a former WHL goaltender who crossed over to the right side. He has some thoughts on the MJHL’s reaction to the performance turned in by Dauphin Kings GM/head coach Marlin Murray last week, and that piece is right here.
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Now that you’ve read Lunney’s piece, and no doubt you have viewed the video, you should know that Murray plans on filing an appeal. Seriously!
I’m thinking the MJHL should make Murray work as a referee for 12 games.
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IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY:
Eastern Conference
Edmonton (1) vs. Brandon (8)
Moose Jaw (2) vs. Saskatoon (7)
Medicine Hat (3) vs. Regina (6)
Calgary (4) vs. Kootenay (5)
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Western Conference
Tri-City (1) vs. Victoria (8)
Kamloops (2) vs. Everett (7)
Portland (3) vs. Kelowna (6)
Vancouver (4) vs. Spokane (5)
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MONDAY’S GAMES
None.
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TODAY’S GAMES
Red Deer at Medicine Hat
Prince Albert at Saskatoon
Spokane at Seattle
Prince George at Tri-City
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