G Daniel Spence (Calgary, 2004-09) signed a one-year contract with Jokipojat Joensuu (Finland, Mestis). He had a 2.93 GAA and a .915 save percentage in 26 games with Nipissing University (CIS) last season.
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If you’re a hockey fan, you surely have some ideas that you feel would help make the game better at the NHL and major junior levels. . . . Sean McIndoe, over at grantland.com, attacked that very assignment with a whole lot of vim and vigour. His piece is right here. . . . Hey, WHL, give this a read and pay attention. There are a few things in here that could help your game, too.
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The Brandon Wheat Kings have signed their first three selections in the WHL’s 2013 bantam draft – F Nolan Patrick, who was taken fourth overall, D Kale Clague, who went sixth, and F Tanner Kaspick, who was the 25th player selected. . . . Patrick, from Winnipeg, led that city’s bantam AAA league in scoring last season, with 75 points in 30 games with the Winnipeg Hawks. He is the son of former Wheat Kings F Steve Patrick. . . . Clague had 77 points in 33 games with the Lloydmister Heat of the Alberta bantam AAA league. His father, Jason, is a former WHL goaltender. . . . Kaspick, a Brandon native, had 38 points in 42 games with the midget AAA Wheat Kings.———
The Spokane Chiefs and Chris Moulton, their director of player personnel, have agreed on a three-year contract extension that runs through 2015-16. Moulton, who is from Fernie, B.C., had been with the Chiefs since June 2005. Prior to that, he had worked with the Calgary Hitmen.———
F Anthony Bardaro has decided to attend the U of British Columbia and play for head coach Milan Dragicevic with the Thunderbirds. Bardaro, who is from Delta, B.C., completed his WHL eligibility with the Prince Albert Raiders last season. A sixth-round pick of the Spokane Chiefs in the 2007 bantam draft, he had 190 career points in 268 games.
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F Jakob Stukel of the Vancouver Giants underwent knee surgery this week and may not play again this season. Stukel, who was injured during offseason training, was a second-round selection in the 2012 bantam draft. He had 43 points, including 30 goals, with the Valley West Hawks of the B.C. Major Midget League last season. He also had four points, two of them goals, in six games with the Giants.———
THE COACHING GAME:
Mark Ferner is back with the Kamloops Blazers. Ferner was named the club’s associate coach on Wednesday and will work alongside head coach Dave Hunchak. . . . Ferner previously coached the Blazers (2002-06), first as an assistant and then as head coach. He also played for the Jr. Oilers/Blazers (1982-85). . . . He followed up his Kamloops coaching stint with four seasons with the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers, winning three straight BCHL titles and a pair of national championships. . . . Ferner signed on as head coach of the WHL’s Everett Silvertips prior to 2011-12 but was dismissed during last season. . . .———
From Bruce Luebke (@wheatkingsvoice): “BTW, GM/Coach Kelly McCrimmon says @bdnwheatkings Director of Player Personnel position remains vacant, but could be filled shortly.”
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