Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Kamloops school ends hockey program








F Alexander Gogolev (Calgary, Victoria, 2011-13) has been assigned by Lada Togliatti (Russia, KHL) to Ariada Volzhsk (Russia, Vysshaya Liga). Gogolev signed a one-year contract with Lada in June. Last season, with Severstal Cherepovets (Russia, KHL), he had a goal and two assists in 24 games.
---
You go to bed on Monday night and you’re part of a hockey team in your hometown.
You wake up Tuesday morning and find out that team is gone. Kaput!
So, Ryan Hanes, how do you feel?

Hanes, who played in the WHL (Kamloops, Prince George, 2008-13), was planning on playing for the Kamloops-based Thompson Rivers University (TRU) WolfPack this season.
However, TRU announced Tuesday morning that it was dropping its support of the WolfPack hockey team after six seasons.
The hockey program was operated by a society and was a ‘club’ team that played with the support of the athletic department but wasn’t a varsity team. There are baseball and swimming teams that operate under the same system at TRU. Golf and badminton programs were dropped earlier this year.
The hockey program was established “for student/athletes who wanted to continue to play competitive hockey while pursuing their education,” Ken Olynyk, TRU’s athletics and recreation director, said in a news release. “They made every effort possible to maintain the program to this point, but due to economics and a lack of a sustainable model, we have no choice but to dissolve the program.”
A source familiar with the situation has told Taking Note that the hockey program is more than $50,000 in debt.
The WolfPack played in the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League, which is left with five  teams -- the Eastern Washington U Eagles, who play out of Cheney, Wash.; the Selkirk College Saints (Castlegar, B.C.); Simon Fraser U (Burnaby, B.C.); the Trinity Western U Spartans (Langley, B.C.); and the U of Victoria.
---



F Tyler Mosienko (Kelowna, 2000-05) says he is working to rebuild his life and his career after becoming involved in a gambling scandal while playing in Denmark last season. Mosienko has signed with the Sheffield Steelers (Great Britain, Elite). The Sheffield Star has more right here.---
Former NHLer Jon Rohloff has filed a concussion-related lawsuit against the NHL. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court in the District of Minnesota. . . . According to the filing, Rohloff, who played for the Boston Bruins (1994-97), “suffered multiple head traumas during his NHL career that were improperly diagnosed and treated by the NHL. Mr. Rohloff was never warned by the NHL of the negative health effects of head trauma.“ . . . It’s all right here.
---
The Spokane Chiefs have signed F Hayden Ostir of Winnipeg, a second-round selection in the 2014 bantam draft. Earlier, the Chiefs signed F Jaret Anderson-Dolan, their first-round selection. . . . Ostir had 75 points, including 35 goals, in 47 games with the bantam AAA-1 team at the Pursuit of Excellence in Kelowna last season.
---
Unifor, the labour union that is working to organize major junior hockey players, has met with the Ontario’s labour and sports ministers. Rick Westhead of TSN reports that the government may strike a task force “to examine working conditions for players in the Ontario Hockey League,” according to the Unifor president. . . . Westhead’s report is right here.
---




The Vancouver Giants have signed Jason Ripplinger, the director of player personnel, and Terry Bonner, the club’s scouting director, to multi-year contract extensions. No other details were released. Both men have been with the organization since 2001. Bonner is the father of Giants general manager Scott Bonner and Kamloops Blazers GM Craig Bonner. . . . Don’t forget that Alan Caldwell, over there at Small Thoughts at Large, is taking a team-by-team look at WHL prospects. There’s a link over there on the right.
---
THE COACHING GAME:
If video killed the radio star, it is doing nothing but bolstering the Portland Winterhawks’ coaching staff. The Winterhawks have added Keith McKittrick to their coaching staff as an assistant under GM/head coach Jamie Kompon. . . . McKittrick comes to Portland with an extensive history in the video side of the game, including the last two as assistant coach -- video. . . . Interestingly, Kompon also has a history as a video coach; in fact, he has two Stanley Cup rings as the video assistant with the Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Blackhawks. . . . As well, Kyle Gustafson, who is preparing for his 11th season as a Winterhawks assistant, also is a veteran of the video game.
---



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.
PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket

  © Design byThirteen Letter

Back to TOP