F Josh Green (Medicine Hat, Swift Current, Portland, 1993-98) signed a one-year contract with KooKoo Kouvola (Finland, Liiga). Last season, with Tappara Tampere (Finland, Liiga), he had nine goals and 15 assists in 48 games. He was an alternate captain.
———
The Vancouver Giants have claimed F Taylor Crunk, 20, off waivers from the Victoria Royals. Crunk,
from San Jacinto, Calif., had 14 points, 10 of them goals, in 71 games with the Royals last season. In four seasons in Victoria, he has 43 points, including 21 goals, in 241 games. He will bring a lot of grit and toughness to the Vancouver lineup. The Giants were 7-27-2 on the road last season, the biggest reason they missed the playoffs. . . . Crunk’s acquisition also leaves the Giants with four 20-year-olds, the others being D Arvin Atwal, F Jackson Houck and F Carter Popoff. Each WHL team is allowed to have three on their roster after the mid-October cut-down date. D Mason Geertsen also is on the Giants’ roster but is expected to play in the Colorado Avalanche’s organization. . . . The Royals show six 20-year-olds on their roster, including G Justin Paulic and G Coleman Vollrath. Also in that group are forwards Greg Chase, who has signed with the Edmonton Oilers and could play in their organization, Logan Fisher, Alex Forsberg and Jack Palmer. . . . However, Palmer no longer is on the Royals’ roster, having cleared waivers earlier this summer, while Paulic is moving on after three seasons in the WHL. He is expected to attend the U of Manitoba and play for the Bisons.Crunk still has to deal with a charge of assault causing bodily harm that was filed against him in March following a New Year’s Eve party in Saanich, B.C. . . . Crunk’s trial date has been set for Sept. 21 in Victoria.
——
The Calgary Flames have signed D Oliver Kylington, 18, to a three-year, entry-level NHL contract. The
Flames selected him in the second round, 60th overall, in the NHL’s 2015 draft. . . . He is from Stockholm and is under contract for two years with AIK, a Swedish professional team. . . . Kylington’s WHL rights belong to the Brandon Wheat Kings, who selected him last month in the CHL’s import draft. . . . As I understand it, if Kylington doesn’t make the Flames out of training camp, his first option is to return to AIK. If AIK declines — and who knows why that would happen? — the Flames would have the option of putting him with their AHL team — the Stockton Heat — or the Wheat Kings. . . . Interestingly, Kylington has been in Spain, training with D Johnny Oduya, who was an unrestricted free agent before signing a two-year deal with the Dallas Stars on Wednesday. He had been with the Stanley Cup-champion Chicago Blackhawks. . . You have to think Kylington and Oduya did some celebrating last night. . . . Here’s hoping they didn’t run with the bulls in Pamplona.——
Got a tip or some information you feel could be useful to me, feel free to send an email to greggdrinnan@gmail.com.
———
The AJHL’s Calgary Canucks announced Wednesday that Ryan Barrett, their director of hockey operations and head coach, “has been relieved of his duties.” . . . Barrett took over as head coach prior to the 2011-12 season. He replaced Don Phelps, who had been the team’s head coach since 1977. . . . Last season, the Canucks went 17-33-10 and finished last in the eight-team Viterra South Division. . . . If you’re interested, contact Pat Loyer, the Canucks’ new president, at 403-681-9625 or by email at phloyer@shaw.ca.———
Chad Scharff is back in the WHL, this time as the Saskatoon Blades’ equipment manager. . . . Scharff, 29, spent 11 seasons with the Vancouver Giants, where he played, scouted, worked as an assistant coach and also was the head equipment manager. He spent the past two-plus seasons with the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers as an assistant equipment manager. . . . With the Blades, he takes over from Graham (Spike) Watt, who now is with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose.——
Some goaltenders go on to pro, others — well, at least one — go on to write songs and be a lead singer. That would be James Priestner (Kamloops, Brandon, Prince George, 2007-11). He’s a writer and the lead singer with The Lunas. Give a listen right here to a tune titled Uh Oh.
———
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price taking time out in #Kelowna to support Breakfast Club of Canada. pic.twitter.com/0HPcTfGhK8
— Regan Bartel (@Reganrant) July 15, 2015
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.
