Hockey loses another friend . . . Pats sign, uhh, an assistant trainer

F David Stieler (Swift Current, 2006-08) has signed a one-year contract with Regensburg (Germany, Oberliga). Last season, with Skalica (Slovakia, Extraliga), he had 28 points, including 13 goals, in 54 games. . . .
F Dan DaSilva (Portland, 2002-05) has signed a one-year contract with the Augsburger Panther (Germany, DEL). Last season, with the Ontario Reign (ECHL), he had 26 points, seven of them goals in 14 games. In 61 games with the Worcester Sharks (AHL), he had 37 points, including 17 goals. . . .
F Matt Keith (Spokane, Red Deer, 1998-2003) has signed a two-year contract with the Braehead Clan Glasgow (Scotland, UK Elite). Last season, with Red Bull Salzburg (Austria, Erste Bank Liga), he had seven goals and eight assists in 53 games. . . .
F Luke Walker (Portland, 2007-10) has signed a one-year contract with the Graz 99ers (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). Last season, with Medveščak Zagreb (Croatia, KHL), he had a goal and two assists in 36 games. The general manager and head coach of Graz is Todd Bjorkstrand, the father of F Oliver Bjorkstrand of the Portland Winterhawks.
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Adam and Dale Hughesman, enjoying a father-son day.
(Photo: Tri-City Americans)

 Hockey lost another friend when Dale Hughesman died Thursday night after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Hughesman, who was 51, was the father of former Tri-City Americans F Adam Hughesman. Among so many other things, Dale also was heavily involved with the MJHL’s Selkirk Steelers, and had served as the franchise’s governor in recent years.
Funeral arrangements are pending.

Words can't describe how much I will miss my dad. Have a new guardian angel watching over our family! I love you so much and will continue
— Adam Hughesman (@Hughdog17) August 1, 2014

To make you proud in the way I carry myself and act in the future!You battled so hard and it's your time to rest Dad.See you again @hughey17
— Adam Hughesman (@Hughdog17) August 1, 2014

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John Fisher is the corporate secretary with the Portland Winterhawks’ Booster Club. I would suggest he also is the de facto director of communications because no one does more to keep the club’s members informed than he does.
On Friday, after I had written here about mental health awareness as an issue, he responded with this:
This is a subject very near and dear to me for almost 30 years in helping those teenagers who "manifest" mental health issues usually around 15 years of age ... As I have specialized in teenagers with Bipolar and/or Schizophrenia as well as all the related issues of these illnesses ...
Thank you Gregg Drinnan for posting and bringing to the forefront this most important issue as well as other "health matters" for children and teens in our favorite sport, including "concussion injuries."
I, too, have always taken the stance that "the stronger person” is the one who seeks out medical intervention and counseling ... Even if someone else "intervenes" on your behalf."
The stigma of Mental Health should never be a sign of any sort of weakness! In fact, most of "my kids" have "tested academically in the 90th percentile in most all subjects." They just have issues and frustrations applying their "God Given Smarts" in meaningful ways ...
So, being extremely "smart" does not make you immune to illnesses, including Mental Health issues ...
I say to those afflicted, BE STRONG AND SEEK OUT help and do not let any preconception of weakness stop you ... You are stronger than the illness by having a "support team!"
... And YOU MATTER ... YES YOU MATTER to so many ... Tomorrow will be a better day!
Mental Health assistance and crisis lines are available 24 Hours a Day Seven Days a Week (24/7) all across North America. A call to ANY Emergency Room can help you with immediate assistance and crisis line telephone numbers.
... YOU ARE NOT ALONE ... People are there to Help and Not to there to judge ... Just "pick up the phone."
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Back in the day, I quite enjoyed watching Mike Toth when he appeared on TSN and later on Sportsnet. It was the dry sense of humour and the fact that he didn’t make sports more than they are -- a game.
But . . . one day Toth was there, and the next day he wasn’t. That was four years ago.
What happened?
Toth answers that question, at least partially, right here. He also writes about having “struggled with depression my entire life.”
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The Lethbridge Hurricanes and former assistant coach Brad Lukowich have settled a lawsuit that was launched by Lukowich after he had been fired by the organization on Feb. 8. . . . A source told Taking Note a few weeks ago that the claim had been settled, with Lukowich getting paid out and also getting all fees and costs and an apology.
Carmela Gentile of Global News reports that “Lukowich was seeking $108,000 plus damages at the time the court documents were filed.”
Here is the complete news release that was issued Friday morning by the Hurricanes:
The Lethbridge Hurricanes Hockey Club and Mr. Brad Lukowich have settled Mr. Lukowich’s claim arising from his departure from the Lethbridge Hurricanes Hockey Club in February, to their mutual satisfaction.
Lukowich stated: “I appreciate the Hurricanes willingness to resolve these matters constructively. My wife Cara, our daughters and I have grown very fond of the city of Lethbridge and all it has to offer. My goal is still to teach and coach at the highest level possible the game that gave me so much so that I can give back. I look forward to the next opportunity to pursue that goal.”
Brad Robson, General Manager, stated: “Although we initially announced Brad was terminated for cause, it has subsequently been determined by the Lethbridge Hurricanes Hockey Club that his departure was not for cause. The Club extends their sincere appreciation for his services and wish him success. Brad's strength is his focus on player development. I expect to see him involved in hockey operations next season."
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Taking Note also has been told that Doug Soetaert and the Everett Silvertips have settled a breach of contract lawsuit that he filed March 14, 2012. . . . Soetaert, who was fired as Everett’s general manager on Feb. 2, 2012, and the Silvertips actually made it into the courtroom for a three-day trial last month. Apparently, the two parties got together and resolved things before Judge Bruce I. Weiss issued a decision.
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The NHL’s Ottawa Senators have promoted former WHL player/coach Bob Lowes to chief amateur scout. . . . Lowes joined the Senators as a part-time amateur scout in 2006. He has been a full-time scout since 2008. . . . According to a news release, “As chief amateur scout, he will provide direction to the entire amateur scouting staff as the group prepares for each year’s NHL draft.” . . . Lowes spent nine seasons as a head coach with the Brandon Wheat Kings and three with the Regina Pats. . . . The Senators also announced that they have hired Don Boyd, another former WHL coach (Regina, 1982-83), as a full-time amateur scout. He had been working for the Senators as a scouting consultant.
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The Regina Pats are rumoured to be close to signing a head coach; of course, they also are rumoured to be close to adding Lorne Molleken to their front office, too.
One thing they do have is an assistant trainer. The Vernon Morning News reported Friday morning that Gord Cochran, who has been with the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers since 2009, has signed on with the Pats. A native of Williams Lake, B.C., he had been the Vipers’ trainer/equipment manager.
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Jim Hiller, a former WHL head coach with the Chilliwack Bruins and Tri-City Americans, signed on earlier this week as an assistant coach with the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings. On Thursday, Hiller appeared on The Locker Room Show (610 KONA). That clip is right here, starting at about the 9:30 mark. (Stick tap to Locker Room co-host Craig West for the link.)
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Dave McLellan is the new GM/head coach of the junior B Nelson Leafs, who play in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. He replaces Matt Hughes, who signed on in May but left last weekend to coach at the Pursuit of Excellence in Kelowna. The Nelson Daily has more right here.
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So the Hurricanes acknowledge that they did not have cause to fire Brad Lukowich. I imagine he'll now be paid his contract as he should?
— Alan Caldwell (@smallatlarge) August 1, 2014

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Lukowich files wrongful dismissal suit; City Council grills Lethbridge president, WHL commish

G Justin Pogge (Prince George, Calgary, 2003-06) has signed a two-year contract with Färjestad Karlstad (Sweden, SHL). This season with Karlskoga (Sweden, Allsvenskan), he was 2.16 and .921 in 51 games. . . .
D Tomáš Slovák (Kelowna, 2001-03) has signed a two-year contract with Hradec Králové (Czech Republic, Extraliga). This season with Plzeň (Czech Republic, Extraliga), he had 13 points, including four goals, in 47 games.
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Brad Lukowich, a former assistant coach with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, is suing the WHL team, claiming wrongful dismissal.
On Monday afternoon, Paul Kingsmith (@paulkingsmith) of Global-TV in Lethbridge tweeted: “Documents obtained by Global show Hurricanes sued by former assistant coach Brad Lukowich for wrongful dismissal.”
Neither the Hurricanes nor Lukowich would comment, according to Kingsmith.
Perhaps the most interesting part of the lawsuit is this, which came in another tweet from Kingsmith: “In the suit, Lukowich alleges he raised concerns ‘regarding non-compliance by certain Hurricanes coaches with policies mandated by the WHL.’ ”
Later in the day, Kingsmith and Bradley Jones posted a story that is right here.
Lukowich began this season as an assistant coach under Lethbridge head coach Drake Berehowsky. When Lukowich wasn’t at practices in early February, the team claimed that he was ill. On Feb. 8, general manager Brad Robson announced that Lukowich had been “terminated for cause."
Robson told the Lethbridge Herald at the time:
"It’s been going on for a couple of weeks, of course you know Brad left the team last week and I’ve been dealing with it, speaking with him and we’ve decided this is the course of action. For Brad’s future and for the Hurricanes’ future.
“Brad’s goal is still to be a coach, to eventually become a head coach and he’ll continue to work toward that, just not with the Lethbridge Hurricanes.”
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Brian McNaughton, the president of the Lethbridge Hurricanes, and WHL commissioner Ron Robison appeared in front of Lethbridge city council on Monday night.
Here are some highlights, as tweeted by Pat Siedlecki, the radio voice of the Hurricanes on 94.1 CJOC (BTW, it’s worth noting that the Hurricanes no longer have a broadcast contract; it expired with the end of this season):
“Robison says WHL is fully committed to Lethbridge market and the league will NOT be leaving the Lethbridge area.”
“Robison says WHL has had straight forward talks with Pres. Brian McNaughton & Governor Herman Elfring.”
“Robison says the WHL has agreed to approve the Lethbridge Hurricanes current business plan going forward.”
“Robison states the status quo is not acceptable for the Hurricanes going forward and club must adhere to new guidelines.”
“McNaughton says moving forward the team must do two things: (1) Be competitive and (2) Be profitable.”
“McNaughton says: ‘We expect to make the playoffs, but not deviate from the plan to build from within.’ ”
“McNaughton says team will be filling Assistant Coach & Assistant GM positions.”
“Commissioner Ron Robison says Lethbridge is one of the best markets in the WHL. He states team needs stronger leadership.”
“McNaughton tells Councillor Coffman the Hurricanes currently have around 2200 shareholders.”
“McNaughton tells Councillor Mauro team will be better next season by making younger players better and bringing in older players to help.”
“Robison says people need to be patient, although patience is getting thin in Lethbridge. He says there is no quick fix.”
“McNaughton says the number one thing the Hurricanes need to focus on is selling tickets.”
“Robison says he believes no team has an economic advantage over another in the WHL. Says the difference is management.”
Siedlecki has posted some audio from the City Council meeting right here. The second link is a question-and-answer session and is worth a listen. (At one point, about 30 minutes in, Robison says that the Portland Winterhawks are "arguably a model franchise within our league."
Paul Kingsmith of Global-TV also was paying attention to the goings-on at the council meeting. Among his tweets was this one:
“ 'Canes President McNaughton says team is resetting its objectives with league guidance after previous 5 year plan failed.”
Later in the evening, Kingsmith posted a story and it is right here.
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1. F Tim Bozon of the Kootenay Ice is making good progress as he recovers from his battle with Neisseria meningitis. On Monday, Bozon (@timbozon94) tweeted: “Two months today since I got really sick .. Made lots improvement #RoadtoRecovery #good.” . . . Bozon is going through the rehabilitation process in Capbreton, France.

2. The Portland Winterhawks will be without F Brendan Leipsic for Game 1 of the WHL’s championship final for the Ed Chynoweth Cup. Leipsic has been suspended for one game for a spearing major and game misconduct that he incurred late in the fifth and final game of the Western Conference final on Friday in Kelowna. He was penalized after getting involved with Kelowna Rockets F Tyrell Goulbourne. . . . Leipsic is a repeat offender, having already served three- and seven-game suspensions this season. The fact the WHL chose to give him only one game for this latest incident would seem to indicate that it didn’t deem this one as being very serious.

3. The Coaches Conference has announced three guest speakers for its 2014 weekend. Former Nashville Predators head coach Barry Trotz, Ryan Huska, the head coach of the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets, and strength-and-conditioning guru Matt Nichol all will be involved in this year’s conference, which is scheduled for July 18 and 19 at the U of British Columbia. . . . For more info, visit the conference’s website at thecoachessite.com or click on the ad at the top of this page.

4. The QMJHL’s Val-d’Or Foreurs and Halifax Mooseheads are going to a Game 7. The Foreurs beat the visiting Mooseheads 7-5 on Monday night, meaning the third-round series is 3-3. It will be decided tonight in Halifax. . . . The other semifinal, between the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and Baie-Comeau Drakkar, also has gone to a Game 7. It will be played tonight in Baie-Comeau.

5. Dear Sportsnet: My brain turns to hazelnut mush whenever that Hazel promo appears. Once an hour is enough. Thank you.

6. G Eetu Laurikainen, who played the last two seasons with the Swift Current Broncos, has signed with the Espoo Blues (Finland, SM-liiga). Laurikainen played out his junior eligibility this season with the Broncos, going 25-20-6, 2.90, .914. He is from Jyvaskyla, Finland.

7. The ShoWare Center in Kent, Wash., which is home to the Seattle Thunderbirds, didn’t lose as much money in the first quarter of 2014 as officials had projected. That was thanks, at least in part, to the Thunderbirds getting three home playoff games. . . . Steve Hunter of the Kent Reporter has more right here.

8. The Austrian Ice Hockey Association won’t be resigning Emanuel Viveiros, the head coach of its national men’s team. The announcement came two days after Austria wound up second in the IIHF Division 1 Group A world championship, earning promotion to the top division. . . . Viveiros is a former WHL defenceman (Prince Albert, 1983-88) who has a son, Layne, on the Portland Winterhawks’ roster. . . . There is more on that story right here.
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THE FOURTH ROUND (best-of-seven; all times local):
WHL final, for the Ed Chynoweth Cup
(x - if necessary)
(all games televised by Shaw)
PORTLAND (2, West) vs. Edmonton (1, East)
Season series: Portland, 0-0-1; Edmonton, 1-0-0.
Saturday: Edmonton at Portland, 7 p.m. (Moda Center)
Sunday: Edmonton at Portland, 5 p.m. (Moda Center)
Tuesday, May 6: Portland at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, May 7: Portland at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
x-Friday, May 9: Edmonton at Portland, 7 p.m. (TBA)
x-Sunday, May 11: Portland at Edmonton, 4 p.m.
x-Monday, May 12: Edmonton at Portland, 7 p.m. (TBA)
INJURIES
Portland: None.
Edmonton: None.
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MONDAY’S GAME:
No game scheduled.
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From Tyson Dallman (@dolly_lama83): “Why don't Portland and Edmonton just have a seven game series in September and save everyone a whole bunch of time? #WHL”


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Lukowich: No hard feelings

Brian Costello of The Hockey News has a neat story right here about a one-game backup goaltender who was hoping that a particular AHL game would turn into a blowout. It didn't happen, but he still got to live a dream.
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The Kootenay Ice won their 30th game of the season on Saturday, the 16th straight season it has won at least that many games. . . . The Prince George Cougars have won six straight games for the first time since October 2005. Something will have to give today as the Cougars play host to the Portland Winterhawks, who have won 12 in a row. . . . The winning streak has the Cougars within two points of the Tri-City Americans, who hold down the Western Conference's last playoff spot. The Americans meet the Blazers in Kamloops this afternoon.
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MONDAY’S WHL GAMES (all times local):
Tri-City at Kamloops, 2 p.m.
Portland at Prince George, 2 p.m.
Victoria at Vancouver, 2 p.m.
Seattle at Kelowna, 2:05 p.m.
(NOTE: It’s a holiday in B.C., as we enjoy Family Day.)
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SUNDAY’S GAMES:
At Everett, F Josh Winquist scored twice to lead the Silvertips to a 3-2 victory over the Spokane Chiefs. . . . Winquist broke a 1-1 tie at 17:15 of the second period, then added his 36th goal of the season at 2:00 of the third. . . . He also drew an assist on F Matt Pufahl's goal, his 12th, on a first-period 5-on-3. . . . F Marcus Messier got the Chiefs to within 3-2 at 13:51 of the third, but the visitors couldn't beat G Austin Lotz for the equalizer. Lotz finished with 16 stops. . . . This was the eighth time these teams have met this season and it was the first time Spokane didn't open with G Eric Williams. Instead, Garret Hughson got the start and he finished with 23 saves. . . . Spokane F Mitch Holmberg, the WHL's leading scorer, was held pointless. . . . Winquist has career highs in goals, assists (40) and points (76), all in 51 games. Last season, in 51 games, he had 51 points, 24 of them goals. He now has 199 career regular-season points in 285 games. . . . . . . The Chiefs continue to be without F Liam Stewart (foot). . . . The Chiefs will play eight of their next 10 at home. . . . The Silvertips (27-21-8) are seventh in the Western Conference, one point behind the Vancouver Giants. . . . The Chiefs (32-19-5) are fifth, six points behind the Seattle Thunderbirds and six ahead of Vancouver. . . .

In Swift Current, G Eetu Laurikainen stopped 24 shots to help the Broncos to a 3-0 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings. . . . The Finnish sophomore has four shutouts this season and five in his career. . . . This was the first time this season that Brandon was blanked. . . . F Nathan Burns ended a scoreless game with a shorthanded goal at 1:47 of the second period. He's got 21 goals this season. . . . Broncos D Brycen Martin had two goals, giving him six. . . . Brandon was 0-for-8 on the PP; the Broncos were 1-for-3. . . . These teams have met four times since Jan. 17 and in each instance they were playing for first place in the East Division. They evenly split the four games. . . . The are scheduled to meet again March 2 in Swift Current. . . . The Broncos (28-21-8) now lead the East Division, by two points over the Wheat Kings (28-21-6). . . . How important is first place in the division? As the leader, the Broncos are the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference at the moment. The Wheat Kings now are sixth, two points behind the Kootenay Ice and one ahead of the Regina Pats.
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From Vancouver freelancer Dickson Liong (@DLLiong): "Former Lethbridge assistant coach Brad Lukowich on his release: 'It's for the good of (both parties). There are no hard feelings.' "
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From Darren Steinke (@MHND_Steinke) of the Medicine Hat News: "The sister of #Medhat Tigers centre Markus Eisenschmid is @TEisenschmid #23 on Germany's women's Olympic team."

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Hurricanes fire assistant coach

The Lethbridge Hurricanes fired assistant coach Brad Lukowich on Saturday.
Here is the team’s news release, in its entirety:
“The Lethbridge Hurricanes announced Saturday, Assistant Coach Brad Lukowich is no longer with the team.
“LethbridgeHurricanes General Manager Brad Robson says Lukowich has been ‘terminated for cause.’
“Lukowich joined the Hurricanes coaching staff in June 2013 after more than a decade in the National Hockey League with 6 different teams.”
Because Lukowich was fired “for cause,” the Hurricanes won’t pay out his contract.
Lukowich was hired by the Hurricanes on June 24, two weeks after Drake Berehowsky was named head coach.
Lukowich had been in the Dallas Stars organization, while Robson was a regional scout for the NHL team.
"It's been a long relationship so we know each other quite well and him being the GM is the No. 1 thing," Lukowich, who is from Cranbrook, told Trevor Crawley of the Cranbrook Daily Townsman when he signed with Lethbridge. "I know his history, he knows mine, so just going up there even today, it was very comfortable, like we been around each other for a long time. Really, it came down to the term and the familiar face of Brad Robson that landed me in Lethbridge."
Lukowich, 37, played three seasons with the Kamloops Blazers and was on the Memorial Cup-winning teams of 1994 and 1995. He went on to play 658 NHL games with the Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils, San Jose Sharks and Vancouver Canucks. He retired after spending the 2011-12 season with the AHL’s Texas Stars.
For more, read this story right here from Dylan Purcell of the Lethbridge Herald.
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F Austin Glover of the Kelowna Rockets suffered a broken ankle five games into this season. He ended up undergoing surgery and the ankle now includes a steel plate and five pins.
But, as much as he is having trouble believing it, he’s back in the game.
"It still hasn't really sunk in that I'm back," Glover told the Kelowna Daily Courier after scoring 7:50 into his first game back, Wednesday’s 4-3 victory over the visiting Red Deer Rebels, "but I'm just really happy to be out here again and doing my part to help the guys. Hopefully I can keep it going and help the team out. Energy is what I need to bring right now, especially this late in the season, and just some intensity and hard work."
Glover, who turned 18 on Jan. 15, is from Clavet, Sask.
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SUNDAY’S WHL GAMES (all times local):
Spokane at Everett, 4:05 p.m.
Brandon at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
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MONDAY’S WHL GAMES (all times local):
Tri-City at Kamloops, 2 p.m.
Portland at Prince George, 2 p.m.
Victoria at Vancouver, 2 p.m.
Seattle at Kelowna, 2:05 p.m.
(NOTE: It’s a holiday in B.C., as we enjoy Family Day.)
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SATURDAY’S GAMES:
In Moose Jaw, the Swift Current Broncos ended a three-game losing skid with a 6-3 victory over the Warriors. . . . The Broncos scored the game’s first five goals and coasted from there. . . . F Jay Merkley scored twice for the Broncos, giving him 24 this season. . . . F Graham Black chipped in a goal, his 28th, and three assists for Swift Current. . . . The Broncos had a 45-26 edge in shots. . . . The Broncos (27-21-8) are sixth in the Eastern Conference, two points behind the Kootenay Ice and one ahead of the Regina Pats. . . . The Warriors (14-32-8) are 10th, 22 points out of a playoff spot with 18 games remaining. . . . The Broncos were without F Dakota Odgers, who was suspended for one game, and F Bobby Zinkan, who drew a three-game sentence, after an 8-1 loss to the Wheat Kings in Brandon on Friday night. According to Shawn Mullin, the radio voice of the Broncos, both were suspended for “entering an altercation while in the process of a line change.” . . .

In Prince Albert, D Josh Morrissey broke a 2-2 tie at 3:11 of the third period as the Raiders got past the Medicine Hat Tigers, 3-2. . . . The Tigers led this one 2-0 midway through the second period. . . . Raiders D Sawyer Lange got his guys on the board with his fifth goal at 10:04 of the second, via the PP. . . . F Chance Braid tied it at 15:28 with his sixth goal. . . . Morrissey has 19 goals. . . . Tigers F Curtis Valk picked up an assist to run his point streak to 14 games. . . . Raiders F Leon Draisaitl had two assists. . . . The Raiders (25-26-3) are five points behind the eighth-place Red Deer Rebels in the Eastern Conference. . . . The Tigers (32-20-3) remain fourth in the conference. . . .

In Regina, D Dmitri Sinitsyn and D Kyle Burroughs each had a goal and two assists to help the Pats to a 7-3 victory over the Saskatoon Blades. . . . Sinitsyn has four goals this season; Burroughs has six. . . . Regina led 3-0 by 14:15 of the first period and never looked back. . . . Regina unleashed a 62-shot barrage at Blades G Troy Trombley. . . . Regina F Boston Leier scored his 30th goal. . . . The Pats saluted their namesake, the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, on the occasion of its 100th year of service. That has been a focus of Pats’ promotions this season. . . . The Pats also honoured Regina’s Jon Ryan, the punter for the Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks. . . . The Pats (28-22-5) are seventh in the Eastern Conference, a point behind Swift Current. . . . The Blades are 15-39-4 and won’t make the playoffs. . . .

In Cranbrook, F Sam Reinhart had a goal and two assists as the Kootenay Ice ran their winning streak to five games with a 4-2 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. . . . Reinhart has points in 13 straight games. . . . F Jaedon Descheneau and F Tim Bozon each had two assists for the Ice. . . . The Ice had gone into Lethbridge and won 8-1 on Friday. . . . Reinhart has 76 points, including 27 goals, in 43 games. In 186 career regular-season games, he has 225 points, including 92 goals. . . . The Ice took 65 of 112 penalty minutes. . . . The Ice (30-21-4) is fifth in the Eastern Conference, three points behind Medicine Hat. . . . The Hurricanes (11-41-5) have the WHL’s poorest record, .004 behind the Kamloops Blazers. . . .

In Kamloops, G Mack Shields stopped 26 shots as the Calgary Hitmen beat the Blazers, 3-0. . . . Shields, a Saskatoon native who turns 19 on Feb. 13, backs up Chris Driedger. Shields has one shutout this season and three in his career. . . . Driedger blanked the Giants 5-0 in Vancouver on Friday night. . . . Calgary D Jaynen Rissling scored the winner, getting his eighth at 17:30 of the first period on a PP. . . . Hitmen F Brady Brassart, who had his five-game goal streak snapped, drew two assists. . . . Calgary was 2-for-8 on the PP; the Blazers were 0-for-2. The Hitmen have eight PP goals over their last four games. . . . The Blazers took eight minor penalties, with seven of those going to defencemen. . . . Kamloops F Chase Souto took the pregame skate but then was scratched. He apparently was injured in Friday’s 3-1 loss to the visiting Victoria Royals. . . . The Blazers have lost nine in a row. . . . Kamloops (11-40-5) is 1-11-1 since Guy Charron replaced Dave Hunchak as head coach. This is only the second time in Kamloops franchise history that the team has lost 40 or more games. The Junior Oilers lost 53 times in 1981-82; the Blazers lost 41 games in 2007-08. . . . Calgary finished 3-2-0 on its trek through the B.C. Division, winning its last three games. . . . The Hitmen (35-15-6) are five points behind the Central Division-leading Oil Kings. . . .

In Portland, the Winterhawks ran their winning streak to 12 games with a 5-3 victory over the Everett Silvertips. . . . It is Portland’s longest winning streak this season. The franchise record (15) is shared by the 1979-80 and 1997-98 teams. . . . The Winterhawks, who had a 14-game winning streak last season, next play Monday afternoon when they meet the Cougars in Prince George. The Cougars are riding a six-game winning streak. . . . F Taylor Leier scored twice for the Winterhawks, giving him 27. . . . Portland D Layne Viveiros, whose father Emanuel is coaching the Austrian men’s hockey team at the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, scored his third goal of the season. . . . Portland F Oliver Bjorkstrand had his five-game goal streak end, but he picked up two assists. . . . Portland F Nic Petan, who is second in the scoring race, scored his 29th goal and added an assist. He now is two points behind Spokane Chiefs F Mitch Holmberg. . . . Leier’s second goal, at 4:16 of the third period, tied the game 3-3. F Alex Schoenborn broke the tie with his 14th goal at 5:49. . . . Petan added insurance just 57 seconds later. . . . Portland (38-12-5) is nine points behind the Western Conference-leading Kelowna Rockets. . . . Everett (26-21-8) is seventh, three points behind the Vancouver Giants and three ahead of the Tri-City Americans. . . .

In Prince George, the Cougars ran their winning streak to six games with a 7-1 triumph over the Red Deer Rebels. . . . The Cougars had beaten the visiting Rebels 5-3 on Friday. . . . Red Deer has lost six in a row. . . . Cougars F Troy Bourke had two goals, giving him 21, and two assists, while F Jordan Tkatch had four assists. . . . Cougars D Martin Bobos had two assists and was plus-5. . . . F Brad Morrison had two goals, giving him nine, and an assist, while F Todd Fiddler scored twice, giving him 36. . . . Cougars G Adam Beukeboom stopped 17 shots as he won for the second time in two nights. . . . The Cougars (24-26-7) have closed to within two points of Tri-City, which holds down the conference’s last playoff spot. . . . The Rebels (27-25-4) are eighth in the Eastern Conference. . . .

In Vancouver, the Edmonton Oil Kings won their 11th straight game, beating the Giants, 5-1. . . . F Edgars Kulda broke a 1-1 tie with his 20th goal at 19:57 of the first period, via the PP. . . . Edmonton F Curtis Lazar got the game’s first goal, his 30th of the season. He also added an assist. . . . Edmonton was 2-for-7 on the PP; the Giants were 0-for-7. . . . Edmonton G Tristan Jarry stopped 15 shots in posting his league-leading 35th victory. . . . The Oil Kings are 9-1-0 in games played in B.C. Division arenas this season. On this swing, which involved three games in four nights, they also won 3-1 in Kamloops and 3-2 in a shootout in Kelowna. . . . Edmonton (40-13-1) is the second team with 40 victories this season; the other is Kelowna. The Oil Kings lead the Eastern Conference. . . . Vancouver (27-21-9) is sixth in the Western Conference. . . .

In Kelowna, the Victoria Royals set a franchise record for points in one season as they dumped the Rockets, 6-4. . . . The Royals now have 78 points, one more than the record that was set last season. On Friday night, the Royals beat the Blazers 3-1 in Kamloops and set franchise records for victories and road victories in a season. . . . The Rockets blew 2-0 and 3-2 leads. . . . Victoria F Austin Carroll tied the game 3-3 with his 27th goal at 11:59 of the second. . . . Victoria F Steven Hodges snapped that tie with his 15th goal at 4:29 of the third and F Logan Nelson, returning from a two-game WHL suspension, made it 5-3 just 25 seconds later. He‘s got 18 goals. . . . Hodges finished with two goals, while teammate Ben Walker drew three assists and D Joe Hicketts had two. . . . The Rockets got a goal and two assists from F Tyson Baillie, who has 22 goals. . . . The Royals, who are 2-0-1 in Kelowna this season, led 42-34 on the shot clock. . . . Victoria is 7-0-2 in its last nine outings and 37-16-4 on the season. That has it third in the Western Conference, three points ahead of the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . The Rockets (43-8-4) continue to lead the overall standings. They are nine points ahead of Edmonton and Portland. . . .

In Kennewick, Wash., the Spokane Chiefs halted a four-game losing skid with a 7-3 victory over the Tri-City Americans. . . . The Chiefs took a 3-2 lead into the third period and scored the game’s last four goals. . . . F Mike Aviani scored his 31st goal for the Chiefs, while F Marcus Messier, who was acquired from the Americans in January, notched sixth goal of the season and his first with Spokane. . . . Tri-City D Mitch Topping had two assists as he played in his 300th regular-season game. . . . Spokane G Eric Williams turned aside 31 shots, 10 more than Tri-City’s Eric Comrie. . . . Chiefs D Jason Fram had three assists. . . . Spokane F Mitch Holmberg, the WHL’s scoring leader, had one assist. . . . Spokane (32-18-5) is fifth in the Western Conference, six points behind Seattle. . . . Tri-City is eighth, just two points ahead of Prince George.
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From WHL Facts (@WHLFacts): “125 - After tonight's results, the 1978-79 @bdnwheatkings WHL record of 125 single-season points is safe for another year.”
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From former WHL D Mark Schneider (@MarkSchneider): “Congrats to my Dad and his @aaawheatkings on locking up first place tonight! 38-3-0-2 is a memorable season! #Jack Adams #ProudAlumni”
Former Wheat Kings captain Ken Schneider is head coach of the midget AAA Wheat Kings.

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Shareholders hear about Hurricanes

The Lethbridge Hurricanes, one of the WHL's community-owned teams, have the poorest record in the 22-team league. The franchise is struggling on the ice, as well as off the ice.
The Hurricanes held their annual midseason shareholders' meeting on Thursday night. Pat Siedlecki, the play-by-play voice of the Hurricanes and the news director at 94.1 CJOC, tweeted during the meeting.
What follows is a compilation of Siedlecki's tweets, in order, and it provides a pretty good feel for what happened during the meeting:
Lethbridge Hurricanes President Brian McNaughton: "This is not a rebuild. It's a re-set of our organization."
McNaughton also says restructuring of the Hurricanes lease with the ENMAX Centre will likely be done in 3-4 weeks.
Hurricanes Business Manager Terry Huisman: "Attendance at Hurricanes games is down 20% this season."
Huisman: "Hurricanes are trending an average of 660 fans less per game from last season. That impacts our bottom line significantly."
Huisman: "We have run into cash flow issues. Working with banks to secure that. Our debt has not increased."
McNaughton: "We've secured a line of credit with Servus Credit Union. We are not over budget. We are just short cash."
McNaughton: "Our total current operating debt is around $100,000."
McNaughton: "We are working hard to get to break even" (by the end of the season).
Hurricanes Head Coach Drake Berehowsky: "We've begun changing the character. I know it's been frustrating. It's a process that takes time."
McNaughton: "I feel extremely confident we're going in the right direction. I feel as good about the team now as I have in the last 5 years."
McNaughton: "I don't believe the Board interferes. We support our staff."
Shareholders are asking about selling the hockey club. One suggested that maybe it's time the Canes become a privately run club.
McNaughton: "I understand the frustration. None of us are happy with what's happened."
McNaughton: "We have to do a better job. We believe we have the right people in place to turn this thing around now."
Adele Barrington, Hurricanes Board Member: "You don't know how lucky you are to have Brian McNaughton on this board."
General manager Brad Robson: "This has been frustrating. It hasn't been easy. There's been a lot of sleepless nights. We're doing our best."
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Paul Kingsmith of Global TV also attended the meeting in Lethbridge. He touched on a few things in some tweets:
#WHLCanes President McNaughton says the team is $100,000 in debt, but has lost $1Million over 5 years.
A suggestion by a shareholder of selling the #WHLCanes gets a round of applause.
McNaughton: "Kris Versteeg never approached the board of directors."
McNaughton: "There's never been a (purchase) offer presented to the board of the Lethbridge Hurricanes."
(For more, visit Siedlecki's blog Hurricane Watch over there on the right.)
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After Kingsmith's last tweet, former player Brody Sutter (@Sutts19) tweeted: "@paulkingsmith hard to make an offer to buy the team when potential owners are immediately told the team is not for sale. #SelltheCanes"
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So . . . what's going on with Lethbridge Hurricanes assistant coach Brad Lukowich?
Lukowich, in his first season as an assistant coach with the Hurricanes, missed practice again on Thursday. He has been missing all week.
Paul Kingsmith of Global TV tweeted Thursday afternoon that head coach Drake Berehowsky said: "He's sick." . . . According to Kingsmith, Berehowsky was "asked if he believes it," and replied: "that's what I've been told so . . .' "
However, during last night's shareholders' meeting general manager Brad Robson contradicted the head coach.
According to a tweet from Pat Siedlecki (radiopat258), the radio voice of the Hurricanes, Robson told the gathering that Lukowich "is not sick. He's fine. We won't discuss this though in the public."
One source told me last night that Lukowich “is taking some time off” and that he’ll have a different title when he returns.
“He and Berehowsky (haven’t) been on the same page,” the source said.
(Late last night, Kingsmith posted a story that is right here. In the story, Robson admits that Lukowich has left the team. “He’s meeting with his family right now in regards to where he’s going with his hockey career,” Robson told Kingsmith, “and we’ll sit down (today) and re-hash and that’s about it.”)
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"Former Portland Timbers forward Eddie Johnson has filed a $9.9 million personal injury lawsuit against the Timbers, claiming that the team and its doctors allowed him to return to practice while he was still suffering from concussion symptoms," reports Jamie Goldberg of The Oregonian. "The nine-page lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Multnomah County Circuit Court, claims that negligence by the Timbers and their doctors caused Johnson to suffer 'serious and permanent traumatic head and brain injuries.' " . . . Goldberg's complete report is right here.
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The Kootenay Ice held Sam Reinhart Bobblehead Night last weekend, giving away 950 of the popular promotional items. The neat thing is that each of the Reinhart bobbleheads had been autographed by the Ice's third-year star. . . . So, you're wondering, how long does it take to sign 950 bobbleheads? . . . According to the Kootenay News Advertiser, "Sam took over five hours to complete the task."
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The Vancouver Giants will stage quite a celebration on Feb. 15 as they induct former captain Brendan Gallagher into their Ring of Honour. Gallagher, a stalwart with the NHL's Montreal Canadiens, is the Giants' all-time leading scorer. . . . Gallagher was a ninth-round selection in the WHL's 2007 bantam draft. He holds team records for goals (136) and points (280) in a career. . . . The Canadiens selected him in the fifth round of the NHL's 2010 draft. . . . According to a Giants news release: "The first 5,000 fans at the Saturday, Feb. 15 game vs. the Portland Winterhawks (7 p.m. faceoff) will receive a commemorative 8x10 collector piece, while 111 random fans will get to meet Brendan during the game."
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F Johnny Wesley, a 16-year-old from Semiahmoo, B.C., whose WHL rights belong to the Vancouver Giants, says he will play next season for the BCHL's Langley Rivermen. Wesley, who was placed on the Giants' protected list last year, is playing for the Richmond Sockeyes of the Pacific International junior league. He has 45 points, incouding 21 goals, in 39 games in his freshman junior B season.
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D Sam Grist of the Kamloops Blazers won't play tonight against the visiting Victoria Royals. Grist has drawn a one-game suspension for a hit on F Reid Petryk of the Edmonton Oil Kings on Wednesday night. Grist was given an interference major and a game misconduct on the play. Petryk needed help on the ice, but was back during the ensuing power play. . . . F Logan Nelson of the Victoria Royals drew a two-game suspension under supplemental discipline for a charging incident against the visiting Calgary Hitmen on Tuesday night. Nelson sat out Wednesday's game against the Hitmen -- the Victoria Times Colonist reported that he sat "due to an injury" -- so also will sit tonight in Kamloops.
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Ralph Kiner, a Hall of Fame baseball player and a legendary broadcaster, died Thursday. He was 91. Richard Sandomir of the The New York Times has more on Kiner right here, including an anecdote that involves actress Jamie Lee Curtis.
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Over at Yahoo! Sports, Sunaya Sapurji has an interesting piece that carries this headline -- Size matters: Are small towns being pushed to the OHL’s fringes? . . . While the story, which is right here, is about big versus small in the OHL, you can easily change some of the names and relate this story to the WHL. It is a day-to-day struggle for the small-market franchises in major junior hockey and they take a real hit when they miss the playoffs, thus aren’t able to bring in any playoff revenue. . . . I always will remember my final conversation with the late Ed Chynoweth, the former WHL president who by then owned the Kootenay Ice. He suggested that the WHL, with team expenses rising and new sources of revenue hard to come by, should have been looking at some form of revenue sharing. Sure, he had a vested interested, the Cranbrook-based Ice being a small-market team, but things haven’t changed since the day in 2007 when that conversation took place. In other words, it’s still a battle to survive for some of those teams.
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After 12 years with the Saskatoon Blades, assistant general manager Jarrod Brodsky has left the WHL franchise. He is the son of former Blades co-owner Bob Brodsky, who sold the team to Mike Priestner of Edmonton earlier this season. . . . The Saskatoon StarPhoenix has more right here.
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THURSDAY’S WHL GAMES (all times local):
No games scheduled.
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FRIDAY’S WHL GAMES:
Moose Jaw at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
Medicine Hat at Saskatoon, 7:05 p.m.
Swift Current at Brandon, 7:30 p.m.
Kootenay at Lethbridge, 7 p.m.
Victoria at Kamloops, 7 p.m.
Red Deer at Prince George, 7 p.m.
Edmonton at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
Portland at Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.
Calgary at Vancouver, 7:30 p.m.
Spokane at Seattle, 7:35 p.m.
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JUST NOTES:
Through games of Nov. 30, the Everett Silvertips were 20-4-4, with 17 of those victories coming in regulation time. Since then, the Silvertips are 6-16-4, with three regulation-time victories. . . . The Eastern Conference-leading Edmonton Oil Kings meet the Rockets in Kelowna tonight. The Rockets lead the WHL’s overall standings. Interestingly, the Oil Kings are 7-1-0 in games played in the B.C. Division this season. The only loss? The Rockets beat them 2-0 in Kelowna on Nov. 9.

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Brent Henley (Saskatoon, Swift Current, Prince George, 1998-2000) signed a one-year contract with the Nottingham Panthers (England, UK Elite). He had three goals and 12 assists in 59 games with the Fort Wayne Komets and Florida Everblades (both ECHL) and had no points in five games on loan to the Lake Erie Monsters (AHL) last season.
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The WHL is poised to reveal its exhibition schedule today and then to unveil its regular-season schedule on Wednesday.
The exhibition schedule will open Aug. 27 with the Moose Jaw Warriors visiting the Broncos in Swift Current for a rookies game.
The Everett Silvertips tournament, which also is to include the Seattle Thunderbirds, Tri-City Americans, Spokane Chiefs, Portland Winterhawks and Victoria Royals, is scheduled to run from Aug. 30 through Sept. 1.
The Edmonton Oil Kings tournament is to be held Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, with the Red Deer Rebels, Prince George Cougars, Medicine Hat Tigers, Calgary Hitmen and Swift Current also in attendance.
The following weekend, Sept. 5-8, Portland, Spokane, Seattle, Everett and the Kootenay Ice will join the host Tri-City Americans at their annual tournament in Kennewick, Wash.
As well, Kootenay, Calgary and the Lethbridge Hurricanes will play three games in Crowsnest Pass, Alta., Sept. 13-15.
Calgary and Lethbridge are to play a game in Taber, Alta., on Sept. 5. Also taking their shows on the road will be Edmonton and Red Deer (Lacombe, Sept. 13), Medicine Hat and Red Deer (Stettler, Sept. 14), and Prince Albert Raiders and Saskatoon Blades (Warman, Sept. 14).
The final exhibition games are scheduled for Sept. 15.
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Some notes on the regular-season schedule:
It is scheduled to begin on Sept. 19 with Swift Current visiting the Regina Pats, whose head coach, Malcolm Cameron, will be making his debut.
There will be eight games the following night, with the defending-champion Portland Winterhawks holding their home-opener in the Rose Garden against the Prince George Cougars.
The Medicine Hat Tigers, whose home arena had four feet of water in it on Monday, are to play their home-opener, against the Lethbridge Hurricanes, on Sept. 21.
The Calgary Hitmen, the Saddledome devastated by floodwaters on the weekend, are to play their home-opener on Sept. 28 against the Red Deer Rebels.
Prince Albert fans will get their first look at new head coach Cory Clouston on Sept. 21 when the Saskatoon Blades are the visitors. The Raiders are to play in Saskatoon on Sept. 20.
Drake Berehowsky, the new head coach in Lethbridge, makes his debut on Sept. 20 against visiting Medicine Hat.
Dave Hunchak, who moved up from associate coach to take over as head coach in Kamloops, gets his first regular-season taste on Sept. 20 against the visiting Kelowna Rockets. Of course, Hunchak was the head coach for four seasons in Moose Jaw before coming to Kamloops two years ago, so it’s not like it will be a new experience to him.
And you know that it will be noisy in Everett on Sept. 21 as the Silvertips, with Kevin Constantine having returned to their bench, play host to Prince George.
Meanwhile, the WHL schedule goes black from Nov. 24 through Nov. 28, with the Grey Cup in Regina on the Sunday and the Subway Super Series in Red Deer and Lethbridge on Nov. 27 and 28, respectively.
It goes black for nine days over Christmas, with no games scheduled from Dec. 18-26, inclusive. Play resumes with 10 games on Dec. 27.
Six teams have scheduled New Year’s Eve home games — Brandon is at Edmonton, Victoria at Everett, Prince Albert at Moose Jaw, Kelowna at Portland, Kamloops at Seattle, and Spokane at Tri-City.
There will be three afternoon games on New Year’s Day — Lethbride at Regina, Swift Current at Saskatoon, and Everett at Victoria.
Victoria and Everett will open their Dec. 31 game at 6:05 p.m., then hustle to Vancouver Island for a 3:05 p.m. start on Jan. 1.
On Jan. 14, Medicine Hat will play in Lethbridge, while Seattle is in Spokane. The CHL Top Prospects game is the following night in Calgary.
There aren’t any games scheduled for Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 2).
The regular season is to conclude on March 16, with the playoffs to begin on March 21. Should a tiebreaker be needed to decide one of the conference’s final playoff spots, it would be played on March 18.
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The Prince Albert Raiders have named Ron Gunville their new assistant director of player personnel, replacing the recently retired Ray Dudra. . . . The Raiders also added two scouts to their staff — Doug Padget of Saskatoon and Dwaine Hutton of Calgary. . . . Gunville, who played 38 games with the Raiders in the late 1980s, had been on the staff of the Prince George Cougars. In fact, when the Cougars named Todd Harkins their head scout and director of player personnel on June 14, general manager Dallas Thompson also announced that “Gunville and Pacific-area scout Bob Simmonds will have expanded roles as scouting directors in their respective territories.”
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The Oklahoma City Barons, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers, have signed D Joey Leach to an ATO. Leach played four seasons with the Kootenay Ice, completing his eligibility this season. He was a third-round selection by the Calgary Flames in the 2010 NHL draft, but they never signed him. He actually finished this season with the Barons, getting into one regular-season game.
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THE COACHING GAME:
The Salmon Arm SilverBacks have added Kevin Kraus (Kamloops, Tri-City, 2006-08) as an assistant coach. He also will serve as the club’s strength-and-conditioning coach. Kraus, from Garden Grove, Calif., spent the past two seasons as general manager and head coach of the junior B Revelstoke Grizzlies of the Kootenay International junior league.
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Matt Erhart has joined the Vancouver Giants as an assistant coach under head coach Don Hay. Erhart replaces Glen Hanlon, who now is the head coach of the Belarusian national team. . . . Erhart spent the last three seasons as head coach of the BCHL’s Surrey Eagles, who won the league championship this season.
With Erhart gone, the Eagles named team president Peter Schaefer (Brandon, 1994-97) the new general manager and head coach. Schaefer is coming off his first season as an assistant coach with the Eagles.
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Brad Lukowich (Kamloops, 1993-96) has signed on as an assistant coach with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. The announcement came two weeks after Drake Berehowsky was named the club’s new head coach. . . . Lukowich, who is from Kamloops, is a two-time Stanley Cup champ who ended his playing career after the 2012-13 season.
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The NHL’s Minnesota Wild has moved its AHL affiliate from Houston to Des Moines, Iowa. But, as Mark Emmert of the Des Moines Register has pointed out, the team doesn’t have a coaching staff. John Torchetti, the Houston Aero’s head coach for the past two seasons, now is the head coach of the KHL’s CSKA Moscow. As well, assistant coaches Sebastien Laplante and Mike Van Ryn won’t be back. . . . Emmert’s report is right here.
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From former WHL D Brandon Underwood (@BUND3RWOOD): “Officially registered for classes today at UBC. For the first time in my life I'm actually excited for school. #LearningIsFun”


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