Seattle, Lethbridge, Saskatoon settle on goaltenders . . . Shaw TV releases schedule . . . Royals sign ex-'Tips forward

D Grant Toulmin (Swift Current, 2005-07, 2008-20) has been released by Katowice (Poland, PHL) by mutual agreement. He was pointless in three games. 

———

Barring further transactions, the Seattle Thunderbirds will open the season with Rylan Toth and Carl Stankowski as their goaltenders. They traded G Ryan Gilchrist to the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Tuesday, getting back a conditional seventh-round selection in the 2017 bantam draft. . . . Toth, 20, was acquired from the Red Deer Rebels on Friday for a third-round pick in the 2017 draft. The 5-foot-9, 160-pound Stankowski, a 16-year-old Calgarian, was a second-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft. In 2014-15, he played with the bantam AAA Calgary Flames. He then moved to California with his family and spent last season with the U-16 Anaheim Jr. Ducks, going 1.87 and .935 in 16 games. . . . Gilchrist, 18, is from McLaughlin, Alta. The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder played last season with the AJHL’s Canmore Eagles, going 3.77 and .888. . . . With Lethbridge, it is expected that Gilchrist will back up veteran Stuart Skinner. . . . The Hurricanes made room for Gilchrist by releasing G Brandon Kegler, who will turn 19 on Dec. 4. Kegler, a fourth-round pick by the Saskatoon Blades in the 2012 bantam draft, played last season with the BCHL’s Salmon Arm Silverbacks.

——

The WHL and Shaw TV have released a 36-game telecast schedule for the first half of the regular season. Shaw TV’s 13th season with the WHL begins Friday night with the Everett Silvertips visiting the Vancouver (Langley?) Giants. This will be the only Shaw TV appearance by an American team in the first-half of the season. The game, the Giants’ first regular-season game in their new home, the Langley Events Centre, also will feature a salute to the late Gordie Howe, who was one of Vancouver’s co-owners. . . . The game out of Langley will feature Peter Loubardias calling the play and Bill Wilms as his sidekick. . . . Shaw also will show Sunday’s game from Saskatoon as the Blades entertain the Swift Current Broncos on ‘Thank You, Mr Hockey Day.’ Prior to the game, the ashes of Gordie and his wife, Colleen, will be interred at the base of a statue of Howe just outside the SaskTel Centre. . . . On Sunday from Saskatoon, you get Wray Morrison and Jeff Odgers in the booth. . . . A 19-game telecast schedule for the season’s second half will be revealed in December. . . . Shaw TV also confirmed that it again will televise one series in each of the four rounds of playoffs. . . . The first-half telecast schedule is right here.

——

The Saskatoon Blades have dropped G Dorrin Luding, 17, from their roster, meaning they will open the season with Logan Flodell, 19, and Brock Hamm, 19, as their goaltenders. . . . Luding, who is from Prince George, was a third-round pick in the 2014 bantam draft. He is expected to return to the major midget Cariboo Cougars or join a BCHL team. . . . Darren Zary in the Saskatoon StarPhoenix points out that Flodell and Hamm once were teammates on a spring team, the Saskatoon Jr. Blades, during their minor hockey days. Zary also points out that when in goal Flodell catches with his right hand. But when he’s playing baseball Flodell catches with his left hand. Flodell said his dad tried to teach him to use his left hand to catch while in goal “but I was a forward and I played right-handed. I’ve only been a goalie for 10 or 11 years now.” . . . Zary’s story is right here. . . . BTW, if it isn’t already, Flodell’s nickname while in Saskatoon should be Eggs. Right?

———

JUST NOTES:

The Victoria Royals have signed F Gunnar Wegleitner, 18, to a WHL contract. He was placed on the team’s protected list earlier this month after he showed well at training camp. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Vancouverite had a goal and two assists in six exhibition games. . . . Last season, he had a goal and an assist in 14 games with the BCHL’s Surrey Eagles. In 2014-15, he had one goal in 43 games with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips. . . .

The Regina Pats are down to 28 players after dropping F Riley Krane, 16, from their roster. He is expected to play for the major midget Caribou Cougars, who are based in Prince George. Krane, from Dawson Creek, B.C., was an eighth-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft. 

———

Got a tip or some information you feel could be useful to me, feel free to email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

———

His parents gave him all the tools to have the best name in hockey. But he chose football... What a shame pic.twitter.com/HPoOu5I2cF

— Dylan McIlrath (@dylan_mcilrath) September 20, 2016

———

TUESDAY-THURSDAY GAMES:

No Games Scheduled.

——

FRIDAY GAMES (all times local):

Kootenay at Calgary, 7 p.m.

Kelowna at Kamloops, 7 p.m.

Medicine Hat at Lethbridge, 7 p.m.

Brandon at Moose Jaw, 7 p.m.

Edmonton at Red Deer, 7 p.m.

Prince Albert at Regina, 7 p.m.

Saskatoon at Swift Current, 7 p.m.

Everett at Vancouver, 7:30 p.m.

Prince George at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.

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.

Pulock into Wheaties' record book

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Sami Sandell (Brandon, 2004-06) signed a one-year-plus-option extension with Ilves Tampere (Finland, Liiga). This season, he is second on the team in scoring, with 30 points, including 10 goals, in 43 games.
---
JUST NOTES:
D Ryan Pulock of the Brandon Wheat Kings scored his 61st career goal on Saturday, tying him with the late Brad McCrimmon for the franchise record for most career goals by a defenceman. . . . Pulock also became the fifth defenceman in Wheat Kings history to reach 200 points, joining McCrimmon, Cam Plante, Justin Kurtz and Burke Henry. . . .
The Saskatoon Blades have brought in G Brandon Kegler from the Edmonton-based midget AAA Knights of Columbus Pats. Kegler, from Leduc, Alta., was the Blades’ second pick in the 2012 bantam draft, going to them in the fourth round. . . . Kegler’s services are needed to back up Troy Trombley after Alex Moodie was injured on Saturday night during a 6-3 loss to the visiting Victoria Royals. Moodie was returning to action after sitting out 12 games with a groin injury, when he went down with an undisclosed injury and didn’t come out for the third period. . . .
The Seattle Thunderbirds have added F Lane Pederson to their roster. Pederson, a fifth-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft, played this season with the midget AAA Saskatoon Blazers, for whom he had 41 points, including 21 gaols, in 37 games. With the Blazers’ season having ended, Pederson has joined the Thunderbirds. . . .
F Sam Reinhart of the Kootenay Ice goes into this week riding a 20-game point streak, the longest in the WHL this season. The franchise record of 21 is held by F Mike Comrie (Sept. 23 to Nov. 10, 2000). . . . Reinhart also has at least one assist in each of his last 13 games. He has broken the previous franchise record of eight games. . . . F Nic Petan of the Portland Winterhawks has the longest assist streak this season. At 14 games, it is still alive. . . . The Ice visits the Moose Jaw Warriors on Wednesday; the Winterhawks, who were given Monday and Tuesday off, meet the Chiefs in Spokane on Friday.
---
IF THE PLAYOFFS BEGAN TODAY:
Eastern Conference
Calgary (1) vs. Prince Albert (8)
Regina (2) vs. Brandon (7)
Edmonton (3) vs. Swift Current (6)
Medicine Hat (4) vs. Kootenay (5)
---
Western Conference
Kelowna (1) vs. Tri-City (8)
Portland (2) vs. Everett (7)
Victoria (3) vs. Vancouver (6)
Seattle (4) vs. Spokane (5)
---
TUESDAY’S WHL GAMES (all times local):
Lethbridge at Regina, 7 p.m.
Moose Jaw at Saskatoon, 7:05 p.m.
Edmonton at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.
Prince George at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
Prince Albert at Seattle, 7:05 p.m.
---
MONDAY’S GAMES:
None scheduled.
---
TWEET OF THE DAY:
From Kevin Paul DuPont (@GlobeKPD) of the Boston Globe: “Robocall just now tells me FBI says there is a home break-in every 15 seconds in USA. In Canada, Carey Price stops 'em all.”

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.

My Head Hurts offers sanctuary

THE MacBETH REPORT:

F Patrik Valcak (Lethbridge, Kelowna, 2003-04) signed a one-year contract with Vitkovice Ostrava (Czech Republic, Extraliga) after a successful tryout. Valcak led the Polish Ekstraliga in scoring and assists last season, with 15 goals and 41 assists in 38 games for Polish champions Cracovia Krakow.
———

The NHL has rewritten its rule on checking to the head. Elliotte Friedman explores that and a whole lot more in 30 Thoughts, which returned Monday for another season. It is right here.
———
The Salmon Arm SilverBacks, who open the BCHL regular season at home to the Vernon Vipers on Friday, are looking for a broadcaster and marketing director following the sudden resignation of Chris Wahl. “This is a complete shock to the organization and we are extremely disappointed,” GM/head coach Troy Mick said in a news release. “However, we will move forward and look to fill these positions as soon as possible.” . . . Interested applicants should email Mick at gm@silverbacks.com or call him at 250-938-5459.
———
Judging by the tweets from Tri-City F Tyson Dallman, 20, the Americans released him Monday:
“I'll never forget any of the staff around the rink, any of the boys and especially my billets. You guys made the past two years of my life . . .
“Unforgettable and I wish all the best to the @TCAmericans for this upcoming season. Go get that Memorial Cup boys. I'll be cheering for you.”
Dallman, from Prince Albert, had 17 points in 90 regular-season games with the Americans. Injuries limited him to 38 games last season.
———
F Taylor Leier of the Portland Winterhawks has signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers. He was a fourth-round selection in the 2012 NHL draft. . . . Leier had 62 points, including 27 goals, in 64 games last season, his second in the WHL. He then added 16 points in 21 playoff games. Leier is from Saskatoon and is presently in Philadelphia at the Flyers’ camp.
———
The Saskatoon Blades have hired Ray Dudra to scout the U.S. Dudra, who has scouted for 30 years, has previous WHL experience with the Medicine Hat Tigers, Spokane Chiefs and Prince Albert Raiders. . . . Dudra lives in Edmonton but winters in Arizona. . . . According to a Blades’ news release, during the winters Dudra “will scout and track players throughout the United States.”
———
The Saskatoon Blades are down to two goaltenders after assigning Brandon Kegler, 16, to the midget AAA Leduc, Alta., Oil Kings. . . . Kegler was a fourth-round selection in the 2012 WHL bantam draft. . . . (His nickname has to be Bowler, doesn’t it?) . . . With Kegler gone, the Blades are left with Nathan Alalouf and Alex Moodie as their goaltenders. Alalouf, a list player from Delta, B.C., is 17. He played last season with the major midget Greater Vancouver Canadians. . . . Moodie, an 18-year-old from Winnipeg, has played 28 games with the Blades over the last two seasons, going 14-7-1, 4.10, .872.
———
Roy MacGregor of The Globe and Mail was canoeing when the Canadian Olympic hockey team coaching staff and more than 40 prospective players gathered in Calgary to, uhh, play ball hockey. . . . Today, MacGregor is wondering just what the heck was going on, and that piece is right here. Thankfully, MacGregor doesn’t try to pick the Olympic team roster or attempt to name a goaltender or decide who should be on the PP. Rather, he wonders just what was going on.
———
Bobby Brett, the owner of the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs, and former Chiefs player Pat Falloon will be among five inductees into the Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame at the Spokane Arena on Oct. 22. . . . The Spokane Spokesman-Review has more right here.
———
From the Kamloops Daily News:
The Crown has dropped one charge against former NHL enforcer Link Gaetz after his alleged victim died July 6 in a drowning accident.
Jean Guye-Vuilleme, 72, drowned in Seton Lake after walking into the water at Seton Beach.
Defence lawyer Jeremy Jensen said the Crown subsequently dropped the charge of assault against Gaetz for an incident involving Guye-Vuilleme at the Dairy Queen in Cache Creek on April 20, 2012.
But a second charge of causing a disturbance remains outstanding.
Gaetz, knicknamed Missing Link during his brief NHL career with the San Jose Sharks, reportedly screamed and yelled inside the restaurant and became involved in a consensual fight with several people following the tussle with Guye-Vuilleme.
A date has not been set for the trial. Jensen said Gaetz did not appear in Kamloops because he is in custody in Alberta facing charges on other criminal matters.
———
If you are a player or former playing battling post-concussion syndrome, you may want to check out My Head Hurts, a website that was unveiled on Monday.
Here is the news release that heralded its arrival:
Los Angeles, CA, September 09, 2013 --(PR.com)-- One year removed from his shocking announcement to retire from college football and forgo an NFL career, due to repeated concussions, former UCLA linebacker Patrick Larimore unveils today a new social enterprise, My Head Hurts, to empower brain trauma survivors.
This interactive community aims to promote greater innovation, advanced methods of care, and staunch support and empathy for the millions affected by brain injuries.
“The wall of silence has finally been broken,” said Larimore, who has become a vocal advocate of improving the diagnosis and treatment of brain injuries, as well as preventive measures. “It’s time to discuss brain injuries more openly and recognize the thousands of untold stories out there.”
Larimore, a former UCLA team captain and starting middle linebacker, received national recognition for making one of the most historic and courageous decisions by a student-athlete. After suffering repeated concussions, including one that sidelined the former UCLA defensive MVP for over a month, Larimore retired from college football in August of 2012. He skipped his final season of eligibility as a senior, and potentially a promising career in the NFL.
“As much as I love football, I realized that my long-term health and my personal relationships were too important to risk if I continued to compete on the field,” Larimore said. “These injuries are simply not endurable if you ignore your body and mind.”
My Head Hurts was founded by Larimore in response to the outpouring of support, following his announcement.
“People were reaching out to me from all over the country,” Larimore said. “Many of them had stories of their own – brain injuries as a result of sports, military service, manual labor, or even household accidents. We want them to know that they’re not alone.”
MyHeadHurts.co, along with featuring top experts and educational resources, will focus heavily on social interaction among brain trauma survivors and their loved ones, making it easier to share stories and connect with peers and medical professionals.
“The stories are what make this issue come to life,” added Larimore. “These injuries have a profound impact on family and friends, not just the individual survivors.”
Larimore has committed to changing the culture of how brain injuries are perceived and treated – not just in sports, but throughout every professional environment.
“It’s a shared responsibility,” Larimore said. “We cannot afford to underestimate the severity of brain injuries.
“My Heads Hurts will be the first step in giving these injuries, and the individuals affected by them, the attention that they deserve.”

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.