Giants introduce head coach . . . Ice fills out hockey staff . . . Pats bring back familiar face

D Mike Wilson (Prince Albert, Swift Current, 2003-08) signed one-year contract with the Belfast Giants (Northern Ireland, UK Elite). Last season, with the Wichita Thunder (ECHL), he had 13 goals and 37 assists in 72 games.
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The Vancouver Giants introduced Lorne Molleken as their newest head coach on Tuesday morning. Molleken, the fourth-winningest coach in WHL regular-season history, replaces Claude Noel, who replaced Troy Ward 25 games into last season. . . . Molleken, 59, last coached in 2012-13 with the Saskatoon Blades. He was the Blades’ general manager the following season, then was bought out when Edmonton-based auto dealer Mike Priestner bought the franchise. . . . Cam Tucker of Metro Vancouver has more right here.
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The Kootenay Ice have finished filling out the hockey operations side of their organization. Last month, general manager Jeff Chynoweth announced the hiring of Luke Pierce as head coach, replacing Ryan McGill, whose contract wasn’t renewed. . . . On Tuesday, Chynoweth announced the hiring of Gordon Burnett as assistant coach. As well, Garnet Kazuik, the director of scouting, has been re-signed, while Darcy Ewanchuk is returning to the Ice as trainer/equipment manager. . . . Burnett, Kazuik and Ewanchuk each signed a three-year contract. . . . Burnett, 34, is from Regina. Last season, he worked as an assistant coach at the U of Notre Dame. In 2013-14, he was with the Central league’s Arizona Sundogs. . . . Kazuik has been with the Ice since 2005. He has been the director of scouting since 2007. . . . Ewanchuk takes over from Cory Cameron, who stays with the team as an athletic consultant. Ewanchuk was with the Ice when the franchise was in Edmonton, working as assistant athletic trainer (1996-98) and was the Ice’s training in Cranbrook from 1999-2007. He also has worked with the Edmonton Oil Kings and Tri-City Americans.
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Graham Tuer is back with the Regina Pats. He will scout for the team and also serve as a liaison with Hockey Regina, which oversees minor hockey in the city. . . . Tuer, who had been scouting with the Kelowna Rockets, has been associated with hockey in Regina for more than 50 years. . . . An annual bantam AA tournament in Regina was named after him in 2007. . . . Tuer worked as the Pats’ assistant GM and director of player personnel in the early 1990s. . . . He is a member of the Regina Sports Hall of Fame and has been on the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League’s board of directors since 1983.
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Got a tip or some information you feel could be useful to me, send an email to greggdrinnan@gmail.com.
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THE IMPORT DRAFT:

2015 #CHL Import Draft concludes with 78 selections made from 14 different countries. RESULTS: http://t.co/upr6Lcxl3R pic.twitter.com/l9iEHVFl1j

— CanadianHockeyLeague (@CHLHockey) June 30, 2015

Some notes . . .
The Victoria Royals used their first-round selection on Russian F Vladimir Bobylev, 18, who played last season with the Vancouver Giants. He had three goals and six assists in 52 games. . . . Vancouver had selected him in the first round of the 2014 draft, but dropped him before Tuesday’s draft. . . .
The Red Deer Rebels took Czech F Michael Spacek in the first round. The Rebels rolled the dice because Spacek, 18, has one year left on a contract with HC Dynamo Pardubice of the Czech Extraliga. Spacek was selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the fourth round of the NHL draft on Saturday. . . . After the Rebels took Spacek, Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun tweeted: “At the draft, Michael Spacek expressed interest in playing in North America next season. Rebels are hosting the 2016 Memorial Cup.” . . . 
The Kootenay Ice took Slovakian D Mario Grman, 18, in the second round. He played last season with the Red Deer Rebels, earning three assists in 35 games. . . .
The Saskatoon Blades were the first WHL team to pick and they took Czech D Libor Hajek with the second overall selection. . . . Scott Larson of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix has more right here. . . .
With the last selection of the first round, the Brandon Wheat Kings took Swedish D Oliver Kylington. The Calgary Flames selected Kylington in the second round of the NHL draft on Saturday. . . . Kylington is signed for the next two seasons with AIK, which plays in Sweden’s Allsvenskan, the country’s No. 2 pro league. . . .
The Vancouver Giants held the eighth overall pick and took Slovakian F Radovan Bondra, 18. He is said to be 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds. He was a fifth-round pick by the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL draft on Saturday. . . .
The Regina Pats selected Russian D Nikolai Knyzhov, 17, with their first-round pick. He has played the last two seasons in Phoenix. Last season, he had a goal and three assists with the U-16 Phoenix Jr. Coyotes. . . .
With their first-round pick, the Seattle Thunderbirds took Swedish F Gustav Olhaver. On Saturday, he was taken by the Colorado Avalanche in the seventh round of the NHL draft. . . . He is said to be 6-foot-6 and 213 pounds. . . .
There is a complete list of WHL team selections right here.
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Darcy Pindus is retiring after 18 seasons with the SJHL’s Weyburn Red Wings. Pindus, a defence man in his playing days, first joined the Red Wings in 1980. He played parts of three seasons with Weyburn, while having stints in the WHL with the Regina Pats, Lethbridge Hurricanes and Medicine Hat Tigers. He also played five seasons with the U of Regina Cougars. In 1997, he began helping then-head coach Dwight MacMillan with the Red Wings. . . . From a Red Wings’ news release: “During his 18-year tenure, Pindus helped the Red Wings to two league titles, two Anavet Cups, and what he calls his most cherished memory with the Wings, winning the 2005 RBC Cup on home ice.”
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The SJHL’s Estevan Bruins have signed GM/head coach Chris Lewgood to a four-year extension that runs through 2019-20. Lewgood, who had one season left on his original three-year contract, is preparing for his third season with the Bruins. . . . Estevan is 49-47-1-15 under Lewgood.
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Fabian Joseph has signed on as head coach and assistant GM of the Woodstock, N.B., Slammers of the junior A Maritime Hockey League. Joseph (Victoria Cougars, 11982-84) had been on the coaching staff of the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats since 2007. . . . He is a native of Sydney, N.S.
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Anthony Noreen is the new head coach of the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears. He was the USHL’s coach of the year after his Youngstown Phantoms went 40-14-6 last season. . . . Noreen, who is from Chicago, was the Phantoms’ general manager and head coach for four seasons.
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One of the best speakers we’ve ever had @penguins HC Mike Johnston is back as a presenter for the #TSCC2015 http://t.co/jdeL47BNR8

— The Coaches Site (@TheCoachesSite) July 1, 2015

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The NHL’s Edmonton Oilers invited eight free agents from the WHL to their development camp that opens today. Headed to Edmonton are G Jordan Papirny, 19, of the Brandon Wheat Kings, D Kevin Davis, 18, of the Everett Silvertips, F Connor Rankin of the Calgary Hitmen, F Jakob Stukel, 18, of the Vancouver Giants, F Cole Sanford, 20, of the Medicine Hat Tigers, F Braden Christoffer of the Regina Pats, F Tyler Soy, 18, of the Victoria Royals and F Tyler Robertson, 19, of the Edmonton Oil Kings. . . . Rankin and Christoffer played out their junior eligibility last season. . . . F Trevor Cox, 20, of the Medicine Hat Tigers will skate with the Washington Capitals.
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http://t.co/tleIjmGH7f is pleased to have @garoyals Assistant General Manager @victoriaroyals to present at #TSCC2015 pic.twitter.com/ONnxQPldoH

— The Coaches Site (@TheCoachesSite) June 30, 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.

WHL talks 50th anniversary season . . . Holt, Kennedy head to Swift Current . . . Merkley among U of L recruits

G Tyler Plante (Brandon, 2003-07) signed a one-year contract with the Sheffield Steelers (England, UK Elite). Last season, with Lørenskog (Norway, GET-Ligaen), he was 18-9, 2.36, .918 with two shutouts in 27 games. He was third in the league in save percentage. . . .
F Mike Piluso (Vancouver, Edmonton, 2006-11) signed a one-year contract with Hamburger SV (Germany, Oberliga). Last season, with Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (ACAA), he had 46 points, including 23 goals, in 27 games. He was second in the league’s scoring race. He also was the playoff MVP.
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The WHL’s annual general meeting wrapped up in Vancouver on Wednesday and, if you go by the news release

issued by the league office, hardly anything of note happened.
At least nothing happened unless it had to do with the fact that the 2015-16 season will be the WHL’s 50th anniversary season.
From the news release:
* The WHL season will open Sept. 24 with the Regina Pats visiting the Moose Jaw Warriors. Why open in Moose Jaw? “The East Division is considered the birthplace of the WHL,” according to the news release, “and Moose Jaw is the home of the first ever WHL championship team.”
* The WHL will announce it’s top 50 players of all-time at some point during the season. Fans will help determine that list, while a select panel of long-time WHL observers also will take part.
* In September, the WHL will publish a 50th anniversary book that will “detail the history of the league as well as its clubs, builders, players and key members.”
* Each of the WHL’s 22 teams will play host to one game that will celebrate the 50th season and “honour the history of its franchise and alumni.”
* As well, the Subway Super Series — Team WHL against a touring Russian side — will be played in Kelowna on Nov. 9 and Kamloops on Nov. 10. . . . The CHL Top Prospects Game is to be played in Vancouver on Jan. 28. . . . Red Deer is the host city for the 2016 Memorial Cup tournament, May 19-29.
Unfortunately, there was nothing in the WHL’s news release detailing whether the pooh-bahs discussed such matters as dealing with mental health through education, efforts to prevent concussions, or possible rule changes.
Nor does the news release indicate when the WHL will release its regular-season schedule. Last year, the WHL released its regular-season schedule two weeks after its AGM.
If you are wondering about a playoff format, the one that was in use this spring will be used for at least two more seasons. The WHL announced that format after its 2015 AGM, saying that it would be in place for three seasons.
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“The Western Hockey League is prepared to ‘exhaust every avenue’ to keep the Kootenay Ice in Cranbrook, but commissioner Ron Robison reaffirmed there is a demand from other markets, including in the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland, for a franchise if relocation becomes a reality,” writes Cam Tucker of Metro Vancouver. . . . That story is right here.
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The WHL announced Wednesday that former player Greg Gardner is its manager of education services. According to a news release, Gardner “will be responsible to administer the WHL league-wide education program policies and procedures, including monitoring the academic progress” of all players through each team’s education advisor. . . . After playing five seasons (2003-08) with the Prince George Cougars, Gardner spent five seasons with the U of Alberta Golden Bears. He played the last two seasons with the ECHL’s Colorado Eagles. At the U of A, he earned a bachelor's degree in physical education with a concentration in sports performance.
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Todd Holt and Sheldon Kennedy, a pair of former Swift Current Broncos forwards who were sexually abused by GM/head coach Graham James, will be in Swift Current on Friday to support the latest ex-player to come forward with accusations about James. . . . Bill Graveland of The Canadian Press has more right here.
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There is a definite WHL flavour to the U of Lethbridge Pronghorns’ recruits for the 2015-16 season. Head coach Spiros Anastas, who is heading into his second season, announced the commitment of 12 players, including seven with WHL experience. . . . F Bryson Gore (Moose Jaw), D Tyler Hansen (Kamloops), F Sam McKechnie (Lethbridge, Seattle, Saskatoon), F Jay Merkley (Lethbridge, Swift Current), D Blake Orban (Vancouver, Edmonton), F Brett Roulston (Prince George), and F Dalton Sward (Vancouver). . . . Hansen is returning to the ice after leaving the Kamloops Blazers following the 2012-13 season in order to serve a two-year mission with the Church of Latter Day Saints. . . . McKechnie and Orban are second-generation Pronghorns, their fathers, Dana and Scott, having also played at the U of L. . . . Merkley is eligible to return to the WHL for his 20-year-old season, but obviously has decided to go to school.
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Things got a little weird in Major League Baseball on Tuesday. How weird? Well, I would suggest it was one of the goofiest days in MLB history. Jayston Stark of espn.com recaps what truly was a bizarre day right here.
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THE COACHING GAME:

Tom Keca has taken over as the general manager and head coach of the AJHL’s Fort McMurray Oil Barons. Keca, 44, has previous experience with the Oil Barons, as an assistant coach for nine seasons (2000-06, 2011-14). He also spent four seasons (2006-10) as head coach of the AJHL’s Lloydminster Bobcats. . . . Keca, who also played for the Oil Barons, takes over from Curtis Hunt, who resigned and signed on as general manager with the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders.
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USA Hockey has rounded out the coaching staff for its national junior team. Earlier, it named former NHL coach Ron Wilson as head coach. Joining him as assistant coaches are former NHL players Chris Chelios and Danton Cole, along with Kevin Reiter. . . . Since his retirement as a player, Chelios has worked as an advisor to hockey operations with the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings. . . . Cole is preparing for his sixth season as a head coach in the U.S. National Team Development Program. . . . Reiter has completed two seasons as the NTDP’s goaltending coach. . . . The U.S. will hold its summer evaluation camp in Lake Placid, N.Y., Aug. 1-8. . . . The 2016 World Junior Championship will be decided in Helsinki, Finland, from Dec. 26 through Jan. 5.
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F Klarc Wilson (Brandon, Edmonton, Prince George, 2009-2014) will attend NAIT and play for the Ooks. Wilson, 22, is from Edmonton. He split last season between the ECHL’s Indy Fuel and Stockton Thunder.
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Americans Championship fever has invaded downtown Dallas tonight thanks to the @OmniHotels Dallas. #KellyCupChampions pic.twitter.com/Ag2VmaFUNN

— #RockYourRed (@AllenAmericans) June 18, 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.

Noel gets down to work . . . Changes extend scoring streaks . . . Hurricanes, Rebels make a deal

F Cody Almond (Kelowna, 2005-09) was released by the Minnesota Wild (NHL) and returned to Genève-Servette (Switzerland, NL A). Almond had signed a five-year contract with Genève-Servette in June, then got a one-year NHL deal with the Wild in July. He was pointless in five games with Iowa (AHL). . . .
D Garnet Exelby (Saskatoon, Regina, 1998-2001) has been released by Dornbirn (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). He was pointless in 17 games. . . .
F Owen Fussey (Calgary, Moose Jaw, 1999-2003) has been released by the Guildford Flames (England, Premier). He had nine goals and five assists in 19 games.
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THE COACHING GAME:

Claude Noel worked his first practice as head coach of the Vancouver Giants on Monday. Afterwards, he spent a few minutes chatting with the media.
Interestingly, it seems that Noel didn’t sign a contract. That, he apparently told management, is something that can be worked out down the road.
Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province has the highlights from Noel’s chat right here.
Cam Tucker of Metro Vancouver was there, too. His story is right here.
Vancouver’s first game under Noel is scheduled for Friday against the visiting Portland Winterhawks.
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A couple of scoring changes after the Kootenay Ice’s 4-3 OT victory over the host Seattle Thunderbirds on Sunday extended two scoring streaks. . . . Ice F Sam Reinhart was credited with an assist, allowing him to run his streak to 11 games. He has 23 points, including six goals, over that stretch, which encompasses every game since he was returned by the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. . . . Ice F Jaedon Descheneau also picked up an assist, and he’s on a 10-game streak. He’s got 17 points, including seven goals, over that stretch.
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Neither D Jordan Thomson (concussion) nor F Wyatt Sloboshan (broken jaw) is with the Saskatoon Blades, who open a B.C. Division swing tonight in Kamloops against the Blazers. . . . As well, the Blades have some illness going through the dressing room. F Sam McKechnie didn’t skate on Monday, and Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix reports that D Amil Krupic “was the first one off the ice because he wasn’t well.” . . . F Luke Gingras and F Landon Welykholowa, both of whom missed a 4-2 loss in Moose Jaw on Saturday, returned to the ice.
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The Red Deer Rebels have acquired F Riley Sheen, 20, who had been the Lethbridge Hurricanes’ leading scorer. . . . The Rebels get Sheen and a conditional fifth-round 2017 bantam draft pick in exchange for F/D Devan Fafard, 20, and F Brayden Burke, 17. Burke was a seventh-round pick by the Rebels in the 2012 bantam draft. . . . Fafard, a defenceman by trade, has been playing up front with the Rebels. He is out with an undisclosed injury and may not play for a week, while Burke has been out since Oct. 5 with an undisclosed injury but is back skating. . . . The draft pick apparently is conditional on Burke reaching a pre-determined number of points. . . . Sheen had 23 points, including 20 assists, in 27 games with the Hurricanes, who have the WHL’s poorest record. Sheen also has played with the Medicine Hat Tigers and Seattle Thunderbirds. In 209 regular-season games, he has 115 points, 36 of them goals. . . . Sheen is expected to be in the Rebels’ lineup tonight when they play host to the Calgary Hitmen.
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The WHL’s Christmas shopping fund has increased by $1,750 as four teams have been asked to make contributions. . . . The Kamloops Blazers were fined $500 after a player (D Ryan Rehill) instigated a fight in the last five minutes of a 7-3 loss to the visiting Regina Pats on Friday. Rehill was hit with a one-game suspension and sat out Saturday’s 5-3 loss to the visiting Victoria Cougars. . . . The Swift Current Broncos were fined $250 “for actions of player at Red Deer” on Saturday. Broncos F Carter Rigby drew a one-game suspension for those actions. . . . The Broncos were fined an additional $500 for their part in a multiple fight situation in that same game. The Red Deer Rebels also were fined $500.
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Hey @calstampeders, you have to win it to break it, right? #Congrats #GreyCup
— Spokane Chiefs (@chiefshockey) December 2, 2014

THE MacBETH REPORT:
F Jakub Sindel (Brandon, 2004-05) signed a tryout contract with Kärpät Oulu (Finland, SM-Liiga), terms not announced. He had two assists in five games during a tryout with Kloten (Switzerland, NL A) at the start of the season that was interrupted by a broken jaw. He then was with Dinamo Riga (Latvia, KHL), where he had one goal in 21games before being released. Sindel played in SM-Liiga last season for Pelicans Lahti, getting 15 goals and 18 assists in 59 games. There is a family history in Finland as well. His father, G Jaromir Sindel, played in SM-Liiga for five years, from 1989 to 1994.
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It was almost 20 years ago when Marc Habscheid got into coaching. Now the GM/head coach of the Victoria Royals, Habscheid started out with the SJHL’s Melfort Mustangs.
“I loved it in Melfort, small-town Saskatchewan,” Habscheid tells Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal. “One day I came home and there was a bag of vegetables at my door from a fan and a ‘thank you’ for coaching their team. How can you beat it? Cobs of corn for coaching. Do you think Ron Wilson gets that sort of thing in Toronto?”
For more from Matty’s Hockey World, including more from Habscheid and some good stuff from Paul Coffey on concussions, click right here.
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There has never been a subscription fee for this blog and I doubt that there ever will. So if you stop by here and enjoy what you find, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE . . . and have a Merry Christmas!
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In the SJHL on Saturday night, the Humboldt Broncos beat the host La Ronge Ice Wolves 3-2 in a shootout. . . . Humboldt F Ryan Marshall, who didn’t score on his first attempt, got the winner in a shootout that went 17 rounds. The goaltenders — Humboldt’s Matt Hrynkiw and La Ronge’s Alex Rajotte — gave up only three goals in the shootout. . . . F Zac Ashdown scored on La Ronge’s first shootout attempt and that was it for the Ice Wolves. The next 16 shooters all came up short.
Ian Hamilton of the Regina Leader-Post has more right here.
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Cam Tucker of the Vancouver Sun checks in with Bruce Banman, the new mayor of Abbotsford, B.C., and the subject is the AHL’s Heat.
Banman told Tucker that had he been the mayor he wouldn’t have signed the 10-year deal that brought the Calgary Flames’ AHL affiliate to the city.
But the deal was done and Abbotsford is working with the Heat in an attempt to improve attendance.
That story is right here.
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The Kelowna Rockets and Kamloops Blazers both concluded East Division swings on Saturday night and then headed for home. The Rockets were coming off a 5-1 victory over the Saskatoon Blades; the Blazers dropped a 4-3 shootout decision to the Moose Jaw Warriors.
After both teams stopped at the airport in Calgary, they continued on their way west. And they ended up sitting side-by-side on the Trans-Canada Highway, between Golden and Rogers Pass, while avalanche control was taking place. It seems the delay was about 75 minutes.
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The Moose Jaw Warriors claimed F Charles Wells, 20, on waivers last week, but it sounds as though the club isn’t expecting him to report.
Wells left the Portland Winterhawks last week and was placed on their suspended list. He was then put on waivers as the Winterhawks got down to the league-mandated maximum of three 20-year-olds.
The Warriors had room for a 20-year-old because F Sebastian Svendsen went home to Demark late last month.
“We did put a claim in on him in the understanding that we weren’t sure where his interest level was in remaining in the WHL,” Alan Millar, the Warriors’ director of hockey operations, told Matthew Gourlie of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald. “We’ve had one conversation with Charles at this time and the indication is that he’s thinking about things, but in essence doesn’t seem like he’s all that prepared to remain in the league right now.
“We’re going to talk again on Boxing Day, but I would think that right now it would be unlikely that he will join us after the break.”
Gourlie’s complete story is right here.
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SUNDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:
The WHL’s Christmas break didn’t begin until the very last second of the third period of the last game, as that’s when F Jordan Weal scored to give the Regina Pats a 6-5 victory over the host Edmonton Oil Kings. . . . Weal’s second goal of the game, and 30th of the season, came on a breakaway at 19:59 of the third period. . . . The Oil Kings had won 11 straight games. They also had won 15 in a row at home. . . . This was an afternoon game, meaning the Pats played three road games in a span of 42 hours. Now think about that for a few moments — and you’re free to wonder what the schedulemaker was thinking!. . . . D Colton Jobke also scored twice for Regina, which got three helpers from each of F Morgan Klimchuk and D Brandon Davidson. . . . “We demand so much from our kids and then to have them play three games in 42 hours, it’s a real credit to them,” Regina head coach Pat Conacher told Ian Hamilton of the Regina Leader-Post. “They saddled up and went back at it again. It was awesome.” . . . Conacher also admitted to Hamilton that he was preparing for OT when Weal scored the winner. “Art Bidlevskii had the puck behind the net and I was telling him to stay there to make sure we got the point,” Conacher told Hamilton. “But he threw it up the boards to Klimchuk, Morgan made a great pass to Jordan in the neutral zone and he went in and potted it.” . . . Regina was 2-1-0 in its three-game weekend which actually was three games in less than two days. . . .
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If you haven’t already seen it, check out the Edmonton Oil Kings’ Christmas video. This, undoubtedly, is the highlight of the WHL’s festive season. If it doesn’t bring a smile, you definitely are a Grinch. . . . If that link doesn't work, try this one right here.
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Tyler Bunz, the Medicine Hat Tigers’ starting goaltender, saw that video and tweeted:
“like to give a shout out to the @EdmOilKings for their christmas video.. made me laugh. @wilson_oh9 shoulda been an actor..job well done sir.”
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THE COACHING GAME:
The MJHL’s Steinbach Pistons made a coaching change Friday after head coach Rich Gosselin resigned. . . . The Pistons are in their third season and Gosselin (Flin Flon, 1973-76) had been their only head coach. . . . Assistant coach Paul Dyck (Moose Jaw, 1989-91) took over as head coach. . . . The Pistons are 12-22-4 and in last place in the six-team Addison Division. 

Is everyone going across the pond?

THE MacBETH REPORT:
D Daryl Boyle (Brandon, 2004-08) signed a one-year contract with the Augsburger Panther (Germany, DEL). He had one goal and four assists in five games with the Alaska Aces (ECHL) and one goal and four assists in 26 games with the Peoria Rivermen (AHL) last season. . . .
F Gasper Kopitar (Portland, 2009-11) signed a tryout contract with Södertälje J20 (Sweden, J20 SuperElit). He had one goal in two games with the Winterhawks and 12 goals and 12 assists in 55 games with Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) last season. . . .
F Casper Carning (Vancouver, 2010-11) signed a one-year contract with Kungälv (Sweden, Division 1). He had two assists in six games with the GIants, 14 goals and 29 assists in 31 games with Frölunda J20 Gothenburg (Sweden, J20 SuperElit), no points in eight games with Frölunda Gothenburg (Sweden, Elitserien), and one goal and one assist in two games on loan with Kungälv last season. . . .
D Brent Sopel (Saskatoon, Swift Current, 1993-97) signed a two-year contract with Metallurg Novokuznetsk (Russia, KHL). He had two goals and five assists in 71 games with the Atlanta Thrashers and Montreal Canadiens last season. . . .
D Harlan Pratt (Seattle, Red Deer, Prince Albert, Regina, Portland, 1994-99) signed a one-year contract with Szekesfehervar (Hungary, Austria Erste Bank Liga). He had five assists in 40 games for Tingsryd (Sweden, Allsvenskan) last season. . . .
G Todd Ford (Swift Current, Prince George, Vancouver, 2000-04) signed a one-year contract with Heilbronner Falken (Germany, 2.Bundesliga). He had a 2.94 GAA and a .886 save percentage in 13 games with the Hershey Bears (AHL) and a 2.74 GAA and a .901 save percentage in 22 games with the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL) last season.
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Former WHL scoring champion Brian Varga is the new GM of the Medicine Hat Minor Hockey Association. Varga, 50, played four WHL seasons (1978-82), the first three with the Regina Pats and the last one with the Medicine Hat Tigers. He won the 1981-82 scoring title, with 187 points. And, although his name is missing from the WHL Guide recap on 1981-82, he actually finished sixth that season, with 156 points. . . . Varga is a long-time Medicine Hat minor hockey coach and volunteer. "When they decided a long time ago to have a GM within minor hockey,” Varga told Darren Steinke of the Medicine Hat News, “I thought that maybe some day I could do that job. It has been on my mind for quite a while. . . . It is something where maybe I can give back to the community again too by being in that role."
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Chris Peters over at the United States of Hockey has taken a good look at the beating that NCAA hockey has taken over the last little while. If you missed it, a number of high-profile players who had committed to one school or another have de-committed and now are headed to OHL teams. What does it all mean? Check out Peters’ piece right here.
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THE COACHING GAME:
From the department of horrible timing comes news that the Mississippi RiverKings, who moved from the Central League to the Southern Professional league over the summer, fired head coach Paul Gardner on Thursday. He had taken over from Kevin Kaminski early in the 2010-11 season. "I was told that because of moving to the SPHL, they were going in a different direction," Gardner told Chris Van Tuyl of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "Very shocked. The hardest thing about it is having to tell the kids, and the kids haven't stopped crying. That's the difficult part of the whole thing." . . . As for finding work in the coaching game at this late date, Gardner said: "I think that would be difficult. The majority of the coaches are hired now. I emailed my agent and that's exactly what he said, 'Why did they wait until now?' " . . .
Steve Chapman, the president of the ECHL’s Gwinnett Gladiators, has revealed that his search for a head coach is down to a shortlist that contains three names -- Leigh Mendelson, Steve Weeks and John Wroblewski. . . . Mendelson is a former Spokane Chiefs assistant coach. Last season, he was on staff with the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies. . . . The Gladiators need a head coach to replace Jeff Pyle, now head coach of the AHL’s Texas Stars.
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Various reports — and I think TSN’s Farhan Lalji was first with it — have former NHLer Ryan Walter to be named president of the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat on Tuesday.
This is a rather interesting move.
Walter, you may recall, was dismissed as an assistant coach by the Vancouver Canucks after the 2009-10 season. He spent two seasons on the coaching staff. The Heat, which plays in Canucks’ territory in what is generically known as the Lower Mainland, is the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Calgary Flames.
The Flames have signed F Ben Walter, Ryan’s son, to a two-year contract and chances are he will start the season with the Heat.
Cam Tucker of the Abbotsford Times has more right here on the Heat, including a bit of news on the deficit the team ran last season, which the city and taxpayers have to cover.
gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
gdrinnan.blogspot.com
     
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Big weekend in Shaunavon

Dave Sheldon is leaving the AHL’s Abbotsford. Sheldon has been the Heat’s play-by-play man and director of communications for two years. He has WHL ties, having called the play for the Chilliwack Bruins, Everett Silvertips and Vancouver Giants. . . . Cam Tucker of the Abbotsford Times has more right here.
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D David Dotan, who is from Richmond, B.C., has decided to attend Simon Fraser U and play hockey there. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Dotan played 45 games with the Prince Albert Raiders (2007-09) before playing for the BCHL’s Burnaby Express and the AJHL’s Spruce Grove Saints.
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They’re throwing a party in Shaunavon, Sask., this weekend and well they should. The good citizens there are opening their $14-million recreation complex — the Crescent Point Wickenheiser Centre. . . . If you have ever lived on the Prairies, you know the value of such a facility to a community like Shaunavon. . . . Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post has more right here.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
     
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