Raiders still hunting playoff spot . . . Chico the man for Cougars . . . Petes in peril?

City council discussing what to do with potential playoff revenues from the Raiders... wishful think @Jeff_paNOW??

— Shane O'Neill (@stroneill) November 24, 2016

The Prince Albert Raiders traded D Brendan Guhle, who was their best player, to the Prince George Cougars on Nov. 18, getting back D Max Martin, F Kolby Johnson and two bantam draft picks — a first-rounder in 2018 and a third-rounder in 2019.

Despite the way it looks from the outside, Raiders general manager Curtis Hunt, the man who chose to make the deal, said his organization wasn’t running up the white flag.

“I expect us to get in the playoffs,” Hunt told Jeff D’Andrea of paNOW. “I think our coaching staff has that

CURTIS HUNT

expectation and I sure believe and want to hope that our leadership group as players do and they sell that message throughout our team.

“I still think we’re learning how to play in some parts of the game. It is a work in progress, but we’re eight points out. I don’t think we’ve peaked as a group yet, I don’t think anybody will argue that.”

One week after the trade, the Raiders (5-17-1) had the 22-team league’s poorest record, had lost six in a row and were 10 points short of the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot.

In order to qualify for the playoffs, the Raiders will have to climb over three other teams, a tough task at the best of times.

But in a league that rewards losing, the task is all but impossible.

In the 12-team Eastern Conference, the teams already have divvied up 36 loser points, with the Raiders having only one of them. The three teams directly ahead of them have combined to win only 22 of 69 games but have shared nine loser points.

Last season, it took 65 points to get into a tiebreaker for the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot. This season’s Raiders would need to gather 54 points from their remaining 49 games if they are to reach the 65-point mark. That is a .551 winning percentage, a tall order for a team that goes into this weekend at .239.

The Raiders appear to be the only team that is in dire straits when it comes to earning a playoff spot, although the Kootenay Ice is teetering on the brink. The Ice (5-13-6) is five points out of the conference’s second wild-card spot. That may not seem like much but, again, it is hard to make up ground when some games are worth two points and others three.

In the NHL, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet has reported that since 2005-06 only six of 48 teams that have been four points out of a playoff spot on Nov. 1 have recovered to make the playoffs. The Anaheim Ducks did it last season. This season, not one NHL team was four points back on Nov. 1.

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The Peterborough Petes, one of the OHL’s most-storied franchises, are pleading poverty with that city’s council. Dave Pogue, the Petes’ president, has told city council that the franchise could be broke and for sale in four years unless there are changes to the lease for Memorial Arena. According to Pogue, the team has lost $658,000 over the past five years. Under the terms of a lease signed in 2003, the Petes don’t get anything from parking or concessions. . . . Joelle Kovach of the Peterborough Examiner has more right here.

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The Prince Albert Raiders have signed D Austin Crossley, 17, to a WHL contract. Crossley, who is from Fort St. John, B.C., has a goal and an assist in 25 games with the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers. Last season, he had  a goal and eight assists in 40 games with the junior B Kamloops Storm of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. . . . With Crossley on their roster, the Raiders are carrying eight defencemen.

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The Kootenay Ice has recalled F Eli Lieffers, 16, from the midget AAA Saskatoon Contacts. Lieffers, from Saskatoon, was a fourth-round selection in the 2015 bantam draft. This season, he has two goals and 11 assists in 16 games with the Contacts. He has played one game with the Ice, going pointless. Last season, he had one assist in five games with Kootenay.

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The Prince George Cougars have signed Chico Dhanjal to a three-year contract extension. Dhanjal, in his ninth season with the Cougars, worked his 600th WHL game on Tuesday when the Cougars beat the visiting Regina Pats, 5-2.

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The Vancouver Giants have signed F Evan Patrician, 15, to a WHL contract. From Calgary, he was a seventh-round selection in the 2016 WHL bantam draft. This season, he has 16 points, including seven goals, in 15 games with the midget AAA Calgary Flames.  

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If you’ve got a comment, some information you would like to pass along, or if you just want to say hello, feel free to contact me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.

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Tweet of the Day

I was able to do all my Christmas shopping while Aretha sang the national anthem #happythanksgiving

— Strombone (@strombone1) November 24, 2016

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THURSDAY’S GAMES:

No Games Scheduled.

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FRIDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Moose Jaw at Calgary, 7 p.m.

Edmonton at Everett, 7:35 p.m.

Regina at Kamloops, 7 p.m.

Swift Current at Lethbridge, 7 p.m.

Victoria at Portland, 3 p.m.

Medicine Hat at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.

Kootenay at Red Deer, 7 p.m.

Brandon at Saskatoon, 7:05 p.m.

Vancouver at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.

Seattle vs. Tri-City, at Kennewick, Wash., 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.

Hunt takes over in P.A. . . . Marlies get a head coach . . . Leafs' offer to McCrimmon has deadline

Get to know the new general manager of the Raiders: Curtis Hunt pic.twitter.com/xiGVIqeo8z

— PrinceAlbert Raiders (@PARaidersHockey) June 8, 2015

The Prince Albert Raiders introduced Curtis Hunt as the 10th general manager in franchise history on Monday. Hunt, 48, takes over from Bruno Campese, who had been with the Raiders for eight seasons.
Hunt signed a four-year contract, which puts him in the same time frame as head coach Marc Habscheid and associate coach Dave Manson.
Hunt, a defenceman, played three seasons with the Raiders, starting in 1984-85 when the team won the Memorial Cup. He also coached for seven seasons in the WHL, with the Moose Jaw Warriors (2002-04) and Regina Pats (2004-08, 2009-10).
A native of North Battleford, Sask., he also spent a season (2008-09) in the pro ranks, with the NHL’s Ottawa Senators and their AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Senators.
Hunt spent 2014-15 as the general manager and head coach of the AJHL’s Fort McMurray Oil Barons.
Brett Smith of the Prince Albert Daily Herald has more right here.
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A history of Raiders’ general managers:
Alf Poulin (1971-72)
Terry Simpson (1972-1986; 1989-90)
Rick Wilson (1986-88)
Brad Tippett (1988-89)
Dale Engel (1990-94)
Bob Robson (1994-95)
Rick Vallette (1995-2001)
Donn Clark (2001-08)
Bruno Campese (2008-15)
Curtis Hunt (2015- )
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On most Mondays, the Vancouver Province includes a column from Ed Willes that deals with a handful of items.
This week, part of that column dealt with this (the complete column is right here):
In the run-up to the Women’s World Cup, TSN aired a polished hour-long feature on the Canadian team entitled Rise.
It was a revealing portrait of a group of athletes who’ve played their careers in virtual anonymity. It was also first-rate story-telling, establishing the characters who’ll take centre stage in our country for the next month.
So what’s wrong with that? Nothing, unless you’ve grown tired of the two cable giants in this country, TSN and Sportsnet, turning their air time into an ongoing promotion for their properties. TSN is the rights-holder for the Women’s World Cup and, suddenly, they’re all in for the women. Now, ask yourself how many hour-long features they aired on the women’s team before this year?
While we’re on the subject, when was the last time they offered any innovative, self-produced programming to their audience that didn’t involve one of their properties?
It’s the same story at Sportsnet. They force feed the Blue Jays on the country, not because of an insatiable demand to watch a terminally mediocre baseball team, but because Rogers owns the team.
TSN and Sportsnet were granted sports-broadcasting licences by the CRTC but, in reality, they were granted licences to print money. The game is rigged in their favour to an illogical extent. But there’s been little payback to this country in terms of original programming.
They’re also in the process of driving CBC Sports out of business, and that should be a concern.
The Corp. is/was a lot of things but, at its best, it promoted sound journalistic principles and attempted to offer its audience something beyond another panel discussion or top-10 list.
In the end, the audience gets the kind of programming it deserves, and if they’re happy with things as they stand, there’s not much more to say. You’d just like to believe the public expects more from companies that have been given so much.
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THE COACHING GAME:

Another extensive Coaching search by Vancouver Giants, candidates narrowed down to a final 5. Steve Spott/Ryan McGill front runners. #Giants

— JAY JANOWER (@DOUBLEJGLOBALBC) June 8, 2015

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Sheldon Keefe, the OHL and CHL coach of the year, has signed on as head coach of the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. Keefe, 34, spent the past three seasons with the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. . . . The announcement was made by Kyle Dubas, an assistant general manager with the Maple Leafs. Dubas joined the Leafs a year ago, after being the Greyhounds’ general manager. . . . This season, the Greyhounds had the OHL’s best record -- 54-12-2, for 110 points. . . . Before moving to the Soo, Keefe was the GM and head coach of the junior A Pembroke Lumber Kings, where he won five straight CCHL titles. The Lumber Kings won the RBC Cup in 2011. . . . Keefe was to have spent part of this summer as an assistant coach with Hockey Canada’s under-18 team. The head coach of that team is Kelly McCrimmon, the owner/GM/head coach of the Brandon Wheat Kings, who is pondering an offer to join the Maple Leafs’ front office.
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The BCHL’s Langley Rivermen have promoted assistant coach Kurt Astle to assistant general manager and associate head coach. Astle has spent the past three season’s as the team’s director of player personnel and assistant coach. . . . He works alongside GM/head coach Bobby Henderson.
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Bruce Luebke, the radio voice of the Brandon Wheat Kings on CKLQ, reported Monday that the Toronto Maple Leafs offer to Wheat Kings owner/GM/head coach Kelly McCrimmon has a June 11 deadline with it. . . . Here’s a note from the Brandon Sun: “McCrimmon has not returned calls from the Sun over the last week.” . . . Check out our latest poll over their on the right and vote for who you think will coach the Wheat Kings in 2015-16. . . .
F Jeremy Leipsic, the 18-year-old brother of former Portland Winterhawks F Brendan Leipsic, will play for the BCHL’s Powell River Kings in 2015-16. Jeremy, 5-foot-8 and 155 pounds, had 84 points, including 20 goals, with the midget AAA Winnipeg Wild this season. His goal is to go the NCAA route.
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.@CurtisLazar95 let me know if you put any thought into your over-age year in the WHL. Sending out camp info. Just checking.

— Steve Hamilton (@hamilton_steve) June 8, 2015

.@hamilton_steve I guess the real question is will you guys also be supplying burgers after each game? 🍔 #dealbreaker #YoungandHungry

— Curtis Lazar (@CurtisLazar95) June 8, 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.

Report: Leafs make offer to McCrimmon . . . Tigers sign two D-men . . . Raiders newser today

Most Sundays, the Toronto Sun contains a column of odds and ends that is written by Steve Simmons. The one that appeared yesterday included this:
“Leafs have an offer on the table with Kelly McCrimmon, owner, general manager and coach of the Brandon Wheat Kings. When (Leafs president Brendan) Shanahan was hiring Mark Hunter, he kept asking people who are the best talent evaluators in the business: Hunter’s name always came up, right along with McCrimmon. The question with McCrimmon: Whether he wants to walk away from junior hockey empire for an NHL gig?”
There has been enough smoke involving the Maple Leafs and McCrimmon over the past few days that there obviously is something going on here.
There was a time, and not that long ago, when McCrimmon would have jumped at an opportunity such as this. That was then; this is now.
The difference now is that he has put together a team that reached the WHL final this season, a team that is poised for a dominant WHL season in 2015-16, and you can bet that the decision facing McCrimmon is much tougher than it would have been.
One thing is for certain — he wouldn’t consider leaving unless he knew he was leaving the Wheat Kings in good hands. That isn’t a problem off the ice, where his front-office staff, led by Rick Dillabough and Lyn Shannon, is second to none.
But should he leave, who would be the head coach. Assistant coach Darren Ritchie has been on staff for seven seasons, the last three in a full-time position. David Anning has been an assistant coach in Brandon for three seasons.
Should McCrimmon leave, does he promote Ritchie to head coach and bring in another assistant? If that were to happen, who would be the general manager? Or, would McCrimmon hire a general manager/head coach?
Of course, all of this is speculation. At the end of the day, it could be that McCrimmon simply decides to stay put. If he does that, however, he will do it while wondering if the NHL ship will ever come his way again. He’s 54 now, so that is a valid question.
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The Medicine Hat Tigers looked after some signings on Sunday. No, it didn’t have anything to do with a lease for the Canalta Centre. . . . Rather, the Tigers signed two selections, both defencemen, from the 2015 WHL bantam draft. . . . Layne Matechuk was taken with the 39th selection after putting up 38 points in 31 games with the bantam AA Humboldt Broncos. . . . Cole Clayton was taken six picks later. He had 30 points in 33 games with the bantam AAA Rocky Mountain Raiders.
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First, it was FIFA. Then, it was Hope Solo. Both dealt black eyes to soccer. Richard Deitsch, who writes about the media for si.com, takes a look right here at how Fox Sports handled what went on Sunday involving Solo, the goalkeeper for the U.S. national women’s soccer team.
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THE COACHING GAME:

Frank Seravalli of the Philadelphia News is reporting that the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers have interviewed Kris Knoblauch, the head coach of the OHL’s Erie Otters. Apparently, the Flyers are looking for a head coach for their AHL affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms. . . . Knoblauch played in the WHL with the Red Deer Rebels, Edmonton/Kootenay Ice and Lethbridge Hurricanes (1996-99) and has coached with the Prince Albert Raiders and the Ice. . . . Seravalli reports that Knoblauch also has spoken with two or three other NHL teams who have openings with their AHL affiliates. . . . Servalli’s report is right here.
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The Prince Albert Raiders have scheduled a news conference for this morning at which they are expected to introduce Curtis Hunt as their new general manager. Hunt resigned Friday as general manager and head coach of the AJHL’s Fort McMurray Oil Barons. Hunt is a former Raiders defenceman who was a freshman on the team that won the 1985 Memorial Cup.
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The Prince George-based Cariboo Cougars will be the host team for the 2017 Telus Cup tournament, at which the national midget AAA championship is decided. Ted Clarke of the Prince George Citizen has more right here.
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In the AHL, F Nic Dowd scored at 5:36 of OT to give the host Manchester Monarchs a 2-1 victory over the Utica Comets in the Calder Cup final. . . . The Monarchs lead the series 2-0 as the teams head to Utica for Game 3 on Wednesday. . . . Manchester won the opener 3-2 in OT on Saturday. . . . Last night, F Zach O’Brien gave the Monarchs a 1-0 lead with a PP goal at 19:05 of the first period. . . . F Nicklas Jensen pulled the Comets even at 1:12 of the second. . . . Attendance was 6,078. . . . Dowd also had an assist on O’Brien’s goal. . . . The Monarchs are affiliated with the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings; the Comets with the Vancouver Canucks.
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In the ECHL, F Vincent Arsenault’s goal at 8:49 of the second OT gave the visiting Allen Americans a 3-2 victory over the South Carolina Stingrays in Game 4 of the Kelly Cup final. . . . The series is 2-2 with Game 5 scheduled for Tuesday in the North Charleston Coliseum. . . . F Dyson Stevenson, who played with the Regina Pats (2010-14), had a goal and an assist as the Americans took a 2-0 lead with goals 29 seconds part in the first period. . . . South Carolina F Caleb Herbert forced OT with a goal at 11:49 of the second period. . . . Attendance was 7,058.
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I say this every year, but the OHL and WHL are really missing out by doing their drafts online. The Q crushes it with the show they put on.

— Willy Palov (@WillyPalov) June 6, 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.

Raiders' hunt for GM ends . . . Leafs may have job for McCrimmon . . . Ex-Raider to coach Lakers

D Layne Viveiros (Portland, 2011-2015) signed a one-year contract with Red Bull Salzburg (Austria, Erste Bank Liga). This season, he had eight goals and 35 assists in 71 games with the Winterhawks. Viveiros is a dual Canadian-Austrian citizen. . . . He is eligible for his 20-year-old season in the WHL, but obviously has decided to go a different route. . . .
F Jakub Rumpel (Medicine Hat, 2006-07) signed a one-year extension with Herne (Germany, Oberliga). This seaosn, he had 26 goals and 40 assists in 24 games.
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Multiple WHL sources tell me Curtis Hunt will be named the new General Manager of the Prince Albert Raiders, replacing Bruno Campese.

— Tyler King (@tyler_king) June 5, 2015

According to Tyler King, the Prince Albert Raiders have their general manager.
As noted above, King tweeted Friday morning that Curtis Hunt will be the Raiders’ next general manager.
Hunt resigned Friday as general manager and head coach of the AJHL’s Fort McMurray Oil Barons. King spent four seasons as the Oil Barons’ play-by-play man and also was their manager of communications. He left the club Monday and now is the manager of communications for the AJHL’s Brooks Bandits.
Having spent four seasons working with the Oil Barons, it’s safe to say that King has connections there.
Hunt just completed his first season with the Oil Barons, who were 35-28-6 under him, including all regular- and post-season play.
Hunt, 48, isn’t a stranger to Prince Albert or the WHL.
From North Battleford, Sask., he was a defenceman for three seasons (1984-87) with Raiders. He was a first-year defenceman on the Prince Albert team that won the 1985 Memorial Cup.
He also has been a WHL head coach for eight seasons — Moose Jaw Warriors (2002-04) and Regina Pats (2004-08, 2009-11).
The Raiders have been without a GM since Bruno Campese’s departure last month after eight years in the organization.
The new general manager joins a team that has its coaching staff in place, with head coach Marc Habscheid starting a four-year contract, associate coach Dave Manson starting a four-year extension and assistant coach Kelly Guard on a one-year deal.
The Raiders have a news conference scheduled for Monday morning at which there will be, according to a release, “a major announcement regarding” their hockey operations department.
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A note from Damien Cox, who writes Saturdays in the Toronto Star:
“Internally, the (Toronto Maple) Leafs continue to add personnel, although not a general manager yet. On Friday, with the departure of Steve Staios to the new Hamilton OHL franchise, Scott Pellerin was promoted within the player development area. It appears Brandon Wheat Kings owner/GM Kelly McCrimmon has a front office job waiting for him with the Leafs if he’s willing to leave Manitoba. Ditto for Sault Ste. Marie (head) coach Sheldon Keefe in a yet undefined coaching role.”
McCrimmon, of course, also is the Wheat Kings’ head coach.
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The Auston Matthews saga continues, with his agent, Pat Brisson, telling Mike G. Morreale of nhl.com that the projected No. 1 pick in the NHL’s 2016 draft will play with the ZSC Lions in Switzerland’s top pro league or the WHL’s Everett Silvertips. . . . Of course, there isn’t anything new in that, although perhaps this is the first time that Brisson has said the Matthews camp has ruled out the NCAA route. . . . Morreale’s story from Friday is right here.
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Jeff Pearlman, a respected author with a number of solid sports-related books to his credit, took some time on Friday to write about “when guys like Stephen A. Smith and Michael Wilbon turned celebrity.” . . . It’s true. Guys like Smith and Wilbon used to be journalists . . . and highly credible journalists, at that. . . . Pearlman takes a look at that subject in a devastating piece that is right here.
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THE COACHING GAME:

Jeff Tomlinson is the new head coach of the Rapperswil-Jona Lakers, who play in Switzerland’s National League B. Tomlinson, 45, was an assistant coach with Germany at the IIHF World championship in Prague last month. He has coached in Germany for a number of years. . . . Tomlinson, from Winnipeg, played three seasons (1987-90) with the Prince Albert Raiders. He later played nine seasons in Europe.
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Tim Kehler, a former Swift Current Broncos assistant coach, has been added to the list of presenters at the fifth annual Hockey Coaches Conference that is scheduled for Vancouver, July 24-25. Kehler spent three seasons (2007-10) on the Broncos’ coaching staff. . . . He has spent the last four seasons in Europe, the past three as head coach of Löwen Frankfurt of DEL2. . . . Also on the list of presenters is Victoria Royals head coach Dave Lowry. . . . For more on the conference, click right here.
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The Medicine Hat Regional Event Centre is no more. Canalta Hotels has purchased naming rights for the new facility that is scheduled to open later this year. The arena now is known as the Canalta Centre. . . . Collin Gallant of the Medicine Hat News has more right here.
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THE CONCUSSION REPORT:

From a news release issued on Friday: “The Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) supports the education-driven recommendations made by the jury serving on the inquest into the death of Rowan Stringer highlighting the important role an educated coach plays in the prevention, identification, and management of sport-related concussions and return to play for participants.” . . . This is important stuff. The complete release is right here.
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Anthony Davis, the San Francisco 49ers starting right tackle, has retired after five NFL seasons. The 25-year-old Davis, who was the 11th overall selection in the NFL’s 2010 draft, said in a release: “This will be a time for me to allow my brain and body a chance to heal. I know many won’t understand my decision, that’s OK.” . . . Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle has more right here.
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“Two former players have filed a landmark $200-million lawsuit against the Canadian Football League, former CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon, a leading brain injury expert and a Toronto neurology clinic, alleging they knew and withheld information about how repeated brain trauma leads to long-term cognitive problems,” Rick Westhead, TSN’s senior correspondent, reported on Friday. “The lawsuit was filed May 29 in Ontario Superior Court by Korey Banks and Eric (The Flea) Allen.” . . . Westhead’s story is right here.
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Head of WADA-approved lab says she can't in good conscience keep testing CFL players samples. Lots of positive tests, no repercussions.

— Paul Friesen (@friesensunmedia) June 5, 2015

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Stoll buys lunch; Hunt back in coaching game

D Tomáš Kudělka (Lethbridge, 2005-2007) signed 1 yr.plus option contract w/ Pelicans Lahti (Finland, Liiga). (1/2)2/2) Kudělka last season w/ Vitkovice Ostrava (Czech Republic, Extraliga) 47 GP, 1+10.
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1. The long weekend arrived in Kamloops on Thursday at 12:52 p.m. . . . Dorothy and I were at the intersection where the Yellowhead Highway meets Halston. There is a Husky gas station there. As we sat at a red light waiting to turn on to Halston, Dorothy said: “Look. The Husky has two gas prices.” Sure enough. One sign read: $1.32.9. The other read: $1.38.9. . . . “Oh look,” Dorothy said. “The other one is changing.” . . . Hello, Victoria Day long weekend! And, hello, gas at $1.38.9 a litre! But, hey, you knew it was coming. Right? After all, big oil has become as predictable as Christmas in December.

2. Who is Anthony Marquart? Greg Harder of the Regina Leader-Post answers that question right here, as he writes about the man who heads up the group that has purchased the Regina Pats.

3. If you are wondering about the men who purchased the Prince George Cougars, Ted Clarke of the Prince George Citizen will introduce you to them right here.

4. The Saskatoon Blades are in search of a general manager and head coach, and Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix reports that the process is about to go into the interview stage. That story is right here.

5. A reader of this blog noticed that D Nolan Kneen, who signed with the Kamloops Blazers on Wednesday, played 69 games with the bantam AAA North Shore Winter Club Winterhawks this season. “As a bantam. No time to practise, I guess,” the reader writes. “Fourteen- and 15-year-olds playing 69 games. Holy Hannah! So the Dub has a 72-game sked to get players ‘ready for the NHL’ and bantams are now playing nearly the same amount, I presume, to get them ready for the Dub. Pretty soon, Initiation A players will have 70-game sked to get them ready for Initiation B, etc., etc.” . . . A check of the pre-draft numbers at Small Thoughts at Large shows that Kneen played at least 84 games, what with appearances at the St. Albert tournament, the Western Canadian championship and the U16 B.C. Cup. He turned 15 on March 22.

6. On May 13. 1989, the Swift Current Broncos beat the host Saskatoon Blades 4-3 in overtime to win the Memorial Cup. The championship team’s roster included seven players who had been involved in a bus accident on Dec. 30, 1986, in which four teammates were killed. . . . F Tim Tisdale scored the OT goal in that game. Also on the ice for the GWG were were G Trevor Kruger, D Darren Kruger, D Bob Wilkie, F Kyle Reeves and F Brian Sakic. . . . Brad Brown has chatted with all six players and his report, strictly through the eyes of those who were there, is right here. . . . If you want to read more about how high the mountain was that those Broncos climbed, you may want to take a look at the book Sudden Death: The Incredible Saga of the 1986 Swift Current Broncos.

7. A tip of the hat to F Jarret Stoll of the Los Angeles Kings. Stoll was born in Melville, Sask., but played most of his minor hockey in Yorkton where he helped the bantam AAA Terriers win the 1997 Western Canadian championship. The SJHL’s Yorkton Terriers are in Vernon, B.C., this week, playing in the RBC Cup for the national junior A championship. . . . On Wednesday, Stoll paid for the Terriers’ pregame meal.
On Thursday morning, the Terriers (@Terriers_SJHL) tweeted: “Terriers thank @jarretstoll for his kind gesture yesterday for the boys. Congrats on the win last night Stolly, getter done in Anaheim tmw.”
To which Stoll, who spent four seasons (1998-2002) with the WHL’s Kootenay Ice, responded: “@Terriers_SJHL you’re welcome guys!! Good day for both of us....keep it going! #RBCcup #BecauseitstheCup”

8. By now, you will be aware of what went on with Boston Bruins F Milan Lucic in the handshake line after he and his teammates were eliminated by the visiting Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night. Jack Todd of the Montreal Gazette has a piece right here in which he points out Lucic wasn’t really being Boston Strong.

9. The championship game at the 2014 Memorial Cup tournament is to be played Sunday, May 25, in London, Ont. When the schedule was announced, a starting time had yet to be determined. That isn’t the case now. The game, according to the tournament’s website, will start at noon Eastern, which is 9 a.m. Pacific.

10. Ian Douglas has been named the fulltime radio voice of the BCHL’s Salmon Arm Silverbacks. Douglas, whose career includes time as the play-by-play man with the BCHL’s Trail Smoke Eaters and the junior B Kamloops Storm and Chase Chiefs, stepped in last season when the Silverbacks found themselves without a radio voice.
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Willie Desjardins, the head coach of the AHL’s Texas Stars, has been added to the roster of speakers for the 2014 Hockey Coaches Conference. Desjardins, a former GM and head coach of the Medicine Hat Tigers, will cover offensive zone play in his presentation. . . . Texas is involved in the AHL playoffs, his Stars and the defending-champion Griffins tied 2-2 in a second-round series that continues tonight in Grand Rapids. . . . The Coaches Conference is scheduled for July 18 and 19 at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. For more info, click right here or click on the ad at the top of this page.
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The RBC Cup semifinals in Vernon are scheduled for Saturday. In the first game, the SJHL’s Yorkton Terriers will meet the host Vipers, with the MJHL’s Dauphin Kings playing the CCHL’s Carleton Place Canadians in the second game. The first game starts at 2 p.m. Pacific, with the second game at 6 p.m. Unless there is OT in the opener, of course. . . . Dauphin was 3-1 in the round-robin portion of the tournament; the other three qualifiers each was 2-2. . . . The OJHL’s Toronto Lakeshore Patriots went 1-3 and were eliminated.
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D Mathew Berry-Lamontagna, 20, has committed to attending Simon Fraser University and playing for the men’s hockey team there. Berry-Lamontagna (Prince Albert, 2010-12) played this season in the BCHL, splitting it with the Coquitlam Express and Cowichan Valley Capitals. From Vancouver, he had 19 points, six of them goals, in 52 BCHL games this season. . . . He is the first member of SFU’s 2014-15 recruiting class.
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The Vancouver Giants have signed F Dawson Holt of Saskatoon. He was the eighth overall selection in the WHL’s 2014 bantam draft. He had 73 points, 35 of them goals, in 26 games with the bantam AA Saskatoon Generals.
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THE COACHING GAME:
Mario Pouliot is the new head coach of the QMJHL’s Acadie-Bathurst Titan. Pouliot spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach with the QMJHL’s Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. He also has QMJHL head-coaching experience with the Baie-Comeau Drakker (2010-12). . . . He replaces Ron Choules with the Titan. Choules stepped in for Danny Smith when the latter was fired in January. . . . The Titan finished 22-40-6 this season then were swept in a first-round series with the Val-d’Or Foreurs.
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Curtis Hunt is the new general manager and head coach of the AJHL’s Fort McMurray Oil Barons. He replaces Gord Thibodeau, who was fired when this season ended and now is on the staff of the AJHL’s Lloydminster Bobcats. Thibodeau had been with the Oil Barons for 12 seasons. . . . Hunt spent two seasons (2002-04) as head coach of the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors and six as head coach of the Regina Pats (2004-08, 2009-11). . . . Hunt was an assistant coach with the NHL’s Ottawa Senators (2008-09) and also worked as the head coach of their AHL affiliate the Binghamton Senators that same season. . . . He has won two gold medals as an assistant coach with Canada’s national junior team (2007, 2008) and has been on the coaching staff with Canada’s national sledge hockey team, helping it to, among other medals. bronze at the 2014 Sochi Paralympic Games.
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MEMORIAL CUP
(at London, Ont., all times Eastern)
(all games televised by Sportsnet)
Friday: Val-d’Or vs. London, 7 p.m.
Saturday: Guelph vs. Edmonton, 4 p.m.
Sunday: London vs. Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Monday: Guelph vs. Val-d’Or, 7 p.m.
Tuesday: Edmonton vs. Val-d’Or, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: London vs. Guelph, 7 p.m.
Thursday: Tiebreaker, if necessary, 7 p.m.
Friday, May 23: Semifinal, 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 24: No game scheduled.
Sunday, May 25: Final, noon.
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 From Jim Parker (@winstarparker): “Expect Oshawa #Generals asst. & former #OHL Windsor #Spitfires captain Paul McFarland to be named Kingston #Frontenacs head coach (Tuesday).”
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From John Duncan (@DuncanOHL): “@winstarparker @vishal_hussain Rumour in Kgn is that Kgn native and former NHLer Jay McKee will be announced on Tues as new FrontHead Coach.”


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Blazers continue hunt for assistant coach

By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
Having established themselves as a playoff contender each of the last two WHL seasons, the Kamloops Blazers find themselves with no shortage of possibilities for the vacant position on their coaching staff.
Two weeks after being named the WHL team’s head coach, Dave Hunchak said Wednesday that his search for a lead assistant is continuing.
Hunchak spent 10 days in Saskatoon at the Memorial Cup that concluded on Sunday. While there, he touched base with a number of candidates.
He also admitted that he has spoken with Curtis Hunt, who has WHL head-coaching experience with the Moose Jaw Warriors (2002-04) and Regina Pats (2004-08, 2009-11).
“We had a discussion,” Hunchak said, “but I don’t think it’s going to work out. It’s no secret that we’re pretty good friends. I believe he’s a very good coach.
“But at this point of the game, I’m not sure if it’s going to work or not with him, or with a lot of other guys.”
Hunchak said Hunt is one name “on a long list of people.”
Hunt, 46, who now is working with Investors Group Financial Services in Regina, was dropped by the Pats on June 16, 2011, and hasn’t coached in the WHL since then. This season, he helped out as an assistant coach with the Canadian men’s sledge hockey team and was part of a world championship in Goyang, South Korea, last month. That victory qualified Canada for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
Hunt couldn’t be reached for comment last night.
Hunchak also said he really isn’t in a hurry to fill the spot.
“We’ll let the process play itself out,” he said, “and, hopefully, at the end of the day we pick the right guy . . . when it happens, it happens.”
He added there isn’t a shortage of candidates.
“That’s what’s exciting,” he said. “Now that we’ve got everything back on solid footing again, everybody’s interested in coming to Kamloops.”

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THE MacBETH REPORT:
F David Hruska (Red Deer, 1995-96) signed a one-year contract extension with Chomutov (Czech Republic, Extraliga). He had 22 goals and 17 assists in 49 games with Chomutov this season.
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Something extra from The MacBeth Report:
Game 5 of Finland’s Sm-Liiga final, Ässät Pori at Tappara Tampere. Series is tied 2-2 and has been a"homer" series. Each team trade goals in the second period and that is how it ends in regulation, 1-1. Shots were 34-28 Ässät in regulation.


Apparently, Ässät was just getting started with the shooting gallery.
The first overtime period is scoreless with Ässät getting two power-plays and Tappara one, but Ässät decided to crank it up as the shots were 20-4 Ässät.
In the second overtime, Tappara had two power-play opportunities but was unable to connect on either one, so we head into the third overtime period.

Tappara got a few more shots on goal in the second overtime but was still outshot 21-11 by Ässät. Ässät got a power-play early in the third overtime. Tappara killed it off, but Ässät scored at 8:59, just
six seconds after the power-play ended, to win the game and take a 3-2 lead home to Pori for Wednesday's Game 6.
The shots in the third OT were 11-5 Ässät. Total shots on goal in the 49 minutes of OT were 52-20 Ässät; 86-48 Assat for the game.
The Tappara goalie making the 84 saves was former Lethbridge Hurricanes G Juha Metsola (2007-09).
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Former WHL coach Curtis Hunt helped Canada win gold at the world men’s sledge hockey championship in Goyang, South Korea, last week. And he had a “fantastic” time doing it. . . . Ian Hamilton of the Regina Leader-Post has that story right here.
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The Victoria Times Colonist and Nanaimo Daily News are reporting that WHL commissioner Ron Robison addressed “an in-camera meeting of Nanaimo city council Monday.” . . . Graham Lee, who owns the WHL’s Victoria Royals and whose company, RG Properties, manages Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria and Prospera Place in Kelowna, and Ken Wagner, one of the owners of the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers, also were in the meeting. . . . After the session, Robison told the newspapers: “It is up to Nanaimo council to see if it wants to proceed. We left it for them to determine.” . . . According to the Times Colonist, “Robison said the WHL would not expand but that an existing team would be relocated to Nanaimo. He did not specify which team that could be.” . . . The problem of course, is the lack of a WHL-calibre facility in Nanaimo. It is no secret that this is a case of ‘Build It and They Will Come’ — if Nanaimo had a 5,000-seat arena, it already would have a WHL franchise.
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THE COACHING GAME:
The Brampton Beast, a Central league team that will begin operations next season, has hired Mark DeSantis as its head coach. . . . DeSantis spent this season as head coach of the Fayetteville FireAntz of the Southern Professional  League. . . . DeSantis, who was honoured as the SPHL’s coach of the year this season, is from Brampton. . . .

Barry Wolff is the new head coach of the BCHL’s Coquitlam Express. Wolff spent this season has head coach of the junior B Fernie Ghostriders of the Kootenay International Junior League. He was the KIJHL’s coach of the year after going 35-13-1-3. . . . He also has coached in the BCHL, with the now-defunct Quesnel Millionaires and Surrey Eagles. . . . With Coquitlam, Wolff replaces Jon Calvano, who was dropped after the season despite having a year left on his contract.
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The Eastern Conference final resumes in Calgary tonight with the Hitmen and Edmonton Oil Kings even at 1-1. . . . The Hitmen almost certainly will be without F Jake Virtanen. The first overall selection in the 2011 bantam draft was hit was one of those ‘tbd’ suspensions for a hit on Edmonton D Cody Corbett at 5:43 of the second period in Game 2 on Friday. Corbett didn’t return to the game after the hit. . . . Corbett is expected to miss at least Games 3 and 4. . . . The Oil Kings are expected to get D Dysin May bacvk into the linup tonight. . . . Virtanen has six points, two of them goals, in 12 playoff games this spring.
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The WHL’s playoff situation:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
THIRD ROUND
Edmonton (1) vs. Calgary (3)
(Series tied 1-1; Game 3 tonight in Calgary; all games on Shaw TV, with Dan Russell calling the play.)
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WESTERN CONFERENCE
THIRD ROUND
Portland (1) vs. Kamloops (3)
(Portland leads series, 2-0; Game 3 tonight in Kamloops.)
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MONDAY’S GAMES:
No Games Scheduled.
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CHECKING-FROM-BEHIND COUNT (19):
None

CHECKING-TO-THE-HEAD COUNT (6):
None


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