Showing posts with label Dave Lowry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dave Lowry. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Lowry moves from Royals to Kings ... Winterhawks welcome Bellows ... Blazers lose assistant coach


D Dallas Ehrhardt (Brandon, Moose Jaw, Prince George, 2009-13) has signed a one-year extension with the Manchester Storm (England, UK Elite). This season, he had a goal and eight assists in 51 games.
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After five seasons as the head coach of the WHL’s Victoria Royals, Dave Lowry is moving on.
The Royals and the Los Angeles Kings announced Tuesday afternoon that Lowry, 52, has joined the NHL
Dave Lowry is leaving Victoria for Los Angeles.
(Photo: victoriaroyals.com)
club as an assistant coach where he will work alongside head coach John Stevens.
Stevens is preparing for his first season as the Kings’ head coach, having replaced Darryl Sutter.
Lowry is the Royals’ all-time winningest head coach, with a record of 199-112-22. He is a two-time winner of the WHL’s Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy as the coach of the year (2013-14, 2015-16).
He also worked with the Calgary Hitmen, as assistant coach, associate coach and head coach. In his only season as head coach, Lowry guided the Hitmen to the WHL final.
Lowry also has twice been on the coaching staff of Canada’s national junior team, as an assistant in 2015, when the team won gold, and as the head coach in 2016.
“A goal of our franchise is to provide a platform for players, coaches and staff to advance in their careers,” Victoria general manager Cam Hope said in a news release. “The process of securing a head coach who can pick up where Dave left off has already begun.”
The Royals are the third WHL team now in the market for a head coach, joining the Calgary Hitmen and Spokane Chiefs.
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So . . . if you’re a WHL team looking for a head coach, who’s out there? Here’s a look at just a few candidates, in alphabetical order:
Jason Becker — A former WHL player who was an assistant coach with the Prince George Cougars, Becker, 43, spent this season as an assistant with the BCHL’s Penticton Vees. 
Trent Cassan — Cassan, 33, won back-to-back SJHL championships with the Yorkton Terriers in a run of six-plus seasons. He left Yorkton prior to this season to join the Calgary Hitmen as an assistant coach.
Dean Chynoweth — The 48-year-old Chynoweth didn’t coach this season after being fired by the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche after serving as the head coach of their AHL affiliate for four seasons. A former WHL player, he spent nine seasons as a WHL head coach — four with the Seattle Thunderbirds and five with the Swift Current Broncos.
Kevin Constantine — His contract wasn’t renewed by the Everett Silvertips when their season ended. Constantine, 58, won at least 38 games in each of the past four seasons in Everett. His extensive coaching career includes NHL experience.
Kyle Gustafson — He has been with the Portland Winterhawks for 13 seasons, the last two as associate coach. In recent seasons, Gustafson, 36, has filled the role created when Travis Green left for the AHL’s Utica Comets. Green now is the head coach of the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks.
Dan Lambert — He’s a free agent, having been fired last week by the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres as the head coach of their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. A former high-scoring WHL defenceman, Lambert, 47, left for Buffalo after six seasons with the Kelowna Rockets, the last one (2014-15) as head coach. The Rockets won the WHL title in his one season as head coach.
Mitch Love — The fans in Everett love the Silvertips’ assistant coach who has been there for six seasons, the last four learning alongside Constantine. Love, 32, is a former WHL defenceman who knew his way around the penalty boxes. 
Don Nachbaur — The third-winningest head coach in WHL history, Nachbaur, 58, and the Spokane Chiefs parted company when their season ended, despite his having a year left on his contract. In the WHL, he also has been head coach of the Seattle Thunderbirds and Tri-City Americans.
Enio Sacilotto — A career coach, he has an extensive resume that includes experience in junior A, Europe and the WHL, the latter with the Chilliwack Bruins/Victoria Royals. After six seasons as an assistant coach with the Bruins/Royals, Sacilotto, 58, spent this season as Victoria’s director of player development. He also was the head coach of the Croatian team at the 2017 IIHF World Championship (Division 1, Group B).
Dave Struch — The former head coach of the Saskatoon Blades is on the list, although he’s not likely to leave his position as assistant GM/assistant coach with the Regina Pats. Struch, 46, is a good fit with John Paddock, the Pats’ GM/head coach, and the Pats will be the host team for the 2018 Memorial Cup.
Jay Varady — The head coach of the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers isn’t a stranger to the WHL. He spent seven seasons on the staff of the Everett Silvertips. Varady 39, got the Musketeers into the USHL final this season and was named the league’s coach of the year.
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The Portland Winterhawks made last week’s signing story official on Tuesday when they introduced F Kieffer Bellows to fans and media.
Bellows, a first-round selection by the New York Islanders in the NHL’s 2016 draft, is leaving Boston U to
Winterhawks president Doug Piper (left) and Mike
Johnston, the GM/head coach, welcome
Kieffer Bellows to Portland.
(Photo: Gary Peterson/winterhawks.com)
join the Winterhawks.
From Edina, Minn., Bellows was a seventh-round pick by the Winterhawks in the WHL’s 2013 bantam draft.
Bellows brings a history of winning to the Winterhawks, having won a Minnesota state title with Edina High School, a USHL championship with the Sioux Falls Stampede, and a gold medal with Team USA in the 2017 World Junior Championship.
Bellows had seven goals and seven assists in 34 games as a freshman at BU. He had two goals and an assist and was a force in seven games with the U.S. national junior team.
Prior to this season, Bellows scored at every stop.
In 2014-15, with the Stampede, he had 33 goals and 19 assists in 58 games. Last season, he had 50 goals and 31 assists in 61 games with the U.S.’s U-18 team, and also had 16 goals and 16 assists in 23 games with the U.S.’s U-20 side.
His father, Brian, is a former NHLer who won a Memorial Cup with the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers in 1982 and a Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1993.
Paul Danzer of the Portland Tribune has more right here.
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The Regina Pats have signed forwards Mackenzie Belinski and George King to WHL contracts. . . . Belinski, 17, was a fifth-round selection in the 2015 bantam draft. This season, he had 21 goals and 33 assists in 44 games with the midget AAA Yellowhead Chiefs. From Vista, Man., he was a second-team all-star in the Manitoba Midget Hockey League. . . . King, 18, is a list player from Calgary. This season, he had 36 goals and 18 assists in 55 games with the MJHL’s OCN Blizzard.
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The Vancouver Giants have signed F Krz Plummer to a WHL contract. He was a third-round selection in the 2017 bantam draft. Plummer, from Whitecourt, Alta., had eight goals and 13 assists in 27 games with the Pursuit of Excellence’s bantam prep team this season. The 6-foot-0, 200-pound Plummer added two goals and four assists in five playoff games as PoE won the bantam prep title.
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The National, CBC-TV’s primary newscast, carried a piece Monday night about the class-action lawsuit facing the CHL and the three leagues under its umbrella. It included interviews with Lukas Walter, who discussed his time with the WHL’s Tri-City Americans, and Spencer Abraham, who played with the OHL’s Brampton Battalion and Erie Otters. Walter is part of the lawsuit; Abraham is opposed to it. . . . The National piece, which is 11 minutes 45 seconds in length, is right here.
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You watched Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final and you saw the catfish end up on the ice. So you wondered: How do you get a fish that big past security and into the arena? . . . Well, Sean Gentille of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has the story of how it all happened and it’s right here. The key part is that Jake (Catfish) Waddell’s wife was “tentatively OK with it.”
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BTW, if you want to contact me with some information or just feel like commenting on something, you may email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.
I’m also on Twitter (@gdrinnan).
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Coaching Game

 Terry Bangen is leaving his role as an assistant coach with the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers to become an assistant coach with the ECHL’;s Worcester Railers. . . . Bangen, 66, will work alongside Jamie Russell, the Raiders’ general manager and head coach, who is from Kamloops. . . . The Railers, an expansion franchise, will begin play in 2017-18. . . . Bangen has been with the Blazers for the past three seasons. His resume also includes two seasons (1996-98) as an assistant with the Vancouver Canucks. Earlier, he was on the Blazers’ staff for five seasons (1990-95), during which time they won three Memorial Cup titles. . . . Bangen also spent 10 years with the Tri-City Americans as director of player personnel and later senior advisor to hockey operations.
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Scott Gomez, who played for two seasons (1997-99) with the WHL’s Tri-City Americans, has joined the NHL’s New York Islanders as an assistant coach. Gomez played 16 seasons in the NHL, winning the Calder Trophy in 1999-2000 and capturing two Stanley Cups, both with the New Jersey Devils (2000, 2003). . . . With the Islanders, he will work alongside head coach Doug Weight. . . . The Islanders also are expected to add Kelly Buchberger, who played two seasons (1984-86) with the Moose Jaw Warriors, to their coach staff at some point in June.
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Posted by Gregg Drinnan at 9:23 PM
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Saturday, April 1, 2017

Hurricanes, Warriors stay alive . . . Winterhawks put Cougars on ropes . . . Lowry: It was offside


D Sam Klassen (Saskatoon, 2006-10) has signed a one-year contract with the Straubing Tigers (Germany, DEL). Klassen didn’t play this season. Last season, with the Hamburg Freezers (Germany, DEL), he had a goal and six assists in 51 games.
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 The Lethbridge Hurricanes had F Giorgio Estephan, one of their top forwards, back in their lineup for Game 5 against the visiting Red Deer Rebels on Saturday night, and he contributed a goal and two assists to a 5-3 victory. Estephan missed Games 3 and 4 after taking a high-stick to the face late in the second period of Game 2. . . . The Hurricanes also had D Calen Addison back after a one-game absence. The second-overall selection in the WHL’s 2015 bantam draft, Addison had a fine freshman season, with 33 points, including 24 assists, in 63 games. . . . Addison and Estephan drew the assists on Lethbridge’s second goal last night.
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The Red Deer Rebels played Game 5 in Lethbridge without F Lane Zablocki, who has been hotter than a firecracker. He was suspended for one game after taking a double minor for checking from behind in Game 5 on Thursday. . . . Zablocki has five goals in the playoffs, which had him tied for the WHL lead with F Patrick Bajkov of the Everett Silvertips when Saturday’s games began.
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F Brad Morrison was scratched by the Prince George Cougars again on Saturday, so he missed Game 5 against the visiting Portland Winterhawks. Morrison returned from an ankle injury to score the first goal of Game 2, but was hurting in Game 3, so was scratched from Game 4 and again last night.
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The Cougars and Winterhawks will complete their second bus trip to Portland today where they will play Game 6 on Monday night. It will be interesting to see how many fans show up for this one. The NCAA’s Final Four championship game — featuring Spokane’s Gonzaga Bulldogs and the North Carolina Tar Heels — also is scheduled for Monday. The WHL game is to start at 7 p.m.; the men’s basketball game is to begin at 6 p.m. PT. . . . The Gonzaga roster includes two players from Portland — guards Silas Melson and Nigel Williams-Goss. . . . Williams-Goss actually is from Happy Valley, Ore., which is in the Portland metro area. . . . Of course, it could have been worse. North Carolina eliminated the Oregon Ducks last night.
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If you have some information you would like to share or just a general comment, feel free to email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.
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So . . . is a hockey player better off to test positive for mumps or to be found to have mononucleosis? Would he miss more games with the former or the latter? Asking for a friend.
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A note from Larry Fisher of the Kelowna Daily Courier, as the Rockets prepare to visit Kamloops tonight for Game 6 with the Blazers: “The Rockets have not been impacted by the mumps to date, and are now avoiding the media as a precautionary measure. Some members of the Kelowna media were in contact with Keen earlier in the series.” . . . Jon Keen, the radio voice of the Blazers, has missed two games after showing mumps symptoms and isn’t expected to be at Game 6.
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D Parker Wotherspoon of the Tri-City Americans left Saturday to join the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s New York Islanders. Wotherspoon, from Surrey, B.C., was a fourth-round selection by the Islanders in the NHL’s 2015 draft. . . . Wotherspoon had 66 points, including 56 assists, in 69 games this season. He had one assist as the Americans were swept from the first round by the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . Wotherspoon, who has signed with the Islanders, will turn 20 on Aug. 24, so is eligible to play one more WHL season. He also could play in the Islanders’ organization.
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Was it, or wasn’t it? F Eetu Tuulola scored in OT on Friday night, giving the Everett Silvertips a 4-3 victory over the visiting Victoria Royals and a 3-2 edge in that series. But did the winner come on a play that was offside at the Victoria blue line? . . . “It was 100 per cent offside . . . even the Everett players stopped skating,” Victoria head coach Dave Lowry told Cleve Dheensaw of the Victoria Times-Colonist. “It’s a judgment call. We’ll find a way to move on and refocus.”
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BTW, Lowry also had this to say: “Our guys play extremely hard and are frustrated by (Everett’s) hooking and cross-checking (not being called). And then they go down real easy.” . . . Everett had three PP opportunities to Victoria’s one in Game 5. . . . They’ll play Game 6 in Victoria this afternoon.
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If you have any interest at all in the concussion lawsuit filed by retired players against the NHL, you will want to read this piece right here by John Vogl of the Buffalo News. Things are getting uglier and nastier by the day, and Vogl has all the details.
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It’s Opening Day. Enjoy!
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SATURDAY GAMES:


At Lethbridge, F Giorgio Estephan returned from a two-game absence to spark the Hurricanes to a 5-3
GIORGIO ESTEPHAN
victory over the Red Deer Rebels. . . . Red Deer holds a 3-2 edge in the series and will play host to Game 6 today. . . . Estephan finished with a goal — he got an empty-netter at 19:34 of the third period — and two assists. . . . Lethbridge F Zak Zborosky (2) snapped a 3-3 tie at 2:28 of the third period. . . . The Hurricanes thought they had scored the game’s first goal on a first-period breakaway by Zborosky. But the goal was negated when it was ruled that the net was off its moorings. . . . F Alec Baer (1) gave Lethbridge a 1-0 lead at 13:58 of the first period. . . . Red Deer tied it when F Michael Spacek (3) counted, on a PP, at 4:20 of the second period. . . . The Hurricanes went back out front at 7:07 when F Zane Franklin (1) scored. . . . Red Deer F Brandon Hagel (5) got that one back, on a PP, at 10:25. . . . The Hurricanes regained the lead 11 seconds later on F Matt Alfaro’s first goal. . . . Hagel sent Red Deer back into another tie with his sixth goal, at 13:49. . . . Zborosky added an assist to his goal. . . . Red Deer got two assists from F Adam Musil. . . . With the teams tied 3-3 heading into the third period, it marked the first time in the series that Red Deer didn’t trail going into the third period. . . . G Stuart Skinner earned the victory with 39 saves, three more than Red Deer’s Riley Lamb. . . . Red Deer was 2-4 on the PP; Lethbridge was 0-3. . . . Announced attendance: 4,562.
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At Prince George, F Ryan Hughes snapped a 3-3 tie at 14:22 of the third period as the Portland Winterhawks, with 48 saves from G Cole Kehler, beat the Cougars, 5-3. . . . The Winterhawks took a 3-2
COLE KEHLER
lead in the series, with Game 6 scheduled for Monday in Portland. A seventh game, if needed, would be played in Prince George on Wednesday. . . . Hughes scored his first goal of the series just 59 seconds after F Colby McAuley (3) had pulled the Cougars into a 3-3 tie. . . . F Cody Glass (2) provided Portland with some insurance at 17:25. Glass, who turned 18 on Saturday, also had an assist. . . . F Jared Bethune (2) gave the Cougars a 1-0 lead at 1:09 of the first period. . . . The Winterhawks responded with the next three goals. . . . F Brad Ginnell (1) tied it at 4:28. . . . F Joachim Blichfeld scored the next two goals, his first two of the series, at 15:14 of the first and 2:45 of the third. . . . The Cougars closed to within a goal when F Brogan O’Brien (2) scored at 10:04. . . . D Shane Collins drew two assists for the Cougars. . . . The Winterhawks got a big game from Kehler, who faced 18, 15 and 18 shots by period. . . . G Ty Edmonds stopped 23 for the home side. . . . Portland was 1-2 on the PP; Prince George was 0-2. . . . The Cougars again scratched F Brad Morrison (ankle), while F Tyler Wishowski sat out a one-game suspension that, according to the WHL, was “for actions at Portland” on Thursday. Perhaps he didn’t tip a waitress. . . . Announced attendance: 5,822.
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At Swift Current, F Noah Gregor crawled out of the doghouse to score two goals and lead the Moose Jaw
NOAH GREGOR
Warriors to a 3-2 victory over the Broncos. . . . The Warriors evened the series, 3-3, with Game 7 scheduled for Moose Jaw on Monday. . . . Gregor had 51 points, including 27 goals, in 52 games this season, his second in the WHL. But he was pointless through five games in this series and, along with F Jayden Halbgewachs, took some heavy public criticism from head coach Tim Hunter after Game 4. . . . Halbgewachs was pointless in Game 5. . . . Gregor gave the Warriors a 1-0 lead at 5:24 of the first period. . . . The Broncos tied it when F Ryley Lindgren got his fifth goal of the series at 7:21. . . . Gregor broke the tie at 14:27, and F Justin Almeida (1) upped it to 3-1 at 13:52 of the second period. . . . The Broncos made things interesting when F Tyler Steenbergen got his fifth goal at 13:54 of the third period. . . . F Thomas Foster had two assists for Moose Jaw. . . . G Zach Sawchenko stopped 41 shots for the Warriors, three more than the Broncos’ Jordan Papirny. . . . Swift Current was 0-2 on the PP; Moose Jaw was 0-3. . . . Announced attendance: 2,890.
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SUNDAY GAMES (all times local):

Lethbridge at Red Deer, 5 p.m. (Red Deer leads, 3-2)
Kelowna at Kamloops, 7 p.m. (Kelowna leads, 3-2)
Everett at Victoria, 2:05 p.m. (Everett leads, 3-2)

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Posted by Gregg Drinnan at 10:39 PM
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Sunday, March 12, 2017

Source: Barzal in isolation . . . Hitmen control playoff spot . . . Winterhawks shock Silvertips



With the WHL playoffs almost upon us, you can bet that those teams headed for the post-season are sweating bullets as they wait and wonder if they will hear from Mr. Mumps.
While the Victoria Royals wait to find out whether mumps has been riding along on their team bus, a source in the Seattle area told Taking Note on Sunday that “indications are that (Mathew) Barzal has the mumps. He’s in isolation as a precautionary measure but signs point to mumps.”
Barzal, arguably the WHL’s best forward, took the warmup prior to a 3-2 victory over the visiting Everett Silvertips on Friday night, but then left for the dressing room and didn’t return. He was said to be experiencing flu-like symptoms. Barzal wasn’t in the lineup on Saturday as the Thunderbirds dumped the Winterhawks in Portland, 6-3.
Barzal has 79 points, including a career-high 69 assists, in 41 games. He began the season with the New York Islanders, who selected him in the first round of the NHL’s 2015 draft.
It seems feasible that any WHL coaches or players who don’t feel well from now through season’s end will be tested for mumps.
The Royals isolated head coach Dave Lowry and one player prior to a 6-2 loss to the Blazers in Kamloops on Friday. It now seems that there are at least two players involved. The Victoria Times Colonist has reported that D Ralph Jarratt and D Mitchell Prowse both have experienced flu-like symptoms, have undergone testing for mumps, and have been isolated.
The Royals, who next play Tuesday when they are to meet the Vancouver Giants in Langley, B.C., are awaiting test results on all three.
“It takes a couple of days and we’re still waiting to hear,” Royals general manager Cam Hope told the Times Colonist. “We’re still crossing our fingers and hoping it isn’t that and that it’s just the flu.”
The Giants lost 4-3 in Kamloops on Saturday. Vancouver chose not to use the new visitors’ dressing room, the same one that had been occupied by the Royals from Wednesday through Friday night. Instead, the Giants operated out of what had been the visitors’ room prior to this season. A new dressing room was built to facilitate the 2016 IIHF World Women’s Championship that was held in Kamloops a year ago.
Prior to this weekend, it was believed the mumps outbreak had been contained in the Eastern Conferece with the Brandon Wheat Kings, Medicine Hat Tigers and Swift Current Broncos having had issues.
The NHL’s Minnesota Wild and Vancouver Canucks also have had players diagnosed with the mumps in the past two or three weeks.
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With the WHL playoffs almost upon us, the Seattle Thunderbirds chose not to take any chances with G Rylan Toth on Saturday night. In a game against the Winterhawks in Portland, Toth stopped all 11 shots he faced in the opening period, but didn’t return for the second period. Originally, I reported that Toth left because of illness. That appears to have been in error. I have since been told that Toth has a “lower-body issue” and that his removal was simply a precaution. The Thunderbirds will be careful with this because he’s their horse and they need him if they are to make a deep run into the spring. Toth leads the WHL in victories — he is 36-18-3 — and is fifth in GAA (2.75) and has a .902 save percentage. . . . On Saturday, G Matt Berlin played the last two periods for Seattle, as the Thunderbirds skated to a 6-3 victory. . . . Seattle, which leads the U.S. Division by one point over the Everett Silvertips, next is scheduled to play Wednesday in Spokane against the Chiefs.
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D Nolan Orzeck, a Calgarian, has signed with the WHL’s Kootenay Ice. A fourth-round selection in the WHL’s 2016 bantam draft, Orzeck announced via Twitter that he had signed. Orzeck, who turned 16 on Feb. 20, played this season with the midget AAA Calgary Northstars, putting up five goals and six assists in 30 games.
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F Alex DeBrincat of the OHL’s Erie Otters had his 19-game goal-scoring streak end on Sunday in a 7-0 victory over the host Peterborough Petes. DeBrincat does hold a share of the OHL record for consecutive games with a goal. That record had been held by F Mike Ricci, who did it with the Petes in 1988-89. . . . DeBrincat, who is still riding a 24-game point streak, has 62 goals and 60 assists in 60 games. He leads the OHL scoring race by 18 points over line mate Taylor Raddysh. 
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A game in the Norwegian League playoffs on Sunday was decided in the eighth overtime period when Joakim Jensen scored to give the host Storhamar Dragons a 2-1 victory over the Sparta Warriors. . . . The Dragons lead the best-of-seven quarterfinal series, 3-2. . . . The game, which lasted 217 minutes 14 seconds, ended at 2:32 a.m. . . .
The longest game in WHL history lasted 136 minutes 56 seconds, with the Kootenay Ice beating the visiting Kamloops Blazers, 3-2, on March 25, 2003. F Colin Sinclair scored the winner in the fourth OT period. It was Game 3 of a first-round playoff series.
The longest game in NHL history was played on March 24, 1936. It ended at 16:30 of the sixth OT as F Mud Bruneteau scored to give the Detroit Red Wings a 1-0 victory over the Montreal Maroons in Game 1 of a 1936 Stanley Cup first-round game.
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If you enjoy stopping off here and would care to make a donation to the cause, please feel free to do so by clicking on the DONATE button and going from there.
If you have some information you would like to share or just a general comment, feel free to email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.
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Jason Stephens is the general manager and head coach of the junior B Golden Rockets, who play in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.
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If the playoffs began today . . . 
Eastern Conference
Regina vs. Calgary
Medicine Hat vs. Brandon
Moose Jaw vs. Swift Current
Lethbridge vs. Red Deer
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Western Conference
Seattle vs. Tri-City
Prince George vs. Victoria
Kelowna vs. Kamloops
Everett vs. Portland
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SUNDAY’S GAMES:

At Calgary, the Hitmen took control of an Eastern Conference playoff spot with a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings. . . . The Hitmen (28-31-10), who have won three straight games, hold down the
MATT DORSEY
conference’s second wild-card spot, three points ahead of the Saskatoon Blades. Calgary is fourth in the Central Division, two points behind the Red Deer Rebels, who hold a game in hand going into the final week of the regular season. . . . Red Deer is to visit the Medicine Hat Tigers on Tuesday, then return home to meet the Hitmen on Wednesday. . . . The Blades will face the Pats in Regina on Tuesday. . . . F Trey Fix-Wolansky (23) gave the Oil Kings the lead at 14:40 of the first period. . . . Calgary F Tyler Mrkonjic (7) tied it at 18:23. . . . F Lucas Cullen’s fourth goal gave the Hitmen the lead at 16:31 of the second period, but Edmonton tied it 18 seconds later when F Jesse Roach scored his second goal. . . . Calgary put it away with the next three goals. F Matt Dorsey started it with his second goal, at 18:53 of the second period. . . . F Matteo Gennaro added insurance with No. 42 at 16:26, then F Beck Malenstyn (28) added the empty-netter at 19:20. . . . Calgary got two assists from F Jakob Stukel, with Dorsey adding one. . . . Dorsey, a 17-year-old from Wenatchee, Wash., who was a third-round pick in the WHL’s 2014 bantam draft. He has two goals and three assists in five games this season, after missing the past two seasons thanks to knee problems. . . . The Hitmen got 29 saves from G Cody Porter. . . . G Patrick Dea turned aside 32 shots for the Oil Kings. . . . Edmonton was 1-3 on the PP; Calgary was 0-2. . . . The Oil Kings (20-43-6) have lost 12 in a row (0-10-2). . . . Announced attendance: 10,143.
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At Portland, the Winterhawks erased a 3-1 deficit with three goals in the game’s final six minutes to beat
CODY GLASS
the Everett Silvertips, 4-3. . . . F Cody Glass scored his 32nd goal and added two assists in the late flurry. . . . D Caleb Jones (9) scored while shorthanded at 14:21 of the third period to get Portland to within a goal. . . . Glass tied the score at 17:23. . . . F Skyler McKenzie won it with his 41st goal, at 19:47. . . . F Keegan Iverson, Portland’s captain, drew an assist on each of the last two goals. . . . The Silvertips had gotten out of the first period with a 2-0 lead on goals from F Brandson Hein (3), at 2:20, and F Matt Fonteyne (17), at 15:58. . . . The Winterhawks cut into that lead when F Lane Gilliss got his fifth goal, at 11:49 of the second period. . . . Everett F Eetu Tuulola (17) got that one back just 18 seconds later. . . . G Cole Kehler stopped 32 shots for the Winterhawks. . . . Everett got 42 saves from G Carter Hart. . . . Portland was 0-2 on the PP; Everett was 0-5. . . . The Winterhawks (38-27-4) moved into third in the U.S. Division, one point ahead of the the Tri-City Americans, who have four games remaining. Portland has three games left. . . . Tri-City now holds down the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot, a point behind the Victoria Royals. . . . The Winterhawks and Americans are to meet Tuesday in Kennewick, Wash. . . . Everett (41-16-11) is second in the U.S. Division, one point behind the Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . Announced attendance: 9,176.
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MONDAY’S GAMES (all times local):
No Games Scheduled.
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TUESDAY’S GAMES (all times local):
Swift Current at Brandon, 7 p.m.
Edmonton vs. Kootenay, at Cranbrook, B.C., 7 p.m.
Red Deer at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m.
Prince Albert at Moose Jaw, 7 p.m.
Saskatoon at Regina, 7 p.m.
Portland vs. Tri-City, at Kennewick, Wash., 7:05 p.m.
Victoria vs. Vancouver, at Langley, B.C., 7 p.m.
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WEDNESDAY’S GAMES (all times local):
Everett at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
Kootenay at Lethbridge, 7 p.m.
Brandon at Moose Jaw, 7 p.m. (ppd., from March 8)
Calgary at Red Deer, 7 p.m.
Swift Current at Regina, 7 p.m.
Seattle at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
——
THURSDAY’S GAMES (all times local):
No Games Scheduled.
——
FRIDAY’S GAMES (all times local):
Prince George at Kamloops, 7 p.m.
Vancouver at Kelowna, 7:35 p.m.
Calgary vs. Kootenay, at Cranbrook, B.C., 7 p.m.
Medicine Hat at Lethbridge, 7 p.m.
Brandon at Regina, 7 p.m.
Prince Albert at Saskatoon, 7:05 p.m.
Moose Jaw at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
Spokane vs. Tri-City, at Kennewick, Wash., 7:05 p.m.
Everett at Victoria, 7:05 p.m.
——
SATURDAY’S GAMES (all times local):
Regina at Brandon, 7:30 p.m.
Kootenay at Calgary, 7 p.m.
Victoria at Everett, 7:05 p.m.
Lethbridge at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.
Swift Current at Moose Jaw, 7 p.m.
Saskatoon at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.
Kamloops at Prince George, 7 p.m.
Edmonton at Red Deer, 7 p.m.
Portland vs. Seattle, at Kent, Wash., 7:05 p.m.
Tri-City at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
Kelowna vs. Vancouver, at Langley, B.C., 7 p.m.
——
SUNDAY’S GAMES (all times local):
Red Deer at Edmonton, 4 p.m.
Spokane at Portland, 5 p.m.
Vancouver vs. Seattle, at Kent, Wash., 5:05 p.m.
Everett vs. Tri-City, at Kennewick, Wash., 5:05 p.m.
END OF REGULAR SEASON 

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Posted by Gregg Drinnan at 10:08 PM
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Friday, March 10, 2017

Royals await mumps test results . . . Rockets, Tigers romp . . . T-Birds back on top in U.S.



Like a monster in a horror movie, just when you thought the mumps had left the WHL, the illness may have raised its ugly head again.
The Brandon Wheat Kings, Medicine Hat Tigers and Swiift Current Broncos have dealt with mumps
outbreaks in the recent past. But with no new cases in the past week or two it was hoped that the worst was over.
However, the Victoria Royals, in Kamloops for a Wednesday/Friday doubleheader with the Blazers, isolated head coach Dave Lowry and one play before the second game after they showed symptoms of mumps.
Cam Hope, the Royals’ general manager, told Taking Note that no one was yet sure if it is the mumps, “but always better to be safe than sorry until test results (come) back.”
Hope added that the Royals had “isolated a player and coach as per protocol.”
Prior to Friday’s game in Kamloops, arena security posted warnings throughout the arena, asking fans to stay away from players. This is the same protocol that was followed last month.
With Lowry gone, assistant coach Dan Price controlled the bench with help from Hope, who ran the defence.
Price said prior to the game that he couldn’t remember the last time he had flown solo behind a bench, so was grateful to have Hope there.
Doug Bodger, the Royals’ other assistant coach, wasn’t in Kamloops with the team, but is expected to get to Kelowna in time for a Saturday game with the Rockets.
The Royals, playing their third game in four nights, lost 6-2 to the Blazers last night. Victoria will play its fourth game in five nights today in Kelowna.
——
If you’re a hockey fan, this piece right here may be the best thing you will read in 2017. Eric Duhatschek of The Globe and Mail explores how coaching in the NHL got from there to here, and it’s fantastic.
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The owners of the Elmira Jackals have informed the ECHL that they won’t return for another season. The ECHL’s board of governors already has approved the request for a voluntary suspension of operations. The Jackals have been in operation for 17 years. . . . This follows on the heels of an announcement by the Anchorage-based Alaska Aces that they won’t be back for another season. . . . At the moment, the ECHL includes 27 teams -- one in Canada and 26 scattered across the U.S. It once was known as the East Coast Hockey League but now simply is the ECHL.
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If you have some information you would like to share or just a general comment, feel free to email me at greggdrinnan@gmail.com.
If interested, you also are able to follow me on Twitter at @gdrinnan.
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Coaching

 Mike Reagan will be back for an 11th season with the SJHL’s Flin Flon Bombers. It will be his 11th season as the team’s head coach. For the past five seasons, he also has been the general manager. The Bombers will make their 10th playoff appearance under Reagan this season. He was working under a one-year contract that was agreed to in May. A Toronto native, Reagan will turn 38 on March 18. He played two seasons (1998-2000) with the Bombers before spending four seasons at Sacred Heart University. . . . Reagan has a 316-206-48 regular-season record with the Bombers, who reached the championship final last season. This season, they finished 39-14-5 and atop the Sherwood Division.
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After 15 seasons, Walt Kyle is out as head coach of the Northern Michigan U Wildcats, who play out of Marquette. The school made the announcement early Friday.
Later in the day, the Marquette Country Sheriff’s Office arrested Kyle. He was charged with one count each of residential mortgage fraud and forgery of documents. He was released on bond. According to Sam Ali of ABC 10 Sports in Marquette, “The case alleges that Kyle committed forgery and fraud with River Valley Bank while obtaining a mortgage in 2014.”
George Hyde, Kyle’s attorney, released this statement on Friday night:
"These charges against my client, Mr. Walt Kyle, are extremely unfortunate and a prime example of misunderstanding and misrepresentation of the facts.
"The facts are the following: while married to his former wife, his former wife granted him a general power of attorney on her behalf, which authorized him to sign her name on her behalf on any financial documents. While still married, Mr. Kyle and his then wife, Ann Kyle, jointly decided to refinance an existing bank loan in order to complete certain home repairs. Mr. Kyle did nothing more than sign his wife's name to the loan documents, with his wife's full knowledge and consent. The home repairs were completed while Mr. Kyle and Ann Kyle were still married.
"During subsequent divorce proceedings, Ann Kyle sought to avoid responsibility for the loans by falsely claiming no knowledge of them. That didn't work, and the judge in the divorce correctly determined that the loan was a joint debt. This loan was paid in full during the divorce proceedings.
"Undeterred, Ann Kyle has since convinced a local sheriff deputy to seek charges against Mr. Kyle, despite the existence of the valid power of attorney that Ann Kyle had granted her husband.
"The bottom line is this: Mr. Walt Kyle did nothing wrong and broke no laws whatsoever. These charges are the unfortunate result of his former wife's campaign to disparage him, which is ironic given her criminal behavior during their divorce proceedings that until now Mr. Kyle has been reluctant to report to the authorities."
Kyle was 265-263-68 as the Wildcats’ head coach, including 13-22-4 this season. Their season ended with a three-game loss to Bemidji State in the WCHA quarterfinals. . . . Kyle spent nine seasons (1981-92) as an assistant coach at NMU. . . . He played his junior and senior seasons with the Wildcats, captaining the team both seasons. . . . Kyle spent two seasons in the WHL (1992-94) as head coach of the Seattle Thunderbirds.
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———
If the WHL playoffs began today . . . 
Eastern Conference
Regina vs. Saskatoon
Medicine Hat vs. Brandon
Moose Jaw vs. Swift Current
Lethbridge vs. Red Deer
—
Western Conference
Seattle vs. Portland
Prince George vs. Victoria
Kelowna vs. Kamloops
Everett vs. Tri-City
——

FRIDAY’S GAMES:


At Calgary, the Hitmen erased 2-0 and 3-2 deficits en route to a 4-3 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. . . . They meet again tonight in Lethbridge. . . . F Jakob Stukel pulled Lethbridge into a 3-3 tie
JAYDAN GORDON
with his 22nd goal at 19:58 of the second period. . . . Calgary D Jaydan Gordon won it with his second goal of the season, at 5:10 of the third period. . . . Gordon has three goals in 167 regular-season games over three seasons, the first two with the Swift Current Broncos. . . . The Hurricanes had taken an early 2-0 lead on first-period goals from F Giorgio Estephan (31), at 2:14, and F Tanner Nagel (9), at 3:58. . . . The Hitmen moved into a 2-2 tie on second-period PP goals from F Matteo Gennaro (41), at 2:55, and F Beck Malenstyn, at 6:02. . . . Estephan put the visitors back in front, on a PP, at 18:59. . . . D Jake Bean, F Mark Kastelic and D Vladislav Yeryomenko had two assists each for Calgary. . . . F Tyler Wong drew two assists for Lethbridge. . . . Calgary got 21 saves from G Cody Porter. . . . G Stuart Skinner stopped 18 shots for the Hurricanes. . . . Calgsry was 2-4 on the PP; Lethbridge was 1-2. . . . F Matt Alfaro and F Zak Zborosky, who were acquired from the Kootenay Ice in January, were among Lethbridge’s scratches for a second straight game. . . . The Hitmen (26-31-10) closed to within a point of the Saskatoon Blades, who hold down the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot. . . . The Hurricanes (43-18-7) had won their previous seven games. The now trail the Central Division-leading Medicine Hat Tigers by four points. . . . Announced attendance: 6,328.
——

At Kamloops, the Blazers scored a 6-2 victory over Victoria, completing a Wednesday/Friday doubleheader sweep of the Royals. . . . Kamloops had won 5-2 two nights earlier. . . . The Blazers scored
RUDOLFS BALCERS
the game’s first four goals to lead 4-0 late in the second period. . . . F Garrett Pilon got it started with his 20th goal, at 15:10 of the first period. . . . F Nic Holowko (6) followed at 19:07. . . . F Erik Miller (5) made it 3-0 at 4:01 of the second period and F Rudolfs Balcers (38) upped it to 4-0 at 16:26. . . . The Royals got to within two on goals from F Matt Phillips (48), on a PP, at 19:35 of the second period, and F Blake Bargar (5), 27 seconds into the third. . . . The Blazers put it away on third-period goals by F Nick Chyzowski (16) and F Quinn Benjafield (15), on a PP. . . . Kamloops got two assists from D Luke Zazula and one each from Holowko, Chyzowski, Balcers and Benjafield. . . . Kamloops G Connor Ingram blocked 29 shots. . . . Victoria starter Griffen Outhouse surrendered six goals on 38 shots in 52:38. Dylan Myskiw finished up, stopping two shots in 7:22. . . . Kamloops was 2-7 on the PP; Victoria was 1-6. . . . These two teams don’t like each other. In this one, they combined for 100 penalty minutes, 54 to Kamloops. . . . F Jared Dmytriw of the Royals and F Deven Sideroff and D Ondrej Vala of the Blazers didn’t play after they came out of Wednesday’s affair with one-game suspensions. . . . Due to injuries, illness and a suspension, the Royals dressed only 16 skaters for their third game in four nights. . . . The Blazers (40-23-6) have won two in a row. They are third in the B.C. Division, three points behind the Kelowna Rockets and seven ahead of Victoria, which has four games remaining. . . . The Royals (37-26-5) have lost three in a row. . . . Announced attendance: 3,851.
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At Kelowna, the Rockets scored the game’s first eight goals en route to an 8-1 victory over the Vancouver
DILLON DUBE
Giants. . . . The home team started with first-period goals from F Carsen Twarynski (17), on a PP, at 9:55, and F Dillon Dube, at 12:23. . . . Dube added his second of the game and 17th of the season, on a PP, at 7:20 of the second period for a 3-0 edge. . . . The Rockets also got goals from D James Hilsendager (5), D Cal Foote (6), F Leif Mattson (8), F Reid Gardiner (15) and D Devante Stephens (12). . . . The Rockets got three assists from F Calvin Thurkauf. F Nick Merkley and F Erik Gardiner had two assists each, with Hilsendager, Gwarynski, Dube and Foote adding one apiece. . . . Reid Gardiner ran his point streak to 14 games. He has nine goals and 11 assists during that stretch. . . . Vancouver’s goal came from F James Malm (18), on a PP, at 9:06 of the third period. . . . Kelowna G Brodan Salmond stopped 20 shots, 19 fewer than Vancouver’s David Tendeck. . . . Kelowna was 2-4 on the PP; Vancouver was 1-4. . . . The Rockets (42-21-5) have won six in a row; they are 15-2-1 since Feb. 1. They are second in the B.C. Division, two points behind Prince George. . . . The Giants (19-42-6) have lost seven straight (0-6-1). . . . Announced attendance: 5,006.
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At Cranbrook, B.C., F Brandon Hagel scored twice to help the Red Deer Rebels to a 4-1 victory over the
BRANDON HAGEL
Kootenay Ice. . . . The teams will meet again tonight, this time in Red Deer. . . . F Vince Loschiavo gave the Ice a 1-0 lead with his 27th goal, on a PP, at 9:00 of the first period. . . . Red Deer tied it on F Evan Polei’s 30th goal, at 3:32 of the second, and took the lead when Hagel sniped at 12:56. . . . F Michael Spacek (28) added insurance at 15:48 of the second, and Hagel got his 24th, on a PP, at 17:21. . . . Spacek and D Jared Freadrich had two assists each for the winners. . . . Red Deer G Lasse Petersen stopped 32 shots, two more than the Ice’s Payton Lee. . . . Kootenay was 1-2 on the PP; Red Deer was 1-4. . . . The Rebels (27-28-12) have points in four straight (2-0-2). They are third in the Central Division, four points ahead of the Calgary Hitmen. . . . The Ice (14-42-11) has lost five in a row (0-4-1). . . . The Ice has two home games remaining — the Edmonton Oil Kings are to visit on March 14, with the Hitmen there on March 17. Will those be the last two home games in the history of Cranbrook’s WHL franchise? . . . If voters in Nanaimo go YES in a referendum being held today that would lead to a new arena being built, it’s expected the Ice will be sold and relocated. . . . Announced attendance: 1,868.
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At Medicine Hat, F Matt Bradley and F Zach Fisher each scored three times as the Tigers rolled over the Edmonton Oil Kings, 9-3. . . . The Tigers are to visit Edmonton tonight. . . . Fischer and Bradley, each of whom has 33 goals, accounted for five of Medicine Hat’s first six goals. . . . Fischer opened the scoring at 8:13 of the first period, with Edmonton F Colton Kehler (16) tying it, on a PP, at 9:34. . . . Bradley scored twice before the period ended for a 3-1 lead. . . .Fischer got his second goal at 3:49 of the second period, with Bradley completing his hat trick at 4:36. . . . The Tigers completed an eight-goal outburst on goals from D David Quenneville (22), F Tyler Preziuso (5), F Chad Butcher (26) and Fischer, who filled his hat at 1:36 of the third period. . . . D Brayden Gorda (4) and F Kobe Mohr (6) added late Edmonton goals. . . . F Steve Owre and F Mason Shaw each had three assists for Medicine Hat, with D Brad Forrest, Quenneville and Butcher getting two apiece. . . . G Nick Schneider earned the victory with 18 saves. . . . Edmonton starter Josh Dechaine allowed seven goals on 30 shots in 32:15. Patrick Dea finished up with 19 saves on 21 shots in 27:45. . . . Edmonton was 1-4 on the PP; Medicine Hat was 0-5. . . . Gorda left at 18:30 of the third period with a checking-from-behind major and game misconduct for a hit on Medicine Hat F Ryan Chyzowski. Chyzowski was down for a bit but left under his own power. . . . The Tigers (48-19-1) have won two in a row. They are five points behind the Regina Pats, who lead the overall standings. . . . The Oil Kings (20-41-6) have lost 10 straight (0-8-2). . . . Announced attendance: 3,465.
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At Prince Albert, F Cole Fonstad snapped a 1-1 tie at 17:18 of the third period as the Raiders posted a 3-
ZACK HAYES
1 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings. . . . Fonstad has 10 goals. . . . Raiders F Parker Kelly had a chance to break a 1-1 tie when he was awarded a penalty shot at 15:34 of the third period. However, Brandon G Travis Child turned aside a backhand attempt. . . . D Zack Hayes’ second goal of the season put the home team ahead 1-0 at 12:10 of the first period. . . . F Tanner Kaspick (18) pulled Brandon even at 18:22 of the second period. . . . F Curtis Miske (19) iced it with an empty-netter at 19:29 of the third period. . . . F Cavin Leth had two assists for the Raiders. . . . G Ian Scott earned the victory with 29 saves, one fewer than Child. . . . Prince Albert was 0-3 on the PP; Brandon was 0-2. . . . With the return of Kaspick from the injured list, the Wheat Kings had all players on deck for the first time this season. . . . The Raiders improved to 19-42-7. . . . Brandon (29-28-10) lost for the 10th straight time on the road. It is in possession of the Eastern Conference’s first wild-card spot. . . . The Raiders will play in Brandon tonight. . . . Announced attendance: 2,168.
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At Regina, F Sam Steel, who leads the WHL in points, had two goals and two assists to lead the Pats to a 5-0 victory over the Moose Jaw Warriors. . . . The Pats clinched first place in the East Division with the
TYLER BROWN
victory as they set a franchise record for points (102) in one season. The previous record (100) was established in 1980-81. . . . The rematch goes tonight in Moose Jaw, with the Pats holding a 4-3-0 edge in the season series. . . . Regina G Tyler Brown turned aside 26 shots to earn his fifth shutout of the season. He has seven in his career. . . . F Adam Brooks gave Regina a 1-0 lead, on a PP, at 11:44 of the first period. . . . D Josh Mahura got No. 16 at 2:19 of the second and F Nick Henry scored his 33rd at 3:27. . . . Steel scored Regina’s last two goals, at 12:50 of the second, on a PP, and at 12:41 of the third. . . . Steel leads the WHL with 123 points, including 48 goals. . . . Brooks, who also had an assist, is second, with 114 points, including 37 goals. . . . D Connor Hobbs recorded two assists. . . . The Warriors got 38 saves from G Zach Sawchenko. . . . Regina was 2-5 on the PP; Moose Jaw was 0-6. . . . Regina (47-12-8) has won three in a row. It continues to lead the overall standings, by five points over the Medicine Hat Tigers. . . . The Warriors (41-18-9) had a nine-game winning streak end. They will finish second in the East Division and meet the third-place Swift Current Broncos in the first round of the playoffs. . . . Announced attendance: 6,484.
——

At Saskatoon, the Swift Current Broncos erased a 2-0 deficit with four straight goals and went on to beat
ALEKSI HEPONIEMI
the Blades, 5-3. . . . The rematch goes tonight in Swift Current. . . . The home team took a 2-0 lead on a pair of goals by F Braylon Shmyr, who has 34, at 11:43 and 13:23 of the first period. The second one came via the PP. . . . The Broncos tied it with the only goals of the second period, F Aleksi Heponiemi (27) scoring at 12:37 and F Tyler Steenbergen counting, on a PP, at 17:27. . . . The Broncos took the lead when F Conner Chaulk (8) scored at 2:06 of the third period. . . . Steenbergen followed with his 49th, at 7:47. . . . Saskatoon got back to within a goal when D Evan Fiala (4) scored at 9:48, but the Broncos put it away on F Lane Pederson’s 23rd goal, on a PP, at 14:21. . . . Heponiemi added two assists, with Pederson getting one. . . . Fiala and Shmyr had one each for the Blades. . . . The Broncos got 33 saves from G Taz Burman. . . . G Brock Hamm turned aside 23 shots in his 100th appearance with the Blades. . . . Swift Current was 2-4 on the PP; Saskatoon was 1-4. . . . The Broncos (36-21-10) will finish third in the East Division and meet Moose Jaw in the opening round. . . . The Blades (27-32-9) had points in each of their previous four games (3-0-1). They hold down the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot, one point up on the Calgary Hitmen. . . . Announced attendance: 4,285.
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At Kent, Wash., D Ethan Bear broke a 2-2 tie at 7:45 of the third period as the Seattle Thunderbirds beat
ETHAN BEAR
the Everett Silvertips, 3-2. . . . The victory lifted Seattle (43-19-6) back atop the Western Conference and the U.S. Division, one point ahead of Everett (40-15-11). . . . Seattle has won two in a row. . . . Everett had points in its previous three games (2-0-1). . . . F Mathew Barzal of the Thunderbirds took part in the pregame warmup, but took ill and left for the dressing room before the anthem. He didn’t return. . . . Everett F Sean Richards (7) gave his side a 1-0 lead at 1:38 of the second period. . . . Seattle D Turner Ottenbreit (7) tied it just 48 seconds later. . . . F Alexander True’s 22nd goal, shorthanded, at 4:18 gave the home team a 2-1 lead. . . . Everett tied it at 19:11 when F Connor Dewar got his 13th goal. . . . Seattle got two assists from F Sami Moilanen, but F Keegan Kolesar had a 15-game point streak end. . . . G Rylan Toth stopped 16 shots for Seattle, including a second-period penalty shot by Richards. . . . Everett got 19 saves from G Carter Hart. . . . Seattle was 0-2 on the PP; Everett was 0-3. . . . D Aaron Irving was among Seattle’s scratches. . . . A mid-game tweet from Andy Eide of 710 ESPN Seattle: “Have confirmed with T-Birds that Wyatt Bear has left the team and gone home.” . . . Announced attendance: 5,204.
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At Spokane, F Cody Glass scored two goals as the Portland Winterhawks skated to a 4-2 victory over the
CODY GLASS
Chiefs. . . . Glass, with 31 goals, opened the scoring at 4:38 of the first period. . . . Spokane F Kailer Yamamoto tied it with No. 38, at 4:44 of the second period. . . . The Winterhawks went back out front when D Caleb Jones (8) scored at 11:34 of the third period. . . . Glass got his second of the night, on a PP, at 14:04. . . . The Chiefs got to within a goal when F Taylor Ross scored his sixth goal, shorthanded, at 16:33. . . . Portland iced it when F Skyler McKenzie put his 39th goal into an empty net at 19:30. . . . McKenzie also had an assist, while F Keegan Iverson had two of them. . . . Glass, a certain first-round selection in the NHL’s 2017 draft, has 91 points in 65 games. Last season, as a freshman, he finished with 27 points, 10 of them goals, in 65 games. . . . G Cole Kehler stopped 23 shots for Portland. . . . Spokane got 45 stops from G Jayden Sittler. . . . Portland was 1-6 on the PP; Spokane was 0-2. . . . The Winterhawks (37-26-4) have won five in a row. They hold down the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot, one point behind Victoria. The Winterhawks also are fourth in the U.S. Division, one point behind the Tri-City Americans. . . . The Chiefs (26-31-10) have lost five in a row (0-4-1). . . . Announced attendance: 5,759.
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At Kennewick, Wash., FJesse Gabrielle scored twice to help the Prince George Cougars to a 6-1 victory
JESSE GABRIELLE
over the Tri-City Americans. . . . Gabrielle got the Cougars started, on a PP, at 4:06 of the first period. . . . The Americans tied it at 6:28 when F Kyle Olson scored his 19th goal. . . . Prince George F Jared Bethune (21) broke the tie at 6:39, with Gabrielle adding insurance with his 33rd goal, on another PP, at 2:01 of the second period. . . . The Cougars added second-period goals from D Sam Ruopp (4) and F Radovan Bondra (32), before F Jansen Harkins added his 21st, on a PP, in the third period. . . . Bondra also had one assist. . . . G Ty Edmonds earned the victory with 29 stops. . . . Tri-City starter Rylan Parenteau gave up four goals on 23 shots in 26:32. Evan Sarthou finished up with 23 stops on 25 shots in 33:28. . . . The Cougars were 3-3 on the PP; Tri-City was 0-1. . . . The Americans remain without F Vladislav Lukin, while F Michael Rasmussen (wrist) may not play again this season. . . . The Cougars are still without F Brad Morrison (ankle). . . . Prince George (43-21-5) leads the B.C. Division by two points over the Kelowna Rockets. . . . The Americans (38-26-3) have lost three in a row. They remain third in the U.S. Division, but now are just two points ahead of the Portland Winterhawks. . . . Announced attendance: 4,035.
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SATURDAY’S GAMES (all times local):

Prince Albert at Brandon, 7:30 p.m.
Medicine Hat at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Vancouver at Kamloops, 5 p.m.
Victoria at Kelowna, 7:05 p.m.
Calgary at Lethbridge, 7 p.m.
Regina at Moose Jaw, 7 p.m.
Seattle at Portland, 6 p.m.
Kootenay at Red Deer, 7 p.m.
Prince George at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.
Saskatoon at Swift Current, 7 p.m.
Everett 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.
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Posted by Gregg Drinnan at 11:35 PM
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